Sealed Off (Maine Clambake Mystery #8) by Barbara Ross

Sealed Off

(Maine Clambake Mystery #8)

by Barbara Ross

Paperback, 256 pages

Expected publication: December 31st 2019 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Goodreads synopsis:

Early October is “winding down” time in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, but there’s nothing relaxing about it for Julia Snowden. Between busloads of weekend leaf peepers at the Snowden Family Clambake and a gut renovation of the old mansion on Morrow Island, she’s keeping it all together with a potentially volatile skeleton crew—until one of them turns up dead under the firewood.

When the Russian demo team clearing out the mansion discovers a room that’s been sealed off for decades, Julia’s baffled as to its purpose and what secrets it might have held. Tensions are already simmering with the crew, but when one of the workers is found murdered, things come to a boil. With the discovery of another body—and a mysterious diary with Cyrillic text in the hidden room—the pressure’s on Julia to dig up a real killer fast. But she’ll have to sort through a pile of suspects, including ex-spouses, a spurned lover, and a recently released prisoner, to fish out one clammed-up killer.

***

4.5 Stars

This is the eighth book in the Maine Clambake mystery series by Barbara Ross.

First comes the dead body that turns out to be one of the skeleton crew working on the renovation of and old mansion on Morrow Island. Then they discover a secret room in said mansion. Now the pressure on Julia begins. She is asked to find the killer and do it fast. The first problem with this request is that she is no police officer. And the police tend to look down on people interrupting their investigation.

Julia is quite intrigued by the history of the room they have uncovered and quickly finds a number of clues, including a diary, looking for the identity of who could have loved in this room and why it was sealed off for so long.

I am really enjoying this series. I think before now I had read one book (NOGGED OFF) from this particular series by Ross. I know I have a number in my current paperback collection. Looks like I might start a search and collect them all together. (Am I the only person who has no organization to their bookshelves?) 

This story had me captivated from page one. There is just the right amount of everything in this book. It flows well. It is written well. I have a newfound appreciation for Ms. Ross’s writing since I read a short story from a recent anthology I picked up. This is just knocking it out of the park for me.

I truly look forward to making this series more of a priority in 2020.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check out this one. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.