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Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery #9
Death of a Lobster Lover
Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell is off on a girls' getaway with her two best friends. But soon they'll have to get away from a killer...
The quaint fishing village of Salmon Cove, Maine, seems like the ideal location for a girls' weekend with Hayley's gal pals, Liddy and Mona. Liddy's on the rebound from a breakup, but when she meets a handsome tourist, it looks like a little romance might liven things up.
Unfortunately, Liddy's new sweetheart is found dead on the beach the next morning at the town's Lobster Bake, next to an overturned cooking pot. The liberated lobsters may be scrambling back to the sea, but Hayley's not about to let a murderer escape so easily. To crack the case, she'll need to blow the lid off some serious undercover activity--or risk becoming ensnared in a killer's trap...
Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley's kitchen!
Praise for Death of a Bacon Heiress
"[A] fun mystery that will have readers enraptured." --Kings River Life magazine
The quaint fishing village of Salmon Cove, Maine, seems like the ideal location for a girls' weekend with Hayley's gal pals, Liddy and Mona. Liddy's on the rebound from a breakup, but when she meets a handsome tourist, it looks like a little romance might liven things up.
Unfortunately, Liddy's new sweetheart is found dead on the beach the next morning at the town's Lobster Bake, next to an overturned cooking pot. The liberated lobsters may be scrambling back to the sea, but Hayley's not about to let a murderer escape so easily. To crack the case, she'll need to blow the lid off some serious undercover activity--or risk becoming ensnared in a killer's trap...
Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley's kitchen!
Praise for Death of a Bacon Heiress
"[A] fun mystery that will have readers enraptured." --Kings River Life magazine
314 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 27, 2017
103 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
Lee Hollis
56 books832 followersLee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp and his sister Holly Simason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
July 6, 2022
When Liddy, Mona and Hayley need a girls' weekend away, they decide on Mona's childhood cabin in the backwoods of Maine. Unfortunately, it's not quite what Liddy and Hayley expected... this cabin is rundown, has no spa services, and the local sheriff keeps ticketing them for everything under the sun. That's just the beginning of Death of a Lobster Lover, the 9th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries written by Lee Hollis. I've read the previous books in the series and am eagerly pushing forward to get current so that I can read the 2023 release when it's published. In this installment, the trio meet some locals who have strange habits, and when the one who flirted with Liddy stands her up from the town fair, she's pissed off... too bad they find his dead body while on the path to teach him a lesson about messing with the wrong woman. And soon, another body shows up too. Hayley uses her deductive skills to search for the killer, but it leads to a larger mafia-based story with double identities and double-crossing partners. Who can they trust? Unfortunately, some jail time makes it difficult for the crew too. Enjoyed the mystery. Liked the new setting and getting to know a different set of supporting characters. But I look forward to getting back to Bar Harbor in the next book too.
June 27, 2017
DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER is the ninth book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series but it’s the first full-length book that I’ve read from this author. After reading a holiday anthology featuring a couple of other Cozy Mystery authors, this author was the one that stood out to me the most. What I like about Lee Hollis’ writing is the fun banter and quirky characters. There’s really no dull moments so I knew after reading that novella, I needed to read more from Lee Hollis.
That being said, I had some pretty high expectations for this book and boy did these authors deliver. Not only is the title hilarious and catchy, but the entire book is as well. From the very beginning until the end, I was totally hooked onto this book. I read this entire book in ONE HOUR. That’s how much I loved it; I couldn’t even pace myself.
Hayley Powell is a food and cocktail columnist and what’s cool about this series is that you get to read a lot of her actual columns throughout the novel. Every few chapters or so there’s a snippet of one of her columns, which are usually followed by a cocktail or food recipe. Sometimes there is both so that’s a nice bonus. The downside to this is that it can interrupt the pace of the novel, especially if you read as fast as I do and are enjoying it.
In this book, Hayley and her two besties are travelling to Salmon Cove, Maine where they are to spend the weekend together. But when they arrive, things are looking less than spectacular and a couple of them wish to return home. But after meeting a hunky travel writer, they decided to stay. Unfortunately, the guy turns up dead and Hayley begins her little investigation to find out what happens.
Man, this book hit all the right spots for me. I love the small-town vibe and the strong mystery but two things stood out to me the most. The first thing is the friendship between the three girls. Immediately you can tell just how close they are by how they hassle each other. These girls are loyal to the bone and are willing to tell things straight, no matter if it’s hurtful or not. To me, that kind of honesty in invaluable in a friendship so one of the girls got on another for something they did or said made me crack up so much. It reminded me a lot of my own friends and our behaviours when we’re together.
Secondly, this book is hilarious. I am usually hard to please when it comes to humor because some jokes can come across as forced or juvenile but this book gets it right. There are SO MANY laugh out loud moments. I don’t think I’ve laughed this much reading a Mystery before. It was such a wild ride and I think you’d be missing out if you skip on this book.
After enjoying this book so much, I am definitely going to start at the beginning of the series and catch up.
October 2, 2020
Not nearly as good as her two Halloween books, which I just read. Not awful but kinda unremarkable.
June 11, 2017
I have read a few of this series and enjoy them. I was disappointed with the book as the format is not one that I like. The recipes are scattered throughout the book told in a story written by Hayley Powell. This writing is below the rest of the book. Liddy's actions annoy me and I feel she was acting like "a spoil. brat".
Hayley, Liddy, and Mona are spending the weekend at Salmon Cove, Maine. The weekend was a disaster from the start. The cabin was run down and had outdoor restroom and the hotel was full. Mona meets and old friend. Liddy begins an affair with a stranger who is later found dead. The girls have managed to irk the sheriff. Harley begins to investigate to save them from ending up in jail. She uncovered a secret that brought the FBI into the area. Recipes are scattered throughout the book in a unique way.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Hayley, Liddy, and Mona are spending the weekend at Salmon Cove, Maine. The weekend was a disaster from the start. The cabin was run down and had outdoor restroom and the hotel was full. Mona meets and old friend. Liddy begins an affair with a stranger who is later found dead. The girls have managed to irk the sheriff. Harley begins to investigate to save them from ending up in jail. She uncovered a secret that brought the FBI into the area. Recipes are scattered throughout the book in a unique way.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
May 25, 2018
Death of a Lobster Lover is the ninth book in the "Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery" series featuring food columnist Hayley Powell. I was a bit disappointed in the last book, but I really enjoyed this one. Hayley and her best friends Liddy and Mona are taking a much needed girls weekend in Salem Cove, ME to enjoy the town's Lobster Festival. They are going to stay in Mona's family cottage that she vacationed at for years. I was expecting a humorous read and I was not disappointed. These ladies have been friends for a long time, but I don’t know how Liddy and Mona have not tried to kill each other.
Hoping that the BFF weekend will help Liddy get over her recent breakup with lawyer boyfriend Sonny, things go from bad to worse when they see Mona's run down family cabin. When they arrive at the hotel to get a room, Liddy appears to fall for the smarmy travel reporter Jackson Young. After standing Liddy up for the Lobsterfest, Hayley stumbles upon the dead body of Jackson lying on the beach. The trio soon finds themselves suspects in the man's murder and Hayley is determined to clear their names. Add to all this, Mona runs into her childhood boyfriend and he seems to want to pick up where he left off. And what is with the overzealous Sheriff Daphne Wilkes who seems to have a vendetta against the women, ticketing them for imagined infractions. When the ladies end up behind bars, it is time to call Sonny for help.
An action packed plot makes this installment a quick page turner that's hard to put down. The antics of Hayley and her friends will have you laughing during some parts, and holding my breath, or biting my nails during others. There were scenes that took me by surprise, and more than one mystery to keep me guessing. With the story set in a vacation locale none of the secondary characters readers of the series are familiar with appear. The love lives of her two best friends are the focus in this edition, and a surprising twist at the conclusion will leave you in shock. Once again there are several recipes for cocktails and lobster sprinkled throughout the book. Also some of Hayley's columns are there, which add some of the humor to the books, but do break up the story somewhat. You will either like this or hate it depending on how you feel about that. A must read in this series for cozy mystery lovers.
Hoping that the BFF weekend will help Liddy get over her recent breakup with lawyer boyfriend Sonny, things go from bad to worse when they see Mona's run down family cabin. When they arrive at the hotel to get a room, Liddy appears to fall for the smarmy travel reporter Jackson Young. After standing Liddy up for the Lobsterfest, Hayley stumbles upon the dead body of Jackson lying on the beach. The trio soon finds themselves suspects in the man's murder and Hayley is determined to clear their names. Add to all this, Mona runs into her childhood boyfriend and he seems to want to pick up where he left off. And what is with the overzealous Sheriff Daphne Wilkes who seems to have a vendetta against the women, ticketing them for imagined infractions. When the ladies end up behind bars, it is time to call Sonny for help.
An action packed plot makes this installment a quick page turner that's hard to put down. The antics of Hayley and her friends will have you laughing during some parts, and holding my breath, or biting my nails during others. There were scenes that took me by surprise, and more than one mystery to keep me guessing. With the story set in a vacation locale none of the secondary characters readers of the series are familiar with appear. The love lives of her two best friends are the focus in this edition, and a surprising twist at the conclusion will leave you in shock. Once again there are several recipes for cocktails and lobster sprinkled throughout the book. Also some of Hayley's columns are there, which add some of the humor to the books, but do break up the story somewhat. You will either like this or hate it depending on how you feel about that. A must read in this series for cozy mystery lovers.
July 22, 2017
I’m at my happiest when I’m lost in the pages of a good cozy mystery. The Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries by Lee Hollis makes me deliriously ecstatic! No . . . really! They do!
When I first read that DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER would have protagonist Hayley Powell and her BFFs, Liddy and Mona going on a girl’s weekend, I knew that I was in for a hysterical read. I was right! LOL I don’t know how they have been friends so long without Liddy and Mona trying to kill each other!
Things go from bad to worse for the ladies. As if having Hayley’s friends at each other’s throats wasn’t enough drama for their weekend, romance creeps into the group. Oh yeah . . . they also find a dead body. It may have been bad for the ladies, but it’s great for the readers!
There was never a dull moment. Energetic, and fast moving, I flew through the pages of this book, drinking in every word. DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER had me laughing very hard (and loud) during some parts, and holding my breath, or biting my nails during others. There were scenes that took me by surprise, and more than one mystery to keep me guessing. Add to all of that Hayley’s wonderful column, and the fantastic recipes, I didn’t come up for air until the book was done.
When I first read that DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER would have protagonist Hayley Powell and her BFFs, Liddy and Mona going on a girl’s weekend, I knew that I was in for a hysterical read. I was right! LOL I don’t know how they have been friends so long without Liddy and Mona trying to kill each other!
Things go from bad to worse for the ladies. As if having Hayley’s friends at each other’s throats wasn’t enough drama for their weekend, romance creeps into the group. Oh yeah . . . they also find a dead body. It may have been bad for the ladies, but it’s great for the readers!
There was never a dull moment. Energetic, and fast moving, I flew through the pages of this book, drinking in every word. DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER had me laughing very hard (and loud) during some parts, and holding my breath, or biting my nails during others. There were scenes that took me by surprise, and more than one mystery to keep me guessing. Add to all of that Hayley’s wonderful column, and the fantastic recipes, I didn’t come up for air until the book was done.
July 26, 2017
This book was kind of fun because it takes place while the main character is on vacation. Nice little change of pace though I missed some of the characters who were left behind.
September 8, 2020
Well...I did it. I made myself finish this book and I may have sprained my eyeballs what with all the rolling they did. Let's get right to it, shall we?
What I liked about Death of a Lobster Lover:
The actual mystery - The sole redeeming value to be found in this book. I liked the twists and turns of the main case. (The side cases...not so much.) I mean, the solution was right there, staring me in the face, and I still sat there clueless until it was revealed.
What I didn't care for:
The characters - All of them. I had initially thought there was improvement on this front a couple of installments ago, but any progress made backtracked.
The casual disrespect for marriage - Not only that, but the way they chose to resolve it? Terrible. This alone ruined most of the book for me.
The writing - It's awkward. It lacks any sense of intelligence. It feels stilted and, even in Hayley's newspaper columns, fails to sound even somewhat professional. I feel like I'm reading a rough draft...written by a high school student. (No disrespect to high school students, some of whom likely write better than what I encounter in this series.)
As I was in the process of completing the ninth book (plus one novella) in this series, I kept telling myself I was going to give this series one more installment before writing it off, but now that I am finishing off this review, I believe I'm just going to tap out here. Nine (and a half) books tells me everything I need to know: I don't care for the mean-spirited tone taken by this series. I don't like a single one of the train-wreck cast of caricature characters. There is nothing and no one to root for when everyone is petty and immature and impetuous. There are far too many unread books out there for me to keep questioning why I am forcing myself to continue with this series as I slog through book after book; I already have one series that fits this bill (into which I am even more deeply entrenched at this point and unwilling to give up after twenty-plus installments despite the fact that it aggravates me endlessly--looking at you, Lucy Stone) and maybe that needs to be a lesson learned going forward. Sorry, Hayley, I gave it my best effort, but you're just not my cup of tea.
What I liked about Death of a Lobster Lover:
The actual mystery - The sole redeeming value to be found in this book. I liked the twists and turns of the main case. (The side cases...not so much.) I mean, the solution was right there, staring me in the face, and I still sat there clueless until it was revealed.
What I didn't care for:
The characters - All of them. I had initially thought there was improvement on this front a couple of installments ago, but any progress made backtracked.
The casual disrespect for marriage - Not only that, but the way they chose to resolve it? Terrible. This alone ruined most of the book for me.
The writing - It's awkward. It lacks any sense of intelligence. It feels stilted and, even in Hayley's newspaper columns, fails to sound even somewhat professional. I feel like I'm reading a rough draft...written by a high school student. (No disrespect to high school students, some of whom likely write better than what I encounter in this series.)
As I was in the process of completing the ninth book (plus one novella) in this series, I kept telling myself I was going to give this series one more installment before writing it off, but now that I am finishing off this review, I believe I'm just going to tap out here. Nine (and a half) books tells me everything I need to know: I don't care for the mean-spirited tone taken by this series. I don't like a single one of the train-wreck cast of caricature characters. There is nothing and no one to root for when everyone is petty and immature and impetuous. There are far too many unread books out there for me to keep questioning why I am forcing myself to continue with this series as I slog through book after book; I already have one series that fits this bill (into which I am even more deeply entrenched at this point and unwilling to give up after twenty-plus installments despite the fact that it aggravates me endlessly--looking at you, Lucy Stone) and maybe that needs to be a lesson learned going forward. Sorry, Hayley, I gave it my best effort, but you're just not my cup of tea.
June 5, 2017
Death of a Lobster Lover is the ninth installment in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series featuring food columnist Hayley Powell. Hayley and her best friends Liddy and Mona are taking a much needed girls weekend in Salem Cove, ME to enjoy the town's Lobster Festival.
Hoping that the weekend away will help Liddy get over her recent breakup with lawyer beau Sonny, the girls weren't prepared when Liddy falls helplessly head over heels for the smarmy travel reporter Jackson Young. Less than impressed with Mona's run down family cabin, things go from bad to worse when Hayley stumbles upon the dead body of Jackson lying on the beach.
The trio soon finds themselves suspects in the man's murder and Hayley is determined to clear their names. Thwarted at every turn by overzealous Sheriff Daphne Wilkes who seems to have a vendetta against the women, Hayley soon discovers that the Sheriff is harboring a personal grudge and would love to see the ladies locked behind bars.
An action packed plot makes this installment a quick page turner that's hard to put down. The antics of Hayley and her friends will have you laughing out loud. With the story set in a vacation locale none of the secondary characters readers of the series are familiar with including Hayley's two children, her brother Randy and his husband Sergio, and Veterinarian Aaron Palmer appear. The love lives of her two best friends are the focus in this edition, and a surprising twist at the conclusion will leave you in tears. Definitely a "don't miss" in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to share my honest opinion.
Hoping that the weekend away will help Liddy get over her recent breakup with lawyer beau Sonny, the girls weren't prepared when Liddy falls helplessly head over heels for the smarmy travel reporter Jackson Young. Less than impressed with Mona's run down family cabin, things go from bad to worse when Hayley stumbles upon the dead body of Jackson lying on the beach.
The trio soon finds themselves suspects in the man's murder and Hayley is determined to clear their names. Thwarted at every turn by overzealous Sheriff Daphne Wilkes who seems to have a vendetta against the women, Hayley soon discovers that the Sheriff is harboring a personal grudge and would love to see the ladies locked behind bars.
An action packed plot makes this installment a quick page turner that's hard to put down. The antics of Hayley and her friends will have you laughing out loud. With the story set in a vacation locale none of the secondary characters readers of the series are familiar with including Hayley's two children, her brother Randy and his husband Sergio, and Veterinarian Aaron Palmer appear. The love lives of her two best friends are the focus in this edition, and a surprising twist at the conclusion will leave you in tears. Definitely a "don't miss" in the series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to share my honest opinion.
July 8, 2017
Another enjoyable book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery Series! You can tell Hayley is serious about her food and cocktails! My favorite parts of these books are definitely the recipes!
I really love the theme of the girls' getaway and how murder seems to follow them all the way from Bar Harbor! I did miss the fun characters like Hayley's brother and brother in law but there were certainly memorable stand ins from Salmon Cove! I really liked the twists and turns and I eagerly await the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed this book via NetGalley.
I really love the theme of the girls' getaway and how murder seems to follow them all the way from Bar Harbor! I did miss the fun characters like Hayley's brother and brother in law but there were certainly memorable stand ins from Salmon Cove! I really liked the twists and turns and I eagerly await the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed this book via NetGalley.
June 15, 2022
4.5 Stars
November 13, 2017
This book was set in a different town which was nice, but I missed the usual cast of characters.
March 13, 2023
Death of a Lobster Lover by Lee Hollis is the 9th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. Food and Cocktails columnist Hayley Powell is having a weekend away in Salmon Cove with her two friends, Libby and Mona, and attending the local Lobster Bake, after which they come across the dead body of a writer they had recently met. I enjoyed catching up with Hayley and her friends and especially learning a little more about Mona's background. Hayley's columns are especially fun and it is nice to see Hayley standing up for herself more. The lobster recipes and cocktails sound delicious. Overall an entertaining and delectable mystery.
June 6, 2017
**I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**
I'm still in shock at that ending. As the mystery unfolds, it really is one shock after another. My only complaint is that you really need some tissues handy for the final column. The recipes sound delicious, and I'm working on figuring out if I can turn those cocktails into mocktails.
I'm still in shock at that ending. As the mystery unfolds, it really is one shock after another. My only complaint is that you really need some tissues handy for the final column. The recipes sound delicious, and I'm working on figuring out if I can turn those cocktails into mocktails.
January 3, 2021
I’ve read several of Lee Hollis’s Hayley Powell mysteries. I really enjoy them because they are a fast, fun, enjoyable read. Often I will pick one up when I’m waiting for a library loan to come available, so I don’t end up reading a long drawn out novel if I want to start the one on hold as soon as it becomes available.
I like these stories for the fun characters, the interesting and varied murder plots Lee invents, and the fast pace of the stories. Often I laugh out loud at some of the dialogue, especially between the 3 friends, Hayley, Mona and Libby.
Fun to read. Hard to put down. Quick reads.
I like these stories for the fun characters, the interesting and varied murder plots Lee invents, and the fast pace of the stories. Often I laugh out loud at some of the dialogue, especially between the 3 friends, Hayley, Mona and Libby.
Fun to read. Hard to put down. Quick reads.
May 17, 2017
Food Columnist Hayley Powell is on a weekend getaway with her two best friends, Liddy and Mona, to Salmon Cove, Maine. She’s hoping for a relaxing trip, but murder gets in the way. When Liddy’s date stands her up and is found dead on the beach, Hayley believes that there’s more going on than meets the eye. As she starts to investigate, she draws the ire of the local sheriff. Can Hayley find the truth before she’s put in jail?
This was a great cozy mystery filled with plot twists that made you think you figured out the truth, when you were not even close. The characters were quirky and fun to get to know, although everyone seemed to have a secret. Being from the Northeast, I miss the clambakes, and love how the author made the scenery and food mouthwatering. The one thing I didn’t like is the ending. I’m a person who reads to escape reality and look for the happily ever after. Towards the end, I thought I found it, but the last pages made me feel sad. It was an immense let down for me. An Advanced Reading Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great cozy mystery filled with plot twists that made you think you figured out the truth, when you were not even close. The characters were quirky and fun to get to know, although everyone seemed to have a secret. Being from the Northeast, I miss the clambakes, and love how the author made the scenery and food mouthwatering. The one thing I didn’t like is the ending. I’m a person who reads to escape reality and look for the happily ever after. Towards the end, I thought I found it, but the last pages made me feel sad. It was an immense let down for me. An Advanced Reading Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2017
DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER is the ninth book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series but it’s the first full-length book that I’ve read from this author. After reading a holiday anthology featuring a couple of other Cozy Mystery authors, this author was the one that stood out to me the most. What I like about Lee Hollis’ writing is the fun banter and quirky characters. There’s really no dull moments so I knew after reading that novella, I needed to read more from Lee Hollis.That being said, I had some pretty high expectations for this book and boy did these authors deliver. Not only is the title hilarious and catchy, but the entire book is as well. From the very beginning until the end, I was totally hooked onto this book. I read this entire book in ONE HOUR. That’s how much I loved it; I couldn’t even pace myself.
Hayley Powell is a food and cocktail columnist and what’s cool about this series is that you get to read a lot of her actual columns throughout the novel. Every few chapters or so there’s a snippet of one of her columns, which are usually followed by a cocktail or food recipe. Sometimes there is both so that’s a nice bonus. The downside to this is that it can interrupt the pace of the novel, especially if you read as fast as I do and are enjoying it.
In this book, Hayley and her two besties are travelling to Salmon Cove, Maine where they are to spend the weekend together. But when they arrive, things are looking less than spectacular and a couple of them wish to return home. But after meeting a hunky travel writer, they decided to stay. Unfortunately, the guy turns up dead and Hayley begins her little investigation to find out what happens.
Man, this book hit all the right spots for me. I love the small-town vibe and the strong mystery but two things stood out to me the most. The first thing is the friendship between the three girls. Immediately you can tell just how close they are by how they hassle each other. These girls are loyal to the bone and are willing to tell things straight, no matter if it’s hurtful or not. To me, that kind of honesty in invaluable in a friendship so one of the girls got on another for something they did or said made me crack up so much. It reminded me a lot of my own friends and our behaviours when we’re together.
Secondly, this book is hilarious. I am usually hard to please when it comes to humor because some jokes can come across as forced or juvenile but this book gets it right. There are SO MANY laugh out loud moments. I don’t think I’ve laughed this much reading a Mystery before. It was such a wild ride and I think you’d be missing out if you skip on this book.
After enjoying this book so much, I am definitely going to start at the beginning of the series and catch up.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
July 14, 2017
I love when I come across a book that fits the seasonal theme of when I’m reading it. Such is the case of DEATH OF A LOBSTER LOVER, the ninth book in the Hayley Powell Mystery series by Lee Hollis. Set against the theme of a summer vacation, we find the protagonist, Hayley, heading on summer vacation to Salmon Cove, Maine with her two best friends, Mona and Liddy. The author provides a generous amount of description to help the reader experience this vacation as if you are really there… and had me chuckling from the get-go! First off, Mona and Libby are exact polar opposites, which gives plenty of opportunities for some very humorous situations. Especially when the three women pull up in front of Mona’s family cabin for their stay… no spoilers, but I think my mouth was left hanging open!
It doesn’t take long for Libby to be smitten by a man, but then things take a turn for the worse when he’s found murdered on the beach during the lobster festival. The strength of their friendship is shown as they put their differences aside and work together to clear Libby’s name. Most cozies have murders that take place in a town where everyone knows everyone else. With this murder happening in a vacation setting among strangers, Hayley has to work harder to find suspects and dig below the surface to discover their secrets. The author provides enough clues with a few twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages. I found that there was never a dull moment in the book and enjoyed the constant action and humorous dialog. While I’m embarrassed to say that this is the first book I’ve read in this series (trust me, I’ll be trying to catch up and my only excuse is too many books, not enough time!) it was easily read as a standalone. I enjoyed reading Hayley’s food and cocktails column that she writes for the Bar Harbor newspaper. Not only does she share wonderful recipes via her column, she doles out bits and pieces of her childhood and backstory in a creative way.
Now a book with lobster lover in the title is bound to have lobster recipes… and Lee Hollis does not disappoint! So many delicious dishes are provided and I wanted to try them all! So far I've tried the recipe for Luscious Lobster Mac & Cheese... oh my, it truly is luscious!
I was provided a copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It doesn’t take long for Libby to be smitten by a man, but then things take a turn for the worse when he’s found murdered on the beach during the lobster festival. The strength of their friendship is shown as they put their differences aside and work together to clear Libby’s name. Most cozies have murders that take place in a town where everyone knows everyone else. With this murder happening in a vacation setting among strangers, Hayley has to work harder to find suspects and dig below the surface to discover their secrets. The author provides enough clues with a few twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages. I found that there was never a dull moment in the book and enjoyed the constant action and humorous dialog. While I’m embarrassed to say that this is the first book I’ve read in this series (trust me, I’ll be trying to catch up and my only excuse is too many books, not enough time!) it was easily read as a standalone. I enjoyed reading Hayley’s food and cocktails column that she writes for the Bar Harbor newspaper. Not only does she share wonderful recipes via her column, she doles out bits and pieces of her childhood and backstory in a creative way.
Now a book with lobster lover in the title is bound to have lobster recipes… and Lee Hollis does not disappoint! So many delicious dishes are provided and I wanted to try them all! So far I've tried the recipe for Luscious Lobster Mac & Cheese... oh my, it truly is luscious!
I was provided a copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 20, 2023
TRULY ENJOYABLE BOOK! - Admittedly there have been some dips along the way, but (even though I don't like seafood at all) this is one of my faves of the series!
PREMISE: The quaint fishing village of Salmon Cove, Maine, seems like the ideal location for a girls' weekend with Hayley's gal pals, Liddy and Mona. Liddy's on the rebound from a breakup, but when she meets a handsome tourist, it looks like a little romance might liven things up. Unfortunately, Liddy's new sweetheart is found dead on the beach the next morning at the town's Lobster Bake, next to an overturned cooking pot. The liberated lobsters may be scrambling back to the sea, but Hayley's not about to let a murderer escape so easily. To crack the case, she'll need to blow the lid off some serious undercover activity--or risk becoming ensnared in a killer's trap.
THOUGHTS: I always love when Cozies mix it up and 'go away' somewhere for a trip or vacation and this one didn't disappoint. Was great to see Salmon Cove and everything that went along with it. Also intriguing was that some of the columns were divvied up as 2-parters - in that, we'd get a column section that would end with 'to be continued' and then in the next column we'd see the conclusion, I really enjoyed that! The Mystery itself was also really captivating (and it's been a while for me since I've enjoyed the 'mystery' side of a cozy). The reveal was really shocking also! All in all one of my faves of the series, despite hating seafood which says a lot!
5 Stars!
xoxo.
PREMISE: The quaint fishing village of Salmon Cove, Maine, seems like the ideal location for a girls' weekend with Hayley's gal pals, Liddy and Mona. Liddy's on the rebound from a breakup, but when she meets a handsome tourist, it looks like a little romance might liven things up. Unfortunately, Liddy's new sweetheart is found dead on the beach the next morning at the town's Lobster Bake, next to an overturned cooking pot. The liberated lobsters may be scrambling back to the sea, but Hayley's not about to let a murderer escape so easily. To crack the case, she'll need to blow the lid off some serious undercover activity--or risk becoming ensnared in a killer's trap.
THOUGHTS: I always love when Cozies mix it up and 'go away' somewhere for a trip or vacation and this one didn't disappoint. Was great to see Salmon Cove and everything that went along with it. Also intriguing was that some of the columns were divvied up as 2-parters - in that, we'd get a column section that would end with 'to be continued' and then in the next column we'd see the conclusion, I really enjoyed that! The Mystery itself was also really captivating (and it's been a while for me since I've enjoyed the 'mystery' side of a cozy). The reveal was really shocking also! All in all one of my faves of the series, despite hating seafood which says a lot!
5 Stars!
xoxo.
June 27, 2017
Hayley is off on a girls weekend to Salmon Cove, Maine with best friends Liddy and Mona but it doesn't turn out to be the relaxing weekend they all hoped. Mona's family cabin turns out to be in less than pleasing condition and there are no rooms available anywhere else in town. After Liddy meets a man and Mona runs into an old friend they decided to stay. While attending the Lobster Bake Hayley trips over a body and the girls weekend turns into one filled with murder and mystery. The dead man is none other than Jackson Young, the reporter that Liddy met and the reason she wanted to stay. When the police tell them they can't leave town Hayley is ready to investigate and figure out who killed Jackson and why so they will be able to leave. When Jackson turns out not to be who he said he was and Liddy disappears Hayley must dig deeper to unearth clues. Who was Jackson Young really? Will she find Liddy in time? Jump right into this exciting mystery and see if you can figure out whodunit! I enjoy the relationship that the friends have, at times they feel more like sisters than just friends. I liked how Lee took the story to a different location, it gives a freshness to the series and it's a fun way to change things up. I would definitely recommend this series and look forward to what is to come next for these characters.
July 23, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Kensington and Netgalley*
A delightful new book that picks up where the series left off, Death of a Lobster Lover was an exciting book that I enjoyed!
Hayley Powell is one of the few MCs that makes me laugh out loud. Her shenanigans and crazy wit, make her a joy to read about. I also love how she unapologetically investigates any happenings in her town (or in this book’s case, her vacation town). I really love Mona, though I wish we’d get to see her husband! He’s always talked about, but I can’t remember ever meeting him (though with eight previous books, I could’ve forgotten!).
The mystery was solid, and it deviated from the cozy norm–which is a good thing! I didn’t guess the different components until the end, and I loved how the authors pieced it together! Really the only part I didn’t like in the book was the setting. Though it was beautiful, I feel like Bar Harbor adds a certain charm to the books, that this book was lacking.
Overall an excellent book in a series that I love. Highly recommend!
A delightful new book that picks up where the series left off, Death of a Lobster Lover was an exciting book that I enjoyed!
Hayley Powell is one of the few MCs that makes me laugh out loud. Her shenanigans and crazy wit, make her a joy to read about. I also love how she unapologetically investigates any happenings in her town (or in this book’s case, her vacation town). I really love Mona, though I wish we’d get to see her husband! He’s always talked about, but I can’t remember ever meeting him (though with eight previous books, I could’ve forgotten!).
The mystery was solid, and it deviated from the cozy norm–which is a good thing! I didn’t guess the different components until the end, and I loved how the authors pieced it together! Really the only part I didn’t like in the book was the setting. Though it was beautiful, I feel like Bar Harbor adds a certain charm to the books, that this book was lacking.
Overall an excellent book in a series that I love. Highly recommend!
February 13, 2018
I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hayley and her two best friends decide to leave town and have a girls weekend. Of course, thus is a cozy mystery, so anything that could go wrong DOES go wrong. When a mystery presents itself, Hayley inserts herself into the investigation.
I enjoyed this book and will read more in the series. I didn't love the relationships between Hayley and her friends, but I would probably understand them more if I started at the beginning of the series. My least favorite part of the book was the inserts of Hayley's newspaper articles. I found those uninteresting and extraneous. I'll probably just skip over those parts in the future.
Hayley and her two best friends decide to leave town and have a girls weekend. Of course, thus is a cozy mystery, so anything that could go wrong DOES go wrong. When a mystery presents itself, Hayley inserts herself into the investigation.
I enjoyed this book and will read more in the series. I didn't love the relationships between Hayley and her friends, but I would probably understand them more if I started at the beginning of the series. My least favorite part of the book was the inserts of Hayley's newspaper articles. I found those uninteresting and extraneous. I'll probably just skip over those parts in the future.
August 2, 2017
Set a cozy mystery in Maine and I'm already haflway to loving it. Add a realistic, dynamic, likeable main character and her best friends, throw in some friendly, not-so-friendly, and deceptively friendly secondary characters, and a murder or two, and you've got a great story! This Hayley Powell book is set in a different, smaller town in Maine as Hayley, Liddy, and Mona take a road trip to Mona's family cabin in northern Maine. The story moves at a good pace, and I was kept guessing who the culprit was until almost the very end. Already looking forward to book 10!
September 15, 2017
Great new book
I love new to me recipes and Lee Hollis never fails to deliver. Not only are the recipes good, but the mystery is always a great one. You will have a few laughs, shed a few tears and end up cheering as the book comes to an end as the mystery is solved. I'm already looking forward yo the next book in the series.
I love new to me recipes and Lee Hollis never fails to deliver. Not only are the recipes good, but the mystery is always a great one. You will have a few laughs, shed a few tears and end up cheering as the book comes to an end as the mystery is solved. I'm already looking forward yo the next book in the series.
June 13, 2023
Why the author had to include the sad two page ending have no clue. Too much yelling and screaming, but it was cute and genuinely amusing. The mystery held some surprises and the small town charm filled in some of the rest. And the bat scene was especially funny
November 15, 2018
Was just introduced to Hollis' work which I am quite impressed with, not only with the quaint Maine locale which I personally love myself but the unexpected endings that are reminiscent of Agatha Christie that keeps you guessing until the very last minute.
December 18, 2020
Hayley and her friends Liddy and Mona have decided to take a weekend getaway at Mona's uncle's cabin in Salmon Cove, Maine. But when they arrive, the cabin is worse than anyone thinks -- and the only bathroom is an outhouse. After discovering there's no rooms at the local hotel, Liddy's determined to go back to Bar Harbor. But when she meets an attractive tourist in the lobby, she rethinks her plan and decides to stay for at least one night. But after seeing him at a local bar, she makes plans to be his date for the Lobster Fest, which changes their plans again. But he stands her up and Liddy is angry, because she can't imagine any man doing that...
Meanwhile, Mona reconnects with an old boyfriend, Corey Guildford. While she insists to him she's married, she can't help but feel the same attraction she knew years ago, and agrees to spend time with him -- as friends. So Hayley begins to feel as the third wheel, but decides to stick out the weekend anyway.
When Liddy and Hayley go to the lobsterfest, Hayley sees Liddy's date arguing with the local bar owner. And later on, when they go to the beach, Liddy finds him dead. Not to mention that the local sheriff already has it in for them, and now things have gotten worse. If Hayley doesn't find a killer, they may be on the receiving end of something worse...
This is the ninth book in the series, and unfortunately, it's one of the weakest ones. The mystery isn't until almost half of the book is over, and in the first half you have Liddy and Mona arguing, and Liddy trying to find a new boyfriend, while Mona is reconnecting with an old one, and Hayley is wondering why the sheriff has it in for her.
Liddy appears to be the type of woman who needs to have a man or she isn't happy, and Mona is just contentious all around. So that pretty much leaves Hayley to do everything, and how she stays focused is beyond me. There were things that bothered me: if this is a tourist town in the summer, how is there only one hotel? Shouldn't there be more? Also, if Mona's family owned the cabin for years, why isn't there an indoor bathroom? I can't imagine her mother saying, "Hey! Let's go up to the cabin for the summer, and yay, I get to use an outhouse!" I can't think of any woman who would be okay with this. So that just didn't make sense to me.
Then, Ellie didn't want anyone to recognize her grandpa, but she's flashing a picture of her dad to Hayley? Didn't she think Hayley might recognize him? That just didn't make any sense at all. Just sayin'.
As far as the mystery goes, it was tied in with the rest of the story, so that's a good thing, but it just wasn't my favorite one. I also was rather irritated at the ending, figuring it was a cheap way out of what might have been a good storyline at some point in a future book. It disappointed and saddened me a lot. But I will read the next in the series, because it might be better.
Meanwhile, Mona reconnects with an old boyfriend, Corey Guildford. While she insists to him she's married, she can't help but feel the same attraction she knew years ago, and agrees to spend time with him -- as friends. So Hayley begins to feel as the third wheel, but decides to stick out the weekend anyway.
When Liddy and Hayley go to the lobsterfest, Hayley sees Liddy's date arguing with the local bar owner. And later on, when they go to the beach, Liddy finds him dead. Not to mention that the local sheriff already has it in for them, and now things have gotten worse. If Hayley doesn't find a killer, they may be on the receiving end of something worse...
This is the ninth book in the series, and unfortunately, it's one of the weakest ones. The mystery isn't until almost half of the book is over, and in the first half you have Liddy and Mona arguing, and Liddy trying to find a new boyfriend, while Mona is reconnecting with an old one, and Hayley is wondering why the sheriff has it in for her.
Liddy appears to be the type of woman who needs to have a man or she isn't happy, and Mona is just contentious all around. So that pretty much leaves Hayley to do everything, and how she stays focused is beyond me. There were things that bothered me: if this is a tourist town in the summer, how is there only one hotel? Shouldn't there be more? Also, if Mona's family owned the cabin for years, why isn't there an indoor bathroom? I can't imagine her mother saying, "Hey! Let's go up to the cabin for the summer, and yay, I get to use an outhouse!" I can't think of any woman who would be okay with this. So that just didn't make sense to me.
Then, Ellie didn't want anyone to recognize her grandpa, but she's flashing a picture of her dad to Hayley? Didn't she think Hayley might recognize him? That just didn't make any sense at all. Just sayin'.
As far as the mystery goes, it was tied in with the rest of the story, so that's a good thing, but it just wasn't my favorite one. I also was rather irritated at the ending, figuring it was a cheap way out of what might have been a good storyline at some point in a future book. It disappointed and saddened me a lot. But I will read the next in the series, because it might be better.
August 8, 2025
Hayley Powell and her two best friends, Liddy and Mona, head to the small seaside town of Salmon Cove for the long weekend. Liddy hits it off with a handsome travel journalist and makes plans to see him during the weekend clam bake. Liddy is furious when she's stood up, but then they're all horrified when it's announced that her date was a no-show because he was murdered. Hayley's known as an amateur sleuth back in her town, but Salmon Cove has its own secrets, and the townspeople view her as an outsider.
This book was a mess and not in a fun way. It's a real shame because the premise seemed pretty interesting due to the new setting, new cast of characters, and a love interest who was murdered before anything could begin. However, Liddy and Mona were unbearable in this book as their personalities - an entitled snob and loud-mouthed boor respectively - were dialed up to eleven. Again, I just don't understand how they're friends with one another. I don't care if they were childhood friends. Not all childhood friendships are meant to last since you simply outgrow people. Liddy and Mona seemed to outgrow each other years a go.
The other characters in this book didn't even seem like people. They seemed like poor caricatures of people generated by AI. For example, there was a lawyer who fell asleep on his feet while he was defending Hayley, Liddy, and Mona in court. And he experiences this really over-exaggerated case of claustrophobia where he can't be in a room with more than two people or he gets a panic attack. Then there's a volunteer at the police station who acted more like an android that was turned on for the first time and experiencing their first interaction with a human. The worst and most ridiculous side character was an employee at a bar who thought there was an alien invasion after reading about it in a comic and was convinced that the tourists in Salmon Cove were aliens on a mission to take over the town.
Even the murder mystery became ridiculous. Some of my friends ask me why I finish a book despite not liking them. I do it because I want to see if the book does redeem itself. If not, I want to be able to give an accurate reason why I dislike it and explain why I think it deserves a 1-star rating. In the case of this book, it's also because there are instances wherein the books become stupid and/or weird enough that the entertainment factor makes up for the poor writing.
And this book did end really poorly. Personally, I think Hayley betrayed someone who was nothing but kind to her. I know Hayley is supposed to be an affable everywoman that we're supposed to root for, but did she really have to be such a rat? Why couldn't she just approach the person to get confirmation if they did it and then just... move on?
Mona's b-plot where she's fending off a childhood friend who is in love with her felt pointless. It also made me realize that none of our main characters have any decent relationships with men. Mona is loyal to her deadbeat husband , Liddy has volatile relationships with her on-again-off-again boyfriend , and Hayley constantly complains about her ex-husband. And Mona does eventually leave her husband so I'm surprised her short-lived, repressed relationship with Corey wasn't the catalyst that made her realize she deserved better. Seemed like a wasted opportunity to me.
And Hayley's food columns seemed to impede and interrupt the story. They just irritated me this time around because they just didn't seem to serve a point until the very last chapter for the reasons I mentioned above in the spoiler tags. Nothing about this book seemed to work for me so 1-star it is.
This book was a mess and not in a fun way. It's a real shame because the premise seemed pretty interesting due to the new setting, new cast of characters, and a love interest who was murdered before anything could begin. However, Liddy and Mona were unbearable in this book as their personalities - an entitled snob and loud-mouthed boor respectively - were dialed up to eleven. Again, I just don't understand how they're friends with one another. I don't care if they were childhood friends. Not all childhood friendships are meant to last since you simply outgrow people. Liddy and Mona seemed to outgrow each other years a go.
The other characters in this book didn't even seem like people. They seemed like poor caricatures of people generated by AI. For example, there was a lawyer who fell asleep on his feet while he was defending Hayley, Liddy, and Mona in court. And he experiences this really over-exaggerated case of claustrophobia where he can't be in a room with more than two people or he gets a panic attack. Then there's a volunteer at the police station who acted more like an android that was turned on for the first time and experiencing their first interaction with a human. The worst and most ridiculous side character was an employee at a bar who thought there was an alien invasion after reading about it in a comic and was convinced that the tourists in Salmon Cove were aliens on a mission to take over the town.
Even the murder mystery became ridiculous. Some of my friends ask me why I finish a book despite not liking them. I do it because I want to see if the book does redeem itself. If not, I want to be able to give an accurate reason why I dislike it and explain why I think it deserves a 1-star rating. In the case of this book, it's also because there are instances wherein the books become stupid and/or weird enough that the entertainment factor makes up for the poor writing.
And this book did end really poorly. Personally, I think Hayley betrayed someone who was nothing but kind to her. I know Hayley is supposed to be an affable everywoman that we're supposed to root for, but did she really have to be such a rat? Why couldn't she just approach the person to get confirmation if they did it and then just... move on?
Mona's b-plot where she's fending off a childhood friend who is in love with her felt pointless. It also made me realize that none of our main characters have any decent relationships with men. Mona is loyal to her deadbeat husband , Liddy has volatile relationships with her on-again-off-again boyfriend , and Hayley constantly complains about her ex-husband. And Mona does eventually leave her husband so I'm surprised her short-lived, repressed relationship with Corey wasn't the catalyst that made her realize she deserved better. Seemed like a wasted opportunity to me.
And Hayley's food columns seemed to impede and interrupt the story. They just irritated me this time around because they just didn't seem to serve a point until the very last chapter for the reasons I mentioned above in the spoiler tags. Nothing about this book seemed to work for me so 1-star it is.
April 27, 2019
Hayley, Mona and Liddy travel to a small fishing town for a girls weekend getaway. Liddy quickly is distracted by an attractive man that is interested in her, which is just what she needs after her recent breakup. When Liddy gets stood up and the love interest is found dead, Hayley and her friends have to find out what happened because it's obvious that the local police don't seem to know what to do other than give out bogus tickets to tourists.
This story is unique in this series because it is set in a different town with new characters. I enjoyed getting to know the new town and people. There is a lot going on over a few day period and the girls have their hands full following all of the clues, trying to avoid the police who has it out for them, all while Mona tries to keep a safe distance from her childhood friend that would love to be more than friends.
This story is unique in this series because it is set in a different town with new characters. I enjoyed getting to know the new town and people. There is a lot going on over a few day period and the girls have their hands full following all of the clues, trying to avoid the police who has it out for them, all while Mona tries to keep a safe distance from her childhood friend that would love to be more than friends.
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