Julia runs a seasonal professional clambake for mostly tourists on her family’s island off the coast of Maine. The island is remote and only reachable by boat. In Torn Asunder, Julia is beginning a new service. She is using her recently renovated mansion on the island to host weddings. Her first wedding is for her best friends, Zoey and Jamie. The guests have arrived, and the rehearsal dinner is going well until one guest falls over dead. With a storm stranding some of the guests on the island, Julia must assist her detective boyfriend to solve the crime.

Reading Torn Asunder was bittersweet. This is the last book in the twelve-volume series. I will be sorry to see my literary friends lose touch. But the book does a great job with ending the series. So, if you are new to the series, I would recommend that you start with an earlier entry. However, if you have read at least one other book in the series, this book is a great way to learn what happens to all the characters. 5 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Torn Asunder is the twelfth and it appears final cozy mystery in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. Juli Snowden is busy helping with the arrangements for her best friend, Zoey’s, on Morrow Island. When a wedding crashed turns up dead during the festivities, Julia is in the case. She wants to solve this murder like the many she’s solved before so that her best friend can have the wedding she deserves.

I am so sad right now! I didn’t realize this was going to be the last book in the series until I read the final chapter and I’m not okay with it. I have loved this series from the beginning and think this is one of my all time favorite cozy mystery series. I am sad to see it ending, but I didn’t love the way everything was wrapped up. Some cozy mystery series go on so long that you wish they would end, so I’m glad this one isn’t doing that, but I want more Julia and gang! I love the small town feel in these books and Julia is the perfect main sleuth. I really enjoyed this book, as well as the whole series, and am glad I got to follow along with Julia’s last investigation. If you haven’t read this series and are looking for a good cozy mystery series to start, I highly recommend this one. The characters are great, this stories are entertaining and the mysteries keep you guessing. I am sad to see this series end, but I fully enjoyed it along the way!

Torn Asunder is the twelfth book in the A Maine Clambake Mystery by Barbara Ross.

The renovations at Windsholme Manor on Morrow Island are complete, and the first wedding will soon be held. The first wedding will be the marriage of Julia’s good friends, Zoey Butterfield and Jamie Dawes. In addition to being in the wedding party, Julia is the wedding and venue planner. The wedding is threatened by a horrible storm traveling up the coast to Maine. Everyone hopes the wedding and everyone will be back on the mainland before the storm hits. As the rehearsal dinner guests arrive, it is noticed that an uninvited guest has arrived. The rehearsal dinner is served, and soon, the uninvited collapses and dies. None of the guests are willing to admit to knowing the man, even though Julia saw him in disagreements with a couple of wedding guests. Julia and Tom, her boyfriend and a Maine State Police detective, begin to investigate the death. The storm has rolled in, and everybody is confined to the island. With everyone staying inside due to the storm, it seems that it would be easier to find the murderer, but the more questions they ask, the more suspects they uncover.

I love this series. The stories are all well-written, plotted, and written so that you feel you are right there. The characters are well-developed and believable. There were enough twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the end as to the identity of the murderer.

Delicious-sounding recipes are also included in the book.

It sadden me to learn that this was the last book in this excellent series. It has been a wonderful time visiting Julia and her family and attending the delicious-sounding clambakes. Ms. Ross does a fantastic job of giving a glimpse into the character's future life.

What a fantastic end to a wonderful series (if it is the end – did I know this?!!!) Windsholme is finally open and hosting weddings, the first being for friends, and obviously, someone has to die. The mystery was well written and had me guessing until the very end. I loved everything about this series, and this book in particular, as it tied everything up nicely and we finally get to see who Julia settles down with. Thank you, Barbara Ross, for creating characters that have become family and letting us visit for this last few years.

This series has long been a favorite of mine. The revelation that this could be the final book took me by surprise. Ms. Ross concluded the series so beautifully that it brought me to tears.

