Edge of Edisto

Haunting addition to C. Hope Clark's stellar canon, a canon ridiculously underappreciated and unknown to the broader community of mystery lovers. In the Edisto series, Callie Morgan, police chief, investigates crimes that turn out to be underlayed with history and community-shared secrets. Drawing on her personal history as an investigator for a Federal agency, each of her books is a crackling good mystery with empathy at its core. In the small tourist beach town, a woman washes ashore, but is she the woman reported missing by one of her friends? Told in two POV, one of the police chief and the other, the erstwhile leader of this group of friends. Who are they and what is their connection? Do yourself a favor and discover this author.

I have followed this author for years (particulaly this series) and was thrilled to be able to download her new book. It did not disappoint!
We again meet Callie, the chief of Police for Edisto. On this occasion, she is called to investigate the murder of a young woman found on the beach. This discovery leads her to a group of women (dubbed the Summer Ladies) and their connection to the murder. I highly recommend this (also a good book to take to the beach) and I look forward to her next book.

C. Hope Clark is back at the beach with her newest book - Edge of Edisto.

"Chief Callie Jean Morgan gets a report from a distraught beach visitor that her friend is missing. Callie talks to the group she's with and finds something odd about them. They've been visiting Edisto for 30 years and Callie has never heard of them. A body is found and the victim has a resemblance to the missing girl. Callie must use all of her resources to find answers."

This is a procedural but with the flavor of a beach town. There's constant tension between the locals and the visitors. The locals remember a quieter beach but enjoy the things that come with tourist dollars. Callie wonders why she doesn't know the group that's been visiting the island for so long, especially with the looks she gets from those that know. You'll quickly guess what they are and it's interesting the grey that Clark paints them with.
There are secrets and deep family dynamics. There are stories and reasons. Some things are left unsaid.

Clark has a great cast of characters on this Carolina island beach. It's fun to revisit them.

A great addition to the series that can be read as a standalone.

Another amazing visit to Edisto Island from C Hope Clark!

I just love how her mind creates these entertaining and thoughtful stories -- Callie and Mark, Jed, Sarah, Beverly and so many more just feel like old friends. It's like taking a small vacation to read this series - but they keep you entertained with the mysteries. It was like seeing a seedier side of the island in this book, learning more about the Summer Ladies. I just love how this series has evolved and admire the way the stories are crafted!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Another entertaining and well plotted mystery in this good series. I enjoyed reconnecting with the well-developed characters and the solid plot kept me hooked and guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine