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Peg Brantley
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Red Tide: An Aspen Falls Thriller (Aspen Falls Thrillers Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Peg Brantley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,764 ratings
Sometimes the dead shouldn't stay buried.

In a new case, Jamie Taylor and her cadaver dog set out to find bodies buried for more than a decade. It's her callling. It's what she does when she's not looking at mortgage loan applications for the local bank. Finding closure for families is what drives her. It's her way of remembering her mother.

But this time she finds something more.

Award winning author Peg Brantley brings us this standalone story that is also the first in the Aspen Falls Thriller series. Readers who like suspense and tension mixed in with friendship and dogs will enjoy this book.

"For fans of the serial killer genre, RED TIDE is an engaging, well plotted story with characters you won't forget." — L.J. Sellers, author of the best-seller Detective Jackson series
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  1. Print length
    295 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    March 25, 2012
  5. File size
    2.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

When I tell a story what I want to do is provide a few hours of entertainment. Maybe inspire a little discussion about relationships or some other social issue of our time. But mostly? I want to give my readers an escape. Something with a little juice that makes them care and scares them at the same time.
 The idea for RED TIDE was sparked by a little news article I read about a photograph that was found in the cell of a prisoner who had died. The photograph wasn't of a person or an event or anything that could readily be identified. It was just a place. Why would a man in prison keep a picture of something that couldn't have any meaning to him? Unless it did... 

About the Author

A Colorado native, Peg Brantley is a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime. She and her husband make their home southeast of Denver, and have shared it with the occasional pair of mallard ducks and their babies, snapping turtles, peacocks, assorted other birds, foxes, a deer named Cedric and a bichon named McKenzie. Red Tide is Peg's first novel. Her second will be released in late 2012.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007OWQ5F6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bark Publishing, LLC
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 25, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 295 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0985363802
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,764 ratings

About the author

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Peg Brantley

Peg Brantley

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Award winning author and Colorado native, Peg Brantley and her husband make their home southeast of Denver, sharing it over time with the occasional pair of mallard ducks and their babies, snapping turtles, peacocks, assorted other birds, foxes, a deer named Cedric, and a bichon named McKenzie.

With the intent to lend her stories credibility, Peg is a graduate of the Aurora Citizens' Police Academy, participated in the Writers' Police Academy, has interviewed crime scene investigators, FBI agents, human trafficking experts, obtained her Concealed Carry Permit, studied diverse topics from arson dogs to Santeria, and hunted down real life locations that show up in her stories.

You can learn more about Peg at http://www.pegbrantley.com or meet up with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pegbrantleyauthorpage.

From Peg: I love hearing from readers. You make my day when you take the time to contact me, and I make every effort to respond. When you leave a review where readers gather, you help someone decide whether or not to give me a try. I treasure every one of your words.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,764 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging from the first chapter, with a well-written story that maintains tension throughout. The characters are well-developed, with one review highlighting the realistic portrayal of regular people with flaws and insecurities. Customers appreciate the fast-paced action, with one noting how it moves without unnecessary pauses, and they particularly enjoy the dogs and their handlers. Customers praise the author's writing style and consider them a new author on the rise.

Select to learn more

StorylineReadabilityCharacter developmentWriting qualityPacingLove for dogsAuthorKnowledge
218 customers mention "Storyline"182 positive36 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, finding it sufficiently suspenseful and well-written, with one customer noting its tightly woven plot and another mentioning its numerous twists and turns.

"...This is a thriller that starts out fast and gets faster until the reader is being carried at breakneck speed with clenched hands and held breath...." Read more

"...The story maintains the tension throughout and draws you in as the time ticks away things become more complicated...." Read more

"...The story starts out well and is immediately engaging. The writing is crisp and tight, and the author introduces an interesting cast of characters...." Read more

"...The story is well-paced until the very end when some parts slow down while others speed up, so everyone can meet just in time, more or less...." Read more

216 customers mention "Readability"207 positive9 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with many noting it held their interest from the first chapter and describing it as a fun and thrilling read.

