Thursday, October 27, 2022

California Dreamin'



HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: One of the coolest parts of living in New England is the beach towns. The elegant Marblehead, the hip Swampscott. The clamor of Hyannis, the Kennedyesque Osterville, the literary Truro, the wonderful P’town. The traffic, yeah, it can be a real pain, but there’s always a dunkin’s along the way.

But California beach towns–well, they’re different, aren't they? As mystery author Terry Ambrose (such an early pal of Jungle Red!) knows all too well.

Location, Location, Location
 by Terry Ambrose

I’ve always been a bit of a nomad. It started when I was six. Okay, I admit, it was my parents who moved us about every two years while I was growing up. But after graduating college, all the moves have been on me (my wife usually just sighed and went along on the next adventure). I’ve lived in Southern and Northern California, Arizona, Idaho, and Washington. But, for me, Southern California beach towns are my favorites.

The beach towns have their own distinct personalities. Some, like San Diego, try to be all grown up. (“Look at us, we have museums, sports teams, and a convention center!”) While others, like Pacific Beach, are still reveling in their beachihood (“Hey, man, come hang out on the boardwalk and hit the waves!”)

Carlsbad also has its own personality. We live only a few miles from this North San Diego County town. In fact, when we moved back to Southern California from Arizona, we wanted to live in Carlsbad. What we discovered was that Carlsbad zip codes carried an outrageous premium. (“Sorry, dude, you crossed the street. Price went up 50k.”) Yes, the Carlsbad dream cratered, but we landed not that far away.

I can see why those zip codes carry such a high price tag. There’s something special about Carlsbad. Maybe it’s the attitude. Maybe it’s just the near-perfect climate. For whatever reason, a ton of people visit this funky little town each year. The cool thing is all those visitors get to be pretend-locals for a week before they have to go home.



One of the unique things about Carlsbad Village is that there are no chain stores. Yes, there’s a Starbucks. And a few fast-food places. But actual shops? No way. Instead, the streets are lined with boutiques and galleries you won’t find anywhere else. In fact, there are even a couple of private investigators with offices on the outskirts that little geographic gem.



Among Carlsbad’s many attractions is the sea wall. It’s a hugely popular walk along the ocean with two options. If you’re the kind who likes to get close to the water (like me!) it’s a bit of a steep descent down to sea level. But, once you’re down there, a paved walkway meanders along the shore for about 3/4 of a mile (one way). For those who are more inclined to enjoy an overlook without the climb, there’s a sidewalk along Carlsbad Boulevard. Either walk offers spectacular views of the ocean, a chance to watch the surfers bob out in the ocean, and that wonderful sea breeze.


Carlsbad felt like the ideal location to situate my new Beachtown Detective Agency series. Located in the midst of a huge metropolitan area, it still feels unique and small. It’s one of those places that makes you want to stay and wander.


Of course, there are plenty of those kinds of places, and I’d love to hear about some of your favorites. Leave a comment to let me know!




HANK: I realized when I was checking this for typos, that instead of Marblehead, I had typed Marplehead. TOTALLY different place!
How about you, Reds and readers. Do you have a favorite beach town? Or one you’d love to visit? (I just read a scathing article about Positano, did you see that?)




Terry Ambrose
has written fifteen published mysteries. His series include the McKenna Trouble in Paradise Mysteries, the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mysteries, the License to Lie thriller series, and the Beachtown Detective Agency mysteries.









The Amorous Assailant has frustrated police for months. His MO is
always the same. He binds his victims with red silk, kisses them, and leaves them with a red rose. Women throughout the city are worried they’ll be his next victim.


Novice PI Jade Cavendish isn’t one of them, though. After inheriting the Beachtown Detective Agency, she’s worried about landing a paying client. Any client. She’d even settle for a dognapping.

Gina Rose, a wealthy young heiress, has a problem. Her new husband, a man she thought was her perfect match, is bleeding her dry. When Gina hires Jade to prove her husband is defrauding her, Jade quickly learns he's a terrible businessman. His investment properties are oozing money like open wounds.

On the surface, it appears Gina simply has bad taste in men. But Jade refuses to give up on her client so easily. Her investigation pulls her into a world filled with greed, one where secrets are a way of life, events are not always what they seem, and lies conceal deadly realities—including the Amorous Assailant’s true motive.


“Ambrose’s mystery is thrilling and unpredictable…An entertaining and suspenseful detective tale.” — Kirkus Reviews

95 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new book/new series, Terry . . . I’m looking forward to discovering the identity of the amorous assailant . . . .

    Favorite beach? Several beaches on Long Beach Island are quite nice and not too crowded . . . .

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    1. Ooh, Give us some suggestions, Joan! I’ve never been to a Long Island beach…xxxx

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    2. Hank, Long Beach Island is part of the Jersey Shore between Seaside Heights and Atlantic City.

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    3. I love Long Beach Island and all the special memories I have from there in the Sixties!

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    4. Long Beach Island is an eighteen-mile [approximately] barrier island along the Ocean County, New Jersey coastline . . . . it's popular for sunbathing, swimming, surfing, birdwatching, surf fishing, and enjoying the spectacular sunsets . . . .

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    5. Hi Joan, I love beaches that aren't crowded. Here in California, they're so hard to find!

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  2. I spent a week staying on the beach in San Diego back in March. It was fantastic (especially since my parents were footing the bill for us staying there.

    Never spent time in Carlsbad, but been nearby when I was in the area to do the Camp Pendleton mud run. If they have it again this summer, I'll definitely take some time and explore Carlsbad.

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    1. Oh, how to make a beach even better? Make it free! Lucky you!

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    2. Susan Nelson-HolmdahlOctober 27, 2022 at 12:21 PM

      I love the smaller town feel of Carlsbad. Beautiful beaches and the flower farms in season.are spectacular. Good luck on your new book series!

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    3. If you were here for a run at Camp Pendleton, you must have been near Oceanside. How that town has changed! It's gone from a military bar town to something for everyone. And getting to come here for free? Perfect!

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  3. Terry, you've just made me want to move to Carlsbad. What a wonderful place to live--and read about. I'll be putting The Case of the Amorous Assailant on my to-read list!

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    1. It does sound pretty adorable…

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    2. Hi Debs, the Village in Carlsbad is a great place because it's so unique! Hope you enjoy the book!

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  4. Terry, congratulations on the new series. It sounds like a must-read!

    You had this native southern Californian with talk of beaches. In the San Diego area, I lived in Ocean Beach one spring in the mid-seventies when it was funky and quiet, and we went nude sunbathing on Black's Beach (is that still a nude beach?). A little farther up the coast, Corona del Mar is another sweet (pricy) town with a great beach and a walkway up on the bluffs. I grew up going to Huntington Beach, and I lived at Newport Beach during college (leaving in the summers, of course).

    Now I visit Plum Island, Salisbury state reservation, and Hampton Beach when I want some salt and sand (and birds). And I write about a fictional beach town near Falmouth on Cape Cod!

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    1. Edith, I have a fond memory of my first travel to the USA in the 1980s at Hampton Beach. We stayed in a little guesthouse near the beach. I loved it and it was followed by travels to Salisbury Beach. There’s been decades since but I never forgot those places
      Danielle

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    2. Many years ago we took our kids to Jade Beach, not knowing it was clothing optional. About half the people on the beach were nude. Quite an eye-opener for this Midwestern gal!

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    3. Nude sunbathing? Sounds like a whole Nother blog. But I have to say, that holds no interest for me. It feels like it would be sandy and incredibly uncomfortable. but I must be wrong with since it is so popular.

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    4. Edith, I lived in Georgetown, Mass for five years as a teenager. I remember Plum Island and Salisbury. Also in high school groups would drive to Seaport, NH. Can't remember why that was better? And I loved going to Plum Island to walk around in the winter. Beaches are great in the winter, too.

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    5. Yes, Black’s Beach is still nude.
      Lisa in Long Beach

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    6. I spent some vacation time on Malibu in the 1960's with a favorite cousin. "We made the scene..." so to speak;-)

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    7. I guess my previous comment got lost somewhere. Ocean Beach in the 70s would have been so much fun. I lived in Riverside at the time and had no interest in the beach or surfing (stupid me!) These days, I love being near the coast.

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  5. Welcome Terry and congrats on the Kirkus review! Our daughter has moved to San Diego so we'll have to check this town out! Plus, we'll all be headed to San Diego for Bouchercon next year, right?

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    1. Oh hoping so!

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    2. Lucy, when you come for Bouchercon, plan a day to visit a few of the beach towns if you can. They each have their own personality!

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  6. TERRY: Living in landlocked Ottawa (Ontario), I do enjoy vacations along the coast.
    When I was in San DIego for the abruptly cancelled LCC2020, I did go to Ocean Beach and La Jolla. On other trips further up the coast in Orange County, I have visited Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
    And in Hawaii, I enjoyed visiting beach towns such as Kailua and Haleiwa in O'ahu as well as Kona and Hilo on the Big Island.

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    1. You are the best traveler!

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    2. The first food coop I ever joined was in Laguna Beach - a lovely spot, but not much for sandy beaches, as I recall.

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    3. I like the beaches near Lahaina, Maui the best in Hawaii!

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    4. Grace, Hawaii is in a completely different category when it comes to beaches! Endless variety! Surf? yes. Sunbath? yes. Big waves? Yes. Seals? Yes. Volcanos? Yes. Black sand? White sand? Yes. Snorkel? Yes. Kayak? Yes. Whale watch? Yes. I love Hawaii!!

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    5. JUDY: It's true there are so many choices to find a great beach location in Hawaii. I just picked a couple that I really liked.

      Coronado should have been on my list above. It had the whitest sand beach in San Diego.

      Monterey did not have great beaches but I saw sea otters in the wild.
      And Venice/Santa Monica were kind of tacky but nice to visit too.

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    6. Grace, I'm envious of your travels! And I have to agree with Judy about Hawaii. Their beaches are in a class all by themselves. One of my favorites is Nukolii Beach on Kauai. It faces directly east and the sunrises and incredible.

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  7. Terry, I LOVE the cover! Is The Case of the Amorous Assailant a historical mystery? If so, what period? It sounds like my kind of story and it's on my TBR list.

    I do love beach towns. The only one I lived in was Tel Aviv many years ago. When I lived there, it was already a city, now it is a Metropolis with a totally different feel.

    Most of the time, when I am in a beach town, I am a tourist soaking it all in. That is very different from living there.

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    1. Very good point! The visitor experience is very different from living there…

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    2. Hey, Judy, this is not a historical mystery (although I considered it when I was starting to write it). You're right, being in a beach town to visit is so different from actually living there. But then, isn't it that way everywhere? :-)

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  8. Congratulations Terry! I wonder who the Amorous Assailant is?!! Hmmmm.

    My favorite Oregon beach town is Manzanita--cute coffee shops and boutiques and a lovely stretch of beach for walking and running, The spectacular Neahkahnie Mountain sits at the north end and the jetty at Nehalem Bay closes off the south end.

    I was lucky enough to spend a lovely weekend in Monterey, California with my girlfriends (we did the Big Sur half marathon!) That was incredible, and I would love to go back. The shoreline was just spectacular, and watching otters in the bay was a treat.

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    1. Oh, that sounds gorgeous! And the Big Sur half marathon? Wow— what a feat! . congratulations. That must’ve been incredible in every way.

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    2. Susan Nelson-HolmdahlOctober 27, 2022 at 12:44 PM

      I live over the hills from Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. The best beaches on the bay are south of Santa Cruz and in Carmel. I have run several marathons and half marathons that are partially on Highway 1. Seventeen mile drive is in the area too.

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    3. What a gorgeous area, Susan. Carmel is lovely and quite a beach town. If you are there, do 17 mile drive!

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    4. Hi Gillian, thanks for the suggestion about Manzanita. We're planning a road trip up through Oregon next spring and I'm pretty sure that's going to be along our route. Sounds like a great place! And Hank is right, what a feat to do the half marathon!

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  9. California is the ONLY state we have not visited. San Diego is on our radar.

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    1. Wow, the only one? Tell us more!

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    2. We've got a lot to see and do! What are you waiting for?:-)

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  10. My favorite SoCal beach town is definitely Coronado, but they're all fun to explore and I like Carlsbad a lot too. We did the "caffeine crawl" event there a few years ago and got to visit some really great indie coffee shops.

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    1. Oh my goodness, how many cups of coffee did you drink?

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    2. Come to think of it, there are a number of indie coffee shops in the Village. That must have been one hyped-up group of people!

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  11. San Diego, Huntington Beach, Laguna, Morro Bay, Carmel's Point Lobo for seals and sea otters, and the beach at Fort Bragg--lots of memories of travels to those beautiful places, all so different. Jade Beach, where the jade shelf breaks chunks off and deposits them on the sand. Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Cannon Beach in Oregon, with Haystack Rock, the nesting place for thousands of seabirds. When I think of beaches, I don't necessarily go to splashing in the waves. My oldest daughter lives in Traverse City, and the beaches in Michigan are equally magnificent, although without the surf.

    The Amorous Assailant--diabolical!! How do they know he kisses his victims? DNA?

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    1. Oh, Michigan beaches— I forgot about that. Good call! They can be quite spectacular.

