What do you think?
Rate this book
Mudflats Murder Club Mysteries #2
A Killer in the Cordgrass
The golden years are tainted red with murder on Spartina Island.
When Courtney Evanson’s body is found in the dunes of Spartina Island, the peaceful facade of the retirement haven is shattered. Retired detective Sean Tanner teams up with Detective Sergeant Charlie Nash, diving into a case that’s far more twisted than they imagined.
A stolen credit card initially offers a promising lead, but when their main suspect turns up dead, all their theories unravel. The investigation grinds to a halt—until The Mudflats Murder Club uncovers a crucial piece of a ruby pendant hidden in the pocket of the clothes Courtney was wearing when she died. This pendant is more than a simple find—it’s the unmistakable link to a 27-year-old cold case involving another young woman’s violent death.
The deeper they probe into the case, the more Sean’s team unearths, including secrets about Charlie’s father, who mysteriously disappeared a decade ago. As the lines between past and present blur, Sean must navigate these buried truths without losing Charlie’s trust.
As the body count climbs and three seemingly separate cases collide, the stakes on Spartina Island have never been higher. The Cordgrass Killer is still out there—watching, waiting—and Sean and Charlie’s relentless digging has put them squarely in the crosshairs. Can Sean and Charlie outpace a killer who’s always a step ahead…or will the sands of Spartina Island claim them next?
Brian Thiem, drawing from his experience as a former detective and cold case investigator, crafts a suspenseful story perfect for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building. Dive into Spartina Island’s dark underbelly, where retirement dreams turn into deadly nightmares, and age is just a number in the pursuit of justice.
___________________
Praise for Brian
“Totally charming and completely relatable…I'm dubbing it Only Murders in the Mudflats! What a winner!" —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author
“A sophisticated, pulsing, persistent police procedural with multiple whodunnits and secrets that come at you from all angles…A highly satisfying read." —Chris Bauer, author of the Maximum Risk series
“...I loved the people, the place, the detection process—and the hint of romance!” —Jane K. Cleland, Agatha Award-winning author
“Sometimes the cop can’t quit the job. Sometimes the job won’t let them…This is a must read series!” —Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of Crimson Thaw
When Courtney Evanson’s body is found in the dunes of Spartina Island, the peaceful facade of the retirement haven is shattered. Retired detective Sean Tanner teams up with Detective Sergeant Charlie Nash, diving into a case that’s far more twisted than they imagined.
A stolen credit card initially offers a promising lead, but when their main suspect turns up dead, all their theories unravel. The investigation grinds to a halt—until The Mudflats Murder Club uncovers a crucial piece of a ruby pendant hidden in the pocket of the clothes Courtney was wearing when she died. This pendant is more than a simple find—it’s the unmistakable link to a 27-year-old cold case involving another young woman’s violent death.
The deeper they probe into the case, the more Sean’s team unearths, including secrets about Charlie’s father, who mysteriously disappeared a decade ago. As the lines between past and present blur, Sean must navigate these buried truths without losing Charlie’s trust.
As the body count climbs and three seemingly separate cases collide, the stakes on Spartina Island have never been higher. The Cordgrass Killer is still out there—watching, waiting—and Sean and Charlie’s relentless digging has put them squarely in the crosshairs. Can Sean and Charlie outpace a killer who’s always a step ahead…or will the sands of Spartina Island claim them next?
Brian Thiem, drawing from his experience as a former detective and cold case investigator, crafts a suspenseful story perfect for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building. Dive into Spartina Island’s dark underbelly, where retirement dreams turn into deadly nightmares, and age is just a number in the pursuit of justice.
___________________
Praise for Brian
“Totally charming and completely relatable…I'm dubbing it Only Murders in the Mudflats! What a winner!" —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author
“A sophisticated, pulsing, persistent police procedural with multiple whodunnits and secrets that come at you from all angles…A highly satisfying read." —Chris Bauer, author of the Maximum Risk series
“...I loved the people, the place, the detection process—and the hint of romance!” —Jane K. Cleland, Agatha Award-winning author
“Sometimes the cop can’t quit the job. Sometimes the job won’t let them…This is a must read series!” —Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of Crimson Thaw
320 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2026
314 people are currently reading
1396 people want to read
About the author
Brian Thiem
9 books98 followersBrian Thiem is the author of The Mudflats Murder Club, the first book in the Mudflats Murder Club series, as well as the Detective Matt Sinclair Mystery series, which includes Red Line, Thrill Kill, and Shallow Grave.
In his previous life, Brian spent 25 years with the Oakland Police Department, much of it working Homicide, and retired as a lieutenant. He’s also an Iraq War veteran, retiring from the Army as a lieutenant colonel after 28 years of active and reserve service. He holds an MFA in creative writing and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Island Writers Network.
Brian lives with his wife, yellow Lab, and Tonkinese cat in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he’s also a member of the sheriff department’s Cold Case Team, consisting of retired law enforcement professionals from around the nation who examine unsolved murders.
In his previous life, Brian spent 25 years with the Oakland Police Department, much of it working Homicide, and retired as a lieutenant. He’s also an Iraq War veteran, retiring from the Army as a lieutenant colonel after 28 years of active and reserve service. He holds an MFA in creative writing and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Island Writers Network.
Brian lives with his wife, yellow Lab, and Tonkinese cat in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he’s also a member of the sheriff department’s Cold Case Team, consisting of retired law enforcement professionals from around the nation who examine unsolved murders.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2026
Mudflats Murder Club Mysteries #2! This is such a good series! This can be read as a standalone. Though there are references to The Mudflats Murder Club (book one), those references provide more character insight and background than anything else. I personally like to start a series from the beginning to get a good feel for characters, their development and development of relationships. The blending of current cases and cold cases keeps the series interesting. The characters in the series are also a good blend of retired law enforcement (who investigate the cold cases) and current officers. A well written, entertaining police procedural mystery!
February 10, 2026
Retired California detective Sean Tanner teams up with Spartina Island, South Carolina Detective Sergeant Charlie Nash in book 2 of the Mudflats Murder Club, when the body of a murdered woman is found on the beach, with a ruby pendant hidden in her pocket. This pendant is more than a simple find—it’s the unmistakable link to a 27-year-old cold case involving another young woman’s violent death.
The deeper they dig into the cases, Sean and the other members of the Cold Case Team unearth secrets about many island residents, including Charlie’s father, who disappeared a decade ago. Sean must follow the leads where they point, even if it means losing Charlie’s trust.
I enjoyed this second entry in what I hope will be a long-running series. I like the writing, the plotting, the pacing, the scene-setting, the dialogue, and the character development. There’s a good mix of day-to-day law enforcement, cold cases, and regular life. Sean and Charlie are dancing around a romance and I like that – it’s a normal part of the story, not a romance dressed up in mystery clothing.
Nobody takes stupid chances, which is a pleasure. Regular good old fashioned police work and communication save the day. The author is a former detective and cold case investigator, so the stories ring true. The plot held my interest all the way to the end, and I was a little sad when the story ended because I know it will be some time before I get to see Sean and Charlie and the Cold Case Team members again.
You could start this series with this book as the author does a good job of filling in the backstory. I generally prefer reading the books in order because I like to watch the character development. I eagerly await the next installment.
The deeper they dig into the cases, Sean and the other members of the Cold Case Team unearth secrets about many island residents, including Charlie’s father, who disappeared a decade ago. Sean must follow the leads where they point, even if it means losing Charlie’s trust.
I enjoyed this second entry in what I hope will be a long-running series. I like the writing, the plotting, the pacing, the scene-setting, the dialogue, and the character development. There’s a good mix of day-to-day law enforcement, cold cases, and regular life. Sean and Charlie are dancing around a romance and I like that – it’s a normal part of the story, not a romance dressed up in mystery clothing.
Nobody takes stupid chances, which is a pleasure. Regular good old fashioned police work and communication save the day. The author is a former detective and cold case investigator, so the stories ring true. The plot held my interest all the way to the end, and I was a little sad when the story ended because I know it will be some time before I get to see Sean and Charlie and the Cold Case Team members again.
You could start this series with this book as the author does a good job of filling in the backstory. I generally prefer reading the books in order because I like to watch the character development. I eagerly await the next installment.
February 16, 2026
A crew of retired law enforcement (PD/FBI/Prosecutor/Forensic specialist) comprise the Mudflats Murder Club- all strictly volunteer but now acknowledged by the local PD because of their success in solving a cold case in their first attempt.
This time, they are assigned the cold case disappearance of their PD liason (Charlie Nash's) father. First however, a body is found on the beach in the cordgrass and what's found in her pocket leads to another disappearance from 27 years ago. Suddenly, there's a murder & two cold cases for the Club to help with.
The death of a young woman (cold case) intertwines with the current murders and these are eventually solved but the small leads into Charlies' father are teases for the next two books.
A bunch of likeable main characters, a quick read and a 3.25 for me. The downside, having to wait for other installments in the series to find out what happened to Charlie Nash's father.
This time, they are assigned the cold case disappearance of their PD liason (Charlie Nash's) father. First however, a body is found on the beach in the cordgrass and what's found in her pocket leads to another disappearance from 27 years ago. Suddenly, there's a murder & two cold cases for the Club to help with.
The death of a young woman (cold case) intertwines with the current murders and these are eventually solved but the small leads into Charlies' father are teases for the next two books.
A bunch of likeable main characters, a quick read and a 3.25 for me. The downside, having to wait for other installments in the series to find out what happened to Charlie Nash's father.
February 10, 2026
The Mudflats Murder Club – retired law enforcement on Spartina Island – investigating “Cold Cases” have gained respect from the local department. That is how Sean Tanner (retired Homicide Detective) gets called by Charlie Nash (Detective Sergeant) when a body is found in the dunes. Even though it is current, his expertise is appreciated.
As part of the investigation, a piece jewelry is found that was last seen in 27-year-old case, a lot of old and new doors are being opened.
At the same time the Club starts investigating the a missing person case, the missing person being Charlie Nash’s dad. Things are getting more complicated as time goes on.
Page turner from the start – looking forward to book 3 !!
As part of the investigation, a piece jewelry is found that was last seen in 27-year-old case, a lot of old and new doors are being opened.
At the same time the Club starts investigating the a missing person case, the missing person being Charlie Nash’s dad. Things are getting more complicated as time goes on.
Page turner from the start – looking forward to book 3 !!
January 17, 2026
Second in the series of the Mudflat Murder Club. This book could be read as a stand alone, but the reader will benefit from reading the original book in the series first. The book centers around a group of retired detectives and forensic personnel living in a retirement community that work to solve cold cases. The story is interesting and has lots of tangents that may or may not tie in with each other. I am looking forward to book 3.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A KILLER IN THE CORDGRASS - I am assuming by the way the author keeps referring to what happened a month ago that this book is part of a series. This book reads like a Cozy mystery, not my choice of a mystery genre, but I held on and ended up with a good story. Almost clean, which also made me happier. Interesting story lines and good characters. Source: Severn River Publishing. 4*
February 20, 2026
A great read! Charlie and Sean are back investigating another challenging murder. Plus, Sean is assigned to lead the cold case of her missing father.
This "murder club" makes sense, one of the things I like. I also like the interesting cast who make up its membership.
I highly recommend it!
This "murder club" makes sense, one of the things I like. I also like the interesting cast who make up its membership.
I highly recommend it!
February 11, 2026
Really good series. Looking forward to the next one, as there is a lot unresolved.
February 16, 2026
This series is great. Perfect mix of procedural and character development.
February 19, 2026
An excellent story from Mr. Thiem. This story takes you on a ride trying to figure out the murders. I look forward to reading the next story in this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews