What do you think?
Rate this book
Seaview Cottages #1
A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff
Miriam Webster’s a woman with a few secrets—can she keep them after she and her spirited Dalmatian, Domino, find a body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff?
When Miriam Webster moves into the Seaview Cottages active adult community, the last thing she expects is to find a body on the bluffs nearby.
The mystery takes a quick detour when Miriam and her friends return to Fitzgerald’s Bluff with the Deputy Sheriff. The dead woman’s gone, but not for long. Where the body turns up is only one of the surprising twists the mystery takes for Miriam and her friends.
Convinced that the local deputy isn’t up to the task of finding a killer on the loose, Miriam and her gang of Grand Old Lady Detectives [G.O.L.D.] set out to discover the truth about A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff. Can they solve the case without becoming the killer’s next victim?
To find out, grab your copy of book 1 in this new cozy mystery series by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke. Recipes included.
The surprises keep coming in book 2 when the Grand Old Lady Detectives take on their first client and investigate the mystery behind The Murder of Shakespeare’s Ghost.
When Miriam Webster moves into the Seaview Cottages active adult community, the last thing she expects is to find a body on the bluffs nearby.
The mystery takes a quick detour when Miriam and her friends return to Fitzgerald’s Bluff with the Deputy Sheriff. The dead woman’s gone, but not for long. Where the body turns up is only one of the surprising twists the mystery takes for Miriam and her friends.
Convinced that the local deputy isn’t up to the task of finding a killer on the loose, Miriam and her gang of Grand Old Lady Detectives [G.O.L.D.] set out to discover the truth about A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff. Can they solve the case without becoming the killer’s next victim?
To find out, grab your copy of book 1 in this new cozy mystery series by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke. Recipes included.
The surprises keep coming in book 2 when the Grand Old Lady Detectives take on their first client and investigate the mystery behind The Murder of Shakespeare’s Ghost.
248 pages, ebook
First published November 23, 2018
1707 people are currently reading
653 people want to read
About the author
Anna Celeste Burke
52 books1,169 followersAnna Celeste Burke is an awarding-winning, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author!
Welcome! Join me, snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food--California style!
Life is an extravaganza and so unpredictable! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.
On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University.
A GED for my husband, and many more years of education eventually landed us in academia—with Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan we took professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University.
Retired now from my role as a professor in social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. In my professional career I wrote and published widely as a scholar, with more than forty manuscripts of varying lengths on my vita. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on a number of gloriously nerdy topics.
So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems—scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!
Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing mysteries I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese cats.
The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting to ponder life’s mysteries, by the surrounding mountains and the bountiful delights of the desert resort communities. I hope you enjoy reading the books in my three cozy mystery series: The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, The Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series, and the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series. Cheers! Anna
Welcome! Join me, snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food--California style!
Life is an extravaganza and so unpredictable! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.
On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University.
A GED for my husband, and many more years of education eventually landed us in academia—with Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan we took professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University.
Retired now from my role as a professor in social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. In my professional career I wrote and published widely as a scholar, with more than forty manuscripts of varying lengths on my vita. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on a number of gloriously nerdy topics.
So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems—scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!
Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing mysteries I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese cats.
The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting to ponder life’s mysteries, by the surrounding mountains and the bountiful delights of the desert resort communities. I hope you enjoy reading the books in my three cozy mystery series: The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, The Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series, and the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series. Cheers! Anna
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 12, 2018
A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff is the first book in Anna Celeste Burke’s Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery series. This book is a quick and easy read. The storyline is well plotted, and the characters are well developed. Red herrings and twists and turns are abundant, and there’s no shortage of viable suspects to keep the reader engaged and guessing until the reveal. As always, Ms. Burke has given readers a clean read with delightful and three-dimensional characters and vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was involved with the action and enjoying the delicious food along with the characters. Even though a murder is involved, there is a personal and humorous side to this wonderful story.
Recently widowed, Miriam Webster aspires to be a writer, has a background in bookkeeping, is a talented baker, and resides in Hemingway Cottage with Domino, her high-spirited Dalmatian. When Miriam’s husband passed away, she learned that his wild schemes had nearly bankrupted them. Before he passed, Miriam’s husband, Peter Webster, purchased Hemingway Cottage, which is part of Seaview Cottages, one of the many “circles” that comprise an active adult retirement community for the fifty-five plus crowd just north of Santa Barbara in California’s Central Coast. The residential “circles” that comprise the community honor authors, artists, craftspersons, and luminaries of the theater and cinema. Miriam, who is only fifty-years-old, hopes no one will discover her true age or that Peter is deceased. Miriam and Domino were walking behind the Fitzgerald Cottage when Domino made the gruesome discovery of a woman’s body on the bluff. Marty Monroe, Midge Gaylord, and Penelope “Charly” Parker, members of the Seaview Cottages Walkers Club, responded to Domino’s barking, and due to poor cell service, everyone rushed to the community clubhouse to use the landline to report the body. Midge, who has a medical background, believes the woman was strangled. When Deputy Sheriff Darnell Devers arrives, the body is gone, but one shoe and some personal effects remain close to where the women saw the body. Darnell receives a call that a body has been found a short distance away in Blue Haven, and he tries to dismiss the original sighting, but the ladies insist they saw what they reported and that there is probably only one body. Everyone feels better when Henry “Hank” Miller is called in as the lead Detective, placing Darnell, who all the locals have various pet names for due to his “do as little as possible” attitude, as second in command. The victim is identified as Diana Durand. Diana was a beautiful young woman who used to perform as a singer at clubs in and around San Francisco and had men clamoring for her attention, but she used men, cheated on them, and had a reputation for hurting people for her own gain, and there seems to be no shortage of viable suspects. Miriam, Charly, Marty, Midge, and Cornelia “Neely” Conrad decide to band together as the “Grand Old Lady Detectives” and investigate on their own to help Hank. Carl Rodgers and Joe Torrance, who are also Seaview Cottages residents, also band together to investigate and keep an eye on the ladies, dubbing themselves as Charly’s angels.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Recently widowed, Miriam Webster aspires to be a writer, has a background in bookkeeping, is a talented baker, and resides in Hemingway Cottage with Domino, her high-spirited Dalmatian. When Miriam’s husband passed away, she learned that his wild schemes had nearly bankrupted them. Before he passed, Miriam’s husband, Peter Webster, purchased Hemingway Cottage, which is part of Seaview Cottages, one of the many “circles” that comprise an active adult retirement community for the fifty-five plus crowd just north of Santa Barbara in California’s Central Coast. The residential “circles” that comprise the community honor authors, artists, craftspersons, and luminaries of the theater and cinema. Miriam, who is only fifty-years-old, hopes no one will discover her true age or that Peter is deceased. Miriam and Domino were walking behind the Fitzgerald Cottage when Domino made the gruesome discovery of a woman’s body on the bluff. Marty Monroe, Midge Gaylord, and Penelope “Charly” Parker, members of the Seaview Cottages Walkers Club, responded to Domino’s barking, and due to poor cell service, everyone rushed to the community clubhouse to use the landline to report the body. Midge, who has a medical background, believes the woman was strangled. When Deputy Sheriff Darnell Devers arrives, the body is gone, but one shoe and some personal effects remain close to where the women saw the body. Darnell receives a call that a body has been found a short distance away in Blue Haven, and he tries to dismiss the original sighting, but the ladies insist they saw what they reported and that there is probably only one body. Everyone feels better when Henry “Hank” Miller is called in as the lead Detective, placing Darnell, who all the locals have various pet names for due to his “do as little as possible” attitude, as second in command. The victim is identified as Diana Durand. Diana was a beautiful young woman who used to perform as a singer at clubs in and around San Francisco and had men clamoring for her attention, but she used men, cheated on them, and had a reputation for hurting people for her own gain, and there seems to be no shortage of viable suspects. Miriam, Charly, Marty, Midge, and Cornelia “Neely” Conrad decide to band together as the “Grand Old Lady Detectives” and investigate on their own to help Hank. Carl Rodgers and Joe Torrance, who are also Seaview Cottages residents, also band together to investigate and keep an eye on the ladies, dubbing themselves as Charly’s angels.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
March 9, 2019
Seaview Cottages is retirement village for over 55s, associated with a golf course. It is a little downmarket to nearby Blue Haven Resort. New resident Miriam is a member of the Walkers Group and it is her Dalmation who finds a woman’s body on Fitzgerald Bluff. With other members of the Group, Miriam sets out to investigate the murder, assisting their local police officer, who they have no respect for, and the Detective put in charge of the case, whom Miriam finds herself attracted to. Assistance that isn’t always welcome, of course. And Miriam is keeping secrets of her own. Was the killer a man rejected by the murdered woman, who had a habit of flitting from one boyfriend to another, was it a business partner, or was it blackmail? The characters and the setting are well drawn, the story line believable, though the ending felt a little rushed. All in all, an enjoyable light read.
May 4, 2024
This book is a fun start to a series set in a retirement village on the California coast. The characters are quite well drawn and interesting, with lots of scope for development in the series, and the mystery had good twists and turns before the sleuths and the police reached a solution.
