Wuthering Spite

by Nova Walsh

A beachside bookshop. A body in the sand. And two old rivals who are about to become Spoonbill Bay’s most unlikely detective duo.

Bertie Hirsch came back to Spoonbill Bay for a fresh start.

Recently divorced and ready to build a life that finally belongs to her, Bertie has her eye on a charming little coastal storefront and a dream she’s carried for opening a bookshop filled with secondhand treasures, salty breezes, local gossip, and the kind of quirky regulars only a small Texas beach town can provide.

Unfortunately, Joan Burns is back in town too.

For decades, Bertie and Joan spent summers in neighboring beach houses, perfecting the art of driving each other crazy. Joan is opinionated, impossible, and far too pleased with herself, with a talent for getting under Bertie’s skin before either of them has finished a cup of coffee. Now they’re both divorced, both starting over, and somehow once again stuck next door to each other.

Then a dead body turns up in the sand.

Suddenly, Spoonbill Bay doesn’t feel quite so peaceful. Joan may know more than she’s saying, Bertie’s new chapter is looking more dangerous by the minute, and the murder investigation she absolutely did not ask for is getting harder to ignore.

Even worse? Joan might be the only person stubborn enough, nosy enough, and shameless enough to help her solve it.

Full of sharp banter, beach-town charm, bookish coziness, and two seventy-something frenemies who prove it’s never too late for a fresh start — or a little amateur sleuthing — Wuthering Spite is the first Bertie and Joan Mystery.

Genres: Mystery

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2026

About the author

Author Nova Walsh writes cozy mysteries full of humor, shenanigans, and friendships that last a lifetime. She mixes in a healthy dose of amateur sleuthing, some slow-burn romance, and a pinch of comedy in every book she writes.

Nova is a former chef/caterer who still loves to cook but loves to write even more. She’s an enthusiastic, if not totally successful gardener who loves travel, wine, and hanging out with friends.

Nova grew up in the southwest, and now lives in Galveston, Texas with her husband and son. When she isn’t writing, she’s often cooking, gardening, hiking, feeding stray animals, or trying to make her way through her endless TBR pile.

Reviews

[Linda Langford]

I thought the plot was slow-moving and not very interesting. Sadly, I won’t be reading any further stories in this new series.

[Jeff Farley]

Intriguing and humorous

Nova Walsh has done it again. She is a master at creating characters and places I want to call home! Ms. Walsh has the ability to create intriguing personalities with mystery and mirth! I am excited to read the next adventure of Bertie and Joan. And maybe the Sugar Creek gals will pop by for a visit! Well done Nova Walsh.

[dnsyl57]

"Wuthering Spite" is the first book in "A Bertie And Joan Mystery" by Nova Walsh.

"A beachside bookshop. A body in the sand. And two old rivals who are about to become Spoonbill Bay’s most unlikely detective duo."

Bertie and Joan are both seventy-something, divorced and after many years, find themselves once again living in neighboring beach houses. They always got on each others nerves and lived very different lives but a dead body on the beach by their homes changes everything. They soon realize that they both want to find the truth and that their various skill sets would work well together to solve the murder.

The murder case took some unexpected turns and the detective duo found themselves in some uncomfortable situations a couple of times before a dramatic take down. I wasn't surprised as to who was behind the killing but getting there kept me turning the pages to see how it would all come together.

Reading how these two old rivals interact not only with each other but with other people was really well done. The dialogue is sharp with just the right amount of wit and snark to keep things interesting and ease tension.

Joan may be a bit brazen and overly inquisitive at times but she is an interesting character. Bertie is slowly coming into a new chapter of her life as she finds a way to fulfill a long held dream - opening a bookstore. Reading how these two women evolve and learn to work together felt realistic. Neither character was sugarcoated. The supporting cast of core characters is also diverse, strong and just quirky enough to keep you on your toes and make life interesting.

This was a thoroughly entertaining cozy mystery and I can't wait to read the next adventure with this duo!

[Alisa]

Lots of fun!

This is a really fun start to a new series.

As someone who is a bit older, I like reading books featuring strong older women, and this fits the bill for sure!

Bertie Hirsh and Joan Burns have both returned to homes next door to one another in the lovely town of Spoonbill Bay, where their families spent summers. Suffice it to say they were NOT buddies back then. When Joan shows up, after Bertie's moved back to start her life over after a divorce, suffice it to say Bertie is not a happy camper.

When a body turns up on the beach behind their homes, they both want to investigate it, and end up working together on it, to the shock of both of them.

Meanwhile, Bertie is dreaming of opening a bookstore, a dream she has had for a long time. Will she be able, at her age and with her limited knowledge of running a store, jump into it? Read on to find out :).

I love both of the main characters-the author makes them feel very relatable and reveals their strengths and shortcomings, so they are complete people.

There's quite a bit of humor in the book (both in Bertie's musings and in, as the author notes, their "sharp banter"), which is always a plus for me.

The story-line was well written, and the mystery drew me right in. With a beautiful setting and many other interesting people that I'm sure will be featured in future books, I think this new series is a winner!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nordiana Baruzzi]

Grace and Frankie meets Murder she wrote, sort of.

Joan Burns and Bertie Hirsch have been leery of each other ever since they've had adjacent summer houses on the Texas coast. Now in their seventies, divorced, they've both retired to the coast. Thy really get on each other's nerves, until they find a shot guy on their shared beach. Shane Scheuster had been Joan's daughter's boyfriend when she was a teenager, and their love story may have rekindled recently. Joan had always been contrary to the liaison, and Berties suspects she may have had something to do with the guy's death.

As a former school librarian she knows how to find obscure, hidden information and she's determined to find the murderer. Joan is an investigative journalist and she knows how to make sources spill the beans wven if they don't want to. The two women decide to put together their unique abilities and get to the core of the matter…

When I read the first chapter and saw to elderly ladies living on the beach, my mind jumped to Grace and Frankie, the hit Netflix comedy series. But then this is not a comedy, per se, it's a cozy mystery, so, more Jessica Fletcher than Grace and Frankie. Whatever. The book is an interesting read, well written and I was caught up in it from the start.

BTW, I do love titles that are somewhat reminiscent of famous books of movies, don't you?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brokebecausebooks]

I loved spending more time with Birdie! She was always a joy in the Sugar Creek series. I also really enjoyed watching Joan and Birdie’s unlikely friendship develop.

All the side characters in this town were highly entertaining. I really liked the little hints at the possible romance and future books for Birdie. I’m glad that the perspective love interest wouldn’t be the sheriff or other law-enforcement officer like most cozy mystery series.

I loved the sea side beach vibes. I hope the next one has a lot more focus on Birdie’s new book shop!

The mystery was definitely puzzling. I liked how much history came up because of the murder; iIt gave the story so much depth. I would love a bonus chapter where we get to see what happened between Joan and Reggie during their dinner. I want to know how he found out what Joan was doing…

If you like cozy mysteries, quirky characters, and small seaside towns, you should add this one to your shelf!

This new series is a spinoff of the Sugar Creek mystery series, which is what got me into reading cozy mysteries so I highly recommend you check those out as well!

Thank you to booksirens for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

[Lise]

Bertie's sanctuary is befouled by Joan's arrival in the neighbouring beach cottage. Sophisticated but effortlessly cruel, Joan has always made Bertie feel small. But when a body is found on the beach between their dwellings, the two set aside their differences to snare a killer.

The author's amazing balancing of the dynamic between her two leads is breathtaking. While I admit that I normally look for the positives in a book, this story was absolutely throwing them at me. My one criticism (because of course, nothing is without a tiny flaw) is that the ladies seemed much more active than their years would suggest.

Turning to the mystery, it didn't matter to me. True, I enjoy seeing leads tie up into a satisfying villain meeting his/her/their comeuppance. And also true, this particular mystery was well-written and positively twisty. It was irrelevant. I loved, beyond all reason, how the relationships played out in the book. (And I'm not normally one who looks for this sort of thing.)

So, with a gorgeous setting, a frienemy relationship, and a puzzle with an elegant solution, I was in heaven. This was a brilliant start to a new series.

Thank you to Nova Walsh and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. As always, my opinions are my own, honest and true.

[Nikki C.]

**Thank you to the author and Booksirens for the free eARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

4.5 rounded up!

I had so much fun reading this new series from Nova Walsh! Wuthering Spite has everything I look for in a cozy mystery:
~The almost immediate discovery of a dead body - the leading plotline.
~Lovable characters in a small-town setting (beachfront this time, at Spoonbill Bay)
~The cozy subplot that's just as much fun to unfold as the murder mystery - in this case, Bertie's dream to open a bookshop.
~A hint of romance - the sweet kind.

What took it up a notch for me was that our sleuths are a pair of enemies-to-friends - Joan and Bertie - in their 70s. I've said this in other reviews, but older characters just hit differently and are refreshing to read about. They have different histories, focuses in life, and tend to add a bit of humor given their lower tolerance for nonsense. I adored the relationship between Joan and Bertie and am committed to this series not only to learn more about the town and its cast of characters, but especially to see how Joan and Bertie continue to develop their unlikely friendship.

This was a super fun, wholesome read as I've come to expect from Walsh. I can't wait for the series to continue!

[Estelle Bouldin]

Wuthering Spite was such a fun book. If you love cozy mysteries with witty dialogue, memorable characters, and a strong sense of place, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Bertie and Joan are the kind of reluctant duo that instantly hooked me. Their constant bickering had me laughing more than once, especially their very first interactions. Underneath all the sarcasm and snark, though, they're both dealing with complicated pasts, which gives the story a surprising amount of heart.

Spoonbill Bay feels like a real Gulf Coast town filled with quirky neighbors, small-town gossip, beach life, and just enough eccentric personalities to make every chapter entertaining.

The protagonists are older women. They aren't portrayed as stereotypes—they're intelligent, funny, stubborn, and completely capable of getting themselves into (and hopefully out of) trouble. Their life experience adds depth to the mystery and makes them refreshing leads.

Overall, this is an excellent start to what could becomes a long-running series.

[Jacqueline]

I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I enjoy Nova Walsh's cozy murder mystery books. They pull the reader into the mystery, the characters and the settings in a gentle manner, with no bad language or violence - apart from the murders of course! This book is a spin off from the Sugar Creek series. Aunt Bertie visits her sister Meg from time to time and is a little larger than life and fun.

In this,her own series, Bertie has moved permanently to the Beach house that she got as part of the divorce from her (now ex) husband. She discovers to her horror that her old enemy, Joan has also come to live permanently in her beach house next door. When someone leaves a body in the sand in front of Joan's house, the two 70 + year olds team up to investigate. There is a lot of humour in this book, and reflection on second chances and what two determined ladies can acheive.

It is a very enjoyable book.

[Jen Miller]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I want to start by saying that you don't need to read the author's Sugar Creek Mystery Series before starting this one. However, that series is absolutely wonderful, and I would definitely recommend it!

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this book, but I already knew and loved Bertie from the Sugar Creek series. She has such a wonderful personality, and honestly, I wish I had someone like her in my own family. I thought this story was very well done, and I especially enjoyed watching the relationship between Bertie and Joan grow throughout the book. One of my favorite moments was adorable Dolly's little "betrayal," which made me smile.

I really hope the author continues this series because I'm already looking forward to more Bertie and Joan adventures. I don't normally reread books, but this is one I would definitely read again!

[Erin]

This was a good book with some really funny bits. The mystery was well done. There was enough information that someone with better detecting skills than me should be able to figure out the killer easily. (I didn't figure it out until close to the end, but had suspicions.)

Berdie and Joan were great, well-rounded characters that I enjoyed following. It seems like there might be a bit of a romance as a B plot in future books.

In some places it was a little difficult to know exactly who was talking due to improper formatting or lack of dialog tags. That it didn't matter who was talking is a different issue altogether.

Will I be reading future books? Probably not. It was good, not great. There wasn't enough to make me want to remember when the next one comes out.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Beverly]

This was an enjoyable read. Two senior sleuths team up on a murder investigation, only to find the more time they spend together the closer their friendship got. They really weren't very different, but neither saw it before. That friendship was inspiring and good for each others mental and physical health too. These old girls figured out the real culprit and helped the police solve some murders. It was inspirational seeing someone live out their dreams of owning a bookstore so late in life. It's never too late , if you have the drive to make it happen. I loved this summer mystery and the new friendships between Bertie amd Joan, their characters were energetic and adorable.

I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.

[Sally-Anne Schmick]

Review of advance copy received from Author

I was thrilled to receive an ARC as a member of the first official Nova Walsh ARC team through BookSirens. This review is being left voluntarily.

Nova is the queen of cozy mysteries and I was excited to see what kind of cute, funny trouble the characters of Wuthering Spite could get into. Bertie and Joan are an unlikely pair, working together to not only solve a mystery but repair their strained relationship after many years. I enjoyed their witty banter and loved to see their characters evolve throughout the story. This is a spinoff of the Sugar Creek Mystery Series and it has just as much charm as those books. If you love Abby and the gang, you'll love this too. I'm already looking forward to the next Spoonbill Bay book!

[G.Terenzio]

Bertie Hirsch is at the age of 78 at her prime but a divorce after 40 odd years has her struggling so she moves to the beach house in Spoonbill Bay.Nobody could forsee that her arch enemy would move at the same time into her house right next door.The very next day brings a dead body to their properties and it doesn't look good for Joan Burns because she had lots of run ins with Shane Scheuster, who was a trouble maker but her daughter Theresa loved him.

Joan was a well known television journalist and she decides to bury the hatches and work with Bertie to discover who really killed Shawn. A second murder get the elderly ladies going and time and suspects changed more than they believed possible. 

[Mary Ryan]

This is a really enjoyable start to a new series , and a series that I can't read to get stuck into. Bertie is stunned to find an old acquaintance Joan has now moved back next door which she is not happy about but when they come across the body of a local man who has links to Joan's daughter, they decide to join forces and conduct their own investigation.

This was funny all the way through. I loved all the different characters and enjoyed how the bickering between the two ladies gradually and begrudgingly becomes friendship, albeit a tentative one. I found it easy to read and look forward to what comes next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea Stoeckel]

"They say real life is crazier than fiction"

As two retirees settle back into their old homes in Spoonbill Bay Texas, Bertie and Joan go from neighbors to friends as they are confronted by a neighborhood death involving people they know.

But is it safe to snoop around, or are they putting themselves at risk?

This is an interesting book but it drags a bit. It seems a bit like there's not enough seasoning in the story to want to search for the next book teased in the series. Recommended 4/5

[ Disclaimer: I received this ARC from Book Sirens. However in no way did it affect my reading or review]

[Bernadette Cinkoske]

Wuthering Spite features two 70 something, strong, female sleuths and a twisted mystery. It also showcases a beach town, interesting townspeople, a lot of witty banter and a well plotted mystery. Both Bertie and Joan are realistically written. They are not perfect and they are long time frenemies. Yet they team up to solver the murder of the body that turns up behind their adjacent cottages. Bertie is also considering opening a bookstore. She will need one to store all her books! I found this book to be an excellent introduction to a new series. It captured and held my interest. I will be eagerly awaiting the next offering!

[Kelly]

Wuthering Spite is a new series from author Nova Walsh. I have read several books of hers in another series, and this one is shaping up to be another great one. Bertie and Joan are senior citizen frenemies who realize they might be more friends than enemies as they work together to solve a local murder. I love books with senior sleuths. This was was full of humor and laugh out loud moments. I especially love that it is set in my home state of Texas. If you love copies with senior sleuths, you will love this new series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mrs K.Bryant]

Wuthering Spite is an Excellent story and start of a series about Joan Burns and Bertie Hirsch a Retired Librarian who loves books and they are neighbours.

They discover a body near their gardens and Police Chief Levi Robillard. Joan and Bertie start to look into the mystery individually and then they join forces. There are many twists and turns throughout the story and some surprising events. But what will be uncovered and can they discover the truth?

I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read. I look forward to the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Corey]

Someone once said (I think it was Drew Barrymore) that the goal isn't to look 25, it's to make 25 year olds excited for their 50s. Well, this book made me excited to be 70. I loved the characters, setting and mystery. This was well written, and had a good pace. I was worried the frenemies dynamic would be catty and cringy, but not in the least. Nova Walsh has this ability to capture female friendships and motherhood on the pages very well. This was a great read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bette Reith]

I love cozy mysteries - love the clues, the intrigue, and the laughter. This one hits the spot on all 3. Two retired women have been Summer neighbors for years, but one would definitely not call them friends. They discover a body on the beach, and to make matters worse, it is Joan's daughter's childhood boyfriend.

This story revolves around small-town dynamics, the search for truth, and re-evaluating what matters. Great characters and storyline. Looking forward to a series with this duo. Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC of this book

[Sherry Bendorf]

I enjoyed getting to know Bertie and Joan in this new series by Nova Walsh. There were times I laughed out loud by snarky comments made by Bertie She is definitely a character, as is her companion, Joan.

It's always fun to read stories with older female main characters. I look forward to reading more from these ladies and the antics involving solving murder cases.

I enjoyed the addition of Bertie fulfilling her dream of owning a bookshop.

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. This is my honest review.

[Delphia Von Heeder]

Wuthering Spite is Book 1 in the Bertie and Joan Mystery Series by Nova Walsh. I found that this first in the series is excellent. Bertie and Joan are quirky, both are divorced and starting again. I think 70ish main characters that are frenemies that work together to solve a murder promises to be fun and a great way to escape into a good book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Tina Bubb]

At first meeting, I wasn’t a fan of Joan. However, I loved the way Nova worked to really relate how the friendship between Bertie and Joan grew. I had a really good feeling about their friendship especially when Bertie’s became concerned for Joan’s safety. I also loved the Levi and Bobby connection. When I develop a liking of the characters I stay engaged and look forward to their next adventure. Thanks Nova.

[Christie]

What a fun, little cozy mystery. I enjoyed reading this book so much. Bertie is such a great character. She is so strong and independent, yet works well with others. Joan is also amazing. It just takes longer to realize it. When they discover a body, they may have to work together to figure out what happened. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I can't wait for the next book.

[sherie McAllister]

Wuthering Spite was a fun read

Decades long summer neighbors, absolutely not friends until the past and circumstances bring them together. Let the sleuthing begin!
I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a who dunnit. Nova Walsh is a great writer and I recommend her Sugar Creek series that Bertie gets her sleuthing started in thanks to her Niece who can't mind her own biscuits.

[Stacey E.]

This was your typical cozy mystery, and while it wasn't bad, it was SOO LONG. I really think 100 pages could be removed and we still would have the same story. There were some enjoyable moments and I liked the overall cozy feel, but the story took too long to get where it was going, and that made it hard for me to stay invested. Not a bad read by any means, but definitely one where a little trimming would have made a big difference for me.

[Madeline Brousseau]

This book was really real. I liked that the relationships weren’t sugarcoated, and they had to deal with real consequences for snooping, but also that Joan had experience with investigative reporting, so that made their looking into things feel more realistic. I also liked watching the bookstore take shape and friendships grow and change. I’m really excited to read more!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Veronique]

It was fun reading about ladies of a certain age. I’ll keep them in mind when I’m their age. It’s not really clear why the neighbouring ladies start out as enemies, but that doesn’t have an impact on the storyline.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.