Danger at the Cove (Island Sisters, #2)

by Hannah Dennison

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Danger at the Cove is the second Island Sisters cozy mystery by Hannah Dennison. Released 17th Aug 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

This is a modern cozy set on the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall. The author is skilled with settings and the descriptions were clear and easy to imagine. The characters are well drawn, three dimensional and distinct. The author gives more than a passing nod to Christie and other "closed setting" classics of the golden age. I was impressed with the clear and concise writing in this mystery and although I hadn't read the first book in the series, I had no trouble following the plot or keeping everything straight in my mind. There are some minor spoilers (but nothing major) if the books are read out of order.

I liked the way the clues were hidden throughout the book and not just waved in front of readers' faces. The intertwined mysteries are cleverly constructed and the denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying. I enjoyed this installment enough that I intend to keep an eye out for further books in the series and to go find the series starter on the author's backlist to get "caught up". There's lots of skullduggery, hidden motives, secrets, sunken treasure, shipwrecks, and theft. The descriptions are a little more graphic than the fluffiest of cozy mysteries, but nothing egregious. The language is PG with light cursing, nothing to scandalize. Spelling and vernacular are mostly American English (color, honor, television, etc) and used in context for clarity.

Four stars. This was a thoroughly enjoyable light read. This is a very well written example of the genre.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.