Today I'm participating in the Murder by the Seashore Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below.
About the book . . .
1st in Series
Setting – California
Crooked Lane Books (October 17, 2023)
Hardcover : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 1639104933
ISBN-13 : 978-1639104932
Digital ASIN : B0BSKSHZF5
Synopsis . . . Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.
Southern California is where dreams come true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers something underneath the pier by her bookshop that she didn’t outline for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.
After Scarlett gives a statement to the police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells Scarlett that she now stands to inherit a small fortune, she’s left with more questions than answers. Before she can make sense of any of it, the police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good. Business is booming as Scarlett returns to Palm Trees and Page Turners, but for all the wrong reasons – curious tourists don’t want books, they want a glimpse of the Bookshop Killer.
Who could really be behind all of this? And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have to get creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer.
My review . . . Scarlett Gardner never imagined the dream life she worked so hard to build would fall apart just as it was getting off the ground. Newly relocated to Southern California to join her boyfriend and business partner in a new bookshop venture along the beach, Scarlett is blindsided by Connor, who abruptly leaves her and the business for a more lucrative startup opportunity. As if picking up the pieces isn't heartache enough, Scarlett discovers a dead body along the pier near her store. The police quickly name Scarlett as their prime suspect when the murder victim is identified. Lorelai Knight had not only visited the bookshop recently, she had named Scarlett the sole heir of her vast estate.
Who is this mystery benefactor that Scarlett seems to have no connection to and has never met before and who is responsible for her untimely death? Scarlett must find out quickly, not only to clear her name, but because it's been clearly demonstrated that she's also in the killer's crosshairs. Which of the many possible murder suspects killed Lorelai and why?
Murder by the Seashore is a challenging puzzle filled with red herrings galore and strong suspects to be eliminated. As I turned the pages, I was sure I knew whodunit, only to have my theory disproven more than once. The ultimate reveal took me by surprise.
The new California Bookshop cozy mystery series is off to a great start with its ideal locale that surrounds readers with books and the beach, an intrepid protagonist, and a feisty support network. The first installment establishes plenty of room for character development, personal growth, and relationship possibilities as the series continues. I see myself gladly returning to the SoCal setting for future "chapters" in the story and to find out if Scarlett will get the happily every after she deserves.
Giveaway . . . Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Murder by the Seashore and bookmarks by clicking this link.
About the author . . . Samara Yew is a cozy mystery author who writes about adorable bookshops and dead bodies. A full-time mom, full-time dog servant, and part-time writer, Samara lives in British Columbia, Canada, where she can often be found watching Psych reruns.
Samara loves to travel, especially visiting her husband’s home country of Singapore or donning Mickey ears in Disneyland. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.
Author links . . .
Website: https://samarayew.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samara.yew.books
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/samarayewauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samara.yew.author
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24259604.Samara_Yew
Purchase Links . . .
Amazon PenguinRandomHouse B&N Chapters Indigo
Tour Participants . . .
October 11 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 11 – Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense – REVIEW
October 12 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
October 12 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
October 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 14 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
October 15 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 16 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 16 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 17 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
October 18 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 18 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
October 19 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
October 19 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT
October 20 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 20 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
October 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 21 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 22 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 23 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT WITH EXCERPT
October 24 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
October 24 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of Murder by the Seashore from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This Blog Tour, Book Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.
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ReplyDeleteThis cozy mystery sounds like a perfect escape for students looking to unwind between studies. Scarlett Gardner's journey through a murder investigation while managing her bookshop is thrilling. Plus, if you’re heading back to campus, a stylish leather duffle bag Canada would be a great companion for all your books!
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