Murder at Last Chance Cove (Pacific Northwest Cozy Mysteries #1)
by Kim Griswell
My Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Age Category: Adult
Type of romance: m/f
Blurb:
Irresistible small-town coastal charm where the clam chowder is as heavenly as the secrets are deadly…Writer Saffi Graywood is looking for a quiet place to finish her latest book when she sets her sights on Last Chance Cove. After a winding drive along the rugged Oregon coastline, Saffi arrives at her home for the summer – an RV park overlooking wind-swept beaches with salt-soaked air and fog that rolls in without warning.
Three years after her husband’s death, Saffi is still getting used to life on her own. But nobody is left alone for long in this small coastal community, where gossip is shared with your morning coffee and secrets whisper in the brisk sea wind.
When Saffi discovers the body of the park’s manager hidden amongst driftwood, her plan to hole up in her RV is shattered in an instant. She is drawn into solving a real-life mystery that’s just as strange and twisty as the bestsellers she pens.
In a town that seems as sweet as a whipped-cream mocha, who has a motive for murder? And will Saffi’s sleuthing draw the kind of attention that could turn this exciting new chapter into her last?
Murder at Last Chance Cove is the first in a captivating new series where wild beauty meets small-town intrigue. Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and Debbie Macomber and readers who love their mysteries served with breathtaking scenery, quirky characters and a dash of romance.
My Review
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Murder at last Chance Cove caught my eye on Netgalley with the pretty cover, then the book description won me over. I loved the idea of the main character traveling in an RV and finding a new place to belong in Last Chance Cove. I had a great time reading this book. I liked reading about Saffi and her RV and her arriving in Last Chance Cove and slowly finding a place she wanted to stay longer and I liked reading about this small town on the coast.
The mystery was one that kept me guessing. Quite early on the main suspects are established and none of them really gets ruled out till later, but at the same time new information and secrets come to light throughout the story. This made it so it kept me guessing who of the suspects had done it, but it also felt like there was progress in the mystery despite no suspects getting ruled out yet. I kept switching who I thought the murderer was and then when I eventually settled on one I was proven wrong. I liked how all of these suspects had some secret or information that got revealed during the investigation. The reveal was well done and made sense too and managed to take me by surprise.
I liked reading about Saffi, she’s a nonfiction writer and it was fun to read about her research and the books she has written. I also liked how this gave her a reason to poke her nose into things and how she was curious and wanted to know things. She could be quite determined to find out the truth and could come across as a bit pushy at times, but I also liked how she wanted to make sure Linda’s murderer was found. The police did seem to do some work as well and I liked Saffi’s dynamic with the police. There is a possible romance as well which will be fun to see play out more in future books. And I liked seeing Saffi make friends in last Chance Cove. The ending wraps things up nicely and made me excited for the next book, which I luckily already got for review as well.
To summarize: I had a great time reading this cozy mystery, I liked how the main character owned an RV and reading about the RV park as well as Last Chance Cove. The mystery kept me guessing, the main suspects get all introduced early on and no one gets ruled out till later. Secrets and information come to light along the way and it made the mystery feel like it still had plenty of progress. I liked the reveal and the way it made sense even tough I guessed the murderer wrong. I liked reading about Saffi, her nonfiction books and the RV she lives in. I liked seeing her slowly grow fond of this small seaside town and make friends and connections. I had a great time reading this one and look forward to the next book.
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