Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

I strongly dislike it when one of my favorite series ends, but unfortunately, my dislike doesn’t change things. Pleading the Fish is the seventh and final book in the beloved “Seaside Café Mysteries” series. It is filled with wedding plans, a family curse, murder in a wishing well, friends, family, and love. In other words, everything a cozy mystery lover could want!

Everly is reluctantly planning her wedding. Even though she believes that her family has a curse that makes male loved ones die young, she has a ray of hope that the curse is fake and her marriage will not end prematurely. Grandy, her fiancee, doesn’t believe in curses, and he sets out to prove it to Everly. Then a body shows up just when they need it least, and Everly and Grady set out to find a killer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for them to become distracted by the investigation giving Everly something else to worry about. But most importantly, she fears her family curse may be the motive for the murder.

The characters in this series are always welcome guests. They have distinctive personalities and quarks that make them loveable and make readers want to call them family. The victim in this story is liked, and readers will feel awful when the character is found dead at the bottom of a wishing well just weeks before Everly’s wedding. Readers will wonder if the family curse has played a part in the death of what appears to be an innocent victim. But suspects soon come out of the woodwork, and readers are treated to plot twists, red herrings, and evidence that will set their teeth on edge. When the killer starts targeting Everly, family and friends will do whatever they can to keep her out of the line of fire and walk down the aisle on time. Curses don’t stand a chance when everyone gets involved in finding a murderer and helping Everly solve the case.

Pleading the Fish is the best book in this series, not just because it is the last one. Everything about the setting, characters, and premise keeps readers on the edge of their seats while smiling with delight. It's a wedding no one thought would ever happen, and a family curse that makes all of us who have those weird events in our family history something to laugh about. I hope one day we will get a follow-up book or story to let us know how Everly and Grady spend their lives, update us on their (hopefully) children, and show us how happy a couple can be once they find the right one to trust and spend their lives with. Warning: The ending of this book may make readers cry. I did!

I have enjoyed all the books in this series and am sad to see it end. The author did an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends and giving our favorite characters a happy ending. this was a fun cozy mystery.

A wonderful final book in a top-notch cozy series. Everly Swan may not be sure whether the rumored Swan curse is true but she doesn't want to endanger her loved one, Grady, by marrying him and having him die an early death. But he absolutly refuses to believe in it. While she agrees to marry him, they set out to disprove the legend by researching the true family history. Of course as this happens, a death, possibly murder, happens to one of her researchers. The plot unfolds handily with good pacing and plenty of red herrings. I wouldn't recommend starting the seried with this book. Save it to savor after discovering Charm and it's varied and interesting inhabitants through the books earlier in the series first.

OMGOSH, the prologue had me in tears…All good things must come to an end (yes this is a VERY good thing/series) and what a way to finish it off! Where to begin, there’s the Swan family curse, a murder (because there is always a murder), Everly’s insistence on sleuthing (alone on far too many occasions), Grady shaking his head (on far too many occasions), the Charm Town Cryer, lemon cake (yes, I will be making that recipe), and so many suspects, plus a dash-bucket of fish and seaweed (yuck). Take your time reading this, it will be hard because it is a page turner and a tear jerker. Written in such a way that you feel like you are right there with Everly cheering her on, warning her to NOT ask those kinds of questions when on her own, and wanting to cover your eyes but you can’t put the book down. This series has been wrapped with a pretty cover and all the loose strings, tied up to make a most wonderful knot, intricate, beautiful, and strong. Kudos to Julie Anne Lindsay for another series that was extremely well done. And a HUGE thanks for including an epilogue with more than one voice. Now which tea should I make to go with some lemon cake to bolster a hero’s heart?

Evenly Swan’s wedding plans are upended by a dead body. She’ll have to run her tea shop find a dress and catch a murder before she walks down the aisle. Like every Swan woman before her she believes she is cursed in love. Her fiancé Detective Grady Hayes has something to say about it. He doesn’t believe in superstition and is determined to prove the curse wrong so they can spend their lives together. Everlasting wishes it was that simple. When a historian looking into Swan history id found dead in an antique wishing well and Everly fears the curse is spreading. Grady takes the case looking for justice and to prove the curse wrong. A very fun twisty plot with some colorful characters make this book very appealing.

A fun and funny read, this book brings together mystery and humour very effectively. It’s going to appeal to fans of the series but is also an amazing introduction to the cozy mystery genre for any reader.

I absolutely adore Bree Baker's books, and this one was no exception. I loved being back with Everly Swan and the cast of characters in Charm. The murder mystery was creative, and I loved the plot twists. I cannot recommend this series enough!

Princess Fuzzypants here: In this final outing of the series, I was looking for a story that held my attention and interest while wrapping up the storylines of characters of whom I have become fond. Everly is a complex character. She is smart and savvy but she inevitably gets herself into dangerous situations where she gets injured. She never quite reaches Darwinian proportions but she skates close to the line. One of her redeeming qualities is she knows she is prone to do this and does not hesitate to keep her fiancé, Grady, informed even if it is often after the fact. Grady comes to the rescue every time. So why is Everly having some doubts about her pending marriage.

She believes all the women in her family are cursed to lose the ones they love. Grady has had a number of close calls since he first kissed her and she thinks she will doom him. So she is searching for a definitive answer to either dissuade her from marrying or give her the green light. She has a researcher working on it as well as her aunts in digging up family archives. When the researcher is murdered, Everly thinks the curse has spread to those around her.

She does get the answers she seeks through an interesting and magical set of circumstances, not before the obligatory risk to life and limb. I love the way the characters each had their own arcs filled out in a highly satisfying way including cat Maggie and seagull Lou. There are three epilogues that do a bang up job of completing the story. I am sad there will be no further tales but very happy with the way it was concluded.

Five purrs, two paws up and a thank you.

My only regret in reading Pleading the Fish is that I didn’t come across this series sooner. I thoroughly loved Everly Swan and all the other characters. The plot moves quickly with plenty of twists-and-turns. I liked the snappy dialogue and, did I mention how delightful Everly is?
One of my favorite scenes in the book takes place when Everly falls asleep during a yoga class on the beach. This one is laugh-out-loud funny throughout—and believe me, that’s no small accomplishment as far as this reader goes!
FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.
Want more author news? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.

This is an adorable light hearted cozy that I enjoyed very much. The characters were fun. I just love small town settings. I had alot of fun with this twisty cozy. I recommend this one.

Pleading the Fish is the 7th and final book in Bree Baker’s Seaside Café Mysteries series. Everly Swan and Grady Hayes are getting married, but before they can say “I do,” they need to prove that the Swan family is not cursed. When a friend of Everly’s is murdered, Everly is worried the curse has now extended to anyone who is helping her prove the curse the isn’t real.

This can be read as a standalone. I have not read the other 6 books, but Ms. Baker has provided enough information about people and places that I didn’t feel lost. I will, however, be reading the other 6 books because I loved this one so much, and there were some things that I am curious about, even though the information wasn’t necessary to understand this story.

A cleverly plotted, fast paced, action packed, page turner. I read this in one day. The story is set in Charm, and island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I absolutely could live her. By the sea with history around every corner. Historical homes, historical dresses, and historical archives that any family would love to have. Vivid details made me feel like I was there in the middle of the action. Characters are well developed, with their own personalities and varied interests. The epilogues are wonderful, I got a little teary eyed, but in a good way.

I highly recommend this book, there is something in it for everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pleading the Fish is the 7th (and seemingly final) book in the Seaside Café cozy mystery series by Bree Baker. Released 29th March 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 336 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and well written small town cozy with a female protagonist (complete with potentially slightly magical seagull and cat, requisite handsome lawman romantic interest, and wise aunties dispensing advice and sweet tea (it's a southern thing) with equal abandon). The pool of suspects is small, and although the denouement and resolution are fairly easy to guess beforehand, they're well written and satisfying. It's a fast and very easy read - light cozy mystery and quite entertaining. The language is squeaky clean and there's no graphic gore or sexual content.

The authors have provided an extended epilogue at the end of the book which ties up loose ends and gives a look at the future for the cast of characters. Although it's self-contained, since it's the last book in the series, it will spoil the endings for all of the characters if read out of order.

Four stars. Entertaining and readable. The authors have included some recipes for sweet treats in the back of the book.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Pleading the Fish
by Bree Baker
Poisoned Pen Press
Pub Date 29 Mar 2022
Mystery & Thrillers


I am reviewing a copy of Pleasing the Fish through Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley:



Pleading the Fish is the seventh and final book of Bree Baker's critically acclaimed Seaside Café Mystery series, and it does not disappoint.




Everly Swan's wedding plans are upended by a dead body. She'll have to run her teashop, find a dress, and catch a murderer all before she can walk down the aisle!



Everly Swan like every Swan woman before her, is cursed in love. The only problem, is that her fiancé Detective Grady Hayes has something to say about it—he doesn't believe in magic and is determined to prove the curse wrong so they can spend their lives together. Everly wishes it could be so simple!



After a historian looking into the Swan’s history is found dead in an antique wishing well, and Everly fears the curse is spreading. Grady takes the case, looking to find justice and prove the curse wrong, while Everly does a bit of investigating on her own. Big change is coming for Everly and her friends, but with mysterious strangers lurking about and someone leaving increasingly threatening messages for the happy couple, Everly's not sure she'll get her happily-ever-after!



If you’re looking for a fun, weekend read, or a book to enjoy on the beach, them I’d recommend Pleading the Fish.


Five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Although I'm sad this is the last book in the series, the author wrapped everything up in a very satisfying manner. The characters are interesting (as they always are), and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing whodunit.

Huge thanks to the author for all the books in this series. I can't wait to read whatever comes next.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Pleading the Fish is the seventh entry in the “punnily” (my word) named series, following on Partners in Lime. As readers can no doubt deduce from the title and the cover, this book is a cozy and will certainly appeal to readers of not too violent stories. I know that I find myself enjoying cozies more and more as the world goes scarier and scarier; I so welcome the escape.

This time, in what which the publisher indicates is the final book of the series, readers find all the genre’s ingredients including, literally, someone who uses ingredients as a cafe owner. There are also a picturesque setting, murder and an amateur sleuth in Bree. There is also her police foil and fiancee.

Stakes are high here as Bree does not want her nuptials destroyed by a murder. She and the women in her family are reputedly cursed in love; will she get her happy ending? Even though readers know that the case will be solved, they will enjoy the story along the way.

As an extra gift to readers, there are recipes included in the book. Enjoy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own, including that I am sad to see the end of Ms Baker’s run with these titles.

In short: The final cozy installment in the Seaside Café Mystery series. 
Everly Swan has her hands full with running her tea shop, breaking a curse, getting married, and solving a murder of the local historian researching her family curse. Now Everly and Grady must solve the mystery before they say I do! 

What to expect:
🌊 Outer Banks setting
🌊 Cozy Mystery with romance included as the main character Everly is getting married.
🌊Fun, memorable characters. From Everly (who drives you nuts by putting herself in danger all the time) to her fiancé Detective Grady to her aunts and the family curse.
🌊Solving a murder with lots of suspects and twists

My thoughts: I dreaded reading this book because I didn’t want the series to end. I have loved this series and these characters so much and this final book was a fantastic ending! I laughed, I cried, I gave the book and the town of Charm a big hug. I cannot recommend this series enough, especially on audiobook!

This is the 7th and final book of the Seaside Café series. If you've made it this far, you already know what you're getting into. A very selfish woman who people like for some reason in a town where everyone is nice, cool, and fun except Everly.

This is possibly my favorite of the series. The mystery was wonderful, loved the look into the Swans past, and the side character round up was just what I wanted =) especially the Town Charmer reveal. Called it :P

The real hero is Lou. What a gull!

I realized this was the final book in the series before I started it and that felt like a letdown and wasn't the best way to start the book. The issue I had with this one was that it just didn't feel like the previous books. I felt like the author was trying to wrap up all the loose ends of the series and it felt forced. I did love the characters and the setting, the mystery was well done and it was still a good read. Just wasn't my favorite of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a satisfying conclusion to a delightful series. I admit that I teared up a little. It is like saying goodbye to a group of friends. Everly and Grady are preparing for their wedding. Amelia is leaving for a year long book tour. The aunts are riding high and love is in the air in Charm, North Carolina. The festivities would not be complete without Everly stumbling upon a body. She is devastated when she learns the body is that of a local historian who was helping Everly find more information about her family. She still believes the Swan women are cursed in love, and Grady is determined to prove the curse is a myth. This final installment will culminate all of the character's stories that have been building since the first book. The memories of Lou the seagull, Maggie (the mysterious cat), the boisterous loving relationship with the great aunts, the blog named the Town Charmer with a mysterious author and Everly's love/hate relationship with her fitness watch are what make this series and this book such a delight to read. The ending of the book was actually quite a surprise for me. I loved the way that Bree Baker wrapped it up with a nice tidy bow with a few shed tears! The town of Charm will live on in the hearts of readers who fell in love with a little town on the outer banks of North Carolina.