Coastal Views to Die For

Oliver Popp's Travel Guides to Murder #2

by Sam Lumley

The fabulous Oregon coast is a scenic getaway to behold, but for a gay, autistic travel writer and amateur sleuth, there is no such thing as a vacation from murder…

Though sparks flew between travel writer Oliver Popp and extroverted photographer Ricky Warner on their last assignment together, when they're teamed up again for a road trip, they agree to keep things low-key. But that's a little at odds with Oliver's new finding romance on the Oregon coast. The destination is a picturesque inn overlooking the Pacific. With the crashing waves below, it seems like an ideal spot for dramatic love connections.

Curiously, the other guests are innkeeper Mary Alice's large extended family, headed by a fabulously wealthy aunt, with various children, in-laws, husbands and wives, all vying to stay in her good graces...and her will. Then on the first night, settling into their room, Oliver and Ricky make an unsettling a dead man in their hot tub—one of Mary Alice’s tragically unlucky relatives who, from the looks of it, dropped in from the balcony above. The sheriff concludes it was an accident. Considering the circumstances of this odd family reunion, Oliver and Ricky have doubts.

When another body turns up, the vibes on what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway take an absolutely sinister turn. As family secrets, old grudges, and greedy motives come to light, Oliver’s sleuthing side is coming out. Who’s the next heir in line to die? As the suspects pile up, Oliver is certain of only one it’s no mystery that murder is bringing him and Ricky closer together…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Queer, Cozy Mystery, LGBT, Mystery Thriller

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

Reviews

[Kristel (hungryandhappy)]

I liked this one better than the first because there was no more weird vibes between them, just a little miscommunication but that's to be expected when you're fake boyfriends for a magazine article but you want more and you don't know how to upgrade the relationship, all while trying to solve a million murders!

[Betsy Cornwell]

Sam Lumley did it again. This time Oliver and Ricky are writing about romantic getaways on the Oregon coast. Oliver feels uncomfortable with the romance part of the assignment, but then autistic Oliver feels uncomfortable about most everything. A body falling past their window doesn't help. Ricky and Oliver continue to cross signals while getting to know the strange family at their resort, and (of course) solving a murder.
I love the romance between Ollie and Ricky. It seems aggravatingly realistic. The mystery kept me guessing and the characters drew me in.
I can't wait for the next one.

[Franki Jace]

Thank you to Kensington Books for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It took a few months, but I finally got approved for this book on NetGalley, and I'm so happy I did! I had an e-ARC of the first one when it was coming out, and also enjoyed that one! I'm glad the story continues! I really think this book encompasses cozy mystery very well. I love Oliver and Ricky so much, and I'm so happy to see their relationship continue to evolve and blossom. The side characters had a variety of personalities, and I have to say, I think Denis and Erik were my favorite of them all. Erik honestly grows on you, and Denise is just amazing. Also the banter throughout this had me giggling and cackling back and forth. As someone who moved to California relatively recently, the joke about "the" 101 had me rolling on the fucking floor. I really hope Oliver and Ricky's story continues, cause I can't get enough!

[Ricky]

Oliver and Ricky are back for a second travel assignment that turns into a murder mystery, this time set in the fictional Rose Beach on the Oregon coast. While the first book somewhat riffs on Glass Onion by dealing with a stupid and obnoxious tech bro CEO, this book is much more Knives Out as it deals with a toxic family whose secrets are coming out in the will. Additionally, the relationship between Oliver and Ricky develops in unexpected ways, not as sunshine and roses as the book’s cozy vibe would have you expect…but stick with it, and we’ll all be rewarded. This series is definitely one I’ll be following as long as it continues!

[Steven]

3.5 stars. Where Oliver Popp #1 felt current and high-tech, #2 takes a dramatic step into cozy tropes with a classic inheritance mystery. The mystery itself was okay, though I needed a family tree to keep track of our suspects. Maybe I was reading too quickly, but I did not feel particularly invested in the outcome. That said, I was quite interested in the romantic tension between Oliver and Ricky. Ricky is incredibly patient and gives the best golden retriever vibes where Oliver is concerned. Their dynamic is so cute!

[Kathy]

I had a lot of fun with this sequel! It was great to pick things back up with this "will they or won't they" couple, to see them sent on a romantic getaway (for work, obviously, by their meddling boss/friend), but it makes sense Oliver thinks they are cursed when another body literally crashes the party.

I enjoyed the wide cast of characters, moving pieces, and finally finding romance between investigating.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Bad Elephant]

Wholesome and entertaining. I feel like the first book had set the bar so high that this book felt forced in comparison.

[Monica weitzel]

Besides being a whodunnit murder mystery, this is one of the sweetest romance stories I’ve ever read. The main character is a young, handsome, up-and-coming travel writer who also happens to be gay and autistic. His struggles to connect with people in general, but especially with his crush, the photographer on the travel assignment he is working on, gives a fresh perspective to the eternal search for a heart-mate.

Set in the gorgeous Pacific NW, this funny and touching love story clips along at at good pace as people start dying and the two men take it upon themselves to solve them.

[Alexis Smith]

Cute!

[Judy]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an e-copy of this book.

This cozy mystery (book #2 in this series) by Sam Lumley is good, not great. It is a short, easy read which follows gay, autistic travel writer Oliver and gay photographer Ricky as they cover a story on the Oregon coast. Along the way, they encounter a murder at a coastal inn.

The murder/mystery part of the story and the ancillary characters were interesting. But, I found the relationship between Oliver and Ricky to be tedious. Their slow-burn relationship was too slow for me.

If you're looking for an uncomplicated easy-to-read mystery, this book should fit the bill.

[ancientreader]

I enjoyed the first Oliver Popp murder mystery, "How to Have a Killer Time in DC," though I had some criticisms related to wobbly tone and to believability, the latter mainly relating to how Oliver's not-yet-boyfriend, Ricky Warner, sometimes did and sometimes didn't react blithely in situations that I might have expected an African American man to experience as risky. (My review seems to have disappeared from GR, who knows how or why.)

These difficulties are gone from "Coastal Views"; I'm not sure I can articulate what Sam Lumley has done differently, but in any case the humor and warmheartedness don't jar against the murder mystery the way they did in "Killer Time."

I remain uncertain about Oliver and Ricky's characterizations and with the progress of their relationship. At the outset of "Coastal Views" we learn that Oliver has more or less ghosted Ricky since they parted after their DC adventure, which seems, you know, hurtful, but Ricky instantly lets it pass when they're reunited for the travel article that provides the setup this time. Improbable, yes? And it's not always clear what they see in each other beyond both being nice people. Ricky's easygoing and gregarious, whereas Oliver is anxious, introverted, and socially awkward, so they should have opposites-attract energy, but I can't say I felt that "Hey, this is different, I want to know more" pull between them.

I had some other quibbles -- notably, there's a stretch where Oliver forgets something deeply upsetting for an entire afternoon, and nah I didn't buy that -- but this series is shaping up as cozy fun. I'm not damning with faint praise: cozy mysteries are never going to be my jam, but if they're yours then you'll have a fine time with Oliver and Ricky, who are quite reasonably beginning to wonder whether every date they go on is cursed.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

[C]

I enjoyed returning to the world of Oliver Popp and Ricky in this cozy mystery continuation. What continues to work especially well for me is the character growth: Oliver’s increasing confidence and maturity, alongside the vulnerability Ricky allows to show through more clearly in this installment. Their relationship deepens in a way that feels warm, believable, and emotionally grounded.

As an autistic protagonist, Oliver’s perspective remains one of the series’ strengths. I appreciated the insight into how his mind works and the realistic anxieties and uncertainty he experiences in relationships and social situations. The series leans into cozy mystery conventions at times, but it does so with charm and self-awareness.

This book delivered exactly what I hoped for from a follow-up: continued personal growth, development in Oliver’s career, and meaningful progression in his relationship with Ricky. Ricky, in particular, stands out as remarkably patient, thoughtful, and understanding—honestly one of the most considerate characters I’ve encountered in fiction.

What stayed with me most was Oliver’s growing bravery and willingness to step outside his comfort zone. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with strong settings (Washington, D.C. in the first book and the Oregon coastline here), character-focused storytelling, and a gentle romantic thread alongside the mystery.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Emmaline Savidge]

I would describe this as cute enough but one of those books were you totally forget the plot in like two months. The most likely cause for this feeling is that book one in this series had fun tension and clue hunting. Oliver and Ricky don't really have a connection to this mystery, as a result it feels like they could justifiably leave and mind their own business. If you're an avid Murder She Wrote lover like me, then you know there's a reason why so many of Jess' family members and friends get accused of crimes. When your main character is a cop or a PI the investment is part of their job but amateur sleuths need a tangible reason for investment in a crime.

I also think the was a ton of missed potential with the romance. We could have really played up Oliver not initially wanting the relationship to go further. Maybe Ricky is disappointed and not acting like his normal flirty self. Then we could have more of Oliver realizing his feelings and wanting to take things further. If Sam wanted to do that then I think cutting the fake dating would have been advantageous. Instead have other guests and people in town assume they're together, this could add to the comedy and prompt Oliver to show his interest.

For me this wasn't as fun as book one, however I love a queer mystery series so I'll probably read the next one when it comes out.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[gracie]

If you could have heard how I screamed when I got the arc approval email! I loved the first book when I happened across the audiobook one night when I was bored, Oliver and Ricky immediately became special to me so I was excited when I saw the second book up for request. I'm glad did too because I enjoyed this one more than the first.

There's a lot less about traveling in this one and while I'm a bit disappointed by that, I've come to accept the travel part is unfortunately just a backdrop to the murder mystery lol. The murder mystery in this one was a lot more interesting and I enjoyed the characters more, especially Erik!! On to the relationship, I loved how the author chose to progress their relationship and that the wittiness and jokes I fell in love with in book one was still present in this one. Their communication was one of my favorite parts seeing as I'm both Black and autistic, and these are aspects of my identity I've had to apologize for and call out micro aggressions about.

I do wish we got a bit more of them being lovey-dovey towards the end but I guess that's just incentive to read the next book in the series (yes, this is me manifesting there is a next book). Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to fall in love with these two all over again.

[Kathy]

Oliver and Ricky are back! I really enjoyed this book and am thrilled that it was given to me as an ARC.

At first I was a little distracted by the author’s seemingly excessive use of descriptions, but either he settled down a bit with them or I grew used to it. Probably a little of both.

We pick up with Oliver and Ricky a couple of months after their adventure in DC and find that they will next be covering a road trip along the Oregon coast. I love it when I am familiar with a location in a book, and I have spent my life visiting both the Baltimore/DC area and Oregon.

This book shows us more with Oliver’s mother and Oliver and Ricky’s common friend, Drea. It also introduces several characters to set up the events of the new adventure. While it occasionally felt like too many characters, they all had a purpose, and the author made sure that the reader knew who was who. Also, it feels like the author has set up another recurring character, and they will be fun to see develop.

Because I do not want to post any spoilers, I will just say that this was a very fun read. I guessed a couple of the revelations, but not all of them. I am already looking forward to the next installment of Oliver Popp’s Travel Guides to Murder.

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

Coastal Views to Die For is the second book in Sam Lumley’s Oliver Popp’s Travel Guides to Murder series. This is a cozy mystery series featuring a shy and reserved travel writer in Oliver, paired with an outgoing and spontaneous photographer in Ricky. I really enjoyed the first story, particularly as it is set in D.C. and I am a lifelong native of the area, so I found it fun to watch the guys run around the familiar city. After having taken my own Oregon coast road trip last year and finding the area incredible, I was excited to check out this second book in another much loved setting. While Ricky and Oliver are featured in both books, you can jump in here pretty easily, as they pick up their relationship after some time apart.

While this one didn’t quite hit me at the same level as the first book, I am continuing to really enjoy this series and these characters. I am very much looking forward to seeing where Oliver and Ricky’s adventures take them next!

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Laura]

These two are so special to me! I enjoyed the first book but the sequel had a more interesting mystery while remaining silly, cute, and cozy. The cast of characters was more interesting in this one as well. I wish there was more actual travel involved since that was what drew me to this in the first place, but I know that isn't really the point I guess. It still felt rushed getting them to the main destination though and a little lazy to have Oliver sleep the whole way there so that nothing had to be written about that part of the journey. I liked how the relationship developed over the course of the story but do wish we got more of them after sorting their shit out instead of being squeezed into the ending.

I don't know how many more crimes this poor duo can come across on work trips but I hope their bad luck continues so I can keep reading about their misadventures? I'd read an actual travel story without the crime too but seems unlikely to happen at this point.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and for introducing me to this series!

Pub Date May 26 2026

[In the Library]

2.5 - Like the first book, this is a quick read with a simple premise. They start working in a travel piece for a magazine and end up solving a murder. This murder mystery was more classic than the original high-tech one. But it actually worked even less. I wasn’t convinced as to why they kept getting involved in it when they just could have left. The reason provided didn’t convince me. The romance still had some cute moments, but the typical misunderstandings and same challenges from first book.

I really do like the idea for this series and appreciate a cozy, queer murder mystery so I’ll likely read any others that come out. I just hope the mysteries and the relationship continue to improve.

[LeeAnn]

I love Sam Lumley's main character, Oliver. Gay, autistic, dealing with anxiety, introverted, and on writing assignment, exploring Oregon's B&B culture with Ricky, in many ways Oliver's foil.

If you love cozy mysteries with witty banter and lovable characters, look no further.

Have Oliver & Ricky been parent-trapped by Oliver's boss? Is this an only one bed trope novel? Will the pair find the murderer at their cozy bed and breakfast?

More importantly, will Oliver learn to drive a clutch before a killer strikes again? 🤣

This second book in the series is just as good as (dare I say better than?) the first. Can't wait for more!

[Dena]

I listened to the audio from Overdrive, not a CD & not audible. This was a fun book even though there are deaths. And by the end, Oliver & Ricky are boyfriends. This is a great break from reading "A Resistance History of the United States" (which I just recommended to my congressman). There are some characters to dislike and some that become more likeable. We see how Oliver & Ricky learn more about each other.

[Joe Meyers]

Fun combination of cozy mystery and romance, as a San Francisco travel writer and photographer set off to do a story on coastal Oregon. The second in a series is well-plotted and the two central characters are great sleuths as a possible murder occurs at the first inn they stop at. This would make for a perfect Hallmark mystery.

[Ellen]

*Received as a free ARC*
I deeply enjoyed this book. I'm very glad that this is now a series! The stakes were lower here than the first one, which was nice. Ricky and Oliver are great. The vibes here were very good. Could have used slightly less miscommunication, but it wasn't too bad.

[LittleRead]

I didn’t read the first entry in this series but this one reads fine as a stand alone. I enjoyed the mystery and the dynamics between Ricky and Oliver. They are relatable and you’ll find yourself immersed in their story quickly. A solid cozy with a great setting on the Oregon Coast.

[Carol]

A great read!!!! This book had a lot going on and it kept me on the edge of my seat. About two men who traveled to the west coast and tried to solve the mystery of the vacation place that they were staying at.

[Jaymie]

Another fun mystery in this series. It’s cozy and charming and perfect for summer. (LGBTQ+ rep)

[Liz]

This book was a fun time, even if it was sometimes frustrating how little Oliver and Ricky communicated.