2. Two More Positive Trade Reviews
In late March I learned that Publishers Weekly’s BookLife had reviewed The Washashore. Here’s a taste of what they said (full text of all reviews is archived on the blog).
“By calling the incoming chief of police in Provincetown a “washashore,” Mirabile establishes the tension between this New England coastal town’s distrustful insularity and the cowboy swagger of Silas Lopez, an outsider who’s expected to adapt to entrenched local customs. . . This clash of iconic American imagery perfectly launches the Lopez series, and . . . establishes the detective as stoic, principled, and carrying the kind of damage that surfaces at inconvenient moments.
. . .Mirabile’s pacing is patient and relentless, and he maintains momentum
. . . his Provincetown isn’t simply a sun-drenched tourist backdrop: the rugged breakwater, the historic houses, the wharf in all its working grit—the town breathes.
Along with an intimate sense of place and a protagonist worth following, Mirabile digs into Provincetown society. . . Lopez must navigate all of diverse populations while managing an inexperienced staff, his short fuse, and unexpected feelings for Wren Bradford. Their romance is warm and unhurried, and her presence adds a welcome tenderness to this gritty, small-town noir.
Contrasting an idyllic setting with a dark underworld, The Washashore finds its moral center in shoot-from-the-hip lawman Silas Lopez, and Mirabile effectively sets the stage for him to return for more wrangling in the future.
Takeaway: Atmospheric mystery series launches with fish-out-of-water detective. Overall Rating: A. Comparable Titles: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone series; R.J. McMillen’s Dan Connor Mysteries.” —BookLife by Publishers Weekly
Then at the beginning of this month I learned that Seattle Book Review had reviewed The Washashore. Here’s a taste of what they said:
“The Washashore…pulled me in right away with its moody, coastal atmosphere and a mystery that feels quietly unsettling…a thoughtful, well-paced mystery that leans just as much on character and atmosphere as it does on plot. If you enjoy mysteries that are a little more reflective, with a strong sense of place and a detective who actually thinks things through, this is definitely one worth picking up.” —Seattle Book Review
3. New Dust Jacket Blurb
Huge thanks to William Landay for his generous dustjacket blurb for The Washashore. This blurb is especially meaningful to me, because Bill is a Newton local and a writer I’ve admired for a long time. Here’s what he had to say:
"A thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful debut, from a writer to watch. The Washashore has action, terrific dialogue, and a charming cast of characters that will keep you hooked on this promising new series." —William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob.
4. From the Blog:
Why I Self-Publish In this short discussion I talk about why self-publishing, rather than traditional, is the best fit for my goals.
Adventures in Book Marketing—I Went to TikTok So You Didn't Have To Wading into the murky waters of social media book marketing has been eye-opening. Here’s a humorous account of ten things I learned.
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Back Issues: Earlier editions of this newsletter are archived on the blog.
