Living in the Pacific Northwest, I was thrilled to read a mystery set in my own backyard. So many books with local flair are poorly written, but Warren C Easley has done a lovely job of blending local charm with a compelling mystery. Cal Claxton is an attorney who sets to work trying to right a wrongful sentence for a local boy accused of murder. He must find evidence to overturn the conviction while also dealing with a new murder that he and his daughter Claire discovered.
Strong plot development, compelling characters, and great local charm make for a great read!

“No Way to Die” by Warren Easley is book seven in the Cal Claxton series. New readers quickly learn any needed backstory, and regular readers find out what Cal, his daughter, and his Australian shepherd are up to on their vacation on the Oregon coast. It is set in a small resort town where everyone knows everyone else; everyone has secrets, and unexpected things keep popping up. So, when a dead man is found in the water; the immediate thought is that probably someone he knew did it.
Warren structures Claxton’s narrative to give readers a global look at the events in a casual conversational style, as if talking to close friends. He speaks directly to readers, “if memory serves;” reflects on actions, “Didn’t see that coming; and hints at things to come “I had questions. Lots of questions.”
Vivid descriptions and bring the setting to life for readers “As the sun descended that evening the wind died, and the ocean glassed off to a pane of deepest blue. The fog bank that loitered offshore for the past couple of nights had finally burned off, and we were treated to a sunset whose colors morphed from shimmering gold, to rose, to violet, before dying in a shroud of deep purple.”
The plot is well structured and moves at an appropriate pace with ample action, suspense, a gun fight or two, and unsolved deaths. In the end, when all the pieces fall into place, the conclusion surprises everyone, even Cal; “I misread her completely…Why the hell didn’t I see that?”
I was given a review copy of “No Way to Die” by Warren Easley and Poisoned Pen Press. It is easy to read, and has not only suspense but also friendship and family devotion. The plot is innovative with new complications rather than a rehash of previous books. Regular readers will love this fresh look at Claxton, and new readers will be intrigued by the original plot and picturesque setting. Moreover, it features an indie bookstore, always a plus in any plot.

The seventh entry in the Cal Claxton Oregon mysteries, although easily read as a stand-alone. A well deserved holiday on the coast turns sour when a body turns up in a nearby river and Cal, along with daughter Claire, become drawn into a complex murder mystery. Well written, pacey with good character development and sense of place this is an engaging whodunit and an enjoyable read.

Excellent detective story, with great descriptions of the setting and the characters. The plot is very good, and there is also a little action thrown in. Better than Nesbø.

No Way to Die is the seventh in a likable series featuring Oregon lawyer Cal Claxton. In this installment, Cal and his daughter Claire are trout fishing outside Coos Bay, enjoying a father-daughter vacation on the Oregon Coast. Then Claire discovers a dead body, a man who was hog-tied and tossed in the river to drown which is no way to die.

That would be it, but then Cal overhears a local bookstore owner discussing the murder. After talking to her the next day, she hires him to try to prove her grandson’s innocence. He has been convicted of murdering a man he worked for and she is certain he is innocent. Soon Cal and Claire are investigating together. They are certain they must be on the right track because someone tries to kill them.



As an Oregonian, there is a special pleasure in reading Warren C. Easley’s series. This is around Coos Bay, a beautiful town on the coast. I’ve been there a few times, but Easley knows it better and brings it to life. Cal and Claire are politically aware and the current environment is completely present in the story, including the spread of meth trafficking in rural communities.

I like the characters who are believably complicated. The mystery is fair and Cal is never far ahead of us, which is as it should be. It’s a good mystery and I am sure it will be especially loved by Oregonians.

No Way to Die will be released on October 1st. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

I admit to being a fan of this series (don't worry- it's fine as a standalone) as much for the wonderful use of place as for the characters. Oh, and the mystery too! Cal closed up his law practice in Los Angeles and moved to Oregon; his wife died and he wanted a fresh start. He's also working on his relationship with his daughter Claire, who is a post grad student at Harvard so they opt for a fly fishing vacation. Regrettably (and somehow typically for Cal), they find a body and are drawn into a much more complicated situation than they planned. For sure. Regular readers of the genre know that there's going on in the area than it first appears and that the person arrested for the crime is not the villain. How Cal and Claire keep safe themselves and crack the case, well, no spoilers but this one does have some good twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An excellent read.

Attorney Cal Claxton and his daughter Claire head to Coos Bay for a two-week fishing vacation. The calm is shattered by a protest against a proposed liquid natural gas terminal and pipeline in the area. Although not illegal, several members of the community have helped ensure that the land is available for the pipeline thereby making a profit. As Cal is discussing the protest with one of the women, she tells Cal about her grandson who is in prison for a murder that he did not commit. Cal is urged, by his daughter, to get involved and see if there is anything that he can do to help her grandson. While fishing, Cal’s daughter discovers the body of a man in the river. Their lives are now in danger as Cal and Claire investigate the murder that took place five years ago. This is an intricate mystery and as clues surface, Mr. Easley keeps everything explained as the story reaches it surprise conclusion. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I enjoy both cal and Claire as they go about their 'vacation '. Humor, sarcasm and mutual respect with complementary skills they find the murderer together

lawyers, law-enforcement, private-investigators, family-dynamics, vacation, murder-investigation, small-town *****

Loved it! A nice thing is that even though it is part of a series, that has no effect on enjoyment of the story. Basically, a widowed Portland, Oregon lawyer with an odd practice and his daughter who is in a postdoctoral program back at Harvard are in a semi rural are of Oregon for a fly fishing vacation. While enjoying themselves they happen upon the body of a brutally murdered man. This is their entry into a very complicated situation, an environmental impact protest, a wrongfully imprisoned young man, an attempt on their lives, and a shootout at their rental resulting in damage to a good friend who came to help. And that's just skimming the highlights! A good mystery writer demonstrates his craft for our enjoyment.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

I loved this one. It has lovely setting and is well drawn with wonderfully flawed characters and fast paced plot
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book