The Body in the Kayak

Sunset Lodge Mystery #11

by Diana Xarissa

When Abigail takes a rare day off in the middle of a busy week, she’s expecting a fun day at the beach with her sister, Mandy, and some other friends. When a seemingly empty kayak floats into view, she’s quick to suggest that they catch the vessel. Abigail is pretty sure that the kayak’s owners are currently guests at Sunset Lodge. Considering everything that has happened since she moved to Nightshade, she probably shouldn’t have been surprised that there was a body in the kayak.

Danny Webb was a guest at the lodge. He’d arrived with his wife and a small group of friends for a week of sunshine, sightseeing, and kayaking on Foxglove Lake. He’d seemed a fun, friendly person and for a short while it looked as if no one had a motive for his murder.

It isn't long though, before secrets began to unravel, revealing the man’s double life and also his hidden past. It suddenly seems as if nearly everyone he knew had a motive for his murder. And Abigail and Mandy are right in the middle of it all, eager to find the killer before he or she can strike again.

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2026

About the author

Diana started self-publishing in 2013 and over a decade later she now has over a hundred books available for readers. Writing remains her passion and she has no plans to stop writing in the foreseeable future.

Diana grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and earned a history degree from Allegheny College. She met her husband, an Englishman, while living and working in Washington, DC. Following their marriage, she moved to Derbyshire. A short while later, the happy couple moved to the Isle of Man.

During their years on the island, Diana and her husband welcomed two children, and Diana completed a master’s degree in the history of the island. In 2008, the family made the decision to move to the US. Now empty-nesters, Diana and her husband are living in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, and contemplating moving somewhere that doesn’t get snow.

Diana also writes mystery/thrillers set in the not-too-distant future as Diana X. Dunn and Young Adult fiction as D.X. Dunn.

Reviews

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and Entertaining!

Abigail just can't seem to stop stumbling upon dead bodies. She, her sister Mandy and their significant others are enjoying a much needed day of R&R at the beach complete with a gourmet picnic. Sun, sand and probaly some swimming will make for an idyllic day. But then they spot a kayak drifting in the water, and after wading out to it they discover a dead man. Abigail immediately recognizes the kayak and the man as one of the guests staying at Sunset Lodge. What follows is an intense convoluted story of deception, secrets and lies.

I have read every book in this series and they never disappoint. Twists, turns and revelations you didn't see coming. It's always interesting to spend time with these characters. Marcie is still serving delicious meals, Abigail and Mandy are considering take their relationships further, and they are still planning on expanding their business. Highly recommend. You won't be disappointed!

[A G A VAN DEN BOS · Rating 2 out of 5]

A considerable improvement on previous books of the series. Largely gone is the constant script enhancing repetition. Sadly, what remains though is the ever protracted, and on this occasion, convoluted dialogue, that on this occasion included an abundance of confounding conjectural theory. There remains also the need for alarmingly informal police procedure, along with seriously deficient forensic evidence collecting. Add to this the inevitable consistency of referencing to food, to help fill the need to provide fifteen chapters.

[Charline Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny

Only in a book could you find an outcome as ludicrous as this. Rachel and Danny arrived in Nightshade to celebrate their first anniversary with two other couples. The rest is obviously unbelievable but enjoyable reading!

[Yvonne Strahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cozy series is something I enjoy when I don't want to think too hard while reading a book. The story line is predictable; the main characters are easy to like. I enjoy getting to the end for the reveal of who killed the unfortunate person to see if I had thought of them as the killer.

[Carola Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and intrigue

I enjoyed it at the beginning it seemed very u original but the it changed the story became very interesting and surprising.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very twisty mystery as the murder victim is found to be not at all the person his friends thought he was. Very enjoyable.

[Angela McCabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. It reads like a Nancy Drew Book for adults and I mean that in the best way.