Cross Current (Seychelle Sullivan Suspense Book 2)

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A nice series of books. Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon. The danger of jumping into the middle of a series is that you might not be 'in' on every joke or nuance. Ideally, you should be able to get the gist of the backstory quickly and cleanly, and in Cross Current, Christine Kling does an admirable job I assume, since I have yet to read the first in the series of filling in readers on who Seychelle is and how the 'regulars' relate to her.

The story, as amply detailed in the book's listing and in other reviews, is a gripper. As a sailor, I have a natural affinity for 'sea stories', and Kling's fascinating look at a small sliver of the Haitian culture really got my blood boiling and heart racing. She perfectly blended fact - the practice of selling young girls into a form of slavery - into a riveting, if slightly predictable, tale of murder, voodoo and betrayal. Her ability to keep the pace moving while accurately detailing the finer points of boats and boating is outstanding, which should come as a relief to readers who know a thing or two about the sport.

Her characters are diverse, yet believable for the most part -- I still have a hard time buying the relationship between Seychelle and her deckhand , and her writing is as crisp as barbecued tarpon. A note on the Kindle edition: This is one of the cleaner Kindle books I've read. Very few, if any, typos, and no weird line breaks. If this review gave you information that was helpful, please feel free to click the YES button below!

This four book series by Christine Kling has a lot going for it.. The characters are interesting and well developed. The action is logical and moves well. The reader will get the most by reading the entire four book series in order - "Surface Tension," "Cross Current," Bitter End," and "Wreckers Key," Now, what I liked most about the series is something I value in anything I read - "believability.

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Kling does as well and when she refers to an Irwin 54, that's a real boat and when she talks about boating, seamanship, and boats and boat handling she has got it right and, for me, that draws me into the story. If inaccuracies put you off, you can read this series in comfort. My impression is that this is "it" for these characters and the series. That is probably a good thing. There is nothing worse than a TV show or a written series that over stays it's welcome to suck a few more bucks out the readership.

I'm moving on to Ms. Kling's next series, "The Shipwreck Adventures. I'm writing this review on the second book even though it's really geared towards the whole series. Why the second book? For me, this was the first book of the series that I read--I got it free from Amazon. I've read so many books I got for free, that I had very low expectations for this one. The most convincing thing I can say is that it impressed me so much, I shelled out the money and bought the rest of the series. High praise, indeed--from me, anyhow. In spite of the first person narrative which I generally hate , I loved Seychelle and the seondary characters.

Kling fleshes out the characters really well and the settings are so real and detailed. Having never been to Florida, I cannot attest to her accuracy, but I feel as though the novels are a veritable travelogue. Frankly, this is not a deterrent to me. I love an author who doesn't write for the lowest common denominator--which ends up being lifeless, colorless, and boring think Nicky Charles for sheer hair-ripping, eye-rolling, generic dullness.

Kling does not go overboard ha! I won't say every mystery Seychelle gets involved in was a complete surprise, but Kling has such an energetic writing style so that I'm done with the novel long before I'm ready to leave the scene. I was terribly disappointed that there were only 4 books in the series, but I knew that before I started the final Seychelle novel and was able to prepare myself. From Publishers Weekly Salvage boat captain and sometime sleuth Seychelle Sullivan returns in Kling's follow-up to her well-received debut, Surface Tension, this time to aid a frightened Haitian waif named Solange.

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Seychelle—who's plying the South Florida waters on her tugboat, the Gorda, with her mechanic cum lover, B. The recent murder of some Haitian refugees and a creepy visitor to Solange's hospital room convince Seychelle that the frightened girl is in peril. More challenges come from tough guys with various agendas.

Detective Victor Collazo, with whom Seychelle has a combative history, seems determined to thwart her effort and return the child. Border Patrol Agent Russ Elliott presses a similar agenda, though Seychelle's lawyer and best friend Jeannie does her best to parry his thrusts. Savvy readers will be two steps ahead of the plot, which features several genre set pieces, but Kling writes with crisp assurance, especially about life in coastal South Florida, and her supporting cast, if crowded, is colorful.

From Booklist — Kling adds swift plotting, convincing nautical detail, voodoo lore, and tropical scenery, all of which adds up to a satisfying if unsurprising series that is Florida's answer to Grafton and Barr. All rights reserved Cross Current For Seychelle Sullivan, life is all about making a living, making love, and keeping her eye on the beauty that still remains in her beloved Florida. Then her life takes a turn when her tug intercepts with a swamped fishing boat in the Gulf Stream. Inside the boat are a murdered woman and a little girl in a white dress.

Seychelle returns to shore with a traumatized Haitian girl named Solange in her cabin. Determined to protect Solange, and somehow keep her from being sent back to Haiti, Seychelle becomes obsessed with the forces that nearly killed the girl—and left her speechless with terror.

With a murderer stalking the child, Seychelle is racing to unravel dangerous truths. But to get the answers she needs, she must return to where it all started: About the Author Christine Kling is the author of five nautical thrillers and one anthology of short stories. She lives aboard her foot sailboat Talespinner and travels wherever the wind and free wifi may take her. Kindle Edition , pages. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

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To ask other readers questions about Cross Current , please sign up. Lists with This Book. May 25, Jeanne rated it liked it Shelves: Cross current is the second in the Seychelle Sullivan series by Christine Kling. It is a fun, easy read mystery, set primarily on the Florida coast. Boats and boating playing significant roles. Seychelle is a smart but flawed female tug owner who has, again, gotten pulled into solving a mystery beyond the ken of the police.

Like the first in the series, Cross current explores with human trafficking. As with many books, what we see is not what it appears: What do we ignore? What do we misperceive? The Haitian community, which plays a central role in this book, opens her eyes to things she hadn't expected.

In real life, when we are forced to see things we don't want to see, we go kicking and screaming. We may see, then ruminate, trying to make sense of this strange event. In mysteries like this one, the world can be turned upside down, one can be beaten black and blue, and come out smiling and supported on the other side.

If only it were so easy. Much enjoyed the 2nd Seychelle Sullivan adventure. Can't wait to get started on the next one. She's a great protagonist with enough variety in co-stars to carry the plot all the way to conclusion. Author Kling's knowledge of working boats, ocean currents, and the social world of people who live in that environment have once again been an unintended education smoothly woven into the story.

And I'll leave it there -- lest the next thing I say becomes a spoiler.

Jan 18, Mish Middelmann rated it liked it. Powerful exploration of the desperate lives of Haitians trying to get to the USA. Good insights into both the positive culture and intent of what is often dismissed as "Voodoo" as well as the stretch it takes for somebody from white US background to understand it. Feb 28, Andrea rated it liked it. Cross Current is about a man named B. J who came across a girl that he started to like more and more, but things began to get very interesting and mysterious when the days kept passing, so he began to get suspicious and did something about it.

I thought this book was interesting, but there were times where I would have to flip back a few pages to figure out what was happening because I was confused a few times. Overall, this was a good book and left you with suspension and with your jaw dropped. I would recommend this book to others because I think they would also enjoy the suspension and all the very jaw dropping moments in the book, for example, "Gorda was now dead in the water, and the child was about twenty feet off the port side, her head still down.

The book was well written and the backstory was very informational to me. Jul 21, Toni rated it it was amazing. Suspense and Mystery on the Sea Christine Kling is my new favorite author.

I couldn't say whether book 1 or book 2 is best, but this is certainly a series worth reading. Seychelle Sullivan is a strong willed personality and a perfect main character. Kling writes a spellbinding story with awesome character development. Her books keep the reader on edge from beginning to end. The twists and unexpected turns keep the books interesting enough to make the reader search for other works by this autho Suspense and Mystery on the Sea Christine Kling is my new favorite author.

The twists and unexpected turns keep the books interesting enough to make the reader search for other works by this author. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. Feb 03, Doug D rated it liked it. I don't like books that focus on romance or relationships, if you like romance and relationships you will find some of that here. If you are like me you will not find the romance and relationship stuff overwhelming, it's fairly limited and pretty easy to ignore so don't let it put you off.

It's an easy read that will keep your interest, contains a fair amount of action and a bit of suspense.

Cross Current: Seychelle Sullivan Suspense, Book 2 (Unabridged)

The book portrays the plight of illegal immigrants from Haiti from the human perspective without delving I don't like books that focus on romance or relationships, if you like romance and relationships you will find some of that here. The book portrays the plight of illegal immigrants from Haiti from the human perspective without delving into politics. Overall I found it an enjoyable read. Feb 28, susan suydam rated it really liked it.

Silly fun escape tails I enjoy water and boat themes, and find Seychelle a like- able heroin. Always making the wrong choice, she finds her self in silly situation. Fun read when you need to escape reality. May 05, Jack rated it really liked it. An intriguing mystery that explores the plight of exploited children and migrants. Oct 20, Maggie Miller rated it it was amazing. Great book I have been happy with both her ocean series so far! Her books are well written and entertaining. I enjoy the plot lines as well! Mar 17, Susan Ash hanson rated it really liked it.

Love this series, lots of action. Feb 19, Audiothing rated it liked it Shelves: Seychelle Sullivan Suspense, Book 2 Written by: Christine Kling Narrated by: Inside the boat is a little girl in a bloodied white dress. When Seychelle returns to shore with the traumatized Haitian girl, she is faced with the border patrol, the police, and an unraveling love affair.

Determined to protect the child, and somehow keep her from being sent back to Haiti, Seychelle becomes obsessed with the forces that nearly killed the girl - and left her speechless with terror. All Seychelle knows for sure is that the girl's father was an American But to get the answers she needs, she must return to the waters of the Gulf Stream, where people died for a hope and prayer - and a man with a machete did the work of the devil himself.

Taut, suspenseful, and filled with remarkable descriptions of Florida's many moods and guises - from million-dollar waterfront homes to haunted, backwater mangrove swamps and secret Voodoo rituals - Cross Current is alive with personalities and passion and the work of an author boldly staking out territory all her own.

Seychelle becomes emotionally involved with with an Haitian child she finds at sea. Unlike the murdered woman found alongside her in the small, abandoned craft, the female child, Solange, has escaped death. Seychelle is determined to find the childs father, an American, if she is successful, Solange may have the chance of a life in America.

That Seychelle is tough, at least, on the outside, is evident. She works as hard as any man, she knows all about the coastline and shipping, this is her world.

Cross Current (Seychelle Sullivan, book 2) by Christine Kling

Now, she has to take on the Border Police and everyone else who wants to return Solange. Her only ally is her lawyer friend Jeannie. For me, the long descriptions of all things maritime made the book rather tedious at times, I really don't need to know quite so much about running a boat, or about tidal conditions. I also, at times thought Seychelles made less than intelligent choices which landed both herself and Solange in dangerous situations, I found this aspect of her very irritating, as well as stretching the bounds of credulity.

I had thought I would love this book: Florida, the ocean, boats, mystery, heart rending social statements, these are elements I had expected would combine to produce a book of great enjoyment. Unfortunately, despite the exciting and fast paced adventure, in parts, the authors' overly detailed work just did not hold my attention. A good mystery, but buried within too many words.

Narrator Once again the skills of the narrator came to the rescue. I doubt very much I could have borne the eleven hours and twenty nine minutes of this recording quite so determinedly were it not for the talent of Rosemary Benson. I enjoyed her voice, her characterisations were, I thought, excellent, I was quite taken with how she portrayed Jeannie! I'm not sure why, but as soon as I heard "Jeannie" speak, there she was!

I could see her so plainly on that screen in my head. Every character is well defined and easy to identify, nothing is overdone. If a narrator is new to me I try to find their website, I was delighted to discover that Rosemary is also an accomplished singer. Despite my enjoyment of Rosemarys' excellent work, the sound quality of the audiobook was not top-notch, a little sibilance here and there, a little echoey.

Don't let that put you off though, as I'm told I do find fault where others don't, so please, listen to the sample and use your own judgement. This audiobook was gifted to me in return for this, my honest opinion I had conversations with the author on Goodreads. She seemed very nice and very interesting.

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I was afraid I would not like her books and have to insult her. I decided to read one of her earlier books before reading the one I received from Goodreads. Thankfully I liked this book. The characters are interesting. I love the main character and her independence. Not a copy in any way, just strong women in a man's world. I am from Florida so lo I had conversations with the author on Goodreads. I am from Florida so loved that Florida was a character in this book. The places she described were alive and breathing in the story.

Kling is now added to my author list. Do not think that Kling, White and Hiassen are only for those who love Florida. These are good writers who write absorbing stories with fascinating characters who happen to spend a lot of time in Florida. Although I suspected who the big bad guy was, the entire story surrounding him held surprises. Including the Haitian culture and plight was different. It is too often ignored in stories of South Florida and the Caribbean.

Kling handled it well, not preachy but as an intergral part of the story line. The book I received in the Goodreads' giveaway is longer and hopefully will have more character depth. I want to read more of Seychelle, B. I want to read more of Christine Kling. Nov 28, Avid Series Reader rated it liked it Shelves: Seychelle owns her own boat towing and salvage business, inherited from her father. She lives alone with her dog in a small cottage just off the water, and loves her freedom. She always needs to make money to keep in business, so she is ever vigilant for boats in need of assistance.

On her way to help out a stranded friend who is careless with his batter Cross Current by Christine Kling is the second book of the Seychelle Sullivan mystery series, set on Florida's waterways near Fort Lauderdale. On her way to help out a stranded friend who is careless with his batteries and supplies , she spots a small rowboat adrift, in it a young emaciated girl clinging onto a woman's corpse.

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