First, I don't think the description of this book adequately captures what makes this a novel worth reading. For me, the horrific murder of Curt's fiancee, Ruthie, and his search for the truth surrounding her death and maybe a secret life, is what kept me reading. There were other interesting cases Curt investigated, but the emotional bang was who killed Ruthie and the mysterious person calling Curt about Ruthie's murder. I wanted to know more about that plot, which was left unresolved by book's end. So yeah, a cliffhanger. I like Curt Savage, who has some interesting inner thoughts and ways of putting things. Honestly, more often than not, Curt said and thought phrases that would've made more sense if done by a fifty-something woman. I kept thinking a young male would not say or think such things. The author used the term metrosexual a few times to explain, I think, some of Curt's thoughts that readers would likely think more common for a female. Beyond that, this book was pretty good, with a nice overarching mystery combined with likable and interesting supporting characters. I definitely what to know what happened to poor Ruthie. No one deserves to die the way that she did. And Curt really did love her, although there was one interesting quote about his thoughts on Ruthie, which cast her in a somewhat different light. I won't spoil that bit by explaining or posting the quote. I am looking forward to learning the truth of Ruthie's life and death in subsequent books. ( )

I was given a copy of “Savage Summer” by Ruth Bainbridge in exchange for an honest review. I was introduced to the author through Reading Addiction Blog Tours. I have done a couple of blog tours since I created my own website, and have found that it’s an excellent way to meet new authors. It’s been a great way for me to find my footing in the thousands of other book review blogs out on the ARPANET.

“Savage Summer” is falls into the category of mystery, murder and suspense. With most mystery and suspense novels, you have a heavy dark story that takes you deep into the mind of the murderer and the person chasing that murderer. With “Savage Summer” you still have that deep emotional and dark side to the story, but the author spiced the story up with satire.

*****

We are introduced to Curtis Owen Savage while he is deep into his world of depression, seclusion, and despair. The horrific murder of his fiancée Ruth Warwick while she was away studying for her master’s degree. It’s not only the murder that has gotten to him but several events that led into the murder and after.

With Ruth being such an independent person, she seldom asked for his assistance in much. However, he had such an urgent request for her to visit. Being 120 miles away he was consumed in his own little world of a police officer, he was always pushing things off to the side. Taking her and their relationship for granted, he just knew that there would be time to get up and visit her another day. However, to his demise, that opportunity never did come.

What really shook Curt was the manner of the investigation. Knowing that so many murders are committed by someone who knows the victim, he was turned into suspect #1. With being a police officer, this investigation didn’t help him much with his fellow officers. Granted he was eventually cleared and no longer a suspect, it took a toll on him.

Doing what we all want to do when a break up or something as horrible as the murder of the woman he loved, he became a recluse. He holed himself up in his condo and for 18 month became a hermit. I’m sure that we’ve all just wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out…well this is what he did. Once a fit man, he let himself go. He relies on the internet to connect him to the world. Delivery boys bring him his necessities of life. His mother is demanding for him to get back out into the world and live again.

It’s through a 24 hour gym that starts to bring Curt out. Knowing that he needs to get out of this depressed routine, he starts working out late at night when nobody else is around. It’s through fate that he meets, Michelle O’Brien, AKA Mike.

Mike is an outgoing, rough around the edges, calling it as she sees it, lesbian. Realizing that this man is a lost soul, she takes him under her wing and starts to drag him out into society again. A friendship starts to develop and his world is starting to take on what is best to say, some normalcy. That is until he gets a whiff of something that reminds him of his past.

The perfume of his Ruth starts to linger on his nose. He smells it from time to time and he realizes that if he is ever going to get over this horrific loss, he will have to step up and do something about it. Curt uses his experience has a police officer and starts to follow his instincts. He is bound and determined that he will find the person or persons that were responsible for the murder of his Ruth.

It’s through the digging out of his hole that he starts to learn that much was looked over in the original investigation. He starts to follow the clues that should have been seen by others, but missed. The only question he needs to ask himself is…will he be prepared for what he is likely to discover?

*****

I honestly enjoyed this book. I would have liked for a better ending, but then this is what a series is all about. I do understand why it ended the way that it did, but still as a reader, sometimes you don’t look at the author’s perspective. I will want to read the second installment just hoping that Curt is able to figure this out.

With this being only 177 pages, it was a fast read for me. In all, it was a great read. I enjoyed the breath of fresh air the author spun with the satire written into the story. With a dark subject of murder, it’s nice to sometimes be able to laugh when you are trying to figure out who done it. ( )