Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop 1)
Samara Yew


This book appears to be Mrs. Yew’s first published book. For a first-time or even a multi-published author, this is an excellent mystery! Murder, Jealousy, Betrayal...

The story opens in a charming new beachside bookstore, Palm Trees & Paige Turners. Scarlett is the owner-operator after being summarily dropped by her co-worker and boyfriend Connor. She has made the best of a bad situation finding comfort in her friends and hiring Evelyn Maxwell, a detective's wife to help her run the new bookstore. One night a well-dressed lady comes in at closing to buy a Jane Austen novel. The next morning she is found murdered! So begins the adventure.

We have lawyers of questionable behavior, a closed adoption adoptee, some manipulative users, family secrets, and last but most importantly quality friends!

This is a straight mystery without any romantic involvement. No descriptive or lewd behavior or language.

What a wonderful whodunit! 5*****



Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love Jenn McKinlay and when I read this book was in the same style as her, I had to read it. Yew is awesome 👌

Scarlett owns Palm Trees and Page Turners, a bookstore in a small town. Adopted by good family with a close sister and a good life she still yearns to find her biological mother. Unfortunately, murder complicates matters.
Will she get answers? Will she become the next victim? It's possible, as it seems the murderer is after her as well.

This book is fast-paced, has a good rhythm, excellent writing style and is easy to read.

No swearing
No sex
No graphic violence

I recommend this book to anyone in search of a fun mystery.

A big thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This debut cozy mystery was a really good one! I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. The main character, Scarlett, is very likeable and takes the reader on an adventure while sleuthing. I also liked the mystery and with a couple of potential suspects, I didn't figure out whodunit until Scarlett did.

I am very much looking forward to the next in the series, especially since the bookshop will be upgraded and we probably will get more food in the upcoming books. Bookish and foodish cozies are the best!

A really great debut by a new author and one I will have my eyes on in the future.

This book comes out 17 Oct.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Samara Yew, NetGalley and Cooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of , “Murder by the Seashore.” Due to be published October 17th 2023.

This was a cozy mystery of a new little bookshop on the beach ran by Evelyn and Scarlett Gardner. Scarlett Gardner's dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer and becomes the prime suspect. Southern California is where dreams come true-or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she moved there and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. Scarlett soon starts investigating to hopefully clear her name. Will she be able to in time?

Gosh this was such an amazing read I was hooked from the very first page. From the characters to the writing to the overall atmosphere I absolutely loved this book. I really hope there’s more of Scarlett and Evelyn in the near future.

Definitely a 5 star read for me and will be looking forward to more books in the future!

This book really deserves 3.5 stars or 3.75

A nice, cozy mystery set in Southern California. Scarlett Gardner opens her dream bookshop in an oceanside town that's particularly busy during tourist season. Despite a bad breakup, she is enjoying her new business until she discovers a dead body near her shop and she becomes the prime suspect. Not only did she find the body but she learns the dead woman left everything to Scarlett , and everything is a lot of money. And to make matters worse, another dead body turns up outside of Scarlett's apartment , forcing Scarlett to figure out who the killer is since the police only have their eyes on one suspect--her.

The characters in the book are interesting and the storyline keeps you guessing as to who the killer is. Crumbs are dropped and perhaps you might figure it out , but perhaps your initial suspicions will be off kilter ,just like the police

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Also reviewed on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5516274941

MURDER BY THE SEASHORE is the first book in a debut cozy mystery series. The setting, a small tourist town, is pure SoCal beach vibes. Scarlett’s bookshop sounds like heaven and even has a wacky yet motherly assistant clerk, Evelyn.

Scarlett definitely isn’t lacking in mysteries as she tries to clear her name - who’s the victim, why was she murdered, why did she leave Scarlett money, and who’s trying to frame her? The mystery was multi-layered and complex; the ending was a fantastic twist that I didn’t see coming. Lots of suspects and motives. Even Evelyn starts acting sus.

Scarlett is likable - while she’s unsure and hesitant at first, she grows stronger as the story progresses. I loved that her family was supportive. Her sister cheering her on from Australia was the definition of sisterly love and support. And everyone needs a kickass fierce bestie like Scarlett’s roomie Lucia.

I’m eager to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to Samara Yew, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This is my first book from this author. I love cozy mysteries especially ones with bookshops. I love the title and the cover and that’s what drew me in. This is the first book in the California Bookshop Mystery series.

Scarlett Gardner owns Palm Trees and Page Turners Bookshop in Oceanside, California and works there with her one employee, Evelyn Maxwell. Scarlett opened the bookstore with her boyfriend, Connor, who left her shortly after the store opened. Scarlett takes a walk on the beach one morning before work and finds a dead body under the pier. She winds up being the prime suspect in the murder by Evelyn’s husband, Detective Maxwell. Scarlett works to clear her name with the help of her roommate and lawyer, Lucia. Scarlett soon finds more questions than answers.

The beachside town is so great for a cozy. I love the name of the store, Palm Trees and Page Turners. I would love to shop in that store. I love the characters in the book, especially Scarlett and Lucia. I find Scarlett very relatable and I love Lucia’s boldness . I hope we get to see more of Scarlett’s sister Olivia in the next book.

The book was a great and easy read and I recommend to any cozy mystery fan. There were some twists I didn’t see coming. Once I started, I had to keep going! If you are not familiar with cozies, this is a great place to start. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Five stars!!

I received an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book, particularly its atmospheric setting and gentle yet surprising plot. Plenty of eccentric and interesting characters that not only make for compelling suspects in this mystery but will be ones I look forward to reading more of in future installments of this series. Perfect escapism, capturing the excitement and warmth of the beach setting for no matter where you read it.

Being a big fan of cozy mystery, I enjoyed Murder by the Seashore. It reminded me of the Noodle Shop Mystery series by Vivien Chien (which I love!) Instead of repeating the synopsis which you can find yourself, I’ll give you some good points and some things that weren’t to my taste; they don’t take away from the rating of the book objectively but they just didn’t vibe with me. Note: I was provided this ARC by Net Galley.

Good:
Well written, not overly wordy or descriptive

Scarlett is logical and lives in a modern day world-she talks about google searching and how googling poison might not be a good idea if you’re a suspect of a murder, she uses her cell phone and has an ancestry.com account, and mentions using Goodreads which awesome since she owns a bookshop!

A good twist ending that I did not see coming!


Meh:
Scarlett (main character) is so timid and helpless in the beginning and I hated that. I don’t relate to that so it’s hard to be fully invested, however this is just my preference. I can see why Scarlett is written to be this type of character and it’s completely valid.

The characters and evidence collection felt a bit superficial and a bit scattered. I don’t feel like Scarlett really did much in solving the crime but just went about living her life, but the twist at the end did pull together nicely.

For the first book in this series, it starts off pretty high stakes. The main character is the primary suspect for the murder, right off the bat. It makes it not feel so cozy, but it was intriguing and made me want to keep reading.


My final thoughts:

I hesitate to call this a true cozy mystery because the book isn’t about this woman’s cozy life running bookshop near the ocean and also sleuthing crimes that impact her community, but more so this woman’s life being turned upside down by a series of not so cozy events. The events of this book, and the location of the bookshop do set this series up to be pretty interesting.

Overall I liked the book and would continue reading the series.

What a fantastic cozy mystery! It had the perfect blend of characters, twists and turns, and keeps you guessing until the very end. It follows Scarlett, who runs a bookstore in Oceanside, CA. She stumbles upon a dead body under the pier...then chaos ensues. Someone is trying to frame Scarlett so she and her roommate and bff Lucia (who happens to be a lawyer) are on the case. To make matters worse, the murder victim has named Scarlett as her beneficiary for her estate - and she has no idea who she is. If you love cozy mysteries, this book is for you. A fun delightful read, the perfect whodunit!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. My review and opinions are my own.

Murder by the Seashore is new cozy set in southern California. When bookstore owner Scarlett Gardner finds a body under the pier near her bookstore, she quickly becomes the main suspect. There are plenty of plot twists. likeable main characters. and red herrings galore. I was hooked from page one and read this in one sitting. Thank you to crooked lane books and netgalley for giving me this ARC to read and review. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Opening “Palm Trees and Page Turners” was a dream come true for Scarlett Gardner after moving to Oceanside in Southern California. Well, at least part of the dream came true. Walks on the beach before opening the store bring Scarlett the greatest joy to refresh her spirits for a new day of opportunity at the bookshop. Joyous until she found a dead body under the pier. Joyous until she became the lead suspect.

Character development of the relationships in Scarlett’s life – a business partner that didn’t materialize, an employee, a roommate, a customer’s last-minute purchase before becoming a victim, and the potential of a new hire - are well-written, adding intrigue with dimensions beyond standard fare. The inheritance factor ramping up person of interest to lead suspect also has a creative twist. A roommate’s employment may seem too convenient at first until loud thumps past midnight awaken Scarlett and Lucia and bring more than a one-time shock. And who was that victim that Scarlett claimed she didn’t know?

I’m always excited to read a new cozy featuring a bookshop setting. I love the refreshing twists in the cozy series debut, intensifying my delight in recommending this new release.

#MurderbytheSeashore #NetGalley

Samantha Yew/ Murder by the Seashore
Living the book lover's dream, Scarlett is working hard operating a bookstore right beside the ocean. The idyllic setting shifts suddenly when a dead body is found close to the shop. Strange clues begin to surface, and almost everyone in the town starts behaving suspiciously. Thankfully, Scarlett is surrounded by a supportive crew of friends and co-workers, but when the town learns that Scarlett may be receiving a large sum of money, even her motives are questioned. This book includes everything cozy readers want: mentions of good food, book recommendations and descriptions of the beach and seaside living. Grab this book and escape beside the ocean for a few hours!
Thank you to NetGalley for this sneak preview.

Bookstore owner Scarlett Gardner becomes the main suspect when a customer is found dead. With plenty of suspects to choose from you'll be kept guessing. A fun read! Thanks #netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Debut cosy mystery ticks a lot of boxes. It’s got a spunky heroine, a murder and lots of suspects. When new bookstore owner Scarlett finds a corpse near her shop she’s immediately a suspect. In order to clear her name and keep her fledgling business afloat, Scarlett and her friends to combine their skills to find the real killer.
The characters were well written although I would have liked a tiny bit more description so I could picture them. There were plenty of suspects and clues to track down and the murderer wasn’t given away until the very end. Maybe because I'm such a fan of police procedurals, I found the investigating officer character disappointingly vague. As the husband of Scarlett’s employee I thought he could have done more than simply show up and making angry accusations.
All in all, a great debut cosy mystery. I look forward to seeing this author’s writing develop in Scarlett’s next adventure in Oceanside. Makes me wonder if Break Point Cafe is still in business?
Thanks NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my review. Definitely recommend.

This is a surprise find for me!! Thanks Netgally for sending me this book. I am reading Samara Yew for the first time and let me be honest, this is one of the best slow burn mystery books that I have read so far.
Her way of writing is impressive and she is very clear in her way of storytelling. Right from the very beginning of the story each and every aspect is very clearly dealt with. All the facts are correlated with clarity and lucidity. Each of the characters are given equal importance and are vividly described. I am really impressed to read each chapter of this book. of course it’s a page turner!

The characteristics of a good mystery book is that the mystery is not revealed until the end and that’s what the author has successfully done in this book.
I would surely go ahead and recommend this book to others and would not hesitate to re-read it again after a few months.
The only thing which I felt was a bit exaggerated is how the story ends. The story was getting better and better and it was all built up with a great momentum however I felt that it was ended in a little haste. This is the only reason why I have given four-star for this book otherwise this book is no less than a five star rated mystery novel. I will surely wait for more samara’s mystery novels.
Happy reading

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MURDER BY THE SEASHORE (Book 1 of the California Bookshop Mysteries) by Samara Yew in exchange for an honest review. Scarlett Gardner dream of having a bookstore is falling apart before her eyes. Scarlett's boyfriend, who was supposed to be in charge of the accounting and promotions, left her to struggle along unprepared for conducting the business side of the shop. When Scarlett finds a body under the pier, her day gets just a little bit more grim. Then it gets much more bleak when Scarlett becomes the only suspect in the case and when the only visitors to her bookshop are not customers but murder gawkers. Scarlett must persevere. In order to turn things around, the first step is to identify the real killer.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good start to a new series. I recommend it to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring bookstores, small businesses, and financial struggles.

#MurderbytheSeashore #NetGalley.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is a cute cozy mystery. It is pretty predictable but has a really fun setting. Will this be a series? Scarlett was a fun lead character. 3.5 stars

Murder by the Seashore is the first in the California Bookshop Mystery. It takes place in Oceanside, CA. Scarlett Gardner is the owner of Palm Trees and Page Turners bookstore. Evelyn Maxwell is her employee. Lucia Armenta is her roommate and a junior associate at a law firm. Steve Maxwell is Evelyn's husband and newest detective on the Oceanside police force. Connor is her ex-boyfriend and partner. The other characters add to the story.

While walking on the beach Scarlett finds a body of a dead woman under the Oceanside pier. She calls the police. The woman is later identified as Lorelai Knight who had come to Scarlett's store the day before. Jeffrey Cooper, a lawyer, comes to the store representing Lorelai Knight telling Scarlett that she has inherited her money as well as other things. Scarlett is surprised as she does not know the woman.

Detective Maxwell comes to the store and tells Scarlett that she has to close the store and come with him to the police station. Lorelai was poisoned and the bottle had been found in the garbage behind her store. She is detained and put in a cell. She calls Lucia to be her lawyer who comes and has her released.

Scarlett calls her sister, Olivia to tell her about the inheritance and being a suspect. Could this woman be her birth mother? Both she and her sister had been adopted. She calls her parents but they did not know Lorelai. The adoption had been a closed case. Her sister told her that Scarlett had to investigate the death and find the murderer before she is arrested. On walking the beach again she finds a bracelet that was bought from a thrift store called Second Chance owned by Viviana Diaz. She goes to speak to her and finds out that years ago Lorelai had worked for her but had left suddenly. Came to her shop and bought the bracelet. Hadn't seen her for years. Viviana suggested that she speak to Martin Russell who had come into her shop and asked about Scarlett. He worked also at Lucia's law firm.

This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure to find out who killed Loralai and why someone trying to have her arrested. The murder of Martin Russell found on Scarlett's and Lucia's porch late at night just adds to the story. Lots happen that it would be hard to put all on paper. The story builds up for an exciting ending.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one in the series and what new adventure Scarlett travels.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.