A cozy with a ghost. A ghost pirate. This is an interesting start to a new series. It's got perhaps a bit too much going on but I liked that Maureen is a malacologist (not seen one of these in a cozy before) and the atmospheric Ocracoke setting. She's of course going to set out to find more information about the body she found as well as to how she ended up knocked out and deposited in a shell store. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Some good twists and interesting characters made this a good read.

In this new series we have pirates, ghosts and murder. Not a bad start to a new series, even if there were a few hiccups getting going It really has al to of promise for future entries!

Although a bit confusing during the first few chapters, once you get your bearings straight, this first book in a new cozy mystery series has a lot to offer. The novel includes an intriguing resident ghost, a charming Southern island setting, quirky characters, and an amusing storyline. Lots of beachcombing and muffins, there are even a few recipes at the end! A good choice for cozy fans who need a summer read or readers who prefer coastal cozies. I look forward to the next book in the series.

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This is a new series by an author I have read before. I thought I would give it a try. I found the beginning to be rather confusing. I had a hard time visualizing the setting and many people. Often character's motivations seemed strange and nonsensical. Perhaps the second book in the series would flow better.

When recently widowed Maureen Nash visits Ocracoke Island soon after a hurricane goes through, she doesn’t expect to stumble over a dead body. The murder victim is Allen Withrow—a shell shop owner who was planning on leaving the store and the rest of his belongings to Maureen’s husband. The only reason Maureen isn’t a suspect is because Allen was murdered sometime before she arrived on the island. Working with her new landlords and the ghost of former pirate, Emrys Lloyd, Maureen tracks down Allen’s killer.

COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER got off to a bit of a rough start. The first few chapters jump back and forth in time and it takes a while to figure out exactly why Maureen is visiting the island in the aftermath of a hurricane. Once that got sorted out, COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER moved along quickly to the conclusion. The pirate ghost was a fun addition and he was able to provide Maureen with information about the victim that she would not have been able to learn otherwise.

Pleasant cozy, but a bit confusing in the beginning. Normally I am a sucker for cozies with a whiff of the paranormal...ghosts or witches, but I only liked, not loved, this one. The lead character, Maureen Nash, has retired from her career as a maracologist, a marine biologist who studies mollusks. She came to Ocracoke Island immediately post-hurricane to hunt for shells tossed up on shore. Unfortunately, she thinks she saw a body, but she is now knocked out in a shell shop instead of the beach. And her so-called rescuers are a tad eccentic.

Ghosts! This is the first book in a new series and a new author for me. I truly had a hard time getting into this book. Maureen is an interesting MC but the author plays so many games with us and I don't know, I feel like she plays us wrong, which leaves you very off kilter and having a hard time knowing where to go with this story. Maureen, recently widowed, comes to Ocracoke Island, at the tail end of a hurricane, can only get to the Island by way of an old college friend, who works for the U S Park Service, and claims she there to see and collect shell and visit a place where she came with her late husband and later their children. When a murder takes place and Maureen wakes up on the shore after saving a beautiful shell, then finding the body, everyone needs to figure out what is going on, including the MC. We find out that our MC hasn't been honest with why she's there, who she knows, and we are caught up in all kinds of tales, oh yes, and maybe a helpful ghost. It is a very convoluted tale, a little too cute for me, but I will admit the last 60 pages or so kept me engrossed. I honestly haven't decided if I will read the next book or not. I want to thank #NetGalley and #Kensingtonbooks for the chance to check this one out.

I was a huge fan of Molly MacRae’s Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery series but I don’t tend to enjoy Americans writing about Scotland, so I skipped her Highland Bookshop Mystery series. Then, when I saw she had a new one coming out - Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries - I just had to pick it up! And just look at that cover! I love how bight and vivid it looks: modern, while keep a clear ‘the is a cozy’ vibe.
I knew going in that I enjoyed MacRae’s storytelling, and I got exactly what I expected there. The pacing is quick (quicker than the author’s previous series, though there I enjoyed the slower pace) and the writing very engaging and readable. The mystery itself maybe wasn’t the most impressive I’ve seen, but for a cozy series (especially the first instalment while we’re laying the groundwork) the mystery itself always comes second to the world-building, theming and characters for me.
COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER starts with a real bang – in the middle of an island storm, and with our protagonist, Maureen, suffering from an electrical jolt and a bout of amnesia that makes piecing together what happened a challenge. The atmosphere was excellent: just the thing to read on a dark and stormy night!
Maureen is a unique character: a widow in her 50s, something I’ve been seeing less of in recent cozies), and a malacologist (someone who specializes in fresh water mussels) with a passion for collecting shells. That’s certainly a new one to me! And it works very well with the rest of the books theming – a small, insular island community, pirates and hidden treasure, and lots and lots of shell-based puns.
COME SHELL OR HIGH WATER didn’t blow me away, but it was enjoyable and did keep me engaged. In fact, I read through most of the book in just a couple of sittings. I think this is a series to watch out for and, now Maureen and her ‘world’ is established, future books will only get better!

