Book Description

A JAKE EATON MYSTERY A strange letter, signed "William," sets in motion a series of gruesome events that paralyzes the island of Nantucket—terrorizing both island families and summer tourists. The Fourth of July is William's deadline—the day he promised to exact his final revenge. Private detective Jake Eaton has two days to stop him. Who is William, and why does he hate Nantucket? How has he chosen his victims, and why has he targeted Gloria Gorham, headstrong heiress and manager of the exclusive Island Basin marina? What is the key to his warped mind? As fear grips the island, Eaton and his canine partner Watson search for answers—answers that lie hidden beneath 200 years of Nantucket's history, back to its days as a whaling port. In the pulse-pounding conclusion, the entire island is held prisoner, at the mercy of one man—a man who has no mercy. The action moves at breakneck speed in this compelling debut mystery novel, an inventive blend of fiction and historical fact. Steeped in the nautical lore of old Nantucket, the novel also paints a vivid picture of the island today—a place where trendy clashes with quaint, and deep resentment bubbles beneath an idyllic surface. Nantucket Revenge launches a series of mysteries starring detective Jake Eaton and canine sleuth Watson set in New England. Nantucket Revenge is the first novel. "Attention mystery fans! There's a hot new P.I. in the game with a most unique partner, a big, black, wondrous, mixed-breed canine. Jake Eaton and his dog, Watson, are destined for a spot at the top of the genre. Nantucket Revenge gets off to a fast start and keeps up the pace, with one surprise after another, becoming impossible to put down until the reader reaches the totally satisfying climax. All of the many characters are well drawn and completely believable, and every background detail about Nantucket rings with authenticity."—Stanley Cohen, author of Angel Face "In writing so vivid you smell the sea, Larry Maness infuses Nantucket with mystery and murder. His Cambridge-based investigator, Jake Eaton, is my kind of P.I.—tender, tough, and with a past. A terrific debut!"—Dave Daniel, author of The Heaven Stone and The Skelly Man "A thrilling combination of Robert Parker and Alistair Maclean! Maness mixes detection and action into a 'literally' explosive cocktail, and this page-turner cranks up the velocity like the summer-movie crowd pleaser it's bound to become!"—Austin Tichenor, scriptwriter, Reduced Shakespeare Company "Nantucket Revenge is a fascinating murder mystery that everyone should enjoy. I hope to see a lot more from Larry Maness!"—Lucy Freeman, author of Fight Against Fears