Blood Island: A Matt Royal Mystery

H. Terrell Griffin
Oceanview Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781933515212
Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (11/08)

 

“Blood Island” is the tale of Matt Royal, a semi-retired lawyer who seems to run into trouble no matter where he goes. The story opens up with Matt finding a dead body in a quiet bird sanctuary and quickly launches in to his ex-wife coming to him to help her find her missing stepdaughter.  While I at first thought the opening scene was an attempt to show how Matt finds trouble easily, it did play a part in the story later on in the book.  That was the only thing about this book I didn’t like; I would have liked to see how the dead body played a part a bit earlier so it didn’t feel like a forced set-up.

Matt’s ex-wife Laura calls him and wants to meet. There is a deep history between them and the love they feel for each other is always near the surface. However, Laura is now happily married to a man much more suited for her and Matt loves her enough to realize that is best for her.  Laura’s stepdaughter Peggy has disappeared and because she is over eighteen, the police won’t help.  Laura turns to Matt hoping his connections (not to mention rogue tactics) can help find Peggy.  Matt of course agrees and quickly comes to find out that what seemed to be a simple missing person’s case is something much more than anyone could have imagined.

Matt and his friends Logan and Jock manage to track Peggy to a deserted island in the Florida Keys where she is being held by a crazed reverend.  The Rev is the head of a cult that drugs young women, forces them into prostitution, and has a plan of pure destruction quickly coming to fruition.  Matt and company not only have to save Peggy, but now have to save those in the Rev’s path.
           
“Blood Island” was fast-paced and written in such a way that I did not want to put it down.  Matt and his friends are far from perfect and at first seem to have no issues with killing and injuring people to get what they want.  However, the author does show how much this has an effect on Matt; he is not happy nor is he comfortable with his actions, but considering the alternative, he does what he feels is right.  I struggled a bit with how quickly the dead bodies piled up, but not once was there ever the feel of gratuitous violence. Rather, any violence or killing was done out of a true sense of survival. It takes quite a talented author to write a character that kills those in his path yet remains likeable. 

The story of “Blood Island” by H. Terrell Griffin is gripping and draws the reader right in. At the same time, the back story of Matt and his past are just as compelling.  I truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more by this author.

 

Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (11/08)

When the weather is frigid and you don’t even want to think about stepping outside, there is no better place to head than the sandy shores of sunny Florida.  The tranquil setting may incline you to relax, but relax is not in the story.  Being tired of the 9-to-5 lifestyle, Matt Royal heads south just about as far as you can go on the continent to find peace with his life. 

While touring the Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary early one morning, Matt finds a very dead body in the vulture cage.  Not even having time to digest the dead body find, Matt hears from his ex-wife asking for help in the search of her missing step-daughter, Peggy.  Wanting to feel connected to his ex-wife in any way possible, Matt will risk his life searching.  When his ex-wife goes missing, Matt is beside himself and feels the tock ticking when the search drags on and on.  One mystery is solved only to realize another is waiting.

While searching, Matt is joined by friends from his past and a new friend or two he makes along the way.  Laced with bad guys around each corner, Matt is deceived by some that he feels are helping him.  This calm beachfront setting can be totally deceiving and may give some a false security. 

Matt Royal is a damn good detective and his friends are a great bunch of guys to have on your side.  Not only does trouble find them, but they seen to have a darn good time solving the crime in “Blood Island” by H. Terrell Griffin.

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