In my quest to read books set in travel destinations, I chose Clammed Up, a cozy mystery by Maine resident Barbara Ross, for my upcoming trip to Maine. Maine has long been on my bucket list, and I am thrilled finally to be going there! Clammed Up, set in a small Maine coastal town whetted my appetite for the sights and sounds of the area and the culinary delicacies awaiting me. The first in the Maine Clambake Mysteries series, this novel introduces the reader to the Snowden family and their hugely popular clambakes. But with their business in trouble they desperately need a successful season. That seems unattainable as they become embroiled in murder and mayhem. The first person point of view of main character Julia suits the book as she is involved in not only the family business, but the investigation. There are lots of twists and turns, family drama, and a hint of a romance to come. I did not figure out whodunit, a plus in my book. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with regional flavor, then Clammed Up is a good choice. Please note: there is a bit of mild profanity.
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Summer has come to Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and tourists are lining up for a taste of authentic New England seafood, courtesy of the Snowden Family Clambake Company. But there’s something sinister on the boil this season. A killer has crashed a wedding party, adding mystery to the menu at the worst possible moment. . .
Julia Snowden returned to her hometown to rescue her family’s struggling clambake business–not to solve crimes. But that was before a catered wedding on picturesque Morrow Island turned into a reception for murder. When the best man’s corpse is found hanging from the grand staircase in the Snowden family mansion, Julia must put the chowder pot on the back burner and join the search for the killer. And with suspicion falling on her old crush, Chris Durand, the recipe for saving her business and salvaging her love life might be one and the same. . .
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and the Jane Darrowfield Mysteries. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at http://www.barbararossauthor.com.
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