I really enjoyed this story about Jake and the residents of an old building that end up fighting for their lives against a category three hurricane and an ominous threat in the night. David always writes novels that capture my attention right away and this was no different. I was glued to my e-reader the entire time.

An island and a man that is determined to keep his family safe, but when a hurricane is on the way he knows he needs to protect everyone. When he finds his best friend dead of a head wound he soon realizes that the hurricane isn’t the only danger.
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This was a page turner that I could totally see on the big screen!

I love David Bell novels and was thrilled to read a copy of his latest, Storm Warning.

This book had me on the edge of my seat as I flipped through the pages. I loved how fast-paced this novel was and waiting to see what was going to happen next.

This book did not disappoint! A must read!

Storm Warning by David Bell kept me up late at night! The story takes place during a hurricane and in a somewhat abandoned apartment complex.. It is a locked room mystery and I could not stop reading until I found out what happened. This book seemed different than the author’s previous books, but I really enjoyed this. This one I definitely recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions are mine.

I am forever a David Bell fan!The book follows Jake a man who becomes an unlikely hero in a midst of a hurricane. On his way to fix things with his family Jake discovers his best friend Dallas has been murdered and not only is there a storm but a murderer in their midst. Thrilling ,fast-paced ,well written and will keep you guessing to the end. Love it!

Jake Powell isn't getting along with his wife. And, he doesn't his job. So he leaves his wife and teenage daughter in Ohio and finds a place to take a 'break'. He moves all the way into a dilapidated condominium on a barrier island off the coast of Florida. The only one of three buildings inhabited, only a handful of residents are left. With a hurricane moving in, Jake decides it's time to return to his family and sort things out. Lloyd, the building manager gives Jake his car and he heads off the island. Stopping at the police station, he learns that the only car he passed on the causeway to the island held his wife and daughter, who had come to collect him.

Racing back to the island on the crumbling causeway, Jake arrives just before the storm hits. Finding Lloyd dead, he realizes there is no one else to help rescue some of the elderly and ailing residents. After discovering Lloyd didn't die a natural death, he realizes he has more problems than just the storm. With his wife and daughter trapped there too, Jake convinces everyone to move to the second floor where he deems it is safest. Even Hazel, the nonagenarian on the top floor. Hazel goes on and on about how she has a stalker and has given Jake a gift that's of the utmost importance. They are cut off from the outside world and in the dark with the storm raging around them.

Each of the residents has a secret or two and none of them know one another well. The building is falling to pieces around them. Can Jake, the unwilling leader of the group, get them all safely through the storm, and prevent more deaths?

This one will be hard to put down, especially for those who have been through violent storms. Recommended for those who enjoy thrillers and mysteries.

I feel like weather-related thrillers is a new favorite trope of mine. I recently read STORM WARNNG by @davidbellnovels and it was a great read for me! Thank you @berkleypub (#BerkleyPartner) for the e-Arc!

You can swipe right for the synopsis but basically imagine being stuck on an island during a hurricane, inside a building that’s practically condemned/ready to be demolished, AND there’s a serial killer on the loose. Jake was one of the most believable main characters I’ve read because he was thrust into becoming the hero for everyone and he didn’t develop superhero characteristics in a split second. He was scared, made practical choices like leaving the island early on, and was empathic to everyone.

It was simply an entertaining story and of course you had to suspend your disbelief at times. Basically, I could have finished it in one sitting if I had has the chance. It’s an easy, fast-paced read. And to be honest I feel it could easily turn into a movie or mini-series. Great cast of characters and straightforward villain. I couldn’t have asked for more 😅.

I have been fan of David Bell for many years now. He is the author of some of my favorite thrillers. This one was a little different that his usual formula. A storm, an island and a killer. It’s a bit over the top. I felt like half of the characters deaths were unnecessary.

Do you ever look at the cover of a book in your TBR pile and immediately choose it for your next read? I just did!

I was looking for an 'action' read, if you know what I mean. David Bell's latest book, Storm Warning, was the perfect choice.

Ten people are the last residents who live in a crumbling building on a barrier island in Florida. That's not the last thing they need to worry about - a hurricane might be headed their way. And ... I'm going to let you find out what else could might happen to these folks...

There's a great lead character in Storm Warning. Jake's just an ordinary guy trying to do the right thing for everybody - and stay alive. The supporting characters are a mixed bag - you'll have fun guessing if everyone is telling the truth.

The setting is really easy to imagine and Bell's descriptions paint vivid images for the reader.

The plotting is good and imaginative. I did see one element coming early - but this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

And I can absolutely see this book as a movie. It's got a vintage Brice Willis feel to it.

Jack Powell, an IT consultant, has separated from his wife and daughter, left Ohio, and relocated on a barrier island off the east coast of Florida. Powell is one of a few holdouts staying at one of the three high-rise apartment buildings soon to be demolished. As a category three hurricane approaches, Powell finds the apartment manager dead, leaving Powell to take responsibility for the "dead-ender" residents who remain--think the Island of Misfit Toys. Each time Powell tries to relocate a resident to safety in a second floor apartment, there is an issue or a personality quirk--including Powell's wife and daughter who arrive on the island with the storm. The novel reads like a television script where even with winds and storm surge, the characters stop to discuss a personal issue or deep secret. The subtitle for this novel could be Only Murders in a Hurricane.

