I don't dish out five stars too often, but this one was well deserved. I read a lot of cozy mysteries and this story felt original and youthful. It included a great cast and an exciting case to solve!!

Series: California Bookshop Mystery #1
Protagonist: Scarlett Gardner
Occupation: bookshop owner of Palm Trees and Page Turners
Setting: Oceanside, coastal Southern California town
Published: October 17, 2023

Read if you like:
- beach settings
- adorable indie bookstores
- a fierce and supportive bestie
- a mystery full of secrets!

The mystery was so well written in this story. Scarlett discovers a body under the pier close to her bookshop. The next day, she learns that the victim left her a substantial inheritance. This makes Scarlett a sudden suspect even though she has no clue who this stranger could possibly be. I was drawn into this storyline immediately. It included so many shocking revelations and twists making it truly hard to pinpoint the actual culprit. There were so many plausible suspects to work through too. I was surprised once everything started falling into place.

I really liked Scarlett. She actually sounded and acted like an amateur sleuth. Her bestie / roomate, Lucia, quickly became once of my favorite sidekicks. She is a lawyer, a loyal friend and she is always looking out for and supporting Scarlett. Hiroki was great too! It was refreshing to see a potential love interest not be a member of the local law enforcement. He was super sweet and I'd love to see their relationship progress past friendship.

I know this was published a few years ago. It was the author's debut and unfortunately I don't see any info regarding a sequel. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will be updated soon. I'd love to continue this series.

The cozy mystery is my favorite genre. I like engaging mysteries and fascinating characters. I will read more books by this author.

Murder by the Seashore is such a fun cozy mystery! I love Scarlett and am jealous of her bookstore by the beach (minus the dead body)! Scarlett’s friend/roomie, Lucia, is an awesome side character! This is the perfect cozy to read during the summer! I really hope this series will continue!

This is the first book in the series and I was ready for number two. Scarlett is so much fun and opening the Page Turners bookshop is most cozy girls dream. I loved this and can not wait to follow Scarlett and get to know her much.

#MurderbytheSeashore #NetGalley

This was a cute start to a new cozy series. Yew spent a lot of time building the world of Palm and Page, which will hopefully pay dividends in the future. That did mean the pacing was a little slower than average for a cozy. The mystery was interesting, with some layers to deepen everything.

Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew the 1st instalment in the "A California Bookshop Mystery" series. I enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for book 2! Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.

I found the story to be a promising start to a new series. I liked Scarlett and her friends, and it will be interesting to see how things develop in book 2.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess who the killer was but it didn’t distract from the story.

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Crooked Lane and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

This book is so cozy and warm and I love it so much!
I love the setting of the story and how it empowers woman friendship.

I wasn't a fan of Murder By The Seashore. It was slow moving and the plot wasn't very original. I did not like Evelyn and how she kept saying you can leave the store in my care every other page. It felt like she wanted Scarlett to go to jail. I'm not connecting with any of the characters. Overall wasn't impressed with this book not sure if I will read the next in the series.

I definitely enjoyed the setting of this book -what’s better than a bookshop by the beach?! I don’t think this one really hit the mark for me as nothing much really seems to stand out. I finished this in one day so it was entertaining enough but I’m writing this review a week later and I can’t even remember the MC’s name. 🥴

Wie soll sie nur ihren Buchladen am Laufen halten, nachdem ihr Freund und Geschäftspartner sie im Stich gelassen hat? Und dann steht sie auch noch unter Mordverdacht. Das sieht nicht gut aus. Sie weiß nicht, wem sie trauen kann. Hat Spaß gemacht zu lesen.

This was a nice start to a new series. The setting and storyline have potential. The characters could be a bit stronger and more mature. I would be interested in a second book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I hope this is the start of a series. I love the characters and how they work together for their community. A fun book store, a great roommate for our protagonist, and a pretty well written murder mystery. I love it from start to finish!

This debut of a new series set on a book shop right next to the beach shows some real potential. Scarlett originally opened the book shop with her ex who since walked out on her. After discovering a body on the beach, she becomes the prime suspect and is forced to clear her name. While the characters are interesting and the solution of the book interesting, the mechanics are a little creaky in places. Trying to throw suspicion on some characters felt a little forced, but all in all an enjoyable read. And I will be looking forward to book two.

This was a good beginning to a new cozy mystery series, with interesting characters and plot!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

Scarlett Gardner Has a dream of opening a bookstore at the beach and she thinks her dreams are coming true when she and her boyfriend open Palm Trees and Page Turners. The boyfriend quickly leaves her high and try but Scarlett is determined to keep her dream alive. Not so easy when she finds a dead body near her shop at the beach and she becomes the prime suspect because this stranger left a large sum of money to her in her will. Who is she and how did this happen?

Great start for a new series, interested to see what the future hols for Scarlett.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
This was a disappointing read for me. I found it to be over the top cheesy and unrealistic. The whole story even though it is normal length felt just rushed in a lot of spots. The dialogue and characters were way beyond Hallmark style cheesy. The characters all felt like middle school/high school kids instead of all grown adults. The way they talked and thought etc. This was just a miss for me.

"Murder by the Seashore" by Samara Yew is a gripping mystery that weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue against the backdrop of Southern California. Scarlett Gardner's dream of running a bookshop takes a dark turn when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of a customer, thrusting her into a nightmare where she becomes the prime suspect.

Yew skillfully sets the stage in Southern California, a place where dreams are supposed to come true. Scarlett's struggle to keep her bookshop afloat after her boyfriend and business partner abandons her for a better opportunity adds a layer of realism to the narrative. The discovery of a dead body beneath the pier near her bookstore catapults Scarlett into a web of mystery and danger she never anticipated.

The plot thickens when Scarlett learns she stands to inherit a small fortune from the deceased, Lorelai Knight. As the police investigate, Scarlett finds herself not only mourning the loss of a customer but also facing the possibility of being wrongly accused. The intricate details of the case, including Scarlett's motive due to the inheritance and the presence of a suspicious poison bottle near the bookshop, create a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The introduction of Lorelai Knight's lawyer adds another layer of complexity to the story, raising questions about hidden agendas and ulterior motives. Scarlett's journey to clear her name becomes a thrilling adventure, and the suspense is heightened by the growing evidence against her. The author expertly combines elements of mystery, inheritance drama, and a touch of romance as Scarlett races against time to stay one step ahead of the true killer.

"Murder by the Seashore" is a well-crafted mystery with a protagonist who must use her creativity to unravel the truth. Samara Yew's writing style is engaging, and the story unfolds at a brisk pace. The book successfully combines a picturesque Southern California setting with a compelling murder mystery, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. I give it four stars for its intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and the clever intertwining of various elements that keep readers guessing until the very end.

First and foremost, I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew. When I read the synopsis of this book, it sounded like it was right up my alley. I received a copy of this cozy mystery for free in exchange for my honest review.

The beginning of the story started off a bit slow, but it quickly picked up pace. I found myself falling in love with most of the characters . . . and the storyline, of course. The few characters I didn't care for were Connor, Detective Maxwell, Autumn, and Martin. However, Martin did redeem himself a bit later in the book. You'll have to read the book to find out how!

There were plenty of twists and red herrings. My first suspect was Evelyn Maxwell, who happened to be married to Police Detective Maxwell and work for Scarlett. She acted very strange in my opinion. Other people I suspected were Connor, Autumn, and Lucia. I was glad to see that the person I finally decided upon as the culprit was in fact the murderer. However, I never did figure out the connection between Lorelei and Scarlett.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery quite a bit because it's well written and held my attention. I can't wait to find out what happens next in this series. Four out of five stars is what I gave Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew.

This was a great start to a new series. I loved the setting of a bookshop and the beach. I read on the beach frequently and love it. This mystery was good with a few twists and tiurns and I really liked the characters. I look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

**3.75 Stars**

Thanks to NetGalley and to Crooked Lane Books for the eARC copy of this book. My opinions are my own. This book dropped on October 17, 2023.

“Murder by the Seashore” is the first in the “A California Bookshop Mystery” series.

Scarlett owns the Palm Trees & Page Turners bookshop in Oceanside, California. It’s right on the beach so readers can get their beach reads right when they need it. One day, she finds a dead body underneath a pier near her bookshop. Turns out, the victim was a customer and Scarlett was the last person to see them alive. So of course, she becomes the prime suspect and has to solve the mystery to clear her name.

Chock-full of mysterious inheritances, icky ex-boyfriends, rubbernecking tourists, and a possibly scheming assistant, Scarlett has a lot to contend with. Luckily she has Lucia, her lawyer roommate and friend, to get her out scrapes and help her sort through it all.

This has all the standard cozy mystery tropes. Cozy mysteries are going to cozy mystery. There’s some awkward writing here and there. Of course there’s an ex. Of course she owns an incredibly niche business. All the stuff that you love (or hate) abut cozy mysteries is here.

…But I actually really enjoyed the ride. It’s not a perfect book, but I had a lot of fun reading it. The why and how was interesting. It was perfect for the summer and I will probably read the second if we get a second.

Scarlett is white, but there is Latinx, Black, and Japanese rep in some of the side characters. And there is adoptee representation as well.

There was one thing I really didn’t like about this book, but it’s a spoiler, so…