December 3, 2018
As good as GOLD
Terrific start - loved the no-nonsense attitude of this book. Laid back and low key but with a plot that keeps you riveted. Okay you might get part of the solution but I bet you don't get all of it. Great variety of characters giving you a rich mix so that you have at least one that you bond with. I actually thought all the characters were great - full, rich and well developed even though this is only book 1.
When her husband died and she failed to sell the cottage, she decided to move into it. Now she lives in fear that they will find out that she's under the age restriction set for the retirement community. However this doesn't stop her from getting involved when she finds a dead body on the beach. Which promptly disappears! Together with some of the senior residents (who have a real myriad of different skills) she starts investigating. Add in a femme fatale, stealing, underhand business dealings and a bunch of seniors that use their skills to track down the truth. Will they find it?
Terrific start - loved the no-nonsense attitude of this book. Laid back and low key but with a plot that keeps you riveted. Okay you might get part of the solution but I bet you don't get all of it. Great variety of characters giving you a rich mix so that you have at least one that you bond with. I actually thought all the characters were great - full, rich and well developed even though this is only book 1.
When her husband died and she failed to sell the cottage, she decided to move into it. Now she lives in fear that they will find out that she's under the age restriction set for the retirement community. However this doesn't stop her from getting involved when she finds a dead body on the beach. Which promptly disappears! Together with some of the senior residents (who have a real myriad of different skills) she starts investigating. Add in a femme fatale, stealing, underhand business dealings and a bunch of seniors that use their skills to track down the truth. Will they find it?
May 16, 2023
kindle unlimited, for the Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes, and should be if remember correctly for this series {I just buy her books/series so hard to remember.}
Miriam Webster’s a woman with a few secrets—can she keep them after she and her spirited Dalmatian, Domino, find a body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff? When Miriam Webster moves into the Seaview Cottages active adult community, the last thing she expects is to find a body on the bluffs nearby.
The mystery takes a quick detour when Miriam and her friends return to Fitzgerald’s Bluff with the Deputy Sheriff. The dead woman’s gone, but not for long. Where the body turns up is only one of the surprising twists the mystery takes for Miriam and her friends. Convinced that the local deputy isn’t up to the task of finding a killer on the loose, Miriam and her gang of Grand Old Lady Detectives [G.O.L.D.] set out to discover the truth about A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff. Can they solve the case without becoming the killer’s next victim?
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series
Murder at Catmmando Mountain #1 Love Notes in the Key of Sea #2 All Hallows' Eve Heist #3 A Merry Christmas Wedding Mystery
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: Novellas 1-3
#4 Murder at Sea of Passenger X #5 Murder of the Maestro #6 A Tango Before Dying #7 {out 2019} A Canary in the Canal #8 {2019}
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery
Love a Foot Above the Ground 0 A Dead Husband 1 A Dead Sister 2 A Dead Daughter 3 A Dead Mother 4 A Dead Cousin 5
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series (Books 1-5)
A Dead Nephew 6 {2019}
Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery
Cowabunga Christmas #1 Gnarly New Year #2
Heinous Habits (Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery, #3) {in summer collection only first}
Radical Regatta Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery #4 {2019}
Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery
A Body at Fitzgerald’s Bluff 1 {was in Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer which between typos and WTH stuff actually cancelled, just waited for this separately}
The Murder of Shakespeare's Ghost 2 {out March 2019}
Grave Expectations on Dickens' #3 {2019}
The CALLA LILY MYSTERY Series
Lily's Homecoming Under Fire #1
{currently only in collection Love Under Fire collection and she may be adding just a bit because of the ending/people}
Tangled Vines, Buried Secrets #2 {2019}
see goodreads/amazon for full listing of books, in various collections
Miriam Webster’s a woman with a few secrets—can she keep them after she and her spirited Dalmatian, Domino, find a body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff? When Miriam Webster moves into the Seaview Cottages active adult community, the last thing she expects is to find a body on the bluffs nearby.
The mystery takes a quick detour when Miriam and her friends return to Fitzgerald’s Bluff with the Deputy Sheriff. The dead woman’s gone, but not for long. Where the body turns up is only one of the surprising twists the mystery takes for Miriam and her friends. Convinced that the local deputy isn’t up to the task of finding a killer on the loose, Miriam and her gang of Grand Old Lady Detectives [G.O.L.D.] set out to discover the truth about A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff. Can they solve the case without becoming the killer’s next victim?
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series
Murder at Catmmando Mountain #1 Love Notes in the Key of Sea #2 All Hallows' Eve Heist #3 A Merry Christmas Wedding Mystery
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: Novellas 1-3
#4 Murder at Sea of Passenger X #5 Murder of the Maestro #6 A Tango Before Dying #7 {out 2019} A Canary in the Canal #8 {2019}
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery
Love a Foot Above the Ground 0 A Dead Husband 1 A Dead Sister 2 A Dead Daughter 3 A Dead Mother 4 A Dead Cousin 5
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series (Books 1-5)
A Dead Nephew 6 {2019}
Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery
Cowabunga Christmas #1 Gnarly New Year #2
Heinous Habits (Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery, #3) {in summer collection only first}
Radical Regatta Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery #4 {2019}
Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery
A Body at Fitzgerald’s Bluff 1 {was in Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer which between typos and WTH stuff actually cancelled, just waited for this separately}
The Murder of Shakespeare's Ghost 2 {out March 2019}
Grave Expectations on Dickens' #3 {2019}
The CALLA LILY MYSTERY Series
Lily's Homecoming Under Fire #1
{currently only in collection Love Under Fire collection and she may be adding just a bit because of the ending/people}
Tangled Vines, Buried Secrets #2 {2019}
see goodreads/amazon for full listing of books, in various collections
December 3, 2018
A Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke was a great beginning to what I hope will be a long running series. Ms. Burke's descriptive writing had me want to move to Seaview Cottages and meet the residents. Each one of the senior women of the Grand Old Lady Detectives are vibrant, active and quirky as they bring their own special talents to discovering who murdered the victim. The swiftly paced plot kept me turning the pages.
I originally read this story in the Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes anthology.
I originally read this story in the Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes anthology.
September 30, 2018
"Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff" by USA Today's best-selling author Anna Celeste Burke is outstanding! Like any good detective, having all pertinent information at our fingertips is absolutely necessary if we want to solve the case. With all the details laid out for me right at the beginning of the book, I knew this was going to be a wild ride! Packed with a cast full of characters, I was immediately engaged and jumped right in to the brand new "Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery Series!"
Let's start with the characters….
-Are they funny? Hilarious!
-Are they entertaining? An absolute riot!
-Do I feel like I've known them my whole life? We are like family!
Now, the plot…
-Is it engaging? Captivating!
-Is it believable? Hello...I now live in one of the cottages in the Writer's Circle Community!
-Does it keep you guessing? Guessing is right!! Let's just say I need to touch up on my sleuthing skills...
The lively banter and constant turn of events placed me in each scene and kept me completely involved in the storyline. This might be Anna Celeste Burke’s best work yet. She really out-did herself! I had the absolute best time making the rounds with Carmel Schneider and Tara Brown (between us...these two are the best! Ohhhh, and those scones!). Together, we planned, plotted, and made surprising discoveries. As I stated earlier, I am now part of this close-knit Writer's Circle Senior Community where everyone lives in their own brilliantly-named cottage. The name of mine? I live in The Burke Bungalow, of course! :-)
As you can probably tell from the title, alone, Anna Celeste Burke has no problem showing off her witty, humorous side. Whether you are a lover of language, a fan of fine literature, or a detective in the making, you will definitely recognize and appreciate the numerous references made throughout the story to the many “big names” who inspire and excite so many people today.
From Fitzgerald & Webster to Hemingway & Brontë, I have no doubt you will find something, or someone, to suit your fancy. Who knows? You might even feel the urge to dust off those old books that have been sitting on your shelves since college...a little Gatsby, perhaps? If not, you'll definitely want to watch some re-runs of Charley’s Angels...no worries, this will all make sense in good time. You must make sure to not get distracted with all the fun you're having, though! You are here to solve a murder, after all!!
Hands down, I award Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke a well-deserving 5/5 stars! I cannot wait for the next in series: "Shakespeare's Ghost." These Grand Old Lady Detectives are quite a hoot!
Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)
Let's start with the characters….
-Are they funny? Hilarious!
-Are they entertaining? An absolute riot!
-Do I feel like I've known them my whole life? We are like family!
Now, the plot…
-Is it engaging? Captivating!
-Is it believable? Hello...I now live in one of the cottages in the Writer's Circle Community!
-Does it keep you guessing? Guessing is right!! Let's just say I need to touch up on my sleuthing skills...
The lively banter and constant turn of events placed me in each scene and kept me completely involved in the storyline. This might be Anna Celeste Burke’s best work yet. She really out-did herself! I had the absolute best time making the rounds with Carmel Schneider and Tara Brown (between us...these two are the best! Ohhhh, and those scones!). Together, we planned, plotted, and made surprising discoveries. As I stated earlier, I am now part of this close-knit Writer's Circle Senior Community where everyone lives in their own brilliantly-named cottage. The name of mine? I live in The Burke Bungalow, of course! :-)
As you can probably tell from the title, alone, Anna Celeste Burke has no problem showing off her witty, humorous side. Whether you are a lover of language, a fan of fine literature, or a detective in the making, you will definitely recognize and appreciate the numerous references made throughout the story to the many “big names” who inspire and excite so many people today.
