Was it the oyster farming or something else that led to Andie's murder? That's the question Julia tries to answer in this latest installment in a Maine based cozy series. Julia's love interest Chris asked her to look into things when his poker buddy Andie was robbed and Julia, who likes to solve crime, was all in. Then Andie is killed and a lot of secrets come out. There were any number of people who had issues with Andie and with the oyster farms but murder? I liked learning about the business of oysters and, as always enjoyed the interaction between Julia and her family. Chris remains a hazy figure. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier ones- this is. classic cozy and fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. I didn't guess the villain!

"Shucked Apart" is another great addition to the Maine Clambake Mysteries. The mystery itself was good and the drama between the characters along with the sort of open ending makes me want to find out what happens in the next book!

An interesting mystery. I thought I had solved it early on but I was completely wrong! This was truly baffling and mystifying. A solid story. The writing was solid and tight. The story itself was heartbreaking and a pivotal one in the series. I enjoyed it and felt like it a must read for a fan of the series.

This is another great example of how well this author tells a story that had me completely immersed in all that was happening. Secrets held is at the cusp of this tale when Julia agrees to help Chris’ friend. The author did a great job in staging this intensifying mystery that centered, not in Busman's Harbor, but in a neighboring town. The pool of suspect was small, and Julia had to rely on what she has seen and heard to find the one person who had a stronger motive to murder for their own gain. It was fun watching it all play out as one by one the clues led us to the only person responsible for the death of Chris’ friend. This was one of the best books in this endearing series, and I look forward to more exploits with Julia and her gang.

I have read every book in this series and feel that this one keeps up with the others. An excellent mystery with Julia jumping right in to solve it. It feels as though Julia is down in the dumps for most of the story when she finds out Chris's poker buddy, Andi, is a female not a male.

Lots of changes in this story made me want re-read this story hoping for a different ending.

Well written and entertaining cozy mystery. Good plot and character development. Mystery fans will not be disappointed. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

The Snowden Family Clambake is gearing up for the season and Julia Snowden is busy preparing and hiring seasonal workers. Julia, as we know by now- this is the 9th in the series, is also a bit of a crime solver on the side. When her boyfriend, Chris, asks her to help one of his friends, of course she says yes. Andie is an oyster farmer. Someone assaulted her and stole two buckets of oyster seed, worth a lot of money. Andie, however, doesn’t think robbery was the goal; she thinks someone is trying to sabotage her business. Before Julia can ask more than a few questions, Andie is murdered.

There are plenty of suspects, from other oyster farmers to lobstermen to summer people. The plot was well-done. There were plenty of clues pointing in different directions and the solution was complicated, in a good way. I didn’t guess who the killer was.

This is maybe the third Clambake mystery I’ve read. I like Julia as an amateur sleuth. She shares information with the detectives, doesn’t have a cop boyfriend, and is willing to ask people she’s close to tough questions. The characters are well-developed and their interactions, motives, and secrets work well. I did feel like I missed what was causing some of the tension between Julia and Chris, probably from not having read the series in order.

I found the information on oyster farming interesting and liked how well the research was incorporated into the story. I always love learning something.

Shucked Apart is a good mystery, well-paced and keeps your attention. I really should read more of the Maine Clambake series. I always enjoy them.

Shucked Apart is the ninth installment in the A Maine Clambake Mystery series set in Busman's Harbor, Maine and featuring Julia Snowden. The family clambake business is gearing up for the busy Summer season and Julia is busy reading employment applications hoping to add a few new members to the team.

Julia is a little bit surprised when her boyfriend Chris asks her if she can help his poker buddy Andie Greatorex with a mystery she's trying to solve. Julia had no idea why Chris had never mentioned that Andie was a female, but then again Chris always seems to be hiding something from her. Andie is an oyster farmer in neighboring Damariscotta, who was knocked out when she was carrying over $35,000 dollars worth of oyster seed and when she came around the seed was gone. Andie isn't sure who would steal from her - could it have been her ex boyfriend/business partner, a rival oyster farmer, one of the rich neighbors who didn't like looking at the oyster traps from their fancy porches or was it maybe a lobsterman who didn't like the the oyster farmers creeping in on their territory? Before Julia can find any answers for Andie she stumbles upon the woman's dead body caught up in fishing lines. Julia isn't going to let Andie's death go unsolved so she sets out to trap a killer.

The author does a great job of introducing readers to another aspect of the fishing business by visiting Damariscotta and providing details on how oyster farming works. As someone who sends quite a few tour groups to Damariscotta (Damariscotta River Cruises) it was refreshing to see one of my favorite places come to life in the pages of this book. A fast paced plot with the return of series regulars. I am not at all a fan of Chris - have never liked him from the beginning - so was actually cheering on the last page...... Looking forward to many more new adventures with Julia and her family.

I received an advanced copy of Shucked Apart from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

I loved 'Shucked Apart', but I am still reeling days later from the surprising ending. I'm not happy with the relationship issues 'resolution' and find hope in the word 'Probably', which isn't final. A note to Barbara Ross, I believe in second chances and growth and change. The mystery is taut and I actually mourned the death of Andie. I've only been in Maine in an airport as I re-entered our country, so I love the education about oysters, clams and lobsters. I can't wait for the next book in the series and hope for some redemption.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Fun series set in coastal Maine featuring a female sleuth who has returned home to takeover her family business, a family clambake catering concern. This entry in the series concerns farming oysters and has great information on that industry. You will see a major change for one of the main characters that promises interesting opportunities ahead. I love Barb's series because she shows how Mainers live and work, multiple seasonal jobs to pay the bills, that are not always known to tourists who visit our beautiful state.

Book nine in the Maine Clambake Mysteries has Julia investigating the robbery of one of Chris' poker night friends. Andie, the owner of her own oyster farm, had $35,000 worth of baby oysters, and though she claims she has no enemies, Julia discovers just how many people resented her farm and her attempts to expand her business. I easily got caught up in the growing mystery and the suspects, along with Julia's responsibilities getting her family's clambake business started for the season and working through some things with her relationship with Chris. I found myself quite surprised more than one time in this story, and already eager for the next book to see what happens in Julia's life. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a great mystery, or who has a deep love of all things Maine. This can easily read as a standalone, but if you think you'll like this book, why not just start at the beginning and follow Julia and her friends and family's lives in Busman's Harbor, Maine?

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This is one of my top three cozy mystery series! The writing is strong, the setting is picturesque and plots are always so interesting. In this installment the mystery revolves around oyster farming, and I love that I learned a lot about this process (which is actually very interesting!). The chapters fly by and the ending will shock faithful readers of this series. I can’t wait for the next book!

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters! Maine is one of my favorite places, and I love coming back to it in each installment of this series.

A very fast-paced read, Shucked Apart, the 9th Maine Clambake Mystery, is quite enjoyable, focusing on all the things that make this such great series to read - family, relationships, the beautiful Maine setting, and murder! When Julia's boyfriend, Chris, asks her to help his poker buddy Andie after she'd been assaulted and robbed, she has no idea that she will soon be involved in yet another murder investigation! Lots of twists and turns and suspects, Shucked Apart was a fun cozy mystery to read on a snowy January day. A+++

Chris asks Julia to help his friend Andie uncover who assaulted and robbed the local oyster farmer. Andie owns the Great River Oyster Farm, where a masked individual hit her from behind and ran off with $35,000 worth of oyster seed.

Julia agrees to help and begins investigating. Andie calls Julia with details of a ransom note, and Julia cautions her to call the police. The next morning when she visits the Great River Oyster Farm, Julia finds Andie dead in the water.

Barbara Ross keeps building the community of characters and relationships residing in Busman’s Harbor. In Shucked Apart, the author provides a fascinating look at the oyster farming industry that grounds the complex mystery Ms. Ross fabricates. Character development continues, red herrings abound while twists persist, and the story moves along at a steady pace. This story is a riveting and engaging read.

Julia Snowden is trying to help a new friend, Andie, find out who stole two buckets of very expensive oyster seed from her. Before Julia can find the culprit, she finds Andie dead of an apparent stabbing. The reason for the robbery and murder is not as easy to solve as Julia had thought. But, she's certainly going to follow every lead to figure it out while also dealing with her own problems both business and personal.

Love this series and author. I highly recommend her books if you haven't read them yet I wish I could give authors 10 stars

Was looking forward to a new title in this series, and I was not disappointed! It was great to catch up with the characters, and follow along as there is yet another murder to be solved. Some character developments which leave me wondering what might be waiting around the corner. for Julia. I am also a bit of a foodie, so it was fun to learn a little more about oysters and how they are farmed, and the differences between them.

In a year when we haven’t been able to travel, this 9th addition to the Maine Clambake series took me right back to midcoast Maine. Julia is introduced to the oyster farmer friend of her boyfriend, , Andie, when she needs help figuring out who attacked her and stole 35 thousand dollars worth of oyster seed. While she’s willing to help, Julia is also busy with her own business as summer approaches and she needs to hire help. She’s also surprised as she always thought her boyfriend Chris’ poker friend was a male, Andy, not a woman, Andie. Questions arise both with the murder of Andie, and with Julia and Chris’s relationship. While Julia tries to work out who killed Andie we learn about oyster farming, lobster men, and the tension between groups who use the rivers for business and those who want pristine views, I really enjoyed the glimpse into these subjects.. With several suspects, I was kept guessing until the end (which left me sad). I’m looking forward to the next book to see how and if things are resolved, thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for ARC of this one!

This latest installment was full of all the emotions. Fear, confusion, and heartbreak. The way the author weaves the words on the page is a thing of magic. The story was impossible to put down, and leaves the reader longing for the next story.