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Dolphin Bay #1-3

Dolphin Bay Boxed Set 1 with Recipes

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'I hung at the edge of my seat to find out who done it.' Widowed cafe owner Anna Butler uncovers shocking secrets from her past as she tries to prove she did not murder her husband. Packed with twists and turns you never saw coming, every book in this series leaves readers wanting more. Leena Clover presents a heartwarming cozy mystery series about family, friendship and the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Recently widowed Anna Butler is busy testing cupcake recipes, trying to cope with the loss of her beloved husband. When the license for her dream cafe is rejected, Anna realizes the local mayor will never stop making her life difficult. The formidable woman has already turned half the town against her, all because she has a silly notion that Anna killed her husband. Aided by her quirky friends, the Firecrackers, and her daughter, a has-been Hollywood star, Anna will move heaven and earth to solve the mystery behind her husband's death. The debonair ex-police chief is a big help and it doesn't hurt that he has a soft spot for her. If you like cozy mysteries featuring strong women, small beach towns, yummy food and a dash of romance, you will fall in love with the Dolphin Bay series. Includes the titles - RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE MURDER ORANGE THYME DEATH APPLE CARAMEL MAYHEM Also, an exclusive never-seen-before interview with Anna Butler and RECIPES!
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Available in paperback and large print.

628 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2021

623 people are currently reading
320 people want to read

About the author

Leena Clover

72 books361 followers
Leena Clover is a popular, bestselling author of cozy mysteries with heart.

You can expect fearless heroines, small town drama, quirky characters and friendships that last a lifetime in her books. Yummy food and a murder or two are guaranteed!

Visit her website at leenaclover.com to learn more.

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5 stars
499 (56%)
4 stars
260 (29%)
3 stars
96 (10%)
2 stars
27 (3%)
1 star
8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
66 reviews
March 18, 2024
DOLPHIN BAY COZY MYSTERIES

The last couple of years had been tough on Anna Butler! She lost her husband of 34 years suddenly then a year later got breast cancer. Her daughter, Cassie, had come home from California where she was an actress to take care of her. Her friends, Julie & Mary, were her great friends & were known has the Firecrackers.

In RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE MURDER, Anna receives a letter denying her application for a cafe to be added to her bookstore. She is furious & her friends decide they need to go with her to confront the mayor, Lara Crawford about it. For some unknown reason, Lara hates Anna & has always been convinced she murdered her husband, John...with no reasonable explanation for why! Lara was determined to drive the Butler women out of Dolphin Bay.

Cassie rarely gets out in Dolphin Bay preferring to sit by Hannah's pool all day. Whenever her mother or her friends asked her to join them, her excuse was she was "waiting on a call from her agent". At 36, Cassie is as irresponsible as she was as a teenager. Although she dotes on her mother since her breast cancer diagnosis & recovery, she has little ambition to do anything about getting a jib or getting out in the town.

Anna gets a call from her old friend, Vicki. She hasn't spoken with her since her husband died & Lara started the rumors that Anna murdered him! Vicki tells her that her son, Cody, knew a girl at the college who had been murdered & because they had dated, he was a suspect. It seems the local police force decide on a guilty person then fit the evidence to the person rather than trying to find the truth. Lots of twists & turns & a fun introduction to Anna & her friends!

In Orange Thyme Death, Anna is preparing her orange thyme cupcakes for the Grand Opening of her Cafe in 3 days. He had run her bookstore, Bayside Books for over 20 years & thanks to her friend, Julie, who bought the space next door & was leasing it to Anna, her Cafe was almost ready! Cassie was finally getting out in town & had gone to a concert the night before at the local resort! People still remembered some of "Cassandra Butler's movies" & that had helped perk her up a lot.