From Fitzgerald & Webster to Hemingway & Brontë, I have no doubt you will find something, or someone, to suit your fancy. Who knows? You might even feel the urge to dust off those old books that have been sitting on your shelves since college...a little Gatsby, perhaps? If not, you'll definitely want to watch some re-runs of Charley’s Angels...no worries, this will all make sense in good time. You must make sure to not get distracted with all the fun you're having, though! You are here to solve a murder, after all!!
Hands down, I award Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke a well-deserving 5/5 stars! I cannot wait for the next in series: "Shakespeare's Ghost." These Grand Old Lady Detectives are quite a hoot!
Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)
September 26, 2020
Truly enjoyed it
Truly enjoyed it and about to read the next book in the series and have 2 other series by her
Truly enjoyed it and about to read the next book in the series and have 2 other series by her
December 5, 2018
“Things don’t always work out as you plan, do they?”
Just ask Miriam Webster, widow of Pete Webster, who had invested in a small resort near the water in California. In order to clear her husband’s debts and estate, Miriam, a bookkeeper for a now defunct bakery, left after downsizing and selling ther house, and she and her Dalmatian fur baby Domino moved into Hemingway Cottage after she found she couldn’t easily rent it.
Her biggest concern at present was hiding her age from the HOA because without Pete, she didn’t qualify for the community.
As with every community, there are friendships, backstabbing, cheating and anger...but murder? Miriam and her new friends are front and center to find the remains of a murder on the beach. The question is, who believes it as the body quickly disappears. The local deputy does not believe anything/anyone was found, but when the body washes up in the next resort, he has to backpeddle as the County police are called in.
So many secrets buried in more than just the sand as the Grand Old Lady Detectives are born. Question is, will they die before they find the answers?
This is the first in a new series by Anna Celeste Burke, who is known for her quirky puzzling characters in entertaining situations. Sit back, put your feet up, grab a cup of tea and a scone or two and come visit the Seaview Cottages, you will be glad you did. Highly Recommended 5/5
Just ask Miriam Webster, widow of Pete Webster, who had invested in a small resort near the water in California. In order to clear her husband’s debts and estate, Miriam, a bookkeeper for a now defunct bakery, left after downsizing and selling ther house, and she and her Dalmatian fur baby Domino moved into Hemingway Cottage after she found she couldn’t easily rent it.
Her biggest concern at present was hiding her age from the HOA because without Pete, she didn’t qualify for the community.
As with every community, there are friendships, backstabbing, cheating and anger...but murder? Miriam and her new friends are front and center to find the remains of a murder on the beach. The question is, who believes it as the body quickly disappears. The local deputy does not believe anything/anyone was found, but when the body washes up in the next resort, he has to backpeddle as the County police are called in.
So many secrets buried in more than just the sand as the Grand Old Lady Detectives are born. Question is, will they die before they find the answers?
This is the first in a new series by Anna Celeste Burke, who is known for her quirky puzzling characters in entertaining situations. Sit back, put your feet up, grab a cup of tea and a scone or two and come visit the Seaview Cottages, you will be glad you did. Highly Recommended 5/5
December 5, 2018
Never doubt in the ingenuity of senior citizens--especially the women!! When a body is discovered on Fitzgerald's Bluff the women notified the police--BIG problem--by the time they got there again--the body was gone. It had been moved!!
Well-the women decided that the sheriff was just not doing enough and took matters into their own hands!!
This senior community will have you laughing and the secret that Miriam Webster is keeping from all of them--well--do you really think you can keep a secret from seniors? Dream on!!
Well-the women decided that the sheriff was just not doing enough and took matters into their own hands!!
This senior community will have you laughing and the secret that Miriam Webster is keeping from all of them--well--do you really think you can keep a secret from seniors? Dream on!!
December 3, 2018
A delightful new series from the talented Anna Celeste Burke. The GOLD ladies and Charly's angels are a very interesting set of characters. They each bring a different set of talents to bear in solving crimes that makes them unstoppable as a group. Miriam is by far the youngest and most staid member of the group. The rest of the ladies are teaching her how to let loose and get more joy out of life. There are numerous suspects and plenty of twists and turns. Seaview Cottages are chock-full of quirky, eccentric characters who are sure to bring havoc and mysteries to the group for them to solve. I look forward to the next book in this series. I recommend all of this author's books.
December 5, 2018
I love reading mysteries with senior citizens as sleuths. This is one of them. Miriam lives in an "adult" housing complex called Seaview Cottages. When she and her dog,Domino stumble on a body and it just disappears , is where the fun and mystery begin.She decides to find the murderer with her crew "the grand old lady detectives" . This is such a fun story. The characters work well together. If you like to read a fun story with mystery,then this is it ! I certainly recommend it to everyone
May 23, 2019
What a great cozy mystery & fun must read! “A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff” is my first book by Ms. Burke, but it won’t be my last! With an interesting & unique plot, well-defined characters, great descriptions and plenty of twists & turns, I was glued to my seat turning pages like crazy! ... Even tho I never write spoilers or copy blurbs, I do know when a book is an entertaining must read for fans of fiction : ) So yes, I do highly recommend this book & I already have the next book, and then the upcoming 3rd release I've preorder that's due out on May 28th : )
March 23, 2019
“A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff” earns 5/5 Delightful Detective Discoveries...Clever & Engaging!
Anna Celeste Burke is a favorite “Top Ten” author, and her new series, Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery, is one that I am eager to read more. With her signature well-written, steady-paced engaging style, she introduces Miriam Webster, a struggling widow due to her husband’s poor investments. One option is is for her to hide her fifty-years with glasses and hair dye and take up residence in the Seaview Cottages, an active adult community for those fifty-five or older, where her husband had purchased a cottage (he, of course, did meet the age requirement).
Bam! One reason for my being an eager fan is Anna always leads off her stories with a way to grab the reader’s attention and never let go. Here, panic runs amok in the community because Miriam, her Dalmatian Domino, and the Seaview Cottages Walking Club discover a dead body on the bluff, but after getting help and returning to the site with the sheriff, the body is no where to be found. Not for long! It does reappear, and the mystery takes on twists and turns, and several suspects with motives may have opportunity and means. Being a first book and so many characters and connections to introduce, it was a bit overwhelming sorting through all the characters in the first two chapters, but it improved once the initial panic slowed down as the drama found a good pace. All of this with Burke’s signature clever plot challenging the readers deductive skill, an informative Cast of Characters list and chapter titles (I enjoy this), funny and admirable characters, entertaining banter, and satisfying conclusion. A main theme is developed with four residents and Miriam banding together as the Grand Old Lady Detectives (G.O.L.D.) ready for any additional mysteries, mayhem, and murder that comes their way. Don't forget Charly’s Angels as back-up along with one cranky and one hunky detective!
My two favorite words are “Recipes Included.” In this first book in the series, Anna provides several easy-to-follow recipes perfect for a Seaview Cottage pot-luck: Muffins, Queen City Chili, Death by Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Bean Scones, and Shoo-Fly Pie.
"Disclosure: I have received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
Anna Celeste Burke is a favorite “Top Ten” author, and her new series, Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery, is one that I am eager to read more. With her signature well-written, steady-paced engaging style, she introduces Miriam Webster, a struggling widow due to her husband’s poor investments. One option is is for her to hide her fifty-years with glasses and hair dye and take up residence in the Seaview Cottages, an active adult community for those fifty-five or older, where her husband had purchased a cottage (he, of course, did meet the age requirement).
Bam! One reason for my being an eager fan is Anna always leads off her stories with a way to grab the reader’s attention and never let go. Here, panic runs amok in the community because Miriam, her Dalmatian Domino, and the Seaview Cottages Walking Club discover a dead body on the bluff, but after getting help and returning to the site with the sheriff, the body is no where to be found. Not for long! It does reappear, and the mystery takes on twists and turns, and several suspects with motives may have opportunity and means. Being a first book and so many characters and connections to introduce, it was a bit overwhelming sorting through all the characters in the first two chapters, but it improved once the initial panic slowed down as the drama found a good pace. All of this with Burke’s signature clever plot challenging the readers deductive skill, an informative Cast of Characters list and chapter titles (I enjoy this), funny and admirable characters, entertaining banter, and satisfying conclusion. A main theme is developed with four residents and Miriam banding together as the Grand Old Lady Detectives (G.O.L.D.) ready for any additional mysteries, mayhem, and murder that comes their way. Don't forget Charly’s Angels as back-up along with one cranky and one hunky detective!
My two favorite words are “Recipes Included.” In this first book in the series, Anna provides several easy-to-follow recipes perfect for a Seaview Cottage pot-luck: Muffins, Queen City Chili, Death by Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Bean Scones, and Shoo-Fly Pie.
"Disclosure: I have received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
December 25, 2018
A Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke is a wonderful cozy mystery that is the beginning of a new series. The setting is a community that is for 55 plus citizens who live in cottages near the sea that are each named after a famous writer.
The main character, Miriam Webster moves into the Seaview Cottages community with her dog, a Dalmation named Domino. She has a few secrets that she needs to keep from the residents.... But when Miriam and Domino are out walking they discover a body on Fitzgerald's Bluff.. After she and her friends report finding the body to the local Deputy Sheriff the dead woman has disappeared. Only later the same body turns up at another resort.
Miriam and her gang of Grand Old Lady Detectives (G.O.L.D) after determining that the local deputy is of no use in solving this crime decide to investigate it themselves. As the group set out to discover who the killer is Miriam is finding it harder and harder to keep her secret. How much longer can she maintain it especially when a new lead detective, Hank Miller now on the case...
Ms. Burke's vivid descriptions of each quirky character and the plot make for an engaging storyline that keeps you reading until the end. I loved it from the first page until it ended leaving me wanting to read more. I can't wait for the second one in this series.
I originally read this story in the Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes anthology.I received a ARC copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
The main character, Miriam Webster moves into the Seaview Cottages community with her dog, a Dalmation named Domino. She has a few secrets that she needs to keep from the residents.... But when Miriam and Domino are out walking they discover a body on Fitzgerald's Bluff.. After she and her friends report finding the body to the local Deputy Sheriff the dead woman has disappeared. Only later the same body turns up at another resort.
Miriam and her gang of Grand Old Lady Detectives (G.O.L.D) after determining that the local deputy is of no use in solving this crime decide to investigate it themselves. As the group set out to discover who the killer is Miriam is finding it harder and harder to keep her secret. How much longer can she maintain it especially when a new lead detective, Hank Miller now on the case...
Ms. Burke's vivid descriptions of each quirky character and the plot make for an engaging storyline that keeps you reading until the end. I loved it from the first page until it ended leaving me wanting to read more. I can't wait for the second one in this series.
I originally read this story in the Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes anthology.I received a ARC copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
August 28, 2020
Great book
Nic e clean book. Funny. A nice read before going to sleep. I like the idea of little old ladies solving a mystery. And the recipes
.are great also
Nic e clean book. Funny. A nice read before going to sleep. I like the idea of little old ladies solving a mystery. And the recipes
.are great also
January 30, 2019
This is such a fun new series and I'm glad I read it instead of leaving it sit in KU! I love the idea of the older group of women working as sleuths--and a couple of the men sleuthed too, plus they provided some good comedy.
Miriam Webster lived in an age-restricted seaside community of cottages. When her husband was alive, it wasn't a problem that she was only 50 in a 55+ community, but he had since passed, so she was keeping that passing a secret from her new friends for fear of getting tossed out of the place. After she and her Dalmatian, Domino found a body on the bluff and it turned into a murder case, a state detective was assigned to the case. For the residents, it was a breath of fresh air, since their usual deputy wasn't exactly a mover and a shaker kind of officer. Miriam and her friends each had their own talents or knew people for investigating, so of course despite Det. Miller's warnings, they snooped into the case, including going undercover, which was pretty funny.
Aside from the ladies, I just loved the characters of Joe and Carl! They were two typical guy buddies who hung out listening for gossip just like everyone who lived there. Sometimes they even came in handy to work on the case. They were always joking around, which made me think of my Dad who always liked silly jokes too. Domino the Dalmatian (Miriam's dog) and Emily (Charly's Jack Russell) got to be little heroes in taking down the killer when it was time for the showdown. I love it when pets are there to help! The GOLD girls (Grand Old Lady Detectives) even got their first case after the murders were wrapped up. It led into the next book and sounds like it'll be really good. I can't wait to read that one!
Miriam Webster lived in an age-restricted seaside community of cottages. When her husband was alive, it wasn't a problem that she was only 50 in a 55+ community, but he had since passed, so she was keeping that passing a secret from her new friends for fear of getting tossed out of the place. After she and her Dalmatian, Domino found a body on the bluff and it turned into a murder case, a state detective was assigned to the case. For the residents, it was a breath of fresh air, since their usual deputy wasn't exactly a mover and a shaker kind of officer. Miriam and her friends each had their own talents or knew people for investigating, so of course despite Det. Miller's warnings, they snooped into the case, including going undercover, which was pretty funny.
Aside from the ladies, I just loved the characters of Joe and Carl! They were two typical guy buddies who hung out listening for gossip just like everyone who lived there. Sometimes they even came in handy to work on the case. They were always joking around, which made me think of my Dad who always liked silly jokes too. Domino the Dalmatian (Miriam's dog) and Emily (Charly's Jack Russell) got to be little heroes in taking down the killer when it was time for the showdown. I love it when pets are there to help! The GOLD girls (Grand Old Lady Detectives) even got their first case after the murders were wrapped up. It led into the next book and sounds like it'll be really good. I can't wait to read that one!
March 11, 2019
“A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff written by Anna Celeste Burke is the first installment in the Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery Series. This was a quick read and drew me right in and didn’t let go until I finished. There are so many twists, turns and suspects to keep you guessing until the end. The characters were well developed, quirky and very believable. The descriptions of the Seaview Cottages makes one want to move there. I love when senior citizens are the stars of the story. They are such a comical group. The book will have you chuckling and smiling throughout. This is a fun mystery. I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to start the second book in this series.
March 7, 2019
Grand Old Lady Detectives
This is one of the best cozy mysteries I have enjoyed in a very long time. Miriam Webster is a neArly destitute widow. She was forced to sell her home in Ohio after learning her husband of 25 years had made a series of bad investments. The only thing left was a cottage on the central coast of California in a 55+ community called Sea view Cottages. One morning she and her Dalmaw named Domino discovered a young woman strangled on the beach. She and fellow residents found Deputy Deavers incompetent and set out to solve the case themselves. Always a Miss M a role and Jessica Fletcher can, I found this group of mid-life detectives delightful.
This is one of the best cozy mysteries I have enjoyed in a very long time. Miriam Webster is a neArly destitute widow. She was forced to sell her home in Ohio after learning her husband of 25 years had made a series of bad investments. The only thing left was a cottage on the central coast of California in a 55+ community called Sea view Cottages. One morning she and her Dalmaw named Domino discovered a young woman strangled on the beach. She and fellow residents found Deputy Deavers incompetent and set out to solve the case themselves. Always a Miss M a role and Jessica Fletcher can, I found this group of mid-life detectives delightful.
March 8, 2019
Meet Miriam Webster and her delightful Dalmatian, Domino and her crew of wannabe detectives.
Well-crafted story with lots of information. I was a little overwhelmed at first with all the characters but as things settled out it became an easy read.
I liked the interaction of the characters but not so much the name calling. I can appreciate having a nickname for the Deputy but it went a little overboard. I was well aware that the group does not like Deputy Devers.
Looking forward to the next book. This is a great start to a new series.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the author and these are my own opinions.
Thought I had posted this but appears it got away from me.
Well-crafted story with lots of information. I was a little overwhelmed at first with all the characters but as things settled out it became an easy read.
I liked the interaction of the characters but not so much the name calling. I can appreciate having a nickname for the Deputy but it went a little overboard. I was well aware that the group does not like Deputy Devers.
Looking forward to the next book. This is a great start to a new series.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the author and these are my own opinions.
Thought I had posted this but appears it got away from me.
December 5, 2018
I love this book couldn’t stop until I finished I even unplugged my computer so I could finish with a thunderstorm going on outside. The characters are great kept my attention all the way through. I loved that my name showed up as a character. What a wonderful way for Celeste to show reorganization to her readers. I can’t wait for the next SEAVIEW COTTAGES MYSTERY book to come out.
December 17, 2018
A Great Cozy Mystery and Start of A New Series
This was a great cozy mystery and a new series.
I loved the storyline and the quirky cast of characters.
The book is recommended for those who love cozy mysteries.
This was a great cozy mystery and a new series.
I loved the storyline and the quirky cast of characters.
The book is recommended for those who love cozy mysteries.
September 16, 2018
I enjoyed the GOLD women and look forward to read more of their wacky adventures.
March 11, 2019
A great start to a new series. The characters are well developed and interesting, and the plot is clever.
November 5, 2018
A delightful new series from the talented Anna Celeste Burke. The GOLD ladies and Charly's angels are a very interesting set of characters. They each bring a different set of talents to bear in solving crimes that makes them unstoppable as a group. Miriam is by far the youngest and most staid member of the group. The rest of the ladies are teaching her how to let loose and get more joy out of life. There are numerous suspects and plenty of twists and turns. Seaview Cottages are chock-full of quirky, eccentric characters who are sure to bring havoc and mysteries to the group for them to solve. I look forward to the next book in this series. I recommend all of this author's books.
December 10, 2018
Found a new author
I read this as part of the Summer Snoops collection. It was a great introduction to be authors, and this was one of those that made me want more. Keep them coming
I read this as part of the Summer Snoops collection. It was a great introduction to be authors, and this was one of those that made me want more. Keep them coming
April 30, 2019
Good as gold
Who says old folks aren't worth anything? When you meet these ladies . You will change your mind! Keeps you wondering what going to happen next!
Who says old folks aren't worth anything? When you meet these ladies . You will change your mind! Keeps you wondering what going to happen next!
September 3, 2020
You won't want to put this one down there is so much going on. I positively love the gals of G.O.L.D and I think you will too. Then when you are done try some of the recipes and fall in love again.
March 22, 2019
I love a good mystery, don't you? A seaside community for the older set. This is the first book in what is starting out to be a good series to follow. I can see me joining right in with the ladies and gentlemen in this tight knit community. And the food they share, YUMMY! Now on to the next book.
January 3, 2021
Enjoyable read with many characters and a briskly moving plot. I look forward to reading more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews