ARC Review: Death and a Pot of Chowder by Cornelia Kidd

Death and a Pot of Chowder
Author: Cornelia Kidd
Series: Maine Murder Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (June 12, 2018)

Description: Maine’s Quarry Island has a tight-knit community that’s built on a rock-solid foundation of family, tradition and hard work. But even on this small island, where everyone knows their neighbors, there are secrets that no one would dare to whisper.

Anna Winslow, her husband Burt and their teenage son have deep roots on Quarry Island. Burt and his brother, Carl, are lobstermen, just like their father and grandfather before them. And while some things on the island never seem to change, Anna’s life is about to take some drastically unexpected turns. First, Anna discovers that she has a younger sister, Izzie Jordan. Then, on the day she drives to Portland to meet Izzie for the first time, Carl’s lobster boat is found abandoned and adrift. Later that evening, his corpse is discovered―but he didn’t drown.

Whether it was an accident or murder, Carl’s sudden death has plunged Anna’s existence into deadly waters. Despite barely knowing one another and coming from very different backgrounds, Anna and Izzie unite to find the killer. With their family in crisis, the sisters strive to uncover the secrets hidden in Quarry Island―and, perhaps, the ones buried within their own hearts.

Sure to be an intoxicating read for fans of Sarah Graves and Leslie Meier, Death and a Pot of Chowder is the first Maine Murder mystery by Cornelia Kidd.

My Thoughts: Anna Winslow has grown up on Quarry Island, Maine, and loves living there with her husband and teenage son. While she wishes they had a little more money, she is happy with her life. She gets a letter from a sister she never knew she had telling her the father she never met has died and the two have inherited his estate.

Anna goes to Portland to meet her new sister Izzie who is Korean American. Izzie has just graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. While Anna is meeting her, she gets a phone call from her lobsterman husband Burt that he had found his brother Carl's boat but Carl is missing. She and Izzie hurry home and hope that the search for Carl is successful

Unfortunately, when Carl's body is found it is clear that he was murdered and Burt is the prime suspect. After all, they were seen arguing on the pier the morning Carl went missing. Burt's gun, which he usually kept in a fun safe under his bed but hadn't used since the end of the previous hunting season, is missing but when found it is confirmed as the murder weapon.

Anna and Izzie decide to investigate to clear Burt. As they investigate, Anna learns all sorts of secrets about the people who are her neighbors and whom she has know for her whole life. I liked the Maine setting and the close knit group of islanders. I liked how well Izzie fit into the mix and how she helped and supported Anna in this difficult time.

I thought the plot was well-done and nicely complex. I thought the characters were interesting and well-developed. I liked Izzie and Anna's plans for the future after they solve the case and clear Burt.

Favorite Quote:

Some people were creative. Other people made lists.

I made lists.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.