I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Drown Town
by Steven Silverman
Series: Dog Walking Detectives Mysteries #1
Series Rating:
Published by Independently Published on November 8, 2023
Setting: Northern California
Genres: Traditional Mystery
Pages: 288
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
Goodreads
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Once upon a time in the 55+ community of Diamond Glen...
Excitement has reached an all time high as the residents prepare to celebrate Summer Splash, the annual event of the season. That’s right, it’s time to lather up your sunblock and put on your ill-fitting Hawaiian shirt as this year’s party plans include vegan BBQ, a questionable clown, and a most unexpected surprise: A dead body floating in the community pool. Perhaps it’s time to consider an alternate location for the festivities?Samantha ‘Sam’ Whitmore is no stranger to a good mystery. She’s a best selling author, specializing in this very genre. But her world is based in fiction and what’s happened here in her own backyard has just put the true in true crime. Against her ex-husband, and dog walking partner, Mac’s advice, this author turned neighborhood detective dives in deep to try to unravel this shocking whodunnit.
But wait, is this even a whodunnit? The victim, if he even is a victim, was every resident’s dog- hating neighbor Sandy Crowley. According to police, there are no signs of foul play. He simply went for a swim and drowned after hours. It’s the ‘after hours’ part that’s given Sam pause. Sandy Crowley always obeyed the rules of the Home Owners Association. Would he ever have gone swimming after hours? Sam doesn’t think so. And when she adds in the missing doll, sprig of bougainvillea, and the vanishing maid, this mystery writer quickly finds herself drowning in both clues and suspects.
You see, good reader, everyone here in Diamond Glen shares one thing in common: They all have a secret to hide. Including our very own favorite dog walking detectives, Sam and Mac. In fact, their’s may be the best kept secret of all. How do I know all this?, you ask. Well, that’s simple: I watch over them. After all, I’m their dog. Well, I once was their dog. Now just think of me as a kind of guardian angel. Literally.
My name is Hueby...
Drown Town by Steven Silverman is an excellent mystery with a new twist.
Will Sam and Mac find the culprit?
Samantha Whitmore
Our sleuth and best-selling author of mysteries is Sam Whitmore. She lives in the retirement community of Diamond Glen, next door to her ex-husband. In fact, they have a dog walking business together. Sam is bright and can put things together in ways others aren’t aware of. I like Sam, even if she has secrets or unspoken issues.
Mac Whitmore
Mac is the other half of the dog walking business. He is retired and still carries a torch for Sam. Even though they aren’t truly together they still do things that families do with their adult children and grandchildren. Mac tries to keep Sam grounded, but she doesn’t make it easy, which could be why they live in separate houses.
The two of them are good together. They are friends, and you can tell they care about each other, even if they aren’t “in” love. I like the way that they have worked out their relationship.
The Narrator
The main twist is the narrator of the story. It is Hueby Whitmore. Hueby is Sam and Mac’s deceased dog. He talks about where he is and how he is still attached to his human parents. He is happiest with Sam but still watches over both Sam and Mac.
I don’t want Hueby’s story to be the truth. I hope that my pets find the rainbow bridge and go to heaven.
The Mysteries
One of the neighbors, the most obnoxious one, is killed in the community swimming pool right before the Summer Splash event. Sam, being the mystery writer, can’t let it go, especially when other things start coming to light, such as another murdered neighbor.
Four Stars
My rating for Drown Town by Steven Silverman is four stars. I like the premise and the mystery, but I felt the story dragged on a bit. Also, Hueby makes it different, and I haven’t decided whether I like that part.
The Dog Walking Detectives
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Drown Town by Steven Silverman.
Until the next time,
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About Steven Silverman
Steve Silverman is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning writer/director/producer. Steve’s work has been called ‘Sly’ by the Los Angeles Times, which is his all-time favorite single word review. Theatre includes All About Steve, not a one-man show but a twist on the classic film All About Eve, his horror comedy 666 Westbourne Drive, and his musical mashups Jesus Christ Super Star Wars & The King and I Know What You Did Last Summer, which he co-wrote and directed. Speaking of the force, he’s the force behind the one-woman show festivals 15 Minutes of FEM and the standup comedy show Slideshow, which ran the first Friday of every month for five years straight at the Fake Gallery. Steve is an award-winning writer/producer/director in the world of on-air promotions where he’s worked for FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, Bravo, several ad agencies and most recently, Hulu. He’s directed Whoopi Goldberg, Reba McEntire, Mindy Kaling, Zooey Deschanel, the original Fab Five from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on a horse ranch in Dallas, Texas and his all-time favorite, the late and very great Cloris Leachman. You can hear him weekly on his podcast World Gone Good where he talks to everyday people making good happen every day. His first new stage play in 19 years, Happy Birthday McKenna, went up at the Hudson Backstage in Los Angeles this past March to critical acclaim and sold out houses. Drown Town is his first novel, part of the continuing series The Dog Walking Detectives Mysteries.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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