Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge

Murder by the Sea (By the Sea Mystery, #3)

by Kathleen Bridge

When a murderer crashes a masquerade ball, it's up to Liz to unmask the killer . . .

It's been quite a year for novelist Liz Holt. She's overcome a lot and is finally feeling at peace with her new life at her family's hotel, the Indialantic by the Sea, on the beautiful barrier island of Melbourne Beach, Florida. She's ready to ring in the New Year at the Florida Writes Literary Masquerade Ball.

But when her ex-boyfriend surprises her at the ball, she can't disguise her anger, and the two engage in a very public argument. When her ex turns up on the hotel grounds, shot through the heart, Liz finds herself topping the suspect list. With the help of family and friends, she needs to clear her name before the real killer waltzes away scot-free . . .

Recipes included!

Praise for Kathleen Bridge

“A delightful sneak peek into life in the Hamptons, with intricate plotting and a likeable, down-to-earth protagonist. A promising start to a promising series.” —Suspense Magazine on Better Homes and Corpses

“The descriptions of furniture and other antiques, as well as juicy tidbits on the Hamptons, make for entertaining reading for those who enjoy both antiques and lifestyles of the rich and famous.” —Booklist on Better Homes and Corpses

“An excellent read.” —RT Book Reviews on Hearse and Gardens

Ghostal Living is a marvelously entertaining tale of revenge, murder, quirky characters—and disappearing books! With a clever protagonist, wonderful details of life in the Hamptons, and plot twists on top of plot twists, Kathleen Bridge will have mystery readers clamoring for more.” —Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author

Reviewed by Baroness Book Trove on

4 of 5 stars

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I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Did Liz kill her ex-boyfriend? If not, then who did?


Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge is a fabulous mystery filled with witty eccentric characters and bits of nostalgic 1960s and 1970s television series and commercials. I found myself transported to the days of watching TVLand with my mom before bed.

Our sleuths


Liz Holt


Liz is our point of view, main character and sleuth. She returned home after ending an abusive relationship and has found a worthy boyfriend. Liz is also a writer with one book out and working on the second.

I like that Liz is brave and relies on her instincts. Liz also loves animals, cooking, and taking care of the family. However, she has to keep reminding herself that she is moving forward and that everything is okay. I presume this lack of confidence comes from her abusive relationship and the following ordeal.

Ryan Stone


Ryan is a private investigator who works mostly for Liz’s dad, who is an attorney. He is a take charge type of guy. This investigation obviously isn’t his first and most likely won’t be his last.

What I like about Ryan is that he is there for his friends and family. He also has a way of sharing his strength and taking care of Liz without making her feel pressured or dismissed. The one thing that I didn’t like about him was that he seemed almost too good to be true.

Betty Lawson


Betty is an older mystery writer who has been writing for a while. She fancies herself, Ms. Marple. She is very tech savvy for her age and carries around an iPad. I love it. Betty thinks things through and keeps things close to the breast until she is sure of what she has.

I like that Betty is funny, serious, smart, and likes to stick her nose in other people’s business. I can respect that. What I don’t care for is that she sometimes comes across as arrogant. Although not as bad as some of the other characters.

Mystery


The mystery is excellent with lots of red herrings and plenty of false leads. I love the way the sleuths. They work well together, each of them focusing on their specialties. There were lots of people helping find clues and following up on the leads.

4 Stars for Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge


My rating for Murder by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge is four stars. I enjoyed reading the book but at times got lost in the world of Aunt Amelia, which wasn’t a bad thing.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mystery, especially those with retro pop culture references.


Other Books in the Series




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Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 24 May, 2019: Finished reading
  • 24 May, 2019: Reviewed
  • Started reading
  • 24 May, 2019: Finished reading
  • 24 May, 2019: Reviewed