#BookReview #SummerDanger #WNYAuthor #JimToner

 

Seventeen-year-old Gil Leduc returns to his native country France after a four-year absence. His plan: to spend a nice, quiet vacation on the beaches of Royan, a small city along the Atlantic Coast. But what ever goes perfectly as planned?On the train, Gil reads about a young American student who has gone missing in Royan. He thinks nothing much of it until he witnesses an attempted kidnapping while on the beach, which sparks a spiral of clues that awaken a mystery Gil can’t help but investigate. When Gil stumbles on the dead body of the missing American student, he’s thrust from innocent kid to prime suspect and now has to answer to the French authorities. Their suspicion of him heightens when it’s revealed that Gil knew the victim.

Jim Toner has loved mystery novels since he was eight years old. He was an exchange student in Tours, France. He has visited several other areas of France including Royan. His previously published novels are the young adult mysteriesUnder the Blood and The Purity Ring Murders. He lives in North Tonawanda, New York with his wife Lisa and their cat Olay.

Summer Danger

By

Jim Toner 

Review 

By

Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews 

First, I want to thank WNY author Jim Toner for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW! Just from my comfy chair Jim Toner whisked me away to Royan in Summer Danger! What a trip it was! It had a lot of suspense, mystery, shocking moments, and twists and turns. 

Kudos to the graphic designer who created this cover graphic for the book. It was beautiful and the sunset was picturesque. 

Right away I had to smile as I am a huge fan of Bichon Frise! I totally agree when Jim compared the dog to a big ball of cotton. Those dogs are too cute! If I ever got a dog that is the breed I would get. 

One thing I love about Jim’s work is that he always includes his hometown of Niagara Falls, NY into each story he writes. This one is no exception to that. Gil was visiting Royan from Niagara Falls, NY to sit at the beach with his cousin Catherine. 

Oh how yummy that breakfast feast sounded that Gil had! It made me miss the good ol days of breakfast buffets pre covid. 

I am a huge fan of missing person cases in Mystery novels. That being said this book took a unique spin on the topic. 

I was happy to see that Jim incorporated his love of his faith into Gil’s character. 

WOW!! I didn’t see that event coming so quickly into the storyline! I was shocked and saddened at the same time. 

Jim instills a very important lesson in his book that you don't need alcohol to have a good time. That is so true! 

My heart raced as I was worried about Alyssa and wondered what was happening to her. It was a very scary scene. 

Interestingly enough the lighthouse on the cover does play into significant meaning into the storyline. It is an historical one I may add.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

This book is dedicated to Robert L. Cummings, Jim Toner’s German professor. Who encouraged him to keep writing. He would also like to dedicate it to Paul F. Johnson, one of his French professors, who introduced him to many to the novels of many French authors. 

Jim has been blessed to be a member of the Writers Church where they have been a great source of encouragement to him. 

He would like to thank Murder in Ice, a division of Sisters in Crime, especially Lisa Marie Redmond and Kathy Kaminski who helped answered his questions about the police work. 

The North Tonawanda Writers Group feedback was invaluable as their members saw earlier versions of this novel.