Rising Tide

In Ryan’s pedestrian sequel to 2014’s Windswept, New Yorker Emily Harrington returns to the Caribbean island of Aruba for the wedding of the daughter of Annie and Martin Maitland, owners of the Island Bluffs resort. Emily befriends fellow wedding guest Peggy Lawson, along with her nine-month-old daughter, and teenager Ariana Van Meeterens, “one of the most sought-after babysitters on the island.” When kids discover Ariana’s body on the beach, any hope Emily had for romance with Chief Insp. Thomas Moller goes by the boards. A bracelet belonging to Emily found on Ariana provides an additional puzzle. Meanwhile, Ariana’s killer worries about possible witnesses who might be able to tie him to the victim. When a foolish resort guest tells the media that Peggy may have seen the killer, she becomes a target, as does Emily. Ryan never manages to wring much suspense from her story, and the rather prosaic investigation doesn’t provide much of interest either. [em]Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Jan.) [/em]