Killer Swell: A Noah Braddock Novel

Smart-talking, wisecracking Noah Braddock, a surfing San Diego PI, doesn't catch any huge waves in his debut, but neither does he wipe out. Braddock is reluctant to meet his newest prospective client, Marilyn Crier, because she's the mother of his high school sweetheart, Kate; he hasn't forgotten how the wealthy Criers tried desperately—and successfully—to break up him and Kate. But Kate, now married, is missing, and Marilyn plays on his old feelings for her daughter to get him to take the case. Braddock finds Kate rather quickly, but not soon enough. Then he sets out to find out what happened to her in the dozen years since he last saw her. Drugs and drug lords, Feds and cops, as well as Kate's parents, sister and husband, all work to complicate the puzzle. Shelby handles the surf scene with finesse, avoiding high drama while providing entertaining background. If the verbal banter seems a bit forced at times, Braddock proves to be tough enough to keep going against the odds. Good action and a surprise plot twist make it a safe bet that Braddock will return. Agent, Veronica Sanders . (June 27)