SHORE TO KILL by Beth Prentice & Aurey Jackson
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Saltwater Bay Secrets #2, Novella
4****

Blurb: Daphne Wright thought the hardest part about settling into her late grandmother’s beach shack would be finding room for all of her boxes. That is, until Saltwater Bay’s most cantankerous shopkeeper turns up dead—stabbed in his own store!—and Daphne realizes there’s more to this sleepy little town than meets the eye. But when her grandmother’s closest friend is hauled off in handcuffs, Daphne is dragged into a murder investigation that cuts far deeper than she ever expected. Can she sift through the secrets and navigate the murky waters of the seaside paradise before another body washes ashore?

THOUGHTS: This is a short (novella length) story of about 100 pages. It’s part of a series, but I honestly felt like I was coming into the middle of a story. I found the beginning rathe confusing, but it improved as I read. The book is set in the Caribbean Islands which automatically makes it exotic and fun. Daphne recently moved there when she inherited her grandmother’s beach shack. Her neighbor, Grayson, is someone who has issues with people touching him or talking with him, but he has developed a friendship with Daphne that goes both ways.

In this novella, a nasty shopkeeper is killed and Daphne’s grandmother’s oldest friend is arrested. Daphne is certain she didn’t do the deed and goes on the hunt for the real killer with the help of Grayson and other friends. On the way, she discovers that there may be more secrets than she wants to look at, but has to. I loved the connection between Grayson and Daphne, especially at the end. Nicely done.

Recommended if you’re reading the series.

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”