"...This is a tense, interesting book. The killer is walking among them but who is he? I loved how Jamie was so invested in her dogs...." Read more

"...Still, this is such a good book that I don't care! When I read that this is a debut novel, my mouth flew open in amazement...." Read more

"...I think this was a great book and I enjoyed it a great deal. I would recommend it highly to any fan of mystery/suspense genre." Read more

"...The story starts out well and is immediately engaging. The writing is crisp and tight, and the author introduces an interesting cast of characters...." Read more

106 customers mention "Character development"98 positive8 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one review noting that they are regular people with flaws and insecurities.

"...I liked the characters. That being said, each had their own annoying idiosyncrasies which, inevitably made them more human...." Read more

"...Along the way, though, you get to know some wonderful characters (some even human), and you get to see how search and rescue dogs work, how they..." Read more

"...The characters were very real and got me involved in their lives, they are very lively and full of life...." Read more

"...The writing is crisp and tight, and the author introduces an interesting cast of characters...." Read more

84 customers mention "Writing quality"75 positive9 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well-crafted and easy to read, with one customer noting its spare prose style.

"...I felt both the writing and editing were very good. I was given just enough of an education in Search & Rescue Dogs to make things understandable...." Read more

"...Her research seems impeccable, her prose is more than readable, her characters practically step off the page and say hi, and she handles a multi-..." Read more

"...The dialogue is easy to follow but does not talk down to you at all and even the technical terms are defined...." Read more

"...The story starts out well and is immediately engaging. The writing is crisp and tight, and the author introduces an interesting cast of characters...." Read more

60 customers mention "Pacing"48 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast-paced read with engaging action sequences, and one customer notes that it maintains momentum without unnecessary pauses.

"...This being so, and this book being as well crafted as it is ...I can't wait for the next book from this author...." Read more

"...The relationship between the 4 friends is nicely done, with some unexpected surprises...." Read more

"...His ultimate scheme is brilliantly rendered...." Read more

"...The is a fast page turner from a new author or button thumb as I read in on my Kindle. Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH" Read more

14 customers mention "Love for dogs"14 positive0 negative

Customers love the dogs and handler in the book, with one customer particularly appreciating the touching relationship between the animals and their human companions.

"...Jamie's relationship with her animals is touching and a pleasure to read...." Read more

"...about friendship between women, about family and about relationship with dogs and men (in this order)...." Read more

"...This is a story of a family that has had brutal tragedies, friends, FBI agent with a fear of dogs, loss and love...." Read more

"...I loved all the dogs and their realistic role in the story...." Read more

13 customers mention "Author"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author, describing them as a great new talent on the rise.

"I think the author has a lot of potential but the characters in this story need more development; give us some background on them...." Read more

"Red Tide is, hands-down, one of the best novels I have read... in a very long time...." Read more

"...She did a wonderful job leading the author to believe one thing all the while the unexpected is where the truth lies. Definitely a good read." Read more

"...more books by Peg Brantley, and I hope she has a long, productive career as an author." Read more

13 customers mention "Knowledge"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's knowledge, with one noting how skillfully they describe the surroundings of the area, while another mentions how the story gets readers involved in the characters' lives.

"...I loved how Jamie was so invested in her dogs. It was educational to see how they worked...." Read more

"...Her research seems impeccable, her prose is more than readable, her characters practically step off the page and say hi, and she handles a multi-..." Read more

"...The characters were very real and got me involved in their lives, they are very lively and full of life...." Read more

"...has integrated the scenery, people, terrain, and surroundings of the area with enough skill that we readers are given a solid sense of place...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rose Arbor
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting Book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Jamie Taylor works at a bank but her passion is her dogs. She has a Golden named Gretchen who is trained to find dead bodies and grave sites, Socks who is trained in search and Rescue, and McKensie, a bichon who is just for fun. She has a sister, Jax, who is the local medical examiner. Their mother, Star, was the victim of an unsolved murder ten years ago. Their father had taken off soon after to search for Star's killer. He checks in on them when he is in the area.
    Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Grant spends a lot of his downtime trying to find the grave sites of the victims of Leopard Bonzer. Thirteen families have been unable to bury their loved ones. Nick has a bad back which has gotten him hooked on oxycontin. And, due to an incident when he was a child, he is terrified of dogs.
    When Bonzer dies in prison, Nick finds a photo hidden in his cell. He believes it is the burial site. Since Bonzer was captured ten years ago with his last victim in his car, the FBI assumes he was driving to his burial ground. Based on the direction he was going they look at many sites and eliminate them one by one. Finally they find a likely spot near Aspen Falls. Jamie is called to bring her cadaver dog. They start marking grave sites and workers start to excavate. They find ten year old graves but also unexpected newer ones. Have two killers been using the same site?

