The first in a series of twelve thrilling novels of detection and suspense, "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island" has now been published in the USA and Canada for the first time since Manning's debut in Europe and Australasia way back in 1985.

Merryll "Merry" Manning is a police sergeant, which is certainly not an unusual occupation for the hero of a series of detective thrillers. Admittedly, he comes across as somewhat eccentric, but this again could be rated as a fairly conventional trait among the clue-hunting heroes of crime fiction. Furthermore, Manning works in Miami, Florida, a tried-and-true venue in numerous films and novels.

What does set Manning slightly apart from the pack, however, is Susan Alexis Devoro Ford, his young, super-attractive, pocket-sized girlfriend. Despite her diminutive size, Miss Ford proves quite a handful for a hero who is, as he ruefully admits, more than twice her age. Again, this figures as standard Hollywood material, particularly for fans of aging heroes like John Wayne, Clark Gable and Gary Cooper. Unlike these macho super-stars, however, the far more cerebral Manning is really trapped by Miss Ford. She holds the whip hand.

In any case, Miss Ford proves a most unusual assistant in his perilous investigations, although it’s not until the fourth novel in the series, "Merryll Manning: A Brush with Death" that she reveals her true character.

everyone who enjoys a really exciting, well-characterized, page-turning thriller.

writes with power and precision.

Fatal February
Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (February, 2009)

John Howard Reid has created excellence in "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island". "Mystery Island" is the first in a very highly acclaimed series of mystery novels that came to fruition in 1985. Merryll Manning is the classic hero in this suspense series and John Howard Reid is dead-on with this perfect character. You have the police sergeant working in the perfect setting of Miami, Florida. A hub for shady characters, various criminal activities and bikini-clad hotties Miami gives Merryll many headache-filled evenings. His petite super-cutie assistant, Susan Alexis Devoro Ford, is half his age and full of spunk. Wrapped around her pinkie-finger Merry really toes-the-line when it comes to his assistant.

I always struggle when writing about fiction works. I really don’t want to spoil anything for the future reader, as I have had books ruined with just one phrase from others who have read the book. Let me just say, you must read this book. I can’t wait to get the next installment; "Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders." I love it when you close a good book and know there is more to follow. John Howard Reid is sure to have a great many followers eager to read each book in this wonderful series. From the eerie-cover to the final paragraph I was hooked on "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island."

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Created Nov 03, 2008 at 12:06am • Submit your own review...