This was a nice, easy going and entertaining read. Nothing too mysterious or suspenseful and the story was a bit too predictable for me personally. But it was well written and I did enjoy the way the author wrote the thoughts and built each of the characters into the ending of the story.

I liked the connection that Andi and Jim had during this book. Some of the characters were likeable whilst others weren't, which is always good in a murder mystery scenario.

A neat little twist at the end, gave you an insight as to why the Machintosh brothers hated one another.. This book reminded me of my younger self watching "Murder She Wrote" on TV. Enjoyable even if it was easy to see where the story line was going.

I enjoyed this mystery set in a fishing town on the west side of Vancouver Island. I felt the beginning sections were a bit confusing, Elliott giving detailed backstory as each character was introduced in the narrative. I came to like the technique, however, as I realized we readers were being given each character's history so we could understand why the characters acted as they did. Coffin Cove is the kind of town where everybody knew everybody's history and readers are given the same privilege. Therefore, the character development is done well.

The plot is good. An unsolved murder from years ago is again a concern when a suspect returns to town. Then he is murdered. Andi, our heroine, is on the case. She is a disgraced journalist relegated to a small town newspaper and is bent on redeeming her reputation.

I appreciate learning a bit about the fishing industry and the impact of clear cut logging. I do wish Elliott had been a little clearer on the descriptions of her locations and the getting to and from them. Harry going from Coffin Cove to the Fraser River, for example, would have required hours, having to go through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and then north to Vancouver.

This is a good mystery for readers who like to understand the motives of those involved. It seems this is the debut novel from Elliott. I liked it and will be looking for more from her.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

If there’s one thing that I like doing it’s discovering new authors. Jackie Elliott is certainly a new author for me. ‘Coffin Cove’ is the first in a new series and what a book it is too. I really enjoyed reading ‘Coffin Cove’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me no time at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page or so, I knew that I find it increasingly difficult to put the boo down for any length of time. The characters intrigued me and the area interested me, so I had to keep reading to see if my suspicions as to what was going to happen were along the right lines or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. This wasn’t a book that I could read over the course of a single day as life got in the way but I would use any spare time I had to read some more of this book.
‘Coffin Cove’ is really well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into the story. Jackie uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt as though I knew Coffin Cove without actually visiting the area. Reading this book was like being on an at times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. ‘Coffin Cove’ starts off slowly but soon gathers momentum. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Jackie’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. I found ‘Coffin Cove’ to be a gripping read, which kept my interest throughout and kept me guessing.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Coffin Cove’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will be reading more of Jackie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

A scene setting first book in a series that I read in one sitting and enjoyed. Plenty going on and I will be looking out for book two with interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quick read mystery involving a disgraced journalist and a small town with many dark secrets. A new murder brings back memories of another unsolved murder committed years before, Can the journalist solve these murders and regain her standing in the newspaper world? What past lies lay below the surface? I enjoyed the book but probably will not continue the series.

A good storyline involving a very close knit fishing community, however it appears to be controlled by one family for a considerable amount of time. However there are secrets within the community until Andi who loses her job as a investigative reporter on a main line newspaper and ends up working for the local newspaper in this small town and starts to uncover the secrets this community has kept.

Coffin Cove by Jackie Elliott is the first in the series of the same name.  It is a mystery novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books (in particular Nina Kicul), and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Andi Silvers, a disgraced journalist, finds herself in Coffin Cove, a small logging and fishing town on Vancouver Island.  After screwing up a story, and  being dumped by her married co-worker, she had no choice but to leave.  She is doing a lot of drinking and moping in her spare time, and she knows she has to shape up, or she won't even have a job at the small-town Gazette.

When two sea lions turn up on the shore, both shot, local fisherman are blamed.  But when a body turns up, also shot, definitive answers are needed.

Andi is looking into the story,  and she wonders if this actually ties into another death from 20 years ago that was never solved.  There seems to be a lot going on in this small town.


My Opinions:   
I have to admit to struggling with this one. I'm not really into logging or fishing, so Coffin Cove may not be my type of series.  They say location is everything, and apparently it is in books as well.

That being said, it was a really good mystery, twisting in a lot of different directions. The writing was fine, as were the characters.   Yes, I figured out what was going on fairly early, but not everything, so that was good.  What I did figure out didn't detract from the story.

Overall, a good read.

Andi Silvers left her last job as a reporter in disgrace. She eventually finds another job in a small fishing village working for the struggling newspaper there. Her new employer believes in second chances, but if Andi doesn't quit drinking so much, she may find herself unemployed yet again.

Here comes her chance to show what she can do ... two dead sea lions have washed ashore. The town comes in two major businesses ... fishing and lumber. Of course, the local fishermen get blamed for these deaths .. .until another death is discovered ... this one is human.

Andi starts investigating, much to the annoyance of local law enforcement, and the more she learns, the more questions she has. She finds new information in the death of a teenage girl almost 20 years ago. The dead human body is that of a man who has always been suspected of killing the girl .. .but it was never proven.

What connects a cold case .... dead sea lions... and a bitter feud?

This is a new author to me and not knowing what to expect, I can say I wasn't disappointed at all. This is well written, with a few twists and turns leading to multiple suspects. The characters are solidly defined. I really enjoyed how she relates to the other characters .. she's gutsy, she loves her job, and she's determined to be a better person this time around. As in all small villages, the residents can be quirky, inquisitive, and somewhat secretive. The ending came fast and furious and quite unexpected. I look forward to seeing more of Andi in her adopted village.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this most entertaining mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Beneath The Surface....
The first in the Coffin Cove series of mysteries in which we meet Andrea Silvers who, seeking a new direction, moves to the small fishing village of Coffin Cove, Vancouver. Andrea has her own problems but when a bizarre series of events occurs, culminating in a death, Andrea takes it upon herself to start digging. What sectrets lie beneath the surface of this seemingly idyllic place? A slow burn but an enjoyable read with a satisfying denouement.

Serious Murder Mystery
This is a serious mystery. There are many twists to the plot that it is impossible to see where the story is going. All of the characters are well developed, deep, and realistic. This is a very tense story that I had to read in small portions. I was afraid that the tension would give me nightmares if I dove in and read it in one sitting. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Andrea “Andi” Silvers is in disgrace. Once a rising star reporter, she has been dumped by her married lover and by the paper they both worked at. She finds a job in a small ailing local paper, the Gazette, in the tiny fishing village of Coffin Cove. Drinking her sorrows away, she is barely holding it together. Jim, her new employer, is already having doubts about his latest hire. Then two dead sea lions wash up on the shore. Local fishermen get the blame. Until a dead body turns up. The deeper Andi digs the more dirt she finds.
This is the first in a new series, also a new author to me. Whilst I enjoyed the book it was a slow starter as the beginning of the book was taken up with setting the scene, we don't meet Andi until a couple of chapters in, which I found novel. I found Andi to be likeable & sympathised with her. I found that it was a slow burn with lots of detail but I persevered & the pace did increase until I was on the edge of my seat. A well written enjoyable read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This story centres around the fishing village of Coffin Cove, situated on Vancouver Island which is just to the west of the mainland. Ex fisherman Harry Brown still lives on his boat there and his younger sister runs the local café. The only pub, the Fat Chicken, is run by his friend Walter. It’s the sort of place where everyone knows everyone else’s business and sometimes they make their own rules too. Jim Peters runs the local newspaper, the Gazette, and in a last ditch effort to keep it afloat, has hired disgraced reporter Andi Silvers to inject new life. She’s a good reporter, but was stitched up by her former editor and lover. It transpires many years ago at Coffin Cove a local girl was murdered and her killer was never caught. An environmental activist called Pierre Mason, still suspected by the locals despite being cleared, has suddenly reappeared in the village just as two dead sea lions, known to deplete fish stocks, are washed up. So why has the man come back to a place where he is still hated by locals and fisherman alike? When a murder occurs very soon after, Andi has a gut feeling there is a very big story just waiting to be unearthed, and a mysterious photo seems to confirm her suspicions but the scale of the skullduggery there will leave everyone shocked.
There’s loads going on in this book, lots of history to unravel and many people all telling their own stories which don't get knitted together until near the end when the detectives arrive and with help, start to piece it all together. It’s a slow burn while all the main players and their back stories are introduced, and I found it a little drawn out at times as the intrigue quietly built up, but the action does kick in at the end as Andi, Jim and Harry help to solve the murders and finally lay the secrets of Coffin Cove to rest. 4*

Andi Silvers has had a career meltdown in Vancouver and is forced to relocate to the sleeping fishing village of Coffin Cove in an attempt to resurrect her career. This story starts slowly as the reader is learning with Andi about her new hometown and all the characters in it. Conflict soon erupts and Andi is brought into the antagonism between the environmentalists and those who are just trying to make a living from the land and seas natural harvest. And then, just below the surface, Andi becomes aware of a past murder that has haunted the town for years. Once I reached the half-way point, I couldn’t put this book down. This story kept me guessing until the end! #COFFINCOVE #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

The best crime thriller I have read in a very long time. In fact, as near perfect as any novel in the genre I have ever read. I can't praise this book enough. It was an absolute pleasure to read. A stunning debut.
All the characters have a fully-developed backstory which enhances the realism and provokes empathy. The remoteness of the location has an almost otherworldly appeal. The plot is fiendishly clever and touches on environmental worries of over-fishing and deforestation which gives it an extra intellectual depth.
This is a book not to be missed: read it!

Coffin Cove Mysteries #1

Andrea ''Andi'' Silvers is a disgrace. Once a rising star reporter. she has been dumped by her married ,over and by the paper they both work at. She gets a job in a small ailing local paper, the Gazette, but her new boss is starting to have doubts about her. Then two dead sea lions wassh up on the shore. Local fishermen get the blame, Until a dead body turns up.

This is the debut novel in this new series. The story has a slow start but the pace soon picks up. The characters are well developed. andi id a flawed character who drinks too much, trying to drown her sorrows.

we begin the with the books prologue, which tells us about a murder that occured several years ago. Then there's the body washed up on the shore. Are the deaths somehow connected? The more you read, the better the story gets, so stick with it.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #JackieElliot for my ARC of #CoffinCove in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Coffin Cove on Vancouver Island, Andi Silvers gets dumped by her married lover after she shows up at his house to confront him and then gets fired from her job. She finally lands a job as a reporter in Coffin Cove with an independent publication called Gazette 📰

Andi’s new boss Jim Peters has assigned her a new story involving two dead sea lions 🦭 that were discovered dead by the beach. Apparently, they were shot—supposedly by local fishermen who think the sea lions a threat to the commercial fishery as the sea lions eat lots of salmons.

The second story involves members of an environmental group called the Black OPS—The Operation Protection Society and a man named Pierre Mason, an environmental activist with a shady past.

The third story would cover the impact this would have on their economy. Andi sees this as an opportunity to revive her career and uncover the truth surrounding the death of a teenager named Sarah McIntosh who went missing and whose body later washed up to shore.

People suspect she was abducted by environmental activists who were against the proposal her father Joe McIntosh had for the town as it involved clear-cutting —felling trees 🌲; others think she and Pierre Mason staged her kidnapping.

As Andi starts probing into Sarah’s murder, the main suspect turns up dead in a disused fish plant. Jim sends Andi over to investigate and report her findings. But Andi is an outsider and she soon learns that some people would kill to keep the truth hidden.

I enjoyed the storyline and the atmospheric setting. Would recommend.

Thank you to Jackie Elliott NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC of this book.

This is the debut novel in this new series. I found it to have a slow start that took me a bit to get into but an excellent mystery more than made up for it! It was full of twists and turns and led up to the description of thriller. I cannot wait to read more in this series and I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries/thrillers.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Coffin Cove, the first novel to feature reporter Andi Silvers, set in the fictional Vancouver Island town of Coffin Cove.

Sacked from her previous job borderline alcoholic Andi Silvers takes the only job on offer at the Coffin Cove Gazette, a small town newspaper with parochial interests, which include two dead sea lions washed up on shore. Andi is more interested in the twenty year old unsolved murder of Sarah McIntosh, another body found washed up on the beach. Then there is a murder.

I like the plot premise of Coffin Cove and it’s always interesting to try a new author so I was pleased to get the opportunity to read it. Unfortunately it didn’t really work for me as I found it quite flat. The plot is very detailed and while that gives the reader something to concentrate on constantly it does make it impossible to remember every last detail and I found I missed a few things that later become important. It also means that there is a fair amount of scene setting that makes it slow to start. It also gets quite involved in the politics of environmentalism, a subject I have zero interest in and don’t really understand. I think broader brushstrokes in this would have held my interest better.

I did admire the way the author builds the story and draws it all together. The denouement is definitely the best bit in the novel as it gets quite gripping when the revelations start coming.

The characters are well enough drawn for the plot with Andi Silvers getting the most attention. She changes greatly over the course of the novel so it’s difficult to asses what she really is, apart from a great investigative journalist.

Coffin Cove is a solid read.

As thrillers go, Coffin Corner by Jackie Elliot is a slow burner, but eminently readable, and it delivers the thrills in the end.

We meet the protagonist, Andrea “Andi” Silvers, in the third chapter of the novel. Silvers, once up and coming major market investigative journalist, has out of desperation taken a job as a reporter at a small local and failing newspaper in the mythical backwater fishing village of Coffin Cove. Once a thriving center of the Canadian logging and fishing industries, Coffin Cove has also fallen on hard times. Silvers spends her early days in the town trying to drown with drink the memories of a disastrous affair with a married man, her former boss, and the cause of her professional demise, a story she had written where she failed to corroborate a source who turned out bogus. After the prominent businessman, maligned in the article based on the phony tip, threatened to sue, Silvers’ paper summarily fired her.

Andrea Silvers is a likeable character whose sad backstory immediately evokes the readers’ sympathy. Likewise, we applaud when she stops feeling sorry for herself and takes her new job seriously once a murder occurs. But I would have liked to have seen Silvers appear earlier in the story. The reason she didn’t is one nuance of the book I didn’t care for much.

The novel begins with a prologue concerning a murder that occurred years before the story takes place. That’s fine since many contemporary thriller writers use the device to set the hook. But then the first chapter is essentially a second prologue with details of an unidentified shadowy figure stealing a rifle. And in the second chapter, the author introduces a supporting character, albeit it an important character to the plot, before we meet the protagonist.

While I understand the author uses the prologue and first two chapters to provide readers with important backstory information, there are much more effective ways of accomplishing that. The effect was a painfully slow start after the promise offered by the prologue that made the novel difficult to get into. By the time I reached chapter three, I didn’t even find the introduction of the main character that compelling. Because of the initial drag placed on the story, things seemed to move forward at nearly a glacial pace until almost the mid-point of the book.

Elliott employs the third person omniscient point of view in the novel, with the narrator telling the story from multiple characters’ perspectives. Third person omniscient is difficult to carry off well, and I found it here a bit jarring. Again, I understand it was used to communicate important information to the reader, but this too moved the story forward at a very slow pace. Bluntly put, it was a bit of a slog to get through the first half of the novel.

Finally, in the second half of the book, the author hit her stride. There is more focus given to Andrea Silvers’ perspective, and the pace picks up substantially. Three-quarters of the way through, I was feeling pleased I had persevered rather than giving up on the book in the early chapters. And Elliott rewards the reader with a twisty surprise at the satisfying conclusion.

Coffin Corner is a novel suspense / thriller fans will enjoy who are patient enough to forgive the slow start and are unperturbed by the multiple character perspectives. Just be mindful this one is a slow burn that takes a while to get up to true thriller pace. But the author rewards perseverance with excellent storytelling in the second half.

What a debut! It’s hard to believe that this stunning, complicated mystery is a the first in a series. With well described characters, an atmospheric location and a deliciously complicated plot, Coffin Cove is a surefire 5 star read.

Andi Silvers, recently fired from the Vancouver Mail (don’t have an affair with your boss), is the new reporter for the Coffin Cove Gazette. She assumes the job will be boring, full of small town happenings. She’s very wrong. On her first day at the Gazette, two dead sea lions are found near the harbor where a protest is taking place. The lead protestor is the charismatic Pierre Mason. The last time he was in town, Sarah, the daughter of Joe McIntosh, owner of a large lumber business, was found dead. The townspeople believed she had an affair with Pierre and he killed her but he was found not guilty of her murder. Andi decides to look into that case and see if she can uncover new evidence. When another body is found, Andi realizes that her investigation has brought new danger to Coffin Cove.

To avoid spoilers, I won’t write more about the plot. Andi is a flawed character, fueled by alcohol, who doubts her own self worth. Jackie Elliott builds her characters so well that I feel like I would recognize Harry and Hepzibah Brown, Detective Vega, and Jim Peters if I saw them on the street. She has crafted a complex, nuanced plot that will leave you shocked by the conclusion. I found the facts about the fishing and logging industries that were woven into the story fascinating. I can’t wait for the next in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Jackie Elliott for this ARC.