Review: Hidden Beneath by: Barbara Ross

Title: Hidden Beneath

Author: Barbara Ross

Publisher: Kensington

Series: Maine Clambake Mystery #11

Format: e-book ( 230 p.) NetGalley

Description:

Serving up mouthwatering shellfish, the Snowden Family Clambake has become a beloved institution in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. But when new clues rise to the surface five years after the disappearance of Julia Snowden’ s mother’s friend, the family business shifts to sleuthing . . .

Julia and her mother, Jacqueline, have come to the exclusive summer colony of Chipmunk Island to attend a memorial service for Jacqueline’s old friend Ginny, who’s been officially declared dead half a decade after she went out for her daily swim in the harbor and was never seen again. But something seems fishy at the service—especially with the ladies of the Wednesday Club. As Julia and Jacqueline begin looking into Ginny’s cold case, a present-day murder stirs the pot, and mother and daughter must dive into the deep end to get to the bottom of both mysteries . . .

My Thoughts:

This book has Julia and her mother Jacqueline trying to get to the bottom of a death on Chipmunk Island.  When an old friend of Julia's mother Ginny who had been declared for 10 years, but when her body turns up it's up to Julia to figure out what is going on and what is with the Wednesday Club.

Jacqueline feels guilty as she had an email from her friend Ginny wanting to talk to her.  She thinks she had more time to talk with her friend but all that changed when her friend Ginny disappeared.  The more baffling part is when the will is read and Jacqueline finds herself the executor of the estate of her friend.

Who killed Ginny and for what reason?  Did she see something she shouldn't have?  This book had so much going on between the clambakes they do and what is going on Chipmunk Island.  Definitely a great story everyone who has been following Julia will definitely want to check this one out!

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Review: Muddled Through by: Barbara Ross

Title: Muddled Through

Author: Barbara Ross

Publisher: Kensington

Series: Maine Clambake Mystery #10

Format: e-book ( 265 p.) NetGalley

Description:

Mud season takes on a whole new meaning in the coastal town of Busman's Harbor, Maine, when local business owners sling dirt at one another in a heated feud over a proposed pedestrian mall. Vandalism is one thing, but murder means Julia Snowden of the Snowden Family Clambake steps in to clean up the case . . .

When Julia spots police cars in front of Lupine Design, she races over. Her sister Livvie works there as a potter. Livvie is unharmed but surrounded by smashed up pottery. The police find the owner Zoey Butterfield digging clay by a nearby bay, but she has no idea who would target her store. Zoey is a vocal advocate for turning four blocks of Main Street into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Other shop owners, including her next-door neighbor, are vehemently opposed. Could a small-town fight provoke such destruction? When a murder follows the break-in, it's up to Julia to dig through the secrets and lies to uncover the truth . . .

My Thoughts:

This book focus's on Julia's sister's Livvie's boss Zoey Butterfield who is being targeted by someone and finds her shop busted up and Julia is determined to find out what is happening. Zoey is also trying to help advocate to help make a pedestrian mall on summer weekends to bring more business to town, but some locals aren't keen on this and are making it happen. When one of the locals is dead the heat is on Zoey for having committed murder, but did she really kill Phinney a local who didn't want all the changes that Zoey was trying to make?  Who had it in for him and why?

I really enjoyed this book and I have enjoyed this series as it has progressed and have enjoyed watching as Julia has moved on from Chris and made it clear she can't go back to him even if she does love him.  She ends up going out with a few guys which she knows don't pan out as she's not completely ready for or interested in the guys she goes out with.  Which I think sets up for when she will be ready for the right guy when she is ready!

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Review: Schucked Apart by: Barbara Ross

Title: Schucked Apart

Author: Barbara Ross

Series: A Maine Clambake Mystery #9

Format: Paperback (228 p.) NetGalley

Description:

The Snowden Family Clambake Company has a beloved reputation in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. Almost as famous is the sleuthing ability of proprietor Julia Snowden, which is why an oyster farmer seeks her out when she’s in trouble.   

When Andie Greatorex is robbed of two buckets of oyster seed worth $35,000, she wonders if somebody’s trying to mussel her out of business. Could it be a rival oyster farmer, a steamed former employee, or a snooty summer resident who objects to her unsightly oyster cages floating on the beautiful Damariscotta River? There’s also a lobsterman who’s worried the farm’s expanding lease will encroach on his territory and Andie’s ex-partner, who may come to regret their split. Before Julia can make much headway in the investigation, Andie turns up dead, stabbed by a shucking knife. Now it’s up to Julia to set a trap for a cold and clammy killer . . .  

My Thoughts: 

Julia Snowden's boyfriend Chris asks Julia to investigate when his poker partner Andie is having trouble with people in her business so she goes to find out what she can do.  Andie is being robbed of oyster seed worth 35 thousand dollars who would want to hurt her that much and why?   Could it be an ex partner or someone she has annoyed?  What makes it worse when Andie winds up dead and the pressure is on when Julia is determined to find out who killed her.

This book was full of so much secrets and mysteries going on and a turning point in Julia's relationship with Chris.  Julia has to come to terms with so much happening about why he wouldn't show Julia every aspect of his life and why he felt the need to hide his poker friends and his family from her.  Julia also learns who had killed Andie and why.  It was definitely a great page turner and showed how Julia had to make some hard decisions in life.

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