Murder at Astron Bay

By Rowland Davis and Margot Davis

Red Redfield, an indolent, overweight chemist from southern California, lets his wife, Sophie, talk him into taking a two-week vacation on the beautiful Aegean island of Crete. But from the moment of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1608367142
• ISBN13: 9781608367146
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: America Star Books
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Clever and entertaining

I can't wait to read the next book by Rowland and Margot Davis. While mystery novels and not my typical choice for leisure reading, this book was well written. The language was above the average level of what is on the typical NY Times Bestseller lists. The authors--gasp--assume that their readers appreciate a well-rounded vocabulary. The dialogue was also clever and realistic. The Redfields were portrayed as one of the most realistic married couples I have read about in a long time. Next, the descriptions of Crete were enough to allow me to go on a mini-vacation. I loved that! Finally, the literary allusions were an added layer of interest that impressed this reader and helped make this a very good book on many levels.

A page turner

I'm not a huge fan of mysteries, but this book was a hoot from cover to cover. The characters make the story; rather than the suave intellectual, the tortured seeker, or the defiant anti-hero, the two "detectives," Red and Sophie, are pretty ordinary people who get caught in the middle of all kinds of shenanigans. Their reactions to events are completely understandable, which makes the book believable and relatable. I usually figure out whodoneit by mid-book, but there were enough twists and turns here to keep me guessing. I stayed up late reading this one. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, the descriptions of the island, and the literary allusions. Again, a very fun read.

This is a wonderfull book.

This is a wonderful book. I enjoy reading mystery novels, but I am very selective. I liked this book because it has an engaging and intellligent narrator who made me laugh and kept me interested in his and his wife's doings on the island of Crete. The plot is first rate; the setting is integrated well into it; and the whole kept my attention very well. The best part, though, is the seluthing pair, Sophie and Red Redfield. I liked them; they were real to me; it was pleasant to spend my reading hours with them. Now I am looking forward to their next adventure.

A fun murder

This book is a real pleasure, with enough twists and turns to make you keep wondering--and keep reading, and with a genuine "voice" in the narration by one of the two chief characters. By the way, I've lived in Greece, and I've often visited it, and the novel genuinely captures one's experiences there.

Like a retired, cranky, hilarious Indiana Jones

A fast-paced plot and plenty of vivid cultural details make this a great read. Murder, car chases, and archaeology--what's not to like? Red Redfield, the narrator, is intelligent, funny, and crude. He only wants to lie by the pool and enjoy his vacation, but he can't help being drawn into the nefarious goings-on. You'll be drawn in, too: his voice is inimitable, as are the other characters, each quirky in his or her own way. Red's wife, Sophie, is kind and alert. She has to be, among the Cretans and cretins. This mystery is enjoyably literate, with allusions to everything from Jane Eyre to Sue Grafton, but the dramatic tension reaches pee-your-pants levels and wraps up with an ingenious resolution. Highly recommended!