The only thing that could make Alex Kavaยs new novel, Damaged, more realistic would be the inclusion of tar balls on the beach. With recognizable elements of life on the Gulf Coast leaping off every page at those of us who call the area home, Kava has created a story filled with tension and misdirection. Special Agent Maggie OยDell, the protagonist in seven of Kavaยs previous best-selling novels, is caught in a literal whirlwind in Damaged. While a category 5 hurricane bears down on Florida, OยDell is investigating the murder of a man in Port St. Lucie. The trouble is, his body is found in a cooler near Pensacola Beach, hundreds of miles away. Actually, we shouldnยt say his body; itยs more like his various body parts. 6:30 p.m. Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-524-8597 or visit www.murderbooks.com. Free.
Mon., July 19, 6:30 p.m., 2010
This article appears in Jul 15-21, 2010.