Julia Snowden goes to see her sister Livvie where she works at Lupine Design, a pottery shop. When she gets there, there are police cars out front. The store has been vandalized. Could the fact that the owner, Zoey, wants to expand the tourist trade in town, and many residents oppose this be the reason? When the shop owner next door is found murdered in the pottery basement it seems more than tourist trade opposition is the reason.

The small coastal town of Busman's Harbor is going through a 'growing pain'. Some of the residents want a Pedestrian Mall to set up, the other does not. One of those that objects is Phinney Hardison, and he isn't shy about it. After the town meeting which got rather heated, Phinney is found murdered the next morning in the basement of the building he shares with Zoey Butterfield. Phinney and Zoey did NOT get along sharing the building or on the views of the Pedestrian Mall. Everything points to Zoey being the killer, but did she, do it? Plus, Zoey's pottery shop was vandalized, did Phinney do that and push Zoey over the edge? Something isn't adding up for Julia, something she never counted on. This book has wonderful characters and a smooth flowing storyline. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I enjoy this series for its atmospheric setting on coastal Maine. This book takes place in April which is a muddy season in Maine . This is the 10th in series and I have enjoyed the entire series. The charcters all add to the fun of each book and are familiar as old friends. Its a pleasant read and a fun series to return to . Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley. My review opinion is my own.

This takes place at a local pottery shop. Julia Snowden helps the business owner find out who vandalized her shop. Then the vandalizing suspect commits a murder and Julia is on the case. The sleuth was well rounded and had plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing. It was a fun mystery to conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this highly anticipated book.

It's spring in Busman's Harbor and the clambake hasn't started yet, so Julia has some spare time. When her sister Livvy calls her to the pottery shop where she works in the off-season, she sees the pottery has been smashed to smithereens all over the store, thousands of dollars in damage for the expensive Lupine designs. She meets the owner, Zoey, who is devastated by the loss. Together the three women sweep up the broken shards and clean up the fingerprint powder left after the police investigate. The only culprit they can think of is Phinney, who runs the second hand store next door. He and Zoey had never gotten along. The next morning, Livvy calls in a panic -- Phinney has been found murdered in the basement of the pottery store.

Julia begins her investigation, and learns a lot about some citizens she didn't know well. She also meets a handsome man who is visiting his elderly aunt, and they enjoy dinner at the pub, under the watchful eyes of Chris, Julia's ex. Then Flynn, the taciturn detective from the state police, suggests a pizza and beer dinner with Julia. And Jamie, the town cop that Julia considers just a friend, shows disappointment that she is not interested in him.

I enjoy this series very much and look forward to the next.

Winter is coming to an end and spring is rearing its ugly head in Busman's Harbor. Julia's sister Livvie scored a new winter gig working at Lupine Design making pottery with Zoey Butterfield, a likeable newcomer "from away." When Zoey's store is vandalized the finger is pointed at her curmudgeonly neighbor Phinney but when Phinney turns of dead in the basement is it an open and shut case against Zoey? Or is someone muddying the waters?

I love this series, especially not that Julia is single again. Her relationship with Chris never felt right to me and now that it's over Julia has a chance to reevaluate her life (again). There's a lot going on with Windsholme being renovated and Julia living with her mother again. There's a new man in town who is devilishly handsome and a devoted nephew to one of the town patrons, but he's got some competition...

This book was quite short and there wasn't a lot going on other than the investigation into the vandalism and murder that took place at Lupine Design, but there were plenty of suspects and lots of clues to hunt down. All this combined to make a quick, fast-paced, and very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Love these familiar characters in book 10. I love the setting of this cozy mystery. The author dies a great job of making you feel like you are right there with Julia in coastal Maine!

Muddle Through, the latest in the Barbara Ross Clambake series, is a book you don’t want to miss. Taking place during the rainy season in Maine, the title is quite appropriate. April is mud season. Once again, the characters are as compelling as the mystery. When reading these books, I always come away feeling as if I’ve learned something. (This time pottery was a theme.) I’m not sure what I like best about the Clambake series; it has everything I enjoy in a cozy mystery. The main character, Julia Snowden, is the woman everyone would want as a best friend. I feel as if I know Maine; the stories are setting-rich. Obviously the author does a great deal of research, but it’s the mysteries that keep me turning pages. While this book would be great as a stand-alone, I encourage you, once you finish reading Muddled Through, to start with the first in the series and get to know this fascinating clam-baking family.

Spring in Busman's Harbor, Maine can be a cruel weather season full of mud. Julia Snowden is preparing for a new season of the Snowden Family Clambake tourists and further construction of their ancestral home, Windsholme.

When Julia's sister Livvie's employer Zoey Butterfield has her store vandalized and all of their pottery destroyed, Julia is determined to find out 'who-done-it". A later murder in the store's basement has the police focusing on Zoey, much to Julia's protests.

There are multiple storylines running and Julia's romantic relationships play a major part of the backstory. Characters are all well developed and interesting. Episode 10 in this series focuses more on relationships than the actual clambake (which I really enjoy). I look forward to episode 11 and hopefully more construction on Windsholme.

I am enjoying this series. I did come to it late (just a few books ago) and had to go find the rest in the series. I like the character and do wonder who she will end up with if anyone, since she broke up with her boyfriend. The mystery kept me guessing. I've always like the idea of Maine but mud season is not something I could deal with.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Lupine Design gets torn up and smashed pottery is everywhere, Julia Snowden is worried about her sister Livvie who works for them. Because of the opposition against turning four blocks of Main street into a pedestrian mall during the summer weekends. When murder occurs it's time to see if the opposition has gone too far. Great read! Awesome characters! Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

A Maine Clambake Mystery was a slight diversion from the normal books I read. I really enjoyed this one. I would recommend this one.

Julia and her family are back with another mystery and murder. This one begins with Julia seeing police cars in front of the shop Livvie works in, Lupine Design, a successful pottery store. While Livvie is safe the shop is trashed.

Lupine’s owner, Zoey, is out digging mud for more projects when the police arrive to tell her the bad news. She is shocked. Who in the world would do this to her? And why? While she and many others in town are all for a pedestrian mall to bring in more tourists and revenue there is one troublemaker. And he is in the shop next to Lupine. In an odd turn, they both share a basement.

Surely the fuss over a pedestrian mall isn’t enough to destroy property, but when the neighbor turns up dead in the basement, Zoey has some explaining to do.

This one was a bit more twisty than usual. So many secrets people are keeping. For decades, old slights fester and the more she digs, the more she finds herself in the line of fire.

Always a good time with the Clambake series.

NetGalley/ Kensington June 28, 2022

I have been anxiously awaiting this next book in the Clambake series and Muddled Through did not disappoint! I love the characters and the community on the harbor. Julia's sister Livvie has a big part in this book. Even though this one did not spend as much time on Morrow Island, it was a very interesting mystery and introduced a very likable new character. Already can't wait for the next one as the season opens and hopefully will bring many trips to the island and the progress with the renovation of Windsholme! Please hurry!

Julia's life is in transition and while the book doesn't focus greatly on that, it comes up in a variety of ways. One, a potential new reoccurring (?) character positive, and a potential love triangle...possibly a square (???) which is not so welcome by me. The book doesn't spend an excessive amount of time on the romance angle though.

Julia seems to spend a lot more time actively investigating this time. I appreciated that though the ultimate motive, means and opportunity seemed a little farfetched.

I'm still enjoying the series 10 books in and it appears the author is trying to shake things up to keep things fresh.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of Muddled Through through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Muddled Through by Barbara Ross is the tenth in the Maine Clambake Mystery series and in this installation, Juli Snowden finds herself helping a local business owner track down the person who vandalized her shop. When the vandalizing turns to murder, Julia finds herself tied up in the search for the killer, something that isn’t new to her.

I really enjoyed Muddled Through and love the whole Maine Clambake series. The characters are interesting and relatable, the setting is quaint and fun and the mysteries keep you guessing and you try to uncover the killer. I would definitely recommend this series and am glad I got the chance to read this latest installment!

Never having read the Maine Clambake Mysteries, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was very happy to find that I truly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the others. Julia and family, as well as her friends and townspeople, were all wonderfully engaging characters, and the town of Busman's Harbor is a place I would love to visit. The plot focuses on the murder, not the lives of the people (a small part, but does not overshadow the main purpose of the book).
In this particular book, Julia is tasked with solving the mystery of the murder of a long time townsman, blamed on a relative newcomer, who happens to be Julia's sister's employer. It was pleasurable to see a sleuth who took her info to the detectives and was supportive of them, instead of working around or against them. The ending left me wanting to read more of this series.

Another great book in this series. Love the characters, at this point they almost seem like old friends. Great plot, story flows easily from scene to scene. Absolutely enjoyable book/series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This one had my full attention from the very first page. The characters were likeable, rather like people we might know or want to know, and the setting in a small, waterfront town was nicely described for us. Since I live in Alaska where many of our small but scenic towns, think Inland Passage, have dealt with the same issues of whether to cling to the past or move forward and try to cultivate more and more changes to bring in more cruise ships, tourists, and higher end businesses, I could definitely relate to the conflict Julia Snowden and the residents of Busman's Harbor, Maine, felt. Change can be scary.

Murder is scary, too. As the book opens, Julia is rushing to her sister's side after the pottery shop where Livvie works is badly vandalized. No one is injured but shop owner Zoey is devastated. This round of destruction is soon overshadowed by the discovery of the neighboring business owner, with whom Zoey has a difficult relationship, who is found dead in their shared basement space. There's no sign of forced entry either time and Zoey becomes the prime suspect. Is it significant that Zoey was far away, digging clay, when the vandalism occurred? Livvie doesn't believe for a moment that Zoey would kill anyone and asks her sister Julia to look into it.

Fast paced and boosting several side stories, including Julia's romantic life, or maybe lack of. Why do so many so loudly oppose the idea of a pedestrian mall during summer season? Zoey's soon dead neighbor was one of them while Zoey pushed for it. Where does Alice Rumsford, a well-respected resident, stand on the issue? Could she or her nephew Ben be involved? Why doesn't she tell Julia who took the incredible photos displayed at her home? Why didn't the man walking his dog see anything when he passed the store the morning of the vandalism? Why is Julia's ex seen talking to Ben after Julia has lunch with Ben one day? How about the man so determined to develop Busman's Harbor? Why is he buying up properties? Could he have wanted Phinney's business site enough to kill for it? What connection is there between those involved? Does the past impact the present?

All these questions and so many others will be answered as you read. It's a quick read and will keep you guessing. I liked Julia and those about her. Also, living in Alaska, I could relate to author Ross' analogy early on of Maine being like Lucy taunting Charlie Brown to kick the football as a comparison to how spring comes in and taunts us early on, only for the weather to fool us and turn miserable the next day. Alaska does the same thing. This is the 10th book in this series but worked well as a standalone.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KinsingtonBooks for the invite to visit Julia in Busman's Harbor. I'll be back. Her Snowden Family Clambake sounds like a lovely excuse to visit.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I enjoyed the tenth book in the established Barbara Ross cozy mystery series. Just like the previous nine, charming characters who you want to befriend. The story is entertaining and enjoyable.

Muddled Through (A Claim Bake Mystery #10) by Barbara Ross is another wonderful installment in the Claim Bake Series! I feel like we get to visit with old and new friends alike in Busman’s Harbor, Main when I open the pages of these books. I love seeing what Julia Snowden and her family and friends are up too. While I believe you can read as a stand-alone and be ok, but you would miss out on so much more good reading if you did!