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Murder in the Eye of the Storm: A Hurricane Cover-Up Cozy Mystery
A perfectly timed murder. A deadly hurricane. And a crime scene the storm was meant to hide.
As Hurricane Iris barrels toward Sand Key Shores, everyone scrambles to prepare except Sterling Blackwell, the meticulous new owner of the fiduciary services office across the street from the Sandlin Inn.
When innkeeper Paisley Penrose discovers Sterling's body during the eerie calm of the storm's eye, everyone assumes the hurricane claimed another victim.
Paisley isn't so sure.
No one seems sorry Sterling Blackwell is dead. His estranged brother, Grayson Blackwell, stands to inherit everything. His disgruntled assistant, Megan Pierce, has had enough of her demanding new boss. And neighboring business owner Frank Delaney has spent months battling Sterling over a bitter property line dispute.
Joined by her loyal Labradoodle Noodle, her friends in the Shoreline Circle, and Detective Grant Halloway, Paisley uncovers evidence that someone used the hurricane to disguise murder.
Now the only person standing between a killer and the perfect crime is Paisley.
And the killer will do whatever it takes to silence her.
As Hurricane Iris barrels toward Sand Key Shores, everyone scrambles to prepare except Sterling Blackwell, the meticulous new owner of the fiduciary services office across the street from the Sandlin Inn.
When innkeeper Paisley Penrose discovers Sterling's body during the eerie calm of the storm's eye, everyone assumes the hurricane claimed another victim.
Paisley isn't so sure.
No one seems sorry Sterling Blackwell is dead. His estranged brother, Grayson Blackwell, stands to inherit everything. His disgruntled assistant, Megan Pierce, has had enough of her demanding new boss. And neighboring business owner Frank Delaney has spent months battling Sterling over a bitter property line dispute.
Joined by her loyal Labradoodle Noodle, her friends in the Shoreline Circle, and Detective Grant Halloway, Paisley uncovers evidence that someone used the hurricane to disguise murder.
Now the only person standing between a killer and the perfect crime is Paisley.
And the killer will do whatever it takes to silence her.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 10, 2026
Another great book in the Paisley Penrose series that is unputdownable. Hurricane Iris is on the way to Sand Key Shores and Paisley and Aunt Dottie have to get the Inn battened down and everyone in town all get together to help each other secure their places. Everyone is boarding up their premises except Sterling Blackwell because he had bragged about his new electric metal shutters. All the guest of the inn along with Detective Grant are in the main lounge waiting out the storm. But as with all hurricanes, the wind and rain calm down when it gets to the eye and Paisley and Grant stepped outside with Paisley's incredible clue finding dog, Noodle and noticed that across from them, Sterling Blackwell's special shutters were not down and when Grant, Paisley and Noodle decided to see if Sterling was ok. Well, they found him dead on the floor. Here is where Paisley is at her best noticing details others miss. Was he murdered or was it an accident from the storm? Grant with the help of Paisley, Noodle, Aunt Dottie and the Shoreline Circle investigate. This is a fun, fast paced book that keeps you totally engaged. Maybe Grant and Paisley can stop pussyfooting around and get it together. He cares a lot about her and she cares a lot about him. I can't wait to see what the next adventure for Paisley and Noodle will they get into next! Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I highly recommend the series as well. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My Review of Murder in the Eye of the Storm by Cheryl Marlow
I am really loving the Paisley Primrose series. This book starts with a tornado barreling toward Sand Key Shores, and the whole town jumps into storm prep mode, sandbag stations, windows being boarded up, everyone scrambling the way you do when a tornado is coming. There’s even a fun little detail about Sterling Blackwell refusing to board his windows because he had electric metal shutters installed instead.
Once the storm hits, everyone hunkers down. During the eerie calm of the eye, Paisley and the Detective dash across the street to check on Sterling… and find him dead in his office. They barely make it back before the second half of the storm slams into town.
From there, it becomes a full‑on “who did it” mystery mixed with storm cleanup and community recovery. The writing is smooth, the pacing stays tight, and I always enjoy the Shoreline Circle’s involvement, plus Detective Noodle, Paisley’s lovable Labradoodle, who is basically a character all his own.
I kept guessing the culprit until about the 90% mark, and then everything finally clicked. I’m already excited for the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am really loving the Paisley Primrose series. This book starts with a tornado barreling toward Sand Key Shores, and the whole town jumps into storm prep mode, sandbag stations, windows being boarded up, everyone scrambling the way you do when a tornado is coming. There’s even a fun little detail about Sterling Blackwell refusing to board his windows because he had electric metal shutters installed instead.
Once the storm hits, everyone hunkers down. During the eerie calm of the eye, Paisley and the Detective dash across the street to check on Sterling… and find him dead in his office. They barely make it back before the second half of the storm slams into town.
From there, it becomes a full‑on “who did it” mystery mixed with storm cleanup and community recovery. The writing is smooth, the pacing stays tight, and I always enjoy the Shoreline Circle’s involvement, plus Detective Noodle, Paisley’s lovable Labradoodle, who is basically a character all his own.
I kept guessing the culprit until about the 90% mark, and then everything finally clicked. I’m already excited for the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a great story about using a hurricane for a cover-up for murder and the people that managed to look at the right clues to solve it. Paisley Penrose and her aunt are getting the Sandlin Inn ready for a hurricane, all the neighbors are helping each other except the man across the street from the Inn. He had bought some fancy hurricane shutters for his home/office but when it came down to time to use them, nothing was done. Grant, the local detective and Paisley's boyfriend noticed during the hurricane eye that the front door of Mr. Blackwell's office was open, and the found him in his office dead. Someone wanted it to look like the hurricane did it, but things didn't add up and Paisley, Grant and the Shoreline Circle started to investigate. Great story and it kept you turning pages to find out who killed Mr. Blackwell.
I received an arc and this is my review.
I received an arc and this is my review.
August 18, 2026
Murder in the Eye of the Storm
Hurricane Iris is coming; everyone is frantically preparing! I live in Florida and this story is quite accurate...we get used to routine of preparing, the sand bags, the freezing of large containers of water to create ice blocks, the battery collection, flash lights and Lanterns, smoking all the meat on hand (because when the power goes out, it is still safe cold), the boarding up windows ...
But this story has a murder, supposedly disguised as storm damage, an impersonation that's not supposed to be noticed because of the storm prep distraction, but the murderer doesn't know Paisley and her pup, Noodles!
This is my ninth book in this series, and I can recommend each and every one! While you can start with any order because they are great stand-alone mysteries, you will love them even more as a series. See for yourself!
Hurricane Iris is coming; everyone is frantically preparing! I live in Florida and this story is quite accurate...we get used to routine of preparing, the sand bags, the freezing of large containers of water to create ice blocks, the battery collection, flash lights and Lanterns, smoking all the meat on hand (because when the power goes out, it is still safe cold), the boarding up windows ...
But this story has a murder, supposedly disguised as storm damage, an impersonation that's not supposed to be noticed because of the storm prep distraction, but the murderer doesn't know Paisley and her pup, Noodles!
This is my ninth book in this series, and I can recommend each and every one! While you can start with any order because they are great stand-alone mysteries, you will love them even more as a series. See for yourself!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A chilling mystery happens during a hurricane. With town cleanup ongoing, Grant and Paige find themselves with a death to investigate. This story not only has a mystery, but other circumstances make the investigation more confusing.
As the Circle comes together to help solve the investigation, I feel as though I know them better with each book. They are complex characters with a deep appreciation of the town. They are there for support. And then Noodle is adorable and surprising as a helper.
An enjoyable read that kept me turning pages. I read it in one sitting, as I couldn't wait to see how things would end. The ending wrapped up everything nicely.
I received a complimentary copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As the Circle comes together to help solve the investigation, I feel as though I know them better with each book. They are complex characters with a deep appreciation of the town. They are there for support. And then Noodle is adorable and surprising as a helper.
An enjoyable read that kept me turning pages. I read it in one sitting, as I couldn't wait to see how things would end. The ending wrapped up everything nicely.
I received a complimentary copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Murder in the Eye of the Storm is a Superb story and series about Paisley Penrose and Noodle her very clever dog and her Aunt Dottie they run the Inn. Hurricane Iris is coming and the town help each other to prepare so they stay safe. When there was a lull in the storm Detective Grant Halloway, Paisley and Noodle discover a person dead at the Fiduciary Services Office. So Detective Grant starts to look into the mystery with assistance from Paisley and they are helped by Aunt Dottie and the Shoreline Circle. 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 this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 10, 2026
I really like this author and enjoyed this cozy mystery in this series. Someone was found dead after a hurricane went thru and everyone thought he was killed by the hurricane. But Paisley, her trusty dog Noodle and the Shoreline Circle are on the case trying to figure out who committed this murder because they don’t feel it was from the hurricane. I love the diverse quirky characters in this story and the setting of the story as well. Just a great cozy mystery series.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another wonderful Paisley Penrose and Noodle book. What more could you ask for in a murder mystery, a hurricane. Great premise for a story based in Florida. The Shoreline Circle (amateur sleuths) added to the investigation as Paisley and Noodle did to help Grant solve the murder. Love all the characters and the personalities they have and Noodle has.
This was an ARC read that I am reviewing honestly and voluntarily.
This was an ARC read that I am reviewing honestly and voluntarily.
August 11, 2026
This was the first in this series that I have read. It was a very good mystery that kept me guessing to the end. Using the hurricane to cover up the murder was an interesting approach that I haven't seen in a mystery before. The writing was well done and I don't feel that I was missing anything by not reading any of the other books in the series that took place before this one.
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.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews