Life has been much more relaxing for author Liz Holt in Melbourne Beach, Florida than it was in New York. As she rings in the New Year with her family and boyfriend at a masquerade ball, her former boyfriend and fellow author, Travis, shows up wanting something from her. Liz has closed that door on her past, but when Travis is found murdered in the garden, the doors to her past are wide open again. Liz and the gang need to find the murderer before Liz is charged and convicted of a crime she didn’t commit.

I truly enjoy this series. Aunt Amelia really comes to life for me, I hope I’m half as cool and spry as she is when I am in my 80s. You can almost smell the salty air as you are transported to the Indialantic Hotel. A third strong installment in this series. It’s on my must read list of authors and series I keep an eye out for.

I love the "A By the Sea Mystery" books. This is book 3 where Liz Holt, an author, and main character, unfortunately gets caught up in the murder of her exboyfriend and she becomes a suspect. The stories take place in Florida in an old resort hotel by the sea which has been in Liz's family for decades. The assembly of characters who reside at the hotel feel like they become your family. Maybe I feel this way because I live in Florida but I think it's because author, Kathleen Bridge, has a great way with words and her "By the Sea" books feel homey.

A fun and entertaining cozy mystery! I love all the reminiscing about Nancy Drew, classic books, old TV shows, commercial jingles, and old movies.

Protagonist Liz lives with several aging, eccentric people who are all delightful characters in their quirkiness. Her great aunt, Amelia, has the biggest heart for helping people and pets, and that’s one reason Liz and her father are among her guests who live at the Indialantic by the Sea Inn on a barrier island in Florida. A dark cloud suddenly arrives in the form of Liz’s trouble making ex, Travis, and his rag-tag posse of supporters. During a literary masquerade ball, Travis disappears and is later found deceased from a gunshot wound. A lively game of whodunit challenges Liz to clear herself as a suspect. This is a cozy sure to please all who read it, and I look forward to more stories in this series!

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Underground. Thank you.

liz ex boy friend is murdered. to prove that she did not kill him, she and her friends are lookingfor the real murderer. an entertaining, easy to read book.

A delightfully charming read! There is just something about how the author weaves a wonderful mystery and paints such a picturesque setting while doing it. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the mystery, the well thought out plot. If you are looking for a book with a wonderful plot, look no further.

This is the 3rd book in this very delightful series. I was wondering when Liz's ugly ex Travis would show up and in this book he did. The storyline was great as usual. I loved the addition of Taylor (Travis' sister) and I hope she makes a reappearance. I really disliked Sussanah Shay and I'm glad she finally redeemed herself by the end of this book. The animals in this series are always a great bonus. I eagerly await the next book.

family, friendship, cozy-mystery, murder, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, Florida, law-enforcement, private-investigators

***** The New Year's costume ball should be a fun thing, but an old nemesis shows up and then gets himself murdered. That seems to make mystery novelist Liz the prime suspect, but she and her patchwork family won't allow anyone the easy way out of this mess. Her father is a lawyer, his fiancee is a police detective, her love interest is a PI, but it's her Aunt Amelia who was an actress in many of the mid century TV shows and there is lots of reminiscing done. Add in a disreputable publishing rep, a local TV newshound, a beautiful restored family hotel, a rescued parrot prone to voicing obscenities, and an eager dedicated police detective, and you have a great cozy that holds nose to page until finished!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books /Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. Thank you!