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    2. Hi Karen - we just saw Point Lobos for the first time (about a week ago). What an incredible place. The views are so spectacular that we're already planning a return trip. And, to answer your question, the Amorous Assailant doesn't kill, he basically just binds his victim, kisses her, and runs.

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  12. As someone who dreams of living in a beach town, I like the story setting no matter what coast it's on. Balmy breezes, the sparkle off the water, sand between your toes... well, except in most Maine seaside towns, where it would be pebbles between your toes! Over the course of the pandemic, I've really gotten into "books as vacation" - I love feeling like I'm getting away, even if only in my imagination.

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    1. And you don’t need sunscreen!

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    2. Julia, I love Maine beaches. Rocky as they may be, they are wonderful for beachcombing, exploring and bird watching!

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    3. We've lived in Idaho, Washington, and Arizona (in addition to Northern and Southern California) and I have to say that I keep finding myself drawn back to being near a beach town. When you need your sand fix, it's right there!

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  13. I like my hometown beaches. I live in Plattsburgh, NY which is on Lake Champlain. A five minute drive gets us to a mile long sand beach (Cumberland Bay State Park and Plattsburgh City beach combined). Hardly a soul around in the off season (which is most of the year) and only the swimming areas have groups of people in the summer. In the winter folks cross country ski the length of the beach. We snow shoe on the trails and through the dunes.

    Two days ago there my husband and I startled a bald eagle family.

    Down the lake is Ausable State Park and Campground. Great bird watching. And the sand is black and magnetic. It washed down the rivers from the Adirondacks where there is iron ore. In fact iron mining was one of the boom-bust cycles in the Adks - along with beaver and lumber.

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    1. I forgot to say how great the view is - Adirondack mountains to the west, Green Mountains to the east. Water and mountains. Does it get any better?

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  14. We moved out of Carlsbad last year, after 35 years in one home. It is a beautiful town, but housing costs are ridiculous. The kids who bought our house work for Google, and their down payment was more than we paid for the house! I look forward to revisiting via Terry’s book!

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    1. and there you have the difference between tourists and residents!

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    2. Yup, the cost of living in a Carlsbad zip code is ridiculous. It's like there's a magic line that, once you cross it, you can just automatically add a hundred thousand or so.

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  15. Congratulations on your new book, Terry! I have been seeing cover photos of the amorous as assailant on social media. The story sounds intriguing.

    Hmmm...beach towns...let me see if I remember visiting beach towns...

    Once I visited a beach in Rhode Island. Not crowded.

    And a beach in La Jolla, California, which was very crowded.

    Spent the day at Huntington Beach ? Newport Beach? (I always get these two mixed up) with a childhood friend. We walked along the beach.

    Agree with Hank about sand. I always get sand in my shoes. Flip flops do not work well for me.

    I prefer to read about beached or watch a movie with a beach rather than visit a beach in person. Just realized that I am not a big fan of beaches, with my pale skin. I burn easily and always am lathering on sunscreen.

    Diana

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    1. Yes, one is either a beach person..or not. xoxoo

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    2. Diana, when I was a kid, being near the beach made me nauseous. My parents would take us along with a picnic lunch and I can remember feeling like I was going to throw up the entire time. Maybe that's why I never had much interest in beach towns until I moved to Santa Barbara after college. That was the point when I started to appreciate them. i fully understand those who aren't 'beach people.'

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  16. Jade sounds like a fun sleuth, Terry. Good luck with the new series. As for beach towns, while my brother chose his California college for the quality of surfing opportunities, I'm more the beachcomber type. Living on the Gulf Coast in winter, we can escape to a warm, abandoned beach nearby. I love to join the soaring seagulls and strutting shorebirds in search of treasure. The salt air and the lulling sound of the surf are a wonderful reprieve from city life.

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    1. And the pelicans that skim across the water. SO magical!

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    2. A lot of college kids did the same thing, Gay! To this day, I regret not learning to surf (while my balance was still good!). But I do love beachcombing!

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  17. Terry, I can’t wait to get caught up on your books! Although I’ve never visited California, I like reading fiction set there.

    I live in a beach town in Connecticut but I like to get away to a different beach for my vacation. For over thirty years, members of our extended family have been going to Chincoteague Virginia. The town of Chincoteague is easily walkable. When we go there, I prefer a house near town so I can walk up and down the streets and check out everyone’s gardens. There’s a nice independent bookstore downtown. I haven’t been able to visit since just before the pandemic, and I hope the store is still there. Chincoteague Island/Assateague Island are great places for birdwatchers and other nature lovers. My surfing family members love the beach there. I enjoy the nature trails and the nature centers. I’ve taken advantage of the free talks given by park rangers.

