Dead Calm: A Humorous Beaver Island Mystery

Beaver Island #2

by Maia Ross

A retired spy, a nerdy city-slicker, and a tractor full of secrets...It's summertime on Lake Ontario's Beaver Island, and there's trouble on the horizon. When a remote-controlled tractor goes berserk at the ground-breaking for a new condo development, retired spy Irma Abercrombie's finely-honed paranoia goes into overdrive. And after a beloved local is murdered, she and her houseguest Violet Blackheart are drawn into another island intrigue.As Violet's vacation steams ahead, she works on reverse-engineering a tractor hack and toys with learning how to conquer her fear of boating, while Irma flirts with the idea of getting closer to a dangerous ex-nemesis.Hoping to help her struggling company's bottom line, Violet enters a charity poker tournament on a superyacht—but she might have signed up for more than she bargained on.With the help of her trusty canine sidekick Mr. Pugglesworth, and intrepid (but nauseous) nerd Violet Blackheart, retired intelligence agent Irma Abercrombie sets out to find a killer.Irma's trying to conquer the world.Violet's just trying to conquer her vertigo.

Genres: Mystery

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2021

About the author

Maia Ross is the author of the Beaver Island mystery series, featuring retired spy Irma Abercrombie and couch-locked nerd Violet Blackheart, along with the spin-off series, Irma Saves Christmas, and the Beaver Island prequel novelette, Irmageddon.

Maia spent almost twenty years in the tech sector and is an avid sailor. She makes her home in Toronto with her better half, John.

To be notified about new releases and giveaways, and receive a free copy of Irmageddon, please sign up for Maia's monthly newsletter at https://www.maiarossbooks.com.

Reviews

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irma and Violet are back fighting dangerous criminals and trying not to faint....well, Violet is! I love this series!! In this mystery, a remote controlled tractor goes rogue and uncovers the body of the local tennis pro. Well liked and a good person, Irma decides to investigate.

Pairing up Irma, a retired British spy and Violet a 43 year old tech whiz is the basis for a perfect mystery! Both characters are entering new phases of life and encountering challenges they never imagined. There are so many great characters - Boris the retired Russian spy, Julian a handsome doctor, Mrs. Sepp and Mr. P a neighbor and her spoiled rotten pug who adores Irma and so many other quirky characters on Beavers Island. Even though the humor is there, it doesn't overshadow the mystery - it enhances the story and makes the reader fond of the characters.

You can read this as a standalone, but I'd encourage you to read Vitamin Sea the first book, to get more Irma and Violet mystery!

[Shayna Krishnasamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Irma is so awesome and the island she lives on is just delightful. Can I please go live there when I'm old? This book includes remote-controlled machines gone crazy, a poker game on a yacht, elderly romance, and tennis. I recommend to anyone who enjoys humour, intrigue, and cupcakes.

[Millie Picker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sarcastic retired spy and a nerd, a perfect combination. In my mind I see Helen Mirren as Irma, she would be perfect If this were a movie.

These are light, fun, before bed cozy mysteries that entertain beautifully when unwinding from a busy day. The inhabitants of the island are diverse and interesting and are a little more developed in this book than the first, which is as it should be..
I’ve already started the next one….

[Sagexox · Rating 4 out of 5]

i LOVE this series! Didn't like this one as much as Book 1, the plot was kinda 'eh', but it was still hilarious and a fun ride with Irma and the gang.. haven't read a series this good in a very long time; im not even sure what i'd compare it too... it's Next Level.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is such a fun series and I’ve really enjoyed reading it with my mother-in-law and daughter! I want to be Irma when I’m older :)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this murder mystery story. I loved getting to know our protagonists, Irma and Violet, better. They are both fantastic female characters. The humour was laugh out loud funny.
Irma is a unique character. Imagine Miss Jane Marple was a retired spook with MI6 with James Bond's athleticism. ;-)

I'd recommend Dead Calm and the Beaver Island Mysteries series to those of you who love reading cosy mysteries with oodles of humour and thrills. Especially if you like sleuths who are over 40 and have some rather cool life experience. I'm looking forward to seeing what adventures Maia writes for Irma and Violet next.

Full disclosure: Maia Ross is one of my regular clients. I read this story from first draft to published eBook. However, my review is my honest opinion.

[Carolyn Taylor-Watts]

I enjoyed Vitamin Sea, but this one even more. I don't know when I've read a book with as many interesting and beautifully-described characters before, and one where in almost every paragraph one gets a laugh. I'm hoping there is more to come.

[L Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good mystery (or two), with well-developed characters (who are truly characters), and a lovely setting. Entertainment has never been so fun to read.

[Lonny Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irma and Vi continue their hilarious, mismatched, crime solving summer. Are they rubbing off on each other?