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Sharpe & Steele Mystery #1
Beachside Murder
Book one in a brand new mystery series from the bestselling author of the popular Connie Cafe series.
A young woman murdered on the Fourth of July.
A bumbling and incompetent local police chief.
A feisty Private Investigator and her Boston Terrier.
A fast paced, funny and thrilling mystery.
From bestselling author, Maisy Marple, comes a brand new mystery series that merges the charm of a cozy mystery and the fast pace of a thriller novel. Hit the buy button to read the new series from the mystery writer that thousands of readers have read and loved!
A young woman murdered on the Fourth of July.
A bumbling and incompetent local police chief.
A feisty Private Investigator and her Boston Terrier.
A fast paced, funny and thrilling mystery.
From bestselling author, Maisy Marple, comes a brand new mystery series that merges the charm of a cozy mystery and the fast pace of a thriller novel. Hit the buy button to read the new series from the mystery writer that thousands of readers have read and loved!
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2022
413 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 29, 2023
I'm a sucker for crime fiction, and thought I'd try a cosy murder/mystery.
This did nothing for me, the writing was clunky and I was unable to warm to the FMC. She was constantly smirking, thinking she knew best. Telling the parents of the murder victim, that " my fees are high but looking around at your place here, I'm guessing you can afford me".
If this had not only been 142 pages, I would have DNF'd it.
It didnt have a cosy murder/mystery feel about it, it felt rushed and not enough padding to the story.
This did nothing for me, the writing was clunky and I was unable to warm to the FMC. She was constantly smirking, thinking she knew best. Telling the parents of the murder victim, that " my fees are high but looking around at your place here, I'm guessing you can afford me".
If this had not only been 142 pages, I would have DNF'd it.
It didnt have a cosy murder/mystery feel about it, it felt rushed and not enough padding to the story.
August 20, 2023
Murdered in a crowded beach party on the Fourth of July, Jenny Williams had a secret that resulted in her death. PI Lucinda Sharpe uses her sleuthing abilities to uncover the truth.
Though the mystery was riveting, the solution seemed to come very quickly at the end. Moreover, Lucinda had a quality that made her difficult to like. Perhaps it was the fact that she seemed to know better than everyone else, or maybe just her constant smirking, but something antagonised me.
Though the mystery was riveting, the solution seemed to come very quickly at the end. Moreover, Lucinda had a quality that made her difficult to like. Perhaps it was the fact that she seemed to know better than everyone else, or maybe just her constant smirking, but something antagonised me.
July 22, 2022
The new series of cozy misteries, having Lucinda as a private investigator seems to worth their readers quite a lot.
Lucinda is a clever girl, and has a knack of sensing the leads to the killer.
Amd she has a doggo, Steele, whom she was reluctant at first, when she got him, but she's about to feel empty without him; I admit the scene where Steele decorated (not on purpose, though) her bedroom with the product of his diarheea, was laughable, but painful also, knowing this from personal experience :-))
Lucinda is a clever girl, and has a knack of sensing the leads to the killer.
Amd she has a doggo, Steele, whom she was reluctant at first, when she got him, but she's about to feel empty without him; I admit the scene where Steele decorated (not on purpose, though) her bedroom with the product of his diarheea, was laughable, but painful also, knowing this from personal experience :-))
February 9, 2024
This had potential but the unlikable MC was enough to overshadow that. Lucinda is a selfish, rude brat that sounds more like a spoiled 15 year old than a grown woman. If that’s what “feisty” is supposed to look like, someone lied. I won’t be reading any others in the series unless Lucinda is killed off for a better lead chsracter.
July 7, 2022
There appears to be a new dynamic duo on the murder mystery scene: the team of Lucinda Sharpe and her Boston Terrier Steele. When they're on the case no bad guy has a hope of going free. This is a very enjoyable book that quickly draws the reader into the story and easily keeps them engaged. Since I am the mom of four fur-babies, the relationship between Lucinda and Steele as they navigate their new normal was a delightful added bonus to Ms. Marple's excellent storytelling. And I have a feeling that Lucinda's relationship with her parents is going to prove to be more of a thorn in her side than any case she could possibly take on as an investigator. I look forward to the next book in the series and I highly recommend this engaging and clean mystery. I received a review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion.
