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Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite
When Detective Ava Martinez and her partner, Dan Riley, arrive at a crime scene in the small coastal town of Crystal Cove, they find the lifeless body of April Seagram, a guide at Biosphere Marine Institute. From the body’s wounds and witness statements, it was clear April had been murdered. As the duo digs deeper, all leads seem to point to Biosphere. However, before they can make any real progress, Dan is found brutally murdered with a note that says “They Lie”. Who exactly are “They”? As Ava tries to get to the bottom of it all, she finds herself on a perilous path riddled with more murders, threats, political pressure, secrets, and cover-ups, leading to a deadly conspiracy centrally tied to Biosphere and a scandalous corruption scheme. Find out how it all goes down in Swimming with Manatees: Martinez Mysteries by Bill Bennett.
If you are looking for a mystery murder blended with crime and suspense, Swimming with Manatees by Bill Bennett is a worthy pick. Weaving a plot shrouded in mystery, Bennett introduces readers to a fascinating cast and a storyline that explores corporate malfeasance, betrayal, justice, and accountability. The deliberate pacing, with short, punchy, rhythmic sentences, allowed me to engage with the characters’ thoughts and activities as I followed them. The vivid depictions dropped me right in the middle of Crystal Cove: from the crime scenes to the bodies, Biosphere’s heavily guarded high-tech fortress of a facility, the police station, the docks and marina, including its perversive rust and seaweed smell, and the town’s streets. In a small town sinking under the influence of the giant corporate entity, Ava must rely on her intuition.
