Come Shell or High Water is the first in a new series by Molly MacRae. This crazy mystery takes place on Okracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina (and a place that I have always wanted to visit!). The main character, Maureen, comes to the island shortly after the death of her husband for vacation and to study the island shells. She discovers a dead body, a ghost, very quirky residents, and a possible family connection to the area.

This was a fun story with a lot of humor. The pirate ghost is my favorite character; I thought it was a little improbable that he is attached to a shell, but then, he is a ghost so why not?

I’m not completely convinced that the identity of the murderer made a lot of sense but there were plenty of clues and red herrings to follow.

The setting, and the customs that have developed as part of the island's culture were interesting. Both were enhanced by the crazy brother and sister pair that team up with Maureen to help her find the murderer. Since the main character is in her fifties, she has two grown sons. It seems like they will be a part of the series and provide a nice, down-to-earth point of view while still being supportive to their mother.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for providing the digital early reader copy.

3.5 stars

A delightful start to a new series from a favorite author. Maureen stumbles upon a body while searching for shells on the island of Ocracoke. This story grabs the reader and off you go on a most intriguing adventure. Great story plot. Awesome characters. Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Come Shell or High Water is set off the coast of North Carolina. Hitching a boat ride with a friend, Maureen lands on the island just after a hurricane has blown through. She studied mussels and loves all shells. She heads to the beach to see what the storm washed up and finds a body instead. The local deputy seems unduly suspicious of her so she and her new neighbors do their own investigating.
This is a fun cozy mystery in a unique setting. There are shell puns, humor, a ghost, and a tricky mystery. I’m looking forward to the next book in this new series.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Molly MacRae's newest cozy mystery series gets off to one "shell" of a start with COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER.

Folklorist and shell researcher Maureen Nash is a charming protagonist to helm this series, and it starts off in just about the most unique way possible. Upon arriving in the delightful island community of Ocracoke, NC, Maureen becomes an unreliable narrator in the most fascinating of ways. I must say, this had to be one of the most engaging experiences I've had starting a new series. Without giving away any spoilers, the way MacRae writes the opening scenes will have the reader and Maureen falling down the rabbit hole together in the best way possible.

COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER is a fabulous start to a new cozy mystery series full of fun characters, idyllic scenery, and a quirky ghost—I highly recommend picking this one up!

"Come Shell or High Water" is a delightful read, blending the charm of a cozy paranormal mystery with the serene backdrop of Ocracoke Island. Maureen's journey, amidst her personal struggles and the intriguing discovery of a dead body, is a captivating exploration of  a suspect in a murder mystery and self-discovery.

The incorporation of area folklore and information about the shells found on the island adds depth to the story, creating a rich tapestry of setting and context. After a slow start, the narrative gains momentum, drawing readers into a web of ghosts, quirky characters, and an engaging mystery. I enjoyed following the clues even though I zeroed in on the wrong culprit. 

As a senior reader, Maureen's character, a mature fifty-something female protagonist, offers a refreshing perspective, allowing me to connect with her experiences and emotions easily. The dynamic duo of Burt and Glady (brother and sister neighbors) adds humor and camaraderie, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, "Come Shell or High Water" is a delightful blend of mystery, humor, ghostly pirates and coastal charm, making it a perfect escape for readers seeking a cozy and engaging read.I look forward to the next book in this new series.

Lol I grinned and laughed out loud throughout this novel.
Like the protagonist I absolutely adore shells. Any kind! I have a whole container of shells but my dream shell is a big conch shell.
My favorite thing was the writing style. Told in first person. I can so connect to the person telling the story sooo much better. To me, it's more personal.
Gladys and Burt are hoots for sure and certain.
I loved the tales about Blackbeard..
This author has done a great job in keeping me guessing throughout most of the book. It was what kept me turning the pages. I had to see what happened next! I sure wasn't disappointed at all.
I absolutely adored this book. It was great to visit the Outerbanks again.
I didn't want to leave my new friends either.
5 stars for a wonderful adventure! I highly recommend this novel.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae is the first book in the brand new Haunted Shell Shop Mystery series.

I LOVED the characters in this book, and I can't wait for the next one to come out. The main character, Maureen, is a bit more serious than her somewhat silly new neighbors, Gladys and Burt. Not only were they a great mix of personalities, but the author also decided a sensitive, somewhat brooding ghost that only Maureen could see to round out the group.

The plot was well thought out with some interesting twists. I think this is a five star book!

Widow, Maureen Nash, a former biologist who studied freshwater mussels, is on vacation on Ocracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. She’s come to see The Moonshell, a shop belonging to Allen Withrow. The island is a mess from Hurricane Electra, and Maureen stumbles over a corpse near the beach whose identity will just about ruin her plans.. She also swears she sees a ghost and meets a very quirky and eccentric brother and sister—Burt and Glady—who help solve the crime.

I enjoyed this whimsical, yet far-fetched, light, para-ghost cozy mystery. There’s not very much haunting going on, but plenty of humor! The ocean setting is nice, and the seashells unique, and the island’s quirky residents are interesting. The premise of a ghost living in a shell is reminiscent of a genie in a bottle tale, with ghost Emrys Lloyd, being mostly a shy lurker. Burt and Glady interact like actors in an old slapstick comedy sitcom! Of course, there’s the requisite bad guy and dimwitted law officer. “Come Shell or High Water” is an entertaining read. The author adds recipes at the end. Enjoy!

I honestly reviewed an unedited, digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. all opinions are my own.

this was a strong start to the Highland Bookshop Mysteries series, it had everything that I was looking for from the mystery element. I was hooked from the first page and thought the concept was perfectly done. It left me wanting to read more in this world as I enjoyed figuring out what was going on. I enjoyed the supernatural element worked and can't wait for more.

"Come Shell or High Water" by Molly MacRae is a great first book to the new "A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery" series. Maureen Nash is visiting vacation island spot she used to go to with her family before her husband passed away. While there she winds up getting involved in solving a murder and possibly a bit of a treasure hunt. She's also seeing things, specifically a pirate ghost. Luckily he's a polite and helpful ghost.

I have to say that I didn't quite see that person as the culprit in the end. After my main culprit got taken out I was a bit at a loss for who to suspect. I had suspicions but not strong ones and for sure not the person who it ended up being. I look forward to more from this series.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. This if the first of a new series by Molly MacRae and I loved it. It is also the first of her books I’ve read and I’m going to search up her other series. Maureen Nash is still grieving the loss of her husband and so she decided she needed to get away and go to Ocracoke Island, a place she had visited before with her family. Here she can work on finding shells and her storytelling but what she finds instead is a shell, a murdered body. two new unique friends and a ghost.

Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae is a fun cozy mystery that is the first in a new series: A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery.

This is a first for this author for me, and I really enjoyed this new start of this new series. It has what I come to expect: an entertaining murder/mystery, paranormal threads, a few quirky characters, and a relatable and likable main character.

Definitely interested in book two and learning more about Maureen.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/25/24.
for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

Set in the outer banks of North Carolina in the days after a hurricane, a recently-widowed middle-aged woman who is a shell expert arrives only to trip over a dead body in the dark. That's the crime; the rest of the story is trying to solve it.

This is an easy cozy read complete with a friendly ghost, nosy octogenarian siblings, inept policeman, and a small town where people know one another's business all too well. The man who died may have had a secret past and there may be a hidden treasure to be discovered.

The story recaps all the clues a bit relentlessly and any suspense is quite muted. The relationship with the ghost is the best aspect, adding bits of humor and lightness. A few situations require suspension of belief. All told, it is a pleasant read in a beautiful setting.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this through netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

There are just times of the year, where you just need to declare cozy mysteries month for your own personal sanity. I'm a big fan of the cozy paranormal- I like vampires, ghosts, witches and pirates doing not the normal expected tasks. Vampires running knitting clubs/ book clubs , haunted yarn shops- I'm your girl.
Along the same lines that's how I discovered Molly MacRae last fall- haunted yarn shop- yes! I loved this one just as much and look forward to the rest of the series- Set in a shell shop shrouded in mystery, haunted by a recluctant pirate ghost, all the yeses from me! I loved the exchanges between Burt and Glady and the rest of the off beat characters. Would definitely recommend

Newly widowed Maureen arrives shortly after a hurricane, intent not to tell anyone why she is there. Unfortunately, within hours of arrival she finds a valuable shell, a dead body and a pair of senior siblings. A fun read from beginning to end.

In Molly MacRae's Come Shell or High Water, the first in her new Haunted Shell Shop mystery series, fiftyish recent widow Maureen Nash is all about shells--she searches for unique ones, researches them, and even works telling stories about their history and folklore. On a trip to Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina, to find shells unearthed by a hurricane, Maureen rescues a huge, intricately carved shell from the waves and stumbles over a man's dead body in the process. Knocked unconscious, she awakes in the town's shell store, wondering what has happened to her. An elderly brother and sister who live nearby tell her that the dead man is the store's proprietor, who said he was going to check on a mother and daughter at the end of the island but never returned.

What follows involves the real reason Maureen came to the island (revealed later in the story), a plethora of murder suspects (including Maureen herself), and the ghost of an 18th Century pirate. I enjoyed being steeped in the culture and environment of Ocracoke, and--of course-- learning about shells. I also appreciated Maureen's lovely relationship with one of her adult sons. It took me a while to become accustomed to the writing style and pace--very different from the author's earlier series. The pirate has potential, but I didn't connect with him or with Maureen because we don't know much about either of them yet. I would also like to learn more about Maureen's late husband, since he is referred to in flashbacks. Because this is the first in a series, I expect that the main characters will become more nuanced and substantial as their stories progress.

My thanks to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I am really reading a lot of cozy paranormals lately, so I was excited to try this one. I hadn’t read this author before, but this will definitely not be my last one. I loved the twisty mystery in this book with the fun characters. I don’t feel we got to know Maureen as much as I would have liked, but I’m hoping we will in the next book. I also love that we got to meet her sons in this. I hope they play a part in the next book. A well-written, fun cozy paranormal with interesting characters sure to entertain for a few hours. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

The story starts out slow but definitely picks up momentum and definitely is an enjoyable read. The mystery is intriguing and held my attention. I’m glad that certain characters got their comeuppance. Added bonus, the MC is older and has two adult children, with whom she has a great relationship. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Enjoyed this cozy mystery overall. Maureen shows up to a small coastal town, and finds a body and a ghost. Flipped back and forth about the elderly brother and sister, as I wasn't sure it they had a motive or not. Didn't like her friend not being there for her either. Still though, enjoyed it enough to see the ending. Would recommend.

Molly MacRae's new cozy mystery book series, Haunted Shell Shop Mystery, delivers all the goods! "Come Shell or High Water" is worth the read and I can't wait for book 2.