Thursday, August 20, 2009

SAND SHARKS GIVEAWAY AND MY REVIEW

GIVEAWAY ENDED
SAND SHARKS

BY MARGARET MARON

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Judge Deborah Knott travels to Wrightsville Beach for a summer conference for North Carolina District Court Judges, she stumbles upon the body of one of her colleagues. Meanwhile, Deborah's husband, Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant, is in Virginia with his son, tying up loose ends left by the death of his first wife. When another judge is found murdered at the conference, it soon becomes evident that Deborah may be the killer's next target. Her relaxing trip to the seaside soon transforms into a harrowing experience, and she must summon all of her strength and investigative expertise to track down the culprit before she becomes the next victim.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Maron grew up on a farm near Raleigh, North Carolina, but for many years lived in Brooklyn, New York. When she returned to her North Carolina roots with her artist-husband, Joe, she began thinking about a series based on her own background and went on to write Bootlegger's Daughter, a Washington Post bestseller and winner of the major mystery awards for 1993. Her next Deborah Knott novel, Southern Discomfort, was nominated for the Agatha Award for Best Novel; Shooting at Loons, which followed, received Agatha and Anthony Award nominations; and Up Jumps the Devil won the Agatha for Best Novel of 1996. Home Fires is her sixth Deborah Knott mystery.
  • Home Fires, 1998
  • MY REVIEW OF SAND SHARKS

    Where have I been? This is the first Margaret Maron book I have read and obviously, the first in the Deborah Knott Series and yet, there are I believe 14 books before this one going all the way back to 1992! At least, knowing that, let me assure you that if you are in the same boat as I am, you will still understand and be able to read SAND SHARKS as a stand-alone novel. Would it be easier to have read at least some of the others for more background on the main characters? I am sure... and so I will now go back and do that when time allows (+14 more on TBR/Wish List)!

    SAND SHARKS does start with Judge Deborah Knott on a business trip to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina (and I always wind up in Jacksonville or Orlando....why?). She is attending a conference as she is a District Court Judge, and thus she is taken away from her usual stomping grounds of Colleton County, North Carolina. She is there on her own as her husband, Dwight Bryant, is with his son, Cal, in Virginia. Dwight is a
    Sheriff's Deputy and has traveled to Virginia to take care of things after his first wife died. So to say that Deborah is happier to be at her conference, would be an understatement. However, that feeling might come into question when early on, Deborah unfortunately finds, quite by accident, the body of Judge Pete Jeffreys. As the story goes, Jeffreys was not the most honest of judges, so could his death be a result of someone who had something personal against him? That is what is the first thought when the death is analyzed.

    Unlike the conferences I go to, the break out session and coffee break were not the norm here as soon another judge is found murdered. Suddenly what looked to be a relaxing time at the beach with friends in her field of work, becomes a dangerous experience. Could Judge Knott be next? Suddenly being with her new husband and step-son Cal doesn't seem like such a bad idea!

    Maron does a wonderful job of character studies in this book as the plot to me seemed secondary in comparison. In the first part of the book, you meet many characters and almost need a score card but soon the important ones are drawn out and given depth and catch your attention. I found Deborah Knott to be a fascinating and fun character to read about. The book was an enjoyable, easy read and although I thought the ending was a little predictable, it didn't matter as the richness of the characters carried the story for me. Knott herself seems more feminine than I thought she would be and from I have read about the series is more so in this book. Don't get me wrong when I say "feminine" I just mean I didn't find her to be a hard-nosed business only woman but rather one who I learned about her as a woman--wife and mother--as well as a judge and "detective".

    I was happy I read Margaret Maron's book and met this new character and still can't believe I had not read her work before. I recommend this as a fast read that keeps your attention and the writing draws the reader well into the setting and the plot line. Thanks to Ms. Maron and to Miriam at Hachette for introducing me to a new friend in Judge Knott!

    Audio and Video

    GIVEAWAY

    THANKS TO MIRIAM AND THE
    HACHETTE BOOK GROUP, I HAVE
    5 COPIES OF THIS MARVELOUS BOOK
    TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT YOU
    NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!

    RULES:

    U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
    NO P. O. BOXES
    INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
    IN CASE YOU WIN!
    ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
    COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

    HOW TO ENTER:

    +1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHY YOU THINK THIS BOOK IS TITLED SAND SHARKS

    +1 MORE ENTRY: IF YOU BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY, LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW

    +5 MORE ENTRIES: IF SOMEONE READS ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY FROM YOUR BLOG POST OR TWEET AND MENTIONS YOUR NAME (AS GIVEN IN YOUR ENTRY) YOU GET 5 EXTRA ENTRIES!
    ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY
    6 PM, EST, SEPTEMBER 20


    GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

    71 comments:

    Commchick said...

    I have no idea why this book is called "Sand Sharks" but it sounds very interesting. I love whodunits.

    Please enter me in your drawing.

    belchers@jccal.org

    bermudaonion said...

    I'm not familiar with this author either! I'm going to guess that the title means that the book takes place a the beach and the murdered judges are like sharks. Thanks for another great giveaway! milou2ster(at)gmail.com

    Anonymous said...

    Ok, I have heard a few things about this book and I am dying to read it!! I can't wait! Please count me in. I have you on my contest blog too

    bjwaldron(at)gmail.com

    Julie P. said...

    I have to read this one! Last year my book club was lucky enough to have an author chat with Ms. Maron and she was telling us all about this book -- how she got the ideas, etc.

    bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    Misty Williams said...

    I love the beach and a good book. This one has me wanting to read more. I would guess it is called Sand Sharks because of the location and finding them on the beach could mean a sharks had a snack.

    I want to know!!!! :)

    misty@mistywright.com

    I'm going to blog about this one at www.mistywright.blogspot.com and bareasscottagewriters.blogspot.com

    traveler said...

    Thanks for this wonderful giveaway. Sand Sharks looks compelling. The judges are being murdered at the beach.
    saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    Sue said...

    I'm not familiar with sand sharks, but maybe because the book is a mystery and sand sharks are sneaky and mysterious?
    Thanks for sharing it.

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com

    rhapsodyinbooks said...

    I would guess: the story is set at the beach, and someone is killing judges so it's like shark attacks.

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

    chey said...

    Another new to me author! This sounds like a book I'd enjoy!
    chey127 at hotmail dot com

    Rebecca C said...

    Well people in the law profession area always called sharks and the old joke is sharks will never eat lawyers because of professional courtesy, and the book is set at the beach so Sand Sharks makes perfect sense. I have never heard of this author either.

    rebecca[dot]cox[at]charter[dot]net

    Rebecca C said...

    http://twitter.com/ccqdesigns/status/3431383901
    here is my tweet

    rebecca[dot]cox[at]charter[dot]net

    Pam said...

    The slang use of the word shark has referred to shady characters/dishonest businessmen which is what these murdered lawyers sound like. And it takes place at the beach hence the sand.

    melacan at hotmail dot com

    Mitzi H. said...

    I think of sharks as predators. Sand sharks may be predators on the beach???

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

    clenna said...

    Please, please, I really want to win this one!

    Sand sharks hide in the sand so the killer is hiding in the group of judges. Just like the shark, he blends in.

    clenna at aol dot com

    Anonymous said...

    Sand Sharks could mean "criminals on the beach".
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    holdenj said...

    Maron is new to me as well! I love discovering new authors. Since Knott a judge and vacationing at the shore, maybe the sharks represent the less than honorable lawyers that populate her courtroom.

    Thanks for another great giveaway!

    JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com

    wheresmyrain said...

    maybe called that for dangerous people lurking on the sand

    wheresmyrain(at)yahoo(dot)com

    wheresmyrain said...

    i am a subscriber
    and follower

    wheresmyrain(at)yahoo(dot)com

    DarcyO said...

    It's probably called "Sand Sharks" because of the locale the story is and because lawyers can be such shysters. Anyway, it sounds like a great book. I can't believe I've never read her stuff.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    DarcyO said...

    I tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/darcy1956/status/3441427520

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    Glenn said...

    Not sure from reading your review, but could be to do with the location in NC and the character of some of the characters in the book.

    glenn_pessano AT yahoo DOT com

    nfmgirl said...

    Well, I'm gonna assume that the title is sort of like that old Jimmy Buffet song that talks about "the sharks that live on the land". We've got too many sharks in our lives to worry about sharks in the seas and oceans!

    Please count me in. Thanks!

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    Lee P said...

    It may be called Sand Sharks because the story takes place on the beach and sharks like prey(judges). Thanks for this giveaway and please count me in.

    chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

    Lee P said...

    Tweet- http://twitter.com/chinook92

    chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

    cqueen2 said...

    not really sure why it's called sand sharks maybe where is takes place at the ocean

    thanks count me in

    wadesherry@hotmail dot com

    roxxyroller said...

    I would love to win this, please enter me in the giveaway, thanks!
    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    roxxyroller said...

    Perhaps it pertains to something similar to "JAWS"?? Yikes!!

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    roxxyroller said...

    I tweeted about this great giveaway!
    http://twitter.com/coolcanucks

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    kalea_kane said...

    I am not quite sure why the book is titled Sand Sharks other than the fact that it is taking place at the beach and lawyers are referred to as sharks (referring to them being spineless and whatnot). Could the killer be a lawyer? :) Please enter me in this interesting giveaway. I'll have to look up Margaret Maron!

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

    kalea_kane said...

    I blogged your giveaway here: http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/2009/08/giveaways-to-enjoy.html

    Thank you again for the wonderful giveaways. You are certainly busy!

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Kristi said...

    Well, a shark can be a person who is greedy and dishonest - and a sand shark is a bottom feeder shark from shallow waters... So maybe this is a dishonest "bottom feeder" who is killing the judges. . .

    I would love to find out!

    kherbrand at comcast dot net

    Dolphin Girl said...

    I would guess it is called Sand Sharks becuase of the location of the story.

    Beth said...

    I would say it is called Sand Sharks because there is something dangerous on the beach. Book looks so good. Please enter me.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    CherylS22 said...

    The book is probably called "Sand Sharks" because the murderer laid in wait without detection for the prey (judges)in the book.
    megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

    Debbie F said...

    Count me in - titled Sand Sharks because it takes place in a beach setting>?
    dcf_beth at verizon dot net

    Gaby317 said...

    sand sharks are the only sharks that surface to gulp air. does the novel take its name from the habit of the sand sharks to gulp air and then float motionless as they hunt?

    does the novel have villains that are very good at hiding and attacking?

    gaby317nyc at gmail dot com

    rubynreba said...

    I think it must mean that the sharks are mean and go to any length for a snack!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    Belinda M said...

    I have no idea why it is called sand sharks but I would love to read the book and find out.


    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Belinda M said...

    tweeted

    http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/3635428738


    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Anonymous said...

    I do adore a good mystery. I assume sand sharks means that whomever is responsible for the murder lives near the beach.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Debbie Rodgers said...

    Danger at the beach...hence, Sand Sharks.

    I enjoy reading Margaret Maron & appreciate the chance to read this one.

    tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca

    Anita Yancey said...

    I'm not sure why this book is called Sand Sharks. But I love mysteries, and would really like to read the book. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    M.A.D. said...

    Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    I'd love this! Sounds like a very good mystery :)

    I think the title is a double entendre because, aside from the beach murder aspect, Sand Sharks are very deceptive in their hunting habits. They 'play dead' / 'possum'.

    Please PLEASE count me in to win and thank you for the chance!

    enyl said...

    The sand appears to refer to the location and sharks appears
    to refer to the killer, as sharks have a reputation for being killers.

    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    enyl said...

    I'm a follower.

    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    catss99 said...

    Because the killer is preying on the beach?
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    nfmgirl said...

    I blogged it:
    http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-09-13-09.html

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    janetfaye said...

    I have no idea but maybe about someone not being what they seem to be.

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

    Booklogged said...

    I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that the title comes from the fact that the judges are killed on the sand and the killer represents a shark.

    booklogged AT gmail DOT com

    Molly said...

    judging from the description of the book, because it takes place at the beach and sharks are deadly animals and people are turning up dead at the beach, she has named this "sand sharks", the sharks being the killers.
    i can't wait to read this book!

    mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

    Molly said...

    Tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/JnJzMommi/statuses/4038339003

    mollydawn1981(at)aol(dot)com

    connie e said...

    Hi! I read this giveaway through Buuklvr81's tweet on twitter! sounds like a great book!!!

    connieed53(at)aol(dot)com

    Misusedinnocence said...

    I'm guessing it's about those that prey on others at the beach or on vacation.

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

    jli said...

    saw your giveaway via buuklvr81s tweet on twitter @jnjzmommi. book sounds good.

    justme8102002 at gmail dot com

    Jonah said...

    oh a book based in NC..cool! Buuklvr81 posted a link for this giveaway on twitter and i though i would check out the giveaway. looks cool!

    booksgalore04@yahoo.com

    don said...

    clicked to the giveaway on twitter from buuklvr81. sounds intriguing. thanks!

    dle194706 [at] yahoo [dot] com

    twitter fan said...

    Saw Buuklvr81's tweet about this contest over at Twitter! Sounds like a yummy book! :)

    dawnedwards76@yahoo.com

    MurderMysteryMayhem said...

    No idea but the bodies seem to be found on the beach and sharks are killers ...(not really sand sharks though)

    It would be fun to find out.
    Please enter me. LooseEnds AT Snet Dot Net

    kerr pharm tech said...

    sounds like a good book. came by to post acomment through buuklvr81's tweet on twitter! thanks for the chance to win it!

    kerrdrugtech2007/at/aol/dot/com

    SusanB said...

    Sounds like a great book! My guess is that sand sharks are also known as spinners which lawyers do to spin the story their way. The fact that it takes place on a beach could also play into the title.
    susan.byerly@comcast.net

    carol said...

    You've heard of loan sharks. They are shady characters that loan money! The setting is on a beach (sand) And we're dealing with obvious shady characters. Sand Sharks!

    Anonymous said...

    I would love to win this. It must be called Sand Sharks because the lawyers and judges are getting killed and it is near a beach??

    mwflynn63 / at / gmail / dot / com

    Anonymous said...

    I tweeted about this giveaway

    http://twitter.com/phraud2001/status/4126168009

    mwflynn63 / at / gmail / dot / com

    Anonymous said...

    I blogged about this giveaway

    http://contestcrazycanada.blogspot.com/2009/09/booking-with-bingo-sand-sharks-giveaway.html

    Anonymous said...

    My friend Mark (mwflynn63 at gmail dot com) sent me tweet about this so I am entering as well.

    csinsofsky at gmail dot com

    Anonymous said...

    I left a comment earlier about a tweet but I do not see it so I am re-submitting

    http://twitter.com/phraud2001/status/4126168009

    Nancye said...

    I guess it's called "Sand Sharks" because it takes place at the beach in North Carolina at the Atlantic Ocean. Sharks kill in the ocean, and the murderer in on land (sand), so they put the two together and came up with the name. I am rambling now so I will stop.........:)

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Nancye said...

    Tweet! Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/4127410391

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Susan said...

    I think Sand Shark's because while you're there you can relax on the beach but beware of predators. I don't know. I'm not very good at this kind of thing.

    ryanw@mts.net

    Gmaof2 said...

    Stopping by to enter a contest that my good friend Molly~Buuklvr81~sent me a tweet about. Sounds interesting! Sand Sharks in a book like that sounds very much like "killer sharks" leaving their prey for dead on the beach.

    jakobsgma082002/at/nc/dot/rr/dot/com

    Britgurl93 said...

    I'm on Twitter and my friend Buuklvr81 sent me a a tweet! Sounds deliciously yummy! Thanks!

    parkershanice@rocketmail(dot)com

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    SEE MY POLICY