Strangers in the Avalon Dunes

Meg Daniels #6

by Jane Kelly

After the turbulence of her last adventure, Meg Daniels swears she never wants to help someone find a lost loved one ever again. She settles into a lazy routine in an upscale home in the high dunes of Avalon, New Jersey, that is owned by a friend who has asked her and her fiancé, Andy Beck, to housesit for several months.
However, Meg finds she can't outrun her reputation. When a young woman asks Meg to find her long-lost grandfather, Ken Patterson, Meg just can't say no. In 1977, Ken, a wealthy attorney, decided he was born too soon. He missed the British Invasion, the Summer of Love, and Woodstock. He may have missed the Sixties, but he wasn’t going to miss the Seventies. So, he simply disappeared, leaving behind his wife and daughter. After more than 40 years have gone by, can Meg actually find him? Ken's daughter has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and wants to reunite with the father she hasn't seen in four decades, so time is of the essence.
Meg soon becomes convinced she's investigating a murder. Had Ken really executed a carefully planned escape from the life he no longer wanted? Meg is not so sure. His abandoned wife claims she has never given up on him, but Meg concludes that not everyone―including his wife―was sad to see him go.
As Meg begins to make some progress on the case, it becomes obvious that someone really doesn't want Meg nosing around. Is it the killer or simply a man who doesn't want to be found?

284 pages, Paperback

Published January 14, 2023

About the author

Jane Kelly is a native of Philadelphia, close to the Jersey Shore settings of the Meg Daniels mysteries available from Plexus Publishing. Jane is also the author of the Widow Lady Mysteries and the Writing in Time Mysteries, both set in her hometown. She is the past president of the Delaware Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime and served on the board of the New York Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Her next Meg Daniels novel, Last Seen in Sea Isle, will be released in April 2026. In 2025, she launched a series of novellas, the Meg Daniels Mystery Weekenders, in which all the action takes place in a weekend, and the book can be read in a weekend. In addition, she published a stand-alone novel, NIGHTINGALE SONGS, that is romantic but doesn't obey all the rules of a romance. Her latest publication is A DEATH IN SCILLY, a traditional mystery set on a small island off the coast of Cornwall.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangers in the Avalon Dunes by Jane Kelly is the sixth book in the Meg Daniels mystery series, but the first I've read. The book works well as a standalone since the author gives plenty of background information about the two main characters. They have a unique backstory, working at a luxurious resort in the Bahamas, so I'm interested in going back and reading some of those prior books. I like Meg and her fiance, Andy, and enjoy it when they discuss the case together. 
The story unfolds at an even, leisurely pace as Meg looks into a man's disappearance decades earlier as a favor to his granddaughter Abby, a new acquaintance. Unfortunately, Abby is an obnoxious, unlikable character. Meg puts up with Abby's rudeness and demands because the search for Ken Patterson is really for the benefit of Abby's mother who is ill. For me, Abby is so off-putting that she detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. 

The book is well-written and I enjoyed the way the author handled the questioning of the various witnesses. After Meg asks her questions about Ken's disappearance, the point-of-view changes to the person she is questioning and the timeline goes back to the 1970s. This makes these scenes from the past come alive. There are a few different surprising developments at the end of this intriguing mystery and I was satisfied with the overall solution even though the character of Abby never did grow on me. I enjoyed the book and would like to read some of the earlier books in the series.

I received an advance copy of this book at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. 

[Nev March · Rating 4 out of 5]

lively and fun cozy mystery

Nice surprises. This one take a long slow build up but the wait is worth it. Nice surprises that just keep coming. Delightful characters and a fun, easy read.

[Megan Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the beginning more than I enjoyed the ending. I think the set up was good but the execution was a bit too far fetched towards the end.

The main character Meg gets pulled into a missing person case with a very pushing Abby (the missing persons granddaughter) this book follows Mega sleuth work and uncovering a mysterious disappearance from 40 years ago. The first 75% of the book was very benign uncovering a mystery, however, the ending uncovering two attempted murders and one actual murder for hire.

I have some comments about the sand dunes of New Jersey which sounds more like the setting of North Carolina in terms of the layout of the town and the backdrop.

I requested and received an electronic ARC from Plexus Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Strangers in the Dunes. While this is sixth in a series based on Meg Daniels, I was unaware of previous books and it worked on its own. I was intrigued by the title, having lived in Avalon. My expectations of reading a lot about Avalon and the area were maybe too high. It was recognizable, but the few key locations played a minor role in the story. There was an interesting mystery at the heart of the story. Ken Patterson disappears on the 4th of July, 1977, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. Fast forward to present when Meg and her fiance, Andy, are housesitting what had been Ken Patterson’s house in the high dunes. Ken’s now-grown daughter, Elizabeth, is in the early stages of dementia and is found by Meg on the grounds of the house. Elizabeth is retrieved by her daughter, Abby, who cajoles Meg into finding out what happened to her grandfather. And off you go. Meg’s character was written in a way that did not appeal to me. Abby, too, was not at all sympathetic. Meg pursued the case despite her feelings about Abby and a lot of her actions didn’t ring true. The ultimate solution was satisfactory but the book was just ok for me.

