Swimming with Manatees: An Eco-Thriller of Justice and Redemption

A body on Florida’s coast. A detective who refuses to let silence win.

When a young woman washes ashore in Crystal Cove, Detective Ava Martinez is pulled into an investigation that exposes ecological sabotage, corporate greed, and a community built on buried truths. As the case deepens, Ava’s partner is murdered—turning the investigation into a personal reckoning. Every lead drags her deeper into a coastal town where beauty masks danger, and the next body could be hers.

Readers are drawn in by:

Relentless suspense as Ava races against corruption and time

An atmospheric Florida setting where the natural world becomes both witness and battleground

Emotional depth rooted in grief, loyalty, and the cost of uncovering the truth

Eco‑thriller urgency that blends environmental stakes with pulse‑pounding mystery

Ava Martinez will risk everything to expose the truth before silence claims her too.

Dive into the mystery—start reading Swimming with Manatees today.

Awards & Recognition:

🏆 Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Short List (2026); First Horizon Award Finalist – Eric Hoffer Award

🏆 Winner of the Firebird and Incipere Awards, Literary Titan Gold Award, and PenCraft Award for Suspense

🏅 Legacy Book Award for Mystery/Suspense; Finalist in the American Writing Awards and Indies Today Award

Praise for Swimming with Manatees

“A taut, atmospheric eco‑thriller… Ava Martinez emerges as a compelling, determined lead whose pursuit of truth exposes corporate malfeasance and gives the novel real thematic heft.” — BlueInk Review

“An eco‑noir that traces the human cost of corporate influence across a coastal community. Corporate secrets, crooked power, one relentless detective — Swimming with Manatees pulls no punches.” — Foreword Clarion Review

Not for readers who want a light, breezy Florida adventure, nonstop action from page one, or a simple black‑and‑white thriller.

Perfect for readers who love eco‑thrillers with moral weight, grounded realism, and a slow‑burn escalation into high‑stakes justice.

As Ava digs deeper, loyalties fracture. Her partner is killed. The case turns personal. With the help of a principled scientist, a vigilant neighbor, and a loyal officer, Ava must navigate a town steeped in secrets and silence. Every step closer to the truth brings her closer to becoming the next target.

Swimming with Manatees is an atmospheric mystery that blends:

•  🌊 Environmental intrigue — a fragile ecosystem under threat

•  🕵️ Detective suspense — a relentless investigator haunted by loss

•  🤝 Ensemble drama — allies bound by loyalty, justice, and resilience

•  💔 Emotional depth — a story of grief, redemption, and the quiet power of memory

Fans of mystery, eco-thrillers, and character-driven suspense will be swept into this gripping novel of justice, resilience, and the fight to carry truth forward before the next body surfaces.

Perfect for readers of Barbara Kingsolver, Tana French, and Nevada Barr.