Anna is going to the Bookstore/Cafe to meet Julie & Mary to be sure everything was ready & probably to rearrange the furniture again! As Cassie settles down for another day by the pool, an unknown number comes up on her cell. After it continues to ring, she picks it up. It is her mother, sounding upset, & telling her when she got to the Bookstore, the door was ajar & as she walked into cafe, she found a dead body. Teddy Fowler, the local policeman, has "brought Anna in for questioning"! It sounds like the mayor is a huge influence on convincing him Anna killed her husband 2 years ago & he seems to think Anna is guilty of anything else Lara Crawford claims! Now the store is sealed until the police finish thoroughly investigating what happened!

As Cassie brings in the morning paper, she opens it to the headline, "Husband Killer Strikes Again"! Anna is more determined than ever to stop the rumors & find out why the man's dead body was put in her cafe!

In Apple Caramel Mayhem, the Cafe is a huge success . Meg is running it with Anna's baking. Some days they are even selling out of everything. Cassie is even pitching in by helping in the Bookstore. The Cafe is helping bring in more business there as well! There is an important Town Meeting being held at the Castle Beach Resort. An out of town contractor has been hired to develop some of the ocean view property into condos. Most of the town is against it since Mike Donovan, knowing nothing about the area, wants to destroy the Coastal Walk, a beautiful area with natural walking/running paths near the ocean. Lara Crawford is all for it & rumors are she was given an ocean facing villa in the new development. Donovan beats about how his jogging park will be a lot better than the " dusty old path of the Coastal Walk" they have now. People are furious at him & not even the Mayor can calm them down. As refreshments are served, Donovan circulates among the townspeople & tries to answer questions. He tells those listening that Bayview will be so beautiful & bring in lots of tourists. A man asks "What's in it for us?" Donovan tells him Dolphin Bat residents get a special discount when they invest in Bayview. Mrs. Chang, the owner of the local Chinese restaurant, asks, "What does she get?" staring at Lara Crawford. "Madame Mayor has already bought a condo in Bayview." Donovan declared."She gets a big bonus for being the first buyer from Dolphin Bay." Instead of people being more enthusiastic for the project, A buzz goes around the room& the word "bribe" is heard whispering around!

As Anna with her friends & family get ready to leave, there is a scream! Charlie, the owner of the Resort rushes over to find out what happened. He tells for someone to call the police. Someone has killed Mike Donovan!

You will enjoy these cozy mysteries!
Profile Image for Donna.
Author 7 books33 followers
March 10, 2022
Overall, I give the Box Set 3.5 stars. Most of the characters aren't very likable and aren't well-developed. The police are incompetent.


Raspberry Chocolate Murder--3.5 Stars
This was an okay story. The mystery was good. I had the murderer figured out before the reveal. I liked that Anna didn't put herself in dangerous situations. The sub-plot of the mayor accusing Anna of murdering her husband added nothing to the overall story and was a distraction, IMO. The characters weren't well-developed. Cassie acted like a spoiled rotten teenager instead of a woman in her mid-thirties. Since I bought the box set, I'll go ahead and read the next two books in the series.


Orange Thyme Death--3.5 Stars
Again, the mystery was good. I've never read a cozy with vigilante justice/serial killers. Anna and Gino make a cute couple and he is an asset to the story. Nobody would let the mayor get by with slandering them the way Anna does. She would be suing the mayor. Cassie needs to grow up. She really gets on my nerves with her petulant, childish behavior. Meg being Cassie's daughter was a surprise. The characters are a little more developed but still lack depth.


Apple Caramel Mayhem--3.5 Stars
The mystery was lacking in this one. I mean, the man was stabbed in a room full of people but no one saw anything. Not very realistic, IMO. There were several suspects and motives. I wish it had been explained how John died so I could have had some idea about the mayor's slander. Now that the mayor has added Gino to her slanderous accusations, I really don't understand Anna and Gino not doing something about it. So far, the mayor has added nothing to the series and is nothing but a distraction. I wish Cassie would go back to Hollywood. She's an unlikable character, IMO.
474 reviews4 followers
March 16, 2022
This was not a relaxing set of cozy mysteries. Emotions were always on HIGH! The main threatened to throw her daughter, who took time off to help during her cancer treatment, out over a granddaughter that had just appeared in their lives. One of the besties was always cynical, sarcastic and talked badly about others. The local authorities were horrible. The mayor should have had a lawsuit filed against her or a warning to cease and desist. Yes, I read the end interview with the character about waiting for later, nope, the mayor was over the line nasty and mean. When you don't see them stop it becomes stressful to read. The local police force would have benefited from Barney Fife, he was smarter. The most balanced and smartest of the group was the newly surfaced granddaughter and the retired chief of police. Almost everyone else had hidden agendas, emotional issues, vindictive personalities or were jealous and would stab someone in the back in a heartbeat. Then some would claim it was just in the line of work. (local news editor) Good editing, good proofreading and good location with details.
160 reviews
July 8, 2023
Good, cozy reads

These, the first 3 books of the series, do a very good job of character development of the main people n the small seaside town of Dolphin Bay. The family dynamics are interesting and only Sussex out slowly, which is good. I enjoyed that the main female character sleuths are not really young, which gave them, and the stories, an interesting twist from other books like this. Anna still has a bookstore, and soon a cafe, but it all still gave good interest to the books. As in all small town mysteries, we meet some of the regulars of the town. Makes me very glad I am not a small town person. Yikes! Everyone knows too much about each other. But the murders are not what runs the books, but rather a part of what we discover. Well written and even a bit surprising. Definitely worth the read. Will be sure to read the rest of the books in the series.
910 reviews5 followers
March 16, 2022
Joy beyond the heartbreak

If you're looking for cozy mysteries, you'll love this set and its follow on. Anna has been widowed for the past two years after the love of her life, her professor husband, dies mysteriously. Diagnosed with breast cancer in the wake of his loss, her daughter, Cassie, a famous actress, returns home after a 20 year absence, to be by her side.
Anna's personal life keeps changing in positive ways while bodies keep turning up in her small town. Having helped solve cases in the past, people are now coming to Anna asking for her help solving the mystery of their family member's deaths. Filled with Anna's life, as a mother and grandmother, friend, business owner, and sleuth, is never dull in Dolphin Bay!
438 reviews5 followers
June 4, 2022
intriguing

Here we have an enabling mother, a lazy, narcissistic daughter, and a granddaughter too good to be true. Yet each of these characters, as well as others who pop up in Dolphin Bay, is rather likable. In the three books of this set, we meet additional residents—some killers, some victims, and some incidental but necessary. I like the range of personalities. I also like that the solution to each murder isn’t obvious. These are some of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read.
2,573 reviews44 followers
May 28, 2023
Cozy series

Meh. Anne was a doormat for her daughter Cassie who needed to be surgically removed from her phone (waiting for her agent's call) or from any reclining surface she found. Lazy and self important doesn't begin to describe Cassie. It was difficult to read this and see how Anne let herself be used constantly. The mysteries were sad and dragged on and on. No thanks. Glad this was free.
606 reviews6 followers
June 1, 2023
Three wonderful mysteries! The stories center in a quaint seaside town with a lot of history and interesting characters. The principle character, Anna, runs a bookstore and is known as an excellent baker. She is also an excellent crime sleuth. She has good instincts and a dogged determination to get to the bottom of crimes when they are committed.

I have written separate reviews for each of the books contained in this set. See them for more details about each book
Profile Image for Baby Girl.
981 reviews12 followers
June 7, 2022
Murder Mystery Anthology for the Win!

Each mystery comes with quirks and stumbles. The characters are funny and caring all in one. If you like murder mysteries that grab your attention through ever page, then the Dolphin Bay Cozy Mysteries is for you. I also love that this anthology was includes copies for three delicious cupcake flavors. I am definitely a fan of Lee a Clover!
292 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2024
Enjoyed all three of these. Ideal stories for a quick and easy read. Don't read them if you are hungry or on diet because the various food descriptions/references will make you want to eat!! I have to say the police in this town are pretty rubbish and the stories remind me a bit of a 'Murder She Wrote' style. I enjoyed Leena Clover other books which prompted me to down load these ones.
34 reviews
May 31, 2024
Murders in a small town.