    I miss summer!

    DebRo

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    1. Deb, and the wild horses, too. That was a big attraction to me when we visited.

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    2. I forgot to mention that! I think I take them for granted now, after all these years of going there!

      DebRo

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    3. Oh, yes, the horses! Remember Misty of Chincoteague?

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    4. Deb, I was born in Connecticut and have some cousins who live there. We got back many years ago (for the fall leaf tour), but haven't been in ages. It would be nice to go back at a different time of year to see it again.

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  18. Hi Terry - your life sounds like mine, except we just change towns or ends of the country!

    Favorite Beach Town? Being a Jersey girl and a forty-year Floridan it is so hard to say so I'll pick two: Cape May, NJ for it's Victorian vibe and see to Portugal views, and Destin, FL - off season - for it's great restaurants and funky stores.

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    1. Cape May sounds pretty cool, Kait. And I agree that off-season is the time to visit beach towns. Otherwise, there are just too many of us tourists bumping into each other!

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  19. Congrats, Terry! I love beach towns! I'm partial to the ones in SoCal, whether it's quaint Balboa Island or the soft sands of Hermosa. I've been to Carlsbad, but we spent most of our time at Legoland. Oregon beaches are also fascinating because of the different landscape, and I enjoy the warm waters of beaches in Florida and Hawaii.

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    1. Legoland! Irresistible, apparently!

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    2. Hi Jennifer, good old Legoland! I've never been there, but it's quite the place from what I hear!

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  20. OMG, hole in my head today. My daughter lives in Lewes, Delaware. Talk about fantastic beaches and beach towns! Rehoboth, Lewes and Dewey are quaint and the history around there is terrific!

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  21. Congrats, Terry! I've always been more of a mountains than beach person. The beaches of southwest Puerto Rico were lovely, though. The picture-perfect white sandy beach. Growning up near Lake Erie, I only got the lake beaches, which were very rocky in places.

    I am looking forward to Bouchercon in San Diego next year though. I can cross "dip my feet in the Pacific" off my bucket list.

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    1. Be prepared, Liz. When you dip your toes, the water will be a balmy 68 degrees. It feels good for about five seconds and then you realize it's not the same as the tropical waters! (I'm sure it's not nearly as bad as Lake Erie, though!)

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  22. We enjoy neighboring Seal Beach for its small-town vibe.
    Lisa in Long Beach

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    1. Seal Beach his another special place, Lisa. And Hank, there are a LOT of them!

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  23. Love it!!! I have to read this! I grew up on the CT shore but San Diego is my beach place now. Beach life is bliss!

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    1. I love it at night, where you can wear shorts and a big sweater.

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    2. You're right, Jenn, especially in the summer, evenings are gorgeous.

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    3. Hank, I see you know the SoCal dress code! :-)

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  24. Yikes, I just lost my comments, so a quick summary. Your book sounds like a great read, Terry, and you have me thinking about taking some extended time for my San Diego Bouchercon trip next year and spending some time in Carlsbad.

    I was there in off-season, but I enjoyed Ocean City, Maryland. Loved the boardwalk and close proximity to Assateague Island and the ponies. We only drove through Rehoboth, Delaware, but I'd like to visit it more some time. I've been to Oahu multiple times, and I always want to visit Haleiwa on the North Shore and eat there. I love the North Shore on Oahu and drive on up the coast from Haleiwa to find my favorite shrimp bus/truck. The turtle watching and surfers watching is great on the North Shore, too. I always have thought I'd rather have a sweet little home on a mountain stream, but I wouldn't mind a beachside cottage either.

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    1. Either one sounds very lovely! xx Invite us!

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    2. You should definitely add a little extra time for Bouchercon, even if it's just a day to visit a few of the beach towns. i, too, love the North Shore on O‘ahu. Great place to shut out the world!

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  25. Place as character! I do love books where the place plays a big role in the mood. Thinking of the moors in the Bronte books. A few years ago I read a book set in Alaska: The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey. very atmospheric! I'm currently working on my second novel, set in an enigmatic, little-known region in the Midwest. Terry, your book looks great!

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    1. Thanks Sylvie! I love books with a strong sense of place, too.

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  26. First off, let me apologize for being late to the party! I thought this post was going live today. So sorry!

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