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A Lobster Shack Mystery #1
Curses, Boiled Again!
"Delightful! A fun whodunit full of New England coastal charm and characters who feel like friends. Warm humor, a delectable plot, and clever sleuthing will keep you turning the pages." —Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries
Winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel!
Welcome to the seaside hamlet of Mystic Bay, where the fish is always fresh, the folks are ever-friendly, and murder is on a roll. . .
Allie Larkin was living her dream as a ballet dancer when a bad fall put her out of business. Now she’s back home in Mystic Bay to heal a broken ankle while also helping her dear Aunt Gully get her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack off the ground. Nothing would help Gully more than winning the local food festival’s Best Lobster Roll contest. The competition is sure to be killer—especially after one of the contest judges dies after eating a roll from one of Gully’s biggest rivals.
Soon, all eyes fall on Gully as the prime suspect. Allie may only have one good leg to stand on, but she’s not going to let her aunt go down for a crime she never could have cooked up. Can Allie, along with her devoted crew of friends, family, and customers, find a way to trap the killer and claw herself out of this hard-boiled murder case?
Winner of the Agatha Award for Best First Novel!
Welcome to the seaside hamlet of Mystic Bay, where the fish is always fresh, the folks are ever-friendly, and murder is on a roll. . .
Allie Larkin was living her dream as a ballet dancer when a bad fall put her out of business. Now she’s back home in Mystic Bay to heal a broken ankle while also helping her dear Aunt Gully get her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack off the ground. Nothing would help Gully more than winning the local food festival’s Best Lobster Roll contest. The competition is sure to be killer—especially after one of the contest judges dies after eating a roll from one of Gully’s biggest rivals.
Soon, all eyes fall on Gully as the prime suspect. Allie may only have one good leg to stand on, but she’s not going to let her aunt go down for a crime she never could have cooked up. Can Allie, along with her devoted crew of friends, family, and customers, find a way to trap the killer and claw herself out of this hard-boiled murder case?
306 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 2018
189 people are currently reading
1992 people want to read
About the author
Shari Randall
15 books149 followersA native New Englander, Shari loves hanging out with the gang at the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack in fictional Mystic Bay, Connecticut, where the lobster rolls are delicious, the company’s good, and murder’s always on the menu.
When she’s not committing murder (on the page, of course), Shari enjoys walking the beach near her house, traveling, reading, visiting her globe-trotting children, and dancing. She’s currently trying to talk her husband into a tango class.
When she’s not committing murder (on the page, of course), Shari enjoys walking the beach near her house, traveling, reading, visiting her globe-trotting children, and dancing. She’s currently trying to talk her husband into a tango class.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
January 24, 2018
Curses, Boiled Again! by Shari Randall is the first book in the all new cozy Lobster Shack Mystery series. This first book introduces readers to Allie Larkin who is a ballet dancer who has returned home to Mystic Bay while she heals from a broken ankle. While back at home Allie has been helping her Aunt Gully with her business, Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack.
Aunt Gully has been invited to take part in a lobster tasting which is a huge honor for someone new to the business. Allie wants everything to go perfectly for her eccentric aunt at the tasting so she has volunteered to help pass out samples. But when it’s time for the judging something horrible happens, all of the judges become sick after tasting a competitor’s dish.
As typical in a cozy read the main character, Allie, finds that she really needs to figure out who the real killer was when one of the judges dies from the poison food. With the law looking at Allie and her aunt she does her own questioning of the victims and suspects.
While I felt this was a solid first installment to this series I also felt that it wasn’t quite perfect just yet. The characters and story were enjoyable enough but nothing particularly stood out and shined to me either. Perhaps it needed a dash more quirkiness or bit more intrigue, not totally sure but overall I'd give this first book 3.5 stars and I would continue onward with the next book in the series to see if it gains that added spark to raise my rating next time.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Aunt Gully has been invited to take part in a lobster tasting which is a huge honor for someone new to the business. Allie wants everything to go perfectly for her eccentric aunt at the tasting so she has volunteered to help pass out samples. But when it’s time for the judging something horrible happens, all of the judges become sick after tasting a competitor’s dish.
As typical in a cozy read the main character, Allie, finds that she really needs to figure out who the real killer was when one of the judges dies from the poison food. With the law looking at Allie and her aunt she does her own questioning of the victims and suspects.
While I felt this was a solid first installment to this series I also felt that it wasn’t quite perfect just yet. The characters and story were enjoyable enough but nothing particularly stood out and shined to me either. Perhaps it needed a dash more quirkiness or bit more intrigue, not totally sure but overall I'd give this first book 3.5 stars and I would continue onward with the next book in the series to see if it gains that added spark to raise my rating next time.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 20, 2017
Curses, Boiled Again! (A Lobster Shack Mystery #1) by Shari Randall is a fun cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns. A friendly town but someone wants to save the lobsters! A celebrity coming to town to do lobster tasting, lots of interesting characters, a poisoning, a murder, vandalism, and lots of craziness! A cute story with many twists and a cute read.
December 1, 2017
Delectable beginning to the new Lobster Shack series! Protagonist Allie Larkin is a ballerina with a broken ankle. While recuperating, she heads home to help her vivacious Aunt Gully at her Lazy Mermaid Lobster shack in lovely Mystic Bay. It’s Memorial Day festivities time, and during a best lobster roll contest which Aunt Gully hopes to win, all the judges are poisoned and one of them succumbs.
The plot includes lots of excitement which keeps the story moving swiftly. I enjoyed the cast of colorful characters. There are numerous diversions to lead readers to falsely suspect many different people; however, collect all the right clues and they’ll lead you to the vengeful killer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The plot includes lots of excitement which keeps the story moving swiftly. I enjoyed the cast of colorful characters. There are numerous diversions to lead readers to falsely suspect many different people; however, collect all the right clues and they’ll lead you to the vengeful killer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
December 30, 2017
Allie Larkin is a ballet dancer, but she has broken her ankle. While she heals, she travels home to help her Aunt Gully in Mystic Bay, CT -- a quaint, seaside New England town. Aunt Gully has just opened The Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack and she's competing in the annual Memorial Day Lobster Roll competition. As a newcomer to the Mystic Bay culinary scene, Aunt Gully being invited to participate in the competition is a big deal, and Allie is happy to help her. Strange things have been happening lately. Her aunt has been receiving threatening letters from a strange group, the Lobster Liberation Group. The notes, stuffed under the door of her lobster shack, state that if she doesn't close shop there will be dire consequences. Aunt Gilly shrugs off the warning, laughing about Lobster Libbers. Allie can't shake off her worry though. The letters have her extremely concerned. When four judges at the lobster roll contest are poisoned, Allie realizes that she was right to worry. One dead judge, three sick ones, Lobster Libbers, vandalism, threats and murder......where is it going to stop??
I really enjoyed this book! The story is full of light humor, quirky characters and fun....plus a bit of murder and mayhem as well. I had a terrible cold while I was reading this, and the humor made me feel better as I sat wrapped in a blanket, a space heater blowing on me, drinking hot tea and feeling very sorry for myself. It's hard to feel sorry for oneself while reading about the antics of Aunt Gully, the free spirit, who talks and sings to lobsters before she boils them. Not to mention Allie, the injured ballerina and her snarky, slightly uppity, sister Lorel. (Don't call her Lorelai....she hates that.)
I needed a pick-me-up....and this book was just the ticket for me! The cover art, as with most cozies, is fabulous!
The one thing that surprised me just a bit is the fact that Allie really never said anything about her ballet career....that she missed it, wanted to go back to it, her fans, etc...... But.....that would have muddied up the plot a bit if she had been whining about her ankle the whole time. Just felt that was one spot that was a bit lacking in her character development. A bit more about her past would have been interesting. I was perfectly content with finding out who poisoned the lobster roll judges.
When I finished this book I really wanted to take a trip up to Baltimore and have lobster and crab cakes at the Inner Harbor. Not really the same as a Mystic Bay-like place.....but awesome sea food! Not to mention a huge bookstore and a Hard Rock Cafe right there. Poe museum, aquarium and science center right there too. And the seafood has to be mentioned twice. :) Who's with me???!!!! Let's go! :) Mystic Harbor reminded me a bit of Nag's Head here in NC.....laid back beach town with lots of tourists and characters, snooty people in yachts and just a lovely place to be. :) That's as close to a New England town I can get to within driving distance of western NC.
My book reviews do tend to wool gather and digress into all sorts of subjects don't they! But.....it does mean that this book made me laugh and made me think of places I have been and equate to the location in the story. That's a success I think!!! :)
A great start to a new cozy series. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Curses, Boiled Again! is the first book in the new Lobster Shack Mystery series. A second book, Against the Claw, will be out in July 2018.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martin's Press via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I really enjoyed this book! The story is full of light humor, quirky characters and fun....plus a bit of murder and mayhem as well. I had a terrible cold while I was reading this, and the humor made me feel better as I sat wrapped in a blanket, a space heater blowing on me, drinking hot tea and feeling very sorry for myself. It's hard to feel sorry for oneself while reading about the antics of Aunt Gully, the free spirit, who talks and sings to lobsters before she boils them. Not to mention Allie, the injured ballerina and her snarky, slightly uppity, sister Lorel. (Don't call her Lorelai....she hates that.)
I needed a pick-me-up....and this book was just the ticket for me! The cover art, as with most cozies, is fabulous!
The one thing that surprised me just a bit is the fact that Allie really never said anything about her ballet career....that she missed it, wanted to go back to it, her fans, etc...... But.....that would have muddied up the plot a bit if she had been whining about her ankle the whole time. Just felt that was one spot that was a bit lacking in her character development. A bit more about her past would have been interesting. I was perfectly content with finding out who poisoned the lobster roll judges.
When I finished this book I really wanted to take a trip up to Baltimore and have lobster and crab cakes at the Inner Harbor. Not really the same as a Mystic Bay-like place.....but awesome sea food! Not to mention a huge bookstore and a Hard Rock Cafe right there. Poe museum, aquarium and science center right there too. And the seafood has to be mentioned twice. :) Who's with me???!!!! Let's go! :) Mystic Harbor reminded me a bit of Nag's Head here in NC.....laid back beach town with lots of tourists and characters, snooty people in yachts and just a lovely place to be. :) That's as close to a New England town I can get to within driving distance of western NC.
My book reviews do tend to wool gather and digress into all sorts of subjects don't they! But.....it does mean that this book made me laugh and made me think of places I have been and equate to the location in the story. That's a success I think!!! :)
A great start to a new cozy series. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Curses, Boiled Again! is the first book in the new Lobster Shack Mystery series. A second book, Against the Claw, will be out in July 2018.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St Martin's Press via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 30, 2018
Curses, Boiled Again! is a fun and exciting first in a new series.
Set in the quaint town of Mystic Bay, Allie Larkin is resting an injured ankle, one of the worst fates for a ballet dancer. While she is recuperating, she is helping her Aunt Gully at her lobster shack, The Lazy Mermaid.
Everyone is getting ready for the local food festival’s Best Lobster Roll contest. It is an honor to be invited to participate and Gully is over the moon at being chosen.
It's not all lobsters and souvenirs in this little town, there are secrets and lies circulating and when tragedy hits the judge's table, Gully becomes the police's prime suspect.
Allie refuses to let Gully take the fall for this so she sets out to ask questions and find the truth.
This book is a true winner! I am from the East Coast, born and raised and "lobstah" rolls are one of the best delicacies on earth.
I loved reading about Mystic Bay and how the town rallies around the people they love.
I hope to see this series continuing for a long time.
I read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
Set in the quaint town of Mystic Bay, Allie Larkin is resting an injured ankle, one of the worst fates for a ballet dancer. While she is recuperating, she is helping her Aunt Gully at her lobster shack, The Lazy Mermaid.
Everyone is getting ready for the local food festival’s Best Lobster Roll contest. It is an honor to be invited to participate and Gully is over the moon at being chosen.
It's not all lobsters and souvenirs in this little town, there are secrets and lies circulating and when tragedy hits the judge's table, Gully becomes the police's prime suspect.
Allie refuses to let Gully take the fall for this so she sets out to ask questions and find the truth.
This book is a true winner! I am from the East Coast, born and raised and "lobstah" rolls are one of the best delicacies on earth.
I loved reading about Mystic Bay and how the town rallies around the people they love.
I hope to see this series continuing for a long time.
I read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
November 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this first-in-series set in a small, seaside town in New England. The characters are all likeable in their way, yet each has their own strengths to add to the story: Allie, a smart ballerina taking a break from her career to heal from an injury and help her aunt; Lorel, Allie's sister and a practical businesswoman; and Aunt Gully, kindhearted owner of the Lazy Mermaid, a lobster shack. When the judges of a lobster roll contest get poisoned and one of them dies, Allie ends up investigating to help clear her aunt's name and her own name. The plot moves at the perfect pace, with plenty of twists and turns. I was surprised by the ending. While the mysteries in the book were solved, I was still left wanting more of the town and the characters, so I'm looking forward to the second book in the series!
November 25, 2017
CURSES, BOILED AGAIN, book one in the Lobster Shack Mysteries is a great beginning to what I hope will be a long series. The setting alone drew me into this book, and the mystery kept me reading well past my bedtime. Not to mention, I've been wanting to try a lobster roll for along time, and author Shari Randall had me drooling for them! If you're looking to follow a new series, this is one you'll want to try.
January 30, 2018
Allie Larkin is back home in Mystic Bay, Connecticut, recuperating from a broken ankle and helping her aunt Gully with her new Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack. Aunt Gully has only had her business open for a few months, but it’s attracted enough attention to land her a spot as a finalist in the YUM! Network’s lobster roll contest. However, after sampling the first contestant’s entry, the judges start to collapse. Someone poisoned the rolls, but who was the target? And why?
This book opens the morning of the contest, so things get off to a strong start. It does seem to slow down a little in the second quarter, but it picks up again as Allie tries to figure out who the target of the poison was. This added twist was very welcome and helps the book stand out. There is room for the characters to grow as the series progresses, but we get to know several of them well here. The suspects are great at keeping us guessing until the end.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book opens the morning of the contest, so things get off to a strong start. It does seem to slow down a little in the second quarter, but it picks up again as Allie tries to figure out who the target of the poison was. This added twist was very welcome and helps the book stand out. There is room for the characters to grow as the series progresses, but we get to know several of them well here. The suspects are great at keeping us guessing until the end.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 4, 2018
Wow. Shari Randall nails it in this debut cozy mystery! Her amateur sleuth, Allie, a ballet dancer recovering from an ankle injury, is smart, brave, and graceful as she untangles the identity of a murderer and more than one vandal to clear her beloved Aunt Gully's name. The plot swept me along, I grew fond of the main characters, and I admired Randall's ability to weave a complicated and enthralling tale of life in a coastal New England small town. Now I can't wait for Against the Claw, book two, to release!
November 22, 2017
I have to admit that I very rarely read cozy mysteries, but found myself drawn in by the title and the fact that it was set in Maine. This was delightful!
The characters were well written and all had good motivations. (One of the reasons I tend not to read cozies is I often find the plot depends on the characters being too silly and/or stupid to figure out the mystery. Fortunately, that was not the case here!) More promising, there's plenty of "meat" here to support a series and some more mysteries to be solved. I look forward to the next in the series!
The characters were well written and all had good motivations. (One of the reasons I tend not to read cozies is I often find the plot depends on the characters being too silly and/or stupid to figure out the mystery. Fortunately, that was not the case here!) More promising, there's plenty of "meat" here to support a series and some more mysteries to be solved. I look forward to the next in the series!
January 3, 2018
Fun characters, interesting twists, and a surprise ending make this an enjoyable read
January 21, 2018
Curses, Boiled Again! is the first in the series, A Lobster Shack Mystery, and the first book that I have read by Shari Randall but I plan to check into other books that she has written. This is a great cozy mystery that starts off with a food fest to determine who has the best lobster rolls in the Northeast. The contest takes place in Mystic Bay and includes contestants from two local lobster shacks and a contestant from a lobster shack in Maine and one in Massachusetts. The contest ended quickly when the judges got sick, with one judge, actress Contessa Wells, dying from what was later determined was a poison. One of the contestants is Aunt Gully, owner of the fairly new Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack, and is one of the suspects of the poisoning. Her two nieces are there to help her through the situation. Gully's niece, Allie Larkin, a dancer sidelined by an broken ankle, is home from Boston while she recuperates and is helping with the restaurant. Her sister, Lorel, is an attorney, also living in Boston. She returns on the weekends to help. Allie's friend, Verity, gets involved with Allie and her task to prove Aunt Gully's innocence. There are plenty of people to investigate as there are many undercurrents going on between other contestants and friction with other townspeople. A side issue is going on between the other local lobster shack owners of Kahuna's and the owner of the shack in Massachusetts that a twist that I didn't see coming. This story has many twists and turns that had me guessing up until the end and ended with a big surprise killer that I never had suspected. This is a great story that I recommend for anyone that likes cozy mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2018
