by Terrance Mc Arthur

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a print copy of Treasure More Deadly, or an ebook copy of one of the earlier books in the series (winner’s choice), and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

A bed & breakfast on the California coast. A 400-year-old shipwreck. Rumors and roomers, and an 11-year-old girl investigating her suspicions. Of course, there has to be a murder in Treasure Most Deadly, Terry Ambrose’s fifth Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery.

Rick Atwood, a former newspaper reporter, inherited the B&B from his grandfather. Police Chief Adam Cunningham relies on Rick when investigating murders in the town, and the latest is a stranger found in an alley, Clive Crabbe (a local with a temper) kneeling over the body.

Who is the dead guy? Did Clive kill him? Is the marine archaeologist plundering artifacts from the wreck? Who is the mostly-naked man running through town? Is Adela (a guest at the B&B) really a reporter? If not, what is she doing in the town? When is Rick going to marry Marquetta, the housekeeper/cook? AND…will Rick’s daughter, Alex, ever stop getting into dangerous situations when she makes like a pint-size Nancy Drew?

I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries, the ones where an amateur sleuth puts all the clues together and catches the killer, and I usually prefer those written by women to the books written by men. The male-penned cozies tend to be more violent and more sex-themed, but I like my cozies…cozier. Ambrose’s Seaside Cove book surprised me. There’s a low level of violence, but a fine level of tension. The romance is tempered by Rick and Marquetta’s desire to build a stable family environment for Alex, and to protect the pre-teen from too much exposure to criminal activity. Some chapters are written in Alex’s voice, including entries from her diary. The other sections of the book follow Rick, his actions and thoughts.

Interesting characters inhabit the story. Chief Cunningham is a good cop, but he recognizes that Rick and Alex are valuable assets. Marquetta’s mother conspires with Alex to get Marquetta and Rick married sooner. Some of the B&B guests are more trouble than help, but one PTSD sufferer turns out to have useful talents.

Looking for a light mystery with a perky attitude and a junior detective to root for? Treasure Most Deadly is ideal beach reading. Check in to Seaside Cove, and check out this book.

To enter to win a print copy of Treasure More Deadly, or an ebook copy of one of the earlier books in the series (winner’s choice), simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “treasure” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 17, 2021. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like. BE SURE TO STATE IF YOU WANT A PRINT COPY OF OF THE NEW BOOK, OR EBOOK OF ANOTHER BOOK IN THE SERIES.

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Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.