This is the first book in Molly MacRae’s new haunted shell shop series. Set on an island off the coast of North Carolina the book features a cast of quirky characters, including the ghost of a pirate. It’s a light humorous mystery with plenty of red herrings.

I was really excited to dive into Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae because I haven't read a lot of paranormal cozy mysteries. I was looking forward to reading about a ghost in a shell shop, haunting the place and moving around merchandise.

But this story was way more than I thought it would be! I found Come Shell or High Water to be a fresh new take on ghosts and the mystery behind why Maureen came to Ocracoke Island in the first place hooked me. I immediately wanted to know more about her connection to Allen and why she inherited her shop.

And I also wanted to know more about Emrys, the 18th century pirate ghost who inhabited the shell that Maureen found in the ocean. Once she takes it back to the shell shop, she learns that he too is trying to solve the mystery, and because he's been around for so long he may have more intel.

I like the idea of a ghost and a human working together, trying to solve crime. It's completely different from other mysteries that I've read. I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to finding out more about the town, the shell shop, and Maureen in the next Haunted Shell Shop Mystery.

To read my full review, visit: mariankrick.com

Rating: 4.5 stars

The first installment in the 'A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery' series, 'Come Shell or High Water' by Molly MacRae, is a captivating debut that sets the stage for a promising new series. Set on Ocracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina, this mystery novel expertly weaves together elements of suspense, humor, and supernatural intrigue.

When widowed folklorist Maureen Nash visits a legendary North Carolina barrier island shell shop, she discovers its resident ghost pirate and the mystery of a local’s untimely death . . .

MacRae's writing is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. The story is skillfully paced, with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The author's vivid descriptions of the island setting and its quirky inhabitants add to the book's charm.

Overall, 'Come Shell or High Water' is an excellent start to the 'A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery' series, and I eagerly anticipate the next installment. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, this book is definitely worth checking out."

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Cozies and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Widow Maureen Nash arrives on Ocracoke Island which is dealing with the effects of Hurricane Electra. Unfortunately, she stumbles over the body of Allen Withrow, the man she came to see regarding the letters he sent to her late husband. With the help of an eccentric brother and sister duo and a ghost, she looks into the life of the dead man and why someone had reason to kill him. First in a new series with interesting characters and a resident ghost.
#ComeShellorHighWater #Kensington #NetGalley

This is the first in a new series. It was a real delight to read. The characters and whodunit were top notch. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This sounded like a fun, summer, beachy cozy mystery with the added bonus of a ghost! While I enjoyed the mystery, setting in the Outer Banks, and learning about shells, the characters overwhelmed at times. At the beginning, it felt like you were dropped into a story and didn't have all the pieces, making it a frustrating experience for me. I needed more world and story building to help me enjoy the story to the fullest.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Molly MacRae's Come Shell or High Water is the first book in a new cozy paranormal mystery. An entertaining and smoothly paced story with the ghost of a pirate and a beautiful setting of Ocracoke Island.

Maureen Nash ventures to Ocracoke Island to investigate why Allen Withrow sent letters to her deceased husband regarding his family's past. Maureen is a likable heroine; and the secondary characters of Burt and Glady added depth to the plot as well as their humor with their interactions with each other. Plenty of twists, limited murder suspects and quirky characters kept me turning the pages.

Come Shell or High Water is the 1st book in a new series by Molly MacRae. This series follows recent widower Maureen, who ventures to Okracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina after a recent hurricane to vacation and study shells. Instead she finds a dead body, a family connection to a hidden treasure and a ghost! Lots of fun characters to get to know and a few cute cats too. I loved Maureen's neighbours and her sons. The mystery/murderer reveal, felt a bit hard to follow so that made me less invested in the plot, then getting to know the characters.
There's a lot of potential here for a great series, I'm looking forward to what's next now that the foundation has been established.

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!