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A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery #2
There'll Be Shell to Pay
When she’s not selling seashells by the North Carolina seashore from her shell shop, Maureen Nash is a crime-solving sleuth with a ghost pirate for a supernatural sidekick . . .
Maureen is still getting used to life on Ocracoke Island, learning how to play the “shell game” of her business—and ghost whispering with the spirit of Emrys Lloyd, the eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop, The Moon Shell. The spectral buccaneer has unburied a treasure hidden in the shop’s attic that turns out to be antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband’s family years ago.
Victor “Shelly” Sullivan and his wife Lenrose visit the shop and specifically inquire about these rare items. Not only is it suspicious that this shell collector should arrive around the time Maureen found the art, but Emrys insists that Sullivan’s wife is an imposter because Lenrose is dead. A woman’s corpse the police have been unable to identify was discovered by the Fig Ladies, a group who formed an online fig appreciation society. They’re meeting on Ocracoke for the first time in person and count Lenrose among their number, so the woman can’t possibly be dead.
But Lenrose’s behavior doesn’t quite match the person the Fig Ladies interacted with online. Now, Maureen and Emrys—with assistance from the Fig Ladies—must prove the real Lenrose is dead and unmask her mysterious pretender before a desperate murderer strikes again . . .
Maureen is still getting used to life on Ocracoke Island, learning how to play the “shell game” of her business—and ghost whispering with the spirit of Emrys Lloyd, the eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop, The Moon Shell. The spectral buccaneer has unburied a treasure hidden in the shop’s attic that turns out to be antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband’s family years ago.
Victor “Shelly” Sullivan and his wife Lenrose visit the shop and specifically inquire about these rare items. Not only is it suspicious that this shell collector should arrive around the time Maureen found the art, but Emrys insists that Sullivan’s wife is an imposter because Lenrose is dead. A woman’s corpse the police have been unable to identify was discovered by the Fig Ladies, a group who formed an online fig appreciation society. They’re meeting on Ocracoke for the first time in person and count Lenrose among their number, so the woman can’t possibly be dead.
But Lenrose’s behavior doesn’t quite match the person the Fig Ladies interacted with online. Now, Maureen and Emrys—with assistance from the Fig Ladies—must prove the real Lenrose is dead and unmask her mysterious pretender before a desperate murderer strikes again . . .
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 24, 2025
12 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Molly MacRae
23 books838 followersMolly MacRae spent twenty years in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upper East Tennessee, where she managed The Book Place, an independent bookstore; may it rest in peace.
Before the lure of books hooked her, she was curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.
MacRae lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.
Before the lure of books hooked her, she was curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.
MacRae lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.
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June 24, 2025
"There'll Be Shell To Pay (A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery #2)" by Molly MacRae has Maureen Nash returning to the Ocracoke Island, North Carolina shell shop she inherited after she left to pack up her home. She was rushed into returning by an urgent letter from the shell shop's resident pirate ghost. When she gets back it turns out that another suspicious death has recently occurred on the island. There may be a connection to the previous owner of the shell shop.
During this investigation, Maureen and her neighbors/landlords (yes, despite inheriting the shop she doesn't own the building) team up with a past colleague of Maureen's and her friends. Together they figure out pretty much who but have a hard time proving the why and how until the end.
During this investigation, Maureen and her neighbors/landlords (yes, despite inheriting the shop she doesn't own the building) team up with a past colleague of Maureen's and her friends. Together they figure out pretty much who but have a hard time proving the why and how until the end.
July 31, 2025
https://openbooksociety.com/article/t...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When she’s not selling seashells by the North Carolina seashore from her shell shop, Maureen Nash is a crime-solving sleuth with a ghost pirate for a supernatural sidekick . . .
Maureen is still getting used to life on Ocracoke Island, learning how to play the “shell game” of her business—and ghost whispering with the spirit of Emrys Lloyd, the eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop, The Moon Shell. The spectral buccaneer has unburied a treasure hidden in the shop’s attic that turns out to be antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband’s family years ago.
Victor “Shelly” Sullivan and his wife Lenrose visit the shop and specifically inquire about these rare items. Not only is it suspicious that this shell collector should arrive around the time Maureen found the art, but Emrys insists that Sullivan’s wife is an imposter because Lenrose is dead. A woman’s corpse the police have been unable to identify was discovered by the Fig Ladies, a group who formed an online fig appreciation society. They’re meeting on Ocracoke for the first time in person and count Lenrose among their number, so the woman can’t possibly be dead.
But Lenrose’s behavior doesn’t quite match the person the Fig Ladies interacted with online. Now, Maureen and Emrys—with assistance from the Fig Ladies—must prove the real Lenrose is dead and unmask her mysterious pretender before a desperate murderer strikes again . . . (From Goodreads)
Review:
I was fully invested in this series while reading the first engaging mystery, Come Shell or High Water. This second mystery is even better! Maureen Nash returned to her recently inherited shell shop, Moon Shell, on Ocracoke Island. Maureen has studied mollusks, the soft, invertebrate creatures who live inside shells. Maureen (and the author!) is a storyteller, a wordsmith, using clever turns of phrases, and plays on words. Her word pictures of the island are like vintage artwork. Maureen inherited the shop from Allen. Recently widowed, Maureen was sensitive to his friends’ grief when they welcomed Maureen.