March 14, 2023
Stopped at 57%..tired of the main character (female) trying to solve the murder- working around the law enforcement. Even if she is a PI. Just didn't care for the book.
Amazon synopsis:
Lucinda Sharpe is a no-nonsense Private Investigator in the beach town of Casper Cove -- Imagine Jane Rizzoli with a lot less Boston! Together, she works with her inherited dog, Steele, and police chief Stanard to get to the bottom of some of the strangest crimes the quaint little beach town has ever seen.
Amazon synopsis:
Lucinda Sharpe is a no-nonsense Private Investigator in the beach town of Casper Cove -- Imagine Jane Rizzoli with a lot less Boston! Together, she works with her inherited dog, Steele, and police chief Stanard to get to the bottom of some of the strangest crimes the quaint little beach town has ever seen.
July 19, 2023
Fun, quick, clean P.I. mystery. I felt a little like I was missing something, like a prequel, to explain how the main character & her dog got together, & about the town where it takes place. There is a prequel, but you don't know that until you finish the first book.
Lucinda Sharpe is approached by a couple whose daughter was stabbed in public & there are no witnesses. The local sheriff of the Florida beach town where they live doesn't like Lucinda getting involved in his investigation, & makes sure she knows it. There's also a Boston Terrier sidekick who's adorable, &, oh yeah, her inconsiderate parents drop by for a surprise visit in the middle of the investigation.
I really enjoyed this, & want to read the prequel & the rest of the series, but I wish it were longer. I would've liked to join Lucinda a bit more in the investigating, & have a bit more suspense. At 138 pages, the suspects were narrowed down, & the killer found far too quickly & easily. I wanted to spend more than a few pages wondering whodunnit. Still, I really liked it, & I'll definitely will be reading more from Maisy Marple.
Lucinda Sharpe is approached by a couple whose daughter was stabbed in public & there are no witnesses. The local sheriff of the Florida beach town where they live doesn't like Lucinda getting involved in his investigation, & makes sure she knows it. There's also a Boston Terrier sidekick who's adorable, &, oh yeah, her inconsiderate parents drop by for a surprise visit in the middle of the investigation.
I really enjoyed this, & want to read the prequel & the rest of the series, but I wish it were longer. I would've liked to join Lucinda a bit more in the investigating, & have a bit more suspense. At 138 pages, the suspects were narrowed down, & the killer found far too quickly & easily. I wanted to spend more than a few pages wondering whodunnit. Still, I really liked it, & I'll definitely will be reading more from Maisy Marple.
July 3, 2022
This was a really twisted who-dunnit. 1st in a series-I hope!- where a P.I. has branched out to solving murders . The families are the ones who Hire her and her side kick-Boston Terrior . Ms. Sharpe has
usually done cheating spouses and other crimes. This her 1st murder case, she wants to do well. So she hopefully will solve it before the police. Friends, enemies, frenemies and down right liers.
Who knows how just the wrong thing said, can end with murder. Sharpe got it solved while the ending didnt go well, she did help prevent another... sorry no spoilers. A wonderful adventure that will having you guessing till the every end!
usually done cheating spouses and other crimes. This her 1st murder case, she wants to do well. So she hopefully will solve it before the police. Friends, enemies, frenemies and down right liers.
Who knows how just the wrong thing said, can end with murder. Sharpe got it solved while the ending didnt go well, she did help prevent another... sorry no spoilers. A wonderful adventure that will having you guessing till the every end!
September 4, 2024
Short, Cozy Mystery. Will definitely continue the series.
It’s such a shame that this doctor lied to so many families and used alternative means to allow mothers to conceive. Practically the whole town ended up being half-siblings.
Then to top it off, one of the offspring grew up and went to this same clinic with his own wife only to find out his children may not be his biologically. I understand Derek’s frustrations but there was no need to kill Jenny. She was just the messenger and was living the same trauma as him.
Lucinda’s parents deciding to buy the beach house right beside hers is beyond me! Haha I’d have to move lol.
It’s such a shame that this doctor lied to so many families and used alternative means to allow mothers to conceive. Practically the whole town ended up being half-siblings.
Then to top it off, one of the offspring grew up and went to this same clinic with his own wife only to find out his children may not be his biologically. I understand Derek’s frustrations but there was no need to kill Jenny. She was just the messenger and was living the same trauma as him.
Lucinda’s parents deciding to buy the beach house right beside hers is beyond me! Haha I’d have to move lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2022
A good detective story. Lucinda Sharpe and her Boston terrier, Steele, have been called by the parent's of a young woman who's been murdered. As is apparently common, the local chief of police is bumbling and incompetent. With the help of her friend, Jay Mears, a computer expert, she forges a path through the evidence to find suspects. The story comes to a solid, if not happy, ending.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
July 16, 2022
This was a delightful story. Steele is a source of many chuckles throughout the book as were Lucinda's reactions. So fun to read as Lucinda begins to develop good feelings for the little Terrier. The mystery kept me reading and I was totally surprised with the outcome. Lucinda's parents' arrival in the picture was another source of some of the humor as well as some serious adjustment to her life. The book ended with some loose ends and left me wanting more of this author's books in this series.
I requested this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I requested this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
November 11, 2022
Lucinda Sharpe is a PI with a terrier, Steele, that she reluctantly inherited when her aunt passed away. But Steele has become Lucinda’s important side-kick, especially after she is hired by the parents of a young girl who was murdered. She is determined to find the killer before the snarky sheriff botches the case. Lucinda has a not-so-good relationship with her parents, and their unexpected arrival to her home brings heartburn to her as she tries to solve this case. This was an enjoyable and easy read!
September 18, 2023
This is the first in this series. The main characters are Lucinda and her dog Steele. Lucinda is a PI and she is called in by the family to find out who murdered their daughter. When she starts to look into it , she finds out that the daughter was telling people by email, that they were related because the doctor who had helped their parents did more than help. She is asking questions and getting answers but will it be enough ?
November 16, 2024
Small town murder! Short and interesting!
This was a nice fast short read. Good storyline. Very easy to read in 1-2 sittings. Lucinda, the PI was an interesting character. I was just a little surprised by the ending but kind of had an idea of who the murderer was. I just wish the ending had expanded a little more about what happened to the murderer. Maybe it continues in book two. Enjoy!
This was a nice fast short read. Good storyline. Very easy to read in 1-2 sittings. Lucinda, the PI was an interesting character. I was just a little surprised by the ending but kind of had an idea of who the murderer was. I just wish the ending had expanded a little more about what happened to the murderer. Maybe it continues in book two. Enjoy!
July 1, 2022
This was an engaging mystery featuring amateur sleuth, Lucinda Sharpe, who tries to solve the murder of a young woman found on the beach in her hometown. I like the small town atmosphere in this cozy mystery as well as the deductive reasoning Lucinda uses to solve the crime. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
July 1, 2022
Lucinda is a private eye and with her dog Steele they are working on a case. She is trying to solve a murder and it is about to get complicated. Her parents are coming to town..... This was an interesting first book in the series and it is a fast read. I like the way she thinks the evidence through and the issues with Chief Standard will be fun going forward.
August 6, 2022
Great Main Character
Lucinda is a great character and a p.i. I'd like to have her as a friend. She's smart, hard working, and has a kind heart.
Her dog, Steele, makes a great sidekick.
And Lucinda gets the job done by following the clues and doing the footwork.
I look forward to the next case!
Lucinda is a great character and a p.i. I'd like to have her as a friend. She's smart, hard working, and has a kind heart.
Her dog, Steele, makes a great sidekick.
And Lucinda gets the job done by following the clues and doing the footwork.
I look forward to the next case!
