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Boardwalk Betrayal

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A chatty feline and a tragic murder. Can this loyal wife solve a heartbreaking crime?Maggie Romano happily gave up everything to elope to California with the town heartthrob. Though when the ambitious actor’s pursuit of Hollywood stardom falters and he needs his mentor’s advice, she reluctantly agrees to head back to their old beachside haunts. But she’s shaken to her core when on a solo seaside stroll, she stumbles upon her spouse’s dead body.

Shocked that she’s the prime suspect, the grieving widow sets out to clear her name before she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit. But with the small-town paper sensationalizing the homicide and her husband’s dark secrets coming to light, even teaming up with a talking cat may not keep Maggie from jail… or worse, becoming the killer’s next victim.

Can she and her new furry friend crack the case before she’s slammed behind bars?

Boardwalk Betrayal is the quirky first tale in The Maggie and Pepper Mysteries. If you like charismatic characters, coastal conundrums, and talkative pets, then you’ll love Wendy Ledger’s memorable whodunit.

Buy Boardwalk Betrayal to roll the credits on the truth today!

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2022

98 people are currently reading
216 people want to read

About the author

Wendy Ledger

20 books14 followers

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5 stars
86 (43%)
4 stars
65 (33%)
3 stars
31 (15%)
2 stars
11 (5%)
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3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Nadine.
1,906 reviews2 followers
May 20, 2022
An okay book

I’m slightly disappointed. I had such high hopes for this book and then I didn’t really like it. It wasn’t all bad! But it wasn’t all good either.

I thought this would be such a fun read, but the book missed that lighthearted, fun vibe that I thought it’d have. It missed that cozy feel, especially at the beginning. It got better towards the end, but that took a while. And I thought I’d like Maggie/Mags; I am shy too, different. But she was so negative, too much so. And it seemed like she didn’t care about anything except Eddie, for a long time. So that made it hard for me to care what happened to her. For me, likeable characters are so important. And the writing style, it’s mostly only really short sentences, and that resulted in making it feel a bit like listing facts. Staccato. The flow could be better.

The one redeeming factor was that I loved the talking cat, Pepper! I loved the conversations between him and Maggie! That is what kept me reading. That is what held my interest. So I’m really happy that Pepper came into the story! And, things did get better as we got further into the book, with Maggie’s attitude and the whole vibe was a bit more positive.

All in all, three stars seems fair.
Profile Image for love.e.reads.
71 reviews
May 14, 2022
I want a cat like Pepper (and I don't even like cats, except in books). He's like the physical embodiment of a guardian angel, with the addition of witty and inciteful conversation.

Maggie, the introverted nerd. Eddie, THE MAN in high school - he can do no wrong. When their paths cross, it seemed like kismet...they run away to California from New Jersey right after graduation and elope, surprising and shocking everyone.

5 years later, they return to their hometown and tragedy strikes. Maggie becomes the town pariah and only suspect. She survives the days ahead mainly because of Pepper, her talking cat.

The story is unlike other cozies I've read before. It's sad (not depressing), it's hopeful and sweet without being bubbly and saccharine. The emotions of the characters are heartfelt. They return home yes, but not to inherit property because someone dies, or they're running away from an old life, no. The return was supposed to be a short visit. There is a mystery to be solved, but in the process, secrets and truths are revealed. Revelations that start the necessary healing and closure.

I definitely enjoyed reading and reviewing this ARC title and look forward to the future development of the relationships among the characters. This is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Danielle .
162 reviews60 followers
May 14, 2022
Boardwalk Betrayal is a well-crafted cozy mystery, with likable characters and a clever plot.

Maddie is a shy, reserved, outcast in high school. When she lands the lead in a play she catches the eye of her co-star, hometown hero, Eddie. Eddie proposes and the couple runs away to California to elope. Five years later they are invited back home by their high school drama teacher. Unfortunately, their homecoming doesn’t go as planned and Eddie turns up dead.. Maggie, who is not popular in the community, becomes the number one suspect.

There were parts of the plot that I figured out early on, but I didn’t mind at all. The journey to the conclusion was enjoyable and the conclusion of the story was satisfying.

Pepper is a delight. I love his character.

Maggie was a unique heroine. I couldn't quite decide if I liked her or not. Sometimes she was very immature. I reminded myself she was still young and she was grieving. As the story progressed, her character grew and realized she wasn’t always right about everything. It was nice to see her character growth.

I really preferred the supporting characters though, namely Serena and Crystal. I hope they are a focal point in the series because they are great characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series starter and plan to read the next installment when it is realized.

Thank you to the Author for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Wendy Ledger.
Author 20 books14 followers
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May 10, 2022
This is the first book of my new cozy mystery series. I decided I wanted to write cozies because it suited my writing style—sweet, quirky, poignant, and in the end, optimistic. When I first imagined a series, I thought there wouldn't be any talking cats in it. After all, I had just finished a four-book talking-cat fantasy series, Cats of the Afterlife. I thought it was probably time to move on. But then I saw a photo of myself with our young male cat. He was perched on my shoulder, and we both looked like we were about to embark on a grand adventure. At that moment, I knew I wanted to include a shoulder cat, a talking-cat Watson. This book is set in Harmony Beach, a made-up, quirky boardwalk town. I've spent many childhood summers in boardwalk towns, and I have a great love for that kind of world. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy the book. I had a great deal of fun writing it.
Profile Image for Crystal.
201 reviews4 followers
May 18, 2022
At first, I was not sure about this book, but it turned out to be a fun read. All in all it was an enjoyable cozy mystery. I am hoping there will be more in the series as I would love to see how some of the characters develop.
810 reviews5 followers
May 16, 2022
This is the first book in the Maggie and Pepper Mysteries series. I received an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a promising start to a new cozy mystery series, but I have to say I was surprised to find out that the cat, Pepper, talks. I know it also was a surprise to our heroine Maggie, especially because his lips don't move.

I had some difficulty getting into the story initially because Maggie, who has recently returned for a short visit to her hometown of Harmony Beach, a little seaside town. It's a town where everyone knows everyone. Maggie was the introverted nerd in high school, until she tries out for her favorite musical senior year. She falls in love with the leading man, Eddie Roman, who convinces her to elope with him and move to California days before graduation. Maggie and Eddie return five years later, and it's clear that the town is celebrating the return of their beloved Eddie, with no real fanfare for Maggie at all.

Eddie is murdered during their visit, and of course, Maggie is the primary suspect. As she works to clear her name, enduring the evil eye from longtime neighbors and friends, Maggie gets to know her cat Pepper, whom she had not yet met. Maggie falls in love with Pepper, the shoulder sitting cat and gains some insights into the workings of the town and it's people since she's been gone.

I wish that there had been more development of the mystery and Maggie's role in the investigation. I did enjoy the story and look forward to more books to come.
Profile Image for Crystal.
31 reviews
January 2, 2023
This book is horribly, terribly depressing up to the very end. TECHNICALLY it has a "happy" ending, but if the MC were a sane, healthy person (which it's quickly apparent she's not) she would be
(spoiler alert)
leaving town as fast as possible at the end of the book(with her new, special kitty of course), not deciding "oh, this is my home & where I was always meant to be!" after the increasingly outrageous & over-the-top horrible way the entire town treated her for the entire story. Even some of the MC's few "friends" we're actually horrible & toxic to her, all the way through.
Not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
1,909 reviews9 followers
October 3, 2022
Boardwalk Betrayal: A Black Cat Cozy Mystery is book #1 in The Maggie and Pepper Mysteries series by Wendy Ledger.

Maggie eloped with her high school boyfriend and moved from New Jersey to California. They returned back to NJ and while walking one night, she finds his body.

I’m glad I stuck with this book. I did so because of Pepper. He filled Maggie in on what she’d missed in the 5 years she was gone and called her out on her behavior. I want my main character to be a likable character and Maggie was was rather unpleasant for quite a bit of the book. I found it easier to believe in a talking cat than how the town worshipped a high schooler and blamed Maggie for stealing him away. Fortunately, Maggie changed and I really enjoyed the latter part of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
600 reviews7 followers
May 27, 2022
Following high school, Maggie and Harmony Beach’s favorite son eloped to California to follow his dream of becoming a Hollywood star. Five years later he’s still not a star and they return to Harmony Beach for a short visit at the request of his high school mentor. Maggie was always an outsider when she was in school and she still was when she returned. When she discovers the body of her husband on their bench on the boardwalk, she is immediately pegged as the killer. Knowing she didn’t do it, Maggie sets out to find the real killer so she can return to her home in California. Along the way, she discovers that things weren’t exactly as she had long thought they were. The killer...well that was quite a surprise too. I really enjoyed this book and getting to know the residents of Harmony Beach. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Shelly Joyce .
1,534 reviews12 followers
March 18, 2023
Boardwalk Betrayal is the first installment of A Black Cat Cozy Mystery Series. Boardwalk Betrayal is a well-crafted cozy mystery, with likable characters and a clever plot. There were parts of the plot that I figured out early on, but I didn’t mind at all. The journey to the conclusion was enjoyable and the conclusion of the story was satisfying. Maggie was a unique heroine. As the story progressed, her character grew and realized she wasn’t always right about everything. It was nice to see her character growth. I really preferred the supporting characters though, namely Serena and Crystal. I hope they are a focal point in the series because they are great characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this series starter and plan to read the next installment when it is realized.

