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Shelley Singer

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Spit In The Ocean: A Laid-Back Bay Area Mystery (The Jake Samson & Rosie Vicente Detective Series Book 4) Kindle Edition

by Shelley Singer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 67 ratings

Book 4 of 8: The Jake Samson Mystery Series

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IT WAS A JOB THE BARROW GANG MIGHT HAVE ENVIED...

The vault emptied out, not a shot fired. In fact, it resembled a burglary more than a bank job, but when you rob a sperm bank, that’s sometimes all it takes. Here’s the set-up: The North Coast Sperm Bank in tiny Wheeler, California has been knocked over, and the perp’s tossed its assets in the ocean, leaving a religious-nut note of explanation. Just a prank, says Wheeler law enforcement. But the bank says: Not so fast, that stuff was valuable!

Ex-Chicago-cop Jake Samson and his ever-sharp Watson, Rosie Vicente, hired by the bank to find out who made the unauthorized withdrawal, blow into town as a savage storm is approaching. While local law enforcement deals with the storm’s mayhem – which includes the discovery of a sperm bank employee who apparently slipped in the mud and fell to her death, Jake and Rosie are up to their knees in colorful locals.

“Jake Samson is sensitive and funny, a little wise, a little wary and pretty wonderful.” -Publishers Weekly

WHO WILL LIKE IT: Fans of Thomas Perry, Harlan Coben, Stephen Dobyns, CJ Box, Timothy Hallinan, Lawrence Block, Steve Hamilton and Tony Dunbar; as well as lovers of San Francisco mysteries like Bill Pronzini's "Nameless" Detective series, Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone series, Susan Dunlap's Jill Smith series, and Julie Smith's Rebecca Schwartz series.

“Breathtaking action is offset by the wise-cracking Jake and Rosie. The tension will keep you reading all night long. Compelling characterization by Singer makes this series a must-read, with authentic details and witty dialogue.” -Mystery Time

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00I6JM302
Publisher ‏ : ‎ booksBnimble (January 30, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 30, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1519 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 213 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,243 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8,758 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #13,038 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Books)
- #17,595 in Crime Thrillers (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 67 ratings

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Shelley Singer

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I'm the author of 14 published novels. The most recent, release date June 15 2018, is Reveille, book two of the Blackjack trilogy. The first book in the trilogy was originally published as Blackjack by Lee Singer and published in hardcover and audiobook before its release from BooksBNimble as Torch Song. The books star Rica Marin, spy, torch singer, and mercenary in the dangerous Balkanized world of 2066.

I've recently completed a novelized memoir titled The Pepsi Cola 9th Street Grocery and have started writing the third book in the Blackjack trilogy, as yet untitled. The six earlier books in the Samson series are either available or in production as ebooks. Unlicensed iconoclast Jake Samson and his pal Rosie are PIs in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the four books in my Barrett Lake series, Interview with Mattie, was nominated for a prestigious Shamus award.

I've taught fiction writing and worked one on one with writers as a manuscript consultant on nonfiction, literary novels and in every genre from memoir to mystery to science fiction to horror. Several clients and students have gone on to become published authors. I've been cited in the acknowledgments or dedications of several published books, including a number of award-winners. Recently, a student called me "insanely meticulous"--and meant it as a compliment. I think.

I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and began my working life as a reporter with UPI in Chicago. During a checkered and mercifully brief journalism career, I met many famous people, at least two of whom were murdered, and many not-so-famous who are still alive.

I have done too many things for a living.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

67 global ratings

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John Schwartz

A laid-back Jake Mystery

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2014

Verified Purchase

Jake's character and voice keep you glued to "Spit in the Ocean" in a rapidly evolving story of a host of suspicious small town people mingled in a ghastly murder. A whodunit where you only find out that the person you least suspect rolls out as the culprit at the very end. A lively but grim story in a weird world like only a Mike Hammer could tell. Colorful scenes with gripping detail and characters that spring to life with images like "he raised his hands in a don't let me stop you gesture". You will enjoy the dizzying scene with the cookie baker giving Jake smoke and mirrors and the rich Hollywood carpetbagger of the town giving Jake his alibis while exercising. Shelley Singer shows her writing skills in how she manages merging crisp dialogue with prose in and out again. A very enjoyable mystery story I could not put down, and worthy of being brought back to life on Amazon. I highly recommend it.
PS: I had to consult my dictionary that "spit" also meant "a narrow point of land projecting into the sea", but I left high-school a long time ago.
John Schwartz Alexandria VA

5 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Enjoyed

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2020

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Another reason I really enjoyed your books is from beginning to end the mystery is worth the wait and I enjoyed the mystery.

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Dave Hanan

A very unusual premise!

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2017

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A grisly murder during a stormy night. Everyone is suspect. But how does that tie into the theft from the bank vault – sperm bank, that is. I picked up this book because my curiosity was piqued by its unusual premise, and I’m glad I did! It was an entertaining read, and I learned more about sperm banks than I ever thought there was to know!

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Lorrie A

Another winner for Shellly

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2016

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I gave a 4 star rating to this book. A little slow moving but I liked the story and characters. This is a good series and doesn't disappoint no matter what book you read. Writer does a great job on adding subplots that keeps you guessing.

One person found this helpful

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JF, RRT

I enjoyed it and will read more from this author

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2015

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This was an enjoyable book. I enjoyed it and will read more from this author.

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2014

Verified Purchase

Too laid back. Couldn't get interested in either the characters or the story. Didn't finish the book, so it may have gotten better as it progressed, but the protagonist just didn't interest me.

One person found this helpful

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