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Under The Saltwater Moon: A Millie Myles Mystery Series
After years of dutifully waiting tables at the diner down the street, wannabe-PI Millie Myles is ready for a change. With a little help from her police detective, big brother Mickey, Millie lands the job of her dreams as an evidence processing technician with the Seattle Police Department. Her first day on the job, Millie is catapulted into the middle of the most brutal murder investigation the city has ever seen.
Against her brother's warnings and better judgement, Millie is drawn to action and proceeds with some unsanctioned, extra-curricular sleuthing with the help of her friends, Trae and Cici. The independent investigation introduces the trio to a group of local forest dwellers with a history of bizarre practices and societal beliefs. Things get complicated when Millie befriends a beautiful member of the woodlander community named Juniper and finds herself catching feelings, realizing that undercover work comes at a cost.
With bloody crime scenes piling up, the ever-curious Millie and her cohorts rush to uncover the clues that land Millie directly in the murderer’s crosshairs. Her first unofficial investigation as an amateur PI could very well be her last. Join Millie, Trae, and Cici as they seek to uncover the dark truth of Under the Saltwater Moon before the killer strikes again.
Against her brother's warnings and better judgement, Millie is drawn to action and proceeds with some unsanctioned, extra-curricular sleuthing with the help of her friends, Trae and Cici. The independent investigation introduces the trio to a group of local forest dwellers with a history of bizarre practices and societal beliefs. Things get complicated when Millie befriends a beautiful member of the woodlander community named Juniper and finds herself catching feelings, realizing that undercover work comes at a cost.
With bloody crime scenes piling up, the ever-curious Millie and her cohorts rush to uncover the clues that land Millie directly in the murderer’s crosshairs. Her first unofficial investigation as an amateur PI could very well be her last. Join Millie, Trae, and Cici as they seek to uncover the dark truth of Under the Saltwater Moon before the killer strikes again.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2025
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 24, 2025
Millie Myles may not always succeed at life, but she knows deep in her core that she was always meant to be a detective. It’s in her blood. It’s in her soul.
Millie is such a quirky and intriguing character. Anyone who has ever had an anxious episode will recognise a little of themselves in Millie. Or, on the other hand, anyone who has a highly anxious friend will recognise Millie, especially when anxiety gets in the way of manners and diplomatic interactions. And Millie’s anxiety and OCD bound interactions are not only relatable, but sometimes downright hilarious.
Millie doesn’t let her quirks or unique way of seeing the world hold her back, however. She is determined to become a PI and be a detective, just like her brother, father, and grandfather. And deep down, she knows it’s what she was born to do. Millie is not going to let life or rules or people’s opinions get in the way of chasing and realising her goal.
In life, we all need support from like minded friends. When we are on our true path, the right people are attracted to us, and Millie is no different. As she finds her feet, she also finds her tribe. As Millie and friends begin to unravel the mystery around an extremely strange local murder, Millie also finds a chance at romance.
If you love reading about characters that are multi-dimensional, incredibly human and don’t look at the world in the usual way, you will adore Millie Myles and her friends and family. There are plenty of layers of mystery to engage and keep you guessing. This is a five-star read. I’m already wondering what mysteries will be uncovered in future stories as we learn more about Millie, her intriguing family history, and the mysteries she will solve.
Millie is such a quirky and intriguing character. Anyone who has ever had an anxious episode will recognise a little of themselves in Millie. Or, on the other hand, anyone who has a highly anxious friend will recognise Millie, especially when anxiety gets in the way of manners and diplomatic interactions. And Millie’s anxiety and OCD bound interactions are not only relatable, but sometimes downright hilarious.
Millie doesn’t let her quirks or unique way of seeing the world hold her back, however. She is determined to become a PI and be a detective, just like her brother, father, and grandfather. And deep down, she knows it’s what she was born to do. Millie is not going to let life or rules or people’s opinions get in the way of chasing and realising her goal.
In life, we all need support from like minded friends. When we are on our true path, the right people are attracted to us, and Millie is no different. As she finds her feet, she also finds her tribe. As Millie and friends begin to unravel the mystery around an extremely strange local murder, Millie also finds a chance at romance.
If you love reading about characters that are multi-dimensional, incredibly human and don’t look at the world in the usual way, you will adore Millie Myles and her friends and family. There are plenty of layers of mystery to engage and keep you guessing. This is a five-star read. I’m already wondering what mysteries will be uncovered in future stories as we learn more about Millie, her intriguing family history, and the mysteries she will solve.
November 2, 2025
Review: Under the Saltwater Moon by Christa Hickcox
Under the Saltwater Moon has an intriguing premise: a moody coastal setting, a sapphic love story, and a murder mystery that should tie it all together. Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t quite live up to the concept.
Millie Myles, our protagonist, is newly hired in a police evidence unit and decides she’s going to solve a serial murder case. Ambition? Off the charts. Competence? Somewhere in a shallow grave. She’s not unreliable in an intriguing way, she’s unreliable in a “please stop contaminating the crime scene” way. The story jumps between tangents, and by the time the cult subplot appears, the murder mystery seems to have packed up and left.
The saving grace is the side cast. There’s a nonbinary wheelchair user, a Black gay roommate, and Mozzarella the cat; who, honestly, has more emotional stability than anyone else in the book. The diversity feels natural and genuinely refreshing, which makes it even more frustrating that the plot doesn’t match the same level of care.
Then there are the editing issues: inconsistent names (Nobel/Noble on the same page), and a love interest’s voice described as “enduring” instead of “endearing.” It’s hard not to suspect this book was at least partially written, or edited, by AI.
The atmosphere is nice, the premise promising, and the sapphic thread could have been lovely, but the story keeps tripping over its own chaos. By the end, it’s less “whodunit” and more “what even happened.”
I gave two stars for the inclusive cast and Mozzarella, zero for logic. Mozzarella deserves a spin off.
Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Under the Saltwater Moon has an intriguing premise: a moody coastal setting, a sapphic love story, and a murder mystery that should tie it all together. Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t quite live up to the concept.
Millie Myles, our protagonist, is newly hired in a police evidence unit and decides she’s going to solve a serial murder case. Ambition? Off the charts. Competence? Somewhere in a shallow grave. She’s not unreliable in an intriguing way, she’s unreliable in a “please stop contaminating the crime scene” way. The story jumps between tangents, and by the time the cult subplot appears, the murder mystery seems to have packed up and left.
The saving grace is the side cast. There’s a nonbinary wheelchair user, a Black gay roommate, and Mozzarella the cat; who, honestly, has more emotional stability than anyone else in the book. The diversity feels natural and genuinely refreshing, which makes it even more frustrating that the plot doesn’t match the same level of care.
Then there are the editing issues: inconsistent names (Nobel/Noble on the same page), and a love interest’s voice described as “enduring” instead of “endearing.” It’s hard not to suspect this book was at least partially written, or edited, by AI.
The atmosphere is nice, the premise promising, and the sapphic thread could have been lovely, but the story keeps tripping over its own chaos. By the end, it’s less “whodunit” and more “what even happened.”
I gave two stars for the inclusive cast and Mozzarella, zero for logic. Mozzarella deserves a spin off.
Thank you to the publisher and BookSirens for the ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2025
From start to finish this book had me smiling, and giggling, all the way!
Big thank you to Christa Hickcox for a ARC copy of this book.
So this is the first in what I hope to be a very long series. Millie Myles come from a long line detectives. Pretty much every male member of her family has been on the police force. Millie wants to go a slightly different route and is taking the Private Investigators Exam, and hoping she passes.....this time.
The day after her exam, there is a mass murder just down the street from where she lives. The same place where is roommate works. Millie is determined that this is her sign, to show the world what she is worth and solve the crime.