This installment focused on love and growth, family and friends, encapsulating the essence of the series: celebrations, weddings, babies, and, of course, murder.

Thank you, Barbara, for a wonderful journey!

A Maine Clambakem is an excellent cozy series and this instalment does not disappoint: well plotted, entertaining, and compelling.
I was glad to catch up with the characters and enjoyed the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Torn Asunder by Barbara Ross is a Maine Clambake Mystery taking us back to Morrow Island and Windsholme, a repurposed and rebuilt manor house. It is finally time for the wedding of Zoey Butterfield and Jamie Dawes, Julia’s good friends. First, the rehearsal dinner and the next day, the wedding. Most everyone needed to be transported to the island from the mainland as only Julia was living there at the moment, in preparation for the season. All was going well until Julia noticed Constance, Zoey’s friend who would officiate, arguing with a man she didn’t recognize; then a few minutes later she saw Zoey’s friend, Bill, the guitarist for the wedding, arguing with him as well. She didn’t know who he was but later saw him sit at the table with Jamie’s family so she figured that was it. A few minutes into dinner, the stranger just fell off the bench, apparently dead. So much for this wedding. Tom, Julia’s police detective boyfriend, and Jamie and his best man, both town policemen, rushed to take charge. Of course, they started to ask questions immediately while Julia got most of the guests back on boats to the mainland.

It was a long night and they discovered much about the dead man and about the other guests, and even some of Julia’s new staff. Snowden Family Clambake is a multi-generational business that has been in the family for years. They all love spending the summer on Morrow Island, from kids up to grandparents. Things don’t always run smoothly but murders are rare. The wedding did come off, but not without a hitch. Julia caught the bouquet. It was a grand celebration. They caught the murderer and all was well. It’s a fun series with terrific characters. Thanks Barbara Ross for this great series!

I was invited to read Torn Asunder by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #BarbaraRoss #TornAsunder

Torn Asunder is the 12th in the Maine Clambake mystery series. Its the first one of Barbara Ross's that I have read and I will now be going back to the beginning and reading up to this one. It was a terrific cozy and the coastal Maine setting is perfect. Julia Snowden is organizing the wedding and reception for her best friend Zoey, as well as being the maid of honor. She wants everything to be perfect, and it is,until one of the guests ends up dead at the rehearsal dinner and then a storm blows in.

The novel was action packed from start to finish and I felt like everything moved the plot forward. The characters were wonderful. Really well-thought out and I enjoyed learning about each of them. It kept me engaged all the way through and I loved that we got to see the characters for a chapter or two AFTER the murder was solved as well.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to review it. This is my honest review.

Torn Asunder is book #12 in the A Maine Clambake Mystery series by Barbara Ross.

There are a lot of series I enjoy, but this is one of the few that I anxiously await the next book. I love seeing how the characters have grown and gone through life’s challenges in this series. Julia, her family, and friends are characters I like to spend time with. It’s time for Zoey and Jamie’s wedding and of course things don’t go quite as planned. It was an interesting mystery that was challenging to solve as we learned more about the victim. When I got to the final chapter, it was clear this was the last in the series. I’m sad that it is ending, but glad the way things were wrapped up.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Barbara Ross for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Torn Asunder coming out April 23, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have all of the books in this series, but I’ve only read a couple of them. I love Barbara Ross’ books! It’s sad this is the last book in the series. I love the setting in Maine with the seafood themes. It was a short read, but I loved the wedding theme. The characters are really fun. I just love cozy mysteries. I think it had a really perfect ending. I’ll definitely check out any new series she comes out with!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy seafood mysteries!

