I will start by saying that I did not read book 1 in this series, and it may have helped. Cozy mystery, lots of characters, lots of reference to the first book. Not a stand alone in my opinion. I was not really drawn into Summer & her drama, nor her family & friends. The fact that she owns a bookstore (that she is hardly in & lets everyone else run), and that it was Christmas, which felt like an afterthought, didn't help matters. Thanks to NetGalley for the preview in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series. The story builds upon Summer Merriweather discovering who her paternal family is after the death of her mother. Summer continues to run the local bookstore begun by her mother with the help of family and friends. When the bookstore sponsors a reading and discussion with cozy mystery writers, one writer goes missing. Who would have thought it would be the writer, whose book is based on the murder on the island that was never solved. Summer finds herself pulled into the search for the missing author. Soon, Summer's livelihood is threatened and her heritage may be the basis for the abduction and the long ago murder.

This is an easy read that can be enjoyed without the first book in the series. Characters are drawn well and the action builds in the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing a reading of this book.

The setting for Once Upon a Seaside Murder happens on Brigid’s Island in North Carolina. Summer Merriwether is the owner of the local bookstore and this time of the year she is hosting a cozy mystery panel discussion.

One of the authors has used some of the clues from an unsolved murder to write her book. The problem is that someone is not happy with her novel and will do anything to make sure it does not come to light about what actually happened all those years ago.

The more she learns about the history of the unsolved case the more clues surface which are intriguing and confusing to Summer. For one, her mother has saved clippings from the murder. Why, why would she do that? Then, Summer learns about her biological father and his possible involvement in that case.

All of this has made someone very nervous and Summer better figure out everything before it’s too late for her and the author of the cozy novel.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and Beach Reads is jam packed with customers looking for the perfect gift. New owner Summer Merriweather is amazed at how busy it is and it makes her realise just how much of herself her late mom had poured into the small store.

With a cozy crime author's panel convening in the store just a few days before Christmas one of the writers is already causing controversy. Mimi Sinclair has written a mystery based around an unsolved killing on Brigid's Island over three decades earlier and Summer is amazed to find she's sharing her home with a woman who carries a gun!

Hildy hadn't been a crime buff but to Summer's surprise had kept clippings and articles about the murder for thirty-five years which now belong to her. With her newly discovered family seemingly involved in the historical investigation Summer knows she has to find out what happened then which has resulted in her own safety being in jeopardy now.

In the second of the Beach Reads mystery series almost six months has passed and Summer is still grieving the death of her mother while on sabbatical from her university job. She is living in her childhood home, running her Mom's bookstore and she trying to work out what to do next with her life. The book concentrates more on things just given a mention in book one as well as Summer's introduction to her dad's side of the family all of which I really enjoyed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I am loving this new series and look forward to reading more about Summer and her family really soon.

This holiday season is going to be like no other for Brigid's Island. Bookstore owner Summer Merriweather is hosting a cozy mystery author's panel at her store when one of the author's lives is threatened. What's more, this author based her book on a local unsolved murder that happened 35 years ago. Summer herself has a personal tie to the case, with strange connections between the murder victim and her biological family.

Summer's personal connection to the case was a highlight of the book for me. It heightened the stakes of the mystery and added an extra layer of emotionality and reflectiveness to the book itself. The mystery itself was realistic and many of the featured characters came across as being quite genuine. None of them are perfect, including Summer herself.

Be forewarned, this book can be a bit of a downer at times. There is a good amount of discussion about grief and about Summer's relationship with long-lost family members, so if those are topics you may be sensitive to, you may want to give this book a pass. There is also one scene in the book that I found to be heartbreaking, a word I don't usually associate with cozy mysteries. This book stands out from other cozies I've read in that it takes a more melancholic tone at times so it isn't going to be for everyone, but for me, I liked that it was different than the cozies I usually read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review – “Once Upon A Seaside Murder” by Maggie Blackburn
1 Star

The book “Once Upon A Seaside Murder” by Maggie Blackburn is the second in the author’s “Beach Reads Mystery” Series. Let me preface this review by saying I had not read the first book.

This book features Summer, still reeling from the death of her mother and an inheritance of a Bookstore she may or not want, her startling discovery of wealthy Egyptian relations she did not know she had, and the reacquaintance of a beau she left at the altar, not too mention less than cordial relations with his father…who just happens to be Chief of Police: oh, and did I mention the Cozy writers forum, a kidnapping and a cold case murder mystery, arachnophobia, a castle and a talking bird named Darcy.

Phew…obviously, the author does not lack creativity; more than anything, this book needed Editing! There was so much noise throughout, I really could not get to know the players. Characters are everything in a cozy. Perhaps the author flushed out the characters in the first book in this series and readers were expected to know all their backstories. As someone reading this book as a standalone, I cannot say that there was anyone in the book I really cared for; well, other than Darcy (the bird).

The prose of the book was engaging, and it is clear this is a talented author. Unfortunately, prose did not carry the day. As a standalone, I award this book a single star.

This book was very interesting. The more I read of the story, the more I wanted to read of it. It centers on Summer Merriwether's attempts to solve an old murder that happened in her hometown over twenty years ago and how it ties into her biological father's family. The story had lots of suspense and action. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Once Upon a Seaside Murder by Maggie Blackburn in exchange for an honest review. Summer Merriweather owns a bookstore called Book Reads on Brigid's Island, NC. Summer and her employees host a gathering of three authors who will sign their books and have a panel discussion. One of the authors disappear and the police get called in. What a wonderful, multilayered story. It was a joy to read.

I guess I am participating in Christmas in July! This book is the perfect one, as it’s setting is a bookstore on the beach so it bridges summer & the holidays perfect. I love when our heroine is solving an old mystery too & this one is even more captivating as Summer’s deceased mother had a box containing info on that murder that happened years ago. Plus you get to learn a little more about Summer’s newly discovered paternal side. Summer is a unique heroine as she isn’t a too perfect & I like that she has some issues & is fallible. Makes her feel more genuine.The mysteries in this series are really top tier for me, they have interesting elements to them & are connected to the past which is a a bonus. I can’t wait for book three!

Once Upon a Seaside Murder is the second in the series. I loved this book! The storyline in this book is quite intriguing! There's lots of action and suspense. A quick fun read with loveable characters. I love bookstore mysteries! I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can buy it!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of ONCE UPON A SEASIDE MURDER (Book 2 of the Beach Reads Mysteries), by Maggie Blackburn, in exchange for an honest review. Summer Merriwether and the crew at the Beach Reads bookshop have scheduled an event to provide some additional revenue during the tourist off-season. The Cozy Christmas event features three cozy mystery authors who will be present and promoting their books. The event is successful. However, one of the authors has recently written a book fictionalizing a local unsolved murder. At the same time, Summer finds a box of news clippings about the same murder left by her mother. When Summer and the bookstore crew finds out this author has been receiving threats, they decide to solve the old murder to protect the cozy writer. This is a difficult endeavor for Summer because looking into the cold case could put a chill on her budding relationship with her newly-discovered family.

I liked this book and the first in the series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, kidnapping, family, secrets, book signings, and estrangement.

#OnceUponaSeasideMurder #NetGalley

Once Upon a Seaside Murder by Maggie Blackburn was suspenseful and mysterious. When Summer Merriwether's Mom dies Summer returns to Briget's Island, NC. She grew up here and has friends from school and living there. Secrets about Summer's mom begin to unfold. Summer finds out who her father is and that she has a brother and sister that she never knew about. Summer's mom has left her home and book store to Summer. There are also 2 similar murders only years apart. As the police and Summer try to figure out who the killers were and if there is a connection I liked the mystery and suspense in this book. I would recommend this book.

cold-case, amateur-sleuth, professor, family-dynamics, friendship, small-business, small-town, grief, grieving, bookseller, cozy-mystery, secrets, island-life****

I really loved the first in series, but this one seemed more of a downer because of Summer drowning in grief for he recently murdered mother and some very disturbing facets of her newly discovered paternal family (that she never knew existed until recently. The sleuthing is rather good as are the interpersonal interactions among the myriad of characters. Still and all, it is a good read.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was ok, but just not my cup of tea. The book was too long, and there were too many details. By details, I mean her feelings. If this had been shorter and was a little lighter (less sad), I think I would have enjoyed it more. I understand she’s dealing with a lot, but it was a bit of a downer for a cozy; really had to push myself to continue.

My first time reading this author and I was impressed. I quickly fell in love with Summer and the quirky family her mother had collected. Christmas is right around the corner but Summer must first solve a 30-year-old murder while also deciding if she is staying to run her mothers bookstore or returning to teaching. Cannot wait for the next book!

I enjoyed this much more than the first book in the series.
The protagonist was not as annoying as I found her before.
Solid mystery and interesting characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This started out so well, but somehow the further the story progressed the more implausible I found the plot. I'm unsure just how many times you can be broken into or bumped on the head and everyone just keeps on going. Hmmm.

I'm sure there are those who will enjoy this cozy, murder mystery

With my thanks to #Netgalley, Crooked Lane Publishers and the author for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 2nd book in this cozy mystery derived. It is the perfect beach read with great characters and a twisty plot.

Summer and the gang at Beach Reads is back! This is a good one Summer learns more than she wanted to know from her dads family. A cozy mystery author event starts off going well however ends with an author being kidnapped. It’s full of twist and turns!
#OnceUponaSeasideMurder #NetGalley

Once Upon a Seaside Murder is the second in the series. I loved this book! The storyline in this book is quite intriguing! There's lots of action and suspense. A quick fun read with loveable characters. I love bookstore mysteries! I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can buy it!