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Seaside Ice Cream Shop Mystery #1
Banana Slit
The grand opening of Anna McBride’s seaside ice cream shop is anything but sweet.
After the tragic death of her Irish twin sister, Bella, Anna needed a radical change. So, she closed her counseling practice in Boston to embark on a new adventure as an ice cream shop owner.
Now all she wants is to settle into her new town, attempt to turn her black thumb green, and build her ice cream shop into a community hub that hosts quality entertainment and group gatherings - just like Bella had often fantasized about doing before her fateful boating accident.
And what better location than Seagull Cove, the small Massachusetts coastal town where Anna and Bella created their best memories?
But when Anna finds her first musical guest, and Seagull Cove’s most famous son, murdered in the alley behind her shop, her grand opening ends on a sour note.
Anna must find the killer, or her ice cream shop will become more famous for its crimes than its banana splits. If only she could convince Joe Wiggins, her favorite new customer and a retired P.I., to assist her… But retired life is treating him too well.
To further complicate Anna’s life, Joe thinks he saw Bella peering into Anna’s ice cream shop from across the street. Bella’s body was never found. Could she still be alive?
If you love small New England seaside towns, loveable characters, captivating mysteries, and ice cream parlors, you’ll love the Seaside Ice Cream Shop Mysteries.
After the tragic death of her Irish twin sister, Bella, Anna needed a radical change. So, she closed her counseling practice in Boston to embark on a new adventure as an ice cream shop owner.
Now all she wants is to settle into her new town, attempt to turn her black thumb green, and build her ice cream shop into a community hub that hosts quality entertainment and group gatherings - just like Bella had often fantasized about doing before her fateful boating accident.
And what better location than Seagull Cove, the small Massachusetts coastal town where Anna and Bella created their best memories?
But when Anna finds her first musical guest, and Seagull Cove’s most famous son, murdered in the alley behind her shop, her grand opening ends on a sour note.
Anna must find the killer, or her ice cream shop will become more famous for its crimes than its banana splits. If only she could convince Joe Wiggins, her favorite new customer and a retired P.I., to assist her… But retired life is treating him too well.
To further complicate Anna’s life, Joe thinks he saw Bella peering into Anna’s ice cream shop from across the street. Bella’s body was never found. Could she still be alive?
If you love small New England seaside towns, loveable characters, captivating mysteries, and ice cream parlors, you’ll love the Seaside Ice Cream Shop Mysteries.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2021
464 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Angela K. Ryan
38 books76 followersAngela K. Ryan is the author of the Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Series, the Seaside Ice Cream Shop Mysteries, and the Cape Cod Cozy Mysteries. She writes clean, feel-good cozies for readers who love humor, lots of twists and turns, and happy-dance endings.
When she is not writing, Angela enjoys the outdoors, especially kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snowshoeing, and skiing. She lives in Massachusetts and loves all four of the New England seasons, but she looks forward to regular escapes to the white, sandy beaches of southwest Florida, where her mother resides.
It is fitting that Angela’s series take place in fictitious seaside towns in Massachusetts and Florida. These small towns would be idyllic if it weren’t for all the bodies that keep turning up!
Angela dreams of one day owning a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel like the sweet pup in her Sapphire Beach Series, but she isn’t home enough to take care of one. So, for now, lives vicariously through one of her main characters, Connie.
When she is not writing, Angela enjoys the outdoors, especially kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snowshoeing, and skiing. She lives in Massachusetts and loves all four of the New England seasons, but she looks forward to regular escapes to the white, sandy beaches of southwest Florida, where her mother resides.
It is fitting that Angela’s series take place in fictitious seaside towns in Massachusetts and Florida. These small towns would be idyllic if it weren’t for all the bodies that keep turning up!
Angela dreams of one day owning a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel like the sweet pup in her Sapphire Beach Series, but she isn’t home enough to take care of one. So, for now, lives vicariously through one of her main characters, Connie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 19, 2022
Book 1. This a new series. It is a good book. In honor of Anna sister Bella ( she supposedly died in a boating accident) she opened a ice cream shop Bella's Dream in Seagulls Grove. Where they used to visit with their mom dad and bro. Anna envisioned the shop to be like a get together with live music and games in such. On opening night Anna had a hometown celebrity singer Marcus come to the shop. Velma one of Anna employees had him attend. It was a hit. Ice cream was sold and Marcus even sang his song with his girlfriend Jasmine ( another singer) with him. After everything was settled Anna went to put trash in the dumpster. She saw an orange cat that was acting strangely. When she rolled him she found that Marcus was dead beside the dumpster. Everyone was beside their selves and next door in a vacant lot where a restaurant was going to be fans of his put mementos out for him to remember him. Joe a retired private inspector who lived upstairs on shop. Was helping Anna to find out who wanted him dead and to bring customers in so that Marcus death won't be tarnishing the ice cream shop. This was a great first book series. Loved all the characters. They were very welcoming to Anna. Great storyline
July 8, 2024
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (rounded up)
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️
POV: Singular, Third Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of an interconnected series: Yes
First in series: Yes
Safe or Dark: Safe
My husband thought this was a "porn book" based on the title. It is not. However, I can see why he would think that.
I was in the market for a cozy mystery, and that is exactly what I got with this book. It was quick, cute, cozy, and fun. For the first time in a while, I have little to no complaints when it comes to a book I’ve read. The plot moved at a good pace and was engaging. All the characters were likeable, even the murder suspects. I adored Joe Wiggins, the local ice cream lover and retired private investigator.
I also liked the fact that Anna did not have a love interest pop up right away. Sometimes in cozy mysteries, love interests show up quickly, and a relationship develops. It can seem forced and unnecessary.
That being said, I did say I had LITTLE to no complaints, not that I had NONE.
This is where my trusty list comes into play. It will be short this time, I promise. Okay, I can't promise, but I'm pretty sure it will be.
1) Our main character, Anabelle "Anna" McBride, lost her Irish twin, Isabella "Bella" McBride, in a boating accident four years prior to when this book takes place. I honestly don't even know if I spelled those names right. I can't remember, and I am too lazy to open the book and find out. Also, I didn't know what an Irish twin was, so I looked it up. ["The term “Irish twins” refers to one mother having two children who were born 12 months or less apart."] I kept trying to figure out why Bella being Irish was so important, and I thought it was weird that Anna never once mentioned that she was Irish. Thank goodness I got that straightened out, but, per usual, I digress. After Anna loses her sister, she decides to close her counseling practice in Boston and move to Seagull Cove, a quaint (fictional) town on the coast of Massachusetts, so she can realize her late sister's dream of opening an ice cream shop. That's all well and good. I had no issue with that. I actually found that to be rather sweet. What I did have an issue with was the name of the above-mentioned ice cream shop, Bella's Dream. I have no idea why I hated that name so much. It just didn't scream ice cream shop to me. I definitely think that the author could have gotten more creative with that one. I also couldn't escape the name, since it was constantly brought up. Instead of simply saying, "Anna woke up and got dressed to head to her shop or work". It would say something like, "Anna woke up and got dressed to head to Bella's Dream". Things were worded like this repeatedly. We already know where you work, girl. There is no need to remind us every two seconds. I'm aware that having an issue with the name of the shop is just me being picky, and it in no way takes away from the story itself.
2) Very early in the story (the first or second chapter), a local musician who hit it big, Marcus Grady, is murdered behind Anna's shop next to the dumpsters after performing at her grand opening event. The grand opening went well, and Anna was pleased to get a lot of business. But after this horrific incident occurred, the foot traffic in her store quickly dwindled. Which is understandable. This is how she got involved in the murder, despite having no prior investigative or police experience. She needed to find out who killed Marcus to make things in town right again. What got old fast was Anna’s woe-is-me attitude and her constant complaining about the murder screwing up the chances of her shop becoming a success. We had to hear her inner monologue about wondering if she would ever recover from this tragedy and how she was worried she would have to shut down the shop due to a lack of business. We also had to hear about the fact that she had lost one or two employees in the process since they feared for their safety while working there. Again, this is all very understandable; I just got sick of listening to Anna’s pity party. But I guess if I was concerned about how my bills would get paid, I would be feeling pretty down too. This brings me to the next point on my list.
3) Anna rapidly lost business due to the murder, and that caused her shop to be in the red. She wasn’t turning a profit. Which is normal for some time after starting a new business. But she was concerned about recovering in the future and making her shop a solid investment. Anna had sold her condo in Boston and used the proceeds to buy her new home in Seagull Cove. She had also nearly drained her savings account from remodeling and opening her shop. She was financially strapped, but she continued to make questionable financial decisions. She was rapidly hiring more employees than she needed at the time, which, of course, meant she had to pay more people. Anna promoted Velma, her most valued and experienced employee, to store manager, even though she didn’t need to since she was still in the shop almost every day. Now, she had to adjust Velma’s pay to reflect her new position. I guess those things aren’t catastrophic decisions since they were to better her business, but another choice she made with her money was just stupid. Anna desperately wanted the mound of dirt in front of her house to be a beautiful English garden, but she had a black thumb. Her neighbor, Wanda, had a super green thumb and a beautiful garden. So, she enlists the help of Wanda (whom she pays in ice cream) and dumps all this money into flowers, sod, decorations, and other gardening supplies. Surely, her garden could have waited until her store started turning a profit and she was more financially stable. Having lovely flowers in your yard is not a life-or-death situation; it’s not something that needs to be at the top of the priority list. Especially since she complained about the added surprise expenses her shop required. Anna, honey, this could have been done later.
4) Anna was supposedly a trained psychologist/counselor, but the decisions she made and the characteristics she showed did not reflect her past career. Again, probably something minute that only bothered me.
Okay, that list ended up being longer than I expected. I had more complaints than I thought. I told you guys I couldn’t promise anything.
Anna's story continues in the next book in the series, I Scream. However, I’m not sure if I will be reading it. As much as I enjoyed this book, I just don’t think I’m invested enough in Anna’s story to continue.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and am glad I read it.
I grabbed this for free on Kindle. I believe it is now available for $3.99 if you are interested in checking it out.
Book Cover: ⭐️⭐️
POV: Singular, Third Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Part of an interconnected series: Yes
First in series: Yes
Safe or Dark: Safe
My husband thought this was a "porn book" based on the title. It is not. However, I can see why he would think that.
I was in the market for a cozy mystery, and that is exactly what I got with this book. It was quick, cute, cozy, and fun. For the first time in a while, I have little to no complaints when it comes to a book I’ve read. The plot moved at a good pace and was engaging. All the characters were likeable, even the murder suspects. I adored Joe Wiggins, the local ice cream lover and retired private investigator.
I also liked the fact that Anna did not have a love interest pop up right away. Sometimes in cozy mysteries, love interests show up quickly, and a relationship develops. It can seem forced and unnecessary.
That being said, I did say I had LITTLE to no complaints, not that I had NONE.
This is where my trusty list comes into play. It will be short this time, I promise. Okay, I can't promise, but I'm pretty sure it will be.
1) Our main character, Anabelle "Anna" McBride, lost her Irish twin, Isabella "Bella" McBride, in a boating accident four years prior to when this book takes place. I honestly don't even know if I spelled those names right. I can't remember, and I am too lazy to open the book and find out. Also, I didn't know what an Irish twin was, so I looked it up. ["The term “Irish twins” refers to one mother having two children who were born 12 months or less apart."] I kept trying to figure out why Bella being Irish was so important, and I thought it was weird that Anna never once mentioned that she was Irish. Thank goodness I got that straightened out, but, per usual, I digress. After Anna loses her sister, she decides to close her counseling practice in Boston and move to Seagull Cove, a quaint (fictional) town on the coast of Massachusetts, so she can realize her late sister's dream of opening an ice cream shop. That's all well and good. I had no issue with that. I actually found that to be rather sweet. What I did have an issue with was the name of the above-mentioned ice cream shop, Bella's Dream. I have no idea why I hated that name so much. It just didn't scream ice cream shop to me. I definitely think that the author could have gotten more creative with that one. I also couldn't escape the name, since it was constantly brought up. Instead of simply saying, "Anna woke up and got dressed to head to her shop or work". It would say something like, "Anna woke up and got dressed to head to Bella's Dream". Things were worded like this repeatedly. We already know where you work, girl. There is no need to remind us every two seconds. I'm aware that having an issue with the name of the shop is just me being picky, and it in no way takes away from the story itself.
