Summer is returning to Busman's Harbor, Maine, and along with it family, friends (both new and old), and murder of course! When her sister Livvie's new boss, Zoey, is the victim of vandalizing, and then finds a dead body in her basement, Julia Snowden must delve through secrets of the past, all while trying to come to terms with the end of her own relationship. Another fab Maine Clambake Mystery from author Barbara Ross, Muddled Through kept me guessing right up until the end! A+

Julia Snowden is living with her parents and working in the family business. It's easy for her to feel dissatisfied with her life. When her sister finds herself involved in a murder, she pushes Julia to get involved in it, if only to distract her from that dissatisfaction.

Julia ends up meeting and getting involved with a bunch of interesting people who open her eyes to some truths about herself. Incidentally, she solves the murder.

There's a lot of local color, interesting colors, and even recipes. A fine cozy mystery.

I’m glad that the author moved the focus of the series back to Busman’s Harbor. In the previous book Julia was running around to other towns investigating and that didn’t work for me.

The mystery kept me guessing and I enjoyed revisiting familiar characters.

Well, this was an interesting story with some twists and turns. The way some folk’s minds work is often a mystery to others. Course that does keep you reading to see what is going to happen next. The storyline and the characters are great. I really liked the way Julia and Zoey grew in their relationship. I would really like to attend the Snowden Family Clambake! A trip to Lupine Designs would be a must also. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Another wonderful entry is a great series set on the coast of Maine that focuses on the families seasonal clambake business. A realistic portrayal of how many Mainers in tourist towns cobble together multiple jobs to keep the heat on and food on the table. This entry focuses on a woman entrepreneur and the difficult relationship with her neighboring shop owner.

I have been a long-time fan of this series. This installment is the tenth book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries.
I found this book to be a quick read once I buckled down and made time for it. The town politics were interesting. Some business owners were pro business mall and others were not. Could this lead to murder?

I liked the twists, turns, and uncertainty in the story. It made for a page turning quick read.
I wasn’t surprised who the killer was but I found the reason(s) intriguing.

I enjoyed this escape from national news and it helps keep me sane.

I am looking forward to the next installment in the series. I was given an advanced copy of the story and can’t thank Netgalley enough. These are my own opinions and I am not required to leave a positive review.

Fun cozy mystery. I have not read others in the series, but this is one of the things I love about cozies, you can just pick up any in the series and get enough background to not feel like you've really missed anything.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for the advance copy of Muddled Through by Barbara Ross.
The Maine Clambake Mystery series is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. Book 10 in the series, Muddled Through did not disappoint.

Mud season takes on a whole new meaning in the coastal town of Busman's Harbor, Maine, when local business owners sling dirt at one another in a heated feud over a proposed pedestrian mall. Vandalism is one thing, but murder means Julia Snowden of the Snowden Family Clambake steps in to clean up the case...

When Julia spots police cars in front of Lupine Design, she races over. Her sister Livvie works there as a potter. Livvie is unharmed but surrounded by smashed up pottery. The police find the owner Zoey Butterfield digging clay by a nearby bay, but she has no idea who would target her store. Zoey is a vocal advocate for turning four blocks of Main Street into a pedestrian mall on summer weekends. Other shop owners, including her next-door neighbor, are vehemently opposed. Could a small-town fight provoke such destruction? When a murder follows the break-in, it’s up to Julia to dig through the secrets and lies to uncover the truth...

While this book takes place before the clambake season is over, Julia Snowden is still a great character. This book took place almost a year after the previous book and Julia’s life is in an upheaval. A lot of things have changed, and Julia was struggling personally. But as always Julia comes through for her friends and Busman’s Harbor.
I loved seeing a new resident of Busman’s Harbor and learning about a new business. While these books are mysteries, I always feel like I learn something new whether it is about clamming or pottery like in this book. I was extremely happy to see that Julia had stuck to her guns and was still not with Chris. I never liked him, so I was glad he was gone. I will be interested in seeing what develops if anything with the new love interests introduced in this story. I won’t say more so that I don’t spoil it for you.

When I read these books, I am always transported to Busman’s Harbor and can picture everything about the town. Ross uses such great descriptions that make you want to visit the town. On my bucket list, is to go to an actual Maine Clambake thanks to these books.

The mystery of this book was good. There were multiple suspects. Although I figured out the person, I had no idea of the reasoning and I loved that it kept me guessing.

Overall, I loved Muddled Through and will be waiting for book eleven in the series. Have you read Muddled Through? If you think you might enjoy it, I recommend reading book one in the series first. Although this book is a stand-alone mystery, there are a lot of things that you will miss out from by starting at book 10. Get your copy of Muddled Though for its June 28th publication.

I am really enjoying this series. Ms Ross does an excellent job of describing the setting of the books, so much that I really want to visit the Maine coast. I’d love to attend on the clam bakes. Even in mud season the area sounds beautiful. The characters are easy to like and you can’t help but want the main character, Jamie, to solve the mysteries she takes on. The ending of this book was such a shock to me. I didn’t ever think that person was the murderer but it made sense after the revealing. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's Mud Season in Maine and when a local business owner is found dead. Julia has to look for the killer or Zoey a local potter and store owner will be convicted for sure.
I like these books because of the local town and the various people that live there. This is a character driven mystery and it certainly has a variety of characters. Though it's a cozy, it's not especially humorous, but there is a touch of Romance. Julia and her boyfriend break up in a previous book and now she's dealing with all the feelings of seeing him again. There's also a possibility she has someone to take his place waiting in the wings.
The mystery is excellent and the descriptions of the town and life are well done. Overall a great book to get lost in. #netgalley #MuddledThrough

This is the tenth book in the series, and I definitely recommend reading them in order.
The author does give information about the characters and setting, but the relationships between the characters would be lost on a newcomer.
That being said, I feel as lost as the mc Julia is in this book. The author gives us a story that takes place at the end of Spring, so just before her family's busy Summer clambake season. Julia has very little interaction with her family and friends in this story, except for her sister, Livvie.
Of the new characters introduced in this book, the older philanthropist has a great storyline. The others fall flat, in my opinion.

The mystery is well written, and it definitely kept me guessing until the end.

I also am hopeful for the next book, as the author is definitely paving the way for a new love interest for Julia, who continues to be enjoyable to read.

I received this ARC thanks to NetGalley. This book was a great addition to the series as Julia works to figure out who broke into her friends store and who killed the old man next door. As always I love the characters in this story, as well as, the great mystery that takes place. I am excited to see what is next for Julia.

I discovered the Maine Clambake Mysteries while in Maine for vacation a couple of years ago and have been reading them steadily since. This tenth installment takes place in Mud Season, that season between winter and summer when the snowmelt is gone, and the most plentiful things in Maine are mud and blackflies. Busman's Harbor is gearing up for the tourist season, not least Julia Snowden, who manages the Snowden Family Clambake. Julia feels at loose ends after ending a long-term relationship and is back in her family home. Even the apartment she lived in is unavailable for a few months.

A divided Busman's Harbor is on the verge of deciding whether to install a proposed pedestrian mall during the summer months. Some are bitterly opposed, including "antique" dealer Phinney Hardison, but others, including some wealthy pillars of the community, think it might be a good idea for the town. Zoey Butterfield is at the center of the controversy. In the off-season, she owns a thriving pottery business and employs Livvie, Julia's sister. The pedestrian mall was her idea. Phinney and Zoey share a retail space, so tensions are exceptionally high. When Julia sees police cars in the early morning, she races over to find Zoey's side of the building has been vandalized. Thousands of dollars worth of pottery were destroyed, ready for the season and shipping worldwide. Phinney, of course, denies any responsibility. However, when Phinney is discovered dead in the building's shared basement, Zoey is squarely in the sight of the police.

Julia needs to find out who is responsible for both crimes before the town tears apart. What follows is an intricately plotted chase with all the familiar characters and a very welcome new one in the person of Zoey. Muddled Through is a most enjoyable addition to the series. Thanks to NetGalley.com and Kensington for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

BOOK REVIEW FOR MUDDLED THROUGH BY BARBARA ROSS

I had been excitedly anticipating this book since August of last year (2021) when SCARED OFF,
the last novella about the Maine Clambake Mysteries by author Barbara Ross was published in the anthology HALLOWEEN PARTY MURDER. The wait and anticipation were well worth it, as I expected.
MUDDLED THROUGH’s protagonist Julia Snowden continues to thrill with a new cozy mystery happening in the small town of Busman’s Harbor (I really would like to move there and get to know all its citizens like Gus and the Snuggles sisters who own the Snuggles Inn, plus Julia’s family and supporting cast, who by now feel like old friends.
I read only cozies, and I must say that Barbara Ross’ writing is smooth and intriguing, and never tries to trick the reader with “red herrings”. While reading book #10 I felt at home again, following the ingenious and intricate plot and getting to know the new characters associated with the new tragedy in town. Barbara is brilliant at making her characters come alive, and she gets us involved in the plot right from the start. The other characteristic of Barbara’s outstanding writing skills is the fact that in every book she weaves a learning element for the reader…this time we learn all about Maine’s clay and pottery. Congratulations on doing so much research to teach us about so many aspects of life in Maine, and educating us as we try to sleuth along with Julia.
Julia and I did not guess whodunnit until it was revealed, and it was a surprise, especially since I had placed blame on just about everyone…and I was wrong. Barbara does that every time, and it is wonderful how she does it!
I could not put the book down, and was ever so sorry when it ended, because now I have to wait an immensely long time before the next gourmet treat comes out of Barbara’s oven…
There is another gripping story happening in these books, which is Juila’s love life. I reserve my comments about that, because all of us readers of this series want to know how that is developing. I won’t address what happens in this book to avoid spoilers, but Barbara already knows how my book club and I feel about that. All I can say is that you will be trying to figure that out until the very last page, so have fun with that!
I received an advance electronic copy of this book, and I feel so blessed to be able to share my comments about this awesome book. Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your writing talents with us happy readers!

A Maine Clambake Mystery series just keeps getting better and better. I was thrilled with the growth of Barbara Ross' characters. This storyline was gripping from start to finish, and had me guessing until the very end. I suspected a connection to the past, but couldn't identify it, so the reveal was a surprise. I also loved the potential of Julia's love life. There are options, and I am anxiously awaiting more. Please go get the entire series if you want to grow up with the inhabitants of a lovely Maine town.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

MUDDLED THROUGH by Barbara Ross is the tenth book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries. A long-time fan of this delightful series, I eagerly await with anticipation to find out what feature of Maine the author will reveal for the new release. In this newest addition, it’s mud season and I enjoyed the skillful way the theme was woven into the storyline. Of course, the setting of Maine isn’t the only thing that brings me back again and again to the series. With strong characters, unique settings, and tightly plotted mysteries, Ms. Ross continues to be a fan favorite. If you’re new to the series, you can read this as a standalone, but trust me, you’ll greatly enjoy starting at the beginning and following the journey of protagonist Julia Snowden, along with her family and friends. Julia is a strong young woman, but with the last book, life has thrown some challenges at her with the demise of her relationship to Chris, and losing both her apartment and her winter job running a supper restaurant. She’s still trying to figure things out but, in the meantime, murder strikes Busman’s Harbor again, this time affecting her sister, Livvie’s boss and friend, Zoey.

The action starts right from the very first page and continues with plenty of intriguing suspects. I appreciate the loyalty Julia shows to both Livvie and Zoey, despite circumstances and clues pointing at Zoey’s guilt over the death of her cantankerous shop neighbor. Thrown into the mix is a controversial pedestrian mall that is dividing the town. As Julia hunts for clues and talks to townspeople, it becomes apparent there are several people hiding secrets, including the prime suspect, Zoey. With a fast-paced plot, I quickly turned the pages to find out what happened next and with an edge-of-your-seat reveal I didn’t see coming, the threads of the story wrapped up into a memorable read.

As with previous books, there are recipes included that showcase the flavors of Maine and/or have a family connection to the author.

Those that are big Barbara Ross fans will enjoy this installment of her cozy mystery series. She always delivers and is a very fun read. She definitely kept me guessing to the end on who the killer might be. Highly recommend it to those that love the cozy mystery genre

Barbara Ross spins a twisty mystery in this 10th installment of her Maine Clambake series.
When police cars park outside Lupine Design, Julia rushes to make sure her sister Lizzie, who works there as a potter, is okay. The local pottery shop’s wares are destroyed in a stunning display of vandalism. Store owner Zoey Butterfield can’t think of anyone who might target her shop and merchandise.

Later, Zoey gets into a disagreement with her next-door neighbor, Phinney Hardison, over an upcoming zoning decision at the local town meeting to discuss the issue. When Phinney is found dead, Zoey becomes a suspect, and Julia decides to investigate.

Muddled Through is a strong entry in this series, and Ms. Ross writes a well-conceived and intriguing story that she tells at a suspense-driven pace. Hopefully, number 11 is on its way.

Muddled Through is the tenth installment in the A Maine Clambake Mystery series set in Bar Harbor, Maine and featuring Julia Snowden, manager of her family's clambake business located on Morrow Island. It's early Spring (otherwise known as Mud Season to us New Englanders) and things are quiet around town. Julia is trying to find her way after the recent breakup with Chris, losing her Winter restaurant job at Gus's and having to move back into her mother's house. Julia's sister Livvie is working part time at Lupine Design, the local pottery shop owned by Zoey Butterfield until things get busy on the island.

On an early morning walk, Julia stumbles upon the police swarming around Lupine Design and fearing something has happened to Livvie, she races to the scene. Someone has vandalized the entire shop, smashing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise. The police immediately suspect the building's other tenant, Phinney Hardison, the elderly antique owner who has a definite grudge against Zoey and her proposed plans to incorporate a Pedestrian Walk into Main Street. But, since the Pedestrian Walk is creating a lot of rift between neighbors it could be anyone trying to scare the newcomer Zoey away from town. When a few days later Phinney is found dead in their shared basement fingers now start pointing to Zoey. LIvvie begs Julia to help Zoey and before she knows it Julia finds herself once again involved in a murder mystery - this one with secrets that some would like to remain in the past.

A fast paced plot, an excellent setting and locale, a great cast of core characters and a hint at a new relationship make for a great addition to the series. This series continues to entertain and I look forward to many more adventures with Julia, her family and friends. I almost always suggest new readers start a series from the beginning but this latest story can definitely read as a stand alone.

I received an advanced copy of Muddled Through from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is the 10th book in the Clambake series. I’ve enjoyed them all however this story might just be my favourite. The characters are well defined and interesting. Zoey is a great addition to the Busman Harbor community. This book is well written with lots of twists to keep it interesting. I’m already looking forward to the next one in the series!