I really enjoyed this mystery and I thought the characters were really well done. I loved the way the author wove together the characters back stories and I liked the mystery. That being said, this was the first book in the series I read and while it was okay to read as a stand alone I really think I would have connected with the story better if I had read the other books first. I enjoyed it enough to go back and read the first one though!

This is such a fun series with the beach setting and interesting characters, set in Melbourne Beach, Florida at an old resort hotel, the Indialantic by the Sea, home of former actress Amelia Holt, her niece, author Liz Holt, friends, and including a couple of parrots, cats. In this story, a group of archeologists are doing a dig next door at the old Bennett estate, which is crumbling and falling down. The group is staying at Indialantic with Amelia and the regular inhabitants. They are staying as a favor asked by a professor with the dig. There is a lot of tension among the dig group and then a body is found at the site by Birdman Bennett, only living family member and living in a cottage on the property. Birdman is friend of the Holts and a gentle soul and animal lover. He is suspected of the crime. Author Liz Holt, niece of Amelia, and her team of detectiveteers, PI boyfriend Ryan Stone and resident teen mystery author Betty Lawson work to figure out who is responsible but the pool of suspects are brimming, mostly all greedy and ambitious. I had suspicions but didn't completely figure out the mystery. There is an surprise from the past found in the basement of the resort. It is a great addition to the series and has a fun ending that I didn't see coming. I recommend reading this series in order but the author does give background information if you want to start with this installment.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are mine only.

I continually love this series by Kathleen Bridge. Liz and her aunt continually add to the mystery of her stories., add in the comical parrot and other cast of characters and it always ends up to be a great read.

Exciting Florida Coastal Mystery
This is an exciting mystery with many moving pieces. The main venue is an old coastal hotel. The owner is quite a character. She had been a Hollywood actress and had many bit parts on television in the 1960s. Her macaw enjoys singing the theme songs to those shows. There is an archeological dig going on next door to find relics of Ponce de Leon. There is also an abundance of pets and wildlife throughout the story. This is the first book of the series that I have read and it stood alone just fine. The author excels at giving the new reader enough background information to enjoy the book, but not so much that one can't enjoy the previous books. I do believe I want to go back and read those prior books. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

4.5 stars

This is the fifth book in the A By The Sea Mystery series by Kathleen Bridge.

I think what makes this series great are the characters and the community surrounding the Indialantic. One elderly woman related to Liz has this great amount of tv and movie credits and name drops actors from back in the day like crazy. I know it is her way of getting attention but it is a fun plot device.

The entire plot surrounds some guests who are into archeology and worked together at one time. Somehow an elderly friend of Liz’s Birdman gets arrested for killing the man with poison and burying him. The poison isn’t really a man’s tool of murder but he still gets jailed. Liz goes into detective mode to solve the crime.

This is a fun mystery to follow and I always get a kick out of what is happening at the Indialantic. This is a great series. Dive into it if you haven’t already.

Loved so much about it. If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.

Buried By the Sea earns 5/5 Dig Sites...Intriguing and Clever Fun!

Kathleen Bridge has added a fantastic fourth mystery to her delightful By the Sea Mystery series with humor as well as history sprinkled midst conflicts and murder! Many stories of explorers, Native Americans, and shipwrecks, make Melbourne Beach popular among amateur and professional treasure seekers including a team of archeologists with high hopes for a history-making find. They hope to find proof Ponce de León, Spanish conquistador and explorer of fact and legend, made land at Melbourne Beach rather than what experts believe to be farther north at St. Augustine. Adjacent to the hotel is the Bennett property, site of their ambitious dig, but Liz has noticed several incidents giving her the idea that the expedition is not going well: husband and wife team members squabbling, a pair of scientists almost coming to blows, hints of jealousies, threats, and bullying, and witnessing her friend Birdman, the owner of the Bennett property, accusing the archeologists of disturbing the delicate lagoon habitat and vandalizing his garden with a Hawaiian sling diving spear. Yet, before the man with the money, the ego, and the nasty zingers can share the “fruits of his labors” he boasts, he is found dead with said Hawaiian diving spear planted in his chest! And Liz’s dear friend, Birdman, suspiciously has means, opportunity, and motive.

Kathleen created intriguing backstories weaving together unique legends, botanical insights, and a plethora of “baby-boomer” references to enrich the traditional cozy murder mystery. She incorporates so many incidents, events, and conversations to not only illustrate setting and the theme, but also provide insights into the characters and personalities making this a fun and rewarding series. Liz has moved on from her tragic relationship that physically scarred her, but her relationship with Ryan is healthy, and with one a professional snoop and the other an amateur, it makes for a great partnership. Aunt Amelia has a delightful, flamboyant, no-holds-barred attitude is one we should all wish for in our dotage! Kathleen’s writing uses a third-person narrative filled with descriptive language and witty and informative banter keeping you engaged until the final confession, and more...seven easy-to-follow recipes aren't just random, but actually are “Recipes from Fenton and Charlotte’s Wedding Brunch Celebration.” Enjoy Smoked Salmon Triangles, Pear, Caramelized Onion, and Brie Flatbread, Chef Pierre’s French Toast, Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon, Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad, Watermelon-Cucumber Salad, and Berry Spritzers.

The Indialantic Hotel is home to a group of archeologists for proof that Ponce de Leon landed in Melbourne Beach and not St. Augustine. There's bitterness and disagreements among the team and Liz would love to send them packing. When one of them is killed and Liz's reclusive friend Birdman is arrested, she leaps into action to prove his innocence. This is a terrific series especially with the TV asides from her great-aunt Amelia, a former bit part actor.

Liz is compelled to start investigating when her elderly and reclusive neighbor Birdman becomes a suspect in the murder of a visiting archeologist- with a spear, no less. A novelist, she's been living in Melbourne beach and helping out at her great aunt Amelia's Indiaatlantic Hotel. The victim was one of a group in town to look for artifacts of Ponce de Leon but cozy readers know there's more afoot! Luckily, Liz and her love interest Ryan are on the case. This series leads on its charm, on the references to TV series of the 60s and 70s, and on the setting. Liz is a good character with spunk and she's got this great parrot. The mystery is twisty enough and there's a nice light humor throughout. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun cozy read that should be fine as a standalone.

It was a delight to be back by the sea with the birds, Liz and the rest of the interesting characters. The guests at the hotel are a varied bunch, which create the questions and the mystery. Light reading with some fun references for us older folks.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of Buried by the Sea, #5 of a series I have not read. I'm sure it would have been helpful for character background to read the other books, but I found it fine as a stand alone. The cover is what drew me to this cozy murder mystery set on Florida's coast. It seemed "Auntie" was more the subject, with all the references to old TV shows, than the actual murder. Only readers of a certain age will recognize those shows. I expected more about the bird antics, sine they were featured on the cover. Easy to read, cozy murder mystery. A strong 3.8 stars, would suggest reading the series.

3 stars
This is part of a series that really need a to be read on order. I feel I would have enjoyed it more had I read the others in the series.

Easy, breezy cozy mystery! It’s a treasure hunter’s paradise near the grand old Indialantic By the Sea Hotel & Emporium owned by Amelia Eden Holt, a 1960’s actress. Protagonist Liz Holt is Amelia’s great niece and loves living by the sea where she writes popular novels and has met the love of her life, Ryan.

In book five, a group of archeologists are guests at the hotel and their dig site is next door on the land owned by Liz’s friend, Birdman, a huge nature lover. The group members are constantly arguing with each other. When one of the men is murdered, all hopes for smooth sailing are dashed.

Perky main characters you’ll remember; catchy dialogue; and humor highlight “Buried By the Sea”. I love the references to all the old TV shows/movies and older TV and movie stars. There are several pets that add to the cozy ambiance. As I read, I had three main suspects in my mind, and not a one of them was the killer! The author was sneaky and fooled me. There are a couple of mini-mysteries within the main murder mystery that are interesting. The ending is wonderful. Delicious recipes follow the story’s ending. I highly recommend this story to cozy mystery readers, and the previous stories, also.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Underground. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

"Buried by the Sea” is the 5th instalment in the (A by the Sea Mysteries Series) by Kathleen Bridge. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I do plan on reading the first 3 books in the series shortly. Even though it can be read as a standalone I do recommend reading in order. Even though this is only the second book I have read in the series I was able to follow along easily and having the character list in the beginning really helped. I really enjoyed it and I love aunt Amelia and her eccentric ways, plus Barnacle Bob has a love interest Carmen, too cute.

The protagonist and novelist Liz is really likeable and her reclusive neighbour Birdman is a wonderful side character. The barrier island of Melbourne Beach, Florida and the Indialantic seemed fun and an interesting place to visit or even live.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I did find the pace a little slower than previous book, and only reason I gave it 4.5 stars.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends, and fans of Kathleen Bridge’s A Hamptons Home & Garden Mystery series.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another satisfying book in this series. Great characters and a good whodunit.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Liz and Auntie are hosting a team of archaeologists at the family hotel as they dig for historical artifacts on their next door neighbor’s property. When the man financing the dig is murdered, Liz and the gang will do whatever they can to help save their neighbor who is being set up for murder.

As Liz, Betty and Ryan do their best to figure out who the killer is, they end up with another body in the hotel basement…and hope there won’t be more bodies before the case is solved.

This is a great series set on the east coast of Florida and really sets a tropical scene for you as you read. Having lived on the left coast, the right coast is a pure get away and during the pandemic, I’ll take a getaway any way I can.

This is an interesting murder mystery but the pace is a little slow. The main characters author Liz Holt and her PI boyfriend have another murder mystery to solve. The characters in this story make reading the book enjoyable. I liked the dialogue amongst the characters. Buried by the Seas is the fifth book in Kathleen Brides A By the Sea Mystery series. This is a fun series to read.

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Having not read any of the previous books in this series, I found this still very easy to read and not too difficult to catch up with. The mystery was entertaining and the characters were just zany enough. I was a tad concerned at the beginning of the book that it might be a bit too slow, but it really picked up as it went along!

I haven't read any of the other books by this author so I ha a somewhat different time understanding all the characters and the dynamics. Overall it was a good cozy mystery and now I have to go back and read the first books that started this series. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

Buried by the Sea was another intriguing cozy mystery in the By the Sea series by Kathleen Bridge. I've enjoyed each one in this series and this was no exception.

A smoothly paced plot with limited suspects, a shady real estate developer who finances archeological digs, archeologists with hidden agendas and enough twists and turns to keep me reading. Ms. Bridge's writing is so descriptive that I always feel like I've stepped into the Indiatlantic by the Sea Hotel each time I visit. Liz, Ryan, Betty and Aunt Amelia are all likable characters that I would love to meet in person. The plot was woven well with several threads that each twined around the characters as Liz and Ryan search for clues to exonerate one of Liz's neighbors. I hated to put the book down until I finished it.

family-dynamics, friendship, Florida, barrier-islands, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, private-investigators, murder, murder-investigation*****

It all happens at a beautiful restored family hotel on one of the barrier islands of Florida. Mystery novelist Liz whose love interest is a PI (and former FDNY arson investigator, her father is a lawyer whose fiancee who is a local police detective, her own rescued parrot (prone to voicing obscenities), and a great-aunt with a 1960s TV history. This time there are archaeologists (who are involved with rivalry and infidelity). Enter the corpse who might have had an accident. Or not.
The publisher's blurb is a pretty good hook, but there's lots more to recommend the plot with its twists and red herrings than meets the eye. I admit that I enjoyed another in the series, but there is enough clear referencing to make this one enjoyable all by itself! I loved it and couldn't stop until finished!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!