Skinny Dipping with Murder

An Otter Lake Mystery #1

by Auralee Wallace

Welcome to Otter Lake, where the relaxing, restorative atmosphere is to die for.

Erica Bloom is in no rush to return to Otter Lake, the site of her mother's spiritual retreat for women. Erica met her inner goddess years ago and she's happy to have forged a new identity on her own, thank you very much. But her new-age-y, well-meaning mother is losing her grip on the business, and needs Erica's help. So she heads back to her New Hampshire hometown, where nothing much has changed-except for maybe the body in the well...

SKINNY DIPPING WITH MURDER
When Erica was a teenager, she fell prey to a practical joke that left her near-naked in Otter Lake's annual Raspberry Social. The incident was humiliating, but it wasn't like anyone got killed-until now. Those who were behind that long-ago prank are starting to turn up dead, and Erica's appearance in town makes her a prime suspect. To make matters worse, the town sheriff just happens to be Erica's old nemesis, Grady Forrester...who also happens to be hotter than ever. Can Erica find a way to dig up the truth-before someone digs her grave?

The first book in Auralee Wallace's Otter Lake Mystery series is a killer good time!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Adult, Chick Lit, Humor

305 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

After spending her formative years reading Grimms’ fairy tales and stirring up potions in the creek behind her house, Auralee Wallace knew she would grow up to be a witch. When that didn’t work out, she decided becoming a writer was the next best thing. Now, Auralee is the author of multiple novels, including the Otter Lake mystery series and The Evenfall Witches B&B mysteries. She lives in Ottawa with her husband, kids, dog, and cat.
She can be found on Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and her website http://auraleewallace.com/.

Auralee is represented by Natalie Lakosil, Looking Glass Literary and Media.

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a funny book that had me laughing out loud. I liked the characters and the situations, but the mystery wasn't as well-thought out as I would have liked. Having said that, I hope this is a continuing series. Lots of small town local color. I love funny cozy mysteries and this is one of them.

Overall rating: 3.5.5.0 stars.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

[Auralee Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww...my first baby in print!!!

I always wanted to combine my sense of humor with...murder? Well, maybe not, but I hope readers enjoy!

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release Date: March 1, 2016
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Actual Rating: 5 stars

This is the first book in the Otter Lake Mystery series. It's a hilarious cozy mystery with the type of characters one could easily become best friends with and takes place in an richly described environment. I adored this book and laughed out loud more times than I can count! If you are a cozy mystery junkie and/or love the genre, this is a must have for you! As with any book I fall in love with, I went out and purchased the rest of the series because I enjoyed this one so much!

Highly recommended

[Rachael Fryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Sentence Summary: Girl visits hometown she left after she was embarrassed in front of the whole town, now accused of murder, starts her own investigation (and possibly rekindles an old flame?)!

Reminds Me Of:
The silliness and lol moments give me Stephanie Plum vibes (One for the Money, etc) and the romantic elements give me Addie and Marc vibes (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries).

Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1. It made me lol several times.
2. As with most cozies, the side characters are just world class!
3. The lake setting is giving Dawson's Creek drama!

One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick This Up:
There were six books published in this series, but the last was published in 2018... so there may not be an "ending" if that wasn't a planned end in the last book.

Content Warnings:
trauma/working through trauma, accidental public nudity/shaming, murder and some blood,

Favorite Quote:
"There's no way this is going to work out. But this here is a moment. I love moments."

Soundtrack:
Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter
Past Lives- BØRNS
Little Girl Gone - CHINCHILLA
So Emotional - Whitney Houston
Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
Bad Girls Do It Well - M.I.A

[Kav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual read but I loved the author's more recent cozy mystery series (Evenfall Witches B&B) so I was excited to try her backlist. While this first Otter Lake Mystery book is hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny with tons of snappy dialogue and over-the-top slapstick (think what Lucille Ball would be like as an amateur sleuth) there was just way too much cussing, innuendos and downright bawdy comments for me to continue the series. :-(

[Courtney ☮️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny “who done it” murder mystery.

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica Bloom, a court stenographer in Chicago, has returned to picturesque Otter Lake, NH; a "Mayberry RFD" town located on the water. Her flower child mother, Summer, owns a 30 acre island retreat where women come to find their inner goddess.

Erica is reunited with several of her high school classmates after an 8 year absence. Unfortunately, time seems to have stood still for most of them as they still act as immature and irresponsible as they did as teenagers. Grady Forrester, the boy whom she had a crush on in high school, is a "Barney Fiff-like" sheriff who's aged a bit and has a buff body. Wouldn't you know, Erica stumbles upon a dead body of one of said immature classmates within hours after her arrival.

Erica's best friend is Freddie--a rich, gay guy. He's lots of fun; I really enjoyed his character; and he has a few "McGuyver" tricks up his sleeves! His personality is a great buffer for Erica who tends to make rash decisions sometimes.

The story starts off fast paced and interesting and never slows down. It's a fun, laugh-out-loud adventure. The women's retreat suddenly takes on a murder mystery twist. Talk about being amongst a bunch of dysfunctional people and not knowing who is terrorizing the town and murdering residents!! While the killer reveal may not be a total surprise to some readers; it fits the story perfectly; and it's also amusing. A very satisfying debut cozy mystery, and a fun afternoon read.

FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica comes home 8 years after an embarrassing moment (that people still talk about) at the Raspberry Social. She ends up with a murder investigation that just might land her in jail. I'm going to add this to one of my favorite series list! Erica, Grady, and the rest of the gang had me laughing out loud with their antics. Freddie is fabulous with a capital F! And I'd love to see more of Tweety & Kit Kat. Lots of fun and laughs that kept me reading until late in the night. I'm looking forward to the next one. I hope it has more Erica & Grady time!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, fun read!! I loved the characters in this book, they were a crazy, group of people that make the story come alive. Erica has lots of great one-liners & there are some just plain laugh out loud moments. Hope there are more books with Erica Bloom,. Grady, her crazy mom, the elderly twins, her best friend, & the town of Otter Lake.

" I was given a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com & St.Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review."

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erica wouldn't normally visit her childhood home, but her mother has claimed her help is needed for a crisis. She arrives back to find her mother in potential business trouble, but that's nothing compared to the trouble Erica is about to encounter. People begin suffering terrible "accidents" and Erica is quickly becoming a suspect. With the help of her best friend, she decides to investigate and clear her own name.

This was a really fun cozy mystery with some great humor in it. Was it a bit silly and convoluted at times? Yup. Was that exactly what I needed? Yup! Very enjoyable beginning to this series.

[Ang -PNR Book Lover Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars
A REVIEW BY ANG at PNR Book Lover Reviews
Skinny Dipping with Murder by Auralee Wallace is a cosy mystery .

This story had me laughing and I enjoyed the characters. At times I couldn’t catch my breath I was giggling so much.

I really liked the small town feel, SDWM reads fast and is a cute lazy Sunday or weekend read.
Once you start it doesn’t take much time to read, with the twist and turns you will want to know who the killer is and go on this fun adventure with Erica.

Erica has some great spunk and is funny, Grady is swoon worthy. Her mum is priceless and her best friend is fabulous with all this it’s an adventure on its own. Great characters that you enjoy spending time with.

I liked the mystery feel too skinny dipping with murder, it was just missing something I can’t place my finger on. But needless to say I still really enjoyed reading about Erica and her friends.

Am looking forward to read more by this author.

Arc received for an honest review through Netgalley.

[Laurie Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erica Bloom is back in Otter Lake, her dysfunctional hometown. Ever since the ‘incident’ at the Raspberry Social, she’s tried very hard to avoid going home. Now that she’s back, even stranger things have started to happen…like a dead body floating in her mother’s well. Erica finds herself the prime suspect and enlists the help of old and new friends to help solve the crime before her time is up.

My Review:
First, let me say that I absolutely adored this book. Erica Bloom’s sarcastic wit had me constantly cracking up with laughter. I loved Grady, the sexy old boyfriend turned sheriff who is out to solve Otter Lake’s crime of the century. The mystery surrounding the real murderer had me guessing until the end.

This book was sweet, funny, heartwarming, and refreshing. The secondary characters were a hoot, especially the ladies staying at the mother’s island retreat. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
*Received a free ARC in exchange of an honest review

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book is what drew me to it. Instantly I fell in love with this book from the humor to the eccentric characters like Kit Kat, Tweety, Freddie, Rhonda, and Grady to name a few. I knew that I was in for a fun, entertaining journey ride when I read the following line "Dickie Morrison... dead...impaled by a weenie skewer."

There was so many funny antics that Erica found herself in that I found myself carrying a smile on my face. In fact, a few times I had to stop reading to read a line or two to my husband because it was so funny. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries then you will enjoy this book. I can't wait to read the second book in this series and visit again with the people of Otter Lake.

[Sylwia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best mystery ever! I read the entire book with a smile on my face. The book is super entertaining, really funny and very well written. The characters were unbelievably likeable. When does the second book come out? I need to return to Otter Lake!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did hold my attention but not like most books do. the storyline sorta felt choppy to me but I think this series has potential. I like the setting were the story takes place. I will read the next book that comes out.

[Melodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had me laughing...not as much as Stephanie Plum usually does, but there's definitely a nice shot of humor here. Enough to work with that I'll read the next one....especially since it's set at Halloween!

[Linden · Rating 1 out of 5]

A flaky story coupled with annoying and unbelievable characters (Tommy, Dickie, and Harry?) made this book a very tedious read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, My best friend got the 2nd one (Pumpkin picking with murder) at a dollar store.. She said she liked it so I decided to buy us both the first book in the series. I started reading in on the way to Arizona on Friday.. I finished it this morning (the following Tuesday). It really kept me entertained. I tried to figure out how to describe it.. I am a 35 year old married mother of 1. It reminds me a LOT of a Young Adult Romance style but it had adult characters (Erika is 26 I believe).. I absolutely enjoyed this book so much. I laughed out loud at points and I also gasped at points.. Than I had to explain what was happening to my husband.. haha. Thanks Auralee for the wonderful book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series :)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erica felt like an outcast growing up in tiny Otter Lake, defending her new age-y mother from taunts. After an embarrassing experience, she fled to a quiet, dull, safe life in Chicago. Eight years later, she's home at her mother's demand, and the three boys, now men, responsible for her embarrassment (well, along with her hot temper) are dying, making Erica a suspect. And the sheriff now is the crush--who might have been part of that high school conspiracy--she's never been able to forget. So with her fellow outcast (rich, Asian, gay) she decides to investigate the murder and attack. She can't help suspecting the perky newcomer the sheriff is dating, and it's not jealousy! This may not be as much fun as a later book in the series, but it certainly puts the foundations under Erica's story.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series—great characters and a madcap sense of humor. Being the first one in the series, this one is a little slow to start. But once the insanity gets going, it’s a lot of fun.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous mystery. Looking forward to going back to Otter Lake with Erica.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing series! I love the humor in it.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on Musings and Ramblings.

I think all of us have some high school trauma that we just never get over. Whether it's a small embarrassing moment, or something on a grander scale, high school is the time when we are at our most awkward and our emotions are at their most volatile. It can leave a last impression. Ant that's just where this book has it's plot roots, in a teenage prank that left her the laughing-stock of the town.

Erica Bloom hasn't been back to Otter Lake since she left, nearly 8 years ago. She's only home because her mother's Island Retreat, is having some serious issues, and Erica was needed at home. But with the anniversary of the Raspberry Festival, the night of her most embarrassing moment, just days away, Erica would rather be anywhere else. And when one of the three pranksters ends up dead, everyone can't help wonder if Erica has come back with revenge in mind.

There were many things to like about the book. The secondary characters were a charming mix of wack-a-doodle and corny. Starting with Erica's mom, and the two elderly women who live on the island with them, Kit Katt and Tweety, to Erica's best friend Freddie. Then there is Erica herself. She has tried so hard to reinvent herself, but it seems that nobody in her hometown wants to recognize those changes. In many ways, this is a book about going home and second chances, about seeing events through the eyes of an adult and realizing that maybe, things weren't as bad as you remember them.

This is my first book by the author, though she was on my radar for another series she has, Sidekick in the City. Of course a superhero book is going to be on my radar. ;)

This was a light-hearted read, that didn't mind poking a bit of fun at itself. Erica and Freddie bumble along, putting no faith in the local police force, and trying to solve it themselves. Needless to say, hi-jinx ensued. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one, due out at the end of August. I gave this book 4 stars.

St. Martin's Press provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was certainly a... frenetic book. Frustrating at times, but mostly enjoyable.
When Erica Bloom visits her hometown, Otter Lake, for the first time in eight years, she's not there because she wants to be back. Rather, her mother is perpetrating insurance fraud and she wants Erica to help. Never mind that Erica had a hideously embarrassing episode eight years ago. One that comes up even as the book opens. Then there is a death. And an attempted murder. And then the police department (one, a former friend-ish-type person who may or may not believe Erica is guilty, and the Sherriff, her high school crush and possibly one of the perpetrators of the prank that the townspeople are still talking about) seems to believe that she's a viable suspect.
Dealing with a town full of people that all seem obsessed with the past, a mother who doesn't seem to exist on this plane, a former crush who is still Ken-doll-perfect, and a group of women who are sticking around just to play amateur detective with her means Erica has her hands full.
I didn't love the love-interest's first attempt at reconciliation , nor his second for that matter, but it was an okay book and I'm excited to read the next one in the series.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery, with a complicated mother, daughter relationship and a past Erica Bloom wishes would disappear. She returns to Otter Lake to help her mother keep her new age retreat camp from closing. As soon as she get back to New Hampshire, men who tricked her 8 years ago start dying. The handsome sheriff remembered her stuck naked on the stage and thinks she's out for revenge. A good mystery with several possible killers that has you smiling at the subtle humor.

[Maud · Rating 1 out of 5]

The day of her return to Otter Lake, Erica Bloom finds the murdered body of on of her high school class mates.
The murder mystery was merely a vehicle for Ms. Erica Bloom's silly and childish adolescent high school issues.
On the last page she had a reluctant epiphany; it might have benefited the book if she had said epiphany on the first page.
My first and last Otter Lake mystery!

[Nancy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cast of zany characters, some interesting murders and attempted murders, an unusual spiritual retreat for women with issues, some very funny, laugh-out-loud scenes, and a potentially hot romance make this book an excellent beginning to a new series.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. Would probably say it's more 3.5 stars. It was just the light read I needed after reading The Girls and cute enough to make me want to try others in the series.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erica Bloom returns to Otter Lake, New Hampshire after eight years. She hasn't been back since she was a teenager, and wishes she wasn't now. The only reason she's come home is because her mother called and said she really needed her there.

But when she arrives, she waits on the dock for her mother and the first people she sees are a trio whom she wishes she hadn't - considering they're part of the reason she left in the first place. Tommy, Dickie, and Harry. (Seriously? I'm guessing this was supposed to be humorous.) Her mother runs a retreat for women on the island where she lives, and when Erica arrives, she discovers the 'emergency' is that the psychologist for her business departed suddenly and she needs Erica to fill in. Erica, who isn't a psychologist, but a court stenographer. But her mother figures since she took a class in psychology she can pass for one (I took a class in biology but that doesn't make me a doctor).

But then when she's needing a bit of a break from her mother, she comes across the body of Dickie, who'd been impaled with a skewer. Then Harry is attacked, and now everyone wonders if Erica's not a killer. Everyone, it seems, except her mother and her mother's friends. Fending off the sheriff, Grady Forrester, who wants to talk about the fateful night that sent her running, she decides to find a killer herself so she's not nailed for it. But it seems the killer may not be done yet, and they know what Erica's up to. Either she'll have to be careful or she'll never return to the mainland...

First off, her mother is a complete nutcase. (Summer Bloom? Really?) A woman's retreat is fine, but you'd like to feel that at least the woman you're talking to can carry on a rational conversation. This woman seems to hear only what she wants to hear, and acts like finding a killer is a big adventure. She runs around in caftans and I almost expected her to put her hand to her head dramatically and say how ungrateful a daughter Erica could be. She should be named Daffy because she's a Looney Tune. I sure hope in future books she turns it down a notch.

I also didn't much care for the fact that we were over halfway through the book before we learned what the humiliating episode was. It was alluded to, but we didn't find out until then. Unacceptable. This is the kind of thing you tell people right away so they know what's going on with the protagonist and why they didn't want to come home. (I do agree with the PR guy, though, that someone should have stepped up and helped her out. It really doesn't say much for the men in this town.)

Public humiliation is not funny. It's not the kind of thing anyone would want happening to them. Then when she gets back, she finds nothing has changed. The trio of men who have never evolved into adults are still using her as a source of amusement. How is this supposed to be funny? Keeping her humiliation alive for everyone? Real hilarious, that.

Erica has some serious anger issues and might want to take a class to deal with that. It's immature, and you'd think she would have dealt with it by now. We get that Grady is hot, but I wasn't interested in Erica - and nearly every other woman - constantly lusting after him.

I felt that most of the book was spent on this incident that occurred eight years ago, and suspecting her of murder because of it seemed a bit of a stretch. It seemed she was the only one they were only asking questions. Actually, there weren't any other suspects except Candace - who was another person from out of town. It's as if Grady were thinking it was impossible that anyone who lived in Otter Lake could be a killer. Heavens! It must be either Erica or the newcomer! There were no other suspects to speak of, and when the killer was revealed everyone seemed completely thrown by it. Seriously?

Hopefully in the next book more time will be spent on the murder, people in this town will have moved on from continuing to bring up Erica's public humiliation, Erica will harness her anger, and her mother will have actually developed a few brain cells. I will read the next in the series in the hopes that it improves.

[Ashley Mariner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skinny Dipping with Murder is the first book in Auralee Wallace's Otter Lake Mystery series. After suffering as the butt of a humiliating practical joke at the town's Raspberry Social, Erica Bloom left her hometown of Otter Lake and didn't return for eight years. Finally returning when her mother summons her home for an "emergency" but, suddenly, people connected to that old practical joke start to die or disappear. Erica is no serial killer, but it sure looks like someone is framing her. Erica and her best friend, Freddy, decide to investigate the crimes on their own before the town sheriff puts her behind bars.

I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and this book is definitely different than most series. Wallace has infused this series with a lot of humor, some of which tends towards slapstick or even plain ridiculous. However, I enjoyed the moments of levity between Erica and her sidekick, Freddy, both of whom could not be more clueless about being amateur sleuths. Often authors will give their cozy detectives characteristics that enable them to collect clues and information in a subtle yet savvy way the police cannot. These two basically bumble their way through crime scenes and are lucky to come out alive at the end.

I also liked the unique, quirkiness of the characters who live in Otter Lake. You will not find anyone boring within these town limits!

My biggest complaint is that Erica seems incredibly immature at times, and I really wished she would get out of her own way and accept the help of others (or at least have full conversations with other characters like an adult). Eight years seems like an awfully long time to remain emotionally stunted over the Raspberry Social prank. Luckily, the end of the book gives me hope that Erica will be maturing at least a little bit in the near future.