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5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific new series . . ., Sep 11 2001
Oh, I do like Anne Hardaway! In her mid-thirties, struggling with life, trying to earn an honest living, she's everywoman, rolled into one. Shy, insecure yet tough when she needs to be, Anne lives in the small oceanside town in which she was born, and has always lived. This is both good and bad. The good part is that she knows everyone and they know her.The bad part is that she knows everyone and they know her.Nearly twenty years earlier -- the summer Annie graduated from high school, and the country celebrated it's Bi-Centennial -- a tragedy occurred in Oceanside Heights. A little girl died in a fire that destroyed an old hotel. The town's pre-eminent 'bad boy' was suspected, but before anything could really be proved--for or against-- Tigger Mills left town, never to return. Until this year. Drawn to him as she had been all those years earlier, Anne has a brief encounter with Tigger, and the promise of more to come -- but the promise will be unfulfilled, as Tigger drowns early the next morning. His half-brother Jack comes home from New York City to find out what happened. Various elements of small-town life take their turn on center stage: the religious campground aura that defines Oceanside Heights; renewing acquaintances with former school-mates, some of whom would rather stay distant; getting to know Jack and his new life; and over all, families then and now, and the many secrets buried and thought dead only to have them come to life again. I loved this book. I love Ann Hardaway as a character, and will go search out books two and three in the series. The first two that I've read have been well written, with wonderful characterization (both the goodies and the baddies are fully realized), and the setting is marvelous. Reading one of these Jersey Shore Mysteries is almost as good as a week spent on the beach. Try one for yourself--I think you'll agree!
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