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Whit and Whiskers Mystery #1
Much Ado about Nauticaling
Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that's to die for--only to find it's a place people are also willing to kill for--in Gabby Allan's Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the "Whit and Whiskers Mystery" series.
After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life--and a murder victim?
The self-proclaimed Master of the Island, Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother's name, Whit will have to investigate Jules' shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members--with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit's ex-boyfriend who's looking to rekindle their relationship.
After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life--and a murder victim?
The self-proclaimed Master of the Island, Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother's name, Whit will have to investigate Jules' shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members--with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit's ex-boyfriend who's looking to rekindle their relationship.
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2021
28 people are currently reading
2024 people want to read
About the author
Gabby Allan
3 books127 followersAfter writing plays for her friends to act out as a kid, bad poetry in high school, and her high school Alma Mater song, Gabby Allan finally found her true passion—cozy mysteries. Being able to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time, and touch people’s hearts with her down-to-earth characters makes for the best job ever. This California girl now lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
July 19, 2021
Much Ado about Nauticaling by Gabby Allan is the first book in the new cozy Whit and Whiskers Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series each of the books in the series will contain their own mystery that will be fully solved so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. The character development from each book will carry over though for those that wish to continue the series.
The Whit and Whiskers Mystery series introduced readers to Whitney Dagner who has chosen to leave her high pressure corporate life in Los Angeles. Whitney has returned to the small island of Santa Catalina just off the California coast where her family has been running their business, Nautically Yours. Whitney and her brother, Nick, are taking over the operation of the business.
Just as Whitney is getting into the swing of her shifts in the gift shop and manning the tours aboard their glass bottom boat, the Sea Bounder, she finds a body has washed up under the boat. Unfortunately everyone on the island is familiar with Jules Tisdale, the victim, and that goes double for Whitney’s brother who doesn’t have an alibi and seems to have a reason to want Mr Tisdale gone. Not only does Whitney have to find a murderer she has to deal with her ex, Felix Ramirez, who is now a policeman on the small island.
I keep telling myself I don’t need to start anymore cozy series but yet here I am again with Much Ado about Nauticaling but who could resist that cute cover? Well, obviously I couldn’t being a love of all things island-y and cute kitties. This was a nice start to the series and I really enjoyed getting to know Whitney and the small town/island setting. The series isn’t overly quirky but just enough that it does have it’s humorous moments and I’ll be interested to see if the author adds to the romance side of the story with the old love interest so I’ll definitely return for book two.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The Whit and Whiskers Mystery series introduced readers to Whitney Dagner who has chosen to leave her high pressure corporate life in Los Angeles. Whitney has returned to the small island of Santa Catalina just off the California coast where her family has been running their business, Nautically Yours. Whitney and her brother, Nick, are taking over the operation of the business.
Just as Whitney is getting into the swing of her shifts in the gift shop and manning the tours aboard their glass bottom boat, the Sea Bounder, she finds a body has washed up under the boat. Unfortunately everyone on the island is familiar with Jules Tisdale, the victim, and that goes double for Whitney’s brother who doesn’t have an alibi and seems to have a reason to want Mr Tisdale gone. Not only does Whitney have to find a murderer she has to deal with her ex, Felix Ramirez, who is now a policeman on the small island.
I keep telling myself I don’t need to start anymore cozy series but yet here I am again with Much Ado about Nauticaling but who could resist that cute cover? Well, obviously I couldn’t being a love of all things island-y and cute kitties. This was a nice start to the series and I really enjoyed getting to know Whitney and the small town/island setting. The series isn’t overly quirky but just enough that it does have it’s humorous moments and I’ll be interested to see if the author adds to the romance side of the story with the old love interest so I’ll definitely return for book two.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 18, 2021
I felt good vibrations while reading this cozy debut! It takes place on a beautiful island location in California. Protagonist Whitney Dagner and her brother, Nick, operate Nautically Yours—a glass bottom boat tour business. How fun! The mystery accelerates quickly in the first two chapters, then the hunt is on for a killer.
Author Gabby Allan (aka Misty Simon) writes a fun and intriguing story for cozy mystery readers. My interest was caught and held by the way Whit’s brother, Nick, is so elusive and uncooperative in the investigation. These two siblings are young and act pretty naive, so I hope to see more responsible growth in the two of them in the next story. I liked that a possible romance is slowly introduced on Whitney’s horizon. Whiskers, Whit’s kitty, is her comforter, confidante, and protector. There are plenty of suspects to keep the conflict captivating, and I learned new nautical references throughout the story. The victim’s wife, Tracy, did little to gain my sympathy, and Nick’s actions certainly didn’t endear me to him. I had a sneaking suspicion who the murderer was and thought the author did a great job showing and telling the story. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
Author Gabby Allan (aka Misty Simon) writes a fun and intriguing story for cozy mystery readers. My interest was caught and held by the way Whit’s brother, Nick, is so elusive and uncooperative in the investigation. These two siblings are young and act pretty naive, so I hope to see more responsible growth in the two of them in the next story. I liked that a possible romance is slowly introduced on Whitney’s horizon. Whiskers, Whit’s kitty, is her comforter, confidante, and protector. There are plenty of suspects to keep the conflict captivating, and I learned new nautical references throughout the story. The victim’s wife, Tracy, did little to gain my sympathy, and Nick’s actions certainly didn’t endear me to him. I had a sneaking suspicion who the murderer was and thought the author did a great job showing and telling the story. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
August 7, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this first Whit and Whiskers Mystery, we meet Whitney Dagner, her cat Whiskers, and her brother Nick. She has left her high-pressure job and returned to Santa Catalina Island to help Nick in the family business Nautically Yours. Their business offers glass-bottom boat tours so tourists can view fantastic underwater sights. Whitney is also opening a gift shop selling all kinds of souvenir-type items, including treasure maps and puzzles. She is just getting her sea legs back when she looks through the glass bottom of the boat and sees a dead body. OMG, Jules Tisdale, the self-proclaimed “Master of the Island,” is dead and it definitely was not due to natural causes. The police quickly decide Nick is their prime suspect. Whitney knows her brother is innocent, she just needs to prove it and she receives help from an unwanted source . . . her ex-boyfriend, Felix Ramirez. He not only wants to help her investigate, but he would also be really happy to give their relationship a second chance.
After reading this book, I want to plan a vacation to Santa Catalina. It sounds like an idyllic place sans the murder, of course. A tour in a glass-bottom boat, enjoying several restaurants, and relaxing on the beach sounds wonderful to me. The author does an excellent job of bringing her setting to life.
We are introduced to several characters in this story. In addition to Whitney and Nick, we meet their grandparents, Pops and Goldy. The kids visited their grandparents every summer while growing up and the place just feels like home. I love Goldy. She is a confident woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. The woman takes her wardrobe very seriously as well as her make-up. It is not unusual to see Goldy walking around town in a swimsuit, cover-up, and high heels so she can soak up the sunshine rays as often as she can. I would love her life. Pops is well suited to her. He brings the calm to hectic situations and knows how to handle his wife. They have left the business to Nick and Whitney but are there quickly to help in a pinch. We also meet Whitney’s roommate, Maribel, and her ex, Felix but I think we have just scratched the surface of the characters’ pasts and current situations. The is a lot of room for character development in future books.
The mystery is pretty standard but boy, Whitney really needs to work on her investigative skills if she is going to shine as an amateur sleuth. She needs to be more focused. She is all over the place with her theories, and readers are treated to thoughts as she tries to bring the clues together to pin down the killer. There are several suspects and Nick isn’t really a big help. I really like that her cat plays a key role throughout the story. The mystery had a nice slow build which I enjoyed but then the pace picked up and the ending felt a little rushed. It did leave some subplots and questions open making me excited for the next book in the series.
Much Ado about Nauticaling is setting this series off to a great start. I hope the main characters are more fleshed out as the series continues. I want to get to know them better.
In this first Whit and Whiskers Mystery, we meet Whitney Dagner, her cat Whiskers, and her brother Nick. She has left her high-pressure job and returned to Santa Catalina Island to help Nick in the family business Nautically Yours. Their business offers glass-bottom boat tours so tourists can view fantastic underwater sights. Whitney is also opening a gift shop selling all kinds of souvenir-type items, including treasure maps and puzzles. She is just getting her sea legs back when she looks through the glass bottom of the boat and sees a dead body. OMG, Jules Tisdale, the self-proclaimed “Master of the Island,” is dead and it definitely was not due to natural causes. The police quickly decide Nick is their prime suspect. Whitney knows her brother is innocent, she just needs to prove it and she receives help from an unwanted source . . . her ex-boyfriend, Felix Ramirez. He not only wants to help her investigate, but he would also be really happy to give their relationship a second chance.
After reading this book, I want to plan a vacation to Santa Catalina. It sounds like an idyllic place sans the murder, of course. A tour in a glass-bottom boat, enjoying several restaurants, and relaxing on the beach sounds wonderful to me. The author does an excellent job of bringing her setting to life.
We are introduced to several characters in this story. In addition to Whitney and Nick, we meet their grandparents, Pops and Goldy. The kids visited their grandparents every summer while growing up and the place just feels like home. I love Goldy. She is a confident woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. The woman takes her wardrobe very seriously as well as her make-up. It is not unusual to see Goldy walking around town in a swimsuit, cover-up, and high heels so she can soak up the sunshine rays as often as she can. I would love her life. Pops is well suited to her. He brings the calm to hectic situations and knows how to handle his wife. They have left the business to Nick and Whitney but are there quickly to help in a pinch. We also meet Whitney’s roommate, Maribel, and her ex, Felix but I think we have just scratched the surface of the characters’ pasts and current situations. The is a lot of room for character development in future books.
The mystery is pretty standard but boy, Whitney really needs to work on her investigative skills if she is going to shine as an amateur sleuth. She needs to be more focused. She is all over the place with her theories, and readers are treated to thoughts as she tries to bring the clues together to pin down the killer. There are several suspects and Nick isn’t really a big help. I really like that her cat plays a key role throughout the story. The mystery had a nice slow build which I enjoyed but then the pace picked up and the ending felt a little rushed. It did leave some subplots and questions open making me excited for the next book in the series.
Much Ado about Nauticaling is setting this series off to a great start. I hope the main characters are more fleshed out as the series continues. I want to get to know them better.
December 21, 2024
Cute cozy with quirky characters and two mysterious deaths. 3.5 stars rounded up.
May 3, 2025
4.5 🌟
Mood Reader Season/ Vibes: Summer
I really enjoyed this one! It was cute with the perfect setting and decent characters. I would have liked more time spent on their boat as it seems like a cool concept.
My main issue was the ending. I guessed the killer and was so certain it made the ending almost not exciting. I also found it ended way too abruptly. We don’t find out what happens to a lot of the characters. Could’ve been a 5 star read if not for the ending. I will, however, certainly continue the series.
Mood Reader Season/ Vibes: Summer
I really enjoyed this one! It was cute with the perfect setting and decent characters. I would have liked more time spent on their boat as it seems like a cool concept.
My main issue was the ending. I guessed the killer and was so certain it made the ending almost not exciting. I also found it ended way too abruptly. We don’t find out what happens to a lot of the characters. Could’ve been a 5 star read if not for the ending. I will, however, certainly continue the series.
July 30, 2021
Whitney “Whit” Dagner and her brother Nick have relocated to Catalina Island. They visited their grandparents out there every summer, and now they are taking over their grandparents’ glass bottom boat business. Additionally, Whit is opening a souvenir shop in the harbor. She is enjoying her new life until she finds the body of Jules Tisdale, the recently named Person of the Year on Catalina. When the police decide that Nick is the killer, Whit jumps in to prove her brother’s innocence. Can she do it?
As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I always love Southern California settings, although it’s been years since I visited Catalina. I certainly did enjoy the setting. Overall, the book was too frenetic, however. It was trying to be funny, but much of the humor didn’t work for me. I did laugh a few times, but overall, it was too much. This effected some of the characters, too, although I did enjoy others. Despite finding the body early on, the pace was uneven, getting better the further we got into the book. While I followed the killer and motive, the ending was rushed and left some questions about earlier twists in the book. I was hoping to love this debut, but it turned out to be average.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. I always love Southern California settings, although it’s been years since I visited Catalina. I certainly did enjoy the setting. Overall, the book was too frenetic, however. It was trying to be funny, but much of the humor didn’t work for me. I did laugh a few times, but overall, it was too much. This effected some of the characters, too, although I did enjoy others. Despite finding the body early on, the pace was uneven, getting better the further we got into the book. While I followed the killer and motive, the ending was rushed and left some questions about earlier twists in the book. I was hoping to love this debut, but it turned out to be average.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 13, 2021
This was a fun book! I love the setting on California’s Catalina Island. Whitney Dagner has come to the Island to help her brother, Nick, run their grandparents’ glass-bottom boat touring company and to open a gift shop. When her brother becomes THE person of interest in the death of Catalina’s Person of the Year, Whitney decides to clear his name. I enjoyed the recurring characters, and I look forward to seeing them grow in Book 2.
July 31, 2021
Whitney Dagner returns to her home on the island of Santa Catalina, the perfect paradise in the Pacific. Along with her brother, she runs a tourism business which includes leading tours on a glass bottom boat and running a souvenir shop.
Everything is going well until the body of a wealthy business man is found in the water, strangled to death. The number one suspect is Nick, Whitney’s brother. Whitney vows to clear her brother’s name and her family’s reputation. She quickly learns the dead man had many other possible enemies much more angrier than her brother.
This is a solid start to a new series. Whitney even has a feline sidekick, Whiskers. Whitney is a strong character. She never waivers in her belief in her brother, even when he gives her reason to wonder. I thought Nick was a bit weak and seemed to leave Whitney to deal with his mess for most of the book. The characters are well-developed. Whitney’s grandmother is funny, witty and lively. She’s right there to lend her support any way that she can.
Whitney has a great support cast. Besides her brother and grandmother, she has her grandfather, her best friend Maribel, her ex-boyfriend Felix and, of course her beloved Whiskers. They are a fun group. I already feel as if they are old friends.
The storyline is intricately woven with many motives and suspects. Each one as much a potential suspect as Nick. If only he had a provable alibi. That doesn’t get Whitney down, though. She enlists the help of Maribel and Felix. Together with Whiskers, they search for a killer.
I didn’t guess whodunit until more than halfway through the book. The book kept me guessing. Even after I guessed, I wasn’t sure I chose the right person.
I can already see this is going to be a fun series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Everything is going well until the body of a wealthy business man is found in the water, strangled to death. The number one suspect is Nick, Whitney’s brother. Whitney vows to clear her brother’s name and her family’s reputation. She quickly learns the dead man had many other possible enemies much more angrier than her brother.
This is a solid start to a new series. Whitney even has a feline sidekick, Whiskers. Whitney is a strong character. She never waivers in her belief in her brother, even when he gives her reason to wonder. I thought Nick was a bit weak and seemed to leave Whitney to deal with his mess for most of the book. The characters are well-developed. Whitney’s grandmother is funny, witty and lively. She’s right there to lend her support any way that she can.
Whitney has a great support cast. Besides her brother and grandmother, she has her grandfather, her best friend Maribel, her ex-boyfriend Felix and, of course her beloved Whiskers. They are a fun group. I already feel as if they are old friends.
The storyline is intricately woven with many motives and suspects. Each one as much a potential suspect as Nick. If only he had a provable alibi. That doesn’t get Whitney down, though. She enlists the help of Maribel and Felix. Together with Whiskers, they search for a killer.
I didn’t guess whodunit until more than halfway through the book. The book kept me guessing. Even after I guessed, I wasn’t sure I chose the right person.
I can already see this is going to be a fun series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 8, 2021
This first in a new cozy mystery series was cute and enjoyable to read. I loved the setting and the cast of characters was good but some did need a little further development like our protagonist’s best friends. Whitney has returned home after deciding the corporate world was not for her and she is helping her brother run her grandparents’ tourist businesses. I felt like the backstory to her coming home wasn’t completely fleshed out and this was more apparent when her recent ex-boyfriend also appeared. Whitney did not go looking for a murder to solve but did find the body and needed to help her brother who looked guilty, which was made worse by him going on the run. Like any first in series there were places it could have been better, but overall I really enjoyed it and will be reading the next book.
February 16, 2021
Much Ado about Nauticaling is the first in a new series by Gabby Allan.
The story takes place on Santa Catalina Island, off the California shore.
Our main character is Whitney Dagner, who enjoys her own unique souvenir shop, as well as helping with the family’s glass bottom boat tours.
This small island sounds idyllic with warm, sunny beaches, plenty of good food, and perhaps a touch of romance, when Whitney’s ex boyfriend shows up. Unfortunately, Whitney doesn’t haven’t a chance to find out, when she discovers a dead body following a boat tour.
When Whitney’s brother Nick becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation, all she can do is ask questions and try to determine the truths from the lies.
For a first book in a new series, I was really pleased with it. The characters were very easy to connect with, the mystery kept me engaged throughout, and the author vividly described the small island, that I could see it in my mind.
I’m very much looking forward to reading more in this series.
#MuchAdoaboutNauticaling #NetGalley
The story takes place on Santa Catalina Island, off the California shore.
Our main character is Whitney Dagner, who enjoys her own unique souvenir shop, as well as helping with the family’s glass bottom boat tours.
This small island sounds idyllic with warm, sunny beaches, plenty of good food, and perhaps a touch of romance, when Whitney’s ex boyfriend shows up. Unfortunately, Whitney doesn’t haven’t a chance to find out, when she discovers a dead body following a boat tour.
When Whitney’s brother Nick becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation, all she can do is ask questions and try to determine the truths from the lies.
For a first book in a new series, I was really pleased with it. The characters were very easy to connect with, the mystery kept me engaged throughout, and the author vividly described the small island, that I could see it in my mind.
I’m very much looking forward to reading more in this series.
#MuchAdoaboutNauticaling #NetGalley
July 20, 2021
What a great start to a series! I found myself totally engrossed in the mystery, which was so well written! I just loved the main character Whit. She had me laughing out loud quite a few times with her sense of humor and sarcastic wit. Goldy is a hoot and one of my favorite characters! What I loved most was the strong bond between Whit and her brother Nick. And I am anxious to see what is in store for Whit and her ex-boyfriend Felix. Looking forward to reading book 2.
July 26, 2021
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Much Ado about Nauticaling is a breezy mystery with likeable characters and a fast pace. I wanted to love Gabby Allan’s first Whit and Whiskers story, but I had too many issues with the characters’ actions and the plot.
Like many a cozy mystery protagonist, Whitney doesn’t go looking for murder victims – they seem to find her. In this case, it’s Catalina’s “Person of the Year” Jules whose body floats on by under the window of her glass bottom boat. It’s a tragedy made worse when Whit’s brother is suspected of the crime. Whitney is determined to clear Nick’s name and catch the real killer. So far it’s all part of the cozy mystery formula and I was ready to go for a ride (albeit one with a slow start). The problem for me was Whitney’s methods of investigation. Mainly, that to say she lacks subtlety is an enormous understatement. She pretty much tells all and sundry what she’s doing, what her thoughts are… without spoiling it I’ll simply say there’s amateur sleuth and then there’s outright ridiculousness.
Whit is helped on her fact-finding mission by a number of townsfolk, some perhaps with their own motives (not always clearly defined). Her most trusted compatriots are her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Felix and Maribel, both of whom are likeable but not incredibly well-defined. I had some questions about both of them and their roles in the investigation, especially since they both worked for the police. Suspending disbelief aside, I do wish they had more to contribute (especially Felix who looks to be a fun character if we learn more about him). The mystery of who killed Jules and why is OK and wraps up in a satisfying enough manner, but there were a lot of loose threads left hanging. Some of these perhaps will continue in another book but I think there are some red herrings in here that flopped because there was no resolution.
Much Ado about Nauticaling fell flat for me but I would give the next book in the series a try. The setting was charming (murder aside) and there’s the potential for the characters to grow and become more engaging. Plus, there’s an adorable cat who steals the show – how could I not give Whiskers another chance?
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Much Ado about Nauticaling is a breezy mystery with likeable characters and a fast pace. I wanted to love Gabby Allan’s first Whit and Whiskers story, but I had too many issues with the characters’ actions and the plot.
Like many a cozy mystery protagonist, Whitney doesn’t go looking for murder victims – they seem to find her. In this case, it’s Catalina’s “Person of the Year” Jules whose body floats on by under the window of her glass bottom boat. It’s a tragedy made worse when Whit’s brother is suspected of the crime. Whitney is determined to clear Nick’s name and catch the real killer. So far it’s all part of the cozy mystery formula and I was ready to go for a ride (albeit one with a slow start). The problem for me was Whitney’s methods of investigation. Mainly, that to say she lacks subtlety is an enormous understatement. She pretty much tells all and sundry what she’s doing, what her thoughts are… without spoiling it I’ll simply say there’s amateur sleuth and then there’s outright ridiculousness.
Whit is helped on her fact-finding mission by a number of townsfolk, some perhaps with their own motives (not always clearly defined). Her most trusted compatriots are her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Felix and Maribel, both of whom are likeable but not incredibly well-defined. I had some questions about both of them and their roles in the investigation, especially since they both worked for the police. Suspending disbelief aside, I do wish they had more to contribute (especially Felix who looks to be a fun character if we learn more about him). The mystery of who killed Jules and why is OK and wraps up in a satisfying enough manner, but there were a lot of loose threads left hanging. Some of these perhaps will continue in another book but I think there are some red herrings in here that flopped because there was no resolution.
Much Ado about Nauticaling fell flat for me but I would give the next book in the series a try. The setting was charming (murder aside) and there’s the potential for the characters to grow and become more engaging. Plus, there’s an adorable cat who steals the show – how could I not give Whiskers another chance?
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 16, 2021
Whitney Dagner is at home on Catalina Island, back from the corporate world of Los Angeles. She's running her island gift shop and helping her brother run the family glass bottomed boat tour company. When her brother is accused of murdering the island's rich bully, Whit has to add amateur sleuth to her job duties!
Whitney is a smart businessperson, is kind, loves her family but has no experience in solving crimes. Her adventures to save her brother and solve the mystery, along with her best friend Maribel and ex-boyfriend Felix are realistic and fun. No rushing into danger and the romance didn't overshadow the storyline. The mystery was fast-paced with red herrings and twists and turns that kept me reading. The supporting characters were interesting and Whiskers, her smart feline, is adorable and dangerous!
I'm looking forward to another trip to Catalina Island!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Whitney is a smart businessperson, is kind, loves her family but has no experience in solving crimes. Her adventures to save her brother and solve the mystery, along with her best friend Maribel and ex-boyfriend Felix are realistic and fun. No rushing into danger and the romance didn't overshadow the storyline. The mystery was fast-paced with red herrings and twists and turns that kept me reading. The supporting characters were interesting and Whiskers, her smart feline, is adorable and dangerous!
I'm looking forward to another trip to Catalina Island!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 6, 2024
Much Ado about Nauticaling marks the first in series of the Whit and Whiskers Mysteries. Whitney Dagner is friendly and hardworking and leaves the corporate world to return to her hometown on Santa Catalina Island, California. She helps her brother, Nick, run the family business, Nautically Yours, and opens her own shop, Dame of the Sea. Pop and Goldie her grandparents are also there to help in time of need. During a day there is a boat tour in the glass bottom boat, Nick and Whitney discover a body under a boat window—Jules Tisdale. The police suspect Nick. Whitney, with the help of her ex-boyfriend Felix and her cat, Whiskers, works to clear his name.
July 28, 2021
Much Ado about Nauticaling by Gabby Allan is a breezy cozy mystery set in Santa Catalina Island, California. Whitney Dagner has left the corporate world to return to her hometown to help her brother, Nick run the family business, Nautically Yours plus open her shop, Dame of the Sea. After a day filled with tours, Nick and Whitney are cleaning the boat when they see a body under the window in the bottom of boat. It is the Chamber of Commerce’s Person of the Year, Jules Tisdale who had been on the boat earlier in the evening. The police zero in on Nick as the guilty party. Whitney with help from ex-boyfriend, Felix Ramirez and her cuddly cat, Whiskers work to clear Nick’s name. Much Ado about Nauticaling is the debut of A Whit and Whiskers Mystery series. Whitney Dagner is a friendly main character who is loyal to her family and not afraid of hard work. I loved Whitney’s grandparents, Pops and Goldy. Pops is a darling while Goldy is over-the-top. She wears high heels (even with a bathing suit), loves to sunbathe, and leaves a trail of sand behind her wherever she goes. There are several secondary characters that include Felix and Whitney’s roommate, Maribel. I am sure we will learn more about these people in future books. The mystery is straightforward with several suspects and misdirection. The whodunit wrapped up quickly leaving a few loose ends. Whitney was lucky in the investigation because the people she needed to talk to seemed to cross her path at the right moment. Whitney needs to work on her investigation technique. To say she lacks subtlety is an understatement. A reader does need to suspend their disbelief at times while reading. Since the story is told in the first-person, we are subjected to Whitney’s ramblings thoughts. I did find it a bit much at times. I could see her thoughts spinning around like a kid on the teacup ride at Disney. Whiskers is a fun addition to the story, and he was helpful with the investigation. Much Ado about Nauticaling is a carefree cozy with a cuddly cat, a glass-bottom boat, treasure map trouble, a bothersome ex-beau, and straggling sand.
August 3, 2021
Set on the picturesque Santa Catalina island off the California coast, Whitney Dagner lives an idyllic life, running her gift shop and helping out her brother with the family tour business, taking out tours on their glass bottomed boat. When a body floats under the boat one evening, paradise is thoroughly disturbed, however, and when it turns out that Whitney’s brother Nick not only had been with the victim, but was sleeping with his wife… well, Whitney’s going to have her work cut out for her to prove Nick’s innocence.
This is rather charming, with lots of local colour on an island where folks drive golf buggies instead of cars and the residents all seem to know each other. Whitney has spent years away working in the corporate world (doing something unspecified in a railroad company office) but is now back and reconnecting with old friends, as well as dealing with the unexpected appearance of love interest Felix, who she thought had dumped her because he wasn’t interested in a long distance relationship, but has taken a job on the island and is making it clear he’s there for Whitney.
I’m not entirely sure how old Whitney or her brother are - we aren’t given exact numbers - but they both act pretty young and naive. My favourite character was easily their grandmother (but NEVER call her that!) Goldy. The mystery left a few too many things unanswered - did Jules have money, or was he in debt, or did everyone on the island owe him money? And the motive for the second murder made no sense whatsoever as the murderer would not actually have benefited, or if they did, it wasn’t explained how.
This was fun enough that I’d probably pick up the next in the series, but I want to see more character development and a deeper dive into the actual mystery. I’ll give this four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
This is rather charming, with lots of local colour on an island where folks drive golf buggies instead of cars and the residents all seem to know each other. Whitney has spent years away working in the corporate world (doing something unspecified in a railroad company office) but is now back and reconnecting with old friends, as well as dealing with the unexpected appearance of love interest Felix, who she thought had dumped her because he wasn’t interested in a long distance relationship, but has taken a job on the island and is making it clear he’s there for Whitney.
I’m not entirely sure how old Whitney or her brother are - we aren’t given exact numbers - but they both act pretty young and naive. My favourite character was easily their grandmother (but NEVER call her that!) Goldy. The mystery left a few too many things unanswered - did Jules have money, or was he in debt, or did everyone on the island owe him money? And the motive for the second murder made no sense whatsoever as the murderer would not actually have benefited, or if they did, it wasn’t explained how.
This was fun enough that I’d probably pick up the next in the series, but I want to see more character development and a deeper dive into the actual mystery. I’ll give this four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
July 21, 2021
Read the full review on my blog: https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/muc...
I’ve never read a “rom-cozy” before, but I’m so into the idea of it! I don’t read cozy mysteries often, but I always love them when I do. And we all know that romance is one of my favorite genres!
I’ve read a couple of small-town island mysteries lately, and I really love that setting. It’s not quite as small as a closed-room mystery, but there are only a handful of characters. I really enjoy searching for the clues. The descriptions of Catalina were beautiful, and it made me really want to take a trip there!
I really loved Whit as a character. She was just so determined and energetic, and she seemed like someone I would want to be friends with in real life. Goldy was awesome too--I really enjoy spunky seniors, and she was just so snarky and fun. I’m excited to see more of both of them in the next book. Nick, on the other hand, was obnoxious. Shouldn’t he be the one rushing to clear his own name?? Or at least be a little grateful to Whit for all her work.
There wasn’t much “rom” in this rom-cozy, but the setup was definitely there for a second-chance romance in the next book. We meet Whit’s ex Felix, who she left behind when she moved to Catalina. She wasn’t interested in long distance, but there didn’t seem to be much bad blood over their breakup. I’m excited to see how it plays out in the rest of the series.
This book was the perfect light addition to your beach bag this summer!
I’ve never read a “rom-cozy” before, but I’m so into the idea of it! I don’t read cozy mysteries often, but I always love them when I do. And we all know that romance is one of my favorite genres!
I’ve read a couple of small-town island mysteries lately, and I really love that setting. It’s not quite as small as a closed-room mystery, but there are only a handful of characters. I really enjoy searching for the clues. The descriptions of Catalina were beautiful, and it made me really want to take a trip there!
I really loved Whit as a character. She was just so determined and energetic, and she seemed like someone I would want to be friends with in real life. Goldy was awesome too--I really enjoy spunky seniors, and she was just so snarky and fun. I’m excited to see more of both of them in the next book. Nick, on the other hand, was obnoxious. Shouldn’t he be the one rushing to clear his own name?? Or at least be a little grateful to Whit for all her work.
There wasn’t much “rom” in this rom-cozy, but the setup was definitely there for a second-chance romance in the next book. We meet Whit’s ex Felix, who she left behind when she moved to Catalina. She wasn’t interested in long distance, but there didn’t seem to be much bad blood over their breakup. I’m excited to see how it plays out in the rest of the series.
This book was the perfect light addition to your beach bag this summer!
July 19, 2021
I love finding cozy mysteries that have a unique hook to them, and Much Ado About Nauticaling by Gabby Allan has accomplished that with the main character and her brother owning a glass bottom boat that does tours off of Catalina. This appeals to me so much because while growing up my father gave boat tours in my hometown, and I know how much fun people have on them… although we never found a dead body!
The way Allan describes the small beach town, ocean life, and food will have you planning your next trip out to the West coast. Add in a touch of romance and well developed characters, and you’ll be looking forward to book two even before you finish the first one in the Whit and Whiskers Mysteries.
Besides having a different spin then the protagonist owning a store, although Whitney does own a souvenir shop too, the Dame of the Sea, Allan also has small differences when it comes to the potential romantic partner. Instead of him just being a cop or reporter, he’s a police diver. Something a bit unusual with the potential for the readers to learn new things about that profession.
And whereas the suspect often spends time sitting in jail while the main character looks for clues, in Much Ado About Nauticaling, he’s on the run and hiding out for most of the book… which causes a lot of frustration for Whit.
And I just want to throw in that I love Goldie and Gramps, before I say that I highly recommend this new series.
The way Allan describes the small beach town, ocean life, and food will have you planning your next trip out to the West coast. Add in a touch of romance and well developed characters, and you’ll be looking forward to book two even before you finish the first one in the Whit and Whiskers Mysteries.
Besides having a different spin then the protagonist owning a store, although Whitney does own a souvenir shop too, the Dame of the Sea, Allan also has small differences when it comes to the potential romantic partner. Instead of him just being a cop or reporter, he’s a police diver. Something a bit unusual with the potential for the readers to learn new things about that profession.
And whereas the suspect often spends time sitting in jail while the main character looks for clues, in Much Ado About Nauticaling, he’s on the run and hiding out for most of the book… which causes a lot of frustration for Whit.
And I just want to throw in that I love Goldie and Gramps, before I say that I highly recommend this new series.
July 22, 2021
MUCH ADO ABOUT NAUTICALING, the first book in the brand-new Whit and Whiskers Mystery series by Gabby Allan, is a great start to a delightful series. I was drawn to this new book because of the setting, Catalina Island, which is situated off the coast from where I live. Ms. Allan does an admirable job capturing the essence of the island and enables the reader to feel like they’re right alongside the protagonist, Whitney, feeling the sun, sand, and salty sea air. I greatly enjoyed getting to know Whitney and her quirky grandmother, who adds humor with her antics. A good cast of supporting characters sets the stage for change and growth in future books. Included in the mix is Whit’s ex-boyfriend, Felix, a police diver, who has recently moved to the island with the hope of reconnecting with her. The mystery is solid and the plot has a good pace. With enough suspects to keep the reader guessing, Much Ado About Nauticaling should appeal to both the armchair detective and the armchair traveler alike.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 15, 2021
Much Ado about Nauticaling by Gabby Allan is a great cozy mystery in a new series titled: Whit and Whiskers Mystery.
I love a great cozy mystery series, and if this first installment is any indication of how this series will be, then it should be an excellent series to follow.
I loved the ocean and nautical theme. It is cute, catchy, and relaxed. I loved the location as well, Santa Catalina Island (off the California coast). The author did a great job creating a picturesque and beachy location. But despite the fact that this should be an escape, of course a dark murder/mystery appears. I loved the pull/play on the concept of this sinister and dark occurrence that takes place in a beautiful and light location.
I enjoyed the main character: Whitney Dagner. Trying to create a second chance and go of it in regards to her life, she returns to a family run business, but gets caught up in the murder/mystery plot. Throw in a full cast of characters that are fun, unique, and some also becoming suspects, the narrative makes for a great and engaging read. I liked the addition of her brother Nick, and her ex significant other as a blast from the past, Felix, to create another layer of complexity for future books. I think they still have chemistry despite Whitney’s personal thoughts, and I look forward to seeing how this relationship plays out.
A great start to a new series.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I love a great cozy mystery series, and if this first installment is any indication of how this series will be, then it should be an excellent series to follow.
I loved the ocean and nautical theme. It is cute, catchy, and relaxed. I loved the location as well, Santa Catalina Island (off the California coast). The author did a great job creating a picturesque and beachy location. But despite the fact that this should be an escape, of course a dark murder/mystery appears. I loved the pull/play on the concept of this sinister and dark occurrence that takes place in a beautiful and light location.
I enjoyed the main character: Whitney Dagner. Trying to create a second chance and go of it in regards to her life, she returns to a family run business, but gets caught up in the murder/mystery plot. Throw in a full cast of characters that are fun, unique, and some also becoming suspects, the narrative makes for a great and engaging read. I liked the addition of her brother Nick, and her ex significant other as a blast from the past, Felix, to create another layer of complexity for future books. I think they still have chemistry despite Whitney’s personal thoughts, and I look forward to seeing how this relationship plays out.
A great start to a new series.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
March 9, 2021
Great fun and really diverse characters!
Whitney escaped the corporate life and returned to her zany family/boat tour business/gift shop/creation of puzzles and treasure maps only to discover the body of shady businessman while out on an afternoon tour. Oh, and a not-as-ex-as-she-thought boyfriend. Add that to the mystery of who killed the victim and why. Rather fast paced and with lots of misdirection, plot twists, red herrings, and humor that kept me turning pages! Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Whitney escaped the corporate life and returned to her zany family/boat tour business/gift shop/creation of puzzles and treasure maps only to discover the body of shady businessman while out on an afternoon tour. Oh, and a not-as-ex-as-she-thought boyfriend. Add that to the mystery of who killed the victim and why. Rather fast paced and with lots of misdirection, plot twists, red herrings, and humor that kept me turning pages! Loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
September 11, 2024
sooooo boring. i did not vibe with the shop owning aspect of this book. for some reason, clearing her brothers name was the most important thing she could do until random shop work came up. i simply cannot understand how the two held the same priority. if you’re gonna be a detective, be a detective, girl! dont drag me out of the plot with stupid maps you have to make.
like, she spends DAYS hunting her brother down and when she finally finds him, by him popping out of a bush???, she cuts their meeting short because she needed to go bury treasure chests.
i really wanted to like this, and the mystery seemed interesting at first, but by 180 pages in, you still know as much as you did in the beginning. the murderer is only mentioned once prior to her actually being caught like i simply ✨did not enjoy✨
sorry im editing this because i also forgot to mention how ANNOYING the forced love plot was with her and felix. they had absolutely zero chemistry, and her whole reason for breaking up with him was, like, a test and the whole thing was pointless
like, she spends DAYS hunting her brother down and when she finally finds him, by him popping out of a bush???, she cuts their meeting short because she needed to go bury treasure chests.
i really wanted to like this, and the mystery seemed interesting at first, but by 180 pages in, you still know as much as you did in the beginning. the murderer is only mentioned once prior to her actually being caught like i simply ✨did not enjoy✨
sorry im editing this because i also forgot to mention how ANNOYING the forced love plot was with her and felix. they had absolutely zero chemistry, and her whole reason for breaking up with him was, like, a test and the whole thing was pointless
July 19, 2021
Santa Catalina is a favorite location of mine so finding a new cozy series set on the island was a must read for me. I found myself humming the tune 26 Miles across the sea - Santa Catalina, the island of romance. For Whitney Dagner, newly returned to the island there is a murder to solve when her brother Nick is accused of killing the self proclaimed Master of the Island. The list of suspects is long as he wasn't well liked but Nick holds the place of prime suspect #1.
Whit decided to ditch her corporate life and the hectic travel on the 405 in L.A. and return to Catalina to help run the family's glass bottom boat business and her very own gift shop. Her commute on an island mandated golf cart, known to the locals as an autoette, tops out at 17 miles an hour. Life on the island is much less stressful. That was until the body was spotted as she and Nick take their boat, the Sea Bounder, out for the daily tour. She knew Nick wasn't guilty and she had to clear his name.
I liked everything about this debut cozy, from the location to the well plotted mystery. The setting and the cast of characters - her grandmother, especially - all pitch perfect. Then I looked at the copyright page to discover, to my delight, that Gabby Allan wrote another of my favorite series under the name of Misty Simon. I can't wait to enjoy the next Whit and Whiskers mystery. I have a spot on my TBR list set aside in anticipation.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Whit decided to ditch her corporate life and the hectic travel on the 405 in L.A. and return to Catalina to help run the family's glass bottom boat business and her very own gift shop. Her commute on an island mandated golf cart, known to the locals as an autoette, tops out at 17 miles an hour. Life on the island is much less stressful. That was until the body was spotted as she and Nick take their boat, the Sea Bounder, out for the daily tour. She knew Nick wasn't guilty and she had to clear his name.
I liked everything about this debut cozy, from the location to the well plotted mystery. The setting and the cast of characters - her grandmother, especially - all pitch perfect. Then I looked at the copyright page to discover, to my delight, that Gabby Allan wrote another of my favorite series under the name of Misty Simon. I can't wait to enjoy the next Whit and Whiskers mystery. I have a spot on my TBR list set aside in anticipation.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 5, 2021
Much Ado About Nauticaling by Gabby Allan combines so many of my favorite things! From the quaint setting to the dry humor and relatable characters, I definitely want to spend more time in this world. The mystery will keep you on your toes & I had fun tagging along on the case solving adventures. There’s even a bit of romance to satisfy my swoon factor. A fun start to a charming new series!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 22, 2021
This is a quick, easy read about a mysterious death on a sleepy little island town. The cat on the cover does make an appearance in the book, and I love her.
May 1, 2023
Gabby Allan is a space alien.
I don't really know how else to explain how incredibly weird and badly written this book is. Because only someone who was a space alien would consider the pacing and structure and characters in this book "real human people". Or the things that they do things that "real human people" would do.
Firstly, people (and cats) teleport. They're nowhere near the main character one second and then suddenly they just APPEAR out of nowhere. Is that supposed to indicate that the main character is clueless? Which is, you know, great for a mystery series.
Secondly, the main character seems to have some form of ADHD... she can't keep a single thought or line of thinking in her head for more than about 11 seconds. "Oh my brother is being accused of murder"... "I really need to hide these treasure chests because that's super important right now"... "Oh, I want to get information from this person, so I'll have lunch with them and talk to them about information they definitely have"... "My grandmother has been arrested, I must immediately leave this lunch I was about to have in order to go deal with that, even though she has a husband who is perfectly capable of dealing with the issue".
It's like she can only keep a single thought in her head at one time and as soon as another thought enters her head, she can only think about that thing now. And she seems to instantly forget things she's told as soon as she's told them. "There was a redheaded woman talking to the murdered man shortly before his death"... "Yes, that woman who came to the island who has red hair"... [crickets].
When do you think is the appropriate time to give a description of the shop that is supposedly very important to the main character? The first time we see the shop? The second? The third? And I honestly don't know how many times we are in the shop location before Allan suddenly decides to give us a description of it. Likewise suddenly telling us halfway through the book that the main character is barely five foot tall. It gets brought up about a dozen times AFTER that, but before that, no. Allan wrote this book in, presumable, 2020, the character has a mobile phone and generic tablet computer, why then are they using written credit card slips in the store. I would presume about 70% of the audience of this book wouldn't even know what that was. And why, because somebody needs to have written something down by the end of the mystery.
And going back to the brother... he runs away from the police. For... no well explained reason. It makes exactly zero difference to the plot and he could have very easily just been stuck in a jail cell the whole time. But it makes him look both guilty and, honestly, unhinged.
