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A Lobster Shack Mystery #2
Against the Claw
Welcome back to the seaside village of Mystic Bay, where someone's been found sleeping with the fishes . . . Ballerina Allie Larkin is still back home, healing up from a broken ankle and lending a hand at her aunt's Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack. But now that the famed restaurant is branching out into the world of catering, Allie's help is needed more than ever--even on the lobster boat. The last thing she expects to find once she's out on the bay, however, is the dead body of a beautiful young woman. When days pass and not even the police can ID the corpse, Allie takes it upon herself to learn the truth about what happened. Her investigation leads her all the way from the local piers to the secluded estates of Mystic Bay's posh elite. But how can she crack this case when everyone seems dead-set on keeping their secrets beneath the surface?
326 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 31, 2018
41 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Shari Randall
15 books149 followersA native New Englander, Shari loves hanging out with the gang at the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack in fictional Mystic Bay, Connecticut, where the lobster rolls are delicious, the company’s good, and murder’s always on the menu.
When she’s not committing murder (on the page, of course), Shari enjoys walking the beach near her house, traveling, reading, visiting her globe-trotting children, and dancing. She’s currently trying to talk her husband into a tango class.
When she’s not committing murder (on the page, of course), Shari enjoys walking the beach near her house, traveling, reading, visiting her globe-trotting children, and dancing. She’s currently trying to talk her husband into a tango class.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
July 10, 2018
Against the Claw by Shari Randall is the second book in the cozy A Lobster Shack Mystery series. The series is centered around dancer Allie Larkin who had to return home to Mystic Bay when she was injured and couldn’t dance so she took up working with her aunt at her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack.
Working at the restaurant has been much more than just waiting on tables and serving up lobster to the customers for Allie. Aunt Gully has had her doing a bit of everything since she returned from helping with the lobster tasting to solving the murder that took place there.
Now Allie finds herself once again being asked to cover other jobs that come with running a lobster business when she’s sent out on the boat to check the lobster traps. Allie didn’t mind being out on the water until she pulls in a line and finds much more than lobster attached. Floating beneath the surface is the body of a young girl and once police are involved and not finding out what happened Allie once again goes about solving the mystery.
The Lobster Shack Mystery series is not one that is overly quirky so to me that is one element that keeps me from gushing completely about this series. The lack of that certain element often leaves the characters feeling a bit flat to me and wishing they would stand out a bit more. However, on the flip side I do quite enjoy the whole “lobster” setting of the books and find myself quite interested in the mystery side of things so despite the lack of my favorite dash of uniqueness to the characters I do still enjoy the books with each installment leaving me to rate at 3.5 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Working at the restaurant has been much more than just waiting on tables and serving up lobster to the customers for Allie. Aunt Gully has had her doing a bit of everything since she returned from helping with the lobster tasting to solving the murder that took place there.
Now Allie finds herself once again being asked to cover other jobs that come with running a lobster business when she’s sent out on the boat to check the lobster traps. Allie didn’t mind being out on the water until she pulls in a line and finds much more than lobster attached. Floating beneath the surface is the body of a young girl and once police are involved and not finding out what happened Allie once again goes about solving the mystery.
The Lobster Shack Mystery series is not one that is overly quirky so to me that is one element that keeps me from gushing completely about this series. The lack of that certain element often leaves the characters feeling a bit flat to me and wishing they would stand out a bit more. However, on the flip side I do quite enjoy the whole “lobster” setting of the books and find myself quite interested in the mystery side of things so despite the lack of my favorite dash of uniqueness to the characters I do still enjoy the books with each installment leaving me to rate at 3.5 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 30, 2018
Against the Claw is a rollercoaster ride of plot loops that will challenge reader’s to correctly guess whodunnit. Allie Larkin and her Aunt Gilly are kind-hearted characters who simply want to successfully run the Lazy Mermaid, Aunt Gilly’s lobster shack. They have loyal employees and numerous friends helping them. Allie is relieved when her sister, Lorel, finally breaks up with two-timing town bad boy, Patrick Yardley, but the tense moments don’t stop there—they become deadly.
I was pleasantly surprised by each twist and turn of this cozy mystery. Somehow, a mysterious death that’s connected to a second, not-so-surprising death, immeshes the sisters and their aunt in a web of deception, addiction, and lies. I was astonished at all the secondary characters who were not as they appeared to be. A pageturner with an ending that left me wanting more adventures with the cast of the Lobster Shack Mysteries! The author provides a delicious recipe at the end.
I read and reviewed an arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you.
I was pleasantly surprised by each twist and turn of this cozy mystery. Somehow, a mysterious death that’s connected to a second, not-so-surprising death, immeshes the sisters and their aunt in a web of deception, addiction, and lies. I was astonished at all the secondary characters who were not as they appeared to be. A pageturner with an ending that left me wanting more adventures with the cast of the Lobster Shack Mysteries! The author provides a delicious recipe at the end.
I read and reviewed an arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you.
July 1, 2018
Against the Claw is a fantastic book. I couldn't put it down. Allie, Lorel and Aunt Gully are such great characters, I felt like I was hanging with friends.
The story is intense and the writing flowed from page to page with so much excitement, I just couldn't stop reading.
The town of Mystic Bay is described in such detail that I feel like I've visited and have eaten at the lobster shack.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for approving me to read and review an ARC of this book.
The story is intense and the writing flowed from page to page with so much excitement, I just couldn't stop reading.
The town of Mystic Bay is described in such detail that I feel like I've visited and have eaten at the lobster shack.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for approving me to read and review an ARC of this book.
May 25, 2018
This is a fun read from start to finish! I love the New England seaside setting, especially the lobster shack, The Lazy Mermaid. Protagonist Allie is still in town, living and working with her Aunt Gully, owner of The Lazy Mermaid. Allie's sister Lorel is in much of the book, with some focus on her on-again, off-again boyfriend Patrick. We get to see more of Allie's friends Verity, Bronwyn, and Hayden, Allie's acting friends, and the Mermaid's crew, along with meeting some celebrity newcomers. It was hard to put this book down, as it's a puzzle with many well-sprinkled pieces. It's a nicely complicated mystery with just enough of regular life and the Fourth of July holiday happenings to give it some balance. I really liked this second Lobster Shack mystery, wishing I could take a walk down the road and have lunch at the Mermaid. Here's hoping for many more books in this delightful series!
I received an advance copy of this book, and the honest opinions in this review are my own.
I received an advance copy of this book, and the honest opinions in this review are my own.
June 15, 2018
Shari Randall has given us another wonderful entry into the Lobster Shack Mysteries. Aunt Gully and her girls are asked to cater a 4th of July party for a well to do, famous resident of the area. Prior to the party, Allie discovers a body while out on the lobster boat early in the morning. The girl is unrecognizable and soon the town is wondering who she might be. Allie and her sister Lorel begin an investigation on their own and realize the ties to this girl strike very close to home. This is a strong entry into the Lobster Shack Mysteries and I very much enjoyed the thrill a minute adventure. Each of the story lines presented were well woven together and I appreciated the creative murder plot. This is a great, quick read and should be added to your beach reads this summer! I can't wait until the next entry into this series! #netgalley
June 27, 2018
Against the Claw is the second book in Shari Randall’s A Lobster Shack Mystery series. This is the first book I’ve read in this series, but there is great background information and I didn’t feel lost. The mystery is well plotted, the characters are well developed, and the location is charming. This is a great, quick read with a creative plot that kept me guessing until the reveