Fogland Point

by Doug Burgess

"Elegant prose, a veritable Chinese box of puzzles, and authentic, well-rounded characters make this a standout." --Publishers Weekly STARRED review

Where memories, realities, and identities blur...

David Hazard wanted nothing more than to forget his renegade family and the foggy New England village "on the wrong side" of Narragansett Bay where he grew up. When sudden tragedy brings him back to Little Compton to care for his grandmother during her struggle with dementia, he discovers her fragile memories may hold the key to a bizarre mystery half a century old--and perhaps to the sudden and brutal murder right next door.

Once Chief of Police Billy Dyer names her as a witness, Grandma Maggie's recollections become vital. But can they be trusted, especially in a town where everyone has a secret, including David himself?

The investigation stalls. Then eccentric millionaire Marcus Rhinegold's yacht disappears into the fog, bodies begin to wash ashore, and Maggie's stories come vividly to life, setting off a chain of events both horrifying and hauntingly familiar. Puritans, gun-runners, Mafiosi, and a rogues' gallery from past and present converge in the mists of the bay, challenging Billy with layers of deception. On Christmas Eve, he enlists David in a daring move to uncover the many truths surrounding Fogland Point.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, M M Romance, LGBT

277 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2018

About the author

Doug Burgess grew up in a small town just across the bay from Little Compton, where his family has lived for over 350 years. He has authored numerous books on maritime history, including Engines of Empire: Steamships and the Victorian Imagination (Stanford University Press, 2016) and The Politics of Piracy(University Press of New England, 2015). He has also published short fiction in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and other periodicals. Burgess is a professor of history in Manhattan.

Reviews

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you know that the book was good?


You read it in an incredibly short time span.

You were not able to put it down and KEPT on reading even in the impossible situation.

You found the story-line extremely entertaining, and you NEEDED to know what would happens on the next page ASAP.

You CARED about the characters like they were your own friends. You laughed with them and suffered with them.

The author suddenly amazed you with a romance story that was totally new in this form for you, even if you thought you were an expert in all kind of romance stuf. (This book is NOT a MM Romance!)

Fogland Point is a wonderful novel that met ALL the criteria. Beautifully written, funny, thrilling and moving.

A mystery book about a family history and family secrets, about complexity of love and a very deep and strong friendship, about a greatest skill of making compromises and taking the right decisions.

Highly recommended!


To Sofia: Thank you for trusting my noble modest book taste!


***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Golden Girls goes New England

Superbly done. Bravo!

Bodies and Surprises keep raining in, all done with a great pen and a pinch of New England phlegm. Burgess is able to juggle all his balls and not let any drop whilst keeping me engaged there watching. He clears up all the fog bit by bit complete with dashes of humour. The fact that I read this on a busy weekend and turned to it every moment I had is enough to mark it a great read. I find that his treatment of both David and his grandmother to be delicate, loving and true. Having gone through Alzheimer first hand I tend to shy away from reading about it in my books, but this was a stumbling block which this book pushed away with it's gentle but truthful depiction.

Eleanor Parke Custis - “Fog”, c.1939

Books like this make me appreciate my friends more. I'm glad that I listened when Lena said, come and read this, now. And yes of course I'll read more Burgess.

"Stormy Sea in Summer of Vivaldi" - Concerto in G minor Op. 8 No. 2

An ARC gently give by publisher/author in return for a review.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 review soon.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fogland Point - David Burgess (Rhode Island)
5 Stars
It is wonderful. Atmospheric...complex... spellbinding... intriguing...suspenseful...(I’m almost out of adjectives) ...with really great characters. There is something new on every page...lots of puzzle pieces to put together and hopefully come to a conclusion with a likely suspect. Darn it! Just when one is solved, another one rears its ugly head...but what an experience! The author...which is new to me...takes the reader right into the story with these wonderful folks. Loved it...loved it ...loved it. Hope there is another one soon.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a few days. I am not going to mention anything about the plot as I don't want to give anything away. I read it based on a 5 star review from a blogger/reviewer that I have respect for. I knew the writing was suppose to be very good. It was. That the location was New England. Also, that the characters were strong and unique. I knew that there would be some humor and that the mystery was very good.
So as I read all the revelations were new to me. There were many of them. I think it is how this book should be read. It was like the often used example of the peeling off of an onion-layer by layer. Was I surprised at times? Yes- Did I say "oh" and sit and think about what I read? Yes, I did. This was an unique and surprising book. I enjoyed it. I don't think I have read anything similar to it. It was one of my best 2018 reads. I want to mention that I enjoyed the friendships in the book too.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

