The Orchid Keeper: A Sean O'Brien Novel

I am thoroughly enjoying the Sean O'Brian series of novels, by Tom Lowe. Each one is so well written, with a very relatable theme, likable characters who are each interesting, complex, intelligent, highly skilled, good hearted, truly caring men and women. The bad guys are thoroughly despicable, scum of the earth types we love to hope see vanquished in the most fitting way. Florida is the location for Sean O'Brien's adventures, which are so detailed I can almost smell the heavenly scents of flowers, the salty ocean and rivers, feel the humidity and soft evening breezes on my skin, hear and watch many of the fascinating birds that call Florida home. I, too, call North Central Florida home, so it's easy to imagine Sean's cabin and land on the St. John's river. I wonder if he's eaten at the Blackwater Inn? I'm sure little Max would love being on the upstairs open deck, watching what's happening both on the river and in the sky, smelling all the tantalizing aromas of food, and listening to live music. Looking forward to many more pleasurable hours reading through this series, and then moving on to anything else penned by Tom Lowe--my new favorite author :-)

Another great read by Lowe. Spoiler alert. This one starts with Joe Thaxton who makes his living with a fishing boat. He takes folks out in the ocean to fish. Right now Joe has his drone up and he's looking at the river. The river which has a huge glob of green coming his way. Pollution Joe thinks comes from the sugar cane fields. Joe is also a botanist and he thinks the Cane industry is destroying Florida. Right now Joe's wife and daughter come down to the dock to get Joe for lunch. Joe's daughter is affected by the pollution that's right at their dock. Joe decides he has to do something about it and that something is to run for State Senator. Johnny Nelson is a veteran who was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has a wife and child. Right now he has a cast net and is beside the river looking to catch fish. He cuts his leg on something but thinks nothing of it. This cut will kill him. Chester Miller is eighty-two years old and is an expert on orchids. He's also a botanist and has been growing orchids to return to the everglades in Florida. His grand daughter Callie is off for the Summer from college and spends as much time as she can with him. Sean O'Brien is on his was to Chester's to buy orchids for Wynona. Sean is 6'3" tall and weighs in at over two hundred pounds. He's also and ex Delta Force team leader and ex Miami-Dade homicide detective. When his wife Sherri died from cancer he quite his job and moved to a run down cabin on the River. He also has a boat, The Jupiter, tied up at Ponce Marina. Another boat, the Dragonfly, a sailing craft is one that was given to him. He and Wynona had a grand time sailing it so Sean has decided to keep it. Joe Thraxton has been doing well in the polls for his Senators position. He's also attracted the wrong kind of people. People who have tried to warn him off his anti Sugar industry express train. Joe got Sean's name from a friend and contacts him. He wants Sean to commit to a body guard assignment. That's something Sean will not do. He's not a body guard. He's a PI on occasion. He tells Joe what he can do but neither Joe nor his campaign can afford to hire guards. Sean will regret not taking the job. So begins one damned fine read. This one has Sean, Wynona, Dave, Nick, the tracker Billy, a surprise that Wynona has for Sean, the men who kill Joe and Chester, a cold blooded killer named Fazio, three dead police officers one of whom is an old buddy of Sean's, a wounded Wynona, a Sean on the vengeance trail, a Billy who finally shows up to help and Sean O'Brien doing what he does best, protect those he loves, take out the bad guys, survive and stay alive. Five Stars. Unlike the one star hit man who left a review, I live in Central Florida and there is a lot of truth in this story about the pollution of the State.

The mystery is set in the environmental impact of the natural beauty of Florida. Joe Thaxton is running for office with his focal point being the environment. The wealthy people in the sugar industry do not like seeing his poll numbers soar. But, they have a solution. Joe has a wife and daughter and there is also an exotic orchid grower who is world renowned. Have read everyone of the Sean O'Brien series and have never been disappointed!

I rated this book a five only because there is no other higher rating. I don't know how to stress to others how you become so involved in the lives of the characters, you become one. I find myself cheering for some and actually grabbing my book in hopes of retribution against the evil ones. Please, know I don't lightly rate the books I purchase. I only rate the ones I totally become absorbed in the plot. This is an excellent novel Tom Lowe! Count yourself a great writer.

This book is a real page turner! From the beginning you won’t be able to get to the conclusion fast enough! The Author Tom Lowe is one of the very best and one of my favorites! I recommend reading this book because you won’t be disappointed! I give this book Five Golden Stars! I can’t wait to read his next book CAIN!

Another will written murder mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller novel by Tom Lowe (A Sean O' Brien Novel book 10). Sean is asked to be part of the security for a person running for a political seat in Florida. When he is killed Sean get involved but then his friend the orchid grower is kill. The police track 👣 down the killer and go to make the arrest. Three police officers are killed and his girl friend is wounded and loose their baby 🚼. Now it is personal. He tracks down the top guy. I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚. 2022

Tom Lowe hits the mark yet again! As accurate with a pen as O’Brien is with a weapon!! Great work!

Every Sean O'Brien book by Tom Lowe just keeps getting better and better. I really love the characters and can't wait for the next in this series

I have read every one of the Sean O’Brien books twice and this is my favourite - I do realise that your books are fictional but you make it so real, you put so much knowledge into all books not just this series - I found this book so deep and soul searching it is by far the best. When I read about Sean I get the feeling that there is a part of you in his personality- the kindness, a big heart and the love that you have for your family and those around you - I agree with my friend Abigail that you are also my all time favourite author ❤️

This is a great entry in one of my all time favourite series by one of my favourite authors and I think that somehow these books just keep getting better and better. The whole gang from the Marina are in full form here with Nick, Dave and Flo all playing their usual roles and, of course, Max being the star of the show. Sean plays a bit different part than in the previous books and it is great to see Wynona and Joe Billie have such huge roles in the story although it was scary to see Wynona get shot up so severally. Personally I didn’t like to see so many of the good guys getting killed but I realize the importance of those deaths to the story and we sure got another one of Tom Lowe’s bang up rock solid endings and the bad guys sure met appropriate endings, too, via Sean’s version of justice. Now is it “Sean McGee” or “Travis O’Brien” but Sean is sure becoming more like Travis McGee with every book right up to the requisite Caribbean cruise on the “Dragonfly” with the rehabbing damsel in distress, this time Wynona! And Tom Lowe is channeling even more John D MacDonald with the environmental, climate and political corruption problems in Florida brought up to date with the present day climate crisis. Interestingly the toxic “Blue-Green Algae” problem that started this story is not unique to Florida as Lake Erie has a large toxic “Blue-Green Algae” blob and a couple of lakes in Sudbury On. Canada have been closed for the same problem. Now most of Tom Lowe’s books always have a few proofreading errors but not bad enough to detract from the reading enjoyment as was the case in the first couple of books in this series and other than a couple of missing or extra words the only real problem is in this quote from Chapter 39 - “thrilled to present an evening with gubernatorial candidate Hal Duncan and contender for state senate, Joe Duncan” which obviously should read “Joe Thaxton”. Name errors IMHO are enough to downrate a book at least 1 star. I’m anxiously awaiting Tom Lowe’s next book no matter in which series it happens to be.

Another great yarn from Tom Lowe. Not only full of action as we expect but also full of facinating facts about Orchids & the pollution of the Everglades.