The annual Mermaid Festival is the setting for Esme Addison's sunny-yet-sinister second Enchanted Bay mystery, perfect for fans of Heather Blake and Bailey Cates.
The small town of Bellamy Bay has its share of skeletons in its closet, but it isn't used to bodies turning up in the local history museum. After all, this coastal North Carolina town is much like any other...except, of course, for the mermaids.
Helping to run the family business, an herbal apothecary, while keeping her supernatural secret hidden is no easy feat for water witch Aleksandra Daniels. But somehow she's still found time to help her friend Celeste, who has her own Caribbean mermaid heritage, plan the annual Mermaid Festival. As fun-seekers throng the beaches, Alex gets to know and is intrigued by renowned artist Neve Ryland, who's in town to decorate the local park with a mermaid-themed mural. Celeste, however, is less enamored with the artist, as Neve has been spending entirely too much one-on-one time with her boyfriend Jasper, director of Bellamy Bay's history museum. Then, a reception for Neve ends abruptly when the artist is found dead in his office.
When the police investigation nets Celeste, Alex decides to find the true culprit. With the help of her magically-inclined aunt and cousins, Alex dives in to clear her friend's name. But there was more to Neve Ryland than met the eye...and Alex fears she may be in way too deep. Will she catch the crook or be next on the hook?
Alex Daniels is at it again trying to solve yet another murder mystery in the magical town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina. This town is full of magicals and mundanes, mundanes are humans with no magical ability. I loved the setting and the magical elements of this story. This is a paranormal cozy mystery that involves mermaids, dragons, and water witches.
Alex must help her cousin Celeste out when Celeste is accused of murder all while helping out at her familys' herbal apothecary and dating Jack, the detective on the case. I found this to be very fast-paced with a lot of action. Alex is adept at sleuthing and asking the tough questions needed to find out who the murderer is.
The story takes many twists and turns with plenty of magical elements, red herrings, and drama to keep me turning the pages. As for romance, Alex seems to be torn between Jack and Dylan. I find myself rooting for Dylan, a love interest from the first book in the series.
This book delivered for me with a surprise twist at the end! I look forward to the next book in the series.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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16 April, 2021:
Finished reading
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29 March, 2021:
Reviewed
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Started reading
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Finished reading
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29 March, 2021:
Reviewed