Occupation: Owner of the Snowy Plover Inn
“So how is it?” Maxine read the message from Jane Sullivan, a fellow teacher from the English Department at Royal High School. If Jane, or anyone else, had asked this only a few months earlier, Max’s answer would have been much different. Then, her life was mundane, uninspired. After Adam’s death it was all she could do some days to haul herself out of bed at an ungodly hour to arrive for zero period at the high school only to be greeted by bleary-eyed and often salty teens who needed prodding to examine the plot of whatever selection they were focused on that week. The best part of her day was coming home to Butters, her cat. So much had changed. Max began to text her response, but gave up quickly (way too much to type), and dialed her friend. Jane answered on the first ring.
“Hi, Max. I’m so glad you called. I’m dying to hear about your life outside high school. Fill me in. I want all the details.” Max took a deep breath. Where to begin? Then she plunged ahead.
“I’m home, Jane. Truly home. For the first time since losing Adam. I’ve found my place in the world again. Running an inn is the last thing I could have imagined, but something made me visit. Something made me buy it on impulse. It had to be Adam. Every day I complete some essential task to bring the inn back to its former glory and I swear I can feel it appreciating me. Amelia’s glad I’m here too.
“Amelia?”
“She’s the spirit who’s lived here for years.”
“Right, so there’s a spirit!?” Jane wasn’t sure what to make of this.
“Yes,” Max replied without further elaboration. “Each week I usher in a new set of visitors and I’m living a new story with a fresh cast. They unpack their bags and settle in. I can involve myself in their plots, or watch them unfold from a distance.”
“How about Pearla? How’s she liking life away from Royal High? And Butters?” Jane interrupted.
“Butters relishes the extra pets and attention, just as you’d expect, and Pearla couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t do this without her, she’s my right hand. We’re learning together. We’re maintaining all the charm visitors have expected for years, while putting our own personal touches on The Snowy Plover Inn. We’d never change the name. So, all in all, I’m living my best life. And other than an occasional annoying guest, and the murders, I can’t complain.”
“Did you say, murders?”
“Yes, but that’s a story for another day.”
Checked Out at the Snowy Plover Inn – A Snowy Plover Inn Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
Recently widowed Maxine Egan thought leaving her stable teaching career to run an isolated rustic inn with her friend, Pearla, would be a refreshing change and a way to escape her grief. But when a guest is gravely injured during the grand re-opening of The Snowy Plover Inn, Maxine finds herself in the middle of an attempted murder investigation. Along with her two best friends, she tries to solve the case quietly to avoid rumors spreading among the village residents.
But as they dig deeper, they realize that everyone at the inn, including guests and workers, had the opportunity to commit the crime. And when a resident of Silvermist Point goes missing after a cryptic call to the sheriff, the townspeople are quick to point fingers at the newcomers. With the unhelpful Sheriff Silva and gossip spreading about an attempted murder, Maxine and her friends must race against time to uncover the truth, save the inn, and clear their names.
Was it a tragic misstep or a deliberate attempt on the victim’s life? And who among them had the motive to commit such a heinous act? As the investigation unravels, Maxine realizes that her quaint inn may not be as peaceful as she thought.
Meet the author
Deanna Nese is the author of five published novels, and has found her niche in the genre of cozy mystery. Her short stories have been featured in Typishly and the VC Reporter. Her love of writing and reading runs deep. She teaches middle schoolers English and History, enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and spending time with her family and pets. She is a member of the Crime Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and West Coast Christian Writers. Subscribe to her newsletter on Substack (deannanese1). Or follow her on Facebook: Deanna Nese: Author