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Citrus Beach Mysteries #1

Murder for Neptune's Trident

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A simple errand for a client of Concierge Services of Citrus Beach leads owner Megan Cassidy into more trouble than she could have ever thought possible...before she knows what has happened, she has become the witness to a murder and a target for bullets and speeding trucks. Who knew there could be so much going on in this little southern town, where your neighbors watched your back and "Mom & Pop" businesses populated Main Street?

FBI Consultant, Aiden Tory, is brought in to solve the murder and Megan joins forces with him to figure out just what has been going on along the Florida shores of this tropical paradise. Could there be the hint of romance in the tropic air?

232 pages, ebook

First published September 21, 2013

405 people are currently reading
1653 people want to read

About the author

Victoria L.K. Williams

52 books432 followers

Fun Cozy Mysteries, Paranormal Mysteries (with a fantasy twist) all set on the Florida Coast. A Romantic Christian Series, with a strong sense of family set in upstate New York. These are the stories Victoria writes.

A hopeless animal lover, Victoria adds plenty of cats and dogs in each book, and her love of gardening shows through the characters. As a storyteller, it is important for Victoria to draw the reader into the story; to make you feel the sultry tropical heat or the numbing cold of the north.

Victoria and her husband live in South Florida and own a landscape garden service. Two feisty cats make themselves at home, usually on her desk as she writes.

A lover of a good mystery, she is an avid reader and likes to be outdoors. When she is not reading, you may find her working on a needlepoint project.

Visit her website to learn about new and upcoming books.
http://www.VictoriaLKWilliams.com

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5 stars
278 (49%)
4 stars
156 (27%)
3 stars
96 (16%)
2 stars
25 (4%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Audrey.
1,372 reviews220 followers
November 29, 2021
The problem with this book is that it is NOT EDITED. This is too bad, because it could have been really good. The Amazon description says “re-edited.” If this is true, I hate to see what it was before. The author is definitely a competent writer but really needs to spend good money on a good editor.

There are tons of spelling errors, punctuation errors, usage errors, and awkward sentences. It also needed line editing and developmental editing.



The pacing is pretty uneven; very little happens in the first half. There are long conversations about nothing that should have been summarized with a “he told her that” and vice versa: Scenes and conversations are summarized that should have been given a more detailed account.

For a mystery, it’s very straightforward. It’s probably more realistic than most cozies but doesn’t follow many of the “rules” of cozies: the very few bad guys are obviously bad, and the ringleader revealed at the end is not someone you already know.

The characters here all get along famously. This makes them very pleasant, and it would be great if real life worked this way, but it strips the plot of tension. Everybody is reasonable, patient, mature, thoughtful, and full of common sense. Employees and co-workers are perfect. Clients are perfect. The local sheriff and the hired PI and the amateur sleuth all get along perfectly after about one paragraph of conflict, resolved by quick apologies. Everybody’s plans work out perfectly and everyone always has a perfect good time.



The characters also have a habit of constantly addressing each other:
“How are you, John?”
“I’m great, Mary. Did you have a nice time yesterday, Mary?”
“Yes, John, I did. How was your date with Ann, John?”
Personally, I can’t remember the last time I called my husband by his name. It’s usually “hey.”

With a little help, this could be a great book. It just missed the mark.



Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Mild
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
Profile Image for Cait S.
974 reviews77 followers
February 11, 2019
I very, very rarely rate books that I don't finish. However in this case I'm going to make an exception. I downloaded this book onto my Kindle about a week ago to fill a spot for a challenge (a book with a trident on the cover, which as it turns out, is ridiculously hard to find) and then forced myself to read about five pages a night. Which is all I could stand. After five pages, my eyes inevitably would roll up into my head and I'd start wishing for death.

The writing is just. so. bad. It's so bad, guys. Every single page is a classic example of an author telling instead of showing. Megan went here. Megan did this. Megan said this inane thing. Megan constantly referred to the person she was speaking to by their first name at the start of all of her sentences for no reason whatsoever except to drive me up the fucking wall.

I literally made it 30 pages in during the week I had this book and I quit. Reading this book is physically painful and I can't do it anymore.
Profile Image for Nicole.
2,864 reviews10 followers
April 14, 2020
I would love to give this a good rating — the storyline was great but, the telling of the story drove me around the twist. Dialogue was stilted, often formal and long-winded. Additionally, there was so much extraneous information in the telling of the story. Readers are told of her whole day, from what Meghan ate for breakfast to her going to bed at night. I was waiting for something to happen and nothing did.
To be frank, it was so cozy, it sent me to sleep.
Profile Image for Cindy B. .
3,899 reviews219 followers
February 17, 2019
Interesting plot and charming characters, clean and standalone. Recommended.

Highlighted this:
A few plants are mosquito repellents: Lemon Grass, Lavender, Rosemary, Citronella, marigolds, catnip, basil and all mints.
Good to know...
Profile Image for Deborah.
80 reviews
July 1, 2021
Could have been much better....

This book had lots of the good elements of a fun cozy. Unfortunately, it reads like a report of some kind. It's written haltingly, broken and without color. Sentence after sentence like bulleted points in a news article or a financial report. I like the plot and the scene setting , so I kept on reading, hoping for the author to break out ..out of her zombie like sentence structure trance , but alas. Not happening!

Although plants and scenic areas had a bit of description, it was just not enough peripheral interest. Simple statement after statement went on and on about each and every move of the main character, Meghan, and Lucy along with her staff and the hero, Aidan. Minutiae that leads the reader to think...just around the corner...some real event will happen! But, no. Main plot was understated and not believable.

If the author gave some insight into Meghan's past, her inner personality, details regarding her past, loves...how about home decor, the heat. The ocean. We did get some interesting bits on the dogs, but the mechanical sentence structure beats it out over and over. I won't continue this series, just not realistic or colorful . I'm still not even sure what Meghan looked like...
Profile Image for Katherine Brown.
Author 74 books265 followers
March 14, 2019
As cozy mysteries go, this one had some good characters and an intriguing plot. It was only toward the very end that I started to suspect who was behind the murder and underhanded deeds; even then, I still didn’t know the why, it was a complete surprise when all was revealed.

I give it 4 stars and recommend it for anyone looking for a nice Spring Break read. I’m looking forward to book 2 and finding out what happens when Hurricane Arlene makes landfall and how Megan will handle whatever life throws at her next.

Did I mention the best part? This book is free to download on Amazon. Get yours today!
Profile Image for Kay (Brigidsmomma) Compton.
765 reviews28 followers
January 2, 2016
This was excellent! I loved the characters and the storyline! The action kept me turning pages like mad, and induced me to read this series as much in a back-to-back manner as I could (I finally fell asleep in the middle of book 3 - due to nothing more than a lack of sleep)! I liked that it was set in Florida and that there were some things about the story that I could relate to, having lived there (although in a different part of the state). A great read, and one that I think many folks would enjoy!
Profile Image for K.C. Hart.
Author 25 books137 followers
September 29, 2020
Great pace, engaging characters and good story line. Enjoyed very much.
24 reviews
August 21, 2020
Wonderful read!

Love the story. The characters were so engaging and your story kept me delightfully engaged until the last page! I'll definitely be seeking of the other books in this series.😊 Thanks for the tips of plants for my porches and yards! I'll start them over this winter and look forward to a "skeeter free" outdoors come spring! 😁
Profile Image for Lise.
1,065 reviews
February 10, 2020
An incoming storm and witnessing a river murder are causes of grief for home manager Megan Cassidy. Luckily, FBI consultant Aidan Tory has been brought in to help make sense of the mayhem.

This was my introduction to Megan and she was charming though maybe a little too good at her job. I felt her feelings towards Toby were a little hurried; she seemed to go from almost hating him to being his biggest fan without reason. The storyline had good pacing and was plausible. The supporting characters all had their own personalities, however, the reporter was foul for the most part.

On the whole, I really enjoyed the story and I'm interested to see where the series go.
Profile Image for Sandy.
314 reviews28 followers
April 15, 2018
This first book of the Citrus Beach Mysteries series was a fun read. I love the tight-knit communities. You never know what secret has remained hidden – or for how long…

Secrets are part of human nature. Secrets are what led to the murder which occurred in a quiet, peaceful town. Now, it’s up to Sheriff Green and his men to bring justice to the previously safe community. Wait, Megan needs to be part of the investigation because her client’s property is involved. Wait, said client is expecting a guest. This guest is to stay on the property.

Sheriff Green’s posse continues to grow.

As I read, I kept wondering what “Neptune’s Trident” was, and why would someone be murdered for it? As the investigation progressed, I was enlightened. The reveal was really kind of cool. I would love to see something like that…

This story is also about trying to be someone you aren’t. We are our best selves when we are ourselves. Nobody is perfect, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to make improvements. So, what to do about this conundrum? Be honest about making changes. Don’t lie or make up stories. Don’t try to cheat the system. True change takes time and dedication. It may be inconvenient, but the result is worth the torment of patience.
151 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2021
I'm sorry to give this fun story such a low rating. I love cozy mysteries and try not to place complex expectations on them. This rating is within the cozy genre. My first observation is that Ms. Williams has a great story line. Now she needs a good editor. It is very distracting to read a novel that has not been proofread. My second observation is that too much of the background information is awkward narrative rather than dialogue or action. My third and final observation is pretty much the same for current action. Rather than putting so much into the narrative of what happened, she could describe more of what is going on and being said in the moment. This series has great promise and likeable characters. She just needs to be in less of a hurry to get to each phase. Take some time. Write it out.
Profile Image for Victoria Williams.
Author 52 books432 followers
Read
February 17, 2024
Did you know I wrote this first book on a dare? Writing mysteries was a new adventure for me. I love reading them, and could spend hours curled up with a book.
The setting for this book, Murder for Neptune's Trident, is similar to an actual location that I visit every week to water my clients plants. As I was on the terrace, I looked out onto the river and couldn't help notice how isolated I was. It was the perfect setting for a murder.
So, I created Megan Cassidy and gave her a murder to solve, with the help of her playful beagle, Barney, and the help of her friends and family. Hope you will enjoy the story...
604 reviews6 followers
June 21, 2022
A very intriguing mystery! The setting is a quiet little Florida town with lots of community pride and happiness all around. Imagine the shock when a murder occurs there and one of the citizens is caught up in a plot to eliminate her as a witness. This is what happens to Megan Cassidy, the owner/operator of a business that takes care of the homes of many residents who spend only part of their time in Florida. She happens to be taking care of one of these homes when she sees the murder occur. The problem is that the killers see her and come after her.

Thank goodness Megan has lots of friends and knows the sheriff very well. Nobody is going to let anything bad happen to Megan. She is also surprised when a cousin shows up to help, and he happens to be former FBI and is now a licensed private investigator. Over the course of time he and Megan really hit it off and find themselves working on not only finding the killers, but finding the reason that the young man was killed.

A plot to acquire the land known as Neptune's Trident by nefarious means is uncovered and much of the story revolves around these two mysteries. There is a lot of narrative in the story about people, events, relationships and activities of the community that make the story very interesting. You begin to feel a part of what's happening. The book is well-written and the characters are very well developed. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy a good mystery.
Profile Image for The Poisoned Pen.
159 reviews4 followers
August 27, 2024
This was not an enjoyable read for me. I almost quit the book multiple times but pushed through to get the info on who dunnit, and so I could use it for my monthly book bingo card.

I ended to skimming A LOT because there was so much information that didn't matter. It was very slow and long, with few interesting moments happening most chapters.

The book was written like a research paper or notes for a news report. Very emotionless writing that never improved. You couldn't connect with characters because they all fell flat. It was like reading the Cliff's Notes version of a book.

The writing was very strange as well. Who addresses someone by their first name in every sentence? No one does, ever. This just made the book even more difficult to read. It felt overly formal and detached.

While the mystery itself wasn't bad, the rest of the book was. Megan was judgy and bossy, and very pious in an uppity way. I hated the religious bits thrown in as well, they had no point at all. The "romance" was out of place and rushed.

I could see this being an enjoyable read for an 80 year old white church lady who thrives on judgement and control. For anyone else, this is a hard pass.

Also - the updated cover looks like AI and that's just unacceptable. Support authors who get their covers from real artists.
279 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2020
Megan Cassidy has a business in Citris Beach where she and her employers look out for clients house when they are on vacation. The story starts out with Megan going to a client/friends house to see if she can find her granddaughters phone that she believes she left there. Megan finds it, but decides to check around the house inside and out to see if everything is okay. While outside she hears a gunshot on the inter coastal waterway behind the house she is out. Then she sees two men push a body off the boat. Then the guys see Megan and take a shot at her. She calls the Sheriff and her cousin Paul. The rest of the book has the sheriff, Megan, Paul, his wife Lucy and a friend of the family of the man who got shot who happens to be an ex-FBI agent and is now a private investigator. There is plenty of action, intrigue and wonderful characters. I think everyone would enjoy this book.
26 reviews
October 7, 2024
Beaches can Bite

Neptune’s Trident is one part small beach town vibes, one part murder mystery, and one part clean romance with a very fast but satisfying wrap-up reminiscent of the Hallmark channel.
At times the descriptions of the characters’ movements seem rather tedious, and I found myself expecting a “jump scene” in each one. By the third overly explicit description of getting into a car to go somewhere I found myself feeling disappointed that there was nothing dangerous or exciting about the trip, and the errors in punctuation and grammar began to annoy me, but the characters were so engaging that I found the story worth finishing. Kudos to Ms. Williams for an interesting plot line and excellent portrayal of life in a small town. I have a feeling that I will be reading more of her mysteries.
1,700 reviews35 followers
April 8, 2020
Megan Cassidy has to make a detour to pick up a phone left by one of her wealthy client's daughter.
As she retrieves it, she hears a scuffle on the water just off the property and witnesses a murder and victim being dumped into the waterway.
Everything would be fine, but the teen's phone chooses that minute to ring, very loudly, alerting the murders to the fact that they have been seen.
As Megan's friends, cousin, and a guest enter into the hunt for the murderers to keep Megan safe.
They have entered into the world of high finance, exclusive real estate deals, a lucrative Ponzi scheme, and a decades long plan for revenge.

This is a fun story with defined characters, a strong plot, a few red herrings, and a lot of action, not to mention a puppy that keeps you entertained.
Profile Image for Jay Williams.
1,718 reviews33 followers
July 27, 2018
Megan Cassidy finds her way quickly into hot water when she witnesses a murder on a boat on the river behind a client's home. A number of interesting characters appear as she attempts to protect herself and her family by tracking down the killers. It takes much of the book to uncover the reason for the murder, and eventually identify the killers. The writing is straightforward and makes for easy reading. The entire cast of characters is interesting, but none are developed in depth. This is a good mystery and apparently a start for a series.
Profile Image for Karen.
112 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2018
Murder for Neptune's Trident is a very enjoyable read.

It's been a while since I've gotten so caught up in a book that kept me up until the middle of the night reading, but this book did it! With Megan, Lucy and Paul staying busy trying to solve a murder as well as prepare for hurricane it just seems like little too much to take in. That's not even taking into account of another character, Aiden, entering the picture! If you enjoy a good mystery this is a must read for you to add to your list.
1,769 reviews23 followers
October 12, 2019
Chasing Down Answers

I so enjoyed this cozey mystery filled with caracters so diverse in nature but bonded through the love of thier small town community where people stand together in support of thier niebours during a time of tragedy. If you pay close enough attention you may even notice a budding romance happening. A fresh, clean and classy written cozey that carries you away to a land of almost paradise and now i'ts your turn to enjoy it "Murder For Neptune's Trident "😮😐🤔🙄😏 Kat
1,776 reviews15 followers
February 3, 2021
This was an enjoyable read. The author just slips you into small town Florida and takes you for a ride. You are a witness to the day to day events of small but successful businesses. You learn the main characters lives, almost hour by hour.

Early on however the reader is thrust into a murder as a witness with the primary female lead. She's a strong woman, almost to a fault. Very likeable person and you enjoy her working to solve the murder while keeping her company and customers running.
14 reviews
September 11, 2018
Look out for revenge

A fast moving story featuring a small town in Florida with likeable characters. Megan has gone to a client's home to retrieve a forgotten cell phone. While there she inadvertently witnesses a shooting that ends up with the body being thrown into the river. Mystery and romance combine as Megan and her friends try to find out who the victim was and why he had been killed.
Profile Image for Roxx Tarantini.
574 reviews4 followers
March 12, 2020
Not all small towns are as peaceful as they look!

Neptune's Trident was a truly enjoyable read!  Having written a fast moving tale, with many surprising twists; Williams has filled the town of Citrus Beach with plenty of engaging personalities.  The story keeps the pages turning so quickly, you're almost disappointed when you reach the last page!   Truly fun, I recommend this book gladly, and am looking forward to reading book two!
Profile Image for Lea.
16 reviews
July 14, 2021
I enjoyed reading this mystery and I liked the main characters and the development of the story. One of the things that is great about this book is the beautiful Florida setting. The main characters are interesting and I loved reading about the community in Citrus Beach. I do think the book could have used some better editing for grammar and other word usage errors. It was a fun cozy mystery and I will continue to read other books in the series.
344 reviews7 followers
October 25, 2021
A fun cozy

I like cozies with books and cats. Even though the dogs. Are more prevalent than the cats, our main character is owned by both. Set in Florida as a hurricane is taking aim at the state, our main character witnesses a murder on the waterways. Unfortunately the killers see her, too. Who died and why? And what does it have to do with Neptine's Trident, a local nature preserve?
2,646 reviews12 followers
February 23, 2022
Witness to a murder!

Megan Cassidy’s concierge service to her clients keeps their lives running smoothly but when Megan witnesses a murder near a client's home her life becomes very complicated and dangerous. The threats to her life won’t stop until the murder is solved so Megan takes up the case.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I enjoyed it. The plot had some twists and there is a hint of romance in Megan’s future. It also had interesting tidbits about Florida living.
408 reviews7 followers
April 4, 2018
Really good

I love this mystery, it’s sweet and interesting. I love her business and her family, I have a like Holly did the romance. It was not over-the-top or understated. It was just the right mix for the story. I feel like the ending it’s cute and I feel like there’s a lot of cochair. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series
25 reviews
September 12, 2020
Enjoyed the story line, but......

I really liked the characters and the storyline. But, the editing was horrible! I would have given the book five stars, but it took a lot of time trying to figure out missing words, misused words, bad spelling and horrible grammar. I bought another book in the series, but now I'm afraid to read it if it was edited like this one!
Profile Image for Lakea.
270 reviews17 followers
August 17, 2021
3.5 out of 5 (My ⭐️ round up)

Seemed a little slow, but I believe what bogged it down was all the extra details. I could’ve done without the constant reminder of the security procedures and the drawn out descriptions of everything. I didn’t need to imagine what the room looked like, because I was told in depth.

Maybe that was why it seemed to take forever: My imagination was bored.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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