Keeled Over at the Cliffside by Nancy Stewart - A Cozy Mystery

๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–/5


Keeled Over at the Cliffside by Nancy Stewart, book one in the Saltcliff Mysteries, is an enjoyable cozy mystery that invites the reader to meet new characters and explore the seaside town of Saltcliff on the Sea. After her estranged twin sister dies from cancer, Dahlia quits her job to move from Virginia to California, becoming the guardian of her tween niece, Diantha (Danny), and caretaker of her sister's bed and breakfast, the Saltcliff Inn, until Danny reaches adulthood. Dahlia also has a severe allergic to legumes (peanuts and similar plants) and has a service Labrador, Taco Dog, to keep her safe.

 

Soon after arriving in the sleepy seaside town, a local restaurant owner and developer dies from being poisoned. Being nearby and having acute observational skills, Dahlia is drawn into the puzzle of his death and begins to play amateur sleuth to help police detective Owen. Between trying to make new friends, despite her difficulty with social skills, and connecting with Danny, Dahlia gets asked to officially be a second set of eyes on the case of a couple of poisonings by the very attractive Owen. As Dahlia and Owen, along with Taco Dog, follow the few clues, eliminate suspects, and determine a motive to solve the murders, they discover it being a case of murder and karma.

 

This enjoyable story has a little bit of everything, just as you would expect from a good cozy mystery: sweet moments, new friendships, laughs, real life issues, imperfect characters, painful pasts, small town quirky people, gossip, competent handsome police, mysteries and secrets. I need more Dolly and Taco in my life and am happy to know there will be more mysteries for them to solve.

 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. 

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