Murder Returns to the Precipice

Elizabeth Pennington #3

by Penny Goetjen

Granddaughter of the inn’s matriarch, Elizabeth Pennington saw to every intricate detail in the renovation of the popular seaside destination after a deadly hurricane nearly destroyed it. When the body of a female guest is discovered in the newly opened fitness center, it appears to be a tragic accident that threatens to taint the grand reopening. But as police investigate, it becomes painfully clear it’s something more sinister. Is there a killer in their midst? Has the inn’s dark past resurfaced?

See why critics and readers alike are raving about the suspense novels of multi national award-winning storyteller Penny Goetjen.

“An endlessly delightful tale and band of characters...”
--Kirkus Reviews

“A richly textured mystery that’s both charmingly atmospheric and cunningly staged. Be forewarned: Like the coastal waters of Maine, this story will lull you in with its seeming tranquility only to sweep you away in the undercurrent….”
--John Valeri, Criminal Element

WINNER in the Indie Excellence Book Awards for Regional Fiction: Northeast

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2019

About the author

National multi-award-winning author Penny Goetjen writes mysteries, crime fiction, and suspense novels where the settings are so colorful they become characters in their own right. A self-proclaimed eccentric, she enjoys the serenity of writing with the allure of flickering candlelight often late into the evening, the chaos while perched at a hi-top table in a local coffee shop with half the caffeinated world walking by, and the romance of strolling in a long flowy skirt while observing the world and collecting characters. Seven published novels in and her husband still sleeps with one eye open.

Reviews

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Returns to the Precipice by Penny Goetjen is the third book in her Precipice series and having read the previous two I felt like I was returning home for a visit. I fell in love with Elizabeth Pennington and everything surrounding her life....except maybe the number of dead bodies she comes across. And when you begin reading Murder Returns to the Precipice you don't have to read past the first page before the first dead body is found.....

Elizabeth grew up at the Pennington Point Inn in Maine with her grandmother but when a hurricane hit and she lost her grandmother, she walked away and went back to Conneticut and her work as an interior designer. But a few years later she returns to the inn and begins renovations to reopen it up. Luckily for Elizabeth her boyfriend Kurt has moved there with her to help run the inn leaving his work with the FBI. Unfortunately shortly after reopening the inn, Elizabeth finds a guest dead in the new fitness room, she learns that she failed to pay past taxes and the inn may be heading to foreclosure, her ex-friend Rashelle returns, she gets a disturbing letter regarding Kurt and a possible fiance and she gets a clue to what becomes a scavenger hunt form an old friend of her grandmother's.

To say Elizabeth has a lot on her plate is stating the obvious but there is nothing that she cannot face and overcome so she bears down and gets to work......

Readers will love the books in this series because the storyline is so addicting and the people are lovable...even when they shouldn't be. The setting of the story will explode in the readers mind and you will not want to leave. I have such a vivid picture of the inn and it's surrounding areas along with the people that they feel so real....even if it is all in my head. Goetjen has such a unique talent in her story telling that you will be a fan instantly !!

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Returns to the Precipice by Penny Goetjen is the third novel in the Elizabeth Pennington series set on the shores of Maine. I have not read the books in the series however i was able to follow along with the back story and the charcters. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC My review opinions are my own.. .

I enjoyed the setting in Maine of this book right away. The author created a atmospheric feeling of Maine for the reader that takes the reader right into the setting . The setting is coastal Maine in a historic Inn that adds to the coastal feeling and mystery of the story. The reader is introduced to Elizabeth Pennington with her boyfriend/ business partner, Kurt. Together they are in charge of a grand re-opening of Pennington Point Inn. When disturbing events take place including murder and unexplained accidents. Elizabeth investigates to find out if they are done to prevent her Inn from opening. Elizabeth then finds out that the town’s plan is to start foreclosure proceedings on the property and take her dream away. She is sure the deaths and accidents are related but can she prove it and save her inn.

This was a enjoyable read a good strong mystery. I enjoyed the story to completion I look forward to further work by the author.

[Cherry London · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is wrong in this picture? Oh, I get it, Elizabeth seems to be easily swayed by a glib tongue with sexy blue eyes. She needs to stay focus instead of trying to talk herself into the guy’s arms and subsequently his bed. This gal needs to take a step back and saught her feelings out for Kurt, cause the guy looks like he is in for the long haul. On top of that, she now has a murder to solve and poor thing ain’t much of a sleuth. I get where this tale is going but there are so many disjointed pieces in this puzzle. Once they are connected well, they would become a beautiful work of art.

[Nicole Bannister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed everything about the book there was nothing I didn't like about the book. I would reread it against. I would recommend it to anyone.

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even if I found there's a lot of potential I couldn't connect to the characters the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Criminal Element · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Returns to the Precipice by Penny Goetjen is the third novel in the Elizabeth Pennington series set on the shores of Maine.

Connecticut’s Penny Goetjen is a national award-winning author whose mysteries have earned acclaim for their engaging characters, ambient backdrops, and subtle use of the paranormal. Her debut novel, The Empty Chair: Murder in the Caribbean (2016), received the Mom’s Choice Award. The author’s second book, Murder on the Precipice (2017), introduced Elizabeth Pennington and won Gold in the Human Relations Indie Book Awards for Contemporary Fiction. Murder Beyond the Precipice followed last year. Goetjen—a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association—revisits her protagonist, and the rocky coast of Maine, with October’s Murder Returns to the Precipice.

As the story opens, readers find Elizabeth Pennington along with her boyfriend and business partner, Kurt, overseeing the grand re-opening of Pennington Point Inn, which was nearly destroyed in a hurricane some years ago. What should be a celebratory occasion, however, is marred by a series of disturbing events that not only threaten to derail daily operations but also jeopardize the safety of guests and staff. First, a young woman dies tragically in the inn’s fitness center—and her death, though seemingly an accident, is later deemed suspicious. Then, Elizabeth is alerted to the town’s plan to start foreclosure proceedings on the property due to a fiscal oversight. And there’s also the unfortunate matter of a second body turning up.

Read John Valeri's full review on our blog!

[Malorie (Firereader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Returns to the Precipice by Penny Goetjen is a cozy mystery set in a small coastal community in Maine. The story follows the main characters adventures in re-opening her family's historic inn and the various dead bodies that pop up along the way.
This story is very clean with no profanity or adult content. The interactions between characters are wholesome and positive. I do feel that it does fall short in the mystery department. There are several bodies that appear and the story surrounding them is almost non-existent. I think this book has a lot of good ideas, there's just too many packed into one story. I think it would be great split into several books with a couple of aspects in each one that are expanded upon. If you are looking for clean, cozy afternoon reading then this story is perfect for you!

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, as Maine is one of my favorite places, but it just didn’t do it for me. Everything had a superficial feel to me, weak character development and no sense of place. Perhaps others will enjoy it more than I did.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the setting but I didn't love the characters or storyline much. It felt to me like they both needed more development. I'm sure there are others who will enjoy the book.