What come next is a whole whirl wind of follies at times, ad some super sweet moments. The twists are insanely fun.
And extra points for the neurodivergence representation, and how the author handles it with such care.
Can't wait for the next one!
Big thank you to Christa Hickcox for a ARC copy of this book.
So this is the first in what I hope to be a very long series. Millie Myles come from a long line detectives. Pretty much every male member of her family has been on the police force. Millie wants to go a slightly different route and is taking the Private Investigators Exam, and hoping she passes.....this time.
The day after her exam, there is a mass murder just down the street from where she lives. The same place where is roommate works. Millie is determined that this is her sign, to show the world what she is worth and solve the crime.
What come next is a whole whirl wind of follies at times, ad some super sweet moments. The twists are insanely fun.
And extra points for the neurodivergence representation, and how the author handles it with such care.
Can't wait for the next one!
October 27, 2025
Millie Myles, PI extraordinaire? Maybe. Passionate and fearless chaser of serial killers? Definitely! This first in series sapphic mystery follows Millie as she is swept up into the nefarious activities of Seattle's newest serial killer. With a penchant for blood, and taunting the public, Millie will need to keep more than her wits about her to avoid said killer's talons. Add some wicked weather and a cult member or two, and you've got a mystery with more twists than a rollercoaster. Good thing Millie has some equally tenacious besties to keep her out of trouble.
This is the second book from Christa Hickcox, and the second worthwhile read. Her new sapphic mystery has lots of twists and turns and is full of quirky, lovable characters, making the story unique and compelling. I especially love Hickcox' disability and neurodiversity reps, and her ability to keep you on the backfoot.
Thanks Christa for the ARC. I seldom put my hands up for ACRs, but am so glad I did.
This is the second book from Christa Hickcox, and the second worthwhile read. Her new sapphic mystery has lots of twists and turns and is full of quirky, lovable characters, making the story unique and compelling. I especially love Hickcox' disability and neurodiversity reps, and her ability to keep you on the backfoot.
Thanks Christa for the ARC. I seldom put my hands up for ACRs, but am so glad I did.
September 16, 2025
Under the Saltwater Moon swept me away from the very first page. Millie Myles has such a gift for weaving together vivid, seaside imagery with deep, emotional storytelling. The characters felt so real, like I could sit beside them under the stars and feel the salt air in my hair.
The romance is slow-burn perfection — tender, emotional, and full of longing — yet balanced with moments of lightness that made me smile. I loved how the setting wasn’t just a backdrop but almost a character of its own, pulling everything together in such a magical way.
If you love beautifully written small-town romance with a touch of nostalgia and plenty of heart, this is the perfect read. I didn’t want it to end and will definitely be looking for more from Millie Myles!
The romance is slow-burn perfection — tender, emotional, and full of longing — yet balanced with moments of lightness that made me smile. I loved how the setting wasn’t just a backdrop but almost a character of its own, pulling everything together in such a magical way.
If you love beautifully written small-town romance with a touch of nostalgia and plenty of heart, this is the perfect read. I didn’t want it to end and will definitely be looking for more from Millie Myles!
October 10, 2025
Millie wants to be a detective and on the police force like her family or a detective agency of her own. She is going to pass the test no matter how many times it takes. She and her roommates keep practicing/investigating on what comes up for the police which put them in unusual dangers. Lots of clues and scary areas.
Enjoy this with your friends.
Enjoy this with your friends.
September 22, 2025
A killer read...This book takes you down so many twist and turns. Not to mention the proper representation of so many sprinkled within. Truly a unique one of a kind mystery. Christa Hickcox always leaves you wondering "what is next?"
October 27, 2025
A fantastic mystery with twists, turns, and no shortage of suspects! A really wonderful read from beginning to end. Loaded with fun, realistic and identifiable characters, meaningful insight into neurodivergence and many cultures. Looking forward to many more adventures from these characters!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews