Martinez Mysteries Swimming with Manatees: An Eco-Thriller of Justice and Redemption, Book 1, (Paperback)

<p><strong>Winner of the Firebird and Incipere Award, Literary Titan Gold Award, PenCraft Award for Suspense, and Finalist in the American Writing Awards and Indies Today Awards</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>A death on Florida's coast. A detective who won't let silence win.</strong></p><p></p><p>When the body of a young woman washes ashore in Crystal Cove, Detective <strong>Ava Martinez </strong>is called to investigate. What begins as a suspicious drowning soon unravels into something far more dangerous: ecological sabotage, corporate corruption, and a marine biologist's research that could change everything-or destroy it.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p><strong>Swimming with Manatees</strong> is an atmospheric mystery that blends: </p><p>- <strong>Environmental intrigue </strong>- a fragile ecosystem under threat</p><p>- <strong>Detective suspense </strong>- a relentless investigator haunted by loss</p><p>- <strong>Ensemble drama</strong> - allies bound by loyalty, justice, and resilience</p><p>- <strong>Emotional depth</strong> - a story of grief, redemption, and the quiet power of memory</p><p></p><p>Fans of <strong>mystery, eco-thrillers, and character-driven suspense </strong>will be swept into this gripping novel of justice, resilience, and the fight to carry truth forward before the next body surfaces.</p><p></p><p><strong>Perfect for readers of Carl Hiaasen, John D. MacDonald, and Randy Wayne White.</strong></p><p></p><p>Bennett's Swimming with Manatees is a taut, atmospheric eco-thriller in which expressive prose and plot-driven dialogue propel a morally urgent investigation; Ava Martinez emerges as a compelling, determined lead whose pursuit of truth exposes corporate malfeasance and gives the novel real thematic heft, while Bennett's vivid rendering of Florida's coastline and marine science grounds the suspense in a richly realized setting. <strong>- <em>BlueInk Review</em></strong></p><p></p><p>An eco-noir that traces the human cost of corporate influence across a coastal community. Ava Martinez returns in a gripping environmental mystery that exposes corruption and the price of profit in a small Florida town. Corporate secrets, crooked power, one relentless detective - Swimming with Manatees pulls no punches.<strong> - Foreword Clarion Review</strong></p>

• Martinez Mysteries Swimming with Manatees: An Eco-Thriller of Justice and Redemption, Book 1, (Paperback)
• Author: Billbenn Books
• ISBN: 9781970628210
• Format: Paperback
• Publication Date: 2026-01-30
• Page Count: 364