Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae is a fun cozy mystery that is the first in a new series: A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery.

This is a first for this author for me, and I really enjoyed this new start of this new series. It has what I come to expect: an entertaining murder/mystery, paranormal threads, a few quirky characters, and a relatable and likable main character.

Definitely interested in book two and learning more about Maureen.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/25/24.
for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

Set in the outer banks of North Carolina in the days after a hurricane, a recently-widowed middle-aged woman who is a shell expert arrives only to trip over a dead body in the dark. That's the crime; the rest of the story is trying to solve it.

This is an easy cozy read complete with a friendly ghost, nosy octogenarian siblings, inept policeman, and a small town where people know one another's business all too well. The man who died may have had a secret past and there may be a hidden treasure to be discovered.

The story recaps all the clues a bit relentlessly and any suspense is quite muted. The relationship with the ghost is the best aspect, adding bits of humor and lightness. A few situations require suspension of belief. All told, it is a pleasant read in a beautiful setting.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this through netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

There are just times of the year, where you just need to declare cozy mysteries month for your own personal sanity. I'm a big fan of the cozy paranormal- I like vampires, ghosts, witches and pirates doing not the normal expected tasks. Vampires running knitting clubs/ book clubs , haunted yarn shops- I'm your girl.
Along the same lines that's how I discovered Molly MacRae last fall- haunted yarn shop- yes! I loved this one just as much and look forward to the rest of the series- Set in a shell shop shrouded in mystery, haunted by a recluctant pirate ghost, all the yeses from me! I loved the exchanges between Burt and Glady and the rest of the off beat characters. Would definitely recommend

Newly widowed Maureen arrives shortly after a hurricane, intent not to tell anyone why she is there. Unfortunately, within hours of arrival she finds a valuable shell, a dead body and a pair of senior siblings. A fun read from beginning to end.

In Molly MacRae's Come Shell or High Water, the first in her new Haunted Shell Shop mystery series, fiftyish recent widow Maureen Nash is all about shells--she searches for unique ones, researches them, and even works telling stories about their history and folklore. On a trip to Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina, to find shells unearthed by a hurricane, Maureen rescues a huge, intricately carved shell from the waves and stumbles over a man's dead body in the process. Knocked unconscious, she awakes in the town's shell store, wondering what has happened to her. An elderly brother and sister who live nearby tell her that the dead man is the store's proprietor, who said he was going to check on a mother and daughter at the end of the island but never returned.

What follows involves the real reason Maureen came to the island (revealed later in the story), a plethora of murder suspects (including Maureen herself), and the ghost of an 18th Century pirate. I enjoyed being steeped in the culture and environment of Ocracoke, and--of course-- learning about shells. I also appreciated Maureen's lovely relationship with one of her adult sons. It took me a while to become accustomed to the writing style and pace--very different from the author's earlier series. The pirate has potential, but I didn't connect with him or with Maureen because we don't know much about either of them yet. I would also like to learn more about Maureen's late husband, since he is referred to in flashbacks. Because this is the first in a series, I expect that the main characters will become more nuanced and substantial as their stories progress.

My thanks to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I am really reading a lot of cozy paranormals lately, so I was excited to try this one. I hadn’t read this author before, but this will definitely not be my last one. I loved the twisty mystery in this book with the fun characters. I don’t feel we got to know Maureen as much as I would have liked, but I’m hoping we will in the next book. I also love that we got to meet her sons in this. I hope they play a part in the next book. A well-written, fun cozy paranormal with interesting characters sure to entertain for a few hours. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

The story starts out slow but definitely picks up momentum and definitely is an enjoyable read. The mystery is intriguing and held my attention. I’m glad that certain characters got their comeuppance. Added bonus, the MC is older and has two adult children, with whom she has a great relationship. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Enjoyed this cozy mystery overall. Maureen shows up to a small coastal town, and finds a body and a ghost. Flipped back and forth about the elderly brother and sister, as I wasn't sure it they had a motive or not. Didn't like her friend not being there for her either. Still though, enjoyed it enough to see the ending. Would recommend.

Molly MacRae's new cozy mystery book series, Haunted Shell Shop Mystery, delivers all the goods! "Come Shell or High Water" is worth the read and I can't wait for book 2.

COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER is the first book in the brand-new Haunted Shell Shop mysteries by Mollie MacRae. I just loved this book, with its quirky protagonist, Maureen Nash, and her humorous mannerisms, shell and sea puns that will make you either groan or giggle, and her outlook on life. First off, Maureen is a woman with grown sons, and is finding her way after losing her husband the year before. It gives her a different perspective on life than a twenty-something-year-old and is one more relatable to older readers. Not only is Maureen a former malacologist, but she’s also a professional storyteller… and tells a story she does! From the opening sentence, which is an attention grabber for sure, to meeting an eighteenth-century Welsh ghost pirate, to investigating with her new octogenarian neighbor, the tale kept me enthralled. You can’t help but admire the cast of characters—they’re entertaining and exhibit the fine qualities of a small island community, which are helpful busybodies to assist however they can.

The characters drew me in and the mystery kept me turning pages. The murder happens early on with hints of a mysterious secret Maureen seems to be keeping too. After all, she really wasn’t supposed to be on the island and she’s not telling anyone how she got there since the ferry service closed because of the hurricane. But, since she’s the one that stumbled across the body and can’t account for her actions, Maureen becomes the number one suspect of local law enforcement. With the help of her elderly neighbors (who are a hoot themselves!), and the ghost pirate, Maureen investigates the murder. With twists and turns galore, I didn’t want to put the book down. There were plenty of clues to follow, suspects and red herrings to trick me, but in the end, I just wanted to sit back and enjoy the rollicking tale. This book has one shell of an ending that makes me fervently wish the second book was already in hand!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ComeShellorHighWater #NetGalley is a fantastic new book my Molly MacRae.
Maureen Nash is a malacologist, someone who specializes in fresh water mussels.
Maureen lost her husband unexpectedly and she's trying to navigate life without him, and a trip to Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina has her questioning everything.
Not only is the island a special place, there are secrets that are buried deep, and not everyone wants her to uncover them.
This is a fantastic book and well written. From the very beginning I found myself wondering what was going to happen and each chapter brought a new surprise to me.
The story is fascinating and I enjoyed every word.
I'm looking forward to reading more in the series and recommending this book to other people.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.