Clam Wake: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery by Mary Daheim

Going to housesit should be fun, right?  Her aunt and uncle are going on a trip and she takes her cousin to the island community for a short stay.  So why does she end up finding a dead body on the beach first thing?

William Morrow Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so you can grab a copy at your local bookstore now.

This is a cozy mystery that includes odd characters, a property war, bantering cousins, and a meandering murder investigation.  The dead man did not die of natural causes; he was knifed to death.  They're on an island.  The killer had to live in the local community.  The man was well liked and had no known enemies.  The police are stymied.  The cousins decide to do their own snooping.  Bad choice.

This mystery plays out slowly.  I would have preferred a bit more action or a side plot or two, to keep it moving along a bit better.  However, this is part of a series and it might be a build up to future books.  It's not detrimental, it's just a bit too laid back for me.  I did however, enjoy the read, and would read more of Ms. Daheim's work.

This would make a great beach read.  The description of Washington is very accurate and will show you some of the state's coastal beauty.  Grab a comfortable chair and dig in!