All That Smolders: A Mystery

by James Sulzer

A picturesque island. A shocking murder. A secret that could destroy everything.

It’s 1980, a time of peace and tranquility on a legendary island off the coast of New England. Inhabiting the island is a vibrant cast of locals that includes scallopers, tradespeople, and a mysterious recluse—the wealthiest man in Massachusetts. But that peace is shattered with the murder of a prominent lawyer, a pillar of the community.

For Peter Christie, a journalist seeking a fresh start, the case is more than just a headline—it’s a chance at redemption. As he delves into the island’s secrets, he finds himself drawn to Haddie Danville, a determined conservation ranger. But Haddie, reeling from her grandfather’s sudden death, begins to doubt both Peter and his true intentions.

Determined to win Haddie back, Peter sets out to solve the murder, joining forces with a local detective, navigating a web of confounding islanders, and pressing closer and closer to the heart of the tightly coiled secret . . . a secret that threatens to tear apart the idyllic island.

268 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

James Sulzer lives in Nantucket, Massachusetts. A graduate of Yale University, where he was a Yale National Scholar, he is the author of the new mystery All That Smolders. Other published works include a novel about Emily Dickinson, The Voice at the Door and a novel about John Keats, Writ in Water, as well as the novel Nantucket Daybreak and a trilogy of middle grade novels for children, The Card People. He taught elementary and middle school students for 30 years and has produced countless “Sonic id’s” for Public Radio. In his early years on the island, he labored as a commercial scalloper and sang professionally in a barbershop quartet.

Reviews

[Janet | purrfectpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

“All that smolders isn’t seen
It often lurks betwixt, between,
In smoky darkness hides its heat,
Playing dead, in mock defeat.
Delay will only make it strong.
The reward is waiting all along
For a pathway to its deep desire—
Where fate ignites its glorious fire.”

All That Smolders takes place in 1980 off the coast of New England. One day, the quiet community is rocked by the murder of Chester Danville, a prominent lawyer on the island.

Since the powerful man had many “enemies” in town, the possible suspects were numerous, including members of his own family. It becomes the mission of Peter Christie, a reporter for the Island Forum but an outsider to the community, to try to solve the mystery.

Complicating matters is Peter’s burgeoning relationship with Haddie Danville, Chester’s granddaughter. As Peter explores the myriad of leads, all roads keep bringing him back to Haddie. Is his relationship with her clouding his professional judgment, or is someone who led trying to distract him from finding out the truth?

With a cozy, yet complicated cast of characters, All that Smolders has all the trappings of a gripping, small town whodunnit. Admittedly one thing I had a hard time getting over was Peter’s shock at Haddie and Chester’s relationship. Given that they shared the same last name, I feel like this should have been obvious to even the most amateur detective.

The eventual resolution to the case not only allows Peter to confront his own personal demons, but it makes a commentary on societal disparity. As a result, All that Smolders is a slow burn mystery with distinctive depth.

[Jan Mawdesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

All That Smolders from James Sulzer is set in Nantucket, Massachusetts in the 1980s
is a slow burn to begin with but it is well worth persevering as it gets, better, much better as each of what seems to be a tangle of loose ends going nowhere begins to form into a murder mystery that is thoroughly entertaining.
Peter Christie has been through a bitter divorce and has moved to a Nantucket to begin again. He hopes a fresh start will work and when he meets Haddie Danville, he hopes this is the beginning of something good, but Haddie does not want to be rushed; she likes to take things slowly.
When her beloved grandfather is murdered, she is devastated. Peter hopes that by putting his often abused journalist skill into action, he may be able to help find the killer; a man who as it turns out is prepared to kill and kill again. The issue is why?
As Haddie and Peter dig deeper into the past of the Island community, they begin to discover that all is far from what it seems; that one man’s secret seems to be the motive behind the killings but is it a powerful enough secret to make one man believe he needs to kill?
Digging ever deeper they find there seems to be more questions than answers. When they finally isolate the person, whom they believe is responsible for the murders, they find they become the hunted which plunges them both into a quandary and immense danger.
All That Smolders is an armchair murder mystery every wannabe sleuth will enjoy.

[Natalie Sulzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery seems to be in Peter Christie’s blood, since he is Agatha’s fictional great-great nephew. And he has a lot on his plate to unwind right now. After all, he moved to this remote New England island “…looking for a new start after a pair of bad endings.” Both his journalist career and his budding relationship are on the line. On the island, he’ll make friends and enemies—and become ensnared in the murder that is tearing the small community apart.

Sulzer is a highly sensitive and caring writer. The characters and their attributions and foibles are revealed to us through Peter’s eyes, with each character drawn distinctly. And I rooted for Peter and his plight, all the way to the surprising and satisfying climax of the story. The author is very much in control of the writing, and the pace of the action is excellent.

I found the section about scallop fishing to be particularly interesting. I loved how the author skillfully wove the story’s action with his knowledge of scalloping.

I hope this will be the first book in an exciting new series!

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 5 out of 5]

All That Smolders is based on a quiet island off the coast of New England in 1980. The calm is broken by the murder of a respected lawyer, an event that sends shockwaves through a place built on routine and trust. As the journalist Peter Christie who's searching for a second chance digs into the case, buried secrets rise to the surface, threatening to unravel the island’s carefully preserved peace.

James Sulzer writes with an elegance that instantly drew me in. The atmosphere is rich and layered. It's certainly a page-turner. The mystery is gripping. I found myself absorbed in solving the crime, and in the way the author explores hidden lives and unspoken histories. All That Smolders is a beautifully crafted mystery novel. It glows with intensity and precision.

This book deserves appreciation. I could vividly picture every scene while reading. James Sulzer has created a story that lingers, one that smolders. A standout addition to its genre. It's a well-written book.

[Paige D · Rating 5 out of 5]

All That Smolders is the kind of mystery that lingers not because of shock twists, but because of its atmosphere and emotional weight.

Set on a deceptively tranquil New England island in 1980, the novel captures the unsettling truth that secrets fester most dangerously in close-knit communities. James Sulzer excels at layering suspicion gradually, allowing each character to feel fully human rather than merely a suspect.

Peter Christie’s investigation is as much an internal reckoning as it is a search for a killer, and the relationship between Peter and Haddie adds a quiet intensity that grounds the story. The island itself becomes a character beautiful, insular, and quietly complicit.

This is a thoughtfully paced, character-driven mystery that rewards patient readers and fans of literary crime fiction. A strong debut for readers who appreciate mood, setting, and moral complexity as much as plot.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that All That Smolders: A Mystery was a great introduction to the talents of new to me author, James Sulzer. It was a thrilling read that left me on the edge of seat from start to finish. It was full of action, danger, suspense, and adventure. It was easy to dive into the whole book from cover to cover in one sitting. I loved it.
I found that All That Smolders: A Mystery to be a five star read. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read murder mysteries and thrillers. I would love to read more from James Sulzer in the future. This one is definitely not one to be missed.
I received a digital copy of James Sulzer's All That Smolders: A Mystery from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Grant Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed James Sulzer‘s book, All That Smolders. Partly because I live in a New England town very much like the island that the author has crafted for this book. The characters and island life are true to reality and I found that I was nodding and agreeing with his artistic choices when it came to the characters and scenes he was depicting. Without that, it’s very hard to get wrapped into the mystery of the book and the mystery in this book is sophisticated and za challenge for the typical reader to guess at until the end — the mark of an able, crafty whodunit. I very much enjoyed this fast-page-turning story and I hope that there will be another Peter Christie mystery novel coming out soon!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lyrical & captivating mystery

Sulzer’s “All that Smolders” is a book you don’t want to put down—or end, but effortlessly encourages that desire to unravel the mystery of the tapestry in a tight-knit community, on a small island out at sea.

Lyrical imagery without pretense. A captivating story without self-indulgent narration. Nostalgia for a slower world without the typical ignorance of “the good old days.” Precise, smart prose without arrogance.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know I love a good murder mystery, and the setting always plays a big part for me, this one absolutely delivered. The island atmosphere was perfect and added so much to the tension.

I loved the mystery and suspense, and the author did a great job misdirecting the reader. I genuinely suspected everyone at some point. I also loved the characters, and the story gave me strong classic Christie-style mystery vibes.

This was my first book by this author, and I’m sure it won’t be my last.

[Sudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the island in question is not named, it shares all of the similarities of my favorite island, ACK. A superb ode to Agatha Christie with red herrings abounding, down to the narrator, named Peter Christie. Also chosen to be the One Book, One Island selection for 2026.