Dead Low Tide by Eddie Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have to admit: Eddie Jones’ Monster Mysteries series has been my guilty pleasure this spooky season. Each book is a quick read, highly entertaining, and often have a few great action scenes that really get the blood pumping. Even if each book is very light on character development, and sometimes the spiritual connections are intriguing conversation starters, these books are all about the atmosphere. Jones can create more atmosphere in under 200 pages than I have ever seen in any other series.
Dead Low Tide, book number three, sets up more fun and creepy action for Nick Caden as his family spends a short vacation on an island off the Carolinas while his dad interviews for a new job. However, things get rolling along right from the beginning as Nick’s sister Wendy is zombie-napped. It’s not until Nick starts getting messages from a dead girl that the pieces begin to fall into place. And when the dust settles, zombies will be the least of Nick’s worries.
The mystery and storytelling are a little tighter here than in the first two books of the series, however, as with the previous books, there are also moments with a few logic leaps that make sense in retrospect, but definitely left me scratching my head as to how Nick was able to piece it together. There is more genuine danger in the story, and for parents to note, there are also a couple of moments where the author makes veiled references to teenage partying that has gotten “out of hand.” This book in particular has definitely moved up to the Young Adult category. There is also mention of a “date rape drug” at one point, which if younger readers are encountering this book, might bring up some conversations and questions.
All said, Dead Low Tide had some great atmosphere that left me checking the darker corners of the room a couple times before settling back into the story. If you’re looking for a fun and easy spooky read this season, this is one that will definitely scratch the itch.