2) Very early in the story (the first or second chapter), a local musician who hit it big, Marcus Grady, is murdered behind Anna's shop next to the dumpsters after performing at her grand opening event. The grand opening went well, and Anna was pleased to get a lot of business. But after this horrific incident occurred, the foot traffic in her store quickly dwindled. Which is understandable. This is how she got involved in the murder, despite having no prior investigative or police experience. She needed to find out who killed Marcus to make things in town right again. What got old fast was Anna’s woe-is-me attitude and her constant complaining about the murder screwing up the chances of her shop becoming a success. We had to hear her inner monologue about wondering if she would ever recover from this tragedy and how she was worried she would have to shut down the shop due to a lack of business. We also had to hear about the fact that she had lost one or two employees in the process since they feared for their safety while working there. Again, this is all very understandable; I just got sick of listening to Anna’s pity party. But I guess if I was concerned about how my bills would get paid, I would be feeling pretty down too. This brings me to the next point on my list.
3) Anna rapidly lost business due to the murder, and that caused her shop to be in the red. She wasn’t turning a profit. Which is normal for some time after starting a new business. But she was concerned about recovering in the future and making her shop a solid investment. Anna had sold her condo in Boston and used the proceeds to buy her new home in Seagull Cove. She had also nearly drained her savings account from remodeling and opening her shop. She was financially strapped, but she continued to make questionable financial decisions. She was rapidly hiring more employees than she needed at the time, which, of course, meant she had to pay more people. Anna promoted Velma, her most valued and experienced employee, to store manager, even though she didn’t need to since she was still in the shop almost every day. Now, she had to adjust Velma’s pay to reflect her new position. I guess those things aren’t catastrophic decisions since they were to better her business, but another choice she made with her money was just stupid. Anna desperately wanted the mound of dirt in front of her house to be a beautiful English garden, but she had a black thumb. Her neighbor, Wanda, had a super green thumb and a beautiful garden. So, she enlists the help of Wanda (whom she pays in ice cream) and dumps all this money into flowers, sod, decorations, and other gardening supplies. Surely, her garden could have waited until her store started turning a profit and she was more financially stable. Having lovely flowers in your yard is not a life-or-death situation; it’s not something that needs to be at the top of the priority list. Especially since she complained about the added surprise expenses her shop required. Anna, honey, this could have been done later.
4) Anna was supposedly a trained psychologist/counselor, but the decisions she made and the characteristics she showed did not reflect her past career. Again, probably something minute that only bothered me.
Okay, that list ended up being longer than I expected. I had more complaints than I thought. I told you guys I couldn’t promise anything.
Anna's story continues in the next book in the series, I Scream. However, I’m not sure if I will be reading it. As much as I enjoyed this book, I just don’t think I’m invested enough in Anna’s story to continue.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and am glad I read it.
I grabbed this for free on Kindle. I believe it is now available for $3.99 if you are interested in checking it out.
October 9, 2024
Bella McBride dreamed of opening an ice cream shop in Seagull Cove, where people ate sundaes and came together in a community gathering spot. Her older sister Anna made it a reality after Bella died in a boating accident off the shores of the popular seaside resort. With a grand opening made even better by a performance from the local rockstar, it seemed everything was on track to a successful venture. Successful until the musician was found dead behind the shop then Anna and Bella's dreams came to a crashing halt. Anna must find the culprit before her business sustains any more bad vibes.
3.5 Stars
I tried to like Anna, but she was immature for her age. She gloated at pulling a stunt from which she had agreed to abstain. She was brash and nosey. I quite understood why her neighbour gave her the short shrift and couldn't completely understand why they then worked together on Anna's garden. This disconnect with the main character was saddening because other characters really spoke to me.
The mystery, on the other hand, was a well-designed puzzle. There were enough suspects to keep the guessing going but not so many that the reader needed a spreadsheet to keep track of motives and alibis. When the solution came, it was a surprise.
This book can be read as a standalone even though there is a continuing series arc that will (presumably!) be resolved at a later date. I'll look forward to the next book in the series.
3.5 Stars
I tried to like Anna, but she was immature for her age. She gloated at pulling a stunt from which she had agreed to abstain. She was brash and nosey. I quite understood why her neighbour gave her the short shrift and couldn't completely understand why they then worked together on Anna's garden. This disconnect with the main character was saddening because other characters really spoke to me.
The mystery, on the other hand, was a well-designed puzzle. There were enough suspects to keep the guessing going but not so many that the reader needed a spreadsheet to keep track of motives and alibis. When the solution came, it was a surprise.
This book can be read as a standalone even though there is a continuing series arc that will (presumably!) be resolved at a later date. I'll look forward to the next book in the series.
June 18, 2024
Kindle Freebie at time of download. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Annabel McBride has come to the small Massachusetts North Shore town of Seagull Cove to relaunch an ice cream shop. Anna feels like she must fulfill her late Irish twin sister's dream after her sister's tragic drowning four years earlier. Anna is eager to reopen the shop with her signature banana splits and other ice cream treats. She hopes her shop will be a community gathering place and what better way to launch a grand reopening than with a performance by hometown star singer/songwriter, Marcus Grady. Marcus is happy to be back in his hometown performing for his fans but slips out after his set while his girlfriend, Jasmine, signs autographs. When Anna takes out the trash after the shop closes, she discovers Marcus's lifeless body behind the dumpster. Who would kill Marcus? While everyone assures her Detective Doyle is capable of figuring out the murder, Anna feels she has to snoop around to speed up the investigation and keep her shop open. She teams up with Old Joe Wiggins, a former PI and regular connoisseur of ice cream, to find out who wanted to kill Marcus. Can she figure it out in time before her shop goes belly up?