Maureen had been back in Tennessee for a special event held by the students of her late husband’s classes in his honor. That weekend, she received a letter from Emrys, the ghost pirate who lived in her shop in an extraordinary shell he intricately carved nearly three centuries ago. He wrote that she needed to return quickly, and that he had found Allen’s secret.
Each engaging character is colorfully described. Maureen and Emrys are my favorites, for their personalities, curiosity, intelligence, and wit. The village on Ocracoke is full of quirky year-round residents and tourists, and I enjoyed meeting many of them.
While Maureen was away, her neighbor, Glady, opened the store a few hours a week. Glady and her brother, Burt, cared for the shop cat, Bonny, until Maureen returned. Glady often seems gruff and grumpy, but underneath the bluster is a kind heart. She and Burt were friends with Allen for many years and knew much about the shop, with the exception of Allen’s huge secret.
Maureen learned that an unidentified woman’s remains were found on the island a few days earlier. Someone had left a note at Moon Shell for Rob Tate, the chief of local law enforcement. Glady had called him about it, so he came to pick it up. Maureen felt a little creepy about the eerily familiar handwriting. The note claimed that the victim’s name was Lenrose, and Maureen’s name was signed to it – was someone pranking her or Chief Tate? Later, she learned that Emrys had forged her writing and hoped the woman would be identified by her first name; Emrys had spent time talking with Lenrose’s ghost.
Glady told Maureen that a couple, Victor and Lenrose Sullivan, had come to see Allen last week, and Glady told them of his passing. I enjoyed looking up their special, collectible car!
Maureen’s former Tennessee neighbor and close friend, Kathleen, was visiting on Ocracoke. Kathleen’s family moved from Tennessee several years ago and they had not seen each other since. Kathleen was there with two of three other women who met on Facebook, bonded over their mutual love of figs, and called themselves the Fig Ladies. The fourth member, Lenrose, who Glady had met, was in the early stages of dementia. They had heard she was there and ran into her and her husband.
The body of the murdered woman was found at a stream near their rental cottage. In fact, Kathleen and her friends had found her! Lenrose was an uncommon name. Was it possible there were two women with the same name, their friend and the woman who was murdered?
Kathleen, Roberta, and Paula wanted to solve the mystery since one of them read many mysteries and was certain they could discover who the woman was and who killed her. Glady and Burt helped solve the murder in the first book and, Glady had written many mysteries, so they joined forces to solve the murder.
This mystery was challenging! There were red herrings and shells, theories and clues, and a very angry Lenrose who shut down the Fig Ladies Facebook page. Just when it seemed like there was no solution, a little girl asked a question that sent Maureen searching in another direction, and the killer was revealed. I hated the motive but found the solutions satisfactory. I am looking forward to the next in series and further exploration of Allen’s secret. I highly recommend this novel!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When she’s not selling seashells by the North Carolina seashore from her shell shop, Maureen Nash is a crime-solving sleuth with a ghost pirate for a supernatural sidekick . . .
Maureen is still getting used to life on Ocracoke Island, learning how to play the “shell game” of her business—and ghost whispering with the spirit of Emrys Lloyd, the eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop, The Moon Shell. The spectral buccaneer has unburied a treasure hidden in the shop’s attic that turns out to be antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband’s family years ago.
Victor “Shelly” Sullivan and his wife Lenrose visit the shop and specifically inquire about these rare items. Not only is it suspicious that this shell collector should arrive around the time Maureen found the art, but Emrys insists that Sullivan’s wife is an imposter because Lenrose is dead. A woman’s corpse the police have been unable to identify was discovered by the Fig Ladies, a group who formed an online fig appreciation society. They’re meeting on Ocracoke for the first time in person and count Lenrose among their number, so the woman can’t possibly be dead.
But Lenrose’s behavior doesn’t quite match the person the Fig Ladies interacted with online. Now, Maureen and Emrys—with assistance from the Fig Ladies—must prove the real Lenrose is dead and unmask her mysterious pretender before a desperate murderer strikes again . . . (From Goodreads)
Review:
I was fully invested in this series while reading the first engaging mystery, Come Shell or High Water. This second mystery is even better! Maureen Nash returned to her recently inherited shell shop, Moon Shell, on Ocracoke Island. Maureen has studied mollusks, the soft, invertebrate creatures who live inside shells. Maureen (and the author!) is a storyteller, a wordsmith, using clever turns of phrases, and plays on words. Her word pictures of the island are like vintage artwork. Maureen inherited the shop from Allen. Recently widowed, Maureen was sensitive to his friends’ grief when they welcomed Maureen.
Maureen had been back in Tennessee for a special event held by the students of her late husband’s classes in his honor. That weekend, she received a letter from Emrys, the ghost pirate who lived in her shop in an extraordinary shell he intricately carved nearly three centuries ago. He wrote that she needed to return quickly, and that he had found Allen’s secret.
Each engaging character is colorfully described. Maureen and Emrys are my favorites, for their personalities, curiosity, intelligence, and wit. The village on Ocracoke is full of quirky year-round residents and tourists, and I enjoyed meeting many of them.
While Maureen was away, her neighbor, Glady, opened the store a few hours a week. Glady and her brother, Burt, cared for the shop cat, Bonny, until Maureen returned. Glady often seems gruff and grumpy, but underneath the bluster is a kind heart. She and Burt were friends with Allen for many years and knew much about the shop, with the exception of Allen’s huge secret.
Maureen learned that an unidentified woman’s remains were found on the island a few days earlier. Someone had left a note at Moon Shell for Rob Tate, the chief of local law enforcement. Glady had called him about it, so he came to pick it up. Maureen felt a little creepy about the eerily familiar handwriting. The note claimed that the victim’s name was Lenrose, and Maureen’s name was signed to it – was someone pranking her or Chief Tate? Later, she learned that Emrys had forged her writing and hoped the woman would be identified by her first name; Emrys had spent time talking with Lenrose’s ghost.
Glady told Maureen that a couple, Victor and Lenrose Sullivan, had come to see Allen last week, and Glady told them of his passing. I enjoyed looking up their special, collectible car!
Maureen’s former Tennessee neighbor and close friend, Kathleen, was visiting on Ocracoke. Kathleen’s family moved from Tennessee several years ago and they had not seen each other since. Kathleen was there with two of three other women who met on Facebook, bonded over their mutual love of figs, and called themselves the Fig Ladies. The fourth member, Lenrose, who Glady had met, was in the early stages of dementia. They had heard she was there and ran into her and her husband.
The body of the murdered woman was found at a stream near their rental cottage. In fact, Kathleen and her friends had found her! Lenrose was an uncommon name. Was it possible there were two women with the same name, their friend and the woman who was murdered?
Kathleen, Roberta, and Paula wanted to solve the mystery since one of them read many mysteries and was certain they could discover who the woman was and who killed her. Glady and Burt helped solve the murder in the first book and, Glady had written many mysteries, so they joined forces to solve the murder.
This mystery was challenging! There were red herrings and shells, theories and clues, and a very angry Lenrose who shut down the Fig Ladies Facebook page. Just when it seemed like there was no solution, a little girl asked a question that sent Maureen searching in another direction, and the killer was revealed. I hated the motive but found the solutions satisfactory. I am looking forward to the next in series and further exploration of Allen’s secret. I highly recommend this novel!
June 27, 2025
Book Review: There’ll Be Shell to Pay by Molly MacRae.
Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
I had so much fun returning to Ocracoke Island in this second book of the Haunted Shell Shop Mystery series. There’ll Be Shell to Pay picks up shortly after the first book, and while I do recommend reading the series in order, MacRae does a great job of catching you up without bogging things down. It’s everything a cozy should be: charming, atmospheric, funny, twisty, and—because this series has its own unique spin—a little bit haunted. I love that Molly MacRae has found a way to make the cozy mystery genre feel fresh without losing the ingredients we come for: quirky characters, small-town drama, a good whodunnit, and a protagonist worth cheering for.
Maureen Nash is settling into her new life on the island, juggling her role as the owner of the Moon Shell shop, grieving the loss of her husband, and learning how to live with a resident ghost: Emrys Lloyd, a sharp-tongued but oddly endearing Welsh pirate from the 1700s. When Maureen returns after a brief time away, she finds Emrys missing and herself a suspect in a murder that occurred while she was gone. Things only get weirder when Emrys finally shows up again and insists that a woman recently seen on the island—Lenrose—is an imposter. But how can that be, when she’s mingling with the Fig Ladies, a group who claim to know her well from online? And then there’s the question of the hidden shell art, linked to Maureen’s late husband and possibly stolen, suddenly found in the attic of her shop.
MacRae masterfully layers these seemingly unrelated threads into a clever, cohesive mystery. Every clue matters, every strange encounter eventually makes sense, and the pacing is spot-on. What I love about this series is how it blends classic cozy mystery tropes with genuinely intriguing subplots. There’s an emotional core here too. Maureen is not a twenty-something sleuth chasing murder for thrills—she’s a mature, intelligent woman navigating grief, reinvention, and unexpected friendship. Her voice is warm and wry, and her relationship with Emrys continues to be a highlight. He’s not just comic relief—he’s plot-critical, morally complex, and honestly, one of the most creative cozy sidekicks I’ve read in years.
The island setting is another win. Ocracoke comes to life with salty breezes, nosy neighbors, and a delightful mix of real-world and slightly surreal charm. From fig jam recipes to antique conch shells to a mystery writer across the street, every detail adds depth and color. And yes, there’s a cat. His name is Hitch, and I adored him.
One quote that really stuck with me:
“She sells seashells… and solves slayings.”
It perfectly captures the playful-yet-deadly vibe this series nails so well.
As for the mystery itself, it kept me guessing. Between the fake identity, the Fig Ladies, the mysterious art, and Emrys’s cryptic warnings, I was happily surprised by the reveal. And even though the main case wraps up satisfyingly, MacRae leaves just enough unresolved (especially about the hidden treasures and Emrys’s ghostly past) to make me eager for the next book.
If you’re new to the series, you can start here, but it’s more fun if you begin with Argyles and Arsenic. Either way, this is a top-tier paranormal cozy that balances charm with real stakes. It doesn’t rely on the ghost gimmick—it elevates it.
This series is a gem, and book two delivers even more heart, mystery, and ghostly fun than the first.
Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
I had so much fun returning to Ocracoke Island in this second book of the Haunted Shell Shop Mystery series. There’ll Be Shell to Pay picks up shortly after the first book, and while I do recommend reading the series in order, MacRae does a great job of catching you up without bogging things down. It’s everything a cozy should be: charming, atmospheric, funny, twisty, and—because this series has its own unique spin—a little bit haunted. I love that Molly MacRae has found a way to make the cozy mystery genre feel fresh without losing the ingredients we come for: quirky characters, small-town drama, a good whodunnit, and a protagonist worth cheering for.
