In the Market for Murder

Sanibel Island Mysteries #3

by Jennifer L. Schiff

When reporter Guinivere Jones went hunting for her forever home, a cozy little beach cottage on Sanibel Island, Florida, little did she know she’d be hunting for a killer too. It’s been over a year since her divorce and Guin has found true happiness on Sanibel, the seashell capital of the United States. She has a great job, working as a reporter for the local paper; a great beau, a marine biologist who was once voted one of the sexiest men in Southwest Florida; and good friends. Now all she wants is a little place near the beach. Is that so much to ask for?However, finding the perfect beach house has proven to be a much bigger challenge than Guin had expected. And a dead body was definitely not on her must-have list. The third book in the Sanibel Island Mystery series, In the Market for Murder once again features intrepid reporter Guinivere Jones, her sometime nemesis, Det. William “Bill” O’Loughlin, her best friend, Shelly, and her two mostly loyal feline companions, Flora and Fauna, along with a host of other memorable characters and places.

Genres: Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Mystery

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2018

About the author

Jennifer Lonoff Schiff is the author of the popular Sanibel Island Mystery series and the stand-alone novels Tinder Fella, a delightful rom-com set in NYC, and Something's Cooking in Chianti, a culinary mystery set in Italy.

Prior to her career as an author, Jennifer worked as a fact-checker, researcher, writer, and/or editor for a variety of magazines and book publishers. She eventually left the publishing world to found a boutique marketing communications agency that helped companies tell their story, for which she won several awards.

When not busy working on her next novel, Jennifer can be found playing with her two cats, taking long walks on the beach, or with her nose in someone else's book.

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another GREAT book by Jennifer L. Schiff! I love learning about these characters and seeing all the twists and turns. I was able to figure this one out but there seems to be another underlining story happening here (I won't spoil it for you but if you have been reading the series I think you know what it is!) and I am so intrigued! Can't wait to order the next two in the series!!! They will be my treat for finishing my radiation treatments next week!! <3

[Annie Neubauer Amente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved! We visit Sanibel and Captiva every year and these books not only bring you into the island we know and love, but keep you guessing the entire time. These are fun and easy reads that will want you reading the next!!

[Susan B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will love this beachy series! So well written and the characters are well developed and you will fall in love with them!

[Kim Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Jennifer Schiff. What Fun!!!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

UCF, croissants, triathlons, chemistry and murder

So topical by bringing UCF football into the mix and as always much local color and in this 3rd mystery, some literal local flavor with action centered around a Sanibel bakery. Did I mention that author Schiff is kind to all of us with those 35mph speedlimit PSAs scattered throughout her novels? No excuses for any of us to speed if Guin can avoid a ticket as she travels between Sanibel and Captiva. This 3rd installment moves us closer to a face off between romantic interests as we travel this beautiful spit of sand house hunting and crime solving. Bring on #4!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series because it takes me back to Sanibel. I really enjoyed the first 2 books, but this one was different for me. Guin got on my nerves in this one. Mostly because of how she talked about and treated her mother. Like, it was such a big ordeal to go visit her for Thanksgiving. (I mean, that's your Mother you're complaining about!!) Also, all the times she said "Fine" in response to someone. To me, "Fine" sounds a inpolite and snobby. I do, however, like to hear about the cats because I'm a big time cat lover. I will continue to buy each book each time I visit Sanibel. Hopefully, Guin won't have such an attitude in the next one!

[Lisa Rupp]

Even if you have never visited Sanibel Island, these books will take you on some fun adventures while introducing you to the many delightful places on the Island. If you are familiar with Sanibel, then these books have become treasures of precious memories of places that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ian in the fall of 2022. Many of them are in the restoration process and will be back! Sanibel Island Mysteries are extremely enjoyable, easy reads that keep you engaged with all the characters. They are very hard to put down and each one will leave you eager for the next one! You don’t have to read them in order but it’s kind of fun to do so.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this mystery series!!!! Book 3 In the Market for Murder. It's been over a year since her divorce and Guin has found true happiness on Sanibel. She has a great job, working as a reporter for the local paper a great beau and good friends. Now all she wants is a little place near the beach. Does that so much to ask for??? Finding the perfect beach house has proven to be a much bigger challenge then Guinn had expected. A dead body was definitely not on her must have list!!! This story features her sometime nemesis Det William O'Loughlin her best friend Shelly and her two cats Flora and Fauna along with a host of other memorable characters and places. A book I just could not put down!!!!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Cozy Mystery

I do enjoy this series having worked on Sanibel Island years ago. However, in this book, Guin was getting on my nerves. She was quite demanding of everyone because “she had a story to write”. She is not with the police department and isn’t even the crime beat reporter. Yet, she expected everyone to just bow down and give her information, saying because she found the body she felt obligated to solve the murder. She needs to back off on her own self-importance. All in all, a very entertaining series.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Sanibel Island series. I really liked the first book, the second a little less and the third I had trouble even finishing. The main character Guin is getting more and more aggressive and downright obnoxious as the books go on. She is demanding and even threatening to the police detective if he doesn’t immediately share all the details of the case, yet she runs around and “interviews” people all over town about their role in the murder. She says she is “working with the police”. I doubt I will continue with the rest of this series.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Sanibel Island Mysteries series. A young woman is murdered and Guin is trying to find out all that she can so that she can write the article for the local newspaper. I like trying to figure out who the murderer will be. I have vacationed on Sanibel Island for many years and it is so fun to read about the local businesses in this series. I am so enjoying these books.

[Elizabeth Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing in this book is very elementary. ALL of the storyline about her cats is unnecessary and could have made the book 25 pages shorter. And toss out the redundancy of pouring herself a cup of coffee and dialing phone numbers and setting the coffee cup on top of the car while she unlocks it, and you’ve saved yourself another 20 pages. Also, I think she doesn’t want to move in Ris the boyfriend. How might I know that? She mentioned it no less than a dozen times.

[Susan Censky]

I love everything about this series. What drew me in at first was the locale as I love Florida especially living in the cold Midwest. I feel I can live vicariously through Guen. These books keep my interest which many books I’ve read do not! I have already recommended this author to friends who are avid readers!

[Karen Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanibel fan #3

As I have read this series, each book gets better!! My annual trip to the sanctuary known as Sanibel Island is too far away! Ms Schiff keeps the island alive in my thoughts with each page. I hope our heroine finally acknowledges this relationship with the detective!

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and the wonderful depiction of Sanibel. Getting even better as it goes along, and this is the best yet! I am team “the detective “ not Team Ris. Hope the plot doesn’t become like Hannah Swenson and Mike and Norman though...

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the market for murder

As a snow bird in fort Myers I love reading these books with places that I have been to. Trying to figure out who did it keeps me reading fast. Also who she styling to choose and will she ever find the perfect house!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great sequel to the series. I love getting to know all of the main characters, Guin, Ris, Dectective, Shelley, Craig, and many others. A definite beach summer series to be read and enjoyed.

[Theresa Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should be a drinking game! Take a shot every time you read:
the Mini
Flora and Fauna
stomach growling
pain au chocolat
“Why was no one getting back to me??” (Maybe because you’re an obnoxious pain in the butt??)

I have the fourth book, but not interested in reading it if it’s more of the same.

[Polly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Sanibel mystery with usual cast of characters. Plots are fun.

[Patty Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wish I hadn't read any of the series

I Tried to Like Guinevere
There is no character development of anyone. Nothing to grab hold of. She is obnoxious.

[Janice Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Sanibel Mysteries. I can’t wait to get started on the next one.
I have so many fond memories of Captiva Island and Sanibel— memories are flooding back!

[Joan Duquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me want to be on Sanibel again.

[Cathy Boris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

[Jay Fusco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this third book in the Sanibel Island series. I enjoy all the references to local areas and businesses. Sanibel is one of my favorite places to go.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series about Sanibel island. I like Guin. She gets into some really interesting predicaments. I can't wait to read the next in this series. I have to buy the next 2 books.

[Julie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one, but saw the end coming for sure.

[DaShannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get a little irritated with the book reviews on Goodreads sometimes when it comes to cozy mysteries. There aren't supposed to be rocket scientist non fiction or literary masterpieces. They are supposed to have an interesting main character, Guinivere Jones, with an interesting job, reporter for a local paper, who you wonder how they live in a fabulous locale, Sanibel Island, when they barely seem to go to work. Check, check, check. It's a fun romp with a small group of characters around a nondescript murder. A fun read. And because I haven't read the first two books in the series I wondered if the boyfriend was a mastermind and why Guin is divorced and if she and Bill have history. So I'll be picking up the first two in the series. Mission accomplished cozy.

[Tammy Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Enjoyed the mystery involved. This book does end with a cliff hanger of sorts, so I'd recommend buying this book & the next at the same time if you are the type that needs to know what happens next.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. I can't wait to start book 4.