Prolific author Bill Noel drops an early present with Folly Holiday mystery Silent Night
Special to The Current
Folly Beach is once again prominently featured in the newest novel by Kentucky-based author Bill Noel. Silent Night is the 11th installment in the prolific author’s Folly Beach Mystery series.
Noel weaves the charm and character of the small barrier island and nearby Charleston throughout the pages of his new book.
The official release date is Monday, Aug. 8 for Silent Night, which is is not only the latest in the Folly Beach Mystery series, but also unique in that it is his first holiday tale. Subtitled A Folly Beach CHRISTMAS Mystery, the book is being released earlier in the year so readers of the popular series can have copies before the holiday season.
The new novel is also shorter and priced lower than the other books in the series. Those who have read one or more of the first 10 books will be familiar with Chris Landrum and his merry band of misfits who stumble, bumble, and somehow manage to catch killers who appear almost as often on Folly Beach as sunburned tourists.
“Folly Beach continues to be a magical and mysterious place. I’ve tried to capture the charm, character, and characters of the island in the series,” said Noel, who lives in Louisville, Ky., but feels at home on Folly.
“I’m not privileged to live on Folly Beach, yet I’ve been welcomed with open arms by everyone I’ve had contact with there the last nine years. Residents have offered me valuable insights, information, and more than a few potential plots. If I bumped-off everyone Folly residents have suggested, the population would be drastically reduced!”
Written to be perfect beach reads, Noel’s novels are light, humorous, and feature a group of characters who are nearly as quirky as the setting. Charles, Dude, Cal, Mad Mel, and Bob return to help Chris solve the mystery. While Silent Night is a mystery, no one is murdered in this installment.
Other books in the Folly Beach Mystery Series include Folly, the debut novel released in 2007, The Pier, Washout, The Edge, The Marsh, Ghosts, Missing, Final Cut, First Light, and Boneyard Beach. Noel will be on Folly Beach the last week in September and the first week of October for the following book signings:
• September 29, The Lost Dog Cafe, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• September 29, The Grill and Island Bar, 6-9 p.m.
• October 2, Tides Hotel, 12-3 p.m.
• October 4, The Lost Dog Cafe, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Noel’s books are available on Folly at Bert’s Market, Mr. John’s Beach Store, and Roasted, located in the Tides Hotel. They are also available through your local bookseller or online at www.billnoel.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
