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Peril in the Poolhouse: A Chesapeake Bay Mystery
A Bed & Breakfast haunted A guest stabbed A couple’s future in ruins Real estate rule #3: It’s the rare buyer who wants to buy a haunted house. A grand opening for Captain’s Quarters Bed & Breakfast on the outskirts of the little Chesapeake Bay town of Port Anne is creating quite a stir. Real estate agent Helen Morrisey sold the neglected Victorian to state senate candidate Eliot Davies and his wife, Alison. Despite rumors of ghostly images, they’ve toiled for months to bring the painted lady back to its prime. Now, the couple is ready to celebrate and the whole town is invited. A piercing scream cuts through the chatter as their party winds down. Helen bolts toward the pool house with her on-again, off-again love interest, Detective Joe McAlister, steps behind. A hysterical Alison is standing over the motionless body of one of their guests. A nine-inch pair of antique fishing shears juts from the woman’s back. Helen takes in the shocked expressions of guests gathered at the pool edge. Why would someone want this woman dead? Has the tale of a ghost roaming Captain’s Watch returned to haunt Eliot and Alison? Getting involved in another local murder investigation could be the kiss of death for her relationship with Joe. Yet, she knows a murder in her friends B & B might cut their future to ribbons. Is it time to consult the expertise of her infamous Detection Club sleuths? Or should she look the other way before her own reputation is bloodied? Peril in the Pool House is the third book in the award-winning Chesapeake Bay Mystery Series.
- GenresMysteryContemporary
Audio CD
Published September 9, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 24, 2023
Judy Murray’s latest Chesapeake Bay Mystery, Peril in the Poolhouse, is as appealing as the town where it’s set. As with the first two books in this charming series, realtor Helen Morrisey leans on her Detective Club of fictional sleuths to help her untangle a mysterious death. These sisters in crime include Miss Marple, Norah Charles, Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldam, and Agatha Raisin. They appear only in Helen’s imagination, but when their distinctive voices combine with Helen’s real-life pursuit of a killer, it all adds up to a clever and well-plotted mystery.
This time around, Helen finds herself entangled in a parallel investigation When a candidate for the state senate is suspected of murdering his unpleasant new campaign manager Helen agrees to help clear his name, only to learn that this murder echoes a fifty-year-old scandal involving Davies’ grandfather. Fans of this series will not be disappointed, as lush descriptions of renovated homes, a growing romance, and well-placed clues and red herring move the story toward a most satisfying conclusion.
This time around, Helen finds herself entangled in a parallel investigation When a candidate for the state senate is suspected of murdering his unpleasant new campaign manager Helen agrees to help clear his name, only to learn that this murder echoes a fifty-year-old scandal involving Davies’ grandfather. Fans of this series will not be disappointed, as lush descriptions of renovated homes, a growing romance, and well-placed clues and red herring move the story toward a most satisfying conclusion.
November 3, 2023
The list of "who done it" is long in the third book by Judy Murray. However, Realtor and mystery lover Helen is on the case. There are two reasons I love Judy's series of books. First, the stories take place along the Cheapeake Bay. As I read, I can picture the places she is writing about in a small Eastern Shore town in Maryland. Secondly, I love how the story develops to keep you guessing and trying to figure out the mystery before the last five pages. Additionally, her characters are described so clearly you can imagine walking down the street past them. I'm so glad I've read all three of her books and am hoping she doesn't stop.
October 4, 2023
This is the 3rd installment of the Chesapeake Bay Mysteries series and Ms Murray does not disappoint. Helen Morrisey once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and of course she has to try and solve it much to the chagrin of the handsome detective, Joe McAlister.
A haunted Bed & Breakfast, A party given by a State Senator Candidate and a dead body! What could go wrong! Despite the fact that the Victorian Mansion has been rumored to be haunted, Helen ultimately sold the property to Eliot Davies, who is running for the office of state Senator and his wife Allison. They’ve turned it into a Bed & Breakfast, and they’re getting ready to party. The party comes to a screeching halt when a dead body is discovered in the Pool House, with Allison standing over it. Of course, the main suspects are Eliot and Allison, so Helen is intent on proving that her friends could not have committed this murder. Did they do it and If they didn’t, then who did? When someone else dies, the conspiracy deepens to discover what the two victims might have in common. Is the past coming back to haunt them? Is this murder connected to a 50-year-old mystery? Helen and her world-renowned detection team are on a mission to discover the answer. But how will her involvement in yet another murder case affect her blossoming relationship with handsome detective Joe?
This is an amazing book! The Protagonist is genuine, a great friend, She loves her kids and she is funny. I just adore her detection club and the way she interacts with them as if they were real people. The term "detection club" is derived from Helen's collection of Literary Amateurs Sleuths. Those who have read the preceding two books of the series are aware of her 'Detection Club'. If you haven't read them, then what are you waiting for!! I recommend that readers read the books in order to gain an understanding of the characters' back story. It really helps to develop the relationship with the characters.
The author has a great way of building tension and pulling the reader in. What I like the most is that the book is full of twist & turns to solve the puzzle. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, she adds another twist that makes you rethink it. I must warn you, be prepared to lose some sleep because this book is hard to put down.
Real Estate Rule #3: It's rare a buyer who wants to buy a haunted house"
A haunted Bed & Breakfast, A party given by a State Senator Candidate and a dead body! What could go wrong! Despite the fact that the Victorian Mansion has been rumored to be haunted, Helen ultimately sold the property to Eliot Davies, who is running for the office of state Senator and his wife Allison. They’ve turned it into a Bed & Breakfast, and they’re getting ready to party. The party comes to a screeching halt when a dead body is discovered in the Pool House, with Allison standing over it. Of course, the main suspects are Eliot and Allison, so Helen is intent on proving that her friends could not have committed this murder. Did they do it and If they didn’t, then who did? When someone else dies, the conspiracy deepens to discover what the two victims might have in common. Is the past coming back to haunt them? Is this murder connected to a 50-year-old mystery? Helen and her world-renowned detection team are on a mission to discover the answer. But how will her involvement in yet another murder case affect her blossoming relationship with handsome detective Joe?
This is an amazing book! The Protagonist is genuine, a great friend, She loves her kids and she is funny. I just adore her detection club and the way she interacts with them as if they were real people. The term "detection club" is derived from Helen's collection of Literary Amateurs Sleuths. Those who have read the preceding two books of the series are aware of her 'Detection Club'. If you haven't read them, then what are you waiting for!! I recommend that readers read the books in order to gain an understanding of the characters' back story. It really helps to develop the relationship with the characters.
The author has a great way of building tension and pulling the reader in. What I like the most is that the book is full of twist & turns to solve the puzzle. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, she adds another twist that makes you rethink it. I must warn you, be prepared to lose some sleep because this book is hard to put down.
Real Estate Rule #3: It's rare a buyer who wants to buy a haunted house"
October 23, 2023
Another stellar entry in the Chesapeake Bay Mystery series!
Helen and her Detection Club find themselves immersed in a new mystery, and it's a doozy. The page-turning plot kept me riveted. There was a good array of viable suspects, which kept me guessing throughout. The mystery's conclusion was surprising and satisfying.
But the best thing about the book, in my opinion, is the wonderful cast of characters. I adore Helen, her kids, her friends, and of course, Detective Joe. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
Helen and her Detection Club find themselves immersed in a new mystery, and it's a doozy. The page-turning plot kept me riveted. There was a good array of viable suspects, which kept me guessing throughout. The mystery's conclusion was surprising and satisfying.
But the best thing about the book, in my opinion, is the wonderful cast of characters. I adore Helen, her kids, her friends, and of course, Detective Joe. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
February 2, 2024
Peril in the Pool House is the 3rd book by Judy Murray. I have read all 3 and enjoyed them all immensely. The lead character, Helen Morrisey, is a very real and relatable woman who uses her team of super sleuths to help her solve local crimes.
In Peril, she is personally involved with the family who is at the center of the murder scene. Helen uses her full arsenal of super sleuths to uncover the real killer. As the story unfolds, she paints beautiful imagery of life in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay.
I highly recommend this book!
In Peril, she is personally involved with the family who is at the center of the murder scene. Helen uses her full arsenal of super sleuths to uncover the real killer. As the story unfolds, she paints beautiful imagery of life in a small town on the Chesapeake Bay.
I highly recommend this book!
December 11, 2023
Keeps You on Your Toes!
Peril in the Pool House is yet another page-turning, suspense filled mystery novel from Judy L. Murray. Her writing is riveting; I absolutely didn't want it to end. As for the romance department, what will happen with Helen and Joe? Maybe the next book in her series will let us know.
Peril in the Pool House is yet another page-turning, suspense filled mystery novel from Judy L. Murray. Her writing is riveting; I absolutely didn't want it to end. As for the romance department, what will happen with Helen and Joe? Maybe the next book in her series will let us know.
July 16, 2025
Not quite as good as book 1 but still enjoyable. Hopefully, Helen is turning the corner. It seems like maybe we will see more of the twins in future books which is a treat to have grown kids around. Still adjusting to the Detection Club. It seemed a bit much in this book moreso than book 1.
October 23, 2024
Enjoyable. I would read the next if there is one.
July 17, 2025
Love that I can relate to the areas mentioned in Judy Murray’s books. This was a fun who dunit and kept ya guessing!
January 19, 2024
Another Great Mystery by Judy Murray
This third book in Judy Murray’s Chesapeake Bay Mystery series is just as wonderful as the first two. Judy’s words paint such clear pictures of her characters and the settings that the reader can easily picture them in their mind. The book moves at a steady pace and keeps the reader’s attention while they collect the clues that lead to the killer’s identity. Another well written book from Judy that makes me look forward to the next in the series and hope there will be many more to follow.
This third book in Judy Murray’s Chesapeake Bay Mystery series is just as wonderful as the first two. Judy’s words paint such clear pictures of her characters and the settings that the reader can easily picture them in their mind. The book moves at a steady pace and keeps the reader’s attention while they collect the clues that lead to the killer’s identity. Another well written book from Judy that makes me look forward to the next in the series and hope there will be many more to follow.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews