Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
Reviews
Review this book!
On May 20, 2010, feeney said
In 1983 Rick Boyer beat out 800 other writers to win the Edgar (Allan Poe) Award for best Mystery Novel of the year. In BILLINGSGATE SHOAL, Boyer introduced his hero "Doc" Adams, who has so far appeared in eight more installments. Adams is a 50-ish man who is bored with his life. He is a gourmet cook, has studied karate, loves boats and has a good life with wife and two young adult sons. But he has difficulty finding satisfaction in medicine. Doc had taken a good M.D. degree but tossed that career away when his emotions proved not up to his patients occasionally dying. He then took a degree in dentistry, field where patients are unlikely to die. Really boring! So he next combined the two skills and became an oral surgeon. Still boring! But also very profitable and with grateful patients. ***** Early one sleepless morning Doc Adams looks out from his cottage high on a cliff on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He spies a largish boat, perhaps a fishing trawler, stranded at low tide on Billingsgate Shoal, a few miles away across the water. Doc notifies the Coast Guard. But the boat's crew bangs away at an apparent leak in its hull and the trawler (if it is a trawler) floats off with the rising tide and limps into a nearby port for what turn out to be very hasty, superficial repairs. ***** The plot is off and running when Doc Adams suggests to Allan Hart, a young scuba diving friend of his two sons, that he swim out to Billingsgate Shoal and take an underwater look at the trawler. Next day Allan's body is found washed up miles away with a blow to the head. One thing leads to another, clue is piled upon clue and Doc Adams sets out to run down the captain and crew of the trawler to reconstruct Allan Hart's last moments. Doc soon finds himself flailing and fighting for his life among arms smugglers to Ireland and Canada, pirate treasure hunts, faked deaths, assumed identities, offshore bank accounts and general mayhem. Not boring! *****Rick Boyer says that he learned to write mysteries by deliberately imitating the thought processes of Conan Doyle's fictional Sherlock Holmes. BILLINGSGATE SHOAL is roughly one half puzzle to be solved and one half action, violence and perpetual motion. Rick Boyer knows and loves boats and sailing. The novel is set almost entirely in and around Boston and waters off Cape Cod. A map indicating names and places would therefore have been easy to provide and a welcome addition for readers. As I told the author in a meeting earlier this week, truer words were never said than in the first sentence of his prefatory AUTHOR'S NOTE: "The places in this book are real, the people aren't." Doc Adams reminds me of Marquand's MR. MOTOs. Not profound, but moderately challenging as a puzzle to be unraveled. A quick, pleasant read. ***** BILLINGSGATE SHOALS is also available as an acclaimed audio cassette narrated by Christopher Lane. ***** Author Rick Boyer now lives in Western North Carolina and has created a new character, Buck Gentry, a Carolina Mountains game warden. -OOO-
Available Copies
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal
by Rick Boyer
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
North Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Item Price
-
A$94.81
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Fine in Fine dust jacket. 1982. First Edition. Hardcover. 0395320410 . First edition. This copy has been signed by the author on the half-title page. Author's first Doc Adams novel and an Edgar Award winner. 272 pages. Creasing to the tips of pgs 233-237 in Fine jacket.LR2/5E Item Price
A$94.81
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Belfast, Maine, USA
- Item Price
-
A$63.20
Show Details
Description:
Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Inscribed and signed by the author on the title page. Also the author's first mystery. First Printing. 272 pp. 8vo. Light wear and scuffing to dust jacket, now in mylar cover. Light dust staining to head of text block. Clean, within. Item Price
A$63.20
Billingsgate Shoal
by BOYER, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
A$47.40
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. First edition. Fine in near fine dustwrapper with a tiny chip at the bottom of the front panel. Edgar Award winning novel. Item Price
A$47.40
Billingsgate Shoal
by BOYER, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
A$79.01
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. First edition. Some faint soiling on the boards, else about fine in near fine dustwrapper with light edgewear. Item Price
A$79.01
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cadillac, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
A$79.01
Show Details
Description:
Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. First Edition . Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Dj has light edgewear with a couple tiny tears. Book cocked. Light wear. Signed by author on title page.
Item Price
A$79.01
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal (Doc Adams Mysteries)
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- NFn
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Brattleboro, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
-
A$20.46
Show Details
Description:
1st printing of 1st edition. Fine HC in Near Fine DJ. Bright, clean, square covers and spine; tightly bound; bright, crisp, clean interior. DJ is bright, clean and complete; lightly scuffed. 8vo, 272 pp. This is a new, unread book that has been shuffled around the shelves. Item Price
A$20.46
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used-Very Good/Used-Very Good
- Edition
- First Printing
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover w/DJ
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Owego, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$63.20
Show Details
Description:
Boston, MA, U.S.A.: Houghton Mifflin. Used-Very Good/Used-Very Good. 1982. First Printing. Hardcover w/DJ. Inscribed . 8vo., 272 pp. . Item Price
A$63.20
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition First Printing
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Sugar Grove, North Carolina, USA
- Item Price
-
A$55.30
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982. First Edition First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. Signed. A Very Good copy in blue hard covers, in an edge-worn Good dust jacket (not price-clipped). Mild tanning at the outer edges of the text block, clean/unmarked within. Nicely inscribed and signed by the author. (Not ex-library.)
Item Price
A$55.30
More Photos
BILLINGSGATE SHOAL.
by Boyer, Rick.
- Condition
- Used - Very good
- Published
- 1982.
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cadyville, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$118.51
Show Details
Description:
Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982., 1982.. Very good. INSCRIBED TO PETER MATTHIESSEN AND SIGNED BY RICK BOYER - Octavo, cloth in a dust wrapper. The head of the dust jacket spine is torn & there are some tiny stains to its front panel. Half-title, title, [3] leaves & 272 pages. Near fine in a very good dust… Read more about this item Item Price
A$118.51
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition 1st Printing
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
A$63.20
Show Details
Description:
Boston, MA, U.S.A.: Houghton Mifflin, 1982. First Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. 1982 Houghton Mifflin FIRST edition of Boyer's first mystery winner of the 1982 Edgar Award. This book is in FINE/VG condition. The HB has no wear at all with crisp clean blue boards and bright silver lettering. The DJ is not price clipped. There is… Read more about this item Item Price
A$63.20
BILLINGSGATE SHOAL [EDGAR AWARD WINNER]
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
- Item Price
-
A$60.68
Show Details
Description:
Boston, MA, U.S.A.: Houghton, 1982. 1st ed. Near fine in dj. Author's first Doc Adams novel and an EDGAR AWARD WINNER for Best Novel. . First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. Book. Item Price
A$60.68
Billingsgate Shoal (Doc Adams Mysteries)
by Rick Boyer
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1982-04
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
A$14.24
Show Details
Description:
Houghton Mifflin (T), 1982-04. Hardcover. Good. Item Price
A$14.24
BILLINGSGATE SHOAL.
by BOYER, RICK.
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1982
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
- Item Price
-
A$102.71
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982., 1982. First edition. First edition. Signed by the author. Fine in dust jacket with a tiny bump to top edges of corner. Edgar award winner. While vacationing, Doc Adams spots a trawler limping into the harbor. He asks his son's friend, Allan Hart, to take a look at the damaged boat. The next day, Allan… Read more about this item Item Price
A$102.71
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal (Doc Adams Mysteries)
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- FN
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Brattleboro, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
-
A$25.20
Show Details
Description:
1st printing of 1st edition. Fine HC in Fine DJ. Bright, clean, square covers and spine; tightly bound; bright, crisp, clean interior. DJ is bright, clean and complete. 8vo, 272 pp. This is a new, unread book that has been on the shelf for some time. Item Price
A$25.20
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
-
A$23.70
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin , 1982. 1st . Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Hardcover. Very good in a bright, unclipped dust jacket. Record # 58003 Item Price
A$23.70
BILLINGSGATE SHOAL
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine in a fine dust jacket. (5803)
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1982
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Laurel, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
A$134.31
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1982. First edition. Fine in a fine dust jacket. (5803). Octavo, Hardcover. Edgar award for best first novel, 1982. Item Price
A$134.31
More Photos
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1982
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Woodstock, Illinois, USA
- Item Price
-
A$86.91
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. First Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. Inscribed by Boyer on the half-title. Fine in a Near Fine jacket, unclipped ($11.95), two short closed tears on the back panel. Blue cloth on the boards with silver gilt lettering on the spine. Square and firmly bound, clean internally. The first book in the Doc Adams series,… Read more about this item Item Price
A$86.91
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Reno, Nevada, USA
- Item Price
-
A$11.93
Show Details
Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$11.93
Billingsgate Shoal
by Boyer, Rick
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780395320419
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
- Item Price
-
A$12.12
Show Details
Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$12.12
BILLINGSGATE SHOAL.
by BOYER,RICK.
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1982
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Greencastle, Pennsylvania, USA
- Item Price
-
A$134.31
Show Details
Description:
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982., 1982. First edition. First edition. Inscribed. Fine in dust jacket. Edgar award winner. While vacationing, Doc Adams spots a trawler limping into the harbor. He asks his son's friend, Allan Hart, to take a look at the damaged boat. The next day, Allan is found dead. What went wrong? Item Price
A$134.31