Review: Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

Genre:
Women’s Fiction

Format:
E-ARC

Publisher:
St. Martin’s Press

Release Date:
May 7, 2019





Synopsis from Goodreads:

Pull up a lounge chair and have a cocktail at Sunset Beach – it comes with a twist.

Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’s eighth grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.

It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.

With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.

Sunset Beach is a compelling ride, full of Mary Kay Andrews' signature wit, heart, and charm.

My Review

Drue Campbell’s life takes a nasty turn when she loses her job right after her mother’s funeral. To add to her misery, her estranged father shows up wanting a relationship with her. It gets even worse when she finds out he’s now married to a much younger woman who happens to be a friend of hers from grade school.

Drue’s father is a successful personal injury attorney and his new wife is his office manager. With Drue having no job prospects in sight, they offer her a job with their company. She’s resistant but she really has to choice. Her new step-mother/former best friend certainly does not make it easy.

Things get a little better when Drue learns she inherited her grandparents’ beach house. It’s not much to look at but it’s hers and she plans to revitalize it.

While working the reception desk, Drue is faced with one of the firm's former clients. She is accusing Drue's father of corruption. She wants justice. Drue is convinced the client may have a case. Against everyone’s wishes, Drue does a bit of investigation on her own. It leads to a cold case which involved her father years ago. Drue is determined to find out the truth.

I always enjoy Mary Kay Andrews’ work and this book is no exception. I thought this would have made a great movie. The characters are well written and the plot keeps you on your toes. Just when I thought I knew all the answers…I find out I didn’t.

I devoured this book in a short period of time. It is chick lit meets romantic suspense. Two of my favorite genres. And, yes, there is a little romance involved as well. Drue Campbell is a strong, but sympathetic character. She is someone I could really care about.

I’m always on the look out for a good Mary Kay Andrews book and this definitely filled the bill.

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.