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The Chowder House Murder
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26The first in a brand new, multi-generational cozy mystery series introduces three generations of strong, no-nonsense women who head the Holbrook family seafood dynasty in Downeast Maine…and a murder the Holbrook matriarch and her granddaughter must solve, even as it entangles them in a web of small-town secrets, and a Hatfields and McCoys-level chowder rivalry.
Ever since Halibut Cove’s popular eatery, The Chowder House, started serving matriarch Maggie Holbrook’s famous clam chowder it’s been in high demand. Cooked up at the restaurant by Maggie’s ambitious 19-year-old granddaughter, Audrey, the dish even has a regular nightly customer, retiree Chips Hogan. . . . Until one fateful Sunday night.
After serving Chips his chowder, Audrey rushes off to Maggie’s hilltop home for the weekly family dinner with the rest of the Holbrooks—her three uncles, and her mom, Jill. But before the meal’s end, Jill, a police chief, gets an alarming call. Chips has been found in the street—dead. Jill races out to investigate . . . and is shocked to learn Chips’ chowder was poisoned.
When a Chowder House server recalls seeing local diner cook Waldo Duggan in the alley that same evening, he becomes a suspect. And when it’s uncovered that Waldo bitterly believed the Holbrooks stole the lucrative chowder recipe from the Duggans in the 1930’s, he’s only further implicated . . .
Despite everything, Maggie can’t believe Waldo would murder anyone. For fair-minded Maggie, to keep an innocent man out of jail, and to ease Audrey’s guilt over serving the chowder, there’s no choice but to team-up to crime solve. Soon grandmother and granddaughter are immersed in a stew of rivalries, long held feuds, and looming threats. Because beneath the surface, even a pretty town has its ugly side . . .
Ever since Halibut Cove’s popular eatery, The Chowder House, started serving matriarch Maggie Holbrook’s famous clam chowder it’s been in high demand. Cooked up at the restaurant by Maggie’s ambitious 19-year-old granddaughter, Audrey, the dish even has a regular nightly customer, retiree Chips Hogan. . . . Until one fateful Sunday night.
After serving Chips his chowder, Audrey rushes off to Maggie’s hilltop home for the weekly family dinner with the rest of the Holbrooks—her three uncles, and her mom, Jill. But before the meal’s end, Jill, a police chief, gets an alarming call. Chips has been found in the street—dead. Jill races out to investigate . . . and is shocked to learn Chips’ chowder was poisoned.
When a Chowder House server recalls seeing local diner cook Waldo Duggan in the alley that same evening, he becomes a suspect. And when it’s uncovered that Waldo bitterly believed the Holbrooks stole the lucrative chowder recipe from the Duggans in the 1930’s, he’s only further implicated . . .
Despite everything, Maggie can’t believe Waldo would murder anyone. For fair-minded Maggie, to keep an innocent man out of jail, and to ease Audrey’s guilt over serving the chowder, there’s no choice but to team-up to crime solve. Soon grandmother and granddaughter are immersed in a stew of rivalries, long held feuds, and looming threats. Because beneath the surface, even a pretty town has its ugly side . . .
- GenresCozy MysteryCozy
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 26, 2026
79 people want to read
About the author
Lee Hollis
54 books829 followersLee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
#TheChowderHouseMurder #NetGalley is a first in a new series by Lee Hollis.
Maggie is the matriarch of her family, and to her, nothing means more to her than her loved ones.
Audrey is her granddaughter and works at the local chowder house.
It's Maggie's family recipe they serve each day, but there's a battle brewing over who the recipe originally belongs to.
Audrey serves her last customer of the day, only to find out he was found dead outside the doors.
As a murder investigation escalates, Audrey and Maggie are determined to seek out the truth, because even in their picturesque town, deadly secrets lie beneath the surface.
Maggie is the matriarch of her family, and to her, nothing means more to her than her loved ones.
Audrey is her granddaughter and works at the local chowder house.
It's Maggie's family recipe they serve each day, but there's a battle brewing over who the recipe originally belongs to.
Audrey serves her last customer of the day, only to find out he was found dead outside the doors.
As a murder investigation escalates, Audrey and Maggie are determined to seek out the truth, because even in their picturesque town, deadly secrets lie beneath the surface.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Aubrey Holbrook works at the Chowder House as a waitress. She's happy enough with her job, although it's slightly irritating that every night at closing time, grumpy local Chops Hogan shows up to get his daily bowl of chowder. Aubrey leaves after serving him, as she wants to be home -- which is living with her grandmother Maggie -- for the weekly Holbrook dinner.
But while everyone is eating, Aubrey's mother Jill, who is the police chief. receives a call that Chips is dead. When the autopsy results are in, Chips was poisoned by the chowder. Aubrey is devastated, and worried, because she served him. After reviewing evidence, no one admits to it, although it was said that another local named Waldo Duggan was seen at the back door.
The rivalry between the Duggans and Holbrooks goes way back, with Waldo's family accusing Maggie's of stealing their chowder recipes. Even so, when Waldo is arrested for the crime, Maggie doesn't believe he did it. So along with help from Aubrey, they've invested themselves in investigating the case in order to find a killer.
Unfortunately, it won't be easy. Her Uncle Cord's fiancée's family might be suspects; and that makes things worse. But did any of them kill the man? Maggie finds out more than she wants to know, and it might be the thing that causes the killer to decide to get rid of anyone who's interested...even if it means doing away with both Audrey and Maggie, at whatever cost...
This is the first in a new series by Lee Hollis. The authors have done themselves well. At first it seems that there are a lot of characters in this book, and there are. You have all the Holbrooks (and there are many of them); along with various others (including an entire other family), and minor characters that flit in and out.
But don't be fooled -- there is more to the story than at what first you see. There is another mystery which shows up along the way, and that one is just as interesting as the first. I do love a mystery within a mystery (but that's just me). The plot is written extremely well, although I would have loved more physical descriptions of Aubrey and her friend Isabella, but it didn't detract from anything.
Concerning the main mystery, it unravels at a medium pace, and you need to look for clues yourself. Although I knew the killer before Aubrey did, it was still delightful to watch how she handled what information she received. The murderer was no slouch; they knew exactly what to do to eliminate an eventual victim.
The ending was nicely done, and I don't want to say anything else rather than give away any spoilers. I truly enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend it to others.
I received an advance copy of this book but this in no way influenced my review.
But while everyone is eating, Aubrey's mother Jill, who is the police chief. receives a call that Chips is dead. When the autopsy results are in, Chips was poisoned by the chowder. Aubrey is devastated, and worried, because she served him. After reviewing evidence, no one admits to it, although it was said that another local named Waldo Duggan was seen at the back door.
The rivalry between the Duggans and Holbrooks goes way back, with Waldo's family accusing Maggie's of stealing their chowder recipes. Even so, when Waldo is arrested for the crime, Maggie doesn't believe he did it. So along with help from Aubrey, they've invested themselves in investigating the case in order to find a killer.
Unfortunately, it won't be easy. Her Uncle Cord's fiancée's family might be suspects; and that makes things worse. But did any of them kill the man? Maggie finds out more than she wants to know, and it might be the thing that causes the killer to decide to get rid of anyone who's interested...even if it means doing away with both Audrey and Maggie, at whatever cost...
This is the first in a new series by Lee Hollis. The authors have done themselves well. At first it seems that there are a lot of characters in this book, and there are. You have all the Holbrooks (and there are many of them); along with various others (including an entire other family), and minor characters that flit in and out.
But don't be fooled -- there is more to the story than at what first you see. There is another mystery which shows up along the way, and that one is just as interesting as the first. I do love a mystery within a mystery (but that's just me). The plot is written extremely well, although I would have loved more physical descriptions of Aubrey and her friend Isabella, but it didn't detract from anything.
Concerning the main mystery, it unravels at a medium pace, and you need to look for clues yourself. Although I knew the killer before Aubrey did, it was still delightful to watch how she handled what information she received. The murderer was no slouch; they knew exactly what to do to eliminate an eventual victim.
The ending was nicely done, and I don't want to say anything else rather than give away any spoilers. I truly enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend it to others.
I received an advance copy of this book but this in no way influenced my review.
January 31, 2026
The Chowder House Murder
by Lee Hollis is the first book in a new cozy mystery series: A Downeast Maine Mystery.
This was a good start to a new cozy mystery series taking part in small town ( Halibut Cove) Maine. This new one involves several generations within a single family: Grandmother Maggie Holbrook and granddaughter Audrey. Both are involved with the locally famous Chowder house and both become entwined within a murder mystery involving a shady bowel of chowder that was tampered with a local rival. Both join forces to solve the murder, find the culprit, clear names, and get everything back in track.
I enjoyed this murder/mystery plot, the introduction of new characters and town, and look forward to seeing where this goes.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/26/26.
by Lee Hollis is the first book in a new cozy mystery series: A Downeast Maine Mystery.
This was a good start to a new cozy mystery series taking part in small town ( Halibut Cove) Maine. This new one involves several generations within a single family: Grandmother Maggie Holbrook and granddaughter Audrey. Both are involved with the locally famous Chowder house and both become entwined within a murder mystery involving a shady bowel of chowder that was tampered with a local rival. Both join forces to solve the murder, find the culprit, clear names, and get everything back in track.
I enjoyed this murder/mystery plot, the introduction of new characters and town, and look forward to seeing where this goes.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/26/26.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Chowder House a murder was an easy read, had suspense, some twists, and interesting characters. The Holbrook family comes together and is there for each other, although they don’t always agree. It was an entertaining read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fine cozy mystery with New England charm, perfect for fans of culinary whodunits. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 star rating
“ The Chowder House Murder” by Lee Hollis the first instalment in A Downeast Maine Mystery series. What a great start to a new series from one of my favorite authors. The stories always catch my attention and pull me in right away. This instalment was no different I read over a five hours period.
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends !
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“ The Chowder House Murder” by Lee Hollis the first instalment in A Downeast Maine Mystery series. What a great start to a new series from one of my favorite authors. The stories always catch my attention and pull me in right away. This instalment was no different I read over a five hours period.
I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I can’t wait till the next instalment comes out and finding out.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends !
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews