The Lost Coast

Jeff Taylor, twenty-five, is a former college basketball star whose path in life has been changed by an accident: he lost half of his right hand to a threshing machine. He had been prepping for the MCAT, but Jeff’s chopped hand triggered a loss of confidence in his medical ambitions. He ends up working as a private eye for Sherman Investigations, a player in the underbelly of California politics.

$15.99$25.99

Jeff’s boss calls in the middle of the night. He asks Jeff to drive to the cold northern California coast to bail out an old friend, state senator Allan Watkins. Watkins has been arrested for drunk driving and charged with vehicular manslaughter of a man named Joe Garston. While Jeff transports Senator Watkins and his wife back to their vacation rental, the senator forces Jeff to pull over at the accident site. Watkins makes a case for his innocence, claiming he’s been set up. Jeff rejects the idea and simply drops them off at the cabin. But now he’s curious. He starts asking questions around town. That night, he gets stomped. Rather than being scared off, Jeff sets out on a quest to find the truth behind the death of Joe Garston…

4.3
Based on 47 Reviews
amazon
Steven A. Blake
October 5, 2023

5.0 out of 5 stars Good read!

I very much enjoyed this book. The characters were still on my mind days after finishing it. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

5.0 out of 5 stars A winner

Enjoyed the flow of the read. As you get deeper into story you can feel the characters emotions and you think you know what their game is. Book reminded me of a John Sanford novel. Highly recommend this book. Looking forward to reading the series

amazon
Chris Gallagher
November 15, 2022

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spectacular Journey in a Special Place

While this may be a “murder mystery” the real beauty of this book lies in the setting- the wild north coast of California. The characters are as colorful as the background, and portray the beauty and the beast of rural America, showing not telling, how corporations ruin the beauty and create the beast.

amazon
Stephen Kent Jones
September 28, 2022

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you

Thank you

amazon
merle fuzzens
April 14, 2022

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes place in Humboldt County

Take place in Humboldt County, too cool

amazon
Debbie V.
December 28, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars Great suspense

Great mystery set on the Northern California coast – plot twists and turns, never quite sure who the real culprit(s) might be and who will be the next victim!

amazon
Lisa Beach
December 6, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read

A great read that keeps drawing you into the characters’ lives, and evokes the beauty of the redwood coastline. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

amazon
Gina
October 15, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars WE LOVED IT!

Scott is an high school friend. When we saw he had finally written his book we could not wait to read it. It was a great read!! We loved that it was on the North Coast, that was fun because that is where we are from and still live. We cannot wait for the next book. Edge of your seater for sure! Great job Scott!! Personal Note: Bill is not a reader and he could not put it down. He stayed u until 1:00 am more than once! Oh …..and he said when the movie comes out…he wants to be the Senator! LOL Congratulations Scott! Well done!!!

amazon
moby
October 15, 2021

Scott is an high school friend. When we saw he had finally written his book we could not wait to read it. It was a great read!! We loved that it was on the North Coast, that was fun because that is where we are from and still live. We cannot wait for the next book. Edge of your seater for sure! Great job Scott!! Personal Note: Bill is not a reader and he could not put it down. He stayed u until 1:00 am more than once! Oh …..and he said when the movie comes out…he wants to be the Senator! LOL Congratulations Scott! Well done!!!

amazon
Nicholas Thurkettle
September 22, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars Noir Stylings in an Evocative Setting

A couple of things in Scott Lipanovich’s debut novel remind me of Dashiell Hammett’s noir classics – first, the foggy atmosphere of California’s coast feels exported from the chilly San Francisco air Hammett described; where corruption and hidden truths lurk. Second, the main character, who is not a brilliant chess-master nor a Sherlockian visionary, but a stubborn, determined soul whose guts and sense of justice won’t let him walk away; the kind of protagonist Hammett often wrote, though Jeff Taylor has a bit more spark of humanity still in him than the Continental Operative. Finally, there’s the colorful gallery of characters, reveling in their vices and contradictions, everyone playing everyone as a tragic death on a highway blows up into a political scandal and then hatches a spider’s egg full of violence, drugs, tragic secrets and illicitly-flowing cash. Lipanovich’s best gift is the lived-in detail of his setting – making it both beguiling and dangerous. His prose is swift and clean while still capturing the pathos and yearning that cloak so many noir characters. And his protagonist, Jeff Taylor, former star athlete now craving a glimpse of decency in the world that he can cling to, is one I’ll happily follow through another mystery.

amazon
Dave Cryer
August 18, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery from an up and coming author!

Great mystery from author Scott Lipanovich. Jeff Taylor is the latest in a long line of hard to forget private eyes! Can’t wait for the next Jeff Taylor mystery.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read love his character building!,,

The characters come to life and you love the journey they take you on

amazon
Erica L
August 6, 2021

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down

Beautifully written. The reader can readily picture the scenic setting for this gripping mystery. It was so well done I had to finish it in a weekend!

Pin It on Pinterest