Swimming with Manatees by Bill Bennett
A body on Florida’s coast. A detective who won’t let silence win.
When a young woman washes ashore in Crystal Cove, Detective Ava Martinez uncovers a web of ecological sabotage, corporate greed, and murder. As the investigation deepens, her partner is killed—and the case turns personal. Every clue drags her deeper into a town built on secrets, where the next body could be hers.
Why readers can’t look away:
• Relentless suspense — a detective racing against corruption and time
• Atmospheric Florida setting — beauty masking danger beneath the surface
• Emotional depth — grief, loyalty, and the cost of truth
• Eco‑thriller urgency — the fight to protect what’s vanishing
Ava Martinez will risk everything to expose the truth before silence claims her too.
Dive into the mystery—start reading Swimming with Manatees today.
🏆 Winner of the Firebird and Incipere Awards, Literary Titan Gold Award, and PenCraft Award for Suspense
🏅 Finalist in the American Writing Awards and Indies Today Award
“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
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Author Bio:
A retired military officer, a licensed attorney, and global IT executive. In retirement, I lean into the rhythms that matter most: vinyl spinning, the roar of a college or professional football crowd, a German Shepherd at my side, and the laughter of friends and family filling the Florida air. I usher at local concert venues not just for the music, but for the stories unfolding in every seat. I regularly visit my son in West Palm Beach and enjoy a tremendous life with my wife.