Small towns have little money to hire good police officers. So they hire who they can as nothing horrible ever happens in a small town where everybody knows everybody. Unless you live in Dolphin Bay. It was so good I didn't want to put it down! Have fun trying to figure it all out!
Profile Image for Wendy Hodges.
2,896 reviews41 followers
June 16, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this interesting Cozy Mystery set, I definitely want more from these characters. Easy reading that grips but you can put down and then pick up again without losing momentum or having to recap. Characters are fun, unique and a little quirky. They also have serious sides with individual struggles that add to whatever is happening around them. Loved it.
1 review
May 16, 2021
Your books are great

I have never be a reader before until I started reading your books they make me feel like I'm really there I enjoy them very much you do great work congratulations
311 reviews
January 11, 2022
Dolphin Bay Cozy Mysteries

I love all the characters in this set of books. They support each other through all the ups and downs. The mysteries are quite exciting and eventful throughout the series. I look forward to reading more of this series.
667 reviews7 followers
March 8, 2022
Anna and the Firecrackers!

Anna gets involved with at least one murder in each book. Her two best friends nicknamed the "Firecrackers" use their talents to help her. Her Movie Star daughter has problems of her own but does help her mother in the quest for justice.
Profile Image for jean barnes.
225 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2022
Loved reading these books

What great mysteries, the thing I love about reading cosy mystery sets is that you get to know the key characters so well you feel you know them, can't wait for more
Profile Image for Suzanne Miller.
239 reviews
March 31, 2022
Dolphin Bay Shenanigans

The Firecrackers are the closest if friends through thick and thin! These three ladies work together to solve three murders in the quiet town of Dolphin Bay! Anna is the leader of the group of amateur sleuths!!
839 reviews7 followers
June 18, 2022
Awesome mystery

This book set was enjoyable to read. It has mystery and I hung at the edge of my seat to find out who done it. Well wriiten. Great recipes at the end. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
23 reviews
July 3, 2022
Grade school quality read

This whole series was nothing but mealtime with unbelievable text in between meals. A 5th-6th grad student might enjoy. (Or have written for that matter)
298 reviews1 follower
August 4, 2022
The mystery solving ladies

This was a very good book about how 3 ladies ending up slowing 3 murders that happens in their town. Was hard to put down for you had to keep reading to see what they found out. Very clean and interesting
196 reviews
February 2, 2023
A Recipe to follow.

Good easy reading,characters you come to know as the stories progress,and the plots are well thought out hopefully Anna and company will solve the outstanding death and shut the Mayor's vile ranting once and for all.




5 reviews
June 10, 2023
Unexpected outcome

My favorite part was the tenacity of the fire crackers. How they stuck together and bounced ideas off each other to solve crimes. I also loved the interaction between Meg and Cassie.
969 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2024
Very enjoyable read

I enjoyed this Dolphin Bay Cozy Mysteries boxed set.
The storylines were wonderfully intriguing, and the characters were interesting and likeable.

I will definitely look to read further books in this series.
Profile Image for E.
1,877 reviews
May 31, 2021
Fantastic series! I look forward to reading each one!!
Profile Image for Dianne Pearson.
19 reviews
February 2, 2022
Stimulating

This is the best Box set that I have read in a very long time. It keeps you on your toes and so hard to put down. Read it for yourself, you will enjoy it! Fat
4 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2022
Fun read

CHaracters can.e t




Characters came to life as the story developed. The author depicted the settings so you could feel like you were a part of the town.






Profile Image for Delia Papas.
95 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2022
Fun

Adventure, betrayal and mystery. Solving murders and running a cafe and book store is a lot of work. Great characters and story
Profile Image for Angel Graham.
Author 1 book33 followers
March 16, 2022
DNF at 6%

Third person. Poorly written. Not a single character was likeable.
614 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2022
Another good story!

I really feel like I know these these people and look forward to another episode. Only sorry it's the last!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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