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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Tuesday - First Chapter - First Paragraph - Scene Of The Climb



Each Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea shares the first part of a book that she is reading or thinking about reading.  This week I'm sharing the first few paragraphs of Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley.  I met this author at Left Coast Crime and immediately wanted to read this first book in her cozy series that is set in the Pacific Northwest.  We lived in that area for a few years in the '90's and I do love to visit when we can.  Kate made me laugh as she talked about her protagonist Meg Reed.  See what you think:



Angel's Rest Summit, Oregon
     My fingernails dug into the soggy dirt as my body lurched closer to the sheer cliff face.  I desperately jabbed deeper into the ground for traction.  It didn't work.
     I kicked frantically into a boulder on my right, trying to slow my momentum.  The trail was disappearing in front of me.  Fast.  Two more feet and I would launch over a ledge, straight down the side of the rock face.
     That's when I heard the scream.  It took a minute to sort out whether the sound was coming from my lungs or somewhere ahead.  Definitely ahead.
     I skidded over slick jagged rocks.  They jammed into my exposed skin and snagged my paper-thin T-shirt.
     ...not the shirt.  I'd spent a wad of cash I didn't have on the shirt.  When I spotted it on the rack with its pale pink ivy vine design and the words 'Live. Love' on the front, it spoke to me, as Gam likes to say.  Plus, it's the perfect blend of Northwest chic--equal parts hippie and hipster.
     At that moment I looked up to see a man's body plummet over the ledge.
     I should have been concerned that I was losing ground and about to fly off after him.  Instead, all I could think about was that I never should have taken that umbrella.


Blurb:

Portland, Oregon, is the perfect fit for someone like Meg Reed.  It's a city with a small town feel, where she can crash on the couch of her best friend Jill, now that she's graduated from journalism school. . .

But a girl needs a job, so Meg bluffs her way into writing for Northwest Extreme magazine, passing herself off to editor-in-chief Greg Dixon as an outdoor adventure enthusiast.  Never mind that Meg's idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.  So when she finds herself clawing to the top of Angel's Rest--a two-thousand-foot peak--to cover the latest challenge in a reality TV adventure show, she can't imagine feeling more terrified.  Until she witnesses a body plummet off the side of the cliff.  Now Meg has a murder to investigate.  And if the climbing doesn't kill her, a murderer just might. . .

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It's been a while since I read very many cozy mysteries, but I'm game to try them again.  This seems like a good place to start and I'll enjoy the local culture very much.  I miss living in Oregon.

38 comments:

  1. I like the narrator in these beginning paragraphs. How great that you had a chance to talk to the creator of this character! I hope the rest of the book is just as good.

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    1. I finished it last night and I liked it very much. Look for a review next week.

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  2. That sounds like a solid opening Kay - I really enjoy books that are set in places that I know well too - I do hope you enjoy this one!

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    1. I have just finished it and had such a good time with the local color and places. Sigh.

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  3. Not a huge cozy fan but I like outdoorsy crime stories set in the USA so I'll check this one out. I like those first paragraphs.

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    1. Cath, this one has a lot of Oregon info and descriptions and it's funny.

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  4. I like the start of this, though not necessarily my type of book - I'd keep reading.

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  5. I'm not a cozy fan, but the setting could win me over. Definitely worth a try!

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    1. You'd like the setting here, Les. Lots of Portland color and a lot of Columbia Gorge stuff.

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  6. I'm curious for me although I'm not a huge cozy fan.

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    1. It was a fun book - lots of Oregon info and a funny protagonist.

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  7. Cozies have become a nice change of pace for me... perfect after some nonfiction or emotionally draining literary fiction. I'd give this one a try.

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    1. Yes, I used to read more of them and than got a little weary of them. I think the ones I was reading kind of all read alike, but I'm pretty sure that I'll be including them again - at least for a while.

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  8. I like the heroine's thought process--I'd like to know more about her.

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    1. She was quite funny. And she has a grandmother who is also funny.

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  9. I would be so frightened. She's brave to even try. I get that she's motivated by the job, but I don't think I would be able to do that even then.

    This sounds like it will be a good one!

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    1. Well, she's kind of desperate, but she is a good writer and so taking a chance on the 'extreme' angle makes a 'fish out of water' aspect. I laughed a lot.

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  10. You had me at the setting...and the character's reluctant climbing (that's me, too). Sounds tempting! Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Yes, Oregon is such an extreme sports place that this author will have a lot of ways the series can go.

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  11. I enjoy books set in the Pacific Northwest where I live, and this sounds like a good one. Sounds like the point-of-view character is a strong woman -- my favorite character type.
    My Tuesday post features a contemporary romance: GRIFF MONTGOMERY, QUARTERBACK.

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    1. Sandra, I had a good time reading this one. Lots of Portland info and the Columbia Gorge area is very prominent.

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  12. That's a great opening! I'd keep reading!

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    1. And I did, Monica. Finished it last night!

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  13. Definitely would! Oregon is a state I'd like to visit since I now live on the west coast. And I like cozies with an outdoor theme, so this will be a fun one. Enjoy!

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    1. Rita, this one has lots of descriptions of Oregon in the Portland area. Brought back a lot of memories. It's a light cozy, but it's funny too.

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  14. I love a good cozy! I've got the 3rd one in this series coming up soon on my reading list and am looking forward to it. I really enjoyed this one! I'd definitely keep reading!

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    1. I finished this one last night and am ready to move on to #2!

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  15. No, this is not for me, the style is a bit too frantic. If,however, like you, I had met the author and knew the area then I would probably want to read on. (Because I'm nosey!)
    Miss Cellany.

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    1. Well, the location was a big part of my enjoyment, although I did like the characters too. That being said, not everyone loves this type of book. I used to read a lot more cozies and then quit for a while. I'm enjoying a few again now and I do like humor in my books on occasion. :-)

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  16. I love the setting and would keep reading.

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    1. It was fun, Paulita, and the setting was wonderful.

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  18. OMG!! What a beginning! My heart is pumping just from reading this! The author is obviously very skillful in hooking the reader right from the get-go!

    This sounds like a great read, and I have always yearned to live in Oregon.....but, I'm terrified of heights, and the fact that someone just got murdered...no, this is not my cup of tea at all.

    I do hope you enjoy it, though!

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my post!! :)

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    1. It was a fun book. Lots of humor and lots of Oregon stuff. The murder wasn't all that bad either - no descriptions because it's a cozy. LOL

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  19. I love the Pacific Northwest. This sounds like it will be a good one.

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    1. I had a good time with it and loved the setting!

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!