Dying to Live Here

Estate Sales Mysteries #1

by Shelley Marsh

When tech burnout Emma Stewart follows her best friend’s advice to view a quaint beachside home in Harbor Shores, Florida, she expects palm trees, sea breezes, and maybe a fresh start. What she doesn't expect is to stumble into a murder scene—and become a prime suspect.

With the HOA president lying in a pool of blood and her bestie splattered with the evidence, Emma suddenly finds herself knee-deep in neighborhood secrets, rivalries, and a suspiciously missing knife. Armed with nothing but her dry wit, a talent for digital sleuthing, and an adorable bulldog named Hopper, Emma must navigate a world of nosy neighbors, passive-aggressive happy hours, and one dangerously charming lawyer.

In Harbor Shores, the homes are charming—but the secrets are deadly.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

278 pages, Paperback

Published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I say anything else about Dying to Live Here by Shelley Marsh, I have to say this – The protagonist Emma and her longtime best friend Laura are. a. HOOT. Their personalities and tastes are pretty much opposite from each other, but that’s what makes them hilarious together. I am much more like Emma, and my best friend in high school & college definitely resembled Laura, so I related really well to this in-sync-but-so-different friendship. (My bestie and I were not allowed to play the party game Taboo together because our brains shared a wavelength, and I’m pretty sure Laura and Emma would have been similarly banned in our group of friends.) Following these two through some madcap shenanigans (the disguises!) and not-always-very-subtle snooping gives the story a high entertainment value and would honestly make a fun TV show. Unfortunately, one of their earliest ill-advised adventures in the book leads to a body and makes Laura the prime suspect in a neighborhood murder.

Which brings me to the mystery aspect of Dying to Live Here. Anyone who has ever lived in a neighborhood with an HOA knows how nitpicky they can be – and how frustrating. And since the former HOA president of Laura’s neighborhood is the murder victim, the investigation comes with a built-in list of people who might have had a score to settle. The more Emma digs into the secrets and sins that Laura’s neighbors are hiding, including those of the victim, the more motives and plausible suspects she uncovers. My guesses kept changing throughout the story, sure that first one person or another was responsible, and so I suppose I could say I was right after all about the culprit(s). But… considering I suspected everyone at some point, I won’t let it go to my head haha.

Aiding Emma in trying to prove that Laura is innocent? Laura’s neighbor (and defense lawyer) Sam, a laid back guy with a Georgia drawl who is clearly attracted to Emma from the moment they meet. We learn upfront that Emma has no desire to date after a doomed first marriage out of college, that her endearing dog Hopper is the only guy she needs in her life… but Sam’s swooniness is strong, and his charm is difficult to resist. I know this will surprise those of you who know how much I love KissingBooks, but I actually wish she’d resisted a little bit longer. Don’t get me wrong… I liked the idea of Sam and Emma together, and goodness he certainly makes the heart flutter when he’s wooing her. But I would have loved more time spent building the emotional foundation between them before their relationship intensified in the directions it does.

Bottom Line: Dying to Live Here by Shelley Marsh is a witty whodunit that’s anchored by a ride-or-die bestie duo who probably should not be left unsupervised (but who also shine best when they are). The murder mystery aspect twists and turns through a neighborhood full of suspects and motives that kept me invested, entertained, and certain I’d figured it all out… at least until I changed my mind again. I really enjoyed the author’s engaging and humorous writing voice too – it made the story totally bingeable and easy to read in one sitting. What I loved most about this story though is Emma & Laura’s friendship, whether they’re scheming or snooping or making questionable decisions, because they are hilarious together at all of the above. Everyone needs a friendship like that at least once in life, and Marsh writes it perfectly. Looking forward to seeing where their adventures take them next!

Language: a few mild swear words scattered very infrequently throughout
Romance: closed door/fade-to-black intimate activity implied (nothing explicit), some crude innuendo scattered throughout

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder, romance, and Mother Nature combine in this intriguing Florida-set cozy mystery!

Dying to Live Here is the first book in author Shelley Marsh’s fabulous new Estate Sales Mystery series set in the Atlantic coastal city of Jacksonville, Florida. Emma Stewart and Laura Benton have been best friends since college, having each other’s back and a ready shoulder to cry on through life’s ups and downs, and when a home opens up after the death of its elderly owner in Laura’s exclusive beachside community, she’s excited and insistent that Emma take a look. Although the house is not yet on the market, Laura has a key she took when she watched the house while the owner was away, and she talks Emma into coming over late one evening so she can get an early preview. But when Laura opens the front door and steps inside the dark house, they discover blood and the body of the former HOA president, and Laura’s nemesis, just over the threshold. With the police looking hard at Laura for the murder, Emma teams up with Laura’s attorney and handsome, single neighbor, Sam Turner, to find the real killer and clear Laura’s name.

I loved this story, with its engaging main characters, the murder of a bitter, mean victim, the neighborhood drama, and the fun romance between Emma and Sam. Emma is a successful software developer, long-divorced after a short-lived marriage immediately after college, and the only male in her world is a rescue bulldog mix named Hopper. She and Laura are very different, but their shared past has cemented a strong, long-lasting friendship. I loved their camaraderie, back-and-forth banter, and how they played off one another as they investigated Laura’s neighbors. Sam is adorable and single-minded in his attention to Emma and not afraid to let his interest show.

The plot moves briskly, and many neighbors make appearances as the author builds the vibe of the much-coveted community. All the warts of HOA-covenanted living are on full display, as well as the perks, but this lively neighborhood could have been lifted straight out of Peyton Place. And what would Florida in September be without the threat of a hurricane? I loved the big reveal, which occurs as Mother Nature joins the neighborhood shenanigans.

I recommend DYING TO LIVE HERE to readers of cozy mysteries, romantic suspense, and domestic thrillers, especially those who enjoy Florida settings, stories of HOA nightmares, and neighborhood gossip.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

DYING TO LIVE HERE by Shelley Marsh
The First Estate Sale Mystery

Emma Stewart and Laura have been best friends since college and Laura would kill to have Emma move even closer to her. Houses rarely come available in her community of Harbor Shores so when her elderly neighbor dies, Laura persuades Emma to visit that house that night so she can put in a bid. After all, Laura has a key, so what could go wrong? Plenty. As Laura opens the door she stumbles and falls into a dead body! With Laura as the prime suspect it doesn't take much to convince Emma to help find the real killer. Almost everyone hated the victim, but who actually killed her? With help from Laura's neighbor, who also happens to be a good looking lawyer, they'll search for clues and suss out suspects before Laura finds herself behind bars for good.

Best friends always have your back, whether it's against murder charges, Mother Nature, or a killer! I really enjoyed my first trip to Harbor Shores, though it reinforces my stance that you couldn't pay me to live in a community with a home owners association! Or in Florida! The setting was fun with plenty of quirky characters, most of whom make good suspects. I really liked Bina and Hopper.

There's quite a lot of romance in the first Estate Sale Mystery. In fact, I'd say there was just as much romance as mystery. Personally I enjoyed it as it felt relevant and natural to the story. I did think that things progressed a bit too quickly, but maybe because I like the romance in my mysteries more drawn out. This felt more like a romance in a romance novel.

Friendship, romance, and excitement mingle in DYING TO LIVE HERE creating a solid start to a new series.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s be honest who hasn’t thought about murdering the HOA? This story is all at once charming, witty, intriguing, and relatable! We all need a friend like Emma, a ride or die Bestie with sharp wit and keen instincts. Those coastal clique communities can be killer indeed! Delving into this beachfront mystery was just what I needed to stave off the chill of February. Sunny skies and murdering knives FTW.

[Mostly Murders · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Did you ever threaten Rose Martin?" "Yes," Laura whispered. Sam swore.

Emma Stewart and her best friend Laura couldn't be more different. Emma is an introverted, single, no-nonsense sports fan, dog lover, while Laura is an outgoing, married, frills-and-flowers, prim-and-neat HOA president living in a very attractive neighbourhood in Harbor Shores, Florida. When a house suddenly becomes available in her area, Laura convinces Emma to come see it for herself, but in the process the two of them literally stumble upon the body of Rose Martin, the neighbourhood's former HOA president who had many enemies, including Laura, who usurped the HOA presidentship from Rose.

With her best friend in the spotlight for murder, Emma is determined to help prove Laura's innocence with the help of the very charming lawyer, Sam Turner. At the same time, Emma is facing an important, life-altering decision about her career, and her natural reserve and tendency to worry threaten both her potential relationship with Sam, and her long-time friendship with Laura.

A fun, cozy mystery filled with lots of banter, jokes and best friend energy, coupled with romance and red hot passion in both good and bad ways. The friendship between Emma and Laura carries the story as the two of them sleuth, gossip, support each other and bicker, and Dying to Live Here is a great debut mystery with humour, heartbreak and HOA drama on the Florida beachside.

Many thanks to Fawkes Press for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The expected publication date for Dying to Live Here is February 10th, 2026

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Library Thing and author Shelley Marsh for a complimentary copy of Dying to Live Here, the first in a new Estate Sales mystery series.
The story takes place in Harbor Shores, an elite beachside community near Jacksonville, Florida. The first-person protagonist, Emma, lives nearby with her beloved dog, Hopper. Her best friend since college, Laura, lives in Harbor Shores, and she's trying to persuade Emma to move there, too. An elderly neighbor recently passed away, and his house will be going on the market soon. Laura happens to have a key, and she convinces Emma to come preview the place so she can be prepared to make an offer.
When they arrive, they stumble over the dead body of Rose Martin, the former HOA president and Laura's nemesis. The cops arrive almost immediately and arrest Laura for Rose's murder. Rose was an unpopular busybody; while almost no one in the neighborhood liked her, Laura appears to have the strongest motive. Emma vows to help her clear her name.
Another neighbor, Sam, is a young lawyer, and he agrees to represent Laura. There is also a strong attraction between Sam and Emma, and a romance develops.
The pacing is slow in places, as the investigation into who killed Rose takes a backseat to the friendship between Emma and Laura, their life and career choices, as well as the romance between Emma and Sam, which at times seems fraught with a little too much drama, jealousy, and unwarranted hurt feelings.
Still, it was an enjoyable read with spunky characters, and the writing is good. I look forward to seeing where this series goes.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may not be dying to live there, but I am dying to read the next book. Debut author Shelley Marsh has created a murder mystery is enlivened by a best friend duo who ring true. Emma and Laura bonded in college and have been best friends ever since. The reader can feel the love ad support between the two and the banter keeps things light. When Laura convinces Emma to look at a house in her neighborhood that is available for sale, in true cozy mystery fashion, Laura literally trips over a body. Covered in the blood of a rival, Laura becomes a prime suspect and Emma feels the need to find the killer and clear her name. Add in the handsome single defense lawyer, and you have all the makings of a cute cozy. Marsh takes these tropes and weaves such a fun story that I couldn't stop reading. The cul-de-sac is home to lots of fun characters any one of whom would make a great murder suspect. The clues are riddled with red herrings and the plot has it's share of twists and turns. some were predictable but others took me by surprise. One of those surprises was the very end of the book which sets up the series to come. I can't wait to see what comes next.

This review is featured on my Storybooklady.net book blog.
. as part of a blog tour. Stop on by and enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a copy.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ER copy in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I give "Dying to Live Here" 4.5 stars

I enjoyed Dying to Live Here. I felt the pacing of the story was nice, the characters varied and interesting and the clues worthy of a great puzzle.
I've found as I've gotten older that I enjoy whodunits quite a bit. This novel has joined others of its kind on the metaphorical shelves of mystery novels I look forward to reading more of.
The protagonist Emma came off as a bit older than I realized she actually was and it threw me off for a bit but I thought she had depths to her I'd like to see more of. I thought the love interest was cute but also I kinda wished the romantic aspect wasn't introduced in the first book. I think a slow burn would have made the story a bit more interesting to me. That being said; Sam, Laura, Hopper and the other cast members of this book were entertaining to get to know.
The flow of the story and plot really worked for me and I look forward to checking out other books in the series going forward.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mysteries and whodunits with amateur sleuths.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you

What a fun book. Definitely a light read, but enough action to get you wondering.

Emma and Laura are best friends since college, and the two couldn't be more opposite. Laura signs up for everything, while Emma is a computer nerd and goes with the flow. Laura has been bugging Emma to move into her neighborhood, and finally there's going to be a home for sale there. In order to get a jump on the competition for the home, Laura plots a plan to sneak into the house at night to check it out. Of course we all know this is going to be a bad idea, especially since Laura is the HOA president, and it's a very picky HOA neighborhood. Sure enough there's trouble. Upon entering the home, Laura trips over the body of the ex HOA president, and soon she's the only suspect it seems. Emma quickly calls the Neighborhood hottie, Sam Turner, also a defense lawyer, and the three of them set a path to clear Laura's name. If enough wasn't going on, Emma gets transferred to another job, 3 hours away, and has to deal with that too.
Lots going on, and a good read.

[Alison B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clever and funny cozy mystery by debut author Shelley Marsh. As Laura conspires to convince her best friend Emma to become her neighbor, they literally stumble into a murder scene. Laura becomes the prime suspect and Emma begins her own investigation to clear Laura's name. With the help of a dreamy lawyer and a few neighbors, the mystery unravels in unexpected ways. The friendship between Laura and Emma is laugh-out-loud funny and has you rooting for these two all the way! In the midst of the investigation, Emma explores a romantic connection and is forced to make an important life decision. Follow along as they solve this fast-paced mystery together.

The author did an amazing job of making me feel like Laura and Emma are my close girlfriends. I'm cheering them on from chapter to chapter, hoping that they clear Laura's name and find out who committed murder in their posh Florida neighborhood. The writing, character development, and plot line is outstanding and I highly recommend reading this book!

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read the ARC!

[Cynthia Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dying to Live Here is a fun cozy mystery that takes place in a Florida coastal neighborhood outside Jacksonville. The Main characters are best friends from college and are navigating life at 30 -ish. Their lives are almost complete opposites of each other but that doesn't stop their support for one another. The one friend, Laura, becomes a suspect in a murder investigation and Emma, the other friend, works with her to identify the real murderer. The plot follows a typical cozy mystery trajectory in addition to the discovery of a love interest, the development of additional friends, and a hurricane before the murderer is determined and caught. The setting is well described so that you can immerse yourself in it and the characters seem like that type of people you would meet in real life. Unique to this book/series would be the inclusion of the framework and limitations imposed by estate sales (hence the name). Would recommend to those who enjoy any and all cozies, those with strong and increasing friendships, and stories taking place in Florida and/or the coast.

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Dying to Live here is a cozy mystery centered around the murder of the HOA president in a beachside community. Laura, who lives in the community, and her best friend Emma stumble upon the corpse, and Laura becomes the primary suspect. In an effort to clear her name, the friends do their own investigation into the murder. Complete with a bit of romance, a bulldog named Hopper, and small community gossip and dynamics, the basic plot did keep my interest, for the most part. Parts of the storyline I found to be too slow-paced and overly detailed, however. The ending was predictable and the story lacked suspense.

[Anastacia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too spicy for a cozy mystery, and it focused way too much on romance and not solving the crime. Emma is a bit of a party girl, and I'm personally not into that. The actual mystery is interesting, I just wish there wasn't so much filler.

[Carolyn Eichhorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read! All the good stuff I miss and don’t miss from Florida from someone who knows. The beach, coastal cocktails, dash of murder, dash of romance, and the lure of a good estate sale. I look forward to the next one!

[Kymm Cothren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great debut novel from a fellow Florida Girl! The fun plot, witty and likable protagonists, and the familiar setting made this an enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series 🏖️🕵️

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

had me hooked since pg. 1

Amazing book it had me hooked since page one! Well done Shelley Marsh! I cannot wait for your next one.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun Florida cozy mystery!! I love the friendship dynamic between Emma & Laura and I can't wait to see what hijinks await them in the upcoming sequels!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a cozy mystery with "Peyton Place" neighborhood drama and a side of sweet romance, you need to check out DYING TO LIVE HERE by Shelley Marsh! When Emma Stewart’s best friend Laura is accused of murdering a mean-spirited rivalry HOA president, Emma teams up with a handsome neighbor Sam to clear Laura's name. Set in sunny (and stormy!) Jacksonville, Florida, this series debut is packed with witty banter, a relatable software-dev heroine, and a very good bulldog named Hopper. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and neighborhood gossip! I can't wait for the next book in the Estate Sale Mystery series.