About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Murder on the Water, Mystery in the Air
In the picturesque harbor town where boats gleam and tourists flock, bookstore owner Vivian Palmer only wanted to enjoy the Fourth of July festivities. But when the body of Dorian "Dory" Fisk—respected boat judge and harbor preservation champion—is discovered during the fireworks finale, Vivian and her Maine Coon cat Cricket find themselves navigating dangerous waters.
As Vivian investigates, she uncovers a web of a slick developer with thwarted plans, a business partner with financial secrets, a festival organizer with a complicated past, and an estranged nephew with inheritance claims. With the help of Detective Graham Alder, who reluctantly appreciates her observant nature, Vivian follows a trail of distinctive boat wax, lipstick-stained wine glasses, and Cricket's uncanny knack for finding evidence.
Time is running out as the killer attempts to frame innocent parties and destroy crucial documents. Vivian must unravel decades of harbor history, broken promises, and hidden relationships before another storm breaks over the community she's grown to love. In Harbor Town, where everyone knows everyone's business, the most dangerous secrets often hide in plain sight.
My Review
It’s July 4th in Harbor Town and everyone is ready for a celebration. Vivian Palmer, owner of the local bookstore, and her Maine Coon kitty, Cricket, are ready to watch the festivities. The last thing anyone expects is to find the dead body of one of the boat judges, Dory Fisk.
Vivian and Cricket quickly jump on the case to find out who could have done such a horrible thing during a holiday celebration. They are more than a little surprised to find there are many suspects who wanted to get rid of Dory.
Detective Graham Alder is not happy with Vivian’s interference, but he realizes she can uncover some facts that he can’t. It’s a race to figure out this case before the killer strikes again.
This is the first book in a July 4th cozy mystery series and it’s off to an exciting start. It’s a good choice to read on the holiday or at the beach. It’s quick and makes you feel as if you are part of Harbor Town’s celebration.
The characters are well-written. Vivian’s kitty, Cricket, lends a helping paw in solving this mystery. The cat doesn’t speak, but she does discover clues that the humans don’t see. Of course, Cricket is my favorite character.
The storyline moves at a fast pace. There are several different suspect possibilities. The fun is figuring out the hows and whys of it all along with Vivian and Cricket.
I don’t know if Vivian and Cricket are featured in other books, but I hope so. They make a great amateur sleuth team.
I never read this author before, but I will be reading more in the future.
For reading challenges:
What An Animal Reading Challenge 2025
Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2025
Disclosure: This one is from my own e-book collection. All opinions expressed are my own.
It does sound like a good little mystery. Happy 4th of July to you!
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