The Rotting Whale is the first Hugo Sandoval Eco-Mystery by American documentary filmmaker, screenwriter and author, Jann Eyrich. Some unclear 4am voicemails from his marine biologist daughter, Ava have Hugo Sandoval concerned enough to call in his best friend, T. Ray Harrison.

As Special Inspector of Port Projects for San Francisco and, formerly, the city’s well-respected building inspector, Hugo has an important meeting with developer Water Rock Partners which he can’t postpone, but T. Ray is a PI (and forensic building contractor) who can head up north without delay to find out what’s going on.

Even though Carmen, now sadly (for Hugo) sixteen months his ex-wife, is at the meeting in her capacity as the developer’s attorney, Hugo doesn’t mention their daughter’s call: he hopes to sort out the problem, which apparently involves a beached blue whale, himself.

Put in charge of the whale stranding by the North Coast Marine Institute, Ava Sandoval steers her truck and her Airstream trailer, fully equipped for marine research, onto the headland on the Dillon Ranch below which the whale lies on the sand. Nate Dillon, beach salvage artist, grandson of formidable Dillon matriarch Cate, and recent beau of Ava, has cleared her a spot.

Meeting out of the way, Hugo grabs the go-bag prepared by his ever-efficient PA, Sara Dunne, and heads north. In Fort Bragg, the nearest town to Chicken Cove, where the whale and her calf lie, he meets up with T Ray to learn that the stranding may be the least of their problems. T Ray, finger on the pulse, as always, brings Hugo up to speed on local issues.

Ava, full of respect for Hugo’s integrity, assures Nate he can be trusted. Nate reveals the red tag just placed on his late father’s beach cottage, where no defects are apparent, although the missing thresholds and floorboard gaps are a mystery, as is the cache of weapons Jack Dillon had amassed. Also perplexing is the fact that the mother whale appears to have been towed away before being washed up again, away from her calf.

In between admiring Fort Bragg’s wonderful old town hall and developing a real affection for the area, Hugo and T Ray’s chats uncover: the pub owner nervous that his dodgy disabled access will threaten his licence; cash-strapped ex-lumber mill workers disgruntled about restricted access to valuable submerged timber logs; a dairy farm no longer under crippling debt; and the sheriff concerned about illegal cannabis crops.

How all these puzzle pieces interlock (if indeed they do) keeps Hugo thinking; Hugo keeps Sara busy with research questions; and it all keeps the reader guessing until the final, satisfying reveal.

Hugo, with his trademark Borsalino fedora, is an interesting character whose dedication to his city has cost him his marriage. But can that situation be redeemed? The reader can’t help hoping things will turn out well.

Eyrich gives her protagonist some likeable, if quirky, support characters, and her evocative depiction of both the city and the small town make apparent her personal connection. A very entertaining debut novel and more of this appealing cast will be most welcome. #2, The Blind Key is eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sibylline Press

Very enjoyable read with likable characters, gripping storyline and satisfying ending. Thank you NetGalley and Sibylline Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #TheRottingWhale #NetGalley

An unlikely San Francisco building inspector has an eye for detail that serves him well in his chosen occupation as well as his unbounded curiosity to solve mysteries. When his cetologist daughter calls him from a coastal area just north of SF, Hugo Sandoval leaves his beloved city to go to her aid. A blue whale has mysteriously washed up on the shoreline and its discovery sets in motion a series of strange and potentially threatening situations. Not only is Hugo reunited with his daughter, but Carmen, his attractive lawyer ex-wife, arrives with her own agenda. Then there is T. Ray, an old friend who provides backup and more insights into the coastal community. Best thing about this book is its homage to SF as seen through the eyes of someone who reveres the city and all its possibilities. Second best is the description of the economic impacts on historical rural areas just north of the city. It’s a mystery with history and ecology. Hoping the next outing delves a bit more into the characters and their relationships. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

The Rotting Whale
By Jann Eyrich
Pub date: September 11
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @NetGalley and @sibyllinepress for an advance copy of THE ROTTING WHALE in return for my honest review.

Ok, so don’t be turned off by the title! We’ll get back to that 🤣

THE ROTTING WHALE is the first instalment of the Hugo Sandoval “Eco-Mystery” series. Hugo Sandoval (unfortunate name, IYKYK 🤦‍♀️) is an esteemed building inspector who dedicates his life to preserving the “old” San Francisco and its waterfront.

When a 100-ton blue whale is found beached in a turbulent cove on the Mendocino coast, marine biologist Ava Sandoval is tasked with coordinating a team for the whale-stranding event. But when the mystery is more complex than expected, she calls her father for help.

💭 Eco-Mysteries - a new genre for me! This book was such a cool blend of history and mystery. I learned about architecture, San Fransisco landmarks, and North coast small town culture. It’s a look at the effects of climate change and the human impact on animal behaviour, all wrapped in a cozy mystery.

The plot was fuzzy at times - I wasn’t sure which mystery to focus on. Im guessing the author will revisit these conflicts in future books.

It was absorbed in trying to solve the mystery of the connection between a red tag on a ranch and a beached whale at the base of its cliffs. The twists caught me completely off guard!

And the title. What’s that all about?
Well, at the heart of this book is the tragic story of a blue whale and her calf. Ideally, we would let these these gentle giants decompose naturally. But thanks to humans, rotting in peace is usually no longer an option. This book will bring compassion and awareness to its readers 🫶

Read this book if you…
🐳 Are passionate about whale conservation
🧐 Enjoy a cozy mystery
🌊 Love an atmospheric, west coast setting
🕵️‍♂️ Like amateur sleuths and their trusty sidekicks
🪢 When unrelated stories come together