    This is a tense, interesting book. The killer is walking among them but who is he? I loved how Jamie was so invested in her dogs. It was educational to see how they worked. Nick had a lot of problems but was essentially a good person.

    I recommend this book to people who like mysteries and dogs. I do and I loved it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Hollie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written....COULD HAPPEN!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I originally was going to read THE MISSINGS also by Peg Brantley. I usually read the '3 Star' reviews to kind of get "middle of the road" opinions, however, the reviews that I read were not impressive. In fact the conscientious of reviews felt that THE MISSINGS was not as good as the previous book, RED TIDE. I read those reviews and, though not impressed with them, decided to read the 'Look Inside' excerpt. There was enough material provided to secure my interest and make me want to read RED TIDE. I am very glad I did. I am usually too busy to read more than one or two chapters at a time, however, upon starting to read I ignored whatever I had to do that day and read the entire book (thank goodness it only had 296 pages or I would not have slept either!!).

    I felt both the writing and editing were very good. I was given just enough of an education in Search & Rescue Dogs to make things understandable. Too much more information and I might have gotten lost in description details and jargon. I liked the characters. That being said, each had their own annoying idiosyncrasies which, inevitably made them more human. I liked that Jamie and Nick were not falling hopelessly in love with each other throughout the story. Too many mysteries out there with H and h constantly mooning over each other and distracting from the plot. After all this is a mystery, not a love story! I was a little surprised when, at the end, Nick and Jamie were 'all of a sudden' a couple. True, as other reviewers have noted, we are not given certain supplementary information (where Nick's money came from, how did he injure his back, what happened to his uncle and the dog involved in the incident when he was a boy). I feel that that information was not completely necessary to the story, although I do think that the continued reference to these scenarios was unnecessary. Maybe an occasional mention would have been sufficient.

    To me, the storyline was believable (in fact, it COULD happen). The ending was a bit staged with a "just in time" rescue, but I have come to expect that from most mystery writers (even Dean Koontz and James Patterson). All in all RED TIDE is a book I would recommend to all mystery lovers.

    Just an FYI, an excerpt from THE MISSINGS was included after the initial story ended and upon reading it I chose to read that also.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Shoshana Hathaway
    5.0 out of 5 stars rescue dogs, murder, terrorists and love
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I like reading about, and watching working dogs in any field, so, by the end of the first paragraph, I was hooked. Then came the story, and the problem became putting the book down to do necessary things, like eat. This is a thriller that starts out fast and gets faster until the reader is being carried at breakneck speed with clenched hands and held breath. Along the way, though, you get to know some wonderful characters (some even human), and you get to see how search and rescue dogs work, how they find bodies under ground, and how a team of forensic experts deals with them. You also find yourself bonding with 4 friends, each different, though 2 are sisters, and when tragedy strikes, you feel it. I didn't see the villain coming ...even though we saw him throughout the book, both in his role of innocent and through his mental processes. the characterizations (both, in his case) were so well done that when his identity smacked me, my first thought was: "I should have seen that! Of course it's him!".

    the writing is tight, and even in the less frenetic scenes, the prose is spare yet robust and enjoyable. the author sets her scenes beautifully, and brings her landscapes to vibrant life.

    There is only one scene, near the end that left me with a question, but I'll admit that I might have missed something, because, by that time, I was practically inhaling the action. However, if I didn't, let me just say that I find fortuitous events that "save the day" cheating. Still, this is such a good book that I don't care!

