Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross

Series Name: Maine Clambake Mystery Book #11
Genre: Cozy
Release: June 27, 2023
Format: Print, Digital, Audio

Serving up mouthwatering shellfish, the Snowden Family Clambake has become a beloved institution in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. But when new clues rise to the surface five years after the disappearance of Julia Snowden’ s mother’s friend, the family business shifts to sleuthing . . .

Julia and her mother, Jacqueline, have come to the exclusive summer colony of Chipmunk Island to attend a memorial service for Jacqueline’s old friend Ginny, who’s been officially declared dead half a decade after she went out for her daily swim in the harbor and was never seen again. But something seems fishy at the service—especially with the ladies of the Wednesday Club. As Julia and Jacqueline begin looking into Ginny’s cold case, a present-day murder stirs the pot, and mother and daughter must dive into the deep end to get to the bottom of both mysteries . . .

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Dru’s Short Musing:
This was a fast-paced, action-packed, and well-written drama that I could not put down until all was said and done.

To please her mom, Julia investigates the disappearance of her mother’s friend who has been missing for several years and now is officially declared dead. Something doesn’t feel right, and when Julia inquires, there is a resistance to telling what they know. When a murder occurs, one must wonder if the past and the present are connected. The author did a great job in staging this book with a bevy of suspects and tantalizing clues that ups the game on the reader. The mystery was nicely executed with enough intrigue and suspense to keep me immersed in all aspects. With visually descriptive narrative, I felt like I was part of the non-stop action that boasts engaging dialogue with the two islands as the perfect atmosphere to round out this story. There were a few red herrings that were strategically placed and enticed my desire to discover the truth along with Julia. But the best part was solving the murder and the ending. This is one of the best books in the series and I enjoyed watching Julia team up with her mother.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.