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Pelican Cove #1
Strawberries and Strangers
Exclusive beach party takes a murderous turn.
Dumped by her cheating husband, Jenny King is trying to build a new life in the small seaside town of Pelican Cove. Locals are lining up at the Boardwalk Café for her tasty cakes and muffins. But when her aunt, a local artist, is accused of killing a stranger, Jenny is forced to set her apron aside and put on her sleuthing cap.
Jenny battles with the cranky local sheriff and quirky local characters to get to the truth. Aided by her new friends, she will move heaven and earth to find out who the dead stranger was and what he was doing in Pelican Cove.
If you like cozy murder mysteries with friendly small towns, scenic settings, yummy food and a touch of romance, you will like Strawberries And Strangers.
Dumped by her cheating husband, Jenny King is trying to build a new life in the small seaside town of Pelican Cove. Locals are lining up at the Boardwalk Café for her tasty cakes and muffins. But when her aunt, a local artist, is accused of killing a stranger, Jenny is forced to set her apron aside and put on her sleuthing cap.
Jenny battles with the cranky local sheriff and quirky local characters to get to the truth. Aided by her new friends, she will move heaven and earth to find out who the dead stranger was and what he was doing in Pelican Cove.
If you like cozy murder mysteries with friendly small towns, scenic settings, yummy food and a touch of romance, you will like Strawberries And Strangers.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
2168 people are currently reading
1105 people want to read
About the author
Leena Clover
72 books361 followersLeena Clover is a popular, bestselling author of cozy mysteries with heart.
You can expect fearless heroines, small town drama, quirky characters and friendships that last a lifetime in her books. Yummy food and a murder or two are guaranteed!
Visit her website at leenaclover.com to learn more.
You can expect fearless heroines, small town drama, quirky characters and friendships that last a lifetime in her books. Yummy food and a murder or two are guaranteed!
Visit her website at leenaclover.com to learn more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
June 20, 2018
My goodness, but this book was a chore to get through. The dialogue, the characters. I kept hoping a hurricane would sweep the whole town off the map, but alas, no weather incidents this time.
Jenny is going through a rough divorce and is staying with her aunt. She is crushing on the Sheriff, but not really, and they fight. All. The. Time. So you just know it is going to be true love always. I'm guessing around book 3. Anyway, a dead man is found on the beach and her hippie artist aunt Star is taken in for the crime. Of course she didn't do it. Of course Jenny investigates it and sticks her nose where it doesn't belong. Haven't you ever read a cozy?
And a lot of nonsense happens, the crime is solved in an unbelievable way, and I knew who was guilty but I didn't know why. Because there were no clues to lead us to a motive. And that is why this book gets 1.5 stars. I won't be taking a return trip to Pelican Cove.
Jenny is going through a rough divorce and is staying with her aunt. She is crushing on the Sheriff, but not really, and they fight. All. The. Time. So you just know it is going to be true love always. I'm guessing around book 3. Anyway, a dead man is found on the beach and her hippie artist aunt Star is taken in for the crime. Of course she didn't do it. Of course Jenny investigates it and sticks her nose where it doesn't belong. Haven't you ever read a cozy?
And a lot of nonsense happens, the crime is solved in an unbelievable way, and I knew who was guilty but I didn't know why. Because there were no clues to lead us to a motive. And that is why this book gets 1.5 stars. I won't be taking a return trip to Pelican Cove.
May 13, 2018
Jenny is going through a difficult divorce, and relocates to Pelican Cove to start over. The small town is where her aunt lives, and a place Jenny used to visit when she was a kid. As Jenny begins to find her place in the community, she starts working at a local cafe and making friends. During a big social event, a dead man is discovered on the beach. The man is a stranger in town, but the local police have a suspect for his murder... Jenny's aunt. To prove her aunt's innocence, Jenny looks into identifying the dead man and discovering who in town wanted him dead.
The 1st book in the Pelican Cove cozy mystery series. There were a lot of characters, but it wasn't too hard to keep up once the story got going. An enjoyable, easy read with some quirky characters, a little romance, and a solid mystery.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The 1st book in the Pelican Cove cozy mystery series. There were a lot of characters, but it wasn't too hard to keep up once the story got going. An enjoyable, easy read with some quirky characters, a little romance, and a solid mystery.
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2018
Better than ‘okay’, just not enough for ‘like’
I almost liked it, it was a pleasant read, lighthearted, and sort of fun. It just took me a little while to really get into it, there were so many people to keep track of, and so much information! And the sentences were quite short, making it feel like a statement of facts at times. And Jenny could be very rude, especially to the Sheriff, who was only doing his job and doing it well. But after the beginning there was suspense and surprise; the story, the mystery part, was good. Everything came together at the end.
I almost liked it, it was a pleasant read, lighthearted, and sort of fun. It just took me a little while to really get into it, there were so many people to keep track of, and so much information! And the sentences were quite short, making it feel like a statement of facts at times. And Jenny could be very rude, especially to the Sheriff, who was only doing his job and doing it well. But after the beginning there was suspense and surprise; the story, the mystery part, was good. Everything came together at the end.
May 16, 2018
Jenny is not my kind of heroine. She couldn’t seem to have an intelligent conversation but roared, argued, protested, burst out & squealed inappropriate comments; more like an angry teen than a woman in her 40’s. Predictable ending with all the clues thrown at you. I like the setting & variety of characters & hope the series improves.
August 5, 2024
Bit of a chore to get through - very slow, and the writing is a bit rough. The concept is cute though and the series does have potential. I’ll still continue with this cozy mystery series in the hope that it wins me over.
January 26, 2020
I really love this series covers! They're just so cute lol i had to give them a try, its not my favorite but i only read one book so far and most importantly i liked the characters lol
May 7, 2018
This was enjoyable to read, Jenny is newly divorced and decides to .go to Pelican Cove and stay with her Aunt.Rebecca, better know as Star. She gets a job at the Boardwalk Cafe as a cook. Petunia the owner of the Cafe has been asked to cater a party at the Newbury estate. Star and Jenny were asked to attend the party. Everything is going great until someone finds a body on the beach near the estate and he has a brush in his hand that belongs to Star..Jenny decides she has to clear her aunts name. Her friends are willing to help her. What follows is a fun story with delightful and quirky characters. There are clues and twists and turns. This is a book you don't want to put down. You just have to see what happens next. Get a copy of this book and come along with Jenny. See if you can figure out who the killer is.
This story is well thought out and well written. One of the best stories I have read,
I voluntarily received a copy of this book and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinionis entirely my own.
This story is well thought out and well written. One of the best stories I have read,
I voluntarily received a copy of this book and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinionis entirely my own.
May 23, 2018
I loved this book! Ms. Clover has written a strong first book in this new series! The main character is a likeable 40ish woman whose rotten attorney husband of 20 years dumped her for a younger woman and kicked her out of their house. She decided to move to live with her aunt in the small, quiet, peaceful seaside town of Pelican Cove, Virginia. Except that 3 months after she gets there, it’s not so quiet and peaceful. Someone is murdered. The storyline is strong and believable. I really liked how the friends take care of each other. I also enjoyed the twists and turns; when you think you know who the murderer is, you find out that you’re wrong! I had an extremely hard time putting this one down. If you like cozy mysteries about strong women, small towns and good friends, then you’ll love “Strawberries and Strangers: ACozy Murder Mystery (Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book #1) by Leena Clover. Can’t wait for Book #2!
August 7, 2021
Good potential, not great writing
The whole time I kept thinking I had missed a previous book, or skipped a chapter something because the character development was so disjointed. It felt like important details were randomly thrown in rather than actually developed. I actually stopped reading at one point to see if I had gotten the second book by mistake due to what seemed to be references to another event, and character introductions that seemed like I ought to already be familiar with them. The writing was choppy, and point of view seemed to jump from character to character. Character dialogue and descriptions of their speech, reactions etc, were a little off. The “trail of breadcrumbs” for the reader were not subtle enough. I’m going to read book 2 to see if things improve.
The whole time I kept thinking I had missed a previous book, or skipped a chapter something because the character development was so disjointed. It felt like important details were randomly thrown in rather than actually developed. I actually stopped reading at one point to see if I had gotten the second book by mistake due to what seemed to be references to another event, and character introductions that seemed like I ought to already be familiar with them. The writing was choppy, and point of view seemed to jump from character to character. Character dialogue and descriptions of their speech, reactions etc, were a little off. The “trail of breadcrumbs” for the reader were not subtle enough. I’m going to read book 2 to see if things improve.
August 20, 2020
Ummm....no. 👎
I really wanted to like this book, really, I did. Unfortunately with the weird sentence structure and strange main character it was a chore to finish. I was insulted by the description of one of the main characters. Actually disliked the wishy washy relationships and bad grammar to the point where I almost removed it from my library. But I kept thinking it's going to get better. But guess what? It didn't. 👎
I really wanted to like this book, really, I did. Unfortunately with the weird sentence structure and strange main character it was a chore to finish. I was insulted by the description of one of the main characters. Actually disliked the wishy washy relationships and bad grammar to the point where I almost removed it from my library. But I kept thinking it's going to get better. But guess what? It didn't. 👎
May 3, 2018
First time reading this author. I really liked the suspense and totally not who you expect as the murderer. Only bad part is in beginning you get confused on who is who, but once you get past that the book is good.
November 28, 2018
wowza, 7 books in this series ... Love the cover!! i love a good mystery ... pulled in this this world ...and my go 2 read is always a mystery read ...it is my fave ... great style ... new to Leena and look forward to more mysteries from Leena soon enough. great quick read for me.
May 31, 2020
A wonderful start to a new cozy series!
My favorite genre is cozy mysteries. I enjoy reading a well-written, lighthearted, clean, fun, and easy read. This book ticked all the boxes for me; so of course, it rates five stars in my book. Leena Clover is a gifted storyteller. My plan is to binge read this series.
The setting for this book is on a small island in Virginia. The cast of characters are quite entertaining. Their personalities and interactions are quite believable. I can relate each character with a person I have met in my life. I don’t agree with the way Jenny interacts with law enforcement, but I can honestly say I have met more than one person with her attitude. I hope in future books Jenny’s character will show a little more respect for law enforcement officers and police procedures. Again, that is only my personal preference and did not affect my enjoyment of this fictional story. The red herrings were effective in that I did not figure out who the murderer was prior to the reveal. That was quite fun for me. Adding a touch of romance here and there throughout the story is always a plus for me.
All-in-all it was an entertaining first story of a series. A new cozy mystery series that I look forward to reading.
My favorite genre is cozy mysteries. I enjoy reading a well-written, lighthearted, clean, fun, and easy read. This book ticked all the boxes for me; so of course, it rates five stars in my book. Leena Clover is a gifted storyteller. My plan is to binge read this series.
The setting for this book is on a small island in Virginia. The cast of characters are quite entertaining. Their personalities and interactions are quite believable. I can relate each character with a person I have met in my life. I don’t agree with the way Jenny interacts with law enforcement, but I can honestly say I have met more than one person with her attitude. I hope in future books Jenny’s character will show a little more respect for law enforcement officers and police procedures. Again, that is only my personal preference and did not affect my enjoyment of this fictional story. The red herrings were effective in that I did not figure out who the murderer was prior to the reveal. That was quite fun for me. Adding a touch of romance here and there throughout the story is always a plus for me.
All-in-all it was an entertaining first story of a series. A new cozy mystery series that I look forward to reading.
January 23, 2021
Jenny left her husband because he cheated. So she started anew with her Aunt a painter. Jenny Aunt knows a woman named Petunia that has a bakery so Jenny worked there. Everyone loved her food. But a stranger came to town and was murdered and Jenny aunt's paintbrush was beside him. Who would set up her Aunt and why
February 5, 2021
Very Enjoyable
I enjoyed this book very much! Easy to get lost in the story, trying to determine who did it! Thanks!
I enjoyed this book very much! Easy to get lost in the story, trying to determine who did it! Thanks!
January 27, 2021
Good read
Set in an interesting location with a good cast of characters. A true mystery up to the end! Nicely done.
Set in an interesting location with a good cast of characters. A true mystery up to the end! Nicely done.
May 5, 2018
When Jenny King is dumped by her husband of over 20 years, she goes to her Aunt Rebecca's home in Pelican Cove. Pelican Cove is a small sea-side tourist town. Aunt Rebecca insists everyone call her Star, as she is a painter we all know they are a little nutso. Jenny and Star go to the Spring Gala the first family of Pelican Cove, after being hired to cater the event. The food is the talk of the event until a dead body is found out on the beach. Adam Hopkins, the Sheriff of Pelican Cove insists everyone stay until they have been talked to. Let's say Jenny and Adam get along like oil and water! Especially after Adam arrests her Aunt for murder of this unknown person due to the evidence found at the scene. Jenny will not stand for this, and even though she was told by Adam to stay out of it, she is bound and determined to clear her Aunt's name! Can the murderer be caught or is this the perfect crime with no one to blame? You will need to read the book to find out how it turns out.
April 26, 2020
Sub par
The backstory for the island is interesting; descriptions of the locale to bring the reader into this world would not come amiss.The effort given to making the food appealing is good. And about halfway through the story the murder mystery becomes engaging and the red herrings are thoughtfully placed, although the killer was rather easily discernable. It's a pity that effort wasn't put into creating interesting backstories for the characters to make them appealing. Jenny is a whiny, self-effacing, clueless milquetoast unless she's interacting with Adam then she's an abrasive virago. Adam is an incompetent example of law enforcement and apparently socially inept as well. The sentence structure is choppy and the story flow is poor; this could have benefited from judicious editing. This series has potential; however, this sub par showing of the intro to the series does not rise above two stars.
The backstory for the island is interesting; descriptions of the locale to bring the reader into this world would not come amiss.The effort given to making the food appealing is good. And about halfway through the story the murder mystery becomes engaging and the red herrings are thoughtfully placed, although the killer was rather easily discernable. It's a pity that effort wasn't put into creating interesting backstories for the characters to make them appealing. Jenny is a whiny, self-effacing, clueless milquetoast unless she's interacting with Adam then she's an abrasive virago. Adam is an incompetent example of law enforcement and apparently socially inept as well. The sentence structure is choppy and the story flow is poor; this could have benefited from judicious editing. This series has potential; however, this sub par showing of the intro to the series does not rise above two stars.
June 22, 2018
This book introduces us to a recently moved woman who is going through divorce. Her name is Jenny and she is currently living with her favorite Aunt, Star.
Star has welcomed Jenny to Pelican Cove as has Star's friends. Jenny is settling in quite nicely as a cook in the local eatery, when to her shock a man is found dead at a party she is catering. To everyone's shock, Star is the main 'Person of Interest.'
Jenny and her friend, Heather decide to find out who this dead man is and why isn't the police force trying to do more to find out who 'really' committed this crime.
Secrets and spying serve to put blocks in Jenny's search. Will Jenny solve this crime before she loses her own life?
This is a true cozy murder mystery with enjoyable characters and a clever plot.
Star has welcomed Jenny to Pelican Cove as has Star's friends. Jenny is settling in quite nicely as a cook in the local eatery, when to her shock a man is found dead at a party she is catering. To everyone's shock, Star is the main 'Person of Interest.'
Jenny and her friend, Heather decide to find out who this dead man is and why isn't the police force trying to do more to find out who 'really' committed this crime.
Secrets and spying serve to put blocks in Jenny's search. Will Jenny solve this crime before she loses her own life?
This is a true cozy murder mystery with enjoyable characters and a clever plot.
May 26, 2018
Jenny Anderson has moved to Pelican Cove after her husband left her for a younger woman. Pelican Cove is a small community off the coast of Virginia that is mostly made of long-time families and some wealthy ones at that. Jenny is finding her way, living with her aunt Star and cooking and baking at the local diner. When Star is accused of murder, Jenny does what she can to prove her aunt's innocence. The story itself was interesting, but I didn't really like the characters or the dialogue much.
September 16, 2018
An enjoyable cozy holiday read
A great light read and first installment in the Pelican Cove series. Endearing characters that I look forward to getting to know more in future books in this series. Charming setting of a small community, which I can relate too as I live in a small community myself.
If you like simple mysteries with none of the grittiness and lots of likeable characters, then this is the book for you.
A great light read and first installment in the Pelican Cove series. Endearing characters that I look forward to getting to know more in future books in this series. Charming setting of a small community, which I can relate too as I live in a small community myself.
If you like simple mysteries with none of the grittiness and lots of likeable characters, then this is the book for you.
May 6, 2018
This is a fast paced read. The characters of Pelican Cove are intriguing and interesting. There is a murder, a wrongly accused person, and secrets from years past,but who committed murder? The author is new to me, but I was fascinated with Leena Clover's story and will be reading more of her books. I received this book as an ARC, in return for an honest review.
May 3, 2018
I enjoyed this book by Leena Clover. The storyline was entertaining and the characters made the book so compelling to read from page one to the end. Am looking forward to reading further books by this author. I recommend this book to all Cozy mystery lovers.
July 16, 2018
Really good start to this series. I love the characters and the setting is great too. Leena Clover is a new author to me and I love her writing. This book was really good and I can't wait for more in the series.
August 15, 2018
Cute new find
I love finding new authors and series. This book was great with lots of twists and turns to find out who the stranger is and who the murderer is. Great town characters.
I love finding new authors and series. This book was great with lots of twists and turns to find out who the stranger is and who the murderer is. Great town characters.
July 2, 2021
By the time I was halfway through, I wondered if the book was written by a bot. The ultra-generic acknowledgements didn’t convince me otherwise. Super basic dialogue and descriptions, plus really unpredictable character behavior. No character development.
October 27, 2018
It was a good book, but the first three quarters of the book felt slow and then the end of the book was super rushed, like the author couldn't quite figure out how to wrap up the story.
May 2, 2018
When her marriage of over twenty years breaks up, Jenny King goes to stay with her Aunt in Pelican Cove. There she begins to rebuild her life and even find some happiness in the form of a job she enjoys and a couple of new girlfriends. Working as a waitress/baker/cook at the Boardwalk Cafe, she gradually adapts to her new life and lets go of the remnants of her failed marriage.
About three months into her new life, thanks to Jenny's fresh ideas and recipes, the Boardwalk Cafe is catering the social event of the season. The richest family on the island has opened their land for a day when people from the island can come and see the magnificent house and grounds. This year's lawn party is disrupted however when a scream alerts the crowd that something is wrong. A body has been found on the beach.
The body on the beach is someone no one knows, but because he had a paint brush in his hand that belonged to Jenny's Aunt, the police suspected the Aunt. Jenny knows her aunt is innocent, and steps up to find the real murderer.
Author, Leena Clover has written a clever mystery that is peppered with clues and innuendos. Just when you think you know who the guilty person is, you learn you are wrong! Maybe the person has a secret, but it certainly isn't a murder they have committed. Failure doesn't stop Jenny as she pushes on despite a certain police detective who has asked her to stop many times.
If you want a book with interesting characters, the majority older or shall I say more mature, a friendly caring town, and a fair amount of quirkiness, then this is the book for you. It is a relaxed paced book that shows Jenny's extreme efforts and loyalties while solving a most difficult murder.
About three months into her new life, thanks to Jenny's fresh ideas and recipes, the Boardwalk Cafe is catering the social event of the season. The richest family on the island has opened their land for a day when people from the island can come and see the magnificent house and grounds. This year's lawn party is disrupted however when a scream alerts the crowd that something is wrong. A body has been found on the beach.
The body on the beach is someone no one knows, but because he had a paint brush in his hand that belonged to Jenny's Aunt, the police suspected the Aunt. Jenny knows her aunt is innocent, and steps up to find the real murderer.
Author, Leena Clover has written a clever mystery that is peppered with clues and innuendos. Just when you think you know who the guilty person is, you learn you are wrong! Maybe the person has a secret, but it certainly isn't a murder they have committed. Failure doesn't stop Jenny as she pushes on despite a certain police detective who has asked her to stop many times.
If you want a book with interesting characters, the majority older or shall I say more mature, a friendly caring town, and a fair amount of quirkiness, then this is the book for you. It is a relaxed paced book that shows Jenny's extreme efforts and loyalties while solving a most difficult murder.
May 5, 2018
Recently divorced Jenny King has been living in Pelican Cove for awhile trying to start a new life. Thanks to her Aunt Star it hasn't been as hard as she expected. She's found a great job working at the local Boardwalk Cafe where she can let her culinary talent shine, and has even made a couple good friends. Then the cafe caters an event for one of the richest and oldest families on the cove. The food is a hit and things seems fine until an unknown man is found dead on the nearby beach. The only suspect is Jenny's aunt since some of her paint brushes were found near the body. Now Jenny's life is filled with trying to clear her aunt's name, even if it means putting her own life in danger.
As with most books in a series, the first must not only tell an intriguing story but introduce all the characters you will come to know and love. For some reason, with this book, I had trouble keeping all the characters straight. Which led to some confusion later until I finally figured it out in my head. It is nice to read about characters who aren't young and falling in love immediately. It seems there might be a small love triangle developing with Jenny and two bachelors, but romance wasn't Jenny's main concern and that was refreshing. The killer was a complete surprise to me with an interesting twist. Rated four out of five stars.
As with most books in a series, the first must not only tell an intriguing story but introduce all the characters you will come to know and love. For some reason, with this book, I had trouble keeping all the characters straight. Which led to some confusion later until I finally figured it out in my head. It is nice to read about characters who aren't young and falling in love immediately. It seems there might be a small love triangle developing with Jenny and two bachelors, but romance wasn't Jenny's main concern and that was refreshing. The killer was a complete surprise to me with an interesting twist. Rated four out of five stars.
March 20, 2024
I couldn't decide if the main theme of this book was the new life in Pelican Cove that Jenny found or the mystery surrounding the death of a stranger. Both themes were intertwined. Jenny has fit into the community very nicely, having gotten a job with the local café as a highly skilled baker and creator of delicious foods. Her new friendships are many and before long a couple of good looking men have taken a shine to her.
One of these men, however, is the local sheriff, and when Jenny's aunt gets accused of murdering the man who nobody knows, he and Jenny lock horns. She wants to do everything possible to clear her aunt of this charge, but he (Adam) is a bonehead about the whole thing. I confess that I have read enough mysteries to know the difference between good police work and incompetence, which is what this guy Adam displays all the time. Of course if it wasn't for his lack of skills and Jenny's determination, the story would be half as long.
So there are plenty of events and happenings in this small community to make for some good story lines. And there are so many references to the amazing food that Jenny prepares as well as what she eats at different restaurants I found myself almost salivating at the descriptions. So all in all this was a fun and easy book to read. Good, lighthearted reading.
One of these men, however, is the local sheriff, and when Jenny's aunt gets accused of murdering the man who nobody knows, he and Jenny lock horns. She wants to do everything possible to clear her aunt of this charge, but he (Adam) is a bonehead about the whole thing. I confess that I have read enough mysteries to know the difference between good police work and incompetence, which is what this guy Adam displays all the time. Of course if it wasn't for his lack of skills and Jenny's determination, the story would be half as long.
So there are plenty of events and happenings in this small community to make for some good story lines. And there are so many references to the amazing food that Jenny prepares as well as what she eats at different restaurants I found myself almost salivating at the descriptions. So all in all this was a fun and easy book to read. Good, lighthearted reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews