Sonia Parin

Eve Lloyd sold her restaurant in Manhattan. It's time to accept Aunt Mira's invitation to her home on Rock-Maine Island. However, the planned R&R becomes anything but as Aunt Mira is missing, and Mira not only discovers a murder victim but can identify him. As the newcomer in town, how does she explain she's the only person that knows the victim?

I enjoyed the island setting. I also liked the secondary characters of the bookstore owner, travel agent, and hot detective (although it's become an show more all too familiar trope in cozies). However, I found it difficult to warm up to Eve or her new friend Jill, who has looked after Mira's home during her past trips. Some may enjoy Eve and Jill's dialogue, considering it repartee or humorous. Still, when together, they spend more time doubting and accusing each other of various activities than developing a bond of friendship. The tone leaned on the sarcastic edge that does not build a bond of friendship for me in characters (or real life).

A quick read that entertains all who enjoy an island setting. I don't plan to continue reading the series. show less

cozy-mystery, murder, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, situational-humor, romantic

A nice interesting cozy set in a semi rural area not all that far from NYC. Great characters and creative sleuthing with an interesting bunch of red herrings. Very enjoyable!

Eve is an innkeeper on an island where her aunt lives. She is planning on closing the inn for Christmas. Unfortunately, the bridge to the mainland has collapsed stranding travelers to the island as there is no other way off the island. Eve reopens her inn with two different caroling groups who have definite ideas on how caroling should be done. She also has a young married couple expecting their first child any day. A member of one of the caroling groups is killed. Who did it and why?

I show more enjoyed this short read. I liked Eve. She and her crew investigate until the police can arrive. Her boyfriend, Jack, heads the investigation. I liked how he did not warn her not to interfer in his investigation. He is glad for the information she has gathered. I liked how they all worked together.

I liked the ending although I felt it was anti-climatic as we did not see the arrest. I was surprised by the who and why.

I look forward to reading the earlier books in this series. It seems like a good series. show less

Eve Lloyd is divorced from her embezzling ex-husband, Alex. She left him when she found out that he was stealing money from her restaurant. So she's come to Rock-Maine Island to visit her romance writing Aunt Mira. Only when she arrives, Mira isn't there, and no one knows where she is. She meets a young woman named Jill who has been caring for Mira's home while she's gone, and once they circle each other for awhile, they become friends. That is, until Eve returns home after a dinner out and show more finds the police at her home...and the dead body of Alex.

Now she's a suspect in his murder, never mind that she has an alibi; and Jill isn't much help, considering Eve could be guilty. But there's strange goings-on at Mira's home, and Eve decides that finding out who's looking for something in the house could lead her and Jill to the actual killer. That is, if she can stay out of their way long enough to stay alive...

This is the first book in the series, and as such, it is decent enough. But I'm on the fence about Jill, whom, considering her own past, sure is willing to throw Eve under the bus if it keeps her off the radar. Not much of a friend, if you ask me.

The story line started off okay, and it had the standard hot cop scenario; which is fine if you can make it work. (It did, in this story). But there were pacing problems, and questions that I didn't think were answered. If Eve closed her restaurant, and is open-ended about her future, why doesn't she just open another restaurant? Why even consider working in a bookstore if you don't know anything about books? Do what you know.

In the end, when the murderer was revealed, it seemed a strange reason to kill someone; the idea that the murderer had in mind was odd enough in itself. At any rate, the book was a pleasant enough diversion for a night, and just to be fair, I will read the next in the series to see if I will stick with it. show less