Aristotle Socarides Books In Order

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Publication Order of Aristotle Socarides Books

Aristotle Socarides series by Paul Kemprecos
Author Paul Kemprecos pens the “Aristotle Socarides” series of mystery novels. The first of which, called “The Cool Blue Tomb”, was released in the year 1991.

Aristotle “Soc” Socarides, the star of the series, is a part-time private investigator and a part-time fisherman. Soc is a former marine and a college dropout. During the off season, he is both broke and a private investigator. Otherwise, he is a commercial fisherman.

The first novel in the series, called “The Cool Blue Tomb”, won a Shamus Award for Best Paperback original.

“The Cool Blue Tomb” is the first novel in the “Aristotle Socarides” series, which was released in the year 1991. A fifty million dollar salvage operation. An elegant mermaid in a black Porsche, as well as an open invitation to go for a dip in the troubled waters of her marriage. An expert diver found dead at the bottom of some sea. Cape Cod’s Aristotle “Soc” Socarides is swimming right along with the sharks. The only problem is that he is the bait and blood is starting to boil right up to the surface.

Socarides did not think he could get into this that much deeper, but he must think again. A family debt of honor is coming due, a debt that only he is able to settle, drops him into the center of a deadly hunt for buried treasure. Soc is about to find out how lethal the Cape’s currents are. Snarled inside a net of treachery, smuggling, and revenge, he is learning out no matter how far down you sink, there is nothing tougher to salvage than the truth.

Soc makes for a witty and appealing protagonist, and the locale of Cape Cod is rendered with panache, here in this fast-paced and enjoyable yarn. These are some colorful characters Kemprecos created here. Fans found themselves enjoying this one and not wanting to set it aside for too long.

“Neptune’s Eye” is the second novel in the “Aristotle Socarides” series, which was released in the year 1991. Starting in the year 1945 while a German commander on board a sub that is sinking bitterly thinks about his failed secret mission. Jump ahead to contemporary Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where Soc, gets hired by Frederick Walther (sinister and wealthy) whose daughter, named Leslie, has gone missing.

Soc tracks down a lead on Leslie at the marine lab that she used to work at, but her ex-boss, caustic, lover, and womanizer, Tom Drake, is killed before Soc can talk to him. The emphasis turns to Drake’s research with remote-controlled undersea vehicles that are capable of investigating any phenomena out of human divers’ reach.

Some death-defying watery escapades follow while Soc, Walther, Drake’s enemies, and the FBI start to close in on the submarine from the prologue, which sits wrecked just off the Massachusetts coast.

This whodunit is made stronger by gritty dialogue and assured depiction of some suspenseful dives. Kemprecos delivers another enjoyable read that has some twists in the plot, and he writes in a way that allows you to settle in for a pleasurable read from the start. Each of these characters are well written.

“Death in Deep Water” is the third novel in the “Aristotle Socarides” series, which was released in the year 1992. Soc, who is hired by an investment firm, goes undercover at Oceanus (a marine theme park) to figure out if a killer whale named Rocky did kill Eddy Byron (his trainer). Soc’s answer is going to help a Japanese conglomerate make up its mind if it really wants to purchase Oceanus.

Soc is intrigued by the question of whether the whale (who had social tendencies) could kill or not, takes the case on. He immediately runs into a group picketing Oceanus, called Sentinels of the Sea, which they refer to as “whale jail”.

Soc is hoping to learn more about Rocky from the whale’s previous trainer and from the ex-public relations director at Oceanus, who got fired for not keeping the lid on Eddy’s death well enough. Soc finds out the PR guy has been killed, Rocky’s guilt does not seem as likely. Steering a clear path through the murky waters of marine parks and animal rights, Soc lands firmly on entertainment’s shores.

There is plenty of action from start to finish in this one, and has enough twists and turns and suspects to keep you guessing about who did what. Readers enjoy seeing how Soc solves each problem that he becomes faced with. These are more than just detective stories, as they also include Aristotle balancing family and fishing with being a detective, which makes these unique.

“Feeding Frenzy” is the fourth novel in the “Aristotle Socarides” series, which was released in the year 1993. The tourist season is in full swing at Cape Cod’s Quanset Beach when a swimmer gets badly mauled and ends up dying from his injuries. Soc helps pull the victim out of the water and is confused by the wounds that only barely look like shark bites. The town selectmen vote nervously to allow the beach to stay open, until there are bloated corpse washing up on shore.

Soc begins speculating on this sudden rise in deaths. At the same time, Tillie Talbot wants him to figure out whether the official scrutiny that her summer camp has come under, from the feds hunting illegal aliens to locals hunting for sanitary code violations, is at all connected to a real estate agent’s interest in the very valuable beachfront property. John Flagg, and old “spook” at some government agency and an old buddy, hires Soc to do some hush-hush diving.

This likable guy even finds some time to help straighten out Alex, his young cousin, who just fell in with a bad crowd.

Cape Cod is always well utilized in these books, making you feel the sun or the breeze on your face. Soc is once again quite funny, too. It is amazing to see how he solves the case, and is simply a joy to see how he solves each puzzle.

Book Series In Order » Characters » Aristotle Socarides