[J. Rubino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Kelly's series character Meg Daniels returns in another South Jersey based mystery. This time, Meg and her fiance Andy Beck are house sitting for a friend in upscale Avalon, NJ during the off season. When a woman, suffering from early onset dementia, wanders on to their property, her adult daughter, Abby, apologizes and explains that the home had belonged to the woman's father, who disappeared forty years ago.
The next day, Abby returns and convinces Meg (whom she googled and discovered that Meg had a track record of finding missing persons) to investigate what happened to her grandfather - he had been a wealthy and successful attorney, living what appeared to be an idyllic life with his wife and daughter when he had disappeared without a trace - had he been kidnapped, was he dead, or had his disappearance been a premeditated escape plan?
Kelly creates a very sympathetic and relatable cast of characters, and crafts a very well-plotted, slow burn of a mystery that comes to a satisfying conclusion. While it is part of a very good series, one advantage is that the book can be read as a stand - alone - Kelly very efficiently gives just enough of Meg's backstory so a reader doesn't feel lost - but I highly recommend the series.

[Jennifer Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strangers in the Avalon Dunes takes place in modern times but draws you into the past. A time when disco was thriving, “free love” was all the rage and secret plans and meetings might have been taking place right under everyone’s noses. Where is Kenneth Patterson or, better yet, what happened to him? Does a family man just suddenly walk off and leave his family or did something more dire happen to him? Sleuth, Meg Daniels feels compelled by Kenneth’s granddaughter’s insistence to find out, although why, she’s not sure given Abby’s attitude.

This is the first book written by this author that I’ve read, but definitely won’t be the last! There were a few twists along the way to keep you pulled into the story and the plot was well written. I enjoyed traveling back in time as each of the persons of interest detailed their thoughts and actions regarding Kenneth’s life and subsequent disappearance. Meg’s fiancé seems to enjoy listening to her whims and thought processes. Overall, a good read that will keep you interested.

I was provided this book as an Advanced Readers Copy free of charge. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[k mandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living north of the Avalon area, this book got my interest. There really is not much of the true flavor of the area though. The main character, Meg, begins with being afraid of everything and suspecting bears in the dunes. Yes, bears. This same character, who is hyper-frightened by many things, then goes off putting herself in dangerous positions all alone. Now it is fiction so I can accept stretching believability a bit, but this was truly silly. The ending is OK with feeble attempts to explain away choosing to leave one's own daughter behind and ignoring her for decades. It is part of a series and was able to stand on its own without issue. I have read no other titles in the series nor will I.

[Libby Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery is one of a series but I was intrigued by the title. I loved it and I don't know why I am not familiar with the author as I live in The Philly area. An old mysterious disappearance of a man who let his wife and daughter is reopened by the main character who is a sleuth in solving these types of cases. What happened to him, is he dead or alive? An interesting mix of characters and a good story line will keep you guessing until the end. A highly enjoyable novel and I plan to go back and read some of the other books in the series.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg and her fiance, Andy (an ex-PI) are housesitting in a fabulous area. One night their peace is invaded by a young woman and her mother who has early onset dementia. The woman's problem is that she is still looking for her father who disappeared when she was ten (1977). Let the sleuthing begin. A very interesting read.
I requested and received an EARC from Plexus Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Lauren Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Since I live in south jersey I had to read this book.
It was not bad but not very accurate. I mean who expects to come across a bear in the dunes of a beach in south jersey???
While I wish there had been more accuracy in this one since I live in the area, it still was an ok read.
Writer should familiarize herself with areas more when she is using them as the location for her novel.

[Carol Markowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Kelly's book Strangers in the Avalon Dunes is a delightful mystery. The characters are intriguing, and the plot will keep you reading all the way to the last page with some surprising twists. Her character Meg is embroiled in a search for a man who may or may not be dead. Along the way she meets some interesting folks, who live in and around the Jersey shore. The book will make a great beach read, but it's enjoyable off the beach as well.

[Terry M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysteries with a Jersey SHORE setting

I really e joy these Meg Daniel's mysteries. Love the Jersey Shore and lo e reading about the locations. Not complex writing g but fun and engaging all the way through. Thanks, Jane Kelly.

[Kate Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading it however I found Abby a right pain and Meg a bit of a scaredy cat, so they didn't altogether gel for me. Didn't bother me though, I just love a good mystery. I received this as an advance copy from the author via Net galley and am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Sandy Nork · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

Filled with relatable characters, lots of action, and an exciting ending, I really loved this book! I found it a quick read with moments of humor and pathos that culminated in a satisfying resolution. I’m looking forward to reading the next Meg Daniels case!

[Nancy Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, enjoyable read. Looking forward to the seventh book!

[Molly Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was tense! I found it unpredictable which made me want to read it often.