Thank you to the Author for an review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Ducie.
Author 35 books98 followers
May 12, 2022
Maggie returns to her home town for the first time since she eloped with local heart-throb, Eddie. Within hours, her husband is dead and she is the prime suspect. But on the plus side, she has discovered Pepper, her talking cat, who will work hard to help her find the true murderer and clear her name. In Boardwalk Betrayal, Wendy Ledger has written some truly unpleasant characters; I'm not surprised Maggie was happy to leave Harmony Beach in the first place and wonder why she wanted to come back. But Pepper is delightful, and gradually, Maggie realises not everyone is against her. This book has all the elements of a good cozy mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to hearing more about Maggie and Pepper in the future.
Profile Image for Margie.
1,714 reviews26 followers
May 13, 2022
Boardwalk Betrayal by Wendy Ledger is our first taste of an intriguing whodunit as part of the author's Maggie and Pepper Mystery series. This is a well-written story with great pacing, well-developed characters and a wonderful cat. Maggie and Eddie Roman return to Harmony Beach, NJ five years after their elopement and subsequent move to California as Eddie works his way to stardom. Their trip turns out to not be what they anticipated. Eddie turns up dead and, as usual, the spouse is the main suspect. Maggie sets out to prove her innocence. I kept turning the pages to see who killed Eddie and was surprised in the end. Can't wait to see what happens next for Maggie and her talking cat Pepper.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
6,028 reviews45 followers
May 24, 2022
Maggie thought she had an okay life with her husband, and a happier future someday once he was finally discovered and made it big with his singing and acting.

He had been a star in their little home town. And his improv group in California was starting to gain some notice.

But what was to be a brief trip to their hometown turns out to be his final journey, and much of what she new as their truths were revealed as painful fictions.

Worse, Maggie was painted as a villain and a possible murderer.

Could she overcome prejudices to solve the murder case and prove her innocence of the murder? What sort of life could she and her new talking cat companion have in the aftermath?

Hometown heartbreak and homicide story.
Profile Image for Brenda.
3,500 reviews47 followers
August 3, 2023
A Talking Cat Mystery
She’s shaken to her core when on a solo seaside stroll, she stumbles upon her spouse’s dead body. Shocked that she’s the prime suspect, the grieving widow sets out to clear her name before she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit. But with the small-town paper sensationalizing the homicide and her husband’s dark secrets coming to light, even teaming up with a talking cat may not keep Maggie from jail. It all seems like a dream. Maggie and Pepper were trying to solve the mystery of the murder of her husband.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
Profile Image for Millennial Book Review.
530 reviews13 followers
October 30, 2023
As a cat mom, I enjoyed the talking cat Pepper, and loved the idea of a cat helping his human Maggie solve a murder. It’s an incredibly compelling premise. Unfortunately, the premise was the most interesting thing about this book. The characters were written in a way that didn’t make them feel one-dimensional, but made them difficult for the reader to connect to. I struggled with the writing, as it didn’t allow for much depth. Everything was presented to the reader in a very flat, straightforward way. The murder mystery itself wasn’t compelling, as the plot doesn’t show Maggie finding clues, eliminating suspects and solving the mystery, but instead following a few red herrings until the killer is revealed. Very few of Maggie’s actions have an impact on the plot or the revelation of who the killer is, which is frustrating for a mystery novel.
84 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2022
I enjoyed the first book in this series. I love the dynamic between Maggie and Pepper. You can see Maggie fall in love with Pepper throughout the story. The only downfall I found was that I would like a little more mystery in the novel. I enjoyed how we got to meet many of the characters in the town and look forward to exploring those relationships in upcoming books. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good cozy novel.

I received a copy of the ARC from the author for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Sara.
Author 16 books28 followers
June 3, 2022
This is the first book in the Maggie and Pepper Mysteries series. I received an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
The cover is beautiful. I liked the premise but really didn’t find it to be a cozy mystery. The heroine didn’t have a lot of emotional depth and was very one dimensional. I didn’t find any of the characters likable, and didn’t understand the hostility always aimed at Maggie. I really wanted to like the book and read half of it before giving up. It didn’t improve.
Profile Image for Lexi.
590 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2024
2.5 stars~

Okay the first chapter of this was AWFUL. After that it did improve, especially the further we got into the book. There was a lot of just sad things that happened in this cozy mystery and while I loved Pepper as a whole, he wasn’t enough to give me the more lighthearted vibes that I prefer in cozy mystery books. There was also one thing I thought was going to be important and it wasn’t- so maybe it was meant to throw me off more- but I think there could have been more that went into the mystery overall.
Profile Image for Andrea Stoeckel.
3,159 reviews132 followers
January 1, 2025
The human came back

“You just didn’t know,” Pepper said, “that what you really needed was me.”

I really enjoyed this, my final book of 2024. Mags and Eddie took off right out of High School across the country to California to let Eddie try to fulfill his dreams of stardom. Who would have known what would happen when they came back to Harmony Beach?

And with the help of her cat Pepper, Maggie makes decisions that will again change her life.

I love Pepper the cat even more than some of the human characters. Thank you Wendy Ledger for this story. Highly Recommended 5/5
455 reviews5 followers
May 14, 2022
Is anything that Mags believes about her husband and her life true? In the first of a new series Boardwalk Betrayal is a wonderful escape into a world where things and animals aren't what they appear. Pepper steals the show with his wisdom and love for Maggie. Full of quirky characters Boardwalk Betrayal is a destination that you will want to revisit. Here's hoping that Maggie and Pepper have many more adventures.
Profile Image for B.J. Bowen.
Author 3 books93 followers
May 16, 2022
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.

Boardwalk Betrayal by Wendy Ledger is the first of a new series featuring the talking black cat, Pepper. When the protagonist's husband is murdered, she must grow up and learn that she is not the center of every action, and that people do not always behave as she thinks they should. The characters live and learn, with Pepper’s help. We should all have such a wise cat helping us!
448 reviews
May 19, 2022
I love this new series! If you love mystery and animals you will love this book! The ending really surprised me!! Pick up this book you will love it! I could not put it down! I can not wait for the next book!!
Profile Image for Cricket1327_Zmob King.
218 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2022
Really great book! I enjoyed the characters and the fun spin on the amateur detective angle! 😉 😆 The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of some of the grammatical errors in the book which drive me crazy! 😠 😂
Profile Image for Teri Ruscak.
2,125 reviews18 followers
January 14, 2023
Wendy Ledger
Boardwalk Betrayal: A Black Cat Cozy Mystery (The Maggie and Pepper Mysteries Book 1)
Maggie and Pepper
I really enjoyed reading this book! I love Pepper.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jerrilynne Evitts.
153 reviews4 followers
September 21, 2023
Boardwalk Betrayal

I received an Arc from the author and I’m writing a review because I want to. This a new series for me. A couple returns home and he’s murdered. The plot is good and the characters are believable. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Sue :).
898 reviews14 followers
March 4, 2024
Wendy Ledger wrote a enthralling mystery.

As a reader, I can usually figure out the killer but I was completely baffled as I read Boardwalk Betrayal. My only complaint, I couldn't figure out where the cat was... I will read other books in the series I am sure.
Profile Image for Angie Titus.
Author 3 books17 followers
May 14, 2025
I liked the story, but the way it was told made me terribly sad. I have no idea how things will be okay for the MC after what happened, and I disliked everyone in this book except the MC, her mom, her cat, and a few, maybe just three, side characters.
Profile Image for Natalie Carrier-Janey.
19 reviews
October 25, 2025
Easy and cozy read! I was quickly enthralled in by Mags and Pepper’s friendship, finishing the book in about two hours. A classic and cozy, “who done it” with an unpredictable ending. I had great appreciation for the lack of grammatical errors!
16 reviews
May 11, 2022
A purrrrfect cosy mystery to snuggle down and read. Some lovely twists in the tail(!). I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Profile Image for Cricket King.
10 reviews
July 1, 2022
Really great story!

I really enjoyed the characters which were well written as well as the interesting story. Definitely a fun spin on an amateur detective book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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