X Marks the Murder: A Wendy Grace Mystery

by Pam Stucky

She went looking for buried treasure. What she found was far more sinister. Discover your new favorite amateur sleuth! Wendy Grace has just retired after thirty years of teaching grade school. She and her second husband, James, have moved to the tiny town of Wandering Cove on the idyllic Oregon coast and are looking forward to filling the second half of their lives with new adventures. But Wendy did not expect that those new adventures would include murder! On a seemingly bucolic Saturday afternoon, Wendy heads out with a local metal detector and shipwreck historian to try her hand at metal detecting on the beach right by her new home. As the historian regales Wendy with stories of the local shipwreck and its legendary lost treasure, Wendy is prepared to find the ubiquitous bottle caps, dropped coins, and maybe a lost bit of jewelry. What she ultimately discovers, however, is far more sinister. While working on the challenge of identifying the victim, Wendy quickly digs up more long-buried secrets than anyone expected. X Marks the Murder is the first in the new Wendy Grace mysteries series. Readers who love the stories of MC Beaton, Elin Hilderbrand, TE Kinsey, Louise Penny, and Ann Cleeves will love Wendy Grace.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery Thriller

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Back in April this book was offered for free on Amazon and knowing I needed an “X” book for my Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge I snapped it up and I am so happy that I did.

In X Marks the Murder we meet retired schoolteacher, Wendy Grace and her husband documentary filmmaker, James. They have just moved to Wandering Cove on the Oregon Coast. James can work from anywhere and he just wanted Wendy to be happy, plus they are now closer to his children and Wendy hopes maybe her kids will visit and fall in love with the place too. As you can tell both have been married before.

They had just moved and have been getting settled but James needs to make a quick day trip to Los Angeles so Wendy decides to scope out the town herself and finds herself at the Community Center and attending a lecture about local shipwrecks. There she meets Chester Edwards. A very active elderly man who has a passion for metal detecting along the beach and in the caves and coves. Wendy admits she is looking for some new hobbies so he offers to take her metal detecting that afternoon. He brings her a top-of-the-line detector and has an even better one for himself. A quick lesson and both are methodically sweeping back on forth and as he shares with her some shipwreck stories. But after finding several pull tabs from cans of soda Wendy makes some deadly discoveries. First a bullet, then a metal bracelet still attached to a very dead body.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were very well developed for the first book in a series. I got to know them quickly, their backstories, their children, several residents of Wandering Cove, and how they fit together. I was totally invested in their lives just halfway through the book. Ms. Stucky did a great job. All the characters are relatable and seem very genuine

I love Wendy’s confident independence. She struck out to get to know people, she kept her eyes and ears open and openly tried to get to the bottom of the murder. After teaching children for 30 years she has a keen sense about people. She is an excellent protagonist.

The investigation was different because the small town of Wandering Cove does not have a police force. they have a Community Officer, Trish, who coordinates whatever services made be needed for any situation. Wendy got to know her very well as she kept uncovering relevant clues sometimes with an assist from James and his family. His sons’ have a unique business that ended up being all tangled up in the investigation. The mystery had some great twists and secrets revealed. I felt it was different from the customary cozy mystery where the amateur sleuth is always the ire of the local police.

The author does an excellent job of setting the scene. I could easily imagine every place Wendy Grace went from her beachside home, the local bar, the cove where the body was found, and Coveside Farm, “the family business”. It was a complete pleasure to travel all around Wandering Cove.

The story does have some typos and a few unusual passages where the wording just doesn’t work. I would love it if the author would just do one more read-through and clean up these issues so they don’t ruin the flow of the story.

I feel the main job of a book is to entertain and this story did that. It also tested my mind as I followed the clues with Wendy. I am very excited to see what the author has planned for these characters. I had planned to give this book a 4-star rating because of the errors I mentioned above but writing this review was really easy because I couldn’t wait to share my thoughts with you so I am not holding back. This book was a Perfect Escape and deserves this rating.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retired teacher Wendy Grace and her second husband, James Leigh, retire to the small town of Wandering Cove on the Oregon Coast. James’ adult children live there, too. Wendy and James are ready to settle down to retired life.

Wendy decides to try her hand at metal detecting under the guidance of a local expert. She finds small items like coins and bottle caps. Imagine her surprise when she finds a dead body, too. She definitely wasn’t prepared for that.

With the help of her husband and the rest of the town, Wendy investigates. First, she tries to find the identity of the deceased and then she turns her attentions to who the killer could be. She never thought this small town could have so many secrets.

Wandering Cove doesn't have their own police force. They have one Community Officer who coordinates with the sheriff's office on an "as needed" basis. Wendy feels responsible to solve this mystery since she is the one who discovered the body.

I immediately fell in love with Wendy, James and the rest of their family. These characters are realistic and I really cared about them. It felt like they could be your neighbors. I can't remember the last time I loved characters so much based on the first book. Perhaps it's because I'm recently retired so I could identify with Wendy trying to fill her time.

The mystery is intriguing, compelling, and I was totally engrossed in it. I didn’t realize whodunit until Wendy figured it out towards the end of the book. I couldn’t put this one down and read late into the night.


I never read anything by this author before but she’s on my radar now. This is the first book in the series and I’ll be looking for the next one. What a great start to a new cozy mystery series.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting of this cozy mystery is the small town of Wandering Cove, Oregon. The town is fun and unique, but it is bothersome that law enforcement is left in the hands of the town’s Community Officer. It is explained that the county Sheriff’s office is called in only as a “last resort.” While the Community Officer and deputies do have minor involvement in this murder investigation, the majority of the sleuthing is left to retired teacher Wendy Grace and her husband, who have just moved to the town.

The book could use some editing to correct a few inconsistencies, but the town characters are fun enough to make for a good book and possibly a fun series.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick paced, cozy mystery that I enjoyed. Who would expect to find a dead body the first time you go looking for treasure with a metal detector? Additionally, you are new to the small oceanside town where the murder occurred. There were a few odd phrases used that an editor should have caught, for example, "I caught glimpses of a beach on the other side that I knew I’d returning to every low tide I could: a private oasis, pristine sand, a secret tucked away from all the troubles the world." (Kindle page 14)

[Jerry Chick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat interesting story but the character that turned out to be the murderer didn't show up in the story until the very last few pages. Also, the editor didn't do a very good job of proof reading this story as there were a lot of errors throughout the book. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd put this one at about a 5 or 6.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relatable characters, so much so that I too am a recently retired teacher. However, I have not had the adventure that Wendy Grace had but I truly enjoyed reading and living vicariously through her. Loved the story line and the many characters. Keeps you guessing until the end.

[Lisa Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizing tale of treasure & trauma

I live all of Stucky's books, but this is the best by far. This is the first in the Wendy Grace series.

[sharon helgason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read with well-developed characters in a lovely setting. Will find more of her writings.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new town, getting to know your neighbors, and trying out new activities that’s what she wanted, not what the first new activity turned up.

[Veena Soujanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.75 Stars