This is the third in the Murder by the Sea series. It can be read without having knowledge of the first two novels although readers who enjoy this book will probably want to spend time with all of the titles. There are currently five in all.

This story is set in an appealing Florida community. Liz is enjoying being there with members of her family and at the hotel that the family owns. She plans to attend a masquerade ball on New Year’s Eve. Bad decision as someone from her past that she does not want to see is there. Events escalate from there.

This is a short cozy mystery that will be enjoyed by its target audience. There are likeable characters and a good plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

How can you not love a book that includes recipes!

This delightful cozy mystery - Murder by the Sea is set in on the beautiful island of Melbourne Beach, and the main character Liz is as happy as can be, well that is until her ex is found dead.

She becomes the number one suspect and now she has to find a way to clear her name or the killer may escape leaving her holding the bag.

Murder Mars The Surroundings.....
The third in the Murder By The Sea series of mysteries and novelist Liz Holt is settling into life at her new location of the family hotel on a beautiful island. Murder is about to mar the surroundings however and with Liz at the very top of the suspect list she needs to extricate herself from a precarious situation. A fun cosy mystery with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters in an enviable location.

I love the By the Sea mystery series. The books are full of wonderful characters and a murder mystery threaded throughout. The author does an amazing job of sprinkling clues along the way that have you guessing who is guilty of murder.

I am enamored with Aunt Amelia, Chef Pierre, and the myriad of animals who live at the Indialantic By the Sea. The setting, the characters, the relationships, and the mystery are the perfect recipe for a delightful cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lyrical Underground for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. I'm ready for the next adventure by the sea!

It's New Year's Eve and Liz, her family and friends are celebrating with a masquerade ball. When Liz’s ex-boyfriend shows up at the ball, he tries to blackmail Liz into signing off on a movie edition of his book where she is a character. She is not impressed and is very angry at him. They get in a heated argument that is overheard by a local reporter. When he ends up dead, Liz is the primary suspect. Fortunately, Liz and her friends are ready to do some investigating to find the real murderer. This is the third book in the By the Sea Mystery series by Kathleen Bridge and it is very enjoyable. I recommend reading this series in order as the characters and their relationships develop with each book. Having said that, you could read this book easily without reading the first two, but there would be spoilers if you want to read the first two.

This is a highly entertaining cozy mystery.I enjoy this series a lot because of the characters and setting. There are several quirky characters and I have been to the area several times where the series occurs. This book is a light, fun mystery. There are several suspects and with it occurring at a masquerade ball, it makes it a bit more difficult to figure out who was even there. I love the literary talk in these books, and this one had a lot of my favourite or memorable characters from books I have read over the years. There is humour, witty dialogue, some red herrings and a lot of clues that all add to a great mystery. I recommend this book and series to fans of cozy mysteries.

Murder by the Sea is set on a barrier island in Florida, against the background of the historically beautiful Indialantic by the Sea Hotel. This is Book 3 of the By the Sea Mystery series; however, it can easily stand alone.

After the launch of her blockbuster first novel, a very ugly public breakup with her fiance, and settlement (in her favor) of the lawsuit following the breakup, Liz had returned to her family home to rebuild her life. She also wants to produce a second novel as engaging as her first


Imagine her dismay when her nemesis, the former fiance, with his agent and publisher in tow, arrives on the island. To make matters worse, they quarrel publicly and, in the morning, her former fiance wakes up dead, and Liz is Suspect #1. Will it be possible Liz to find the real killer before being tried for murder?

This is a fun, cozy mystery that I would recommend to any cozy reader. I will definitely go back and read Books 1 and 2 of the series.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

#MurderbytheSea#NetGalley

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

This is Book 3 of the series, and our heroine, Liz Holt, has settled in. The Indialantic by the Sea's operations are going well, her family circle are happy with their own blossoming romances, she and her hot P.I. boyfriend Ryan Stone are most definitely in love, and she finished her second book. Then her past comes back in the form of her ex-boyfriend, the writer Travis Osterman, who was the very reason she had to escape her previously successful former life. She becomes the lead suspect when her ex is found dead.

I like Liz Holt, and how she's a strong character despite her horrible past, and the romantic build-up between her and Ryan was adequate, but I kind of miss the humor and the romantic tension I so very much adore in other series. Nevertheless, Liz is endearing with how gutsy and stubborn she is (and she should be, as she's the No. 1 suspect in this story).

There were times when I got distracted by how detailed the other subplots and character backgrounds, but the shining point is how the suspects were shown with their motives, and the big red herrings, and then the discovery of who the real murderer was and what was the motive. I was stumped who the real murderer was, and when we got to the big reveal, I actually empathized with why the victim was killed. What I like about cozy mysteries, like Murder by the Sea, is that we're always reminded that the murderer in these stories is not always the villain; they have reasons you can understand and they do the deed because of their desperation and grief - traits that make them all too human and as relatable as the protagonist herself.

I am anticipating the next title in this series because of how I liked this book.

This was an enjoyable return to the Indialantic by the Sea with Liz, Ryan and the rest of the gang. A good mystery that kept me entertained and guessing at who the culprit would turn out to be. It is a quick and easy read that I read in less than 24 hours. Looking forward to another trip to Indialantic by the Sea soon.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

What a great New Year’s story for any time of year! I enjoy the characters, particularly Betty, Aunt Amelia, and Liz. The setting in Florida sounds like a gorgeous place for a New Years’ Eve celebration, and I enjoyed reading about the Florida Writes Library Masquerade ball. The mystery sends Ryan, a PI and Liz’ boyfriend, to the Big Apple and back, with clues along the way in Kentucky and Connecticut, and is a real challenge!

Liz Holt returned to the Indialantic Hotel and Emporium after being in the Big Apple for ten years. Her career as an author began there, and she continues to write now that she is back home. The primary differences are that she lives in the former bathhouse, now a beautiful beach cabin, she has an adorable kitten, Bronte, and Great-Aunt Amelia is now running the Hotel. Liz is dating Ryan, who had been a firefighter for FDNY and now works as a part-time PI for Liz’s father, Fenton, an attorney.

We are greeted with the Masquerade Ball, where Liz is known as Jane Eyre, and Ryan is Jean Valjean. I enjoyed the descriptions of the costumes and those wearing them. When least expected, Liz thought she saw her ex-boyfriend’s literary agent, dressed as Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Moments later, she is approached by a US Army officer carrying a rifle with a bayonet. It had to have been Paula she saw, as the Army officer is Travis, Liz’s ex-boyfriend from Manhattan. The best-selling, Pulitzer-prize winning author with charm, and a heavy drinking problem that broke out in anger. The night he knocked her down cost her the scar on her cheek and was the last straw to her Manhattan life.

Only Travis would be costumed as the protagonist of his own prize-winning WWII novel, Mickey McAvoy. Travis being at the Indialantic is as unusual – and welcome – as an alligator on the beach. Liz told him in no uncertain terms to leave. Travis demanded that she go on a publicity tour for the novel he loosely based on their failed relationship, Blood and Glass as a movie deal is on the line because of when she called 911 on him. She threatens to reveal what he stole from a deceased veteran at the VA Hospital, and he threatens to tell all that he really wrote her prize-winning first novel, since her drafts were on his laptop, and sue her for past royalties. It wasn’t their best moment, and it was recorded. As Liz walked away, she ran into Sally Beamon, a local TV newswoman, who was sloshed. She didn’t realize that Sally, who had tried many times to get the scoop about Liz and the famous Travis, had recorded their words. Or that it would come back to haunt her. Late the next day, during a strong thunderstorm, Travis’ body was found, murdered, only a short distance from where Liz had seen him the night before.

Thanks to Sally Beamon, the police were aware of the verbal spat between Liz and Travis, which placed Liz at the top of the suspect list. Charlotte, the agent typically assigned to homicides, couldn’t be on the case due to her relationship with Liz’s father. Someone they are not familiar with, Agent Derek Crowley, is on the case, and has no reason to believe Liz. Her fingerprints were found on the rifle Travis carried – even though they were far from the hammer. She only touched it when pushing it away from herself. Liz and her co-detectives Ryan and Betty attempt to find out what they could from whomever they could. They could identify at least four other suspects…but was Crowley looking at even one of them?

The characters are defined well through conversations and actions, and I particularly like Liz, Betty, and Amelia. I am so happy to see the seniors who are valuable and involved in the story, such as Betty, Pierre, and Amelia. They are delightful and brilliant; even Pierre, with recent health challenges, can contribute in a positive manner. I also like how Liz feels it is always an adventure to live with Aunt Amelia, and the memories Liz shares of growing up with her, Betty, and Pierre.

The story moves along quickly, and is hard to put down once started. It is a beautiful place of escape with a complex mystery involving layers of motives that were not obvious. Plot twists keep the suspects and motives changing, as is a threat Liz received. There were times I put the book down in an attempt to think through who the killer might be, and even though I arrived at the right conclusion, I simply could not come up with the motive. This is such an exciting mystery that I was sorry to see it end! I highly recommend this novel, and this series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Isn't living at a hotel everyone's idea of a fantasy come true? Okay so she lives in a beach house and her family runs the Indialantic By the Sea which is the perfect backdrop for a murder mystery. The victim, and I use that term loosely; is Liz's former belligerent boyfriend and author. Kathleen Bridge does a great job of setting the stage for his demise and the numerous questionable suspects. Liz is an incredible character, warm and funny, while still being fierce and vulnerable. A wonderful cast of characters who are supportive, some more so than others. Above all else are the wonderful recipes and I for one can't wait to try the Chocolate Mouse!

This is a great series. Liz is a charming sleuth and will delight readers. The cast of quirky characters continues in this third installment. There is a masquerade ball that you will not want to miss!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Murder By the Sea" earns 5/5 Karmic Bites...Clever and Entertaining!

Kathleen Bridge got it deliciously right serving up a nice batch of well-deserved Karma. Everyone is enjoying the New Year's Literary Masquerade Ball with guests dressed as their favorite character. Although costumes are heavy on nods to Lewis Carroll and J.R.R. Tolkien, Liz channels Jane Eyre, Aunt Amelia is the perfect Miss Havisham, and Ryan's Jean Valjean melts Liz's heart, but it's her ex-boyfriend Travis's surprise appearance as a WWII soldier accessorized with a bayoneted rifle and a threatening blackmail scheme that sends chills down Liz's spine. So when Travis's literary agent and gossip link show their anger that Travis can't be found accusing Liz of having something to do with his disappearance, the new year rings in...murder!

Excellent! I was totally engaged with Kathleen's third-person narrative writing style filled with vivid descriptions, laying out the investigation along with dialogue that illustrates well the various personalities. The murder victim seemed obvious it very cathartic. And motive? A challenge to pick one since the victim had burned a lot of people; the final solution was a pleasant surprise! It took awhile for the axe to drop, but I enjoyed the journey that gave me just the right amount of time to revisit characters and set up dramatic interactions and conflicts. My favorite? Well, of course, I love Liz who's gaining confidence and personal strength and healing from her past difficulties, but she needs to trust in Ryan's attentions and be more forthcoming. I adore Aunt Amelia and all the 60s/70s references, but it's Betty's London Chimney Sweep Mystery book that fascinates me! I highly recommend Kathleen's third book...totally entertaining! And three mouthwatering recipes are included--Classic Desserts with a French Twist from the Chef Pierre Montague Cookbook: my favorite Crème Brûlée, decadent Chocolate Mousse, and fancy Crêpes Suzette. Yum!

Murder by the Sea was an entertaining cosy mystery with plenty of suspects and motives. I liked the setting, the silliness and all the pop culture references in this one, in addition to the dynamics between the sleuths and their friends and family.

No rating, did not finish.

Book 3 in the series. I just couldn't get into this one at all. I struggled to get about 1/4 way in before I finally gave up. Just not my cup of tea.

It was a compelling read with so many funny and eccentric characters, lovable animals and an amazing setting.
After living in Manhattan, Liz returns to her family who lives on a wonderful island in Florida.She lives in the hotel of her aunt Amelia, a former actress. She is divided between a passion for writing and one for investigation. This time she will have to try to save herself from the murder charge when her ex-boyfriend is found dead and she is the main suspect.
Liz is a great character, she loves her family, loves writing, cooking and has a lot of intuition for investigations. After the end of her relationship with the hateful Travis she starts dating the fantastic Ryan. Adorable are aunt Amelia, very protective of her family, and her friend Betty who thinks she is Miss Marple.
It is written very well with so many clues and false leads that keeps you glued to the last page to find out the culprit. To make it even more enjoyable, there are references to TV series and spots in the 60s and 70s and recipes
It can be read as standalone although it is the third book in the series, I look forward to reading other adventures of Liz and her friends
Highly recommended

Liz Holt is celebrating New Year’s Eve at her family hotel, Indialantic by the Sea, when she encounters her ex-boyfriend Travis. Liz has recently moved back from Manhattan to leave the abusive relationship and start anew. She’s looking forward to spending the evening with her new boyfriend, Ryan, not her ex. When Travis is found dead the next morning, Liz becomes the main suspect.

I loved the setting of the Florida island and the characters. This is a great read!

This is the 3rd in series and I highly recommend the entire series. This is a delightful visit to a barrier island hotel in Florida and fun charcters with a great sleuth. The author has created a series based on fun with a gorgeous indialantic setting that makes the reader feel as if they are visiting.
I love all the reminiscing in this book and enjoying information on Nancy Drew and many old movies.

Our intripd Protagonist Liz lives with several eccentric people who are both engaging and aging. They provide a great deal of humor throughout this series. Her great aunt, Amelia owns the hotel and she is quirky and fun. Liz is settled into her new life helping her Aunt run the Inn.

During a literary masquerade ball Liz finds out that her ex boyfriend Travis is there and he is known for causing trouble for her. After they publicly have a disagreement he then disappears and is later found shot. Liz is immediately under suspicion and must clear herself as a suspect.

The whodunit was full of clues and suspects that kept me guessing until the end. I love the setting, the charcters, the nostalgia and the masquerade ball. I look forward to the next in series. Thank you for the ARC. My opinion is my own. I highly recommend this series for your reading enjoyment.

Each book I read by author Kathleen Bridge simply gets better and better. MURDER BY THE SEA is no exception.

When a mystery book opens with a literary masquerade party in progress, how can you not get pulled in? It was so fun seeing what famous characters would be mentioned next.

But the party for us readers really started with the discovery of the body. From that moment on, author Bridge had us chasing down clues, suspecting so many people I lost count, and lead us through some amazing twists and turns, most of which led to dead ends, until finally all is made clear. By that point, I was breathless!

MURDER BY THE SEA is perfect summer time, vacation reading. Heck, it is perfect reading for any time of the year. If you haven’t read the first two installments of the By the Sea Mysteries, pick them all up and read them back to back.

This was a page turner if I must say so myself. I was very pleased with the storytelling and the accuracy of the information. The story was engulfing I only put the book down long enough to eat and sleep. I loved it.