"A lively, good read ... I couldn't put it down" - Kingdom Books You never know what's beneath the surface. When Seattle native Tish Yearly finds herself fired and evicted all in one afternoon, she knows she's in deep water. Unemployed and desperate, the 26 year old ex-actress heads for the one place she knows she'll be welcome - the house of her cantankerous ex-CIA agent grandfather, Tobias Yearly, in the San Juan Islands. And when she discovers the strangled corpse of Tobias's best friend, she knows she's in over her head. Tish is thrown head-long into a mystery that pits her against a handsome but straight-laced Sheriff's Deputy, a group of eccentric and clannish local residents, and a killer who knows the island far better than she does. Now Tish must swim against the current, depending on her nearly forgotten acting skills and her grandfather's spy craft, to con a killer and keep them alive.
Bethany Maines, a native of Tacoma WA, is the award-winning author of action adventure tales that focus on women who know when to apply lipstick and when to apply a foot to someone’s hind end. When she’s not traveling to exotic lands, or kicking some serious butt with her black belt in karate, she can be found chasing after her daughter, or glued to the computer working on her next novel.
When Tish Yearly is fired from her job after telling her boss exactly what she thought of him, she gathers her belongings and heads home only to find that her landlord is in the process of changing locks on the door. Handing her an eviction notice, he informs that rent has not been paid for three months and she and her cousin with whom she shared the apartment were being evicted. She manages to get him to let her go in to collect her things, but when she soon finds that just about everything of value is gone and just some clothes are left. Grabbing what was left, she loads it in her car and wonders what next? Calling her mother to see if she can stay with her, she finds that he mother has just moved in with a new boy friend and it would be very inconvenient. At wits end she decides to call her grandfather out n the San Juans and soon is on her way to the small island community. The death of her uncle's neighbor and good friend plunges into a murder investigation as she gets settled in with her Uncle. Nice read in the light vein.
When Tish's life implodes in Seattle, and her mother can't take her in, she asks her grandfather, Tobias Yearly, if she can come stay with him. He says yes with minimal resistance, and reminds her what time the last ferry leaves for the San Juan Islands.
Approaching the situation with a memory of her grandfather being crotchety, she discovers a sense of family and discovers being able to handle her grandfather better than when she was a child. Thus begins a plan of clearing out old sheds of years accumulation, as well as taking on a house that has only had stuff added to it since her grandmother died.
Along with all that, she has many discoveries and one of the more unpleasant one is finding her grandfather's best friend murdered. She teams up with Tobias to get to the bottom of the murder and other bad things happening on the island.
Tish is a refreshing heroine in that she doesn't moan about what has happened. She picks up the pieces and keeps going. Her take charge personality is perfect to match up with Tobias' ideas and his own take charge personality. The author has made an unusual age spectrum work well! The characters in the book are refreshingly honest and straight forward. The various issues are addressed in realistic ways that make this one of the most enjoyable books about family/murder/life that I have read in quite a while! I look forward to reading more.
I read the first books in this series out of order but it didn't matter too much. I enjoyed all of them. This is the first book in this series. Tish Yearly finds her life turned upside down because of things mostly out of her control. With few options she finds herself back in her grandfather's life. He is a wonderful character. Their relationship is a strong driver in these books. The mystery is interesting with the right number of clues and red herrings. I enjoyed it very much.
I'm not a mystery fan but I truly enjoyed this one! Set in the incredible San Juan Islands, this is a wonderful story of an unemployed actress and her grandad solving a murder. Definitely fun-so this is what they mean by a "cozy" mystery! :)
I am posting this review here because Against The Undertow, the second book in the series, isn't listed for review on Goodreads. This review is based on both the first and second books in this series.
Against The Undertow is the second book in Bethany Maine's San Juan Islands mystery series. I received both the first and second book for free and I'm reviewing both here voluntarily.
I loved, loved, loved these two books. It's a series I hope goes on forever. Tish Yearly an ex-actress is fired from her job and evicted on the same day. With nowhere else to turn she packs up what she can and moves in with her grandfather Tobias on Orcas Island.
Tish and Tobias have had a distant relationship for years. She thought he was a grumpy old curmudgeon. Tish quickly realizes she had her grandfather pegged wrong her entire life. Tobias is an ex-CIA operative, ex-test pilot with a heart of gold and ironically a secret file on every resident of Orcas Island.
After the two solve the murder of Tobias' best friend in the first book Tobias decides he still has some life left in him yet and decides to get his PI license. Tish tries to take another route and open a wedding venue but what can you do when your grandfather needs your help other than join in the fun?
When their friend Sheriff's Deputy Emmett Nash is accused of murder the two take on the case and the fun begins in the second book of this series.
The character development is so well done I found myself loving the entire bunch of them. Their snarky sense of humor, Tish's private thoughts on how to "play the roll" of interrogator of each suspect and the friendly arguing between all makes this laugh out loud funny. I like these characters so much I want to move to Orcas Island and hang out with them.
