Sunsets, Smoke and Suspicion

Dune House Mystery #24

by Cindy Bell

Suzie and Mary’s plans for a few days' relaxation go up in flames…

Best friends, Suzie and Mary, love running Dune House, the majestic B&B on the beach, with their lovable yellow Labrador, Pilot, by their side. With no guests for a few days and their boyfriends having some time off, they are planning on enjoying some well-earned relaxation and fun.

But when a boat goes up in flames and then a dead body is found, they have not one mystery to solve, but two. The friends soon find themselves juggling a B&B full of unexpected guests, and a long list of suspects and clues to sort through. Before long, they end up in a whole lot of danger.

Can Suzie and Mary find the murderer before someone close to their heart ends up dead?

If you like puzzling cozy mysteries, with endearing friendships, lovable animals and a touch of romance, you’ll love the Dune House Cozy Mystery Series by USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Cindy Bell.

Join Suzie, Mary and Pilot on a fast-paced, action-packed, sleuthing adventure.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2023

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dune House Bed and Breakfast, located in the small coastal town of Garber seems like the idyllic place to visit for a relaxing vacation. In this book, Suzie and Mary, along with their boyfriends, Paul and Wes, are looking forward to a week of relaxation and time together with no guests lodging at the B&B. Unfortunately, their vacation is cut short when Paul's boat suddenly catches on fire, and a murder on a yacht next to it leaves the crew without a place to stay. Relaxation goes out the door when kindhearted Mary offers them a stay at Dune House. With a houseful of guests, one who could be a murderer, Suzie and Mary put on their sleuthing caps to figure out who set fire to Paul’s boat and the possible connection to the murder.

I always enjoy reading Cindy Bell’s Dune House Mystery series. Suzie and Mary have an endearing relationship that complement their personalities and help Dune House run smoothly. Suddenly having guests they weren’t expecting, didn’t really phase them. Having a possible murderer under their roof was another thing! Each guest has a possible motive to investigate as well as a protester who was on the yacht at the time of the murder. This story takes several turns throughout and the several suspects kept me guessing right up until the end.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book; all opinions are my own.

[Valorie Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!!!!

I love this series!!!!!
All Suzie, Paul, Mary and Wes wanted to do was have a week of relaxation from their busy lifes.
Of course it's ruined with a rich man huge yacht at the dock next to Paul's boat, there are angry people wanting to get Claude Corrington.
There are environmental activists trying to stop his drilling and ruining the area, with a false survey.
Then there is a fire on Paul's boat, everyone racing down to see and then there is a scream and they find a dead person on Claude's huge yacht.
Now Jason and his officers have a mess on their hands, who hated Claude the most.
You know Suzie gets Mary to start investigating against Jason's wishing, but that never stopped her. She wants to find out who set the fire, and is it connected to the yachts' troubles.
Now get this book to get the details, you won't be disappointed!!!!!

[Cinda Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 24th book in the Dune House Cozy Mystery.
Suzie Allen and Mary Brent, two best friends who own the Dune House B & B in Garber, are excited to spend some down time with their significant others, Paul North, a fisherman, and West Brown, a detective in Parish. While talking about it with them at the B & B, Paul's boat catches fire. Paul runs to the fire. Suzie, Mary and Wes heard a woman screaming on the yacht parked in the harbor. They found a man who had been stabbed to death. Of course, Suzie and Mary jump in to investigate and assist Suzie's cousin, Detective Jason Allen. There are many suspects..
Cindy Bell keeps you guessing until near the end. I have loved this series and the characters.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. These are a must read!

[Shannon M · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Dune House free of guests, Mary and Susie's dream of some downtime with their significant others, Wes and Paul, crumbles when a boat in the harbor erupts into flames. When another crime is discovered close by the burning boat, Mary and Susie find themselves drawn into another investigation as well as entertaining a B&B full of guests. I love and admire the friendship and loyalty between Mary and Susie as well as their dedication to each other, their loved ones and Dune House. Everyone should have a friend like one of them. This is a fantastic series that continues to get better with each book and I highly recommend it. Happy Reading!

* I received an ARC from the author but this review is my honest opinion.

[Wendy Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only imagine how Paul felt to see his home on fire, smoke he saw from the beach. It is the start of a nerve-racking intense story, bad enough when the house has been the target but this was his income and his home. Thankfully the ladies are soon on the case and figure a connection to another crime. I must admit the author beat me on this one, although I did realise more was going on and there was lots of lying. Couldn't put it down and read it in about an hour. Fabulous read.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman]

I'm reviewing this only to remind myself that I didn't like it at all. She introduced so much stuff and people in the first four very short chapters that my head spun. And they were all featureless, if you know what I mean. Can't an author dwell on a place and people just a little bit, starting out--instead of rushing into mayhem first thing?

A lot of people loved it, so I think I'm the outlier. So ignore this review if you wish.

[Margaret Laubach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Terrific!

This series is great but this book was a step above! Lots of twists I wasn’t expecting. I love Suzie & Paul and Mary & Wes. Are we ever going to have a wedding at Dune House?

[Mrs. J.P. Cantle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunsets smoke and suspicion

The items named in the title appear in the book more than once. Recycling protectors are well written and even the Addis has a rounded character. Well worth reading Cindy Balls books remind me of Agatha Christie..

[Karen Cino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book gets better and better. The twists and turns in this book where over the top. There were many surprises as we read along. Pilot was definitely the hero in this one. I'm hoping there are wedding bells coming soon to Dune House!

[Stephanie P. Kindervater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read!

I have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series! Cindy Bell gives her readers adventure,suspense,entertaining characters,interesting storylines and makes you feel like the main characters are your friends. Try this series you won't be disappointed!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunsets, smoke and suspicion

No matter how hard they try, Susie and Mary can't keep away from trouble! Cindy keeps you guessing who did it. Well worth the read and all her other .

[JANE VAN HORN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This is another great book in the Dune House series by Cindy Bell. I can't wait for the next book.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Patrick and why??? All because of some documents??? I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.

[Kathy]

A great cozy

I love Mary and Susie and all the characters in this wonderful series by Cindy Bell and if you're like me that loves cozies you will too

[Pat Serafin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed.

This book has so many characters, it really keeps you thinking. A lot of action throughout. Couldn't stop reading it.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Patrick and why??? AND who started the fire??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mega yacht pulls into port and environmental issues implode. Much intrigue but Mary and Suzie use their logical thinking and sleuthing skills to find the murderer.

[Courtney-Louise✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really good read for me, as stated before they are short books which you can read quite quick but working full time I don’t always have the time to fit in some reading - hence why it took me so long to read this book. But here we are again, Suzie and Mary are continuing to run the B&B which Suzie inherited after they renovated it. This time, the town of Garber are hit with the news that has been a boat fire in the dock.. but that isn’t the only thing, there was also a dead body found upon the boat. Was this boat burned to try and hide any evidence, as well as the dead body? In turn, this leads to an influx of guests to Dune House leaving Suzie and Mary to deal with a hotel full while Garber police work on solving this murder. However, not only are the police investigating but of course Suzie and Mary are getting involved too as they love a good investigation, particularly Suzie (especially when we remember what her previous job was!). However, are Suzie and Mary able to solve the murder before they become victims themselves, or even other residents of Garber?
Definitely keeps you guessing and full of suspense, I kept changing who I thought had committed this murder based on certain behaviours that each of the guests staying at the hotel displayed, but then the next time they would appear to have a different demeanour about them, thus making you doubt yourself. No-one ever truly knows someone!