What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder by the Lighthouse: A Coastal Small Town Cozy Murder Mystery
A charming inn. A coastal town full of secrets. And a fundraiser that ends in murder.
After walking away from the spin cycle of big-city PR, Paisley Penrose is ready for porch breezes and helping Aunt Dottie run the Sandlin Inn. But when the stage collapses at the town’s lighthouse fundraiser, killing the not-so-beloved Harold Cline, Paisley’s instincts kick in.
The building materials were tampered with. The program was swapped at the last minute. And the money trail leads nowhere good.
When a member of her new circle of friends becomes a suspect, Paisley and her loyal Labradoodle, Noodle, team up with Detective Grant Halloway, her former high school classmate turned reluctant ally.
Suspects include the fiery preservationist with a grudge and a business owner Harold publicly humiliated.
Now someone’s watching Paisley, and if she digs too deep, she might be next to fall.
After walking away from the spin cycle of big-city PR, Paisley Penrose is ready for porch breezes and helping Aunt Dottie run the Sandlin Inn. But when the stage collapses at the town’s lighthouse fundraiser, killing the not-so-beloved Harold Cline, Paisley’s instincts kick in.
The building materials were tampered with. The program was swapped at the last minute. And the money trail leads nowhere good.
When a member of her new circle of friends becomes a suspect, Paisley and her loyal Labradoodle, Noodle, team up with Detective Grant Halloway, her former high school classmate turned reluctant ally.
Suspects include the fiery preservationist with a grudge and a business owner Harold publicly humiliated.
Now someone’s watching Paisley, and if she digs too deep, she might be next to fall.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 25, 2026
I was reading this book in spurts, due to my schedule. It wasn’t until near the end that I became focused and could not put it down. the clues were stacking up and revealing the truth about a crime of murder committed 50 years ago. The revealing of clues is a great idea the author used to expose truths the town did not, or would not have exposed at the time. Now, folks are older, wiser, and prone to express the doubts they did not see when younger. It’s a great book and the plot and story line is good. It’s a must read book. This a book gifted to me on an ARC share. The words are my own opinion.
June 25, 2026
Murder by the Lighthouse is a delightful cozy mystery that combines a picturesque coastal setting, an engaging amateur sleuth, and a cleverly constructed murder investigation.
Paisley Penrose arrives in town looking for a slower pace of life, only to find herself drawn into a mystery when a fundraiser at the local lighthouse ends in tragedy. As evidence of sabotage emerges and suspects begin to multiply, Paisley finds herself unable to ignore the questions surrounding Harold Cline’s death.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. The coastal setting, charming inn, and close-knit community create the kind of inviting backdrop that cozy mystery readers love. At the same time, the town’s hidden tensions and long-held secrets provide plenty of intrigue beneath the surface.
Paisley is a likable and capable protagonist whose curiosity and determination make her easy to root for. Her partnership with Noodle, her loyal Labradoodle, adds warmth and charm to the investigation, while her interactions with Detective Grant Halloway create an enjoyable dynamic throughout the story.
The mystery itself is well-paced, gradually revealing clues while introducing multiple plausible suspects. The combination of sabotage, financial secrets, personal grudges, and small-town politics keeps readers guessing until the truth is finally uncovered.
What makes Murder by the Lighthouse particularly enjoyable is its balance of comfort and suspense. It delivers all the hallmarks of a classic cozy mystery while maintaining enough tension to keep readers eagerly turning pages.
Paisley Penrose arrives in town looking for a slower pace of life, only to find herself drawn into a mystery when a fundraiser at the local lighthouse ends in tragedy. As evidence of sabotage emerges and suspects begin to multiply, Paisley finds herself unable to ignore the questions surrounding Harold Cline’s death.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. The coastal setting, charming inn, and close-knit community create the kind of inviting backdrop that cozy mystery readers love. At the same time, the town’s hidden tensions and long-held secrets provide plenty of intrigue beneath the surface.
Paisley is a likable and capable protagonist whose curiosity and determination make her easy to root for. Her partnership with Noodle, her loyal Labradoodle, adds warmth and charm to the investigation, while her interactions with Detective Grant Halloway create an enjoyable dynamic throughout the story.
The mystery itself is well-paced, gradually revealing clues while introducing multiple plausible suspects. The combination of sabotage, financial secrets, personal grudges, and small-town politics keeps readers guessing until the truth is finally uncovered.
What makes Murder by the Lighthouse particularly enjoyable is its balance of comfort and suspense. It delivers all the hallmarks of a classic cozy mystery while maintaining enough tension to keep readers eagerly turning pages.
November 5, 2025
This story takes place in a small community named Sand Key Shores in Florida. Paisley Penrose a PR from the big city with her Labradoodle Noodle have come home to help her Aunt Dottie Sandlin run the Sandlin Inn for a while but she soon finally really that she going to stay in Sand Key Shores as it is home. Along the way she runs into Detective Grant Halloway who she went to high school with. But at the fundraiser for the local Lighthouse an accident happens and one of the fundraisers dies and everyone wants to blame the fellow who built the stage or the local handyman as he was round the stage just before the accident happened. But Paisley and her dog Noodle had spotted some differences about the stage herself before anything had happened but could not tell what it was at the time. She started to check in to it just so that her friends would not be wrongly accused and what she finds are some very unusual things going on. The more Paisley investigates thing the more she finds and with the help from Detective Grant Halloway she starts to see a pattern and things start to fall into place. There are lots of twist and turn and suspect for them check out but it is very interest story to read you won’t be able to put the book down until you finish it. I would recommend this author her to anyone who enjoys a nice clean mystery.
October 31, 2025
Paisley Penrose finds herself entangled in a mystery when the mayor of Sand Key Shores is killed when a stage collapses under him during a speech. When the death is ruled a homicide, Paisley and Detective Grant Holloway are determined to find the killer and the motive behind the murder. Murder by the Lighthouse has a solid plot line. The author adds a few twists and turns to make things interesting. I also liked the end of the story where Detective Grant went through each suspect, explaining why they may have a motive and what evidence ruled them out. That being said, there were a few things that the author could improve on in future books. The character development seemed a bit lacking. It was a little difficult to connect to the characters because there wasn’t much background information given. Also, Marlow tended to repeat similar narratives throughout the book. Despite these issues, I enjoyed the story line and would give this 3 1/2 stars if possible. I look forward to reading more from this author.
*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 2, 2025
This novella delivers a strong mystery grounded in place and character.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace.
Each chapter deepens tension while revealing motives tied to the town’s history.
The characters stand firm and distinct. Paisley Penrose’s return to Sand Key Shores drives both emotion and action.
Aunt Dottie’s wisdom anchors the story. Grant’s calm resolve balances the Circle’s sharper edges.
Dialogue feels natural and drives the plot forward. The town itself lives through its sounds and routines, giving the mystery local weight.
The writing style is clear, lean, and consistent. It avoids clutter and relies on movement and voice rather than decoration.
The author handles tone with control, keeping emotion beneath the surface until it must break.
The author could tighten some scenes further.
A few secondary characters repeat information that readers already know.
Still, the story holds focus and coherence throughout.
Readers who value grounded mysteries with moral clarity and a strong sense of community will enjoy this book.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace.
Each chapter deepens tension while revealing motives tied to the town’s history.
The characters stand firm and distinct. Paisley Penrose’s return to Sand Key Shores drives both emotion and action.
Aunt Dottie’s wisdom anchors the story. Grant’s calm resolve balances the Circle’s sharper edges.
Dialogue feels natural and drives the plot forward. The town itself lives through its sounds and routines, giving the mystery local weight.
The writing style is clear, lean, and consistent. It avoids clutter and relies on movement and voice rather than decoration.
The author handles tone with control, keeping emotion beneath the surface until it must break.
The author could tighten some scenes further.
A few secondary characters repeat information that readers already know.
Still, the story holds focus and coherence throughout.
Readers who value grounded mysteries with moral clarity and a strong sense of community will enjoy this book.
November 1, 2025
A fun page turning mystery that grabs you from the beginning. Paisley Penrose has decided it's time to leave her big city job for the quieter life by going home with her very intuitive and intelligent labradoodle, Noodle to help her Aunt Dotty run her Sandlin Inn. When a fundraiser for the renovation of the old lighthouse turns into a murder site which killed the not so likeable Harold Cline, the mayor of Sand Key Shores, and one of her new friends from her new circle becomes suspect number one, Paisley with the reluctant help of Detective Grant Holloway and the Circle of ladies who seem to know everything that goes on in town, Paisley and Noodle are bound and determined to find a murderer and clear her new friend's name before she becomes the next victim. This is a fun engaging book that keeps you reading until the end! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
July 8, 2026
A nice, easy beach read.
Paisley and her dog have returned home to her aunt's bed and breakfast, to help her aunt run the place. At the big reveal for the repair and rebuilding of the lighthouse, the speaker dies when the podium he is on, collapses. Paisley, her aunt and their dear friends spend a lot of time at the local coffee shop - morning, afternoon, evening, they are there all the time, keeping tabs on everything in the small town. Don't these people have jobs? Lives outside the coffee shop? Who is running the B and B?
The plot is almost non-existent. I identified the culprit the first time they appear in the story. There was a lot of repetition, and very little new information added as the story progressed.
I received a copy of this short book from Freebooksy; these are my opinions and my review.
Paisley and her dog have returned home to her aunt's bed and breakfast, to help her aunt run the place. At the big reveal for the repair and rebuilding of the lighthouse, the speaker dies when the podium he is on, collapses. Paisley, her aunt and their dear friends spend a lot of time at the local coffee shop - morning, afternoon, evening, they are there all the time, keeping tabs on everything in the small town. Don't these people have jobs? Lives outside the coffee shop? Who is running the B and B?
The plot is almost non-existent. I identified the culprit the first time they appear in the story. There was a lot of repetition, and very little new information added as the story progressed.
I received a copy of this short book from Freebooksy; these are my opinions and my review.
October 26, 2025
3 stars
I really liked the premise of this book - returning home, helping family, new start, solving a mystery - but I was disappointed in the repetitious phrasing and the “missing” history. It felt like getting dropped into a story without any real hints or background to know who was friend or foe during the earliest chapters.
Yes, I too have had a dog that was a source of grounding, calming or stability for me, but the same phrasing was used often enough that to me it appeared to be cut-and-paste.
Did I figure out the culprit before the reveal? Yes. Did I figure out all the reasons why? No. But the ultimate reveal made sense. I really wanted to love this story, but I didn’t.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
I really liked the premise of this book - returning home, helping family, new start, solving a mystery - but I was disappointed in the repetitious phrasing and the “missing” history. It felt like getting dropped into a story without any real hints or background to know who was friend or foe during the earliest chapters.
Yes, I too have had a dog that was a source of grounding, calming or stability for me, but the same phrasing was used often enough that to me it appeared to be cut-and-paste.
Did I figure out the culprit before the reveal? Yes. Did I figure out all the reasons why? No. But the ultimate reveal made sense. I really wanted to love this story, but I didn’t.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
October 30, 2025
3.5* ARC Review – Cozy Mystery with Noodle
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I received the ARC directly from her. This is the story of Paisley Penrose, who has left her life in the city, working in PR, to help her aunt with the Sandlin Inn. She is accompanied there by her golden doodle, Noodle. When a town meeting turns tragic, Paisley ends up helping the local detective uncover the truth while keeping her aunt and their local text group in line.
It is a good start to what could be a series of cozy mysteries as Paisley builds a new life running the Sandlin Inn. I think there is potential in the author's creation of the world of Paisley’s future. It has the makings of a good small-town series with wacky characters and possibly adventures for Paisley and Noodle.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I received the ARC directly from her. This is the story of Paisley Penrose, who has left her life in the city, working in PR, to help her aunt with the Sandlin Inn. She is accompanied there by her golden doodle, Noodle. When a town meeting turns tragic, Paisley ends up helping the local detective uncover the truth while keeping her aunt and their local text group in line.
It is a good start to what could be a series of cozy mysteries as Paisley builds a new life running the Sandlin Inn. I think there is potential in the author's creation of the world of Paisley’s future. It has the makings of a good small-town series with wacky characters and possibly adventures for Paisley and Noodle.
November 10, 2025
This is a great little murder mystery, Paisley Penrose along with her Labradoodle Noodle left the big city life to help her Aunt run her charming Inn in the coastal town of Sand Key Shores. During the fundraiser to raise money to fix the lighthouse the stage collapses killing the town’s mayor Harold. Paisley noticed that something seemed strange about the stage constructing and suspected that it’s collapsing wasn’t an accident and that someone deliberately killed the unpopular mayor but why, what were they trying hide? When one of Paisley’s new friends becomes a suspect, Paisley, Noodle and her circle of friends set out to find the truth. This cozy mystery will keep you entertained and guessing to the end. I highly recommend reading this book!
Cherie
Cherie
October 28, 2025
Paisley came home to the Sandlin Inn to help her Aunt Dottie for the season. She had been working in the big city and needed a break. She had grown up in the area and spent a lot of time with her aunt and uncle and now she is here to help after her uncle had passed away. The whole town was going to the fundraiser to repair the lighthouse when there is a murder. Paisley ends up helping her friend Grant of the police find the clues with help from "The Circle" the group of ladies that have their fingers in everything in the town. They cut though the smoke scene and figure everything out. Great cozy story with laugh out loud moments.
I received an arc and this is my review.
I received an arc and this is my review.
October 31, 2025
Coming home to mystery and murder.
Paisley Penrose is looking for a break from her hectic life as a PR rep. She comes to help Aunt Dottie with the running of the Sandlin Inn and begins to settle in with some close community friends. When the stage collapses at the big lighthouse restoration kickoff and Harold Cline dies Paisley uses her keen observation skills to help Detective Grant Holloway solve the case. A tricky mystery with many interesting characters.
I received this book as a member of the ARC team, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
Paisley Penrose is looking for a break from her hectic life as a PR rep. She comes to help Aunt Dottie with the running of the Sandlin Inn and begins to settle in with some close community friends. When the stage collapses at the big lighthouse restoration kickoff and Harold Cline dies Paisley uses her keen observation skills to help Detective Grant Holloway solve the case. A tricky mystery with many interesting characters.
I received this book as a member of the ARC team, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
June 27, 2026
Murder by the Lighthouse
Well, the title gives it away that it was murder, the death near the beginning of this tale with many twists. But the characters struggle at first with it; was it an accident, shoddy workmanship, coming slowly to the realization that it was indeed murder. Paisley Penrose gets really involved helping the handsome police detective figure it out...and somewhere along the way finds the feeling of belonging she has been missing! This is the first in a series that I am now looking forward to reading!
Well, the title gives it away that it was murder, the death near the beginning of this tale with many twists. But the characters struggle at first with it; was it an accident, shoddy workmanship, coming slowly to the realization that it was indeed murder. Paisley Penrose gets really involved helping the handsome police detective figure it out...and somewhere along the way finds the feeling of belonging she has been missing! This is the first in a series that I am now looking forward to reading!
October 25, 2025
Murder by the Lighthouse is an exciting cozy about loss, deception, theft, manipulation, and finding the truth. Paisley returns to the Sandlin Inn to help her Aunt Dottie. From that point on, she is involved in a town murder and cover-up. Grant, a cop, investigating, enlists Paisley's help. Paisley becomes part of the Shoreline circle.
The cozy had parts that were laughable and I thought Noodle, the dog, was a riot. A very enjoyable cozy.
The cozy had parts that were laughable and I thought Noodle, the dog, was a riot. A very enjoyable cozy.
October 26, 2025
With a loud snap and a gasp from everyone attending the fundraiser for the lighthouse, the speakers stand collapsed and along with it Harold Cline.
Was it an unfortunate accident or murder?
With rumors, accusations and money gone missing, Paisley Penrose along with her lovable dog, Noodle, intends to do some investigating before the wrong person ends up in jail.
I was given an eARC of this good and enjoyable cozy mystery from the author without remuneration and this review is my opinion.
Was it an unfortunate accident or murder?
With rumors, accusations and money gone missing, Paisley Penrose along with her lovable dog, Noodle, intends to do some investigating before the wrong person ends up in jail.
I was given an eARC of this good and enjoyable cozy mystery from the author without remuneration and this review is my opinion.
December 19, 2025
A fun page turning cozy murder mystery that keeps you engaged. Good characters that you can get behind. ‘The circle’ now that whole group the different characters made me chuckle at times.
I love Noodle he’s a great little character. I think there is the makings of a good small-town series with wacky characters and adventures for Paisley and Noodle as the main characters.
I received this as an arc and this is my honest opinion
I love Noodle he’s a great little character. I think there is the makings of a good small-town series with wacky characters and adventures for Paisley and Noodle as the main characters.
I received this as an arc and this is my honest opinion
March 22, 2026
Great new series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love the characters especially Noodle! The local coffee shop circle who seem to run the town behinds the scene embrace Paisley as she returns to her roots. The story is chock full of interesting small town folk and there's a true feeling of what community should be (and used to be when I was young in a time when the doors weren't locked and the coffee was always on the stove!). Great mystery and a relaxing read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love the characters especially Noodle! The local coffee shop circle who seem to run the town behinds the scene embrace Paisley as she returns to her roots. The story is chock full of interesting small town folk and there's a true feeling of what community should be (and used to be when I was young in a time when the doors weren't locked and the coffee was always on the stove!). Great mystery and a relaxing read!
November 17, 2025
Have a tissue handy on the day you read this fast-paced, action-packed, contemporary, midlife, second-chance, coastal small town cozy murder mystery during September in Sandy Key Shores, Florida, involving betrayal, families, and a lighthouse.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2025
A fund-raiser Save the Lighthouse causes chaos when a murder takes place Paisley is adamant to find the truth so no innocent person is framed. A captivating read. I received this ARC copy via Booksprouts and recommend this book to other readers.
June 27, 2026
Even though it took me a while to finally finish reading because of my schedule I was gripped from the very beginning. Twists and turns throughout the story kept me guessing till the end. Well written and great characters. Recommend this book to all mystery readers.
June 28, 2026
Very enjoyable
The characters are believable. The story moved swiftly. It's a great read for someone who enjoys mystery with a bit of humor.
The characters are believable. The story moved swiftly. It's a great read for someone who enjoys mystery with a bit of humor.
July 6, 2026
It was an awesome book to read. I love it. I'm going on to the next book.
September 3, 2026
Nice story
I enjoyed this story a lot. Some of the narrative was different. I don't know how to explain it but I adjusted to it. Will read more.
I enjoyed this story a lot. Some of the narrative was different. I don't know how to explain it but I adjusted to it. Will read more.
September 29, 2026
Great story
I love the characters. I can feel and smell the ocean and the boardwalk. I want to be in that place. The story kept me eager to get to the end.
I love the characters. I can feel and smell the ocean and the boardwalk. I want to be in that place. The story kept me eager to get to the end.
October 27, 2025
The perfect cozy mystery that includes a cute fuzzy dog, noisy neighbors and a murder. This was an entertaining story with fun characters and new realities.
The was an ARC read that I gave an unbiased review.
The was an ARC read that I gave an unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews