A Body at the Beach

Meg Reed Investigates #3

by Ellie Alexander

When reporter Meg Reed discovers a body during what should have been a fun surf lesson, she knows immediately that this was no accident.

Meg arrived in Hood River to cover the prestigious King of the Hook windsurfing competition for her magazine, hoping for a straightforward assignment involving sun, sand, and spectacular stunts. Instead, she finds herself struggling to stay afloat during a surf lesson when she discovers the lifeless body of a superstar windsurfer.

With the competition in chaos and the small town buzzing with rumors, Meg can’t resist investigating what really happened on the water that morning. Between dodging heat exhaustion, navigating romantic confusion with her best friend Matt, and uncovering long-buried grudges in the tight-knit surfing community, she realizes that beneath Hood River’s laid-back exterior lurk some seriously dangerous currents.

But with a murderer still on the loose, she’ll need a healthy dose of determination, a strong mocha and her trusty reporter’s instincts to survive this story.

This delightful cozy story combines small-town charm with pulse-pounding suspense, perfect for readers who love their mysteries served with a side of outdoor adventure and a dash of romance. For fans of Tonya Kappes, Ellery Adams and Lauren Elliott.

A Body at the Beach was previously published as Silenced in the Surf.

Readers love reporter Meg

“A fun and entertaining series… I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The best one yet. I enjoyed everything about this the characters, the descriptions, the mystery, the suspense and the humor. I would highly recommend this book (and series) to any cozy lover.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A truly enjoyable read.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“From her first book I was hooked!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Perfect vacation read… the perfect amount of mystery and escape… I look forward to her next adventure!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Always engaging… wonderful scenery and plenty of excitement. Characters are oozing with chemistry.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wonderful book. I love the storyline and it’s a fun, clean read. I can’t wait for the next one!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fiction

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
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Reviews

[dnsyl57 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Body At The Beach" is book #3 in the "Meg Reed Investigates" series by Ellie Alexander. Previously released as "Silenced In The Surf" by Kate Dyer-Seeley.

Meg Reed is covering a windsurfing competition when she discovers the body of the top competitor. He had his groupies but also had a reputation as an arrogant bully so there were a number of suspects.

Meg tries to continue doing her interviews and research for her article but also manages to gather some information about who the killer may be. Along with her friends Jill and Matt they share their information with Sheriff Daniels but Meg still manages to get herself into a sticky situation as she closes in on the killer.

For me, I had a strong hunch who the killer was well before Meg sorted it out but it was an interesting journey to the reveal.

Along with the murder, I found many of the subplots just as good or even better than the investigation. Things are slowly shifting with Meg and Matt in their friendship. Jill is still on a break from Will but is she ready to move on? Gran and the Sheriff continue to see each other. The best subplot is the whole situation with the possibility that Meg's beloved Pops may actually have been murdered and Matt's looking into the past is creating some issues with Pops enemies.

Overall, this was a really good cozy mystery read.

[Amelia Chapman]

hoping the next murder victim isn’t just another arrogant jerk- let’s switch it up!

that being said i loved being taken along for another adventure. the characters and the different settings are the best parts of this series

[Michellel | The Red Fox Mama Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loves book 3 in this series. I did not expect who the killer would be and I am loving the overarching plot of what really happened to Meg's father!

[Nana Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!

[Gene · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love Ellie Alexander usually, this had way more romance and clothing details than usual and more than I prefer. Lots of action, though, and interesting characters.

[Melissa Dillenbeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of Gam and the solution was vague and unresolved.

[Kori Arkfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great addition to this series. I used to live in Oregon and seeing all these places in these books is something I love. I also loved seeing more of Gam.

“The more tea and cardigan sweaters, the better, in Jill’s opinion.”

“It’s simple but it isn’t easy. There’s a difference.”