    When I read that this is a debut novel, my mouth flew open in amazement. This being so, and this book being as well crafted as it is ...I can't wait for the next book from this author. Her research seems impeccable, her prose is more than readable, her characters practically step off the page and say hi, and she handles a multi-element plot with mastery. I think I've just added a new author to my "author watch list"!
    16 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tyke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This came up as a recommendation for my kindle library ... and it was free ! Glad I downloaded it, I've not been able to put it down and have read it in a few hours today. A well written book in my opinion, with interesting characters and an involved storyline. I look forward to reading more from Peg Brantley and would recommend as a good read.
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  • Mys M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense Thriller
    Reviewed in Canada on June 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I have to admit, I chose this book because of the title and the cover. I thought it might be an adventure that had to do with the sea. It wasn't. Nonetheless, it was an excellent adventure story, full of suspense and intrigue. The main characters are the Taylor family, and the first member we meet is Jamie. Divorced from an abusive husband, she is a well-respected loans officer at a bank in Aspen Falls, Colorado, but her passion is for search and rescue, a passion which stems from the kidnapping and murder of her mother ten years earlier. Jamie has a superb reputation among law enforcement officials and 3 dogs: Gretchen, a golden retriever who sniffs out the location of dead bodies, Socrates (Socks for short), who tracks lost hikers, and McKenzie, a fluffy white bichon who visits hospitals, hospices, and homebound people. When we meet Jamie, she and Gretchen are searching a field for a lady killed by her husband. Later, we're introduced to Jamie's sister, Jax (short for Jacqueline) who is the medical examiner for the county, and is married to an abusive husband who spends her money faster than she can make it on the assumption that Jamie will continually bail them out. Their father, Bryce, a former security specialist, has been on the road for the past ten years tracking his wife's killer and is closing in. The trail has led back to Aspen Falls. Jamie and Jax have two best friends, Ellen Grimes who teaches third grade, and Ciara Burke, a tall, gorgeous, model.

    When Jamie is called out for a search one Saturday morning, she meets FBI Agent Nick Grant, a determined and dedicated officer who has been trying to discover the whereabouts of 13 bodies killed and buried by Leopold Bonzer, serial killer. Grant's goal? Give the families of the victims closure. He, too, is widely-respected in law enforcement circles, and with Bonzer's death, he is desperately searching for the burial ground based on the only clue Bonzer left behind: an old black and white photo of a field. When he realizes that there's only one dog and the handler is female, his disgust is obvious. He doesn't want to waste his time and resources training an incompetent woman! (Hah! He gets to eat his words.)

    The action flips around a bit before bringing all the characters together and the tension is heightened by the intermittent glimpses of a second killer, a cold and calculating stalker who is observing the unearthing of almost two dozen bodies, and planning his own ultimate destruction of human life. We see that various women in the story are vulnerable, but this killer remains unnamed as we try to unmask him from the various possible suspects in the story. Clues to his identity are dropped in, but not enough to have him revealed before the author wants it known. Many more bodies are found before Nick and Bryce team up to track him down, prevent disaster, and rescue his last two would-be victims.

    I'm never comfortable with psychotic killers who stalk the vulnerable — women, older people, the handicapped — and this killer, the second one, seems stranger than most. Jamie's ex turns up to add diversion to the plot, and Agent Nick is attracted to her despite his manic fear of dogs. The author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to S & R dogs and MEs but doesn't throw in so much technical stuff that it's a turn-off. This was a real page-turner — I read it in one day — and, despite being a bit outside my comfort level, I could not put it down. It is a well told story that kept me hanging in right to the very end.
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  • Leseratte
    5.0 out of 5 stars Strong crime thriller
    Reviewed in Germany on December 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The characters were engaging and as the stakes kept rising, I worried about them as if they were old friends….Brantley manages to cover a lot of ground and gives her characters depth and complexity
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  • Jennifer90
    4.0 out of 5 stars Red Tide
    Reviewed in Germany on December 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A good and solid thriller with an entertaining plot. The characters are a bit stereotypical and the outcome is predictable. Still, the book will hook you and you will enjoy it a lot.
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  • Bella
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Very good read.
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