GNA Little Compton is east of everything on the northeastern Atlantic coast. The rumor is that it was once part of Massachusetts but they didn't want this grey, foggy little town and gave it to Rhode Island in 1741. History here is long and convoluted, the graveyard which is located in the center of town is filled with centuries of Barrow's and Hazard's, Heckman's, Robies, Godfrey's and Dyer's. Nothing exciting ever happens in Little Compton.

This is a tale about the Laughing Sarah's - Miss Constance Heckman, Mrs. Irene Belcourt, Miss Emma Godfrey and Mrs. Maggie Hazard, all aging matriarchs of the community and the keepers of the stories. Constance is strong and focused. Irene is the sweet one, but all that sugar is mixed with a stout heart. Emma too is kind but always sad, her focus on her lost love, Teddy Johnson, missing in action since Korea. And Maggie, a pip and a half, is now often lost to the heartbreak of Alzheimers. Her grandchild, once Rosalie but now David Hazard, with his new Phd in hand, jobless when his private life hit the rumor mill at the college, comes home to take care of his Grandmother Maggie. And with the help of the Laughing Sarah's he is able to keep her in her home and still a part of the community she has always loved.

And then Emma dies. But was it an accident? Who would murder this sweet little old lady? Sure, she had "a pretty little sum in the bank", but murdered with her own skillet? And thus begins the dance of complex mystery and murder in this small, isolated community. Billy Dyer, high school boyfriend of Rosalie and current chief of police, is doing his all to stay on top of the activities of the community. The rumors of lost confederate gold have re-surfaced bringing an influx of strangers. And the roll of the newly dead just keeps on growing....

I loved the cachets of '50's history. The last pink princess rotary phone. Norman Rockwell plates and ceramic owls. Classic boats. American Bandstand. Maggie's conversations with The Hired Help and dead presidents. This was a book very hard to put down. I will watch for more from this author.

I received a free electronic copy pf this marvelous novel from Netgalley. Doug Burgess, and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Aug 21, 2018
Poisoned Pen Press
Not able to post at B&N

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This riveting story was an unexpected delight from a new-to-me author. Expecting some mystery and suspense, this was both nothing like and so much more than I expected; murder, ghosts, Mafia, pirate history, queer experience and even a second chance romance. I’m from New England and the setting was personally evocative but anyone would be drawn into the unique setting and atmosphere the author has so skillfully drawn. David Hazard has been gone from Little Compton for many years, aside from short visits but a change in fortune and his ailing grandmother have brought him back and thrust him into a maelstrom of emotions. Central to the plot, the richly detailed secondary figures include David’s “Aunts” and longtime friends of his grandmother Maggie; Constance, Irene and Emma. David’s first love, Billy, is also the police chief of the small town where everyone knows each other and most of everyone else’s business too.

I don’t want to spoil anything as there are surprises and plot twists at every turn. Almost no one in this cast of characters is entirely who they first appear to be. I was engrossed from the opening paragraph, barely putting this down until finishing in the wee morning hours. I mentioned romance but this is NOT a romance story, even though romantic entanglements figure strongly in the plot. Fascinating reminiscences, humor and sarcasm, tales of history and legend, ghosts and ghost stories permeate the narrative and contribute to the occurrences and resolution of the mystery and murders. I strongly recommend this as a book that satisfies on so many levels. #NetGalley #FoglandPoint

An ARC was provided by NetGalley on behalf of the publisher and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review.

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away. Excellent writing and intriguing characters, with a quite unexpected bit of romance at the end that seemed very logical. Eager to read more of this author!

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fresh take on traditional themes with likeable characters and twist after twist. How much of his grandmother's ramblings are dementia caused and how many are dark secrets long held.

[Mel Raschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprises and bodies everywhere.

[Larry Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes you read two first novels back to back and the second book suffers because of the extraordinary nature of the first book you read. I finished Mr. Burgess' first novel Fogland Point just after finishing The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan, her first novel. Fogland Point is an interesting book, both in plot and characters, but the quality of the writing pales besides the craft of Ms. McTiernan. Fogland Point has some wild characters, and a few mysteries to solve. The dialogue is good, but the action is a bit bland until the end, and the behavior of a few characters just seems a bit forced. But I did enjoy Mr. Burgess' book and I think he will write even betteer books in the future.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim, and once I started reading, I was hooked. The evocative setting with its deep family roots screams New England, and every renegade character was better than the last. We hear everything through David Hazard's voice, and in a story that's laced with the destruction caused by his grandmother Maggie's dementia, there are flashes of humor that can provoke startled laughter from readers.

There are the Laughing Sarahs-- Maggie, Emma, Constance, and Irene-- women in their eighties who have been friends their whole lives. There is nothing they wouldn't do for each other. There's Chief of Police Billy Dyer, who may or may not be the stereotypical lump of a small town cop. Then there are other characters like the Bangladeshi couple from Queens who bought a store in Little Compton and proceeded to stock it according to their personal idea of what a New England country general store should be. (The townspeople aren't thrilled that they now have to drive for miles to get spaghetti sauce.) Street by street, house by house, character by character, I was drawn into Fogland Point.

And then there's the writing. With lines like "Aunt Irene is coming down the stairs, her big toe seeking out one tread at a time like a snail's antennae," it was so easy to picture each scene as it played out. Having watched snails and having seen old people going down stairs like that, I feel a bit dim for not putting the two together myself. There are several lines and scenes like that, and each one is a joyful discovery.

But how's the mystery you ask? It's a beaut. San Francisco's Lombard Street is as straight as a ruler compared to the plot of Fogland Point-- and I wasn't confused, I was delighted. As things were revealed, time and again I thought to myself that I should have seen it coming because the clues were all there. There's the mystery of Emma's death; and why did millionaire Marcus Rhinegold show up all of a sudden? There are ties to the Mafia and stories of shipwrecks and sunken treasure chests of gold. Just when you think you have one thing solved, you find out that you don't.

Or is it all a dream? "Because this is Little Compton, and nothing ever happens here." Or so the townspeople would have you believe...

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Just Love

4.5 stars

Don’t you just love it when the right book comes along at just the right time?

Fogland Point was that book for me. I had been looking for something a little surprising and a little unexpected, and I figured a good whodunnit might be just the thing. Thank goodness I picked this one up, because it delivered on both counts. Not only that, it was smart, funny and lovely.

In other words, it was all that and a bag of chips. I’m sure the kids still say that, right? No? Oh well, you get idea.

At its heart, this book is actually a love story with some humour, murder and a whole lot of mystery thrown in for good effect. There is romantic love, familial love, the enduring love of friends and the love of home. It also part ghost story part history lesson, and the fact that it succeeds at being all these things is a testament to the author’s talent.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I Ioved all the characters in this book. David with his courage and patience, Billy with his open-heart and open mind, Grandma Maggie and her dignity, and Constance and Irene with their kindness and iron-willed determination. They were all marvelous.

I don’t think I’ve read a mystery quite like this one before, but I certainly hope more of them are out there. In the meantime, I hope people who don’t normally read this genre will take a chance on Fogland Point. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters in this book -- David plus his grandmother and two daffy 'aunts' - are delightfully strong and comic, if profane. I like that he's caring for his grandmother during her dementia, and her illness makes her assertions particularly unreliable, as in Turn of Mind. But the plot is both convoluted and implausible, and the romantic interest distracts as well as adding an ethically compromised ending.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Armstrong House sits on Fogland Point, overlooking Narragansett Bay. It’s the spooky old place that David Hazard remembers as the scariest spot to hang around on Halloween. The mansion has fallen into disrepair now, but David still thinks of it as super creepy. He grew up in Little Compton, a small town where nothing happens. We can’t always choose where we live in our childhood years, but we sure can when we’re old enough. So David chose to leave as soon as he could. Not all of his memories from that time are good ones.

Now, reluctantly, he’s come back after receiving a frantic call from his grandmother. Truthfully, sometimes he ignores those calls, because Grandma Maggie is descending into dementia and makes up some whoppers nowadays. If he does answer, usually he can talk her down. But this time, he heads out in a panic late at night and arrives to find her dithering around her house. Exasperated, he finally coaxes something close to the real story out of her, discovering that the problem did not lie with his grandmother but with her neighbor. Poor Emma. She will be missed.

At the funeral, David and his aunts, who still live in Little Compton, notice an unfamiliar couple attending the service. It’s easy to spot individuals who don’t belong, being a small town and all. Rumor has it that this pair has purchased the Armstrong House and Fogland Point. Really? Are they planning to settle in here? People in places the size of Little Compton like to know what’s going on around them, and new folks buying a historic property gets the gossip going. Also, when one of their own dies at the same time these newcomers arrive, suspicions naturally rise. No connection has been made, but there hasn’t been an in-depth investigation yet.

David’s old school friend, Billy Dyer, now Chief of Police, warily welcomes David back. Their friendship went through some rough times, and David’s return might test its resilience. For now, though, the police chief teams up with his old friend to do a little snooping. They discover that the strange new couple is harboring more than one secret. In fact, “Marcus” and “Alicia” probably aren’t even their real names. They appear to be married but don’t seem to like each other. They also seem to be rich, having sailed into Little Compton on a fancy yacht, but then again who knows? Something is definitely off about them. David and Billy --- and probably the aunts, too --- will do a lot more digging into their background and keep an eye on them. It wouldn’t do to let their guards down.

Then, on a busy evening, in the local gathering spot, one of the aunts blurts out the old story of long-lost sunken treasure and, well, the town goes crazy. Everyone wants to be rich, and there’s gold right here in their bay? Meanwhile, the yacht has disappeared. And so has “Marcus.” Alicia, though, unhappily remains. What is going on? Did that man pilfer their treasure and skip? Whether it’s a hunt for the gold or something more sinister, death follows. An uproar ensues. Chief Dyer has never had to handle crimes of this magnitude. Murder? Multiple murders? There’s even mention of some mafia guys. What has happened to their sleepy town? Where once David complained that nothing goes on in Little Compton, he now wishes for the return of those days.

FOGLAND POINT, Doug Burgess’ impressive debut novel, has a giant heart, made more wonderful with the feeling of small-town charm. But it’s the characters who will pull you in. David Hazard is like no other in literature. He has been through a lot and has no easy life ahead of him. His attitude, though, is ever optimistic. You need to hear his story. Readers can learn a lot from him. Don’t miss this one.

Reviewed by Kate Ayers

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a particularly long novel, but it manages to pack a lot of enjoyment and a unique story into those pages.

David Hazard, recently terminated from a university teaching job, returns to his New England home town of Little Compton to help care for his grandmother Maggie, who is descending into dementia. The depiction of Maggie's illness and the reality of caring for her is a strength of the book.

David has lots of baggage to deal with by coming back, including an unfinished relationship with local police chief Billy Dyer. His extended family is the Laughing Sarahs, a group of older women bound by history and affection. His grandmother is one, local salvage owner Constance is one, and their friend Irene is one. The fourth member, Emma, is found dead under suspicious circumstances. David's grandmother discovered the body but nobody believed her when she reported it.

Meanwhile a millionaire and his wife show up in town and events start to pop up. Are these related to the past? Who exactly is the millionaire and who is looking for him? Decades old secrets emerge and things get more and more complicated. And David's life was complex enough already.

This is a difficult book to review because of the great possibility for spoilers. But the book has sweetness, warmth and humor and is a joy to read. This is an author to keep an eye on.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mystery or handful of connected mysteries and strong, engaging characters made this an enjoyable read. I do have some reservations.

I was interested in David's story and his voice was good, which is a good thing since it was a mostly first person narrative. There is some storytelling by two other characters. I wasn't upset by the premise or even the romance, probably because nothing was graphic in any way. This is probably the first time I've read a story of a trans person who has transitioned. I have no idea if the author researched this aspect to give us an accurate picture of some of the conflicts and struggles faced in this experience. I did not feel like it was heavy handed, but was handled well.

As I have been thinking about the mystery resolutions, I've been a little concerned about the moral ambiguity it presents. The author wants you to like these characters and to feel that justice was served in an appropriate way. And I did feel like that. Except....well, I don't know.... conflicted.

Another library reader's choice.

Content: profanity (not overwhelming, but numerous f-words and others); same sex romance (nothing graphic); murder; dementia; questionable ethics.

[R. Lee Frankenstein · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose to read this because I live in RI (very close to Little Compton) and could visualize the scenes easily. The story is just OK. It keeps you interested enough to finish it. If a large serving of gender identity disorder, growing up feeling confused about sexuality, and sex change (or not, since it's never really clear) gets tired and overly PC. Stay away from this book. I found it to be way to pushy about the issue and really didn't need the guy on guy (who is really a girl, but not sure her/himself as we never understand if she/he has a fake penis or just dresses as a dude, etc, etc) completely unnecessary and very odd. The part where the 2 Georgia rednecks call the cop a faggot is so bad. Not exaggerating, most jr. high students could make a more realistic, less cliche scenario. And I actually had to groan when they mention the Trump/Pence sticker on the truck bumper. So I give the story 2and1/2 stars. But due the weird sex scene, the over abundance of PC preaching and the entire GID foolishness, I can only give it a 1 star. Anyone giving this story 5 stars is doing so out of Biased PC reasons. Or, they have never actually read a good book.

[Kate Ayers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hailed as "unique, surprising, moving, occasionally hilarious and entirely marvelous." Well, it is unique and sometimes funny. The main character's grandmother has dementia, which can have humorous bits, but also sad. That character, David Hazard, has his own challenges, which was part of why I had some problems with it. I suppose they were wrapped up with how the story worked, but it was tough for me. The mystery part was fun though. Grandma's neighbor dies, and grandma tries to tell people but, well, it's hard to believe her. David discovers the woman dead and then the local police chief, David's old friend from school, launches an investigation. It involves a new couple in town about to purchase a decrepit old mansion, so curiosity swirls around them until the husband disappears. Someone else turns up dead and there's rumors of sunken treasure in the harbor. All kinds of stuff going on. It's fun enough. Just had trouble truly liking David. Too conflicted.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover and blurb for Fogland Point initially caught my eye and I’m happy I gave this novel and author a try. Fogland Point mostly focuses on a trans man who returns to his small hometown to help with his ailing grandmother. He subsequently finds himself immersed in a bit of a mystery as an odd chain of events occurs. There is a second chance romance included as well and it was sweet, but it’s definitely not the star of the book. As far as I can tell, this is the author’s first fictional work, but I’m hopeful it won’t be his last.

Fogland Point is told from one point-of-view and really only features a single main character. The secondary characters all range from highly involved to minor roles, but they were well-flushed out and quite vibrant. I was immediately drawn to David’s life and history in Little Compton and found the setting itself quite intriguing. The mystery definitely captured my attention and I loved how many twists the tale took along the way, revealing side stories I hadn’t anticipated. However, I found the pacing and style of Fogland Point a tad off-putting and, as much as I liked many of the details, after a while the random asides, brief recollections of the past, and family lore from generations ago slowed the book so much that I found myself easily distracted. And so, I was completely caught off guard with the major twists that unfolded toward the end. Suddenly I found myself reading as fast as possible to see what else would come to light and how it would all conclude. Fogland Point was certainly a departure from my norm, but not in a negative way; and though I had my ups and downs while reading this novel, I absolutely loved the ending and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery.

*eARC received via Netgalley. The author and publisher had no influence over this review*

[Steve Booth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fogland Point was a quick read. It was set in Little Compton, RI, a no where town where nothing ever happens. What a surprise to see the Three Laughing Sarahs, a local policeman, and a Transitioned Fired Professor and the secrets they keep.

Grandma's dementia has its moments of lucidity where she recounts a murder accurately. Her two best friends bury a body, and get involved in covering up another mystery.

The author weaves in the view from Rosalie/David who transitions from a women to a man. He is clear that he started in the wrong gendered body, but is uncertain as to his path ahead. He had jilted the local policeman who had proposed to her. After transitioning, he returns to take care of his grandmother, and gets re-involved with the local policeman.

While the author depicts a small town with little happening, the truth is the town has lots of well-kept secrets. The narrative has twists and turns, is told with a dry sense of Yankee humor.

[Marc D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exceptional in so many ways. Beautifully written, its setting is an isolated strip of land on the New England coast (where nothing happens) and its characters are genuinely unique and, at times, hilarious. The author creates a wonderful sense of place and one can almost feel and smell the fog. This book is about murder (several), deceptions, dementia and love. And nobody...and I do mean NOBODY is who or what you think they are. There are more twists in this story than in a Bavarian Pretzel Bakery, but it does get a tad TOO twisty at the end. Although a big "reveal" at the end blew me away. I never, ever suspected it!
This book may not be for everyone and I really can't explain why here without revealing a major plot twist. It took me by surprise and I had to reread a sentence or two to make sure I got it right. I did! That helps make this book even more fun and...ummm...unique.

[willowdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

In any mystery, setting is an important element to the story. The creation of Fogland Point and Old Compton and its history is right out of a "Murder She Wrote" narrative. The setting becomes a character that makes the action so very real. We know, or wish to know, that these places exist. The Hazard family and the other characters that live here are terrifically revealed to have so many secrets and revelations that one falls in love with this extended family. When FTM David returns to Old Compton to take care of his grandmother who raised him and who is suffering from dementia, he steps into a quagmire of murder. I enjoyed the many characterizations of individuals in the town. And the mystery is filled with starts and stops. Nothing more can be asked for a terrific read.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc.

[KayDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read. David has recently been fired from his job as a professor because the university has found out that he used to be a woman. Returning to his hometown of Little
Compton, David becomes the primary caregiver to his grandmother who is suffering from dementia. When her good friend is found dead, the police are unsure if it's an accident or a murder. Throw in a rich yachtsman who also vanishes and a group of eccentric "aunts" and you've got the makings of an excellent book. Publisher's Weekly gave it a starred review and called it "a veritable Chinese box of puzzles." There's humor, tears, laughter and empathy that all combine to one terrific read.

Read this book!

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley.

I had no opinion or predictions at all when it came to reading this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was smart and witty and suspenseful and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the history and I'm not overly into historical fiction. This was more like a Golden Girls guide to history and intrigue. It was a fun ride and I loved the characters. There were more twists and turns than I had prepared for, but it wasn't detracting from the story, nor did it make you wish for a real ending quicker.

I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone who likes a good who done it with a bit of humor and history.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of themes wrapped into this relatively short mystery of sorts but it has a huge heart. David, who transitioned from Rosalie, is back in his small town taking care of his grandmother Maggie, who has Alzheimers. Bad things start to happen and Maggie viewed as a critical witness by Billy Dyer, David's old boyfriend who is now Chief of Police. Talk about an unreliable narrator! What is for certain is that Burgess has created some delightful characters with an economy of language. The mysteries and the murders were less interesting to me than the people. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ArC. This was a quick, humorous, and good read.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many secrets through the years! A grandson returns home to care for his grandmother who has dementia. Shortly after arriving, his grandmother's next door neighbor (who is also one of grandma's closest friends) is found dead in her kitchen. At first it's thought to be an accident, but then the Police Chief visits and reports he's investigating it as a homicide because of the coroner's report. Grandma is considered a witness, since she was the first on the scene, but her dementia keeps coming and going. As time goes on, more deaths occur, more secrets are unearthed and things become very messy, to say the least. Very good read!!!

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars? I really liked parts of this book and other parts tended to drag for me. Over the story was good and I really wanted to know what happened, but some parts of it seemed unnecessary and at other times I felt like I was reading three different stories at once. There was mafia involved but there wasn't actually any mafia present? Then the murder mystery that had way too many moving parts and seemed to get lost in the true action of the story. I feel weird about this book. I'm glad I finally finished it, and I don't feel like I wasted my time. But I also want to take a red pen to a few pages that just didn't need to be there.

[Paul McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery great description of the tiny seaside New England town, quirky group of old women involved in solving a murder mystery. So why only 3 stars?
The main character David is a FTM person. Why this was important or added/developed into the story is baffling. It didn’t help him figure it solve or explain why any of the characters behaved the way they did and worse not only was the character boring but it also led to being distracted from the actual story, and it took time away from developing the Mystery and most especially the conclusion, which seemed a bit rushed.
The author can definitely write well I just wish there had been more focus on the storyline.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant surprise. It's a mystery set in a small coastal Rhode Island town. Any number of interesting characters with a complicated plot that basically hangs together just fine. Well en0ugh written so that it goes right along. And the protagonist is interesting, too. I won't say it's great literature, but it is a fine diverting read and would be excellent for a plane ride or a rainy day. (It does not take that long to read.)

I'll look for more from this author, even it if isn't the same setting/characters.