Smile Murder Beach by Alicia Bessette

Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery #1.

Rating: ★★★✰✰

Dates Read: 5/28/23 - 5/30/23

    After being laid off from her reporting job, Callie returns to her hometown, Cattail Island, and finds solace in a position at the local bookstore—a place that provided comfort after her mother's tragic death. As the anniversary of her mother's infamous fall from the lighthouse approaches, the islanders start gossiping about the past tragedy once more. However, devastating news strikes when the lighthouse claims another victim—Eva Meeks of Meeks Hardware.

    The police rule Eva's death as a suicide, but Callie is skeptical. She refuses to believe Eva jumped, just as she doubted her mother's fall years ago. Callie discovers that before Eva's demise, she had stumbled upon a forgotten treasure hunt that might have made her a target.

    In search of answers, Callie seeks help from her favorite books and new friends, including the handsome local martial arts instructor, Toby Dodge. But when another death rocks Cattail Island, Callie realizes she must confront her fears alone. Determined to uncover the truth, she risks making enemies in her pursuit, knowing that her investigation could lead her to unmask the killer or put her own life in danger.

    Callie, the protagonist, is likable and relatable, and her tenacious pursuit of the truth adds a great dimension to the story. The other characters are well-developed, each with their own agendas that come to light through their actions and inactions. The cast of characters is diverse, and I especially loved Tin Man, the bookstore cat with his own social media following.

    The descriptive narrative whisked me away to the coast of North Carolina, and the story's pace kept me engaged from start to finish. Bessette expertly balances the shocking and tense moments with the cozy bookstore and community events, making it a well-plotted and beautifully executed story that gradually builds momentum toward an astonishing conclusion. Red herrings and humor add to the intrigue, making it a fun puzzle to solve. The novel skillfully weaves in themes of grief, friendship, secrets, and family. While categorized as a cozy mystery, it explores darker topics and includes some action that sets it apart from others in the genre.

    Overall, this well-written and engaging novel has it all—humor, suspense, a dash of action, and even the possibility of romance. If you enjoy beach settings, puzzles, treasure hunts, bookstores, cats, and sleuth mysteries, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It's a fantastic start to a series, and I can't wait to see what unfolds next on Cattail Island. My only minor complaint is the pacing—it slowed down a bit after the halfway mark before picking up again for an exciting ending.

    Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While I should have seen the twist coming, it didn't diminish my enjoyment, and now I'm eager to read more from this series!