Book Review: The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

-
Image
The Fair Weather Friend  by Jessie Garcia  opens with Faith Richards, a popular meteorologist in Detroit, never returning back to the news station after her dinner break. The next day, her news station releases a story that she's been found, strangled to death not far from the station. The Fair Weather Friend , as Richards is referred to by adoring fans, had some deep, dark secrets. As those skeletons come to light, other peoples' lives start to unravel, and things are not what they seem. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Jessie Garcia's The Fair Weather Friend . A digital copy was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions of the novel are my own. There were many things I absolutely enjoyed about Jessie Garcia's sophomore novel including multiple point of views, the character development, and numerous red herrings. Overall, the story being told from a var...
Post a Comment

Book Review: Clammed Up (Maine Clambake Mystery, #1) by Barbara Ross

-

Cozy Mystery Book Review of Clammed Up (Maine Clambake Mystery, #1) by Barbara Ross
Clammed Up (Maine Clambake Mystery, #1) by Barbara Ross is the first book in a charming cozy mystery series set around a family-owned clambake business on a picturesque Maine island. When Julia Snowden returns to Busman’s Harbor to help her mother, sister, and brother-in-law run the family business, she discovers a shocking crime ... a corpse hanging from the banister of their summer home. The local police shut down the clambake, leaving everyone wondering: who is the killer, and can the Snowden Clambake survive while the investigation unfolds?

Barbara Ross proves herself as a phenomenal storyteller in Clammed Up. Her vivid descriptions and engaging narrative made me feel as though I was watching the story unfold like a movie. I was completely captivated by the Maine Clambake Mystery series from the very first page.

The book is packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Although I could rule out a few suspects who appear in later books, the identity of the real culprit still took me by surprise. Ross’s character development is excellent, and the backstories make the small town of Busman’s Harbor feel alive ... a tight-knit community cautious of outsiders, which felt authentic based on my own experiences visiting small towns.

Ross also does a beautiful job bringing Maine to life, from its rugged coastline to its cozy, community-driven towns. After reading Clammed Up, I’m inspired to explore Maine, especially its scenic coastal regions.

I give Clammed Up (Maine Clambake Mystery, #1) a full five out of five stars. This cozy mystery series is one of the best in the genre, offering suspense, charm, and a sense of place that’s hard to beat. Fans of cozy mysteries, small-town whodunits, and Maine-inspired settings will fall in love with this series just like I did.

Follow The Running Bibliophile On Social Media

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: The Dare by Natasha Preston

-
Image
The Dare by Natasha Preston is a young adult horror novel centered on Marley and her friends Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse, all seniors in high school. What begins as harmless, lighthearted senior pranks quickly takes a dark turn when Rhett starts assigning dares that are far more serious and dangerous. As the stakes rise, the question becomes whether Marley and her friends will survive the consequences of playing along. A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of The Dare by Natasha Preston. The last book I read by this author was well written and engaging, so I was excited to dive into her latest young adult horror story. From the start, the novel feels reminiscent of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series, which instantly brought back a wave of childhood nostalgia. Unfortunately, that initial excitement didn’t last. Before long, the plot shifts into territory that felt eerily similar to the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer . At that point, my interest started ...
Read more

Book Review: The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

-
Image
The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker  was published on March 17, 2025. It opens with Detective Declan Shaw at a closed subway station trying to work up the nerve to commit suicide when he receives a call from his partner about a break in and homicide at the home of a true crime author. Shaw makes his way to the crime scene to work the case, and in a turn of events, Declan comes under scrutiny in another case loosely connected to this new case. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Writer  from NetGalley and Little , Brown, and Company for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm appreciative that my request for this book was approved. With this story opening with the main character trying to commit suicide, I almost didn't go any further with the book. However, I am glad I stuck with it as it took me on a fantastic ride and had my emotions all over the place. There were so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was ...
Read more

Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich

-
Image
Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich is the latest installment in the long-running and beloved Stephanie Plum series, and it opens with Joe Morelli asking Stephanie to dog-sit his famously quirky dog, Bob, while he’s out of town testifying at a trial. As expected, things quickly spiral into chaos when Stephanie has to bring Bob along while attempting to apprehend her usual lineup of FTAs. Between chasing fugitives, dodging danger, and juggling her complicated personal life, Stephanie also finds herself seriously questioning whether marriage is something she truly wants. Each book in the Stephanie Plum series tends to follow a familiar and comforting formula, with everything wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow by the end. That predictability is actually one of the main reasons I keep coming back to these books. I always know Stephanie will get herself into trouble, Ranger or Morelli will step in to help,...
Read more