Also, I absolutely do not care about the ex-boyfriend who followed her to the island that she left seemingly because they didn't actually talk to each other about anything ever.
Oh, and while the killer makes sense, their choice of victim doesn't. Which kind of takes the wind out of the end of the book (although, honestly, by that point I was just praying for it to end) when you go... "wait, why did you kill HIM and not HER?!"
Nobody in this book acts or talks or appears to think like an actual human person.
I don't really know how else to explain how incredibly weird and badly written this book is. Because only someone who was a space alien would consider the pacing and structure and characters in this book "real human people". Or the things that they do things that "real human people" would do.
Firstly, people (and cats) teleport. They're nowhere near the main character one second and then suddenly they just APPEAR out of nowhere. Is that supposed to indicate that the main character is clueless? Which is, you know, great for a mystery series.
Secondly, the main character seems to have some form of ADHD... she can't keep a single thought or line of thinking in her head for more than about 11 seconds. "Oh my brother is being accused of murder"... "I really need to hide these treasure chests because that's super important right now"... "Oh, I want to get information from this person, so I'll have lunch with them and talk to them about information they definitely have"... "My grandmother has been arrested, I must immediately leave this lunch I was about to have in order to go deal with that, even though she has a husband who is perfectly capable of dealing with the issue".
It's like she can only keep a single thought in her head at one time and as soon as another thought enters her head, she can only think about that thing now. And she seems to instantly forget things she's told as soon as she's told them. "There was a redheaded woman talking to the murdered man shortly before his death"... "Yes, that woman who came to the island who has red hair"... [crickets].
When do you think is the appropriate time to give a description of the shop that is supposedly very important to the main character? The first time we see the shop? The second? The third? And I honestly don't know how many times we are in the shop location before Allan suddenly decides to give us a description of it. Likewise suddenly telling us halfway through the book that the main character is barely five foot tall. It gets brought up about a dozen times AFTER that, but before that, no. Allan wrote this book in, presumable, 2020, the character has a mobile phone and generic tablet computer, why then are they using written credit card slips in the store. I would presume about 70% of the audience of this book wouldn't even know what that was. And why, because somebody needs to have written something down by the end of the mystery.
And going back to the brother... he runs away from the police. For... no well explained reason. It makes exactly zero difference to the plot and he could have very easily just been stuck in a jail cell the whole time. But it makes him look both guilty and, honestly, unhinged.
Also, I absolutely do not care about the ex-boyfriend who followed her to the island that she left seemingly because they didn't actually talk to each other about anything ever.
Oh, and while the killer makes sense, their choice of victim doesn't. Which kind of takes the wind out of the end of the book (although, honestly, by that point I was just praying for it to end) when you go... "wait, why did you kill HIM and not HER?!"
Nobody in this book acts or talks or appears to think like an actual human person.
April 25, 2022
Have you ever had a ride on a glass bottom boat? Make your reservations online at "Nautically Yours" website. Come aboard the "Sea Bounder" and enjoy the tour off Santa Catalina Island, California. After the tour, don't forget to go into town for a visit to the "Dame of the Sea" gift shop filled with local goods to multiple beach-themed displays.
The island setting with golf carts as the main mode of transportation was fun. I loved the grandparents, with a grandfather called Pops and a grandmother that refuses to be addressed as typical grandmother names. Simply call her Goldy please. I adored Whiskers. The main character Whitney "Whit" Dagner was sometimes quite annoying with her constant repetitive narration of particular phrases during her sleuthing, being away from her gift shop, and reasons why Felix Ramirez is considered an ex-boyfriend with further consideration on hold until her brother Nick is cleared as a suspect in the murder investigation.
Overall, it was an appealing nautical-themed cozy and I'll give the series at least one more try if only to enjoy the company of Whiskers.
The island setting with golf carts as the main mode of transportation was fun. I loved the grandparents, with a grandfather called Pops and a grandmother that refuses to be addressed as typical grandmother names. Simply call her Goldy please. I adored Whiskers. The main character Whitney "Whit" Dagner was sometimes quite annoying with her constant repetitive narration of particular phrases during her sleuthing, being away from her gift shop, and reasons why Felix Ramirez is considered an ex-boyfriend with further consideration on hold until her brother Nick is cleared as a suspect in the murder investigation.
Overall, it was an appealing nautical-themed cozy and I'll give the series at least one more try if only to enjoy the company of Whiskers.
October 26, 2021
It was clearly too much for me to hope for a fun beach themed spin off of much ado about nothing that would help me understand the plot of the show I am apparently the stage manager for. There was no Shakespeare in this book, only a million cliches and writing that was cringey enough I could tell(I usually am oblivious and not very critical). I thought about dropping it 20 pages in, but I decided to power through, I sped though this in two days. I mean I didn’t guess who the murderer was until 20-30 pages before the reveal, but I feel like that’s because they didn’t talk about the character at all the whole book other than a quick introduction at the beginning so. Anyways, I still tried to squeeze a little bit of enjoyment out of it, but even in terms of low quality murder mysteries - ehhhh
August 4, 2022
Holy barnacles! MUCH ADO ABOUT NAUTICALING by Gabby Allan is a fun read that blurs the line between cozy mystery and rom-com in the most perfect way. There's no sex, but friendships and romance - for the MC, her family, and for the townsfolks - is very much at the heart of the story.
I love that this engaging mystery - centered around a family-owned glass-bottom boat on touristy Catalina Island - pushes the cozy boundaries without breaking any rules. Toss in a hilarious granny (just don't let her hear you call her that!) and a mischievous cat, and this is the perfect vacation read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!
I love that this engaging mystery - centered around a family-owned glass-bottom boat on touristy Catalina Island - pushes the cozy boundaries without breaking any rules. Toss in a hilarious granny (just don't let her hear you call her that!) and a mischievous cat, and this is the perfect vacation read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series!
April 19, 2021
Fun characters, an intriguing mystery mix together to make this fun cozy. The author paints a quirky and fun mystery that is easy to get lost in. A must read!
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