Helpful Score: 2
It helps to have read others in the Venus Diamond series before this one.
Helpful Score: 1
Plenty of action, romance, even a touch of humor
A Venus Diamond mystery.
This book has plenty of action, a touch of romance and some family humor
This book has plenty of action, a touch of romance and some family humor
Strange things are happening in Washington State's beautifull Elliot Bay, but U.S. Fish and Wildlife's star agent Venus Diamond is on medical leave after being shot in the line of duty. At least she is until her family needs her help: A bratty young girl, Pearl Pederson, goes overboard and drowns while yachting with her brother, Henry, and their well-to-do next door neighbor, Tim Diamond. Tim claims he saw a huge, tentacled arm come out of the water to sweep the child to her doom, but Henry swears Tim pushed her, so twelve-year-old Tim is charged with murder. Venus knows her brother is innocent, but also knows she'll have a devil of a time proving it. Days pass, and speculation abounds until Pearl's body washes ashore, full of puncture wounds and looking very much like the victim of some strange sea creature. It's just the first in a string of similar events, and before long the whole city of Seattle is abuzz with the possibility of a sea monster in Elliott Bay. Venus Diamond knows there must be a more logical explanation for the killings, however, and sets out to find out what's happening, including looking into some strange goings-on at the Elliott Bay Marina. She'll need all her environmental expertise to find the elusive connections.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent Venus Diamond is summoned back to her Seattle family fold to help her twelve-year-old stepbrother, Tim, who's been accused of murder. The victim is nine-year-old Pearl Pederson, who drowned while Tim, his friend Henry and the girl were playing aboard the family yacht. The further Venus digs, the more she learns that whatever happened was anything but child's play.
Venus has trouble believing Tim's story that a giant jellyfish grabbed Pearl and dragged her under - but when toxic venom is found in the young victim's body, and witnesses spot a giant sea creature roaming Elliott Bay, Venus dives into its murky depths for a closer look. Her probe leads her to the criminal elements at the heart of the mystery: enemies old and new in a network of child pornography, black market trading and the manufacture of weapons-grade biotoxins - but not before more deadly violence takes its toll.
Venus has trouble believing Tim's story that a giant jellyfish grabbed Pearl and dragged her under - but when toxic venom is found in the young victim's body, and witnesses spot a giant sea creature roaming Elliott Bay, Venus dives into its murky depths for a closer look. Her probe leads her to the criminal elements at the heart of the mystery: enemies old and new in a network of child pornography, black market trading and the manufacture of weapons-grade biotoxins - but not before more deadly violence takes its toll.
