Scarlet was hurt when her boyfriend abandoned her and their new business. Struggling to make a go of her new business, she was shocked by the body of a strange woman lying under the stairs of her shop. As faith would have it, the woman had left everything she had to Scarlet. She was confused because she was now the number one suspect in the woman’s death. With her freedom in jeopardy, Scarlet must put on her sleuthing boots and get to work investigating because her life depended on her finding the real culprit fast.

Crooked Lane Books publishes so many enjoyable traditional murder mysteries of which this is one. This time the story centers on a young woman who is opening a bookshop; in my opinion, the best kind of store. It should be part of a dream job in process except:

Scarlett’s boyfriend is no longer part of her life.

She finds a body.

She is left some money and…

could be a suspect and

this may just complicate things.

Here is a good story, a good setting, good characters and a bookstore. What more could traditional fans want? This is one to enjoy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 17 October 2023

This is an enjoyable cozy mystery series debut. The setting of a bookstore located steps from the beach is very nice. The characters are quite realistic and likable. This is a pretty typical example of a cozy mystery. The main character stubbles over a dead body, becomes a suspect and launches their own investigation to clear their name with the help of friends and family. Typical isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This book will appeal to cozy readers and mystery readers who are looking for a lighter, clean mystery.

Great cozy mystery book! This is about Scarlett who opens up a shop near a beach in CA. She discovers a body one morning and realizes that it was a customer from the previous day. As the investigation gets underway, they discover that the person has left Scarlett a sizable inheritance. Which makes Scarlett a prime suspect. Who is this person? Why did the leave an inheritance to Scarlett? Good mystery book!

This was a good start for a new series. I liked the setting and I’m always a fan of mysteries set in bookstores but there was nothing really different from any other cozies with similar settings. The mystery was intriguing and the characters were likeable enough but I found that they lacked any real depth and was annoyed by Scarlett’s constant hysterics and her investigative techniques. I will read the next in the series and hope some of these kinks are worked out.

Murder by the Seashore is a cozy series debut by Samara Yew. The book jumps right into the series and story without a lot of set up or explanation. We learn about the main character Scarlet as the book evolves, which keeps things moving/exciting. Scarlet Gardner stumbles across a dead body on the beach by her newly opened bookstore. She realizes the dead person visited her shop the day before and has shockingly left her a sizable inheritance. Who was this person? Why did they seek Scarlet out and who killed them?

Scarlet's connection to the money and finding the body makes her a suspect and she starts investigating to clear her name and save her store's reputation. We get to learn about Scarlet's past, her family and co-worker and her love interests - past and present.
Great storytelling, likable characters, fresh writing makes this a modern and enjoyable cozy. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

CA bookstore owner Scarlett stumbles over a body during a walk on the beach. When the police discover that the dead woman has left Scarlett a sizable inheritance, she becomes the main suspect. But Scarlett has never heard of the woman and doesn’t know why she left her the money.

There’s a lot going on in this book but the story is well written and it never got confusing. Although I did figure out who the killer was fairly early the book still held my interest.

4/5 stars: This is the debut entry in the California Bookshop series, a Literary Cozy Mystery set in sunny Southern California. Yew's characters are likable; I especially like her roommate and best friend Lucia. Additionally the mystery balances of clues, red herrings and suspects well. I also appreciated the subplot revolving Scarlett's adoption. Take care; check CWs. I look forward to reading what's next for Scarlett and the Palm Trees and Page Turners crew.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Head to California for a murderous vacation full of family secrets, greed, and more!

Scarlett is ready to run her own bookshop on the beach with the help of Evelyn, her ever-faithful assistant, after her boyfriend left their joint business venture to follow his own. Scarlett is feeling less-than-confident in herself, but presses on, nonetheless. While strolling the beach before work, she stumbles upon the very last customer she helped the day before, dead, under the pier. What’s even more bizarre, is that this stranger came to town looking for Scarlett, who is now her sole inheritor! Scarlett is now the main suspect, with one heck of a motive and she needs to clear her name before she ends up in jail for a murder she most definitely did not
commit.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book — it is set in a coastal town in California; most cozies tend to take place on the East Coast. Inheriting a fortune from a complete stranger added another layer of mystery to the story – who is this person? How does she know Scarlett? Why would she leave Scarlett her fortune?

Connor, Scarlett’s ex-boyfriend comes back to town, but we have to wait a while to find out the backstory on what exactly happened between him and Scarlett; it would have been nice to have a little more information earlier in the story. I’m hoping we see Scarlett adopt, be gifted, or purchase a pet in some capacity – I think cozies are always better when animals are involved.

All in all, this was a great first in a promising new series!

4.5*

Absolutely fantabulous cozy series debut. I read this book in one sitting and I loved every bit of it. From character introduction to portrayal and series-plot setting to mystery, absolutely LOVED it!

In fact, this didn't feel like a first in the series. As I started reading, it felt like I have been following this series for a long time and I was reading the next installment.

When Scarlet Gardner stumbled across a dead body underneath the pier by her bookstore, she had no idea of what's to come next. First, she learns she's inherited a small fortune from Lorelai Knight. Then the police knock at her door and bring her in for questioning - the body she discovered under the pier was that of Lorelai Knight!

To clear her name and prove her innocence, Scarlet decides to investigate. Well, with the mysterious inheritance comes disgruntled next of kin. Scarlet would happily give away their rightful inheritance - but only if they ask nicely and not try to implicate her in a crime she didn't commit.

Excellent storytelling and likable characters. Surprising twist at the end. A dash of quirky humor (Scarlet can be Sarcastic!) made the story more enjoyable.

Overall, Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew is a complete entertainment package. I cannot wait to read the next installment!

Light cozy featuring new Southern California bookshop owner Scarlett. The business was meant to be a joint endeavor with her boyfriend, but he decided he'd rather invest in a start-up and took off. Scarlett is doing pretty well until she stumbles across a dead body under the pier on her way to work.

And, it turns out she may have a secret connection to the victim so Scarlett becomes a suspect. The main character is likable enough, but the plot didn't always hang together and there was a lack of continuity which was sometimes confusing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

Scarlett Gardner thought she had it all as the co-owner of the Palm Trees and Page Turners Book shop with boyfriend, Connor. When he left her for a better paying job she was determined to continue alone and vowed to make her book store a huge success. Things are beginning to work out again for her until she finds a dead body under Oceanside Pier and, even worse, she recognises her!

After a link between Scarlett and the victim is discovered that gives her an apparently powerful motive she realises if she wants her name cleared it's up to her to do it! Along with housemate Lucia, Scarlett begins to investigate but as all her main suspects are well known to her things begin to get tricky. Can she identify the killer before they succeed in removing her from the case permanently?

The first in Samara Yew's new series is a fun read and thoroughly enjoyable throughout. Scarlett and Lucia are totally different and compliment each other brilliantly. Something tells me Scarlett will need her lawyer friend's assistance on a regular basis! There seems a lot of potential for all sorts of death, wrongdoing, and investigation in this very pleasant sounding location and I look forward to returning to Oceanside in book two.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it highly.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and or the author for giving me the chance to read and review Murder by the Seashore.

Loved everything about this book from the characters to the plot.

This is a fun series debut in the California Bookshop Mystery series, featuring bookshop owner, Scarlett Gardner, with some assistance from her lawyer roommate and her bookshop employee.

Interesting, fun characters and a clever plot.

Hoping for many more books in this series. I loved it!!

Well recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC of this story!

I’m not usually a cozy mystery kinda girl, but Samara Yew may have just converted me! This story follows Scarlett, a new beachside bookstore owner, who discovers a body during a pre-work morning walk on the beach. Shortly after finding out who the victim was, Scarlett finds out that the victim was VERY wealthy - and Scarlett is listed as the recipient of her inheritance. But who was this woman? Why did a complete stranger leave all her earthly belongings to Scarlett?

I really enjoyed the setting of this small beach town, crazy inheritance driven murder mystery. Scarlett strikes me as a very “normal” protagonist, someone like me and you, who just ends up in a pickle as she’s casually investigated for murder. Her lawyer roommate is someone we all wish we had in our lives, and their friendship chemistry along with their drive to solve this mystery kept the pages turning. With plenty of red herrings and characters who made me raise my eyebrows a few times, I was never bored during this fun, quick novel.

MURDER BY THE SEASHORE will transport you to a quaint bookshop in Oceanside, CA and provide endless entertainment as Scarlett fights to keep herself out of jail - and to solve this thing once and for all.

Murder By the Seashore by Samara Yew Just a fun little cozy mystery that I absolutely needed. This was a little predictable and a little surprising. I enjoyed it a lot. This would be a great book to pick up for an end of summer read to get you ready for all the fall mysteries! Scarlett is getting accustomed to her new life with her new bookstore right on the beaches of Southern California. She loved to walk along the pier until she discovers a body. It’s not just any person though, she recognizes this woman as her last customer at the bookstore. And she’s absolutely shocked to find out that she is the sole beneficiary to this woman’s fortune. The problem is now she is the prime suspect and it is her only mission to clear her name and to find out who the real murderer is in time. If you’re heading to the beach or lake one last time before summer is over- take this one with you. #kristalreads

Thank you to #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Scarlett Gardener is the owner of “Palm Trees and Page Turners” bookstore in Oceanside, CA. She moved to Oceanside to be her long-distance boyfriend who then promptly dumped her, but after this rough start she seems to be doing OK. Things are busy, loves where is living, enjoying hanging out with her friend Lucia, and she is contemplating hiring adding to her staff which currently is only Evelyn (who is also the wife of the newest detective in town)
Walking on the beach she finds the body of Lorelai Knight, who was in her store briefly the day before, and that is when things get complicated.
Great start to a new series! Looking forward to the next installment

This new series from Samara Yew starts strong with Scarlett Gardner opening her new bookstore, Palm Trees and Page Turners, in southern California. Boyfriend and business partner Connor leaves for a better job, and Scarlett struggles to keep her business going.

Then Scarlett discovers a dead body under the pier near her bookshop. Scarlett becomes a suspect when the body is identified because, much to her surprise, the dead woman left her a small fortune in her will. Since Scarlett doesn’t know who the woman is, she begins seeking answers. And, of course, her financially driven boyfriend returns to see what he can get.

Ms. Yew writes a mystery with an intriguing twist. Well-developed characters and a comfortable pace make this a likable introduction to Scarlett and her bookshop.

As the first installment in this new cozy mystery series, Murder by the Seashore was a strong debut, with a plot that reeled me in from the get-go. The writing style was nice and addictive, I enjoyed the wide array of characters and the red herrings were convincing. I liked the setting in California with the seaside and the bookshop. It’s a nice change considering the US East coast is often over-represented in this genre. Looking forward to the next book it this series!