The story moves along at a good pace. The author has developed Deputy Nash's character so well you know he isn't capable of committing a murder. As a reader your engaged and motivated in finding out who the murder is and feel like your right beside the characters as they sort things out.
Although I saw mention of these being cozy mysteries I believe they are closer to a true mystery series. A series I want to read much more of. The comedy aspect alone is enough to keep you reading but there's also a strong mystery to draw you along.
It took me about 16 hours to read both books in the series. They are easy to read and follow along with. At times I got so caught up in the story I found myself losing track of time.
I highly recommend both books in this series. It's rare to find a mystery series with such likable characters who will keep you laughing throughout the book.
In this first book in the San Juan Islands Murder Mystery series, we meet Tish, who lives and works in Seattle. But she ends up having a really bad day when she finds herself sacked by her incompetent and lazy boss and then returning to the flat she rents with her cousin Sean, finds herself being evicted for non-payment of rent. It seems her cousin has been taking the rent money she paid him and also all her valuables and disappeared!
Her mother doesn’t want her moving in with her and her new partner, so early in their relationship and suggests she move in elsewhere. The only place Tish thinks she might be welcome is at her grandfather’s home, out on Orcas Island, but she hasn’t exactly been the best or most dutiful granddaughter, having ignored all his calls recently. Her grandfather, Tobias, is a secretive old man, ex-CIA and a bit of a grumpy person, not really looking after himself well since his wife died years before.
He has been relying on his close friendship with his next door neighbour, Reginald, who has been visiting him regularly and cooking meals for the two of them – as Tobias is a horrendous cook and most of his meals are what you might call adventurous in taste combinations but usually inedible! They are also card partners and good pals. Tish gets to know Reginald and his love of plants, fairly well from the start, and they also hear of the persistent offers for his property, which his son Reggie Jr wants him to accept. But on a visit to his house, finds him strangled and lying dead on the floor.
She is thrown into the mystery of who has killed her grandfather’s best friend and also into the path of the strictly, straight laced Sheriff Deputy E. Nash. Mix in lots of eccentric islanders and developers trying to take over part of the island and it all leads to murder. Tish doesn’t know the island well, but has to learn from Tobias about who to trust and who not to. She learns about some of his CIA past and uses his knowledge to try and help solve the murder with him. Only, it seems that the most obvious suspects may not be the murderer and they have to dig deeper and Tish puts herself in danger.
This is a great and complicated murder mystery to start the series. We get to meet some interesting and complex characters and Tish and her grandfather have more to them than you first learn. It makes for an easy read, but keeps you guessing to the end for who the killer was. I received a copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
4*+ ARC Review - Great start to fun series!! This is the first book in the San Juan Island Mysteries series and is a great starting point! Tish is an ex-actress who is now living in Seattle and working at a marketing job. After a day off, she returns to problems which end up causing her to be fired and as a follow up returns to her apartment and is evicted!! With nowhere to go she heads to Orcas Island to stay with her granddad, Tobias. Within a day of being on the island, Tish finds the body of her grandfather’s best friend, who has been murdered. The investigation starts to focus on Tish and her granddad, so they try to look into the case themselves, which is when we then learn that Tobias was a CIA officer. This is an interesting story that helps to introduce both the main characters and all of the interesting secondary characters from the island. Plus, Tish is a very interesting character that seems to use her acting training and skills from other random jobs, to assist her grandfather while trying to solve the murder of his friend. The way the author has structured it so you have Tish’s inner thoughts right along with the story makes for some entertaining commentary. Overall great story and characters. Note – I received this book as part of an ARC I was reviewing for the third book in the series.
Loved this book, loved the characters, loved the writing style. Although I guessed the bad guy early the plotline was very interesting and kept me engaged. I have purchased the first four books in this series, so I have already begun the 2nd book.
I would have given the book a higher rating if it were not for the typos and incorrect grammar - I am not talking a few, which I would have just ignored, but on almost every page. It is soooo distracting. The author needs a good proofreader! Or at the least, she should invest in a good spell check/grammar program like Grammarly or others on the market.
An example of the inconsistencies that a good proofreader would have picked up is that in the first book the grandfather is 78. Within the first two chapters of the second book, the grandfather is described as 'eighty-seven' and in the second chapter as 78. Correct grammar would have made the 'eighty-seven' 87, and a good proofreader would have caught the inconsistencies.
This first book in the San Juan Islands Murder Mysteries series by Bethany Maines was definitely a most interesting start to the series and in a good way. The writing was a combination of a dark subject, murder, mixed with some very delightfully written humor. Some of the best material was in the thought words by Tish rather than in what she said aloud to people. I am definitely going to read the next book in this series. This is a voluntary review of this book
This was a delightful cozy mystery with lively and entertaining characters. I adored Tish Yearly and her grandfather Tobias, and the setting of the San Juan islands serves as a character all its own. I relate to Tish's feelings of being overwhelmed, and her determination to get to the bottom of things anyway. Highly recommend!
This was a fun story, with a variety of characters you get to know, with fun interactions.
I was frequently distracted by a variety of spelling and grammatical issues any decent editor should have caught. It brings down the presumed professional quality we all expect of favorite authors.
No stars because it's not fair to the author if I didn't finish the book. Loved the characters but at 58% on my Kindle, it didn't seem as if anything was happening since the death of the neighbor. I have to move on.
So glad I found this series. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Bethany Maines drew in from first page and kept me up late at night finishing this read.
I love the banter between the mc and her grandpa. The budding romance is perfect, and the author accurately captures the atmosphere of Orcas Island. Fun read.
I love in Washington like the author and I'm always interested in reading books that take place around here. And this one do not disappoint!! I thoroughly loved it and I can't wait to read about the next adventures of Trish and her wiley grandad Tobias!
Patricia "Tish" Yearly has left behind the excitement of LA life & near stardom for a more predictable living in her hometown of Seattle. However, life circumstances and her sharp wit, won't allow her to slip into a banal existence, and place her directly on a collision course leading to confrontations with past demons, a murderous madman, all wrapped up with a bit of romance and some family drama.
Set in the small San Juan Island towns off the coast of Western Washington, the intense beauty of the scenery is matched by the loyal fondness (or feuds) between residents on the island. With a cast of characters that includes a construction crew entirely made up of men named "Tim," this novel is equal parts thriller and thrill.
At the heart of the novel is a friendship between Tobias Yearly, Tish's granddad, and Reginald Stokely, his neighbor. Tish and Tobias rekindle their relationship while trying to sort through the many islander characters in Reginald's life that may have wanted him dead. Could it be the local bake-off champion who swears that Reginald sabotaged her pineapple cake in last year's competition? Could it be a local land developer set on purchasing his land to build an island resort? Could it be his son, Reggie Jr., who was looking to cash in on the development deal? Could it be Tobias, himself, after an argument they had over dinner the night Reginald died? The police are working against them. Tish is the only one who can bring Reginald's killer to justice, but her LA acting abilities may not be a match for a murderer.
An Unseen Current by Bethany Maines is an entertaining mystery. The main character, Tish Yearly, together with her elderly ex-CIA grandfather, Tobias are quickly thrown into the middle of a murder mystery following the death of her grandfather’s best friend. The book is set on one of the San Juan Islands with an interesting mix of residents, including a ‘stuffed shirt’ Sheriff’s Deputy, who know the island and each individual’s idiosyncrasies far better than Tish. In true cozy mystery style, a romance starts to bloom adding to the intrigue. Tish learns she must swim against the currents to bring forth the killer, solve several mysteries and to save herself.
It is difficult to stop reading the book once you start. If you appreciate a fascinating, cleverly plotted, entertaining mystery with numerous twists and turns, making it a delightful read, this book is for you. I’m looking forward to reading of Tish’s adventures as she acclimates to Island living. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author to provide an unbiased review. That did not affect my ability to write and post an honest review.
I almost put this aside after the first chapter, and I'm glad that I didn't. It is a fun light mystery that picks up when it moves from Seattle to one of my favorite places, Orcas Island. The relationship between the two main characters is charming. Maines did a nice job of fleshing out the people and keeping the action moving. I think we have the first of a series and I, for one, would read the next.
The best part for me is the setting since I have good friends I visit on Orcas and a good friend who live in Olga. I spend as much time as possible leaving my home Beillingham, heading to Anacortes, and taking the ferry through the San Juans. It was fun to do it vicariously and to imagine all the places in the book. But, the story does transcend the setting and involves the reader.
A charming and clever romp, An Unseen Current is an entertaining mystery. Tish Yearly is a humorous and headstrong main character that keeps this most recent Bethany Maines book moving. Action-filled and supported by a diverse and interesting cast of characters, readers will go right along with Tish as she finds herself unemployed and escaping her current predicament by visiting her grandfather in Washington state. What Tish doesn’t count on is getting caught up in mayhem and murder when her grandfather’s best friend is killed. The capable heroine prevails in many ways (no giveaways here) and Maine complements her story and protagonist with a fitting romantic resolve at the end.
Local Northwest author and setting, Orcas Island is the locale for this mystery. Tish Yearly arrives on the island to live with her grandfather while she finds a new job and a new apartment. She lost both on the same day, so she arrives on Orcas as a last resort. When she discovers the body of her grandfather's best friend, she is thrust into the role of detective as her grandfather is a prime suspect. Tish's past career as an actress comes in handy as she works with a handsome detective to sort out the various suspects. The author has a problem with overuse of commas, which I found distracting.
Trish Yearly has the worst day of her life when she is evicted and fired on the same day, and her mother refuses to let her come and stay. So Trish does the next best thing, and goes to her grandfather Tobias' place. There she finds out that Tobias used to be a CIA Agent and then finds his best friend dead. Since there's nowhere else to go but up, Trish and her grandfather start investigating. I loved this book. There were quirky characters, including a hunky, but straight-laced deputy and a real feel for the San Juan Islands.
2.5 stars. This was a fun guilty pleasure, but the family drama at the end felt silly, and the main character, in one decision, was left looking really shallow and a bit hypocritical (which could have been saved with even a little bit of thoughtfulness about what she was doing).