Evil in Paradise

[BritParrothead]

I have just read Evil in Paradise, by R B Conroy. A really good read, and quite interesting as it is set in The Villages! :coolsmiley:
I now have to see if I can find any more of this authjors books on line, because there is no way I will find them in England :rolleyes:
Also reading books by Chip Bell. Give him a try.

[senior citizen]

I have just read Evil in Paradise, by R B Conroy. A really good read, and quite interesting as it is set in The Villages! :coolsmiley:
I now have to see if I can find any more of this authjors books on line, because there is no way I will find them in England :rolleyes:
Also reading books by Chip Bell. Give him a try.

I was curious so I just went to Amazon.com's Kindle Store......
yes indeed, it is set in THE VILLAGES, Florida

........sounds like the author resides in TV??????

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2012
Cathy Roberts has it all—an exciting life in a fabulous retirement community, a beautiful home, an expensive automobile, a doting husband, and five wonderful grandchildren. But it isn’t enough for the attractive, well-spoken Cathy. Filled with an insatiable desire for self-gratification, she wants more. Then, as fate would have it, she meets a handsome and single ex-truck driver, Eric Lowe, and the sparks begin to fly. Captivated by the exciting and much younger Lowe, she wants to spend the rest of her life with him, free from the constraints of her marriage. During a chance meeting with a troubled Harley rider at a local bar, Cathy finds her ticket to freedom. The resulting story takes the reader on a gripping journey filled with broken promises, forbidden liaisons, violent confrontations, and finally, murder.

About the Author:
In his fifth novel, R B Conroy uses the setting of his winter home in central Florida to create yet another murder-mystery thriller. The Villages, Florida, a diverse and exciting community, provides the backdrop for this spine tingling tale of greed, deception, and murder. As this book goes to print, Conroy is hard at work on the outline for his next exciting novel.
R B Conroy's other novels include: Devil Rising, Return of the Gun, In My Father's Image and Deadly Game.

P.S. I forgot to mention I did download the book onto my Kindle........can always return it if it's not interesting.

[Taltarzac725]

I have just read Evil in Paradise, by R B Conroy. A really good read, and quite interesting as it is set in The Villages! :coolsmiley:
I now have to see if I can find any more of this authjors books on line, because there is no way I will find them in England :rolleyes:
Also reading books by Chip Bell. Give him a try.

Amazon.com: Evil in Paradise (9781927360354): R B Conroy: Books

Cody's Original Roadhouse on cover.

[senior citizen]

Amazon.com: Evil in Paradise (9781927360354): R B Conroy: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Evil-Paradise-R-B-Conroy/dp/1927360358)

Cody's Original Roadhouse on cover.

I saw that and was wondering if it's a real place in TV.
I don't recall it from our last visit.

[Taltarzac725]

I have just read Evil in Paradise, by R B Conroy. A really good read, and quite interesting as it is set in The Villages! :coolsmiley:
I now have to see if I can find any more of this authjors books on line, because there is no way I will find them in England :rolleyes:
Also reading books by Chip Bell. Give him a try.

I really like the UK's The Book Depository for finding books to buy. Advanced book search at The Book Depository (http://www.bookdepository.com/search/advanced?searchAuthor=R+B+Conroy)

I did a search on R.B. Conroy.

I mainly use the Book Depository for Simon Scarrow books. These are kind of hard to find in libraries in the US because he is a UK writer who writes about the adventures of a pair of 1st Century AD Roman legionnaires Macro and Cato. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Series

[BritParrothead]

Thanks for the info on Book Depository, I had never heard of it!! Now safe in 'my favourites' folder :)

[Taltarzac725]

I saw that and was wondering if it's a real place in TV.
I don't recall it from our last visit.

Up the Creek used to be where Cody's Original RoadHouse now is.

[mgm4444]

here's an excerpt:
http://www.o*****bn.com/preview/9781927360354/

[mgm4444]

http://www.o*****bn.com/preview/9781927360354/

[hulababy]

sounds like a good read. how is it??

[rubicon]

Frankly I feel exploited:1rotfl:

[duffysmom]

I believe one of our members here on TOTV is an author but I forgot his name..::loco:

[senior citizen]

sounds like a good read. how is it??

Well, to be perfectly truthful, so far I'm not impressed.

Yes, it is set in The Villages, Florida and all the familiar roads and places are mentioned.

The first chapter was so poorly written, at first I thought I had downloaded the wrong book..........but that was describing the woman back in her childhood days..........

Next it got into golfers on the golf course, etc., their wives, etc......
I'm up to where she is realizing where she can meet her tennis partner which just happens to be in some "snowbirds" empty home (as she has the remote entry key, etc.)

I'll bear with it for awhile. Sure hope the author DOES NOT live in TV.
Not all the books at the Amazon.com kindle store are great.....but I was curious. One great thing about amazon though, is that if you do not like a book and just cannot get "into it"....you can return it for a full refund, within a certain amount of time.

I'm hoping "Evil in Paradise" will surprise me and get better as it moves along. I thought "Leisureville" was more interesting to read; he was a better writer.......for good or for ill..........

[senior citizen]

Frankly I feel exploited:1rotfl:

Yikes..........are you R. B. Conroy?

r. u. b. i. c. o. n.

[Paulm47]

I saw that and was wondering if it's a real place in TV.
I don't recall it from our last visit.
Cody's is real, a great spot on the waterfront at Lake Sumter. They now have a large poster of this books cover on the wall near the entrance.

[Taltarzac725]

I believe one of our members here on TOTV is an author but I forgot his name..::loco:

The Villages Daily Sun reporter Gary Corsair who has also written at least one book used to post on TOTV. Have not seen him on TOTV for a while though.

He came on asking for our experiences with Big Foot a few years back.

I got on my tinfoil hat and wrote him back. :D Just kiddin.

[senior citizen]

The Villages Daily Sun reporter Gary Corsair who has also written at least one book used to post on TOTV. Have not seen him on TOTV for a while though.

He came on asking for our experiences with Big Foot a few years back.

I got on my tinfoil hat and wrote him back. :D Just kiddin.

Interesting as to who he might be......

I'm surprised that no one else is reading Evil in Paradise, considering all the hoopla surrounding Leisureville when it was first published..........

I'm only up to 20% on my Kindle, but not to hurt anyone's feelings.....it's just not that good. I purchased it based on someone elses recommendation.

Think I'll go back to Russka: The Novel of Russia by Edward Rutherfurd.
Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 2011
"Impressive."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD
Spanning 1800 years of Russia's history, people, poltics, and culture, Edward Rurtherford, author of the phenomenally successful SARUM: THE NOVEL OF ENGLAND, tells a grand saga that is as multifaceted as Russia itself. Here is a story of a great civilization made human, played out through the lives of four families who are divided by ethnicity but united in shaping the destiny of their land.
"Rutherford's RUSSKA succeeds....[He] can take his place among an elite cadre of chroniclers such as Harold Lamb, Maurice Hindus and Henri Troyat."

[BritParrothead]

Read Sarum a long time ago, when living in London.:read:
Now i live 38 miles from Old Sarum (Salisbury as it is now known):smiley:

[senior citizen]

Read Sarum a long time ago, when living in London.:read:
Now i live 38 miles from Old Sarum (Salisbury as it is now known):smiley:

Yes, Sarum was also excellent. Now, he is a great author.
Edward Rutherfurd.

Sorry, but just can't get into the book you loved re THE VILLAGES.

I'm up to the part where the drywall guy's girlfriend is chatting with someone. They mention the town of Oxford, which I do recall.....

It's almost like it was written for the teenaged population.....

Maybe it does get better as one gets into the book....but so far, I'm not as impressed as you were with it.

We have friends who were born and raised in Great Britain.....

[Taltarzac725]

Read some of Edward Rutherfurd's books. He is good. Read his Sarum, London and New York.

[senior citizen]

Read some of Edward Rutherfurd's books. He is good. Read his Sarum, London and New York.

Yes, he is. I really enjoyed "New York".....

I was getting a history refresher course without even realizing it....

Makes one appreciate all the people that came before us...........

If you recall the part in "New York" where the father takes his young son to see Niagra Falls............?

I thought of that part of the book when Nik Wallenda was walking across........this past June.......

It's a magnificent sight, no matter which era one happens to see it.........

I also learned a lot of the Dutch history......New Netherlands, etc.

[BritParrothead]

Yes, Sarum was also excellent. Now, he is a great author.
Edward Rutherfurd.

Sorry, but just can't get into the book you loved re THE VILLAGES.

I'm up to the part where the drywall guy's girlfriend is chatting with someone. They mention the town of Oxford, which I do recall.....

It's almost like it was written for the teenaged population.....

Maybe it does get better as one gets into the book....but so far, I'm not as impressed as you were with it.

We have friends who were born and raised in Great Britain.....

You know, I was reading it while standing in the pool taking the sun, so maybe my demeanour made me like it more ;) ;)

[BritParrothead]

Just started reading Chip Bells' Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season. So far so good. Sadly no reading in the pool, (we dont have one :D ) and it is pouring with rain, and has been since last Saturday!!!!
Oh how I miss the villages :(

[uujudy]

Read Sarum a long time ago, when living in London.:read:
Now i live 38 miles from Old Sarum (Salisbury as it is now known):smiley:

I read Sarum, and then we visited England, and I was so excited to go to Salisbury. I remember being astounded that the carved faces were right up there on the wall in the circular room in the cathedral -- just like in the book! I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, but you never know what's real and what's not in fiction. I enjoyed that book very much!

Also, Brit, if you have a Kindle you might want to check out eReaderIQ.com for books. They have many, many free books that are available worldwide.

[senior citizen]

Cody's is real, a great spot on the waterfront at Lake Sumter. They now have a large poster of this books cover on the wall near the entrance.


Yes, thank you.....as I've gotten into this book, I see that a lot of the individual villages are named.......I recall driving through them......

Whomever did write this book, set in THE VILLAGES FLORIDA, did their background work.

"Cathy" has now arranged for a Harley motorcycle mechanic to kill her husband for $100,000 (spoiler alert)......so she can be with her tennis hunk. She's 67; he's in his early 50's I think......I didn't bookmark it on my Kindle..........(she met this down on his luck rough and tumble Harley mechanic at the bar).

I'm back to reading it now as it's becoming comical.............

Apparently she learned something from the Casey Anthony case (re not using your cell phone as they can trace the pings)........

She's told the "hit man" that she will meet him at that big "flea market" and pass to him cash up front plus directions on how she wants it done....the murder..........in a folded up "shopping bag"........hanging other instructions on a bulletin board at a local store.

Unbeknownst to her......THE NEIGHBORS have observed her black Lexus going in and out of the *empty house in the Village of Duval........she even gave directions in the book.............how to get there..........anyway, they are getting suspicious as is her husband..........

*empty house belong to snowbirds who have her look in on it every now and then.........

A newcomer to TV is an ex police investigator.........I'm sure he'll get involved........it seems everyone knows someone...........

[senior citizen]

You know, I was reading it while standing in the pool taking the sun, so maybe my demeanour made me like it more ;) ;)

I did stick with it and am 76%, according to the Kindle....through the book "Evil in Paradise". It is becoming a page turner as the Harley mechanic dresses like a "Villager" in Bermuda shorts or whatever, to ride his bicycle in to where the mailboxes are....to kill the husband.........having been hired by the wife (and in need of money to save his business which could go into foreclosure)........

Again, it is not the great American novel.........but, I'm sticking with it.
I have a feeling he will not kill the husband.

The ex N.Y. detective is suspicious, yet somehow believes his story......
of why he was lurking in the bushes............

[Yorio]

Guess this book was a bit of a topic for a while inTV so, yes, I loaded on to my Kindle. For $6, I thought I could't lose. Yes, I am lumbering through but eventually I'll finish it. When I return to TV, I'll be looking around for real TV personalities who might resemble the novel. Know of any one? On the side, I recently got interest in a Russian mystery writer, Boris Akunin. Apparently he is very famous there. I've read The Winter Queen, The Turkish Gambit, Murder on the Leviathan and now reading The Death of Achilles.

[BritParrothead]

I read Sarum, and then we visited England, and I was so excited to go to Salisbury. I remember being astounded that the carved faces were right up there on the wall in the circular room in the cathedral -- just like in the book! I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, but you never know what's real and what's not in fiction. I enjoyed that book very much!

Also, Brit, if you have a Kindle you might want to check out eReaderIQ.com for books. They have many, many free books that are available worldwide.

uujudy, thank you, but I decided against a Kindle etc. I like my books :) I have a spare bedroom here which is my library :) I have no idea how many I have, but I do like to read them a few years later on.

[Down Sized]

I think I will just stick with the New York best sellers list.

[Trish Crocker]

I just finished reading Evil in Paradise. While the book reminded me of a movie on Lifetime, I was curious about a couple of things. Did anyone pick up when the book talked about Cathy going 'upstairs' to her bedroom? Other than the townhouse style homes in TV I don't think any of them have an 'upstairs' and I was given the impression that she lived in a premier home. The other thing that bothered me was when the biker guy went to Disneyworld with his sister and her kids, he talked about how the kids were bugging him for cotton candy or snowcones...he finally gave the child some money and he bought a treat from someone dressed in a costume. Now I don't know about you, but I have been to Disney many, many times and never once did I hear about snowcones or cotton candy and I have never been served anything by anyone dressed as a character. This sounds like a carnival or fair. I don't think the writer has ever been to Disney. Other than these silly things, I thought the book was mind candy, and I did enjoy being able to identify the places that were mentioned. Right now I am looking for a really good mystery..any suggestions? I like stuff like Mary Higgens Clark.

[Lbmb24101]

How exciting!
That will be my next book!

[BritParrothead]

I just finished reading Evil in Paradise. While the book reminded me of a movie on Lifetime, I was curious about a couple of things. Did anyone pick up when the book talked about Cathy going 'upstairs' to her bedroom? Other than the townhouse style homes in TV I don't think any of them have an 'upstairs' and I was given the impression that she lived in a premier home. The other thing that bothered me was when the biker guy went to Disneyworld with his sister and her kids, he talked about how the kids were bugging him for cotton candy or snowcones...he finally gave the child some money and he bought a treat from someone dressed in a costume. Now I don't know about you, but I have been to Disney many, many times and never once did I hear about snowcones or cotton candy and I have never been served anything by anyone dressed as a character. This sounds like a carnival or fair. I don't think the writer has ever been to Disney. Other than these silly things, I thought the book was mind candy, and I did enjoy being able to identify the places that were mentioned. Right now I am looking for a really good mystery..any suggestions? I like stuff like Mary Higgens Clark.

When we used to take our sons to Disney, they always wanted Candy Floss, as we Brits call it. Disney sell it in plastic bags, and the girls and boys were in costume, but NOT character costumes.
Now reading Chip Bells 3rd book, Havana Daydreamin' and waiting for number 4 this atumn.

[jblum315]

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered Evil in Paradisepaperback from Amazon (not for Kindle because I like the cover)
Gee, I guess Villagers could make him a best-selling author!

[BritParrothead]

Hi jblum,
I do hope you enjoy it, we did :icon_wink:
It is 'fluff' but it is harmless fluff :) :)

[Sunset44]

I would thank all of you for your comments on my novel, Evil in Paradise, both postive and not so positive. I love The Villages and wanted to create a story to hopefully entertain my friends here in our little "paradise". My book has sold well and the reviews have been mostly positive. It makes my wife and I feel good that so many have enjoyed my book, and although the story is spicey, it was always my intention to frame The Villages in a postivie light. Thanks again, and happy reading to you whatever your current read might be! R B Conroy

[missypie]

How cool that you live in TV! We will be moving down next year, so I will pick up your book and dream away.....

[babs1199]

I would thank all of you for your comments on my novel, Evil in Paradise, both postive and not so positive. I love The Villages and wanted to create a story to hopefully entertain my friends here in our little "paradise". My book has sold well and the reviews have been mostly positive. It makes my wife and I feel good that so many have enjoyed my book, and although the story is spicey, it was always my intention to frame The Villages in a postivie light. Thanks again, and happy reading to you whatever your current read might be! R B Conroy

My sister and I both read the book, It was great.... Keep writing.

[jblum315]

It's just trash, you know, but entertaining because it's set in The Bubble

[redwitch]

Thought it was a great travelogue for TV, but really stunk as a novel.

[Taltarzac725]

Thought it was a great travelogue for TV, but really stunk as a novel.

Have not read it yet, but that certainly sounds like an apt description from the other posts about it on this thread.

J.K. Rowling's new book The Casual Vacancy looks like it is a good novel. I have only read part of it so far as the Lake Library System puts one week limitations on high demand books. That's too little time if you have a lot going on in your life. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/28/casual-vacancy-jk-rowling-review

[Madelaine Amee]

Right now I am looking for a really good mystery..any suggestions? I like stuff like Mary Higgens Clark.

If you like British mystery writers you might try Ruth Rendell Ruth Rendell | Ask.com Encyclopedia (http://www.ask.com/wiki/Ruth_Rendell)

She is a prolific writer of really good mystery stories. Her books are available in both the TV library on Belvedere and also at the new library on 466A. Her story lines always have a great twist, but none of the violence so prevalent in our mysteries. I like Alex Cross, but you have to have an iron clad stomach for his books.

I lived in Europe for some years and got used to the British way of writing.

[Pturner]

Yikes..........are you R. B. Conroy?

r. u. b. i. c. o. n.

Good eye Senior Citizen! Um, R.u.b.i.c.o.n. ... are you??

[Yorio]

Assuming Sunset44 is the author, I would say try again with a sequel. If one had stripped away all the proper nouns of The Villages, the story would be weak in my opinion. I forgot the author but there is a mystery writer I found at my friend's place who writes about Florida. He has several on his shelf so I hope to borrow from him when I return. Check out also Boris Akunin, "Winter Queen" which I couldn't put down. Would like you to succeed, so more powers to you. Am sure there are enough TV materials around so you can be our household author someday. Cheers!

[wilkinsm1]

I am intrigued enough to buy Evil in Paradise...critics aside, I admire someone who actually puts words on paper and publishes, for better or worse. Two Florida writers I have enjoyed who are currently writing are Randy Wayne White(Pine Island, near Sanibel) and Tom Corcoran, Key West. My all time favorite is, of course, John D.MacDonald.

[graciegirl]

,,,

[Tweety Bird]

I would thank all of you for your comments on my novel, Evil in Paradise, both postive and not so positive. I love The Villages and wanted to create a story to hopefully entertain my friends here in our little "paradise". My book has sold well and the reviews have been mostly positive. It makes my wife and I feel good that so many have enjoyed my book, and although the story is spicey, it was always my intention to frame The Villages in a postivie light. Thanks again, and happy reading to you whatever your current read might be! R B Conroy

My sister and I went on a cruise with our spouses and LOVED "Evil in Paradise". It was simply a FUN read. Kathy Roberts really had it coming to her, especially after reading the first chapter. I kept going back to my cabin ready to read more and more. It was a FUN, easy read and I got a big kick out of it. Yes, it was entertaining. But I'm DYING to find what Kathy looks like in McDonalds. I kept feeling sorry for her husband. Glad he got a good one at the end!

[gomoho]

Love Randy Wade White as well - just downloaded "Evil in Paradise" to my kindle - looking forward to reading it.

[senior citizen]

I just finished reading Evil in Paradise. While the book reminded me of a movie on Lifetime, I was curious about a couple of things. Did anyone pick up when the book talked about Cathy going 'upstairs' to her bedroom? Other than the townhouse style homes in TV I don't think any of them have an 'upstairs' and I was given the impression that she lived in a premier home. The other thing that bothered me was when the biker guy went to Disneyworld with his sister and her kids, he talked about how the kids were bugging him for cotton candy or snowcones...he finally gave the child some money and he bought a treat from someone dressed in a costume. Now I don't know about you, but I have been to Disney many, many times and never once did I hear about snowcones or cotton candy and I have never been served anything by anyone dressed as a character. This sounds like a carnival or fair. I don't think the writer has ever been to Disney. Other than these silly things, I thought the book was mind candy, and I did enjoy being able to identify the places that were mentioned. Right now I am looking for a really good mystery..any suggestions? I like stuff like Mary Higgens Clark.

You can take your children to have breakfast with the "DISNEY CHARACTERS".....all in costume. But that was when our children were young. Ditto for the western "ho down" or whatever it's called.

I truthfully do not recall cotton candy or snowcones either.....but it's been awhile. We'd go every spring for school vacation to Disney World in Orlando. Now they all have families of their own.

I also like Mary Higgins Clark and have read all of her books.

[OldDave]

I read the first 4 chapters on Amazon's preview. Sounded more like a travelog than a novel. For those of you that have read it, does it get better?

[graciegirl]

Merry Christmas, Ole Dave.

[Justjac]

Love Rutherford's books! Great historical fiction, surpassed by none other! Well, maybe Michener's "Poland" ...

[graciegirl]

If I am looking for something LIGHT and funny I go for Janet Evanovich.

I am reminding myself way too much of the grandma character in her books. ;)

[glgene]

When I first read the headline, I thought it said Elvis in Paradise.

I guess "I'm All Shook Up."

Gene

[graciegirl]

When I first read the headline, I thought it said Elvis in Paradise.

I guess "I'm All Shook Up."

Gene

SOON it will be Christmas day and SOON you will be here full time.

I can't wait.

[rubicon]

Well, to be perfectly truthful, so far I'm not impressed.

Yes, it is set in The Villages, Florida and all the familiar roads and places are mentioned.

The first chapter was so poorly written, at first I thought I had downloaded the wrong book..........but that was describing the woman back in her childhood days..........

Next it got into golfers on the golf course, etc., their wives, etc......
I'm up to where she is realizing where she can meet her tennis partner which just happens to be in some "snowbirds" empty home (as she has the remote entry key, etc.)

I'll bear with it for awhile. Sure hope the author DOES NOT live in TV.
Not all the books at the Amazon.com kindle store are great.....but I was curious. One great thing about amazon though, is that if you do not like a book and just cannot get "into it"....you can return it for a full refund, within a certain amount of time.

I'm hoping "Evil in Paradise" will surprise me and get better as it moves along. I thought "Leisureville" was more interesting to read; he was a better writer.......for good or for ill..........

Yes it does later on when the heroine hooks up with Mr. Midnight whom we all know doesn't want to get married. He is such a chick magnet Heck I should write a book

[senior citizen]

Yes it does later on when the heroine hooks up with Mr. Midnight whom we all know doesn't want to get married. He is such a chick magnet Heck I should write a book

Yes, it did get better as I went along.....and it became a page turner.
I will ask again.........

Yikes..........are you R. B. Conroy?

r. u. b. i. c. o. n.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/images/talkofthevillages/misc/progress.gif

[OldDave]

You guys keep kidding rubicon about being the author. I know my memory is slipping, but I could have sworn someone earlier on the post said he was the author. I went back and post #35 by Sunset 44 says, in fact, that he is RB Conroy. Don't know if he was kidding or if you guys already knew that. I am a little slow(er) this early in the morning.

[graciegirl]

You guys keep kidding rubicon about being the author. I know my memory is slipping, but I could have sworn someone earlier on the post said he was the author. I went back and post #35 by Sunset 44 says, in fact, that he is RB Conroy. Don't know if he was kidding or if you guys already knew that. I am a little slow(er) this early in the morning.

Nope you are right as usual OldDave. Sunset44 is the person who wrote that book and others.

Merry Christmas.

[dotti105]

I will download it tonight. I think some op have been a bit too critical. I realize we don't all have the same taste in books, but it is really neat to have a novel set in a location we know well. That in itself will make it fascinating to me!
Don't do a sequel, do a trilogy. That's what is really selling now! Good luck!!

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Sorry,
I'm almost done reading this novel. I find it poorly written and very simplistic; though it moves quickly. The "I've been to that place" effect wears off quickly. The best part, for me, is Dirk who is a non-Villager. It's a quick read with the hook of having TV as its placement.

[Villager Amy111]

I agree with dotti105. People are being too critical - this is not meant to be War and Peace. It's a fun, quick read...perfect for summer. I have read other books by this author and found them interesting and enjoyable. Would recommend to others.

[fatmike]

I have read all of the author's books and find Evil in Paradise to be both entertaining and a good read. Hope there are more to come.

[jackz]

Just picked it up on kindle for $6.12.

Light reading and enjoying the sights and sounds of TV in the book.