4.5 ⭐️ rounded down.

After liking the author’s previous book, The Golden Girl, I was happy to request this one and I really enjoyed it. It looks like the start of a new series so I’ll be keeping an eye out for a follow up.

Detective Abby Pearce has come home to Martha’s Vineyard and joined the Cedar Cliffs police department as its only detective after 10 years with the NYPD. She couldn’t quite let go of the guilt over her partner’s death on the job and her drinking was out of control. This was to be new start for her and so far it is working out well. Then a 16 year old girl, Samantha Claymore, disappears. Her mother, Valerie, is the CEO Claymore Cosmetics so this is a high profile case. Right from the start, Abby feels as if Valerie is a ‘distant’ mother and is not telling her everything she knows.

There isn’t much to go on but Abby plays it by the book and finally they find CCTV footage of Samantha in town, adding to the timeline. They also find some other footage of her stepfather, who was supposed to be in New York at the time, and Melvin Ellis, the richest man in the island. Abby is immediately suspicious because of something that happened to her at the Ellis mansion when she was 16 herself. She is also surprised to learn that there have been other disappearances of teenage girls over the years but all those cases are closed - a couple of the girls turned up later and one was declared a suicide. Suddenly Abby is wondering if there is any connection.

The police chief is adamant that the older cases have nothing to do with Samantha’s disappearance. But he signed off on all the paperwork - can he really be trusted? The more Abby digs, the more suspicious she becomes and the more she thinks something sinister is happening on the island. But who can she trust?

This was really well done. Abby was a very relatable character and I loved her little dog Oscar! The pace was crisp and never slackened off. The plot made sense and was littered with red herrings and twists that fit the narrative well. All in all this was a cleverly plotted book that was a cut above the average whodunit out there. I really enjoyed reading it and suspect it won’t be long before Dana Perry writes a five star book. I will be looking out for it. I received an advance review copy from Netgalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Her Ocean Grave is the first book in the Detective Abby Pearce series and its a great start. I liked the setting of the story, I found the characters well written and well developed and found this a quick, enjoyable read. I look forward to reading further books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

I’ve been told that writing a police procedural is a challenging task, but I found this book to be well-plotted, well-paced and well-written. Once I discovered that the author is really an accomplished author and journalist, Richard Belsky, I knew I was in for a treat.

Perry tells the story of a former NYPD homicide detective who returns after 10 years to her small hometown police force on Martha’s Vineyard. When a teenage girl mysteriously goes missing during a bike ride, it sends shock waves through the people of this picturesque resort island. As she digs further into the case, she uncovers that this isn’t the only girl who has disappeared here without a trace.

Her Ocean Grave is the first book in Dana Perry’s gripping series of police procedurals centered around Cedar Cliff’s Police Detective Abby Pearce. She is a terrific character and police officer, and you will sympathize with her as well as admire her. She’s been through a lot, yet she’s so strong, determined and tenacious. Although more than qualified, she’s resented by a few of her colleagues because she made detective over those who considered themselves next in line. To make matters worse, she’s grieving her partner died in her arms and she’s suffering from a recent divorce brought on by her grief-induced alcoholism. I love that the author successfully strikes a balance between her personal and professional life. This delicate balance makes or breaks a police procedural.

This is uniquely written in the first person, so the reader is always in ‘the know’ and yet, with deft skill, the author is still able to surprise readers with twists. Things are not always as they appear.

Perry accurately depicts investigative practices, making this a first-rate police procedural. Although it took me a while to connect with Abby and engage, Perry’s characters are well-drawn and realistic. I look forward to reading more about Lincoln, Abby’s redemption and if the ocean grave can be seen in the rear-view mirror or if the ripples will re-appear.

Publishes June 2, 2021

I was gifted this advance copy by Dana Perry, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The blurb intrigued me. There is action from the start with a light hand. Its a mystery a good mystery which had some surprises. To me any book that throws me some surprise is a win. It took a while to engage, to care about Abby and as she grew on me the more invested I was in the book. This is not a dark read although some darkness is there its dealt with a lighter touch. Bodies, families with issues and a small costal town. A quick read. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Dana Perry for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.

I found this to be an engaging police procedural. I liked the main character and found her to be well developed. It was an easy read

This is a well written story, with a few twists, and a nice easy read. A promising start to a new series, although it took me a bit of time to get into it, but there are plenty interesting characters to keep the reader interested. I would recommend it as a quick, holiday read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Her Ocean Grave – Dana Perry

Detective Abby Pearce may be new to the Cedar Cliff’s Police Department on Martha’s Vineyard, but she’s no stranger to the area. Having grown up on the island, a traumatic event in her teens had her leaving for the mainland as soon as she could, where she became a first-rate homicide investigator for the NYPD. Then her partner was killed right in front of her, and she turned to alcohol for solace, and lost everything she loved.

Now she’s newly sober, and eager to prove herself to her peers on Martha’s Vineyard, when the call comes in that a teenaged girl is missing. Samantha Claymore hasn’t been seen since she took off for a bicycle ride around the island and never made it home. The daughter of a cosmetic company entrepreneur & socialite, there are fears for her safety, and those fears are realized when a ransom demand comes in.

As Abby and their team conduct their investigation, Abby delves into Sam’s background, learning of her ambivalence regarding the accident that took her father’s life several years ago, and the resulting fear of water. A review of her computer reveals little information, but an encrypted file piques Abby’s interest. Surveillance video shows Sam out shopping before her mysterious disappearance, and her best friend Bridget has little to add, other than to tell Abby that Sam wasn’t convinced her father’s death was an accident.

As Abby digs deeper, she uncovers a few more disappearances over the last several years, all young women, who were presumed to be runaways or had drowned. Visits to their family members reveal strange reactions, an unwillingness to talk, and her Chief is less than enthusiastic when she considers the possibility of a connection. Then, Bridget disappears...and Abby becomes even more convinced that there’s something very wrong here on the Vineyard…

This was a great start to a new police/detective procedural series, starring a very flawed young woman who is trying to rebuild her life and regain some trust after some devastating personal losses. I loved the character, I enjoyed her support cast, and I very much hope to see them all return and develop in the next installment of what looks to be a great forthcoming series!! If you’re a series lover like I am, this is. Must add to your reading list!! Highly recommend!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from #Netgalley & Bookouture in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit Netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Abby Pearce left her detective job in the NYPD and returned to her home town in Cape Cod to take a detective job there. When a 16 year old girl from a rich family that is vacationing in town disappears, Abby has her first big case to solve on the new job.

This was a good solid mystery and a quick read. There was nothing fantastic about it and I liked the 2 previous books from this author a little more but I certainly enjoyed this one enough to continue reading his next releases.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Her Ocean Grave by Dana Perry that I read and reviewed.
This is the first book in the Detective Abby Pearce series by Dana Perry and even though I am not usually I big fan of books told in the first person and this book did start a bit slowly by the end I was intrigued by the main character and am looking forward to more from this author who was new to me with this book.
I found the story main character very relatable because she was so flawed and she had so many demons she was dealing with while trying to do her job everyday. She was one of those characters you were cheering for just because she had so much baggage you did not want her to mess up and blow the case and as a reader you were trying to solve it with her and we’re not sure who she could trust and who her perp was until the end because it was from her point of view and that made the book all that more intriguing. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see where Abby goes next and if she gets her life “fixed” at all.
I am giving Her Ocean Grave five out of five stars.

Abby Pearce has moved back to the Vineyard and taken a job with a small police department. Abby needs to get her life in order. Marthas Vineyard is a sleepy town with very little crime, until a girl disappears. The investigation leads to information that this girl might not be the first. There are other young girls who have disappeared and eventually found dead, their deaths ruled accidental or possible suicides. Abby thinks more is going on. This is a mystery with suspense, lots of twists and a good plot. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Her Ocean Grave, the first novel to feature Detective Abby Pearce, set on Martha’s Vineyard.

Abby Pearce returns to her childhood home of Martha’s Vineyard after 10 successful years with the NYPD. She’s looking for a quieter pace of life, but it’s not to be when she has to investigate the biggest case ever on the island, the disappearance of 16 year year old Sam Claymore, daughter of a successful cosmetics CEO.

I enjoyed Her Ocean Grave, which is a compulsive read, full of twists and turns. I must admit that my heart sank a little when I realised that it is written in the first person as I generally prefer the distance a third person narrative offers, giving me the perspective to work things out for myself. I shouldn’t have worried as Abby is a great protagonist and narrator. She sees things clearly and objectively (mostly), has great instincts and is a very relatable person. She has a few problems and a history on Martha’s Vineyard that is gradually teased out over the course of the novel. I really liked her story and came to believe that a first person narrative was the ideal way to tell it.

The plot isn’t particularly innovative or unusual with the fairly standard trope of one investigation uncovering secrets and multiple other crimes. Nevertheless, after a slow start, it is an absorbing read with quite a few surprises and twists. It held my attention throughout and I would gladly spend more time with Abby Pearce.

I have no idea what the title refers to as seems to have nothing to do with the events in the novel, but despite this it is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is the first book in a new series. I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the small town setting and descriptions. This book had lots of twists and turns but the ending seemed rushed

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I enjoy Police Procedural books and think I am going to like this (hopefully) new series with Detective Abby Pearce. Good storyline, good read.

Abby Pearce has come home to heal and get away from the NYPD. Taking a detective position on Martha's Vineyard, she is flooded with her memories of growing up there - and her complicated relationship with the island and her parents. And, then there's her department who aren't so sure about her in the detectives role that further complicates her life. She's thrust into the case of Samantha Claymore - Sam to her friends. She's been reported missing by her mother. The more Abby dives into the case, the more complicated it becomes - and there may be more than one girl missing. This is a fantastic first book in what I hope will be a long series. Dana Perry has created one heck of a female lead in Abby Pearce! I cannot wait to see how she further develops her!

After decorated NYPD Homicide Detective Abby Pearce witnesses the death of her partner—a death she feels responsible for—she accepts an offer from the mayor of Cedar Cliffs to join the smaller, quieter Martha’s Vineyard police force, where she’ll be the only detective. Returning to Martha’s Vineyard, the place where she grew up, is a huge adjustment for Abby. As is adjusting to the small-town’s police work, which usually consists of nothing more than “rowdy beach parties, traffic problems and lost dogs,” a stark contrast to the more brutal crimes she witnessed during her ten years with the NYPD.

When a vacationing sixteen-year-old, Samantha Claymore—daughter of a cosmetics industry queen, Valerie Claymore—goes missing, Detective Abby Pearce is expected to find her and bring her home safely. That proves to be easier said than done. As with all high-profile missing persons cases, once the news is leaked, the media descends like locusts upon the exclusive hamlet, wreaking havoc on Abby’s investigation and ramping up the need for a more-than-swift solve. With few clues, little cooperation from Samantha’s mother and minimal support from her own police department, Abby is on her own.

After Abby learns Samantha is not the first girl to go missing from this idyllic vacation spot, she looks for a pattern, anything from those past cases that will help her find Samantha. When the broken body of Samantha’s best friend, Bridget, is found on a ledge beneath a cliff, Abby is convinced that all the cases are inextricably linked. She just can’t prove it. Yet.

“Her Ocean Grave” is a well-crafted police procedural with an exciting new character in Detective Abby Pearce. She’s capable. She’s smart. And, like every complex, compelling protagonist, she’s flawed. It’s what makes her relatable. That, and her thirty-five-pound dachshund, Oscar. In Detective Abby Pearce, Dana Perry has not only introduced readers to a thrilling new series but has left us anxiously awaiting the release of book two.

A great start to a new mystery series set on the Cape. Police detective Abby Pearce moves from the city back to the Vineyard to have a different kind of life, but that’s not what happens when she’s embroiled in a mystery. Great characters, good mystery and plot. I look forward to the next installment.

The story looked interesting when I thought of reading the book, and it certainly was. This is a well written story with some good twists. An easy and smooth read.

Abby Pearce moves to the small town of Cedar Cliffs in Martha’s Vineyard as a detective in its police force, after being in NYPD before this. Memories of some past incidents (including her divorce) continue to plague her as she tries her best to move ahead. She is assigned to what is the most visible case in recent times when Samantha Claymore, daughter of Valerie Claymore who heads Claymore Cosmetics does not return home from a bike ride. Samantha’s dad Ronald Claymore died in a boating accident a few years back, and Valerie is now married to Bruce Aiken. Under the circumstance, Abby feels she has no choice but to ally with Teena in the police force, though they do not get along well to start with. Chief Wilhelm is a little wary of Abby’s approach, but Mayor Peter Randall takes a personal interest and assures his support. There is also the journalist Lincoln Connor who follows the case closely, eager to grab some early headlines.

The story, and the build-up were good, and I really liked Abby’s character (though the bad guys are a bit bland). The last sections could have been much better – the author tries too hard to tie up the story completely (certainly better than leaving loose ends) leading to quite a bit of theoretical force fitted dialogues.

That aside, this is a fast paced, engrossing read. The story is very honest as well – sticking to the central plot in a very focused way. Looks like there will be books featuring Abby Pearce, and I certainly look forward to reading them.

My rating: 4.25 / 5.

Detective Abby Pearce returns back to Martha’s Vineyard, she left right after high school and didn’t look back. Now she is home leaving behind a successful career at the NYPD, failed marriage, death of her partner, but her troubles and memories are her companions. 6 week into Abby’s the new job 16 year old Samantha Claymore doesn’t return home after a bike ride, run away, kidnapping, or … the more Abby looks into it the more flags get raised. Who can she trust?
This was an easy read, it took me a few chapters to get into the story and get a feel of what was going on, but after that I could not put it down. Looking forward to reading book #2
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Abby Pearce relocated to Martha’s Vineyard for a more peaceful life than she had as a homicide detective in the NYPD, but that isn’t exactly what she got. There’s some resentment about her “big city” experience garnering her the only detective position and some struggles with her own complicated past on the island when all of the sudden the spotlight is shining right one her when a teenage heiress goes missing. The more Abby digs, the more complicated everything becomes. The mystery kept me guessing, which is something I love, with just enough twists that not everything is clear to the reader long before the detective. Abby has her flaws and demons that she battles, but she’s a dogged detective who doesn’t shy away from a challenge. If you’re looking to dive into a new series with a detective at the helm, grab Her Ocean Grave and get to know Detective Abby Pearce (and her adorable dog Oscar).

A quick, easy detective read. The characters were interesting and I was invested in the story. I found the wiring to be a bit clunky and in need of a good edit. However, this was an ok read and the series is off to a promising start! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.