I used to be one of those thorough types who always read a series in order and liked to read widely in an author’s 
work in order to judge their latest book. But these days I don’t have the time or energy for that sort of diligence. There are so many books I want to read in so many different styles and genres I tend to just read whatever book grabs my attention at the moment. Not very disciplined I know, but there it is.
I bring this up because in times past I would have read the first two books before picking up the latest H. Terrell Griffin Matt Royal mystery Blood Island
Enough discursive introduction then, what about the book? It was an entertaining mystery/action story with some unique plot lines.
The central character is obviously Matt Royal a semi-retired trial lawyer living in Longboat Key, Florida. Royals high pressure legal career burned him out and cost him his marriage, but he ended up with enough money to live in Longboat and do pro-bono legal and investigative work. He is also an ex-special forces Vietnam veteran.
Like so many mysteries the story kicks of with a dead body. This one found in local bird sanctuary. Royal doesn’t think much of it at first, but when his ex-wife Laura turns to him for help in find her step-daughter, Peggy, things get complicated. Soon Laura is missing too, the violence escalates and the body count grows. With far too many unexplained coincidences Royal finds himself in the center of a dangerous plot.
FYI, what follows includes plot spoilers for those of you who don’t want to read those sort of things.