Curses, Boiled Again! by Shari Randall is the 1st book in A Lobster Shack Mystery series, and a great start. Allie Larkin, a ballet dancer whos broken ankle puts her out of work, so she heads to her Aunt Gully home in Mystic Bay. Allie is helping her aunt open the Lobster Shack, then someone dies, Gully is a suspect, and the mystery begins. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy and fun mysteries, I recommend this book.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 4, 2018
Curses, Boiled Again! Is the debut book in the Lobster Shack Mystery series. This mystery series is set in the idyllic seaside community of Mystic Bay. We are introduced to Allie Larkin, a ballerina, who has returned to Mystic Bay to heal after breaking her ankle. Her quirky Aunt Gully has opened a Lobster Shack and has been invited to participate in the local Lobster Roll contest during the Memorial Day festivities. It seems to be a great way to get recognition for the new restaurant and Allie eagerly agrees to help out. However, the Mystic Bay culinary scene is more dangerous than one would expect. Threatening letters are sent and judges are poisoned. Allie’s concern for her aunt compels her to get to the bottom of these unusual and dangerous events. The book moves along nicely. There are clues and plot turns. Some of the characters are quite quirky and endearing. This is a solid debut to a new series! Although I received a copy of this book from Net Galley, this did not affect my rating. I have provided an unbiased and honest review.
March 11, 2018
4 stelle e mezza
Altro buon debutto, con una protagonista tosta e qualche comprimario un po' sopra le righe, se devo dire la verità. Buona la storia gialla, con una soluzione in parte inaspettata in quanto, pur avendo un po' sospettato il giusto colpevole, non ne avevo capito comletamente la ragione.
Altro buon debutto, con una protagonista tosta e qualche comprimario un po' sopra le righe, se devo dire la verità. Buona la storia gialla, con una soluzione in parte inaspettata in quanto, pur avendo un po' sospettato il giusto colpevole, non ne avevo capito comletamente la ragione.
January 29, 2018
This was a really interesting and exciting start to what I hope is a long lasting series. It takes place in Connecticut in a fictional town called Mystic Bay. Allie and her sister Lorel are helping their Aunt Gully (real name Gina but everyone calls her Gully, possibly for how her singing sounds lol) get her lobster restaurant, the Lazy Mermaid underway. Mystic Bay's annual Food Festival is going on and chaos breaks out when the four judges end up with extreme cases of food poisoning after sampling a lobster roll from another local shop. One of the judges ends up dead.
The state detective seems to be trying to accuse the man from the shop where the lobster roll came from but Allie just knows he's innocent. Along with her friend Verity, they go on a sometimes comical adventure of sleuthing.
I really enjoyed all the different characters in this book! There were quite a few but it really wasn't hard to remember the main ones and those that mattered the most to the story. Allie was a typical dancer, always on the move, although carefully and awkwardly since she's trying to heal from a broken ankle. Her older sister Lorel is a little uptight and seems to be only concerned with social media for the restaurant and things of business. But in the end, they both adore their Aunt Gully and family does come first.
Aunt Gully was such a fun character! She was loving, always needing to take care of people no matter what. Allie's good friend Verity was a good comic relief sometimes.
I had part of the mystery right but had no idea why. There was also a little side mystery that tied in with the killing but I didn't have that figured out. I never do get the reasoning right even if I guess so it was a fun little journey reading those last several chapters, not really able to put the book down (that was hard to do at any point!). Allie ends up reinjuring her ankle but for a great cause. You'll just have to read it and find out!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
The state detective seems to be trying to accuse the man from the shop where the lobster roll came from but Allie just knows he's innocent. Along with her friend Verity, they go on a sometimes comical adventure of sleuthing.
I really enjoyed all the different characters in this book! There were quite a few but it really wasn't hard to remember the main ones and those that mattered the most to the story. Allie was a typical dancer, always on the move, although carefully and awkwardly since she's trying to heal from a broken ankle. Her older sister Lorel is a little uptight and seems to be only concerned with social media for the restaurant and things of business. But in the end, they both adore their Aunt Gully and family does come first.
Aunt Gully was such a fun character! She was loving, always needing to take care of people no matter what. Allie's good friend Verity was a good comic relief sometimes.
I had part of the mystery right but had no idea why. There was also a little side mystery that tied in with the killing but I didn't have that figured out. I never do get the reasoning right even if I guess so it was a fun little journey reading those last several chapters, not really able to put the book down (that was hard to do at any point!). Allie ends up reinjuring her ankle but for a great cause. You'll just have to read it and find out!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
January 4, 2018
This is the first in a new culinary cozy mystery series that is off to a good start. It is a well paced story with a lot happening throughout. I enjoyed the main character Allie, while recovering from a injured ankle, is helping her aunt with her new business venture - a lobster shack. Allie is fun, loyal and I enjoyed the way her relationship with her aunt and her best friend was written. In addition, there is a secondary cast of quirky fun characters that I think readers will enjoy. The one character I had trouble connecting with was Lorel, Allie's sister. To me she felt a bit distant and maybe a tad judgmental. The mystery was woven throughout the story and there were plenty of clues, twists and turns peppered throughout the plot along the way. There was a nice twist when the killer's identity was revealed that I didn't suspect.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. This book is scheduled for release on January 30, 2018.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. This book is scheduled for release on January 30, 2018.
July 16, 2022
I thought this was a solid start to the series! It has all the summer vibes that I was hoping for and a great mystery. I look forward to continuing the series! If you enjoy cozies, this is a good one for your TBR!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Cozy Mysteries
• Great Characters
• Summer Vibes
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Cozy Mysteries
• Great Characters
• Summer Vibes
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 28, 2020
Great twist at the end. Second book now on WL.
January 15, 2018
Oh, this was an absolutely wonderful start to a new series! Allie Larkin, a ballerina with a broken ankle, finds herself back home in Mystic Bay, helping her Aunt Gully run her new lobster shack. When a judge at a lobster roll competition winds up dead, and the other judges poisoned, Aunt Gully finds herself as a suspect. Allie, along with her BFF Verity, must figure out who really committed the crime...so they can save Aunt Gully and her lobster shack.
I was sucked into this story right away! The seaside setting of Mystic Bay and the entertaining cast of characters had me happily reading late into the night. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing, and I liked the little mysteries that were in the story as well. I am already looking forward to my next visit to Mystic Bay.
I received an ebook from NetGalley and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
I was sucked into this story right away! The seaside setting of Mystic Bay and the entertaining cast of characters had me happily reading late into the night. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing, and I liked the little mysteries that were in the story as well. I am already looking forward to my next visit to Mystic Bay.
I received an ebook from NetGalley and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
January 9, 2020
I liked that the MC was a dancer whose aunt was the star of this one—a unique take. It was the aunt who was the colorful character here, and when she is accused of the murder, her niece gets to lead the charge in clearing her name and finding the real culprits. I enjoyed the twistiness of the mystery and trying to sort out who’d done what and how much was related to the murder itself.
I wasn’t too keen for the amount of cussing and the periodical profanities, so read with a bit more caution than most cozies.
I wasn’t too keen for the amount of cussing and the periodical profanities, so read with a bit more caution than most cozies.
January 12, 2018
Nice start to a new series! Allie is a ballerina with a problem- she's broken her ankle and down for the count for a while (having broken an ankle, suspect it's more than that) so she's helping her Aunt Gully with her lobster restaurant. Mystic Bay, Connecticut is the classic small cozy town, complete with fun quirky characters and .... a murder! Allie of course jetes in to solve the crime so that Aunt Gully is exonerated. The Lobster Liberation Front? That's a new one but perfect for this quick and entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd like more on Allie's ballet background in what I hope will be future installments.
April 3, 2018
Finally, a cozy mystery that did not have a woman fawning over a man on every other page. A book that did not make the police look inept and a twisty plot, that might have been obvious from the beginning, unwind with enough side story and open ends to make a reader want to pick up the next book in this series.
While recovering from an ankle injury and with her dance career in the balance, Allegra “Allie” Larkin has moved back to Mystic Bay on the Micasset River to help her Aunt Gully at the Lazy Mermaid. Aunt Gully has always wanted to open a lobster shack and her wishes have grown two-fold when she was asked to participate in the YUM Networks Mystic Bay Food Festival Best Lobster Roll contest.
Strange goings on begin with harassing letters and posters from the so-called “Lobster Liberation Group” and end with the poisoning death of one of the celebrity judge. With Aunt Gully being the last to leave the prep area before the rolls were presented, conclusions are jumped to and now it is up to Allie and her sister Lorel to clear Gully’s name and get the Lazy Mermaid’s doors open again before further assumptions are made.
It seems that everyone, except Aunt Gully, had a secret. Since a single storyline was not going to work here, Shari Randall does her best to add side stories and enough characters to sidetrack the reader. There were a couple of lines midway into the book that solved the poisoning, so from there on, the reader could enjoy all the shenanigans that the rest of the characters provided.
Curiously, not all of the twists had a tidy ending and with fingers crossed, Shari Randall will be addressing them in subsequent books.
While recovering from an ankle injury and with her dance career in the balance, Allegra “Allie” Larkin has moved back to Mystic Bay on the Micasset River to help her Aunt Gully at the Lazy Mermaid. Aunt Gully has always wanted to open a lobster shack and her wishes have grown two-fold when she was asked to participate in the YUM Networks Mystic Bay Food Festival Best Lobster Roll contest.
Strange goings on begin with harassing letters and posters from the so-called “Lobster Liberation Group” and end with the poisoning death of one of the celebrity judge. With Aunt Gully being the last to leave the prep area before the rolls were presented, conclusions are jumped to and now it is up to Allie and her sister Lorel to clear Gully’s name and get the Lazy Mermaid’s doors open again before further assumptions are made.
It seems that everyone, except Aunt Gully, had a secret. Since a single storyline was not going to work here, Shari Randall does her best to add side stories and enough characters to sidetrack the reader. There were a couple of lines midway into the book that solved the poisoning, so from there on, the reader could enjoy all the shenanigans that the rest of the characters provided.
Curiously, not all of the twists had a tidy ending and with fingers crossed, Shari Randall will be addressing them in subsequent books.
October 15, 2017
I love a good cozy mystery and what could be better than one set in my backyard. Full of mischief, murder and lobster; it was delicious to read.
June 29, 2018
Allie Larkin, a ballet dancer who has broken her ankle, has returned to Mystic Bay, Connecticut to recover. Her Aunt Gully, recently widowed, has opened The Mermaid Lobster Shack. She was selected to participate in the Memorial Day Lobster Roll competition. When the judges are poisoned with the first contestant’s entry, Aunt Gully becomes a suspect as she was alone with the food. One of the judges dies so it becomes a murder investigation. Allie begins to investigate to not only help Aunt Gully, but to find out who was responsible for all the nefarious goings on in Mystic Bay.
As this is the first in a new series, we meet the main characters in Mystic Bay. Allie seems to be trying to keep busy while recuperating, however does not seem to worry as much about her ankle as you would expect a dedicated ballerina would. She is smart and persistent as well as being helpful and loyal. She is also well liked by those in the town. Aunt Gully is wonderful. She was funny, bright and the typical quirky matriarch in a small town. She wants to take care of everyone and always thinks the best of them all. It looks like Allie has a love interest that may blossom in the next book. Lorel, Allie’s sister is the brains and serious one in the family. She does whatever she can to promote Aunt Gully’s restaurant. The other characters in town are all introduced and I hope we get to know them more in future books. Overall, the quirkiness is there with all these characters. The setting is wonderful and I wanted to take a trip to the next Lobster Festival and enjoy the ambiance of this small seaside town. The plot moved smoothly and I read this one quite quickly. I enjoyed the story and the mystery. I did not figure out who the murderer was until just before the reveal as the story came together. I am looking forward to giving the next book in this series a try. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
As this is the first in a new series, we meet the main characters in Mystic Bay. Allie seems to be trying to keep busy while recuperating, however does not seem to worry as much about her ankle as you would expect a dedicated ballerina would. She is smart and persistent as well as being helpful and loyal. She is also well liked by those in the town. Aunt Gully is wonderful. She was funny, bright and the typical quirky matriarch in a small town. She wants to take care of everyone and always thinks the best of them all. It looks like Allie has a love interest that may blossom in the next book. Lorel, Allie’s sister is the brains and serious one in the family. She does whatever she can to promote Aunt Gully’s restaurant. The other characters in town are all introduced and I hope we get to know them more in future books. Overall, the quirkiness is there with all these characters. The setting is wonderful and I wanted to take a trip to the next Lobster Festival and enjoy the ambiance of this small seaside town. The plot moved smoothly and I read this one quite quickly. I enjoyed the story and the mystery. I did not figure out who the murderer was until just before the reveal as the story came together. I am looking forward to giving the next book in this series a try. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
May 11, 2018
Lovable characters with a great twist!
January 16, 2018
Curses, Boiled Again by Shari Randall is the first in a new cozy series and was quite an intriguing beginning to this series.
Allie Larkin, a ballerina who has broken her ankle, has returned to Mystic Bay to help her Aunt Gully while healing. Aunt Gully has been entered into a Lobster Roll contest put on by a YUM, a food network. Allie and Aunt Gully hope that this will put her new lobster shack, the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack, on the map for foodies and tourists alike. However, before the competition even begins Aunt Gully receives threatening letters from "lobster liberators". Then at the contest one of the judges dies due to poisoning. Allie's concern for her aunt compels her to investigate on her own.
A smoothly paced plot with some twists, red herrings, quirky but lovable characters, and the reveal twist made this a memorable cozy mystery.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Allie Larkin, a ballerina who has broken her ankle, has returned to Mystic Bay to help her Aunt Gully while healing. Aunt Gully has been entered into a Lobster Roll contest put on by a YUM, a food network. Allie and Aunt Gully hope that this will put her new lobster shack, the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack, on the map for foodies and tourists alike. However, before the competition even begins Aunt Gully receives threatening letters from "lobster liberators". Then at the contest one of the judges dies due to poisoning. Allie's concern for her aunt compels her to investigate on her own.
A smoothly paced plot with some twists, red herrings, quirky but lovable characters, and the reveal twist made this a memorable cozy mystery.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
October 16, 2017
A small New England town where lobster and murder is on the menu, yes please. The characters are fun, friendly, and quirky. The descriptions of the lobster rolls made my mouth water. A strong female character who has zero background in crime solving figures out who-done-it makes for a deliciously, cozy murder mystery book. And yes, while it might be possible for the reader figure out the murderer, there is still a great twist at the end. Hopefully there will be another book in this series. This is a wonderful quick, entertaining read to distract you from life.
March 15, 2018
Princess Fuzzypants here:
Humans can be very competitive. Some will go to great extremes to get what they want. Allie discovers this when she returns to her hometown to help her Aunt Gully in her lobster shack. Gully has been selected as finalist on food network cook=off but she did not expect one of the judges to have been a literal finalist when the judges are poisoned and one succumbs
The initial suspect is another local contestant. The fact that he is a rather rough individual does not win him any favours but Allie finds the proof that he is innocent. Sadly, that just means the spotlight gets turned on both Gully and Allie.
There are a ton of twists and turns and surprises turning this into a delicious treat. Allie is a fascinating character= a ballerina who is forced to recuperate from a debilitating ankle break. Her theatrical knowledge helps her solve the mystery when no one else could. She is surrounded by an interesting group of supporting cast. And the mystery is a jolly good one. In fact, I had no idea until all was revealed.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.
Humans can be very competitive. Some will go to great extremes to get what they want. Allie discovers this when she returns to her hometown to help her Aunt Gully in her lobster shack. Gully has been selected as finalist on food network cook=off but she did not expect one of the judges to have been a literal finalist when the judges are poisoned and one succumbs
The initial suspect is another local contestant. The fact that he is a rather rough individual does not win him any favours but Allie finds the proof that he is innocent. Sadly, that just means the spotlight gets turned on both Gully and Allie.
There are a ton of twists and turns and surprises turning this into a delicious treat. Allie is a fascinating character= a ballerina who is forced to recuperate from a debilitating ankle break. Her theatrical knowledge helps her solve the mystery when no one else could. She is surrounded by an interesting group of supporting cast. And the mystery is a jolly good one. In fact, I had no idea until all was revealed.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.
April 14, 2019
This was the first intstallment of the Lobster Shack Mysteries. Set in Mystic Bay, CT, Allie Larkin is home on medical leave from her job as a ballerina. She is helping Aunt Gully who is a well loved cafeteria lady turned Lobster Shack owner. The Lazy Mermaid has been selected to participate in the best lobster roll competition and this would be a great way for the Lazy Mermaid to get on the map, until one of the judges dies from eating one of the competetors lobster rolls. Allie is so set on proving that the competetor couldn't have poisoned their own lobster roll that she shifts the heat onto Aunt Gully. Allie along with her sister and her best friend start poking into the murder to prove Aunt Gully's innocence. This was a great first book in the series. I am looking forward to reading the other ones.
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