The book offers captivating characters and a compelling premise, skillfully blending the tension of a devastating hurricane with the suspense of a mysterious killer.

The depiction of the hurricane is strikingly intense and immersive, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The subplot involving the killer introduces an extra layer of intrigue, though it sometimes feels like the story is balancing a lot of elements. Despite this, the novel manages to deliver a gripping and dynamic reading experience with plenty of suspense and depth.

A quick-paced, plot-driven thriller by David Bell—STORM WARNING explores a locked room mystery set in a hurricane.

Jake is living on a small island off the coast of Florida. Leaving behind his wife and daughter, Jake needed time away to have any hope of saving his marriage. This was supposed to be a temporary visit—Jake lives in an old apartment building set to be torn down before heading north.

Just as Jake is ready to leave, a category 3 hurricane starts barreling down upon the tiny island. Timing couldn’t be worse when he discovers his wife and daughter came to surprise him, and now all three may be trapped in the middle of a hurricane. Yikes!

When Jake finds his friend Dallas—the building manager—murdered from a blow to the head, he realizes there must be a murderer on the island. There are plenty of shady characters around with reasons to want Dallas dead, but the question is which one? Everyone comes to this island with a secret. As another murder occurs, the people stranded in the building must fight for their lives from not only the hurricane, but from one of their own.

It took me a bit to get into Jake as a narratorl. As the murders began, the story gets much more interesting and quick-paced and I wondered who was behind it all. There were plenty of suspects!

This is an exciting and tense thriller. It’s dialogue- and action-heavy. A quick read with an entertaining plot that will appeal to those who like an action-adjacent thriller.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

David Bell is a go-to author. Every book he writes keeps me turning pages and devouring the story. Storm Warning is exactly what I expect when I pick up one of his books. There are characters that I love or hate, a storyline that I become invested in, and the book is one that I do not want to end.

Storm Warning is the story about a group of island dwellers stuck in a building that is falling apart as a hurricane is hitting their island. There is a killer, there are dead bodies, and there is the hero. The characters all have histories with twists and turns that could make them the killer. This book had me turning pages and making guesses as to what would be happening next.

Once again, this is a must-read book! I recommend it to any mystery thriller reader.

I read this in one sitting! The chapters are short but there wasn’t a good place to stop with the intensity of the story. David Bell has created a cast of characters within the backdrop of the storm in a storyline that pulls you into the story itself. It’s a great contemporary human-interest story with an unlikely hero.

I've been a fan of David Bell for years now but this one I struggled with a bit. It was a difficult read and the family coming to the island and being there in the middle of everything was a bit predictable. It felt forced and as not up to what I expect from him.

A massive hurricane is heading towards the island Jake has been living on. This island is occupied by a small group of people who are struggling in life, even more so now that the hurricane is arriving. Things get even worse when Jake finds his best friend Dallas murdered in his apartment, and realizes there’s a killer among them.

So look, this book sounds like it should have all the suspense in the world, right? The problem is, it doesn’t. It’s a lot of running up stairs, going into apartments, talking about the storm, and running down stairs. The ending felt like a bit of a letdown too, the solution to the mystery not living up to its own promise. I have really liked other Bell books, but wouldn’t recommend this one.

This was not my first David Bell book, nor will it be my last. I don't know how David does it, but every book seems to grab me by the arm and keep me hooked from the very first chapter. He has become and "automatic buy" author for me, and so far I have every one of his books. They are just that good!

If you live anywhere that gets severe weather, for example hurricanes, you might enjoy this book more than this midwesterner. It really makes you think about hurricanes and what mother nature can really do. Could you imagine what could happen if you were alone on an island and this kind of severe weather happened? The worst part is, that MC wife and child came to surprise him right in the middle of a hurricane. I couldn't even begin to imagine how scary this must have been for everyone.

This book had my hooked from the very beginning and I was so sad when it ended. This isn't anything new though, as this is how I am with every one of his books.

5 star read, for sure!

Thank you @berkelypub for the #gifted copy of the book.

A hurricane is coming. Jake just wants to get home to his family after being away for 6 month. Dallas is dead so he drives off the island to report the murder. Then he realizes his wife and daughter came to surprise him in the middle of the hurricane. Now, they are all stuck on the island with a murderer on the loose. Who is the murderer and will they survive?

I nearly DNF’d this one but stuck it out. Having experienced many hurricanes, living near the coast, I don’t know anyone who’d be doing some of the things they did in a cat 3 storm!

Thank you @berkleypub @prhaudio for my complimentary audio and digital copies. My thoughts are my own.

David Bell is an auto-buy author for me, and I have been looking forward to reading his latest novel all summer!

JAKE has been living in a dilapidated apartment building on a barrier island off the coast of Florida for the past 6 months, as he and his wife take a little time apart. During this time he becomes friends with the landlord, DALLAS. The other tenants don’t have much money, and they all have various needs and health issues; but Dallas knows them all well and helps them out whenever he can.

As a dangerous hurricane approaches the island, Jake prepares to return to his wife and daughter in Ohio. But when he discovers that Dallas has been murdered, he knows he has to stay to find out the truth, and to help the other tenants in the face of the hurricane. Soon, Jake finds himself trapped on the island, with a murderer on the loose.

The tension builds throughout this intriguing story as the hurricane gradually worsens. Most of the action unfolds through dialogue, as we get to know the quirky tenants. Jake is a likable main character, as he is honorable and tries to do the right thing. I personally would have loved for Jake’s relationships to have been more fully developed, but that wasn’t crucial for the story. I loved how the tension progressed, but I wasn’t surprised at the ending.

Read this if you enjoy:
🌴Locked Room, Stormy Settings
🌴Good vs. Bad Characters
🌴Quirky Characters
🌴Building Tension

David Bell returns following Try Not To Breathe with his latest heart-pounding adrenaline-fueled suspense thriller, STORM WARNING.

A man living on a Florida barrier island is caught up in a web of secrets, lies, and murder while protecting his family and friends from a dangerous hurricane and a relentless killer where everyone is keeping secrets in a race against time.

About...

Set on the east coast of Florida on a barrier island, Ketchum Island, there are apartment buildings that have run their course. All three remaining buildings are scheduled to be demolished within six months. The Sunset Manor is one of them, with many problems, code violations, and greedy developers who want to land and build pricy luxury condos called Atlantic Estates. Fifty years ago, this place was a paradise. Now, not so much.

Now, Hurricane Kylie is approaching the Atlantic Coast. Soon, there will be evacuations, and if you stay, the authorities, of course, will not be able to help, and then the causeway bridge will be closed.

Jake Powell is trying to get off the island to connect with his family in Ohio. His best friend, Dallas, is the building manager with whom he just spoke. He gave him his car to drive to Ohio to meet Jordan and Makenzie. Dallas will be headed to Chicago for another property job after the storm.

When Jake comes back to help his friends, he finds Dallas dead from a blow to the head. Who would murder Dallas? Is there a thief among them amid a storm? No cell phone reception and no way to call the cops.

He must try to protect the elderly people in the building, including Hazel, the historian (in her nineties). He tries to gather all the remaining tenants to a lower floor to protect them from the impending hurricane. But can they trust everyone in the building? Jake had only been living there for six months after separating from his wife and daughter; however, he had made dear friends with these folks. He will be reuniting with this family.

Now, is there a killer on the loose, or is it someone among them? Everyone has secrets, but someone knows too much and puts them all in danger. Then, a security guard shows up and says he was sent by the owners. Is he for real? As about a dozen people gather together (intriguing characters), including Jake's wife and daughter who decided to surprise him, he must try and protect them from not only a deadly storm but a dangerous killer after there is a second murder.

But as the storm outside grows more threatening, so does the tension in the apartment building, and the surging waters. Will they make it out alive, who will survive, and will they find what the killer is after? Who can they trust? Hold on for your life...

My thoughts...

Atmospheric and gripping Bell (master storyteller) and long-time favorite author combines old mysteries, past and present, with new dangers to create an evocative page-turner that will have you racing to the end. Readers will be immersed!

STORM WARNING is a heart-pounding, intense, suspenseful, action-packed, high adrenaline, descriptive, atmospheric, twisty thrill ride full of dark secrets and lies. A complex murder mystery and a web of deceit combining obsession, determination, and danger amidst a life-threatening storm, and no way to escape with the bridges closed. Think locked room thriller

Through the Florida winds and storms, Jake takes control to help these residents, his family, and a diverse cast of characters. With great characterization, I adored Jake and Hazel, the older, clever historian with a spunk. I love books set in Florida—hurricanes and murder add to the suspense and intrigue.

I also enjoyed the history behind the building and the land, which is topical today.

As a Floridian for over 20 years, having lived on the east coast from Ponte Vedra Beach, Ormond Beach, W. Palm Beach, to the Florida Keys and always on the water and worked in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, I have lived through many hurricanes, evacuations, and two other hurricanes in NC and Atlanta, GA. Also, being in the commercial and residential real estate overseeing regional properties throughout Florida and working for developers, I know all too well about corruption and greed (a former whistleblower) and have lived in Florida high rises on the water with all the same problems, code violations, elevator issues, electrical fires, cover-ups, and spent years dealing with the legalities. Plus, I had a 90-year-old female neighbor on my fifteenth floor with an intriguing past (Paris and was from royalty), and she reminded me of Hazel.

A chilling tale, Bell has written a very realistic fictional version of the real Florida and its problems, which is very timely and topical. It is full of menace and all the elements of a locked-room thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in one sitting!

Recs...

STORM WARNING is for fans of the author and those who enjoyed Margot Hunt's The Guests, John Grisham's Camino Winds, Eliza Nellums' The Bone Cay, and Ana Menéndez's The Apartment. Plus, readers who enjoy books about Florida hurricanes, apartment buildings with a colorful cast, corruption, family dramas, historical mysteries, with intriguing pasts, murder, and locked-room thrillers.

Thanks to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for an honest review. #CoverLove

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: June 24, 2024
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