Our last trip to Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and Morrow Island proves to be bittersweet. I was late to start reading this series but came to love and enjoy all of the characters in this town. I will definitely miss them. Julia Snowden is not only the maid of honor in her two best friends wedding, she is also the event planner and venue host. With her hands full, Julia isn't sure what to do when a wedding crasher guest drops dead at the rehearsal dinner. What she does know is that she must find the killer on the island before the wedding of Jamie and Zoey can take place the next day. With the weather deteriorating and being stranded on the island with a small group including a killer possibly, Julia puts her detective skills to the test. Even though this was the last story, I felt like there were no compromises. Barbara Ross wrote this book with all of the love that each of the others had. To be honest the last part of the book tied everything nicely and brought some tears. I received a copy from Netgalley. A review was not required.

Torn Asunder is the 12th, and last, book in the fabulous Maine Clambake Mystery series by Barbara Ross. Though this book can be read as a standalone, to get a deeper understanding of the characters and place, I would start at the beginning. I love this fun mystery series!

Zoey and Jamie are getting married on Morrow Island at Julia's family home, Windsholme Manor . And if the wedding isn't exciting enough, an interloper dies while in attendance, everyone ends up stranded on the island due to a vicious storm, but the death still needs to be investigated. I always enjoy the mysteries in this series because they are well plotted and tricky to solve. The characters quickly become old friends, and the Maine setting is gorgeous.

Sadly, this delightful series is coming to a close---however, Barbara Ross wraps all the characters up nicely and gives the reader a glimpse into their future lives. I am so happy with that.

Also included are some very tasty looking recipes to try in the back of the book.
#TornAsunder #NetGalley Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for the advance copy that I requested.. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book comes out April 23, 2024

“Torn Asunder” is the nicely done twelfth and last book in Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake cozy mystery series. While I am sad that the series is ending, I’m happy with the way it did end. The main story is about the wedding of Julia’s best friend and business partner Zoey – Zoey has planned her dream wedding only to see it threatened when someone is murdered at the rehearsal dinner. What starts off as a small mystery – just who was the murder victim and why was he at the wedding? – quickly spirals into a complex mystery with more than one person having a motive to kill the victim. I had fun trying to guess who the killer was and was pleased to figure it out about the same time Julia did (which to me is the sign of a well-written mystery) although the identity of the killer (and the motive) made me a bit sad. Finally, the last chapter in the book wraps the series up perfectly – I could not have asked for a better ending.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

While it's sad to know that this is the last in the long running series, props to Ross for knowing when it's time to wrap things up and for doing it so well in the final installment. Zoey and Jamie are finally getting married but....there's a murder, an island, and things get iffy. Luckily, Julia is ready not only to cater but also to jump in and solve crime. This plays off the locked room murder trope in a fun way with good characters and fine storytelling. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Torn Asunder is the twelfth book in the Maine Clambake series. I've read several of the books and short stories in this series and have come to care about the main characters. Julia Snowden helps run her family business, the Snowden Family Clambake, on Morrow Island in Maine. The Snowden family has begun hosting weddings, and Julia's best friends Zoey and Jamie will be the first one. This adds an extra layer of stress for Julia because she wants everything to be perfect for her friends. Things are hectic, but the rehearsal dinner is going well until an uninvited guest dies from an apparent allergic reaction. A storm comes in stranding a few guests who weren't able to get off the island in time. Luckily, Julia's boyfriend Tom, a Maine State Police Detective, is there because soon it becomes clear the mystery man's death was no accident.

This is a series that gets better and better as it goes along. I like the writing style and the unique island setting. Julia has her hands full in this book, managing wedding preparations, reassuring her best friend, Zoey, helping Tom investigate the suspicious death, and contemplating her own future. The more Julia and Tom find out about the victim, the more potential suspects, and I really like the way they work together carefully questioning guests and staff to get to the truth. I missed the clues, so I was surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed. The book has a wonderful ending that fans of the series will love.

There are of course recipes included in this culinary cozy mystery! The author's note at the end of this book says this will be the final book in this series, so while the case being investigated is a standalone, readers who have finished at least a couple of the prior books will appreciate it more.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Kensington Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Wow, this was so good! I've followed the series for some time now and want to say don't start with this one as you want to appreciate it. Get to know Julia, her family and friends before diving in.
This story has so much going for it. Good friends, wedding preparation, loved ones coming in, and some mystery. And then there is a death but the mystery about the person will keep you guessing for some time. Oh, and there's a storm, an almost locked room feel to the death and just a lot to take in. There are a few surprises but I don't like spoilers so I won't put any here. Just read it and enjoy!

Wow, maybe I had heard that this was going to be the last in the series, but I didn't remember that when I started it. This is another great read in a truly wonderful series. I love Julia, her family, and the whole cast of characters, and this volume brings them all together for an exciting finale. With Zoey and Jamie's wedding being the first in the new improved mansion on Morrow Island we get a gathering of family and friends on the island for the wedding rehearsal and family dinner the night before the big event. When a guest appeared to have an allergic reaction, then dies, Julia and the police present, including Jamie's partner and Julia's boyfriend Tom handle the situation while getting the remaining guests off the island before a big spring storm sets in. When the smoke clears, we realize no one claims to know this guest, and this may not have been an accident. What follows is a fascinating mystery taking place around the chaos of a large storm and special wedding. Ms. Ross does an amazing job of wrapping up this series that I will miss deeply! Thank you to #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for the opportunity to read.

Julia’s best friend and business partner is getting married, and the festivities are all taking place on Morrow Island. A storm is approaching, though, and everything has to be timed just right to return the guests to Busman’s Harbor before it hits. When a guest collapses and dies – and nobody admits to knowing who he is – and Julia, Tom and several guests are stranded on the island, they begin to gather information while waiting for the police to arrive when the storm breaks.

This is book #12 of the Maine Clambake series, a series I have enjoyed since the very first book. The author’s descriptions of the town and its residents are easy to imagine, and those imaginings were confirmed on our recent short visit to coastal Maine. The characters feel like old friends by now, even though relationships have changed and grown as the series has progressed. Some of the regulars had much smaller roles in this story than usual, and I missed them, but at least they weren’t entirely absent.

At first, none of the guests on the island admitted to knowing the dead man, so the list of possible suspects was either very short or long enough to include every guest. During the course of the investigation, though, we learned that many of those stranded on the island *did know him, and they all had reasons to want him dead. I thought I had it worked out relatively early on, but I was wrong. I began to suspect one character about the same time Julia did, and that turned out to be correct, and the motive made sense for the character.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was in the author’s note, when she unequivocally wrote that this is the last book of this series. It wasn’t a surprise, given the last few pages of the story, but it was still disappointing. I would happily read more books featuring Julia and her family and friends, but now have to say goodbye to them instead.

Wedding bells will soon be ringing on Morrow Island! Julia Snowden is busy readying Windsholme, her family's recently renovated mansion, for the first wedding being held there since it's opening and she couldn't be happier. Her two closest friends, Zoey and Jamie, are eagerly anticipating their wedding day and hoping the day goes picture perfectly just like Zoey has been dreaming. The day of the rehearsal, however, makes her dream more of a nightmare when one of the dinner guests drops dead. Then it's determined he didn't die of natural causes and no one seems to know who he is or what happened ... or do they? Julia and her beau, Maine State Police Detective, Tom Flynn, are doing their best, along with Jamie's fellow local police officer/best man, Pete Howland, and Julia's brother-in-law, Sonny, to find out what happened and who the killer is as a storm of epic proportions keeps them isolated on the island. Is there a murderer in their midst? Who was the man so many guests refuse to acknowledge knowing even as their connections to him are revealed? Will Jamie and Zoey be able to say, "I do" the next day? This is yet another terrific book in the Maine Clambake series by Barbara Ross and she brings all the local favorite people into the story. You'll sit on the edge of your seat, you'll try to find the real clues among the red herrings, and, if you're anything like me, you'll shed a few tears when the book is through.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoy this series. I enjoyed the mystery.. I also liked the characters and the setting. I may have to go back and reread it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.