Cracks Beneath the Surface by Mary Ann Miller is a gripping small-town mystery that skillfully blends suspense with the charm of seasonal traditions. Set in Field’s Crossing, Indiana, the story kicks off with a festive Easter egg hunt that takes a dark turn when Lisa DuVal, the beloved diner owner, is found murdered in her catering van. As Sheriff Jhonni Laurent dives into the investigation, she uncovers unsettling secrets about Lisa’s family, including a shocking will that leaves the diner to Lisa’s best friend instead of her daughter—raising suspicions of foul play within the family.

Miller does an excellent job of crafting an atmospheric mystery, where the melting ice of spring symbolizes the slow unraveling of hidden truths. As Laurent digs deeper, the town’s seemingly idyllic surface cracks to reveal a web of deceit and betrayal. With another body turning up, the stakes rise, and the investigation intensifies as Laurent works to uncover how the two deaths are connected.

The story is rich with intrigue and layered with complex characters, each with their own secrets. The pacing is tight, and the twists keep readers on the edge of their seats, making Cracks Beneath the Surface an engaging and suspenseful read. Fans of cozy mysteries with a darker edge and a sharp-witted detective will find this book a compelling addition to their bookshelf.

Johnni Laurent serves as the Sheriff of Field's Crossing, Indiana, navigating a landscape of tricky politics. Together with her deputies, she organizes the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, receiving invaluable support from Lisa DuVal, the owner of Big Al's Diner. Lisa and her friends, family, and staff all pitch in to dye the eggs. Given that Johnni's arm is still in a sling from a recent gunshot wound, she appreciates all the help she can get. However, when she goes to check on Lisa, who hasn’t arrived for the family Easter lunch, she discovers her stabbed to death in her van behind the diner. The joy of the holiday swiftly fades, and Johnni plunges into a murder investigation.

Initially, the book starts off a bit sluggish, filled with detailed descriptions of the small town and its quirky residents. Even after the murder is uncovered, I found myself hesitant to continue reading because the pace felt slow—almost too calm for my taste. Perhaps this writing style was a deliberate choice to mirror the slow-paced life of a small town; who knows?

At first, I struggled to connect with the story, but as it unfolded, I gradually found myself captivated by it.The book had many characters and side plots that kept me curious about who the murderer(s) was. Overall, it was entertaining, but I thought the ending was too quick. It wrapped up with a single speech from the sheriff, and I wanted a deeper explanation of how the case developed instead of just a brief summary. I was eager to see how everything unfolded. In the end, it was an enjoyable and fast read that certainly held my interest, especially as the tempo increased.definitely captured my attention, especially as the tempo picked up.
Thank you Net Galley and Oceanview Publishing for this advanced reader's copy

Cracks Beneath the Surface is a story about greed, failed human relationships, lack of moral and values, broken families, and crime. Lisa gave her life to her business and even though she loved her family the lack of communication lead to her bad decisions, the same happened to Aubrey , her daughter. Keith, Lisa's husband, besides being lazy and a cheater, also wants more money, ot doesn't matter who he is going to hurt. The son in law is a gambler and is in deep trouble. Who killed Lisa and why? Laurent and her team will face many difficulties to find the culprit to Lisa's murder and bring to light all the bad business hidden behind Al's Diner. Great entertainment!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Book #2 in the Jhonni Laurent series. Fields Crossing, Indiana is celebrating Easter with a traditional Easter egg hunt, courtesy of Lisa DuVal, owner of the local diner and one of the most popular citizens. When Sheriff Laurent finds Lisa's body, it's a shock to the community, but not as big a shock as Lisa's will causes. For a small town, the number of suspects becomes surprisingly large. As the sheriff conducts her investigation, she will also face two threats to her professional life.
This series has been good so far. The community is well established, it's easy to picture it as we meet more citizens and see how they fit within the crime scenes. Sheriff Laurent and her team work well together and open many story lines to insure the series will live for several more books. Mary Ann Miller may have a success on her hands.

I wanted to get grabbed by this book; I did. It unfortunately just didn't happen. The difficulty was the slow speed of the story and considerable repetition. The real "action" happened at the very end. I'm sure some people will appreciate the quite thorough investigation process, legal specifics and explaination of each step by step decision. I definitely learned a lot about certain legal processes. It was a lot like an episode of "The First 48" without time editing. The attention to detail was impeccable throughout and astounding research was done by the author.

Thank you Netgalley & Oceanview Publishing for an eARC 🤩

I haven't read the first book in the series, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit! Mary Ann Miller seamlessly integrates background information, making it effortless to jump into the world of Field's Crossing, Indiana.
Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is my new favorite detective! She's sharp, compassionate, and fiercely determined to uncover the truth. I love how she navigates the complex web of relationships in Field's Crossing.
This story is more than just a whodunit - it's a thought-provoking exploration of family, friendship, and deceit. As Laurent digs deeper, she exposes secrets that threaten to upend the community. I found myself completely invested in the characters' lives.
The pacing? Breakneck! The tension? Palpable! I couldn't put it down, and the surprises kept me guessing until the very end.
What struck me most, though, was the heartwarming portrayal of small-town life. Beneath the suspense, this novel celebrates the resilience and warmth of Field's Crossing's residents.

5/5 Stars, Hands Down!🔥

A Very Dysfunctional Family

Another very successful annual community Easter Egg Hunt is over. Much was due to Lisa DuVal, the owner of a local diner, who donated 100 dozen hard-boiled and colored eggs for the event. Sheriff Jhonni Laurent receives word that Lisa is missing from her family's Easter dinner. The sheriff stops by her diner to check on Lisa. When the sheriff arrives at the diner, the front door is locked. She walks around and finds the backdoor unlocked. She checks all the rooms, and they are empty. She exits and notices the two catering trucks. She rushes over. Lisa is slumped against the steering wheel. She does not have a pulse. Laurent takes her out of the truck and places her on the ground. She calls for an ambulance. When she starts CPR, blood starts gushing out of her side. Lisa is dead. From this start, a story of greed, jealousy, deceit, and murder begins.

The investigation into Lisa DuVal’s death is the primary thread in this novel. An internecine fight starts between the beneficiaries when Lisa's will is read. Each one of them and their spouses must be investigated as potential suspects. A group of women who work for Lisa, known as the Moonshine Mamas, also had some financial gain at stake, so investigating them must be included. The major problem is that several beneficiaries require an immediate cash infusion, and neither is a recipient of the diner nor any money in the will. Then, a significant twist occurs at a level I call a literary tsunami. By this time, my interest in this novel was locked in. The novel's pace was good, and I never wondered when the novel would start or get going again. While Sheriff Laurent is the narrator for most of the novel, several other characters narrate some chapters so the reader has better insight into the conflict between the beneficiaries. There is a minor thread. The sheriff dismissed a deputy in the last novel. The deputy was reinstated in this novel until his case was resolved. This deputy just adds to the irritation for the sheriff.

The sheriff's character continues to be expanded in this novel. Her interactions with her deputy, Dax, and her best friend, Starr Walters, add more depth to her character. These interactions, plus those with others, provide the reader with a good picture of Laurent as a sheriff and person. This aspect of the novel enhanced my reading enjoyment of it.

There are some adult topics but no direct, intimate scenes. Adult language is present but not at a worrisome level for me. Only one scene includes any violence, and it is quick. This novel can be read without reading the first novel as the backfill to understand the conflict between the Sheriff and Deputy Greene is provided in this novel. Most readers should not find any issues reading this novel.

I enjoyed the complex mystery with a limited number of possible suspects who are suspicious of each other. The will’s reading pours gasoline on the relationships already burning. For negatives, I could encounter any in this novel. I also enjoyed the ending. This is the second novel by the author that I have read. She is firmly in my Will-Read category. I strongly recommend reading this novel if this novel’s teaser interests you. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I am looking forward to reading any further books by this author. My rating for this novel is five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Oceanview Publishing. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Oceanview Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

This was a great book with a interesting story line and characters. It created the background and atmoshphere a rather slowly, it felt like a lots of descriptions of the small town of Field's Crossing and its residents daily lives. Even when the murder was discovered, I was sure I was going to keep reading because it was so slow-going which i like about the stories i want to read and delve into. Just enough adrenaline in the story for me initially. It really helps to create a strong aroma of things one is going to experience in the near future.

At some point i thounght am i really enjoying the story or i just want it to be finshed. There were a lot of characters and numerous tangential paths to ensure you stuck in a web of false theories and couldn't quite be certain of the murderer(s) in the book. And though the book overall was entertaining, the ending felt like it happened fast. There should have been more to describe the ending of the book.

Thank you Net Galley and Oceanview Publishing for this advanced reader's copy.

Cracks beneath the surface is the second book in the detective Jhonni Laurent series but can be read as a standalone.

Detective Jhonni Laurent discovers Lisa DuVal's body unresponsive in her car after the town's annual Easter egg hunt. Lisa is an active member of the community and the owner of Big Al's diner. There are disagreements among her family members regarding the inheritance of the diner, when another body is discovered. Laurent must now connect the dots to find the killer.

This is a small town murder mystery with highly unlikeable characters which makes you think anyone of them could have been the killer. While it started off strong, it lost momentum in the middle and felt a bit muddled in it's execution. There is a lot going on which certainly kept me intrigued and entertained for the most part, however the ending felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic.

Thank you @netgalley and @oceanviewpub for the ARC to read and review.

Lisa DuVal is a popular resident in Field's Crossing, Indiana. Lisa is the owner of Big Al's Diner and was kind enough to dye all the Easter eggs for the annual hunt. At least one person didn't like her because her body is found by Sheriff Jhonni Laurent in her catering van after the hunt. As the murder investigation gets underway secrets are revealed and soon another murder occurs.

There are a few angry people when the will is read. Lisa's daughter, whose husband gambles, did not inherit the Diner, as she expected. Lisa's son did not inherit, maybe it was the best friend who did inherit.

Jhonni is a solid character, she has her flaws which make her realistic. She is still recovering from an injury from the previous case (Bones Under the Ice) and dealing with a deputy who does not want to work for her.

This book was OK. It had a good start but slipped in the middle and ended without much excitement.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Oceanview Publishing, for an ARC. The review is my own.

The second book in the Johnni Laurent series and I had not read the first.

Johnni Laurent is the Sheriff in Fields' Crossing, Indiana and she is an immediately likeable character as are all the members of her team. However when Lisa, the owner of Big Al's Diner, is found murdered we meet all the other local characters and none of them are very nice people at all. When Lisa's rather crazy will is read no one is happy.

The mystery was okay, Lisa's murderer was predictable, but I was totally confused by Lisa's behaviours and did not feel they were ever really explained. A rather flat ending left me feeling puzzled and a little disappointed.

Dive into the next thrilling installment of the Jhonni Laurent series!

When a popular member of the town is murdered, Jhonni knows she is going to have her hands full. She is still dealing with the deputy that is trying to undermine her, and now, trying to determine who might have committed such a horrific crime. When the will is read, there are going to be some explosive revelations, as it now throws a handful of people into the suspect pool. But who has the best motive? The daughter and her gambling husband? A good friend who is looking for a windfall? The son who is trying to open a business elsewhere? Or is someone from the town harboring a silent grudge? As sheriff, Jhonni will work the case to completion, but dangers wait for her as well.

FANTASTIC! I could not put this book down! I am going to need quite a bit more of Sheriff Laurent and the small town she calls home. Cracks Beneath the Surface will leave you gasping at some twists, and even provide a few giggles throughout the read. Get ready for a mystery that is going to demand your time, give you a book hangover, and leave you wanting MORE!

A mix of procedural and cozy that sees Sheriff Jhonni Laurent sorting through the suspects to figure out who killed Lisa who was believed to be (but clearly was not) beloved in the community of Field's Crossing. I missed the first book but that wasn't an impediment to following along here. I liked Jhonni and the setting. The mystery is just twisty enough to keep you guessing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A good mystery with enough twists to make it a fun read. Well-drawn characters. I got a bit lost in the middle, but the end made sense--so maybe that's just me. I'd recommend this one and any others by Mary Ann Miller.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for an advance copy of Cracks Beneath the Surface, the second novel to feature Sheriff Jhonni Laurent, set in the small town of Field’s Crossing, Indiana.

I found Cracks Beneath the Surface a bit of a mixed bag. I like the rural American setting and the mixture of cosy and harder hitting in the plot. I also liked the twists surrounding Lisa DuVal’s life and actions as I never knew what was coming next. I was less enthusiastic about the execution which felt a bit muddled and circular with Jhonni Laurent constantly going over her suspect list (mostly family) with little forward momentum. Even the resolution felt flat, more a whimper than a bang.

Cracks Beneath the Surface is an easy way to pass a few hours.

This book was interesting, but I decided to not finish it. I just couldn't get into the book the way that I wanted to. I couldn't connect with the characters and I would forget details of the plot because it was so hard to focus. I will definitely try another book form Mary Ann Miller in the future.

I would describe this book as just “okay”. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great. I found the beginning to be a bit confusing with how quickly characters were introduced. The author did a good job of making a lot of the suspects very unlikeable which made you think any of them could have been the killer. One thing that really annoyed me was the formatting of the kindle edition which began around chapter 28. The sentences are broken up and spaced out in a way that makes it difficult to read. Overall this book didn’t have any real plot twist and didn’t have me on the edge of my seat. The ending was rather predictable and anticlimactic. This seems to be the second book of a series and I will say while you don’t need to read the first to understand this book reading it helps more with some of the side plot. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is your typical murder mystery! But it is a very slow burn of a novel. It doesn’t really pick up till the end. I found it confusing how it would jump from characters without too much to lead into it. Honestly if I knew what I know now I probably wouldn’t have picked it out. But I’m sure someone else might enjoy so if you want a bit of a slow burn mystery this might be a book for you

So when i started reading this book i did not know it was a series so i read it as a standalone to me its totally fine. I give this book a 2 it was just okay for me, did not dig the easter theme have but i guess small town will make a big fuss. I wanted to quit halfway through but kept going. Its just okay i have no thoughts really or any notes

Honest opinions, it felt like it was a little too long. But I see it was only 400 pages, which isn't long. It could have been shorter still, and parts dragged out quite a bit, so that's probably why it felt long.

Also, I didn't realize that this book was part of a series, so some parts of the book didn't make sense, and even though you can read the books in any publication order, there was no backstory on some parts of the book so it just confused me.

All in all the plot of the book was great, I enjoyed the characters, but could have been just a tad bit shorter.