Review: Dark Tide

I apologize for this late review posting. I honestly thought I had schedule this one for review. Wouldn't you know, it was still in draft form? Grrr...


Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Pages: 388 (Hardback)
Source: TLC Book Tours
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Buy it: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Book Depo

Description:

The first time Genevieve saw it, she knew it was the one: Revenge of the Tide, "an odd sort of a name for a boat." Genevieve had finally escaped the stressful demands of her London sales job and achieved her dream--to leave the city behind and start a new life aboard a houseboat in Kent. She left the boat's name as it was. Revenge had character after all, and living in a marina made her feel a bit safer, a little less lonely; almost as if the boat looked after her, hid her away from view.

But her dreams are shattered the night of her boat-warming party when a body washes up, and to Genevieve's horror, she recognizes the victim as a close friend from nights dancing on-stage at a private members' club, the Barclay. She isn't about to tell the police, though; next to no one knew what Genevieve did every Friday and Saturday night to save money for her escape, and she sees no reason to reveal her past. The death can't have anything to do with her. Or so she thinks.

Soon the lull of the waves against Revenge feels anything but soothing, as Genevieve begins to receive mysterious calls and can't reach the one person who links the present danger with her history at the club. And then there is the parcel on her boat she's meant to be safekeeping for an old flame, which seems to be putting her in jeopardy. As Genevieve begins to fear for her safety, she recalls the moment when it had all started to go horribly wrong: the night she recognized her day-time boss in the crowd of customers at the Barclay. . . .

My Rating:

My Review:

Genevieve has settled into her new life remodeling her new home and boat, Revenge of the Tide.  She's left her sales job, her pervert boss, and her secret night job and finally earned a year of peace.  She's content live on her boat and connect with the small residential boating community.  Things change when an old friend's body washes up next to Genevieve's boat.  Convinced that her past is finally catching up with her, Genevieve  tries to reconnect to her past while keeping her knowledge from the police.  But the strange events do not stop with a dead body and Genevieve no longer knows where to turn or who to trust.

This book has an intriguing premise and the plot does a great job of capturing and maintaining the reader's interest. The book alternates between the present and Genevieve's big secretive past.  In the present, the death of a friend sends police to her door and brings unwanted attention.  It seems that Genevieve will have to solve one mystery to again obtain her glorious piece.  The alternate view takes the reader back to Genevieve past, where things began.  Each section unveils a little more of super secret past.  It felt like two distinct plots.  Both held my attention.  Though I was curious about her story, I cared little about Genevieve. There was something about her character that made her character distant.  I did enjoy Genevieve more in the present and cared little for her actions, mindset, and decisions in her past.  Though, after a while, I I started to have problems with her in the present as well.  Her emotions simply did not come through.  Unfortunately the ending was anti-climatic.  The big mysteries were duds.

Overall, a unique premise that captures the attention of the reader.