Maureen Nash is settling into her new life on the island, juggling her role as the owner of the Moon Shell shop, grieving the loss of her husband, and learning how to live with a resident ghost: Emrys Lloyd, a sharp-tongued but oddly endearing Welsh pirate from the 1700s. When Maureen returns after a brief time away, she finds Emrys missing and herself a suspect in a murder that occurred while she was gone. Things only get weirder when Emrys finally shows up again and insists that a woman recently seen on the island—Lenrose—is an imposter. But how can that be, when she’s mingling with the Fig Ladies, a group who claim to know her well from online? And then there’s the question of the hidden shell art, linked to Maureen’s late husband and possibly stolen, suddenly found in the attic of her shop.
MacRae masterfully layers these seemingly unrelated threads into a clever, cohesive mystery. Every clue matters, every strange encounter eventually makes sense, and the pacing is spot-on. What I love about this series is how it blends classic cozy mystery tropes with genuinely intriguing subplots. There’s an emotional core here too. Maureen is not a twenty-something sleuth chasing murder for thrills—she’s a mature, intelligent woman navigating grief, reinvention, and unexpected friendship. Her voice is warm and wry, and her relationship with Emrys continues to be a highlight. He’s not just comic relief—he’s plot-critical, morally complex, and honestly, one of the most creative cozy sidekicks I’ve read in years.
The island setting is another win. Ocracoke comes to life with salty breezes, nosy neighbors, and a delightful mix of real-world and slightly surreal charm. From fig jam recipes to antique conch shells to a mystery writer across the street, every detail adds depth and color. And yes, there’s a cat. His name is Hitch, and I adored him.
One quote that really stuck with me:
“She sells seashells… and solves slayings.”
It perfectly captures the playful-yet-deadly vibe this series nails so well.
As for the mystery itself, it kept me guessing. Between the fake identity, the Fig Ladies, the mysterious art, and Emrys’s cryptic warnings, I was happily surprised by the reveal. And even though the main case wraps up satisfyingly, MacRae leaves just enough unresolved (especially about the hidden treasures and Emrys’s ghostly past) to make me eager for the next book.
If you’re new to the series, you can start here, but it’s more fun if you begin with Argyles and Arsenic. Either way, this is a top-tier paranormal cozy that balances charm with real stakes. It doesn’t rely on the ghost gimmick—it elevates it.
This series is a gem, and book two delivers even more heart, mystery, and ghostly fun than the first.
May 11, 2025
THERE’LL BE SHELL TO PAY is the second book in the Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries by Mollie MacRae. Protagonist Maureen Nash, a new resident on Ocracoke Island, is a professional storyteller. She has a charming way with words which make the story flow on the pages, yet offers humor with wit and puns. I also enjoyed Maureen’s sweet reminiscing about her long-time connection to the island when her sons were very young. She’s also a former malacologist—someone who studies mollusks—which comes in quite handy when she inherits the Moon Shell, the island’s shell shop. I was happy to see bits and pieces of interesting facts about shells and fossils included. The author expertly wove the facts in without slowing down the pacing. Maureen is one of many colorful characters that keeps the book entertaining. I especially enjoy her across the street friends—a brother and sister duo, one a former librarian and the other former mystery writer who has taken Maureen under their wing—and their fun repartee. They’re also a great addition as sidekick amateur sleuths. But it’s the ghost of an eighteenth-century Welsh pirate that makes this book so enjoyable. He adds a dimension to the story and has become a good sounding board for Maureen.
With the island being a tourist destination, there are plenty of visitors to provide fodder for suspicious happenings. Ms. MacRae writes a clever twisty mystery in this newest release. How can Maureen explain to the police that the unidentified body found in an inlet is known by the ghost, when the victim’s identity has been stolen by another? And a group of women who might have been able to collaborate have never met the victim in person. They only knew her from their online Fig Ladies’ group. It takes great skill to pull the all the threads of such a puzzling mystery together into one cohesive story, especially since a ghost can’t provide evidence. The plot and subplots are well-paced and kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. And with the reveal, it all came together with a highly satisfying conclusion.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With the island being a tourist destination, there are plenty of visitors to provide fodder for suspicious happenings. Ms. MacRae writes a clever twisty mystery in this newest release. How can Maureen explain to the police that the unidentified body found in an inlet is known by the ghost, when the victim’s identity has been stolen by another? And a group of women who might have been able to collaborate have never met the victim in person. They only knew her from their online Fig Ladies’ group. It takes great skill to pull the all the threads of such a puzzling mystery together into one cohesive story, especially since a ghost can’t provide evidence. The plot and subplots are well-paced and kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. And with the reveal, it all came together with a highly satisfying conclusion.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 28, 2025
I fell in love with Come Shell or High Water, the first book in the Haunted Shell Shop Mystery series by Molly MacRae, and was looking forward to the next book. There'll Be Shell to Pay, the second book in this series did not disappoint !!! MacRae makes readers fall in love with everything within this series !!
Maureen's late husband Jeff and his family have ties to Ocracoke Island and when Maureen finds out that the Moon Shell shop was willed to Jeff or his heir, she decides to visit it and falls in love with the shop, the island, her neighbors, the cat and ghost that came with the shop and so much more.
Unfortunately Maureen and her neighbors, brother and sister duo, Glady and Burt, seem to get involved in "helping" Captain Tate in solving the murder cases ... with the help of the resident ghost Emrys.
In There'll be Shell to Pay Maureen returns to the island after packing up some belongings from her old house. She is looking forward to unpacking and making the apartment above the shop cozier. But it isn't long before Maureen is pulled into a murder case, especially when her resident ghost was able to write a note to Captain Tate and signed her name to it. Usually Emrys is floating around the shop or apartment as he is "tied" to the shell that the shop is named after. Seeing as Maureen is the only one that can see and communicate with him, she has to figure out where he is.
I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give away too much. You really need to read the book so you can be swept away to the island and enjoy everything it has to offer.
MacRae is able to open the readers imagination. While you read this book and the first one, you will have no problems "seeing" everything and may even feel like you have sand in your toes. I would love to venture to Ocracoke Island and stay for a bit. And boy, oh boy, the way that she ends There'll Be Shell to Pay !!! Dang, now I have to wait to see where she takes the story next .... but that's okay, I'll be ready !!!!!
Maureen's late husband Jeff and his family have ties to Ocracoke Island and when Maureen finds out that the Moon Shell shop was willed to Jeff or his heir, she decides to visit it and falls in love with the shop, the island, her neighbors, the cat and ghost that came with the shop and so much more.
Unfortunately Maureen and her neighbors, brother and sister duo, Glady and Burt, seem to get involved in "helping" Captain Tate in solving the murder cases ... with the help of the resident ghost Emrys.
In There'll be Shell to Pay Maureen returns to the island after packing up some belongings from her old house. She is looking forward to unpacking and making the apartment above the shop cozier. But it isn't long before Maureen is pulled into a murder case, especially when her resident ghost was able to write a note to Captain Tate and signed her name to it. Usually Emrys is floating around the shop or apartment as he is "tied" to the shell that the shop is named after. Seeing as Maureen is the only one that can see and communicate with him, she has to figure out where he is.
I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give away too much. You really need to read the book so you can be swept away to the island and enjoy everything it has to offer.
MacRae is able to open the readers imagination. While you read this book and the first one, you will have no problems "seeing" everything and may even feel like you have sand in your toes. I would love to venture to Ocracoke Island and stay for a bit. And boy, oh boy, the way that she ends There'll Be Shell to Pay !!! Dang, now I have to wait to see where she takes the story next .... but that's okay, I'll be ready !!!!!
October 5, 2025
There'll Be Shell to Pay is the second book in the Haunted Shell Shop Series by Molly MacRae. The amateur sleuth is shell shop owner Maureen Nash. Her sidekick is an eighteenth-century Welsh pirate who haunts her shop.
In this installment, Maureen is getting used to life on Ocracoke Island and trying to solve a mystery involving mysterious treasure hunters and antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband's family years ago.
There'll Be Shell to Pay is a very charming paranormal cozy mystery. Ocracoke Island in coastal North Carolina works perfectly as a setting for the twin hooks: a shell shop and a ghost pirate. The vivid descriptions of the island, the local lore, and the weathered shell shop put you right in the story.
The amateur sleuth, Maureen, is smart, resilient, and resourceful, and her supernatural sidekick, Emrys, steals scenes with his mischievous charm. The central mystery is both clever and twisty. Author Molly MacRae seeds red herrings effectively and keeps you guessing before delivering a resolution that ties together supernatural and earthly elements in a believable way.
There'll Be Shell to Pay builds on the strong foundation laid by its predecessor and raises the stakes in all the best ways. Starting with the first book, Come Shell or High Water, is a good way to get acquainted with the backstories of the characters, but There'll Be Shell to Pay could be read as a standalone mystery.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Kensington. This did not influence my voluntary review.
In this installment, Maureen is getting used to life on Ocracoke Island and trying to solve a mystery involving mysterious treasure hunters and antique shell art stolen from Maureen’s late husband's family years ago.
There'll Be Shell to Pay is a very charming paranormal cozy mystery. Ocracoke Island in coastal North Carolina works perfectly as a setting for the twin hooks: a shell shop and a ghost pirate. The vivid descriptions of the island, the local lore, and the weathered shell shop put you right in the story.
The amateur sleuth, Maureen, is smart, resilient, and resourceful, and her supernatural sidekick, Emrys, steals scenes with his mischievous charm. The central mystery is both clever and twisty. Author Molly MacRae seeds red herrings effectively and keeps you guessing before delivering a resolution that ties together supernatural and earthly elements in a believable way.
There'll Be Shell to Pay builds on the strong foundation laid by its predecessor and raises the stakes in all the best ways. Starting with the first book, Come Shell or High Water, is a good way to get acquainted with the backstories of the characters, but There'll Be Shell to Pay could be read as a standalone mystery.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Kensington. This did not influence my voluntary review.
July 12, 2025
This was a shell of a good story! This series is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine. Maureen Nash has moved to Oracoke Island to run her new shop, The Moon Shell. Helping her out are fellow sleuths, Glady and Burt, a pair of seventy-something siblings who own the building housing the Moon Shell and Maureen's apartment above it. The Moon Shell is also home to Emrys Lloyd, an accidental pirate ghost and Bonney, the cat. On her past visit to the island, Maureen stumbles over a body after a hurricane. Turns out the murdered man was the previous owner of the shop. Maureen and the siblings, along with an assist from Emrys help solve the crime. Now that she has returned, Maureen runs into an old friend, Kathleen. Kathleen is part of a group, the Fig Ladies who have found a body on the island. All three of the Fig Ladies team up with Maureen and her pals to learn who the victim might really be and who did the deed!
If you like a good pun, this book is filled with them. The author has an entertaining command of language and uses it to our benefit. The characters are fully developed and fun, the plot moves along a a great pace and all the clues are there. While I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was, I found myself surprised more than once getting to the reveal. Now, I'm already looking forward to my next visit to the Moon Shell to see what antics Emrys, Maureen, Burt and Glady get up to next!
If you like a good pun, this book is filled with them. The author has an entertaining command of language and uses it to our benefit. The characters are fully developed and fun, the plot moves along a a great pace and all the clues are there. While I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was, I found myself surprised more than once getting to the reveal. Now, I'm already looking forward to my next visit to the Moon Shell to see what antics Emrys, Maureen, Burt and Glady get up to next!
July 7, 2025
Maureen Nash has had more than a few changes in her life – her husband died suddenly, she inherited a shell shop that comes with a pirate ghost, adjusting to life on Ocracoke including her neighbors across the street. She is just settling down when she is pulled into a murder mystery – but just what is the identity of the victim?
“There'll Be Shell to Pay” is the fun second book in Molly MacRae’s Haunted Shell Shop Cozy Mystery series. I love the main character Maureen, ghost Emrys, new friends Glady and Burt, and in this book old friend Kathleen. Together they make a great mystery solving team. There is a wonderful sense of humor in this book with the jokes flying fast and furious – it’s worth rereading just to catch the jokes I missed the first time around. This isn’t a whodunit but a watch the amateur sleuths put the case together and try to convince the police type of mystery but there was one event that I wasn’t expecting and took me off guard. There are a couple of smaller mysteries that still haven’t been solved and I look forward to reading about them in future books in the series.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
“There'll Be Shell to Pay” is the fun second book in Molly MacRae’s Haunted Shell Shop Cozy Mystery series. I love the main character Maureen, ghost Emrys, new friends Glady and Burt, and in this book old friend Kathleen. Together they make a great mystery solving team. There is a wonderful sense of humor in this book with the jokes flying fast and furious – it’s worth rereading just to catch the jokes I missed the first time around. This isn’t a whodunit but a watch the amateur sleuths put the case together and try to convince the police type of mystery but there was one event that I wasn’t expecting and took me off guard. There are a couple of smaller mysteries that still haven’t been solved and I look forward to reading about them in future books in the series.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
July 20, 2025
Maureen is back on Ocracoke Island with a few of her things. When she gets back to the shop, her ghost is missing. She's worried about Emrys and wonders where he may be. At the same time, she finds out that an old friend is visiting Ocracoke. Kathleen has a group of online friends who have formed a fig appreciation society. The "Fig Ladies" discovered the body of a women near their B&B. The Fig Ladies show Maureen where they found and body. Surprise, there is Emrys. He claims that the murder victim is Lenrose another of the Fig Ladies. Since this is an online group, none of the women had ever met before. So they didn't recognize her. The police don't know who she it. Things get weirder when Lenrose's husband turns up with Lenrose! He is also a friend of the previous owner of Maureen's shell shop. Maureen, Glady and Burt along with the Fig Ladies try to figure out what happened.
This is a relaxing little cozy. It takes place on a small barrier island. The setting is interesting and the characters are quirky. The ghost is fun and helps to logic out the suspect. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my own, unbiased opinion.
This is a relaxing little cozy. It takes place on a small barrier island. The setting is interesting and the characters are quirky. The ghost is fun and helps to logic out the suspect. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my own, unbiased opinion.
July 22, 2025
The second haunted shell shop mystery finds Maureen investigating after a woman's body is found in the water. Her ghost friend Emrys tells her it is someone named Lenrose, yet the next day a man and his wife walk into the store and the wife claims to be Lenrose. Things are complicated even more when Maureen's friend Kathleen and her online fig friends are in town. They too think this is not the real Lenrose. They set out to figure out what happened to her.
I liked the first one in this series a lot and was looking forward to this one! I thought it was ok, but didn't have the same fun as the first one. It just felt slow a lot and that the whodunnit was inevitably going to be two people. Maybe if there hadn't been a husband and it was more of this actually Lenrose or an imposter? I'm not sure - it just wasn't really much of a mystery in terms of whodunnit, more just confirming what they thought. I will definitely give the third in this series a try when it comes out, and hopefully it will be back to the vibes of the first book.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the first one in this series a lot and was looking forward to this one! I thought it was ok, but didn't have the same fun as the first one. It just felt slow a lot and that the whodunnit was inevitably going to be two people. Maybe if there hadn't been a husband and it was more of this actually Lenrose or an imposter? I'm not sure - it just wasn't really much of a mystery in terms of whodunnit, more just confirming what they thought. I will definitely give the third in this series a try when it comes out, and hopefully it will be back to the vibes of the first book.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2025
I received an advanced reader's edition from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
There are just certain times of the year where I want to read nothing but cozy mysteries- and it's a perfect match when it's that time of the year and a favorite author! I've been a Molly MacRae fan since I discovered the haunted yarn shop series- this one is just as good- This one has a Pirate ghost helping solve crime! Count me in everytime.
This one picks up a month or so after the first book, and the murder in this one had more intricacies that made it a fun read for a cozy mystery. It also set up further mysteries even outside of someone being murdered. There are some highly coveted shells in the attic, what are they/ where did they come from and how many other people know about them? The former owner of the shell shop since to have been a shady character, and it seems anyone who was an associate of his follows the same.
I'm looking forward to the next one- and have already shared this series with patrons at the library!
There are just certain times of the year where I want to read nothing but cozy mysteries- and it's a perfect match when it's that time of the year and a favorite author! I've been a Molly MacRae fan since I discovered the haunted yarn shop series- this one is just as good- This one has a Pirate ghost helping solve crime! Count me in everytime.
This one picks up a month or so after the first book, and the murder in this one had more intricacies that made it a fun read for a cozy mystery. It also set up further mysteries even outside of someone being murdered. There are some highly coveted shells in the attic, what are they/ where did they come from and how many other people know about them? The former owner of the shell shop since to have been a shady character, and it seems anyone who was an associate of his follows the same.
I'm looking forward to the next one- and have already shared this series with patrons at the library!
August 6, 2025
This book is the second in the Haunted Shell Shop mystery series and I'm loving it! Maureen Nash is the new owner of a North Carolina shell shop. Maureen is getting used to her new town, being a fairly recent widow and also inheriting the shop. Maureen's grown sons live out of town and are involved from afar.
Emrys Lloyd, the resident ghost, was a reluctant pirate who was thrown overboard by his own brothers when he showed a hesitancy for villainy. Emrys is getting stronger and is now able to move some objects and Maureen seems to be the only person who can see him.
This story was a lot of fun because in addition to Maureen's neighbors, she is reunited with an old friend and her batch of online friends who call themselves the Fig ladies. They end up joining the investigation and I really enjoyed the comedic elements of this story as displayed through the characters and dialogue. I'm looking forward to more in the series and would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a funny cozy mystery with a hint of the paranormal.
Emrys Lloyd, the resident ghost, was a reluctant pirate who was thrown overboard by his own brothers when he showed a hesitancy for villainy. Emrys is getting stronger and is now able to move some objects and Maureen seems to be the only person who can see him.
This story was a lot of fun because in addition to Maureen's neighbors, she is reunited with an old friend and her batch of online friends who call themselves the Fig ladies. They end up joining the investigation and I really enjoyed the comedic elements of this story as displayed through the characters and dialogue. I'm looking forward to more in the series and would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a funny cozy mystery with a hint of the paranormal.
February 17, 2025
Maureen is a very recently widowed former librarian and malacologist from Tennessee who now is the operator of a historic shop on Ocracoke with a history of old ghosts, desirable mollusk shells, gossip central, and customers who refer to themselves as 'murder tourists'. The story is punny, full of giggles, colorful, and a fantastic alternative to the 'real world'. The body was found in a marshy area by the crows who notified the ghost who forged a note to the sheriff and the investigation was incredibly convoluted. Loved it!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Kensington Books | Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Pub Date Jun 24 2025
#TherellBeShelltoPay by @mollymacraewriter #HauntedShellShopMysteriesBk2 @kensingtonbooks
#NetGalley #cozymystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #molluskshells #outerbanks #malacologist #recipes #wordplay
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Kensington Books | Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Pub Date Jun 24 2025
#TherellBeShelltoPay by @mollymacraewriter #HauntedShellShopMysteriesBk2 @kensingtonbooks
#NetGalley #cozymystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #kobo #Waterstones #molluskshells #outerbanks #malacologist #recipes #wordplay
September 18, 2025
Maureen Nash heads back to Ocracoke Island to get back to running her new business. She unpacks most of her boxes and hopes to talk to the ghost of Emrys Lloyd, a pirate, but he's nowhere to be found. She finds a note from him telling her about a tresure trove of shells he has found in the hidden attic. She also finds out while she was gone there was a visitor there looking for Allen, the deceased previous owner of the Moon Shell shell shop. Victor "Shelly" Sullivan and his wife, Lenrose, arrive asking about a few of the rare pieces that Maureen believe are hidden in the attic. Emrys tells her "Lenrose" isn't the real Lenrose because she was the body the police found dead in the inlet. Maureen, Burt and Glady start investigating the murder and try to figure out the reason Victor swapped out his wife. They are also joined by the Fig Ladies, a group of women who met online and the real Lenrose had been a member of their group.
A great mystery.
A great mystery.
May 10, 2025
There'll Be Shell to Pay the 2nd instalment in “A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery” series by Molly MacRae set on Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. What a great follow up to book one!
I enjoyed visiting Ocracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina again and hanging out with Maureen, Emrys, Burt and Glory. MacRae's writing is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. The story is skillfully paced, with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The author's vivid descriptions of the island setting and its quirky inhabitants add to the book's charm.
I eagerly await the next instalment. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, this book is definitely worth checking out."
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Cozies and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed visiting Ocracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina again and hanging out with Maureen, Emrys, Burt and Glory. MacRae's writing is engaging, and her characters are well-developed and relatable. The story is skillfully paced, with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The author's vivid descriptions of the island setting and its quirky inhabitants add to the book's charm.
I eagerly await the next instalment. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, this book is definitely worth checking out."
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Cozies and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 28, 2025
Maureen returns to Ocracoke in time to witness a note with her signature on it regarding an unidentified dead body found before her return.
An old friend, Kathleen, and two other ladies found the body. The three ladies call themselves the Fig Ladies due to their intense interest in figs. It’s their sleuthing group name; they want to find out who the dead woman is and who killed her.
This steps on Glady and Burt’s toes as they feel that they are the sleuths on the island with Maureen to round out their trio. The two groups get together and small amounts of mayhem ensue.
Emrys, Pirate ghost, is there too helping to create interesting circumstances.
There is talk of Burt’s baking, a fan club for a stuffed seagull and Emrys writing his story.
This was an okay read for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for the opportunity to read this book.
An old friend, Kathleen, and two other ladies found the body. The three ladies call themselves the Fig Ladies due to their intense interest in figs. It’s their sleuthing group name; they want to find out who the dead woman is and who killed her.
This steps on Glady and Burt’s toes as they feel that they are the sleuths on the island with Maureen to round out their trio. The two groups get together and small amounts of mayhem ensue.
Emrys, Pirate ghost, is there too helping to create interesting circumstances.
There is talk of Burt’s baking, a fan club for a stuffed seagull and Emrys writing his story.
This was an okay read for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for the opportunity to read this book.
June 24, 2025
She solves slayings by the seashore
Now that Maureen is finally back in Ocracoke Island for good, she’s ready to become a shopkeeper and part of the community. Only she returns to find her resident ghost, Emrys, missing, and that she is now a suspect and a murder that occurred while she was gone. So much for selling seashells, now Maureen solving slayings by the seashore. Will she be able to figure out who killed the woman or will she be joining her buddy Emrys in eternity.?
A solid second entry in this costal based cozy mystery series. With a mature protagonist, quirky neighbors, a cute cat, and as resident ghost, you’ll find yourself settling in, but it’s the mystery that will keep you on your toes!
Now that Maureen is finally back in Ocracoke Island for good, she’s ready to become a shopkeeper and part of the community. Only she returns to find her resident ghost, Emrys, missing, and that she is now a suspect and a murder that occurred while she was gone. So much for selling seashells, now Maureen solving slayings by the seashore. Will she be able to figure out who killed the woman or will she be joining her buddy Emrys in eternity.?
A solid second entry in this costal based cozy mystery series. With a mature protagonist, quirky neighbors, a cute cat, and as resident ghost, you’ll find yourself settling in, but it’s the mystery that will keep you on your toes!
May 3, 2025
This book picks up shortly after the first, as Maureen returns to take over the Moon Shell for good and investigate Emrys' discovery at the end of the previous book. The premise is unique and although the ongoing mystery of the treasure didn't progress a lot, it's there in the background and I'm curious to see where that goes. In the beginning I missed Emrys along with Maureen, wondering what he might be up to. We continue to learn about the ghost's story. The main mystery was quite intriguing. The question of whether Lenrose was an imposter or not kept things extra interesting. In honor of the Fig Ladies, there's a bunch of recipes featuring figs at the end.
July 27, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this second visit to Ocracoke Island. I love the idyllic setting, the quirky characters, shell lore, and Emrys, of course.
We find our trio of amateur sleuths joining forces with a visiting trio to try to solve the murder of a woman found near their rental. Emrys is there to aid them in his own ghostly way, which leads to plenty of chaos and the revelation of some long held secrets.
Love this new series from one of my favorite authors and I'm already anxious for the next installment.
We find our trio of amateur sleuths joining forces with a visiting trio to try to solve the murder of a woman found near their rental. Emrys is there to aid them in his own ghostly way, which leads to plenty of chaos and the revelation of some long held secrets.
Love this new series from one of my favorite authors and I'm already anxious for the next installment.
May 24, 2025
This is a well written paranormal mystery. Unlike a lot of mysteries that feature a ghost, Emrys isn’t tied to one location so he’s much more of a main character and more involved than the ghosts in most cozy mysteries. And I like how the author left several threads open at the end of the story for future books.
July 31, 2025
What could be a better theme than an amateur sleuth and her pirate ghost to help. This is book 2 in the Haunted Shell Shop Mystery series. Maureen and her Welsh pirate, Emrys, have the Moon Shell. Set on Ocracoke Island, She and the Fig Ladies find a woman's body and try to solve her murder. The first thing they have to do is find out who she is. Lots of suspects.
July 21, 2025
If you like a ghost who will help and explain about missing treasue this is the book for you
then of course we have a murder....but Lenrose is alive....really then who is the dead person?
Its interesting trying to figure out the real Lenrose
then of course we have a murder....but Lenrose is alive....really then who is the dead person?
Its interesting trying to figure out the real Lenrose
April 28, 2025
Very enjoyable. I need to go back and read the first book in the series. Thank you to Molly MacRae for this giveaway.
June 26, 2025
perfect follow up to the first. I read it in 1 day. excellent characters and plot.
June 29, 2025
6/29/2025 Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
July 8, 2025
Love the setting but thot the writing was a bit young…
July 31, 2025
Round up to 3.5
It took me a few chapters to warm up to the story, but I did end up enjoying it. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
It took me a few chapters to warm up to the story, but I did end up enjoying it. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
September 20, 2025
Great book with great plot and characters, recommend it to all that like and enjoy cozy mysteries
October 14, 2025
I thought it was going to be funnier than it was.
The characters didn't move me the way i thought they might.
The characters didn't move me the way i thought they might.
August 9, 2025
It's unusual for a mystery series with an amateur sleuth to have the body discovered by someone other than the main character or their close circle of friends. It's even more unusual for the body to be discovered well before the book begins.
The other odd thing about the series is how slowly it unfurls. The first book frustrated me with how slowly Maureen was to react to anything. Now, I've learned to just take it as part of the tone and rhythm of the series.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...
The other odd thing about the series is how slowly it unfurls. The first book frustrated me with how slowly Maureen was to react to anything. Now, I've learned to just take it as part of the tone and rhythm of the series.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...
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