Review
You are guaranteed to fall in love with Vero Beach and Rick Edwards as you read Lost in Paradise The Rick Edwards File. Jim Kelly masterfully combines the drama of his police experience with sparkling, crisp prose. The magic of this book will stay with you long after you have finished reading. Spend an afternoon seeing Vero Beach through the eyes of an exciting new writer who knows the area and its secrets so well. If you've never been there you will feel as though you have. If you are familiar with Vero Beach, you will see it through a fresh perspective. You should not miss this one! --Cindy Buchanan - Birmingham, AL
Lost in Paradise is a found treasure Soon football as we know it will be over and March Madness is a month away. What to do, what to do, what to do? Well as Mom always said; You can always read a book!! . And wow, do I have a book for you!!! Jim Kelly has written a true page turner for anyone interested in Vero Beach and local law enforcement. Kelly is a recent transplant to our little town. He moved here in the early 1980 s from his native Michigan and has been a police officer for the City of Vero Beach for almost all of his time here in Sunny Vero. Most of his work has been as a detective and from what I hear, a pretty good one. Lost In Paradise is kind of a Joe Friday meets Mickey Spillane with Vero Beach as the center of the action. and is an exciting read. Kelly incorporates a detective named Rick Edwards as the protagonist who could very well share a few similarities to Jim Kelly. Many of the cases in the book are based upon true Vero Beach crimes. The names have been changed to protect the innocent, as they say. Those familiar with Vero Beach crime over the years may recognize some of the cases. Others will be surprised that these type of atrocities have occurred in our fair little city by the sea. Kelly adds enough twists and turns along with some insightful motivation for the characters to make this a real work of fiction that is based on actual events. This is Kelly s first novel and although I do not think he will challenge Truman Capote s place in the crime writers hall of fame, he has produced an interesting piece of work. As a Vero native, I did remember all of the cases and believe I was able to figure out the real people the fictionalized characters were written to portray. If you have been around town for awhile, you will enjoy this book as a tribute to our town. If you are not from around here, you will enjoy it as a very good crime novel based upon the works of a very diligent police officer. Good work Detective Kelly. You know how picky the Newports are and we are really looking forward to Rick Edwards next adventure in paradise. --Max Newport - Vero Beach
I found the book to be a good read. Actually, I felt that I was entering into a conversation with Rick, and getting some insight into the work and mindset of those who place their lives on the line daily. The compassion and love-of-the-job comes through as you move from incident to incident with Rick. Your sense of description and painting such a full picture of the area, gives you a feeling that you are there, watching, listening and at times, judging some of life s more difficult exchanges. The characters are truly believable and situations, though at times graphic, are not a horror show. Rick s love for his family really comes through. I like the idea of each chapter being a separate incident, with some lead-ins to others, but a good literary device. You are the storyteller and you have invited us along for the ride! --Mike Goldberg - Vero Beach
About the Author
I am one of Harold and Margaret Kelly's nine children who grew up in the county of Michigan's Irish Hills. My father had me schlepping his golf bag starting at a young age and golf became my passion. I am a life-long student of the game, which has exposed me to some of the world s most gifted athletes and talented personalities. For several years, I happily labored in Detroit's automobile manufacturing plants. Then, in 1980, I married Nancy Christenson, of Livonia. Two years later, I moved south, seeking a new career and discovered Florida s Treasure Coast - a 70 mile expanse along its southeast shore. It is a tropical paradise where Spanish galleons laden with cargos of silver and gold were lost during hurricanes of centuries past. The sparkling surf, scenic Intercoastal Waterway and fair weather have drawn people from across the globe. Towns have sprung up along its vibrant coast. Luxurious resorts and spectacular golf courses now occupy areas once held by a thick jungle. As winter descends upon the continent, an annual migration occurs as people come for the ever- present tropical breeze and the chance to discover the treasure that continues to wash up along its shores. Since 83, I have enjoyed a career with the Vero Beach Police Department. There is something truly remarkable about serving as a policeman. It afforded me the opportunity to do things that others can only dream. The profession is both exciting and meaningful. A cop is a symbol of justice, a trained peacemaker, a first responder to all calamities and a professional witness for the criminal justice system. It literally is a public arena where the conflicts between right and wrong get played-out everyday. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this novel. This story is a reflection of the people whom I ve come to know and the community I continue to serve.
