Digging Up Daisy (A Mainely Murder Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Maine
Berkley (April 4, 2023)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages

Synopsis

In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.

At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She’s the proud owner of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley’s veins are filled with salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly’s bed-and-breakfast, the Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for—a high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a case the police had appropriately dubbed the “Cinderella Murder.”

Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press? With Aunt Tilly’s reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line, Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing on her aunt’s property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer.

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Review

This new series will have you craving “lobstah” rolls and the scenic view of Maine. Just watch out for the dead bodies.

I always enjoy starting a new series to see what the author will bring to the table in regard to characters, settings, mystery, and small towns. The mystery starts off with a bang, but you don’t know why a shoe has been buried at the Salty Breeze Inn. Kinsley dives right into deciphering clues and trying to unroot the killer. The author does a great job of throwing red herrings into the mix. There is one character that really stands out as the potential murderer, but it just happens to be circumstantial. The true murderer was quite a surprise.

Since this is a new series, I don’t have a connection to the characters yet. I’m on the fence regarding Kinsley. She seems nice enough, but she is a little rough around the edges in this first book. I’m sure her character will continue to grow and become more well-rounded. There are a variety of characters that play an integral part in the story, but they seem a bit awkward too. But this is the first book, so I suspect the author will continue to expand their character.

I did love all of the plant talk, and I could imagine them in my mind with bursts of color decorating the landscape. I admire those that can garden because I cannot.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up and look forward to seeing how the characters and town expand.

About the Author

Sherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several pseudonyms. Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her hand.

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