October 5, 2022
Cosy murder mystery
The characters were hard to like. Maybe it’s an overload of Cosy murder mysteries but it also seems like the police are either bumbling jealous idiots or the boyfriend. Either way the feisty heroine knows better than them and solves the murder with an overload of smirking and arrogance
The characters were hard to like. Maybe it’s an overload of Cosy murder mysteries but it also seems like the police are either bumbling jealous idiots or the boyfriend. Either way the feisty heroine knows better than them and solves the murder with an overload of smirking and arrogance
August 21, 2023
This book was a surprise in that it wasn’t ordinary. Instead it was a slam dunk by Maisy Marple. Her creation on the main character, Lucinda Sharpe, and the character’s growing fondness for an unwanted dog, was refreshing and had a down to earth vibe throughout. I’m looking forward to more in this series.
September 16, 2023
I'm glad I got a chance to borrow this high quality, lovely cozy mystery book, in a new series by a new author. It's very hard to be a nice person and maintain boundaries, but the line is very clear in this book and it is very well done. The flow is flawless, the characters are realistic, and the dialogue is well done as well. Wonderful!
May 21, 2024
Short and interesting mystery. A young woman named Jenny is murdered in a crowd of people, and yet no one saw it occur. Enter Lucinda Sharpe, a private investigator. She narrows down the suspects, even though they seem unlikely. She even meets with each of them to see if she can make a determination. Will she? You can read this mystery in one sitting and find out if she is successful.
February 28, 2025
It was a fast, easy read. Otherwise, it would have ended up as a DNF, because I failed to connect with the character. Maybe it was a lack of development, but mostly I feel it was a dislikeable personality. I didn't find the main character's rudeness toward clients and law enforcement to be a funny mishap or endearing.
July 1, 2022
As a PI she can do a lot - can she solve the murder?
A young woman is killed - who did it and why??
As she goes through the suspects it just opens more questions!!! Great story!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
A young woman is killed - who did it and why??
As she goes through the suspects it just opens more questions!!! Great story!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
July 1, 2022
a wonderful story with lots of twists and turns, murder and mahem, this who done it is a real page turner. the characters are interesting and complex and I could not put this book down. This is a must read!
July 8, 2022
This was a fun summer read. It's the first book in (what I hope will be) a new series. The mystery was well done. There were many twists and turns which made it really fun. The characters were well written but also were left with room to grow. I look forward to what this new series holds!
July 18, 2022
Who was my dad
I love beach stories! This book got to the chase right off. She got information and left no time to start an investigation. She asked hard questions to parents. I loved the way you inserted her parents in the story on their own issues.
I love beach stories! This book got to the chase right off. She got information and left no time to start an investigation. She asked hard questions to parents. I loved the way you inserted her parents in the story on their own issues.
September 28, 2022
Entertaining
What happens when the secret life a young woman is exposed after she is brutally murder? Her secrets were damaging even life changing to many others. Which one killed her?
What happens when the secret life a young woman is exposed after she is brutally murder? Her secrets were damaging even life changing to many others. Which one killed her?
October 5, 2022
Quick Fun Read!
Super fun, quick beach read. Characters were great and plot super! Felt that if the author wanted to develop a longer book that the skeleton was definitely there. Nice writing and easy reading!
Super fun, quick beach read. Characters were great and plot super! Felt that if the author wanted to develop a longer book that the skeleton was definitely there. Nice writing and easy reading!
February 4, 2023
Beachside murder
I liked the book because it was a quick read, loved the characters but I knew pretty soon what the main plot was because it was in the papers and on the news what the doctor had done in real life.
I liked the book because it was a quick read, loved the characters but I knew pretty soon what the main plot was because it was in the papers and on the news what the doctor had done in real life.
April 13, 2023
Lucinda and Steele!
Private Eye, Lucinda and her dog are on the trail of a person that stabbed a girl to death on the 4th. of July. With three suspects it was only a matter of time before one of them proved to be the killer. Follow along as she collects clues.
Private Eye, Lucinda and her dog are on the trail of a person that stabbed a girl to death on the 4th. of July. With three suspects it was only a matter of time before one of them proved to be the killer. Follow along as she collects clues.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews