Rising Tide

November 17, 2014
In Ryan’s pedestrian sequel to 2014’s Windswept, New Yorker Emily Harrington returns to the Caribbean island of Aruba for the wedding of the daughter of Annie and Martin Maitland, owners of the Island Bluffs resort. Emily befriends fellow wedding guest Peggy Lawson, along with her nine-month-old daughter, and teenager Ariana Van Meeterens, “one of the most sought-after babysitters on the island.” When kids discover Ariana’s body on the beach, any hope Emily had for romance with Chief Insp. Thomas Moller goes by the boards. A bracelet belonging to Emily found on Ariana provides an additional puzzle. Meanwhile, Ariana’s killer worries about possible witnesses who might be able to tie him to the victim. When a foolish resort guest tells the media that Peggy may have seen the killer, she becomes a target, as does Emily. Ryan never manages to wring much suspense from her story, and the rather prosaic investigation doesn’t provide much of interest either. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

January 1, 2015
In the second title of the series that began with Windswept (2014), Emily Harrington is returning to the Island Bluffs resort for the wedding of the owners' daughter. Emily broke up with her longtime boyfriend after last year's adventure. She now has a new job, and she's ready to pursue romance with Thomas, the island officer she has kept in contact with while she was in New York. She befriends young mother Peggy when she arrives for the wedding, but soon both are shocked when the teenage babysitter they hired is found murdered. Emily tries to help Thomas find out what he can about the popular local girl and her mysterious boyfriend, while the killer lurks nearby, leaving warnings for Peggy and Emily. Another terrible murder leaves Emily reeling; then she remembers some key clues. Ryan pulls no punches with her depictions of the shocking murders, but the island setting and strong heroine keep the pages turning.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)