Folly (A Folly Beach Mystery Book 1)

Years ago my family stayed at the Holiday Inn on Folly Beach and had a great time. While I don't know if there was a murder we were there when it caught the edge of a hurricane. As we were leaving we had to wait until the bridge off the Island was safe. For all the folly we had a great time. The waves were very rough and we hoped the pier would make it. The few times we could go on the beach the shells were crushed. But I enjoyed watching the sea and even to Patriot Point. Growing up in Portland Maine the lighthouses made me feel at home and this book takes me back to this special place and the very nice people. Reading these books I feel I am sitting and seeing the ocean surrounded by family.

Folly Beach has long been my go-to place to destress. Noel has gotten to the heart of the island and shared her quirks, her strengths, and the acceptance her people have for each other. It's a good place to be and a great setting for this mystery. Here's a nice guy who's acerbic wit and talent for observation are what draws friends, and enemies, toward a picture perfect ending. Because, sometimes, even "home" can be visited by shadows of greed and murder.

Great rambling tale from a perspective this reader doesn't normally see. Characters are well defined, not too cookie cutter. There's sex, but only referred to, no scenes. Sure there's murder and mayhem but it's not too heavy. It just sort of rambles on, slow and methodical, much like the island. Make me want to visit the place at least once in my life, if only to try to experience the ambiance Bill so beautifully creates.Now, for the bad, and the reason I had to 4 star it: The version on my kindle has many formatting errors. Some below the line quotation marks, hyphens in words that were forced for one version that aren't HARD Split in this version. Some sentences are even HARD Split, making the text jarring. There's also a few things that the editor should have caught such as duplicate words that should have been caught. Lastly, synonyms were found around the area. If you can overlook all that like I did, you're in for a great tale.Finally, YES, after all that, I'm still interested in reading more from Bill Noel and his Folly Beach Series.

This book (#1 in a series of mysteries set in Folly Beach, S.C.) gives new meaning to the term "beach book" or "beach read". Don't waste this book at the beach; save it for the workaday world when you need to escape to the beach. You'll feel like you're there when you're reading it. One of my new favorite books, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I would classify it as a cozy mystery. It reminds me a little of "The Cat Who" books by Lilian Jackson Braun without the cat.Some of my favorite lines:"Officer Robins, who looked like he had been around awhile, especially around food, was clearly the superior officer—at least in seniority.""The menu said “fresh southern seafood.” I think that meant fried fish—not fish with an accent."And the running line "the best realtor in the second largest of three small realty firms..."Great book.

Bill Noel is now one of my favorite authors, the way he developed the characters, you will remember them and fall in love with each one. My husband and I stayed at the tides on Folly Beach for only one night years ago as I stop over heading north. Mr. Noel's description a Folly has given me, a Charming setting and I will be booking my husband and my fall vacation there. Be prepared to put things off because once you pick up this book it's very hard to put down. Enjoy

As a lighthouse lover and past visitor to the Morris Island Lighthouse, I was attracted to this book and also because I love good mysteries. However, this book was painfully slow and in need of some serious editing. About the middle of the book, the plot finally begins to open up. Out of curiosity I did order the next two books after I completed this one. It remains to be seen whether or not I continue through the 17th book in the series. I only hope there is more there there to the next stories.

I normally don't take to first person narrative, but Bill Noel does it just right. The story has several facets-getting to know the protagonist and the way he meets people and life, the characters in the story with their interesting stories and quirks, small town living, and a murder mystery! Already have the second book downloaded!

I liked 'being there' on Folly Beach as if I was a part of it all. Very well written so that it takes you along and you get to know these people. I bought the next one and I'll just keep on reading as long as there is a Folly Book! Total enjoyment. I also like that songs are referred to along the way. I am on book 3 now and will eventually get to them all, I hope. I highly recommend this series.