This was a decent mystery. The writing style wasn't particularly exciting, more average, but the mystery kept me guessing. I did not completely suspect who but I did have an inkling something was up. I liked the ice cream a lot but the New England ambiance was missing. I'm a Cape Cod girl so not really familiar with life on the North Shore. Maybe this would be better as an audio book with some Massachusetts Nawth Shoah accents? What I DID NOT like is the hook of Anna's sister possibly being still alive. I don't like cliffhangers and just want to read this one book to see if I like it well enough to want to read more about the characters and setting. Now I need to know what happens! The theme of death permeates the books and characters have darker back stories than I usually read and prefer reading about.
The cast of characters is unique and seems like fun. Anna is older than my average cozy mystery heroine, at 44. I REALLY appreciate how she thinks she has no time for romance, however, it is later revealed her fiancé died several years earlier. She was still mourning him when her sister was killed in a boating accident. In spite of being a therapist, Anna doesn't seem to have unpacked her own issues yet. There's no timeline on grief but I think opening the shop will help her heal.
The regular cast includes Velma, an older woman who has worked at the ice cream shop a long time under the previous owners. She's happy to show Anna the ropes and mentor the younger employees. Velma has a secret, presumably unrelated to murder. She doesn't know Anna well enough to open up yet. When she does, her secret made me say "Is that all?" It was kind of reflective of a previous generation, which Velma is. Velma should have said something when Anna hired her. Old Joe Wiggins is a fun character. Joe rents the apartment directly above this shop and he is also a retired private investigator. He hints at having seen things and experiencing trauma. He's retired now and wants to move on and enjoy life on the beach. He doesn't want to dwell on the past or jump into action again. Neither does he want to see Anna hurt so he is kind enough to assist with her investigation. I think his skills are a little rusty though.
Anna's neighbor, Wanda, is also a recurring character. She's snippy and crusty but is passionate about gardening. She also seems to like ice cream. I think she doesn't know how to extend the hand of friendship to Anna and being curmudgeonly is her way. She thaws out a bit and shows a sense of humor. Again, she's another character with a dark backstory that is hinted at. Casper the cat will probably also play a role. He's a stray who comes around to all the businesses and cons them all into feeding him. I wonder if he witnessed the murder and could lead Anna to the right person? Ruthie, the bookshop owner, seems like a lot of fun. She and Anna can team up and host book clubs in the ice cream shop. I would go just for the ice cream LOL! Rosie, the local innkeeper, is hardworking and honest. She may or may not have a clue to the mystery. Todd Devonshire is a financial advisor and ice cream lover who plans to frequent Anna's shop. Velma thinks Todd would be a good partner for Anna but she claims not to be interested. He seems fun and charming but doesn't live in town so that's probably not a good match.
Officer Doyle investigated the drowning of Anna's sister, Bella. He was very kind to the family and is still kind. He's a family man, happily married with kids and loves hanging out with his son. He's a community member as well and tries to help the local business economy by sending people places they would enjoy, for instance, the Little League team to ice cream at Anna's because what kid doesn't like ice cream?
Marcus Grady is a big star. He's a singer/songwriter whose biggest hit is a love song to his girlfriend, Jasmine. Marcus is mega handsome but kind and not egotistical. Or so he seems when he agrees to perform for Anna's opening. Obviously someone had beef with him. Who would slit his throat and take that risk of being noticed? Someone very cunning I think. The one person who really has beef with Marcus is another local singer/songwriter Austin Davis. He claims Marcus's hit song was actually his, about his own girlfriend who died in a car accident. Oh wow! That's low! Marcus even performed the song with Jasmine at the ice cream shop opening the day he died. Austin is moody and broody. He's a bit jealous of the fame and attention Marcus gets over his song. He doesn't have an alibi for the time of death but why would he kill Marcus now? Why would he kill Marcus because it seems like he would be an obvious suspects.
Raymond Palmer owns the Sand Dollar Grille. Marcus recently gave Raymond a big, big motive for murder. I'd say Raymond was justified in his feelings but of course not actions. Taking Marcus to court won't solve anything. It's a free country and Marcus can say and do what he likes but oh man. Marcus was not as nice as he liked to make himself out to be. Marcus and his brother Toby had a falling out recently. Everyone seems to know about it but they don't know the reason why. They don't know why Marcus suddenly cut his brother out of his will. I don't think that gives Toby a motive for murder but there didn't seem to be any love lost between the brothers. Toby is not acting like a man who just lost his brother!
Marcus has groupies, including Tilly Donovan who comes to every one of Marcus's performances AND drags her husband, Walter along. Tilly makes no secret of her adulation of Marcus and even acts like a teenybopper in front of her husband. Walter is long suffering and he's either very patient and understanding or he snapped. I think he's had it with his wife's fangirling Marcus and is ready for it to STOP. Why, then, is he hanging around after Marcus died? Is he trying to deflect attention from his crime making it seem like he's mourning Marcus? Tilly is off doing her own mourning. She's a little creepy obsessive.
I don't trust Marcus's manager, Donny Donovan. He's the executor of Marcus's will and making decisions I'm not sure Marcus would have made. He moves quickly! Jasmine Hall, Marcus's girlfriend, seems eager to share the spotlight. I don't know if I entirely trust her either. She can't be the murderer because she was inside signing autographs AND I think she was happily riding Marcus's coattails to her own fame.
I didn't love this enough to want to buy the rest of the series but I liked it OK for a one-time read. I just need to know about Bella!
Annabel McBride has come to the small Massachusetts North Shore town of Seagull Cove to relaunch an ice cream shop. Anna feels like she must fulfill her late Irish twin sister's dream after her sister's tragic drowning four years earlier. Anna is eager to reopen the shop with her signature banana splits and other ice cream treats. She hopes her shop will be a community gathering place and what better way to launch a grand reopening than with a performance by hometown star singer/songwriter, Marcus Grady. Marcus is happy to be back in his hometown performing for his fans but slips out after his set while his girlfriend, Jasmine, signs autographs. When Anna takes out the trash after the shop closes, she discovers Marcus's lifeless body behind the dumpster. Who would kill Marcus? While everyone assures her Detective Doyle is capable of figuring out the murder, Anna feels she has to snoop around to speed up the investigation and keep her shop open. She teams up with Old Joe Wiggins, a former PI and regular connoisseur of ice cream, to find out who wanted to kill Marcus. Can she figure it out in time before her shop goes belly up?
This was a decent mystery. The writing style wasn't particularly exciting, more average, but the mystery kept me guessing. I did not completely suspect who but I did have an inkling something was up. I liked the ice cream a lot but the New England ambiance was missing. I'm a Cape Cod girl so not really familiar with life on the North Shore. Maybe this would be better as an audio book with some Massachusetts Nawth Shoah accents? What I DID NOT like is the hook of Anna's sister possibly being still alive. I don't like cliffhangers and just want to read this one book to see if I like it well enough to want to read more about the characters and setting. Now I need to know what happens! The theme of death permeates the books and characters have darker back stories than I usually read and prefer reading about.
The cast of characters is unique and seems like fun. Anna is older than my average cozy mystery heroine, at 44. I REALLY appreciate how she thinks she has no time for romance, however, it is later revealed her fiancé died several years earlier. She was still mourning him when her sister was killed in a boating accident. In spite of being a therapist, Anna doesn't seem to have unpacked her own issues yet. There's no timeline on grief but I think opening the shop will help her heal.
The regular cast includes Velma, an older woman who has worked at the ice cream shop a long time under the previous owners. She's happy to show Anna the ropes and mentor the younger employees. Velma has a secret, presumably unrelated to murder. She doesn't know Anna well enough to open up yet. When she does, her secret made me say "Is that all?" It was kind of reflective of a previous generation, which Velma is. Velma should have said something when Anna hired her. Old Joe Wiggins is a fun character. Joe rents the apartment directly above this shop and he is also a retired private investigator. He hints at having seen things and experiencing trauma. He's retired now and wants to move on and enjoy life on the beach. He doesn't want to dwell on the past or jump into action again. Neither does he want to see Anna hurt so he is kind enough to assist with her investigation. I think his skills are a little rusty though.
Anna's neighbor, Wanda, is also a recurring character. She's snippy and crusty but is passionate about gardening. She also seems to like ice cream. I think she doesn't know how to extend the hand of friendship to Anna and being curmudgeonly is her way. She thaws out a bit and shows a sense of humor. Again, she's another character with a dark backstory that is hinted at. Casper the cat will probably also play a role. He's a stray who comes around to all the businesses and cons them all into feeding him. I wonder if he witnessed the murder and could lead Anna to the right person? Ruthie, the bookshop owner, seems like a lot of fun. She and Anna can team up and host book clubs in the ice cream shop. I would go just for the ice cream LOL! Rosie, the local innkeeper, is hardworking and honest. She may or may not have a clue to the mystery. Todd Devonshire is a financial advisor and ice cream lover who plans to frequent Anna's shop. Velma thinks Todd would be a good partner for Anna but she claims not to be interested. He seems fun and charming but doesn't live in town so that's probably not a good match.
Officer Doyle investigated the drowning of Anna's sister, Bella. He was very kind to the family and is still kind. He's a family man, happily married with kids and loves hanging out with his son. He's a community member as well and tries to help the local business economy by sending people places they would enjoy, for instance, the Little League team to ice cream at Anna's because what kid doesn't like ice cream?
Marcus Grady is a big star. He's a singer/songwriter whose biggest hit is a love song to his girlfriend, Jasmine. Marcus is mega handsome but kind and not egotistical. Or so he seems when he agrees to perform for Anna's opening. Obviously someone had beef with him. Who would slit his throat and take that risk of being noticed? Someone very cunning I think. The one person who really has beef with Marcus is another local singer/songwriter Austin Davis. He claims Marcus's hit song was actually his, about his own girlfriend who died in a car accident. Oh wow! That's low! Marcus even performed the song with Jasmine at the ice cream shop opening the day he died. Austin is moody and broody. He's a bit jealous of the fame and attention Marcus gets over his song. He doesn't have an alibi for the time of death but why would he kill Marcus now? Why would he kill Marcus because it seems like he would be an obvious suspects.
Raymond Palmer owns the Sand Dollar Grille. Marcus recently gave Raymond a big, big motive for murder. I'd say Raymond was justified in his feelings but of course not actions. Taking Marcus to court won't solve anything. It's a free country and Marcus can say and do what he likes but oh man. Marcus was not as nice as he liked to make himself out to be. Marcus and his brother Toby had a falling out recently. Everyone seems to know about it but they don't know the reason why. They don't know why Marcus suddenly cut his brother out of his will. I don't think that gives Toby a motive for murder but there didn't seem to be any love lost between the brothers. Toby is not acting like a man who just lost his brother!
Marcus has groupies, including Tilly Donovan who comes to every one of Marcus's performances AND drags her husband, Walter along. Tilly makes no secret of her adulation of Marcus and even acts like a teenybopper in front of her husband. Walter is long suffering and he's either very patient and understanding or he snapped. I think he's had it with his wife's fangirling Marcus and is ready for it to STOP. Why, then, is he hanging around after Marcus died? Is he trying to deflect attention from his crime making it seem like he's mourning Marcus? Tilly is off doing her own mourning. She's a little creepy obsessive.
I don't trust Marcus's manager, Donny Donovan. He's the executor of Marcus's will and making decisions I'm not sure Marcus would have made. He moves quickly! Jasmine Hall, Marcus's girlfriend, seems eager to share the spotlight. I don't know if I entirely trust her either. She can't be the murderer because she was inside signing autographs AND I think she was happily riding Marcus's coattails to her own fame.
I didn't love this enough to want to buy the rest of the series but I liked it OK for a one-time read. I just need to know about Bella!
August 4, 2025
pathetically slow
At 17% of this story I’d had enough and fast forwarded to 76%, and it was two days later, yes that’s how slow this book is. So then I went forward till in the nineties and found out who committed the crimes.
It’s childeshly written as well, I can’t stand this type of writing style, having to ask is it a style or just a first timer writing? it’s awful, I can’t imagine a modern 10 yr old girl liking this story at all.
So glad it was a freebie.
At 17% of this story I’d had enough and fast forwarded to 76%, and it was two days later, yes that’s how slow this book is. So then I went forward till in the nineties and found out who committed the crimes.
It’s childeshly written as well, I can’t stand this type of writing style, having to ask is it a style or just a first timer writing? it’s awful, I can’t imagine a modern 10 yr old girl liking this story at all.
So glad it was a freebie.
February 2, 2026
3.5-4 stars
Fun mystery Looking forward to book 2.
Fun mystery Looking forward to book 2.
February 25, 2022
I know I'm gonna want to start the series that this was a spin-off from now! I really enjoyed these characters and got into the storyline immediately. Along with the murder, there's the mystery of Anna's sister's alleged death, alleged because her body was never found. It's a pretty cool side mystery.
I think my fave characters are Joe and Velma. Charlie the police chief's a pretty nice guy too, but Joe was especially helpful to Anna in the murder case since the body was found in her store's alley. I loved how everyone in town knew Joe and trusted him-and for good reason too since he's a retired PI. It's kinda like Anna having a dad figure nearby and very handy that he lives above the ice cream shop.
The showdown was a good one and by that time I knew whodunit, but it was quite twisty at times. Diving right into the next book!
I think my fave characters are Joe and Velma. Charlie the police chief's a pretty nice guy too, but Joe was especially helpful to Anna in the murder case since the body was found in her store's alley. I loved how everyone in town knew Joe and trusted him-and for good reason too since he's a retired PI. It's kinda like Anna having a dad figure nearby and very handy that he lives above the ice cream shop.
The showdown was a good one and by that time I knew whodunit, but it was quite twisty at times. Diving right into the next book!
November 18, 2021
Ice Cream with Murder On Top
When Anna opens Bella's Dream Ice Cream shop she is excited for a great grand opening headlined by local celebrity Marcus playing his guitar and singing all his latest hits. When he is murdered behind her shop after his performance business quickly drops off. Who could have hated the local celebrity enough to kill him? Days later the shop is broken into; are the two crimes related? Lots of suspects for different reasons but is one of them the guilty party? Is there a clue the police are missing? Will Anna uncover the missing piece that solves the mystery?
This is a great start to a new series.
When Anna opens Bella's Dream Ice Cream shop she is excited for a great grand opening headlined by local celebrity Marcus playing his guitar and singing all his latest hits. When he is murdered behind her shop after his performance business quickly drops off. Who could have hated the local celebrity enough to kill him? Days later the shop is broken into; are the two crimes related? Lots of suspects for different reasons but is one of them the guilty party? Is there a clue the police are missing? Will Anna uncover the missing piece that solves the mystery?
This is a great start to a new series.
January 9, 2022
A new ice cream shop was opening in town, and the first day was a smash hit with a musical guest star and loads of customers. It seemed to be the perfect opening day, but then it all came crashing down when the body of the singer was discovered in the dumpster with his throat slit.
The murder definitely grabs your attention right away, however, the progress toward solving it was rather slow. The character was too busy feeling shocked and saddened by the whole thing that she really didn’t spend that much time on the mystery.
The whole thing was overall okay—not bad, but not great.
The murder definitely grabs your attention right away, however, the progress toward solving it was rather slow. The character was too busy feeling shocked and saddened by the whole thing that she really didn’t spend that much time on the mystery.
The whole thing was overall okay—not bad, but not great.
December 31, 2022
A new author for me with an entertaining book. Despite the fact that the female lead character insists on investigating the murder (one of my most disliked plot devices!) this book was good. Good characters, lots of clues, and I didn't figure it out until almost the end. I will read the next book in the series.
Amazon synopsis:
The grand opening of Anna McBride’s seaside ice cream shop is anything but sweet. After the tragic death of her Irish twin sister, Bella, Anna needed a radical change. So, she closed her counseling practice in Boston to embark on a new adventure as an ice cream shop owner.
Now all she wants is to settle into her new town, attempt to turn her black thumb green, and build her ice cream shop into a community hub that hosts quality entertainment and group gatherings - just like Bella had often fantasized about doing before her fateful boating accident.
And what better location than Seagull Cove, the small Massachusetts coastal town where Anna and Bella created their best memories? But when Anna finds her first musical guest, and Seagull Cove’s most famous son, murdered in the alley behind her shop, her grand opening ends on a sour note.
Anna must find the killer, or her ice cream shop will become more famous for its crimes than its banana splits. If only she could convince Joe Wiggins, her favorite new customer, and a retired P.I., to assist her… But retired life is treating him too well. To further complicate Anna’s life, Joe thinks he saw Bella peering into Anna’s ice cream shop from across the street. Bella’s body was never found. Could she still be alive?
Amazon synopsis:
The grand opening of Anna McBride’s seaside ice cream shop is anything but sweet. After the tragic death of her Irish twin sister, Bella, Anna needed a radical change. So, she closed her counseling practice in Boston to embark on a new adventure as an ice cream shop owner.
Now all she wants is to settle into her new town, attempt to turn her black thumb green, and build her ice cream shop into a community hub that hosts quality entertainment and group gatherings - just like Bella had often fantasized about doing before her fateful boating accident.
And what better location than Seagull Cove, the small Massachusetts coastal town where Anna and Bella created their best memories? But when Anna finds her first musical guest, and Seagull Cove’s most famous son, murdered in the alley behind her shop, her grand opening ends on a sour note.
Anna must find the killer, or her ice cream shop will become more famous for its crimes than its banana splits. If only she could convince Joe Wiggins, her favorite new customer, and a retired P.I., to assist her… But retired life is treating him too well. To further complicate Anna’s life, Joe thinks he saw Bella peering into Anna’s ice cream shop from across the street. Bella’s body was never found. Could she still be alive?
August 18, 2024
I don't know this was just not for me for some reason and I can't really say why. I think maybe it had a super natural feel to it with sightings of her dead sister and a cat that knows things and I was waiting for something to happen but it never did. Otherwise the cast of characters were fun with a lot that I think are going to be fun regulars, this is the first book in the series so there is a lot of introducing who everybody is. The mystery was interesting with lots of suspects but he seemed a nice guy and I never really understood why everybody hated him, okay a few had there reasons but still. The main mystery does get wrapped up nicely but there is a side mystery surrounding her sisters death which gives me the impression it is not going to get solved any time soon and will be a long running saga throughout the series. Will it make me want to get he next book? Maybe.
Anna has opened up an ice cream shop after the death of her sister but the opening ceremony doesn't go as planned. The local musician who has made a name for himself is killed after his set. With people associating her shop with his death they avoid her shop and if Anna wants to make Bella's dream a success she will have to find the killer.
Anna has opened up an ice cream shop after the death of her sister but the opening ceremony doesn't go as planned. The local musician who has made a name for himself is killed after his set. With people associating her shop with his death they avoid her shop and if Anna wants to make Bella's dream a success she will have to find the killer.
January 9, 2023
This was a first in a new series and a really good start. Anna lost her sister Bella in an accident but she decided to take her sister's dream and make it her own. She opens up an ice cream shop but when murder happens at her grand opening and customer starts to dwindle Anna with help from her friend Joe set out to solve the murder before she has to close the shop.
I really like Bella as a main character. I also like that she doesn't have an immediate love interest. I also like the side character. Joe and Velma and the series of part time help at the shop and her neighbor who is helping her plant a garden.
Seagull Cove sounds an amazing place to visit. Lots of beaches and small shops to look at. I would love to grab a scoop at Bella's Dream and go sit on the beach. I thought the story line was really good and kept me guessing. A really good start to a new series.
I really like Bella as a main character. I also like that she doesn't have an immediate love interest. I also like the side character. Joe and Velma and the series of part time help at the shop and her neighbor who is helping her plant a garden.
Seagull Cove sounds an amazing place to visit. Lots of beaches and small shops to look at. I would love to grab a scoop at Bella's Dream and go sit on the beach. I thought the story line was really good and kept me guessing. A really good start to a new series.
July 19, 2024
I enjoyed reading this e-book by Angela K. Ryan. Banana Slit was a bit different theme on the cozy mystery book with characters of unusual circumstances but very relatable. Once again this book had me in question as to the villain behind the murder and although it is in a series this does stand alone too. And, for those of you that wonder...I never share things in the book, at least not very much, as I feel every person should have their own take of what they read. For me, I have read reviews that might say a novel is not good, yet when I read it I find it so interesting. I think in my lifetime I have only found perhaps two books that I could not complete. Since I am an avid reader I feel that there are alot of authors out there that are very good. Thanks for listening.
September 28, 2024
Cosy murder mystery
Jasmine admitted that Marcus stole the song and yet that was not mentioned to the police. Donny gives the singer/friend the rights to his own song but what about everything that went on before that, shouldn’t the estate have paid him restitution? Shouldn’t marcus have changed his will to fix that wrong. And wouldn’t Jasmine take the opportunity to ruin the reputation of the man she hated by telling that truth Lots of surface stuff started for series with little resolution. And the restaurant, why would Marcus go through all that just because he didn’t like his dinner? Just for a motive? Marcus death did not resolve the issue, it was still opening as a shrine for publicity and causing problems for the other restaurant Not a satisfying ending
Jasmine admitted that Marcus stole the song and yet that was not mentioned to the police. Donny gives the singer/friend the rights to his own song but what about everything that went on before that, shouldn’t the estate have paid him restitution? Shouldn’t marcus have changed his will to fix that wrong. And wouldn’t Jasmine take the opportunity to ruin the reputation of the man she hated by telling that truth Lots of surface stuff started for series with little resolution. And the restaurant, why would Marcus go through all that just because he didn’t like his dinner? Just for a motive? Marcus death did not resolve the issue, it was still opening as a shrine for publicity and causing problems for the other restaurant Not a satisfying ending
April 5, 2024
Anna has her hands full with a new business opening and then disaster hits with a murder. She can’t help but try to solve the mystery with the help of a retired private investigator. Several plot twists keep the reader guessing. Worries of the business failing keep Anna motivated in her pursuit. Along the way she meets other business owners and makes some friends. All the ice cream mentions made me hungry! The story moves along well.
An added twist is discovering that perhaps Anna’s sister, who died in a boating accident several years ago, may not be dead. This gives a thread for another book!
An added twist is discovering that perhaps Anna’s sister, who died in a boating accident several years ago, may not be dead. This gives a thread for another book!
August 23, 2024
Don't Ever Give Up
Anna knew deep within herself that things didn't add up about her sisters death. Wanting to fulfill both of thier dreams of a community ice cream parlor to bring folks together Anna opened the store with her sisters name on it. The evils of other almost shut her down, but only served to strengthen Anna's determination to find the killers. This was an easy enjoyable read that makes the reader understand how difficult it is moving to a new location. Definite five stars for Angela
Anna knew deep within herself that things didn't add up about her sisters death. Wanting to fulfill both of thier dreams of a community ice cream parlor to bring folks together Anna opened the store with her sisters name on it. The evils of other almost shut her down, but only served to strengthen Anna's determination to find the killers. This was an easy enjoyable read that makes the reader understand how difficult it is moving to a new location. Definite five stars for Angela
September 30, 2024
Anna is having a grand opening day for her ice cream shop called Bella’s Dream. Her sister who died in a boating accident 4 years previously. The guitarist was found murdered behind her shop after the event. As she’s asking people questions someone then breaks her shop window in the middle of the night & leaves a threatening note. Then she joins forces with one of her regular customers, Joe, a retired PI. Her shop is struggling with these problems, but the crimes get solved & Anna has a second lest grand “opening”. An enjoyable read.
May 14, 2023
Banana Slit
First time reading this author. Anna opens an ice cream shop dedicated to her late sister. Business was booming on opening day. But after finding a body by her dumpster nobody wants to visit her shop. So Anna starts investigating and makes herself a target.
The main characters are likeable. And the story flowed fairly smoothly. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
First time reading this author. Anna opens an ice cream shop dedicated to her late sister. Business was booming on opening day. But after finding a body by her dumpster nobody wants to visit her shop. So Anna starts investigating and makes herself a target.
The main characters are likeable. And the story flowed fairly smoothly. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
March 25, 2024
Banana Slit Book 1 A Seaside Ice Crebm
A cute first book that promises a continued storyline for the reader to anticipate. Anna opens an ice cream shop named after her twin sister. One of the draws for her shop is a music event to bring in the fans. A performer appears and is later found killed. Anna is pulled into finding his killer to keep the murder from destroying her future.
A cute first book that promises a continued storyline for the reader to anticipate. Anna opens an ice cream shop named after her twin sister. One of the draws for her shop is a music event to bring in the fans. A performer appears and is later found killed. Anna is pulled into finding his killer to keep the murder from destroying her future.
March 26, 2024
Delicious story
What could happen to an ice cream shop to make customers steer clear? Murder, maybe. Not a good grand opening when your entertainment is, shortly after closing, found dead behind your new business.
Will Anna be able to redeem her business and find the killer before more trouble follows her? With the help of her best customer, Joe, will they succeed and make Anna's deceased sister, Bella's dream of opening an ice cream shop, become a reality?
What could happen to an ice cream shop to make customers steer clear? Murder, maybe. Not a good grand opening when your entertainment is, shortly after closing, found dead behind your new business.
Will Anna be able to redeem her business and find the killer before more trouble follows her? With the help of her best customer, Joe, will they succeed and make Anna's deceased sister, Bella's dream of opening an ice cream shop, become a reality?
April 11, 2024
This is the first in the series. The main character is Anna , the owner of the new ice cream shop .
The opening day brings the murder of her musical guest . Suddenly employees are quitting nd no one wants ice cream. Anna starts to look into the murder and her picture window at the shop is broken, Who could be behind this? She has it narrowed down to just 4 people and is slowly thinning that out as well. Can she figure this out before it's too late?
The opening day brings the murder of her musical guest . Suddenly employees are quitting nd no one wants ice cream. Anna starts to look into the murder and her picture window at the shop is broken, Who could be behind this? She has it narrowed down to just 4 people and is slowly thinning that out as well. Can she figure this out before it's too late?
June 11, 2024
this was great!
Well done! This was a great mystery to read. Characters that were welcoming and interesting, nice flow of the story with some added background stories that blended well without distraction. It was a really fun read. I enjoyed the small seaside town, the fun ice cream shop to work in and the determination of Anna. I’m excited to continue with this series and see where this story goes. Another cozy mystery series I’ve been hooked on!
Well done! This was a great mystery to read. Characters that were welcoming and interesting, nice flow of the story with some added background stories that blended well without distraction. It was a really fun read. I enjoyed the small seaside town, the fun ice cream shop to work in and the determination of Anna. I’m excited to continue with this series and see where this story goes. Another cozy mystery series I’ve been hooked on!
June 21, 2022
Live your own life
After her fiance died she seemed to start living her life through her sister after her sister disappeared she decided to live her sister's dream at no point does this woman live her own dream most of her conversations involved what her sister wanted what her sister's dream was the protagonist needs therapy
After her fiance died she seemed to start living her life through her sister after her sister disappeared she decided to live her sister's dream at no point does this woman live her own dream most of her conversations involved what her sister wanted what her sister's dream was the protagonist needs therapy
August 14, 2022
Cute story, if a little light on mystery and a little heavy on the "we're locals so we're all alike" stereotype. The presumed side story of Bella's disappearance is really not enough of a theme to carry the story, and the idea that Anna can hire more than half a dozen helpers with a shop that isn't yet making a profit is a bit of a stretch. None of the additional characters brought on through this technique do a thing for the story.
Worth an afternoon in front of the fire, or sitting on the beach. I didn't get caught enough with the characters to feel like investing in the next of the series.
Worth an afternoon in front of the fire, or sitting on the beach. I didn't get caught enough with the characters to feel like investing in the next of the series.
February 27, 2023
Sweet Mystery
What a great fresh start story! This is a very nice page turning book. The small sea side community with a new ice cream parlor and a murder behind it is a great story line. The struggle the business owner has to deal with afterwards seemed so real. How she deals with them is what the book unfolds.
I really liked this book. I highly recommended this book.
What a great fresh start story! This is a very nice page turning book. The small sea side community with a new ice cream parlor and a murder behind it is a great story line. The struggle the business owner has to deal with afterwards seemed so real. How she deals with them is what the book unfolds.
I really liked this book. I highly recommended this book.
April 12, 2023
I don’t understand the title
Aside from all the errors in this book, I really don’t understand the title. Was “slit” a typo from split? Since the ice cream shop was famous for its banana splits, someone needs to explain this to me.
Not sure why the author didn’t have the book edited or at least proofed.
Aside from all the errors in this book, I really don’t understand the title. Was “slit” a typo from split? Since the ice cream shop was famous for its banana splits, someone needs to explain this to me.
Not sure why the author didn’t have the book edited or at least proofed.
April 12, 2023
surprises Galore
A good mystery with likable characters. I was truly surprised by whodunit, but I refuse to give any other hints away. The only criticism I have is that it seems that there are an inordinate number of people who have died suddenly in the book. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
A good mystery with likable characters. I was truly surprised by whodunit, but I refuse to give any other hints away. The only criticism I have is that it seems that there are an inordinate number of people who have died suddenly in the book. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
June 9, 2023
This book was on my summer reading list last year but I didn't get to it but finally read it and what a great mystery! I appreciate how Anna's background as a psychologist really plays a major role in her amateur sleuthing. The biggest disappointment for me is this is an ice cream shop mystery but she doesn't make her own ice cream .
I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
July 13, 2024
A Tasty Treat
One scoop will not be enough. This has started out to be a delightful new series. Angela has started with a rich sense of where Anna has re-potted herself. She has added a dollop of interesting characters, added a cherry of a murder, and liberally sprinkled it all with suspects. Seconds, please.
One scoop will not be enough. This has started out to be a delightful new series. Angela has started with a rich sense of where Anna has re-potted herself. She has added a dollop of interesting characters, added a cherry of a murder, and liberally sprinkled it all with suspects. Seconds, please.
November 2, 2024
book one
It’s a cute story, but has a lot of open holes. Some details were skipped and others had too much. I found myself forgetting who Toby was by the ending simply because enough time wasn’t allotted to his character development. But that’s not going to deter me from starting book two right this instant.
It’s a cute story, but has a lot of open holes. Some details were skipped and others had too much. I found myself forgetting who Toby was by the ending simply because enough time wasn’t allotted to his character development. But that’s not going to deter me from starting book two right this instant.
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