Book Review ~ SURVIVING THE STORM by I.J. Miller

Surviving the Storm
by: I.J. Miller
Genre: Mystery
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Blank Slate Press

A STORM. A BODY. AND A LIST OF SUSPECTS WHO ALL HAVE SECRETS TO HIDE!

Surviving the Storm is a sexy thriller about three dysfunctional couples working at a Caribbean resort who are desperately trying to navigate their emotional lives while being suspects in the murder of a co-worker.

September, 1989, Hurricane Hugo blasts the island of Antigua. Three couples, who live and work at an exclusive beachfront resort, shelter in the wine cellar along with the security guard. When the storm passes, the lifeless body of the resort's handsome assistant manager is discovered on the property. Was he killed by flying debris or was it murder? A local detective is called in who gradually unravels the intimate connections between the dead man and the couples, putting them all in the crosshairs of his intense investigation.

Smart, sexy, and fun, Surviving the Storm is a sensual murder mystery that explores the secret lives and emotional ups and downs of everyday people as it grips the reader in page-turning suspense right up to the surprising reveal at the end.

Surviving the Storm is the first book I have read by I.J. Miller and I was very impressed. I’ve read a lot of mysteries and this one kept me guessing until the very end. I had my suspicions about whodunnit but I was never totally confident. There were a lot of possibilities and the author did a great job of throwing you off.

Surviving the Storm involves three very different couples who live at a resort in Antigua. Although this does center around an actual hurricane, there is definitely a figurative storm that threatens to destroy everything in its path. At the center of this storm is Alvin who is an employee at the resort along with some of the people within the couples. Alvin is the ultimate playboy and his exploits eventually lead to his demise. The question is who kills him because everyone has a motive. As you get to know each person, it becomes clear that they all have their own internal demons that they need to address to move forward. The author does a great job with character development to the extent that you kind of feel sorry for each of them and the poor choices that they make mostly as it relates to their sexual desires. And there is plenty of sex. Much more than I anticipated. Of course, there is also plenty of drama to give that Desperate Housewives kinda vibe.

I really enjoyed Surviving the Storm but it’s a mystery so I can’t give away too much. It was fun, bizarre, and intriguing. It was also a very well-written and nicely structured book so it was not difficult to stay on track as the mystery unfolded. I am definitely going to read more books by this author when I get the chance.

**Received a copy of the book from the author and voluntarily read and reviewed.**

Rating: 5

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I.J. MILLER has published seven literary works of fiction and one book of non-fiction. SEESAW was translated into German and Spanish and sold over 132,000 copies in the Bantam paperback. WHIPPED is available in English and German. Next came the short story collection SEX AND LOVE, and the novella CLIMBING THE STAIRS. The audio version of WUTHERING NIGHTS was nominated for an Audie Award in 2014. In 2019, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION was published to rave reviews. Released in 2022 was PROMISE FULFILLED, A Memoir of Immigrant Success, with Miller as the co-author. And coming in 2024, the sexy thriller, SURVIVING THE STORM. Miller is also a screenwriter, with an MFA from the American Film Institute.

Places to find I.J. Miller:

Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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