THE BODY AT BACK BEACH by KJ Sweeney
Fiction, Cozy Mystery
4****
Blurb: Helena Statham never imagined herself as a sleuth. But when she stumbles upon the body of a young woman while on a walk, she can’t resist the urge to discover who she was and how she got there. Even if it means upsetting the tight-knit community of the small New Zealand town she lives in, and uncovering secrets that have long been buried. Thirty years ago, a young woman went missing, but no one tried to find out what had happened to her. As Helena investigates deeper, she learns more about what took place back then, putting herself in danger now. Join Helena on her journey as she becomes an unlikely amateur detective, determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to the long-forgotten young woman whose story has been buried in silence for far too long.
Thoughts: This was a new one for me – a cozy mystery set in New Zealand! I loved that. The setting is new and well-done. There’s some different terminology and spelling (all perfectly fitting with the scene) that adds to the flavor of the story.
In this story, Helena is trying to find something to wake up her mundane life. Kind of like a mid-life crisis. While out for a walk, she notices some bones sticking out of the ground, uncovered by a slip (what we could call a mud slide from heavy rains). The local constabulary takes over, but Helena can’t help but wonder who the bones are and how they got there, so she starts investigating. She starts putting clues together and finds out the bones are from thirty years ago… but not who they belonged to until much later. Which puts her in mortal danger.
I loved Helena. She’s determined and methodical in her sleuthing. The ending was satisfying in that the mystery was solved, but it was a bit of a downer of an ending, not like your typical cozy. It is a good ending, just not all hearts and flowers like you might be accustomed to.
Recommended
Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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