Murder in Maine

Hope and Maggie are friends who are testing the waters for future travel plans. They decide to take a week-long cooking class at the quaint Oquossoc Mountain Inn in Maine. Coincidentally, Buster, Hope’s distant son is working in town as a deputy sheriff. Things become interesting very quickly with the arrival of the Antippas clan---family to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Alex Antippas manages to upset everyone and get Cherry, the front desk clerk, fired. When he turns up dead in a suspicious fire, Cherry is the number one suspect. Hope and Maggie decide to do some sleuthing one their own to prove her innocence. If you like twists, turns, and an array of querky characters Death  At Breakfast by Beth Gutcheon is for you! DB

Mystery in Maine

Faith Fairchild, caterer and amateur sleuth is vacationing in Maine with her family. While her cottage is being remodeled, they are staying with friends at The Pines. She is hoping for an easy enjoyable rest, but next door at The Birches things have become interesting. It seems that the whole family has come in for the 4^th of July holiday to stake their claim at inheriting the family summer property. Owner of The Birches, Paul McAllister is supposed to decide who will get the property after dealing with relatives for about a month. Contenders include Sophie Maxwell, her mother Babs, her uncle Simon and his snooty family, and her Aunt Sylvia a free spirit from California and her three children. While everyone tries to charm Uncle Paul into believing they should get The Birches, the beloved housekeeper Bev passes away. Then a second person turns up dead! Faith finds both bodies, so she quickly becomes involved in these suspicious events. Pick up The Body in the Birches by Katherine Hall Page if you like mild mysteries. DB

First Time in Forever

First Time in Forever is the first series by Sarah Morgan. The story is set on an island off the coast of Maine. The setting is the perfect backdrop for this charming story of love and friendship. The cast of characters is beautifully written and their personal growth is impressive. It is truly a captivating romance that I love and highly recommend. In this book we meet Emily Donovan. She is on the run with her niece, Lizzie, who is being hounded by paparazzi upon the death of Lizzie's mother. We also meet Ryan Cooper who was injured while on assignment overseas and is now home for good on Puffin Island.

A Seaside Saga

The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri is a modern-day fairy tale for adults. Nora is a political wife from Boston who has suffered the scandal of an extra-marital affair. She has recently received a letter from a distant aunt and decides to seek refuge on Burke’s Island off the coast of Maine. Once there, she revisits her childhood memories and the mystery surrounding her mother’s disappearance. As she works to come to terms with her problems she is introduced to the mythical folklore the island dwellers believe. While this book is not terribly deep, it does put a positive spin on dealing with current issues and finding the strength to carry on. A good summer read. DB   

Summer Secrets

When the women of the Kelleher family come to the beach house in Maine, simmering emotions reach the boiling point. Alice, the matriarch of the family, is cold and demanding. She is hiding an old secret that has been eating away at her for many years. Her eldest daughter Kathleen is present under protest, resentful and rebellious toward family members. She has created a safe haven in California and longs to put in her time and return. Ann Marie, a dutiful daughter-in-law, is re-evaluating her “perfect” life. She has developed a tempting crush that threatens her long-time marriage. Maggie, the youngest woman there, has just discovered that she’s pregnant. Her boyfriend has commitment issues and has yet to learn that he will be a father. As these four women resolve old grudges and face new challenges the family story unfolds and grows. Read Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan for a sea-side summer drama. DB

Life in the Wake

Ayelet Waldman writes a story of two Maine families and the journey their lives take over four summers. Jane and Iris are matriarchs whose perspectives could not be more different. A sudden unexpected incident tries the resolve of these women and their loved ones as they struggle to find comfort. Waldman tells the story distinctly and sensitively in Red Hook Road.