Vacations & Victims

Sapphire Beach #0

by Angela K. Ryan

Genres: Mystery

54 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Angela K. Ryan is the author of the Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series, the Seaside Ice Cream Shop Mysteries, and the Cape Cod Cozy Mysteries. She writes clean, feel-good cozies for readers who love humor, lots of twists and turns, and happy-dance endings.

When she is not writing, Angela enjoys the outdoors, especially kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snowshoeing, and skiing. She lives in Massachusetts and loves all four of the New England seasons, but she looks forward to regular escapes to the white, sandy beaches of southwest Florida, where her mother resides.

It is fitting that Angela’s series take place in fictitious seaside towns in Massachusetts and Florida. These small towns would be idyllic if it weren’t for all the bodies that keep turning up!

Angela dreams of one day owning a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel like the sweet pup in her Sapphire Beach Series, but she isn’t home enough to take care of one. So, for now, lives vicariously through one of her main characters, Connie.

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though short and sweet, the pacing in this novella was lively and brisk. Both the job of introducing the heroine of the series and also the telling of the story were accomplished readily.

[VICTORIA STEWART · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick prequel to the series and man was it good! For so little pages the author packed a whole lot of action and emotion in. I really enjoyed it. Although I read book 1 before this I’m glad I read this one. It was heartwarming and I understand the main character Connie better now. I’m looking forward to reading book 2!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice introduction to what I believe will be an enjoyable cozy series. It's a short prequel story that does a good job of introducing the main character. The mystery itself isn't overly involved, but there were enough clues to figure out whodunnit and reach a satisfactory end. I'll be continuing with the series!

[Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute little romp. A 50-page prequel to the Sapphire Beach Cozy Mysteries by Angela K Ryan.

The setting spends much of it's time on the lanai of a beach mansion. A lanai. I've only heard that word used on Golden Girls and, with the recent passing of the incomparable Miss Betty White along with the main characters of this sleuth being 4 lady friends, it had a ring of nostalgia to it. That aside, I liked that it had a small section when the older aunt was giving advice to her niece and suggested God's plan for her and she will know it when the time came. Not that it is a story of religion, by far, but by having it there was a certain clean and trusting family feel to it.
This is a murder mystery so it's not a spoiler to mention the murderer was a character throughout the book... not some hack character introduced to the story in the last 4 pages. As a reader we can follow along with all the clues and be able to discover the murderer as the heroines did.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read 2 of the other books in this series, so I sort of did this backwards. This is really the prequel for the series. And while I did gather the basic facts from the first book, it was nice to read about Connie, who lives in Boston, and her relationship with her Aunt Concetta, living in Florida. Connie is visiting with her best friend, Beth, and there are traveling with Concetta and her friend, Grace, to Marco Island. While there, they bump into Beth’s ex-fiancée, Curt, and agree to meet him the next night for a drink after they have dinner. Unfortunately, Curt is found murdered the next morning and Beth may have been the last one to see him alive. With Beth under suspicion, Connie and Concetta decide to investigate! This is a short story that really sets the stage for the series that follows.

[SHARON HALL · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK FUNNEL APP FREE E-BOOK. I STARTED READING THIS E-BOOK ON 6/29/2024.

SAPPHIRE BEACH COZY MYSTERY SERIES - BOOK 01 - VACATIONS & VICTIMS PREQUEL SHORT STORY - BY ANGELA K. RYAN = 54 PAGES

THIS WAS A VERY ENJOYABLE COZY MYSTERY SHORT STORY. FAMILY, AND BEST FRIENDS GETTING TOGETHER FOR A LONG WEEKEND VACATION. REUNITED WITH AN OLD FRIEND, WHICH WAS A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED SURPRISE. UNEXPECTEDLY FELL INTO A PUZZLING MYSTERY, THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY NEEDED TO SOLVE. IN BETWEEN LOOKING FOR CLUES THEY ALL HAD LOTS OF FUN MAKING NEW MEMORIES, AND REMINISCING OLD TIMES. I TOTALLY LOVED ALL OF THE CHARACTERS, AND CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES. I FINISHED READING THIS E-BOOK ON 7/21/2024.

[Dwayne Keller]

Connie is on vacation, visiting her Aunt Concetta. They go to Marco Island, along with Connie’s friend Beth and Aunt Concetta’s friend Grace. On the island, they run into Beth’s ex fiancé. He invites them out for drinks that night and they go. The next morning the ex fiancé is found murdered on the beach. Beth is the main suspect so Connie investigate.
This is a fun intro to a new series. We meet the main characters, learn how they get together and solve their first mystery.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved meeting Connie and especially Aunt Concetta and the rest of the crew. This was a great mystery and prompted me to purchase the entire series which is not something I normally do. The characters were engaging and I felt like I was right there with them!

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

ps There's only one Victim.

When the ex-boyfriend of one of the group is murdered, Connie and her aunt Concetta start investigating to prove the innocence of Connie's friend Beth.

The clues develop well and the characters each spend time as suspect #1.

The victim probably deserved it.

[Janet]

A nice “Who done it.” The story did not say if the police had the same information as Connie did or not. I would like to think that they did. The rest of the bunch had some excitement to go with their vacation. I enjoyed the story.

[Sherry McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, entertaing and interesting read. Loved the characters and the plot. Plan to read more books written by Angela.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

You are hooked as soon as you start reading...Binge-worthy❣️
Very anxious to read more . . .
Next please⁉️ More and more difficult to put down . . .

[Chili Diane Evance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful intro to Connie and now I’m wondering if she will stay in Boston or move to Sapphire Beach.

[CHud · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun read.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Curt and why??? Gambling??? Big listings??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Curt and why??? Gambling debts??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good cozy had all the elements. I really enjoy Angela K. Ryan's writing and look forward to her next book.

[Lisa McCombs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun cozy.

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining sampler/prequel cozy mystery

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story with lots of intrigue for a novella.
Cheers
Lynn

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book O and the first time reading this author. The main characters are Connie and her aunt Concetta. They go away for a few days with 2 friends and they are in the middle of a murder investigation. Connie and her aunt try to figure out what really happened before they have to leave.

[Kathleen Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connie visits herAunt Constance in Florida to spend time with her favorite aunt. Her friend Beth accompanies her
They spend a long weekend on Marco Island where they are dismayed to find Beth's ex-fiancee, Curt. Within 24 hours a murder is committed. This is short yet well written & fast paced. Descriptions of the mansion & Florida's allure are well done.