Murder On The ICW

Magnolia Mysteries #5

by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter

During the Prohibition Era, moonshine operations flourished along the creeks that fed the Intracoastal Waterway. So Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist, is not surprised to learn that the hunting lodge she is restoring once housed an operational still. But what she discovers under a small mountain of moonshine bottles is both surprising and shocking. Meanwhile, Melanie's boyfriends are turning up dead. Is she loving them to death? The police think so. Thanksgiving weekend finds Ashley and Melanie sailing in the annual Holiday Flotilla. But are those popping noises they hear fireworks or gunfire? "Best mystery series portraying Wilmington NC" -- Spirit, Southwest Airlines Magazine "Hunter's fascination with historic Wilmington is evident in the rich descriptions, and her list of murder suspects will keep the reader guessing until the end." -- Our State Magazine "Hunter sets her historical preservationist sleuth Ashley Wilkes on another agreeably diverting mission in Murder on the ICW." -- Raleigh News & Observer

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Southern, Adult

226 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Julesy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this cozy series set in Wilmington, NC. However, I had difficulty getting through this one, it was boring for the most part. Too much architecture, too much history, too much romance. The mystery parts were good but I felt as though it was put on the back burner to allow for too many chapters about moonshine, antique bottles, and Italian architecture. Honestly, I skimmed through those parts just to get to the meat of the mystery. I did enjoy the mystery and I felt as though the culprit was quite obvious from the start.

I do feel as though authors are allowed one bad apple in their barrel and this one was the bad apple. I did want to read this book during the Thanksgiving holidays since it occurs during autumn and Thanksgiving. I do have the last 4 books in this series, so I will finish the series, regardless.

I gave this book 3 stars.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried my best to give this book a try, but it just fell short so badly. It was exciting to start with, but went down hill before picking up for a chapter then fell yet again. It was worse than a roller coaster ride.



Ashley is with her sister Melanie on the way to the guy Melanie is stalking apartment when the book starts. Ashley love life is as bad as Melanie with her husband Nick cheating on her with someone at his new job which he just took. Nick serves Ashley the divorce papers not long after he walked out.

Ashley finds a 80 year old dead body who in the end turns out to be the ATF agent that shows up investigating the murder. He doesn't give up much at all at first.

In tip top of this Melanie is found standing over not one but two bodies in the book by the cop. One she walked in on being set up with Joey the guy she was stalking murder. Then there was another guy who was her ex just like Joey was that we on run from cops that was using her house when she wasn't there until he was killed and Melanie was left lying beside him with a blow to the head. Then there was the third guy which Melanie and Ashley both found Ali but the cops didn't find them there that time.

Ashley best friend Jon and her restore homes and they flew off to Italy during mid book for a client of theirs. The guy, their client David was bad news from start and just disgusting on how treated people even his wife. Him turning out to be the killer wasn't much of a stretch. He was working with two of the dead guys and his wife was friendly with the third.

Also turned out David's dad had the body they found at the beginning killed he was the ATF agent's great grandpa as well. Melanie got cleared on their murders and her ex boyfriend Cam helped take care of her through out the book like Jon did for Ashley. Jon and Ashley knew each other for years and he has lived Ashley for as long. THey got engaged in Italy and for Christmas he proposed. So did Melanie guy Cam. They planning a double wedding in a year.

There was so much that could been left out other parts just dragged. If not for the last two chapters would gotten one star. I be giving it up.

[Dee Gurganus · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Murder On the ICW" was most enjoyable. By the way, ICW is Intercoastal Waterway. The story line was great, but there was so much to learn from this book. With the main character, Ashley, being a historic preservationist and her good friend, Bilkie, a history professor, there is always something to new to full my brain. In this book, it was about the building of the ICW and moonshining during the Prohibition days in North Carolina. But there is never a dull moment with Ashley and her sister, Melanie. An easy read with lots of excitement to keep you turning the page.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but choppy waters

Enjoyed the story as a whole; however, either the editing of the book or the conversion to an e-book is very choppy. Felt like something was missing periodically. Definitely worth the read to keep the story going, just not as smooth a read as I like.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the setting and historical aspects of the series. Used to live a few hours away from the area and am familiar with most of the settings. As for the characters, Ashley and Melanie, they are overly concerned with outward appearances and could use a large glass of sweet--very sweet- tea..

[Mayra Luria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

A nice story to get you out of the crazy going on in the world. Some good twists and turns and the characters are like the people next door.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series!

The Magnolia Mystery Wilmington series just keep getting better and better! I have enjoyed seeing the growth in the main characters and enjoy the budding romance.

[jennifer shank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the setting and background. But not too much mystery involved and the romance was predictable and lackluster

[Ashley Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

This had such potential but did not follow through. The chapters with the mystery were great but then it would talk about other random things that were completely unrelated. Very disappointing

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the character and the mystery

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bland mystery book about two sisters and their adventures. Several murders ensue, and Melanie is a suspect in the first. Ashley Wilkes--wasn't that the name of a character in Gone With the Wind--started out by finding a decades old skeleton on a site that she and her partner were restoring. Who is the killer, and why is he or she killing off people in this community? Both Ashley and Melanie are beautiful, of course, and have men panting after them. One other character is named Scott Randolph--sounds like the old cowboy star, Randolph Scott. You can read it with half a brain, if need be.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical preservationist Ashley has enough problems, as her marriage is imploding and her handsome business partner makes it clear that he's interested. But when her big sister Melanie, a man magnet, is found with the dead body of one of her former beaus, Ashley must help out. Arrested for the first murder, Melanie is released on bail and almost killed before being found with a second dead body. The handsome executive who loves Melanie teams up with Ashley and her new love interest to investigate. A lot of local color.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashley was TOO nice to Nick...
80 y/o corpse and Moonshine and the history behind it...that was interesting.
Cam for Melanie
Jon for Ashley
The history lesson about the bootlegging, and all the sunken ships made this book interesting for me. Or were the sunken ships in the Cape Fear murder...hmmm, I read them one after the other so I don't remember, but, I enjoyed the history lesson in each :-)

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I like this series I really wish someone who knows English would edit these books! You GRIP someone's hand, not "gripe" and NONE of them have alibis, not "done." There are more bad editing errors when distract from the storyline. As usual it was a good story, despite the bad editing in the early part of the book. Ashley has finally started to move on in her life and her sister appears to finally be growing up. Wish there was more to the historic renovation parts of the book.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the descriptions of the Wilmington area a lot, but thought this book was a lacking in mystery and heavy on the romance, making the title a bit misleading. Yes, there was murder, several of them, in fact. But they weren't really the main event in this installment. I'm sure I'll read more in this series, though, because I'm a sucker for North Carolina settings.

[Mario · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was almost as much a romance as a mystery. The mystery itself was a little bland, despite the body count, I thought the dialogue was a little forced, and the scenes and characters seemed a little overly described for my taste (the characters were too fashion-y, and the locations too cliched). I didn't really like it, but it was a fast read.

[Ishanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess if you like romances, you'll like this book.. but it's full of cheese. It didn't grab my attention at all. It lost me shortly after the first chapter... but then again, never really pulled me in.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery is good, the character changes of the two heroines a bit unbelievable. But, a "good read" for relaxation and enjoyment (although murder isn't ever particularly enjoyable, these take place "offscreen"). There's good suspense, too, but not a feeling of horror. All to the good.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining light read with a good pace, though too cheesy for my taste. Nice descriptions of Wilmington.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of a book about weathlty sisters and their romantic woes that a real mystery. I was bored during it and it wasn't what I had hoped for.

It was not for me.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the weakest of the 5 I read so far. Mystery is on the back burner and doesn't receive enough attention, the romances are rushed and not as satisfying. Not my favorite.

[Glenn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good entry in the "Magnolia Mystery" series.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad yarn, with a couple of twists.

[Jennifer Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting little mystery because of the locations mentioned.

[Susan Dickey]

Kindle

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice historical information on North Carolina.