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The Plot
The plot begins with some disturbing signs: scarecrows appear on the cliffs above the Smith River, and then a little girl claims to have been chased by one of them at night. At the same time, a decapitated body is found in the river, shifting the story toward a darker investigation. Sean Stranahan, a recurring character in the series, is also at the center of the story, alongside Harold Little Feather, a state investigator.
Connection to fishing
The novel features a lot of fishing because Sean Stranahan is a fishing guide, an amateur painter, and a private investigator in his spare time. The Smith River isn?t just a backdrop: it?s an iconic fishing destination, traversed by boat, observed, protected, and coveted. For readers who love fishing, this creates a very vivid atmosphere of the river, boating, the scenery, and the culture of angling?rather than simply a ?set? crime novel by the water?s edge.
Appeal to an angler
What may appeal to readers is the way McCafferty ties fishing to very current issues: river conservation, industrial pressure, and the conflict between economic development and the environment. The novel also celebrates the mystique of America?s great rivers, with their wildlife, landscapes, and role in local life. In that sense, it is as much an atmospheric novel about fishing as it is a classic crime thriller.
What You Should Know Before Reading
The book is part of the Sean Stranahan series, but it can be read as a standalone novel since the investigation stands on its own. The plot sometimes takes a while to get going, but the setting, the supporting characters, and the descriptions of the landscapes more than make up for it for readers who appreciate atmosphere. If you enjoy stories where fishing, the river, and the protection of natural environments are just as important as the mystery, this is a good choice.
A Death in Paradise
- Author: Keith McCafferty
- Publisher: Gallmeister
- Publication Date: June 3, 2026
- Weight: 0.4860 kg
- Number of pages: 464
- Dimensions: 14.20 x 20.60 x 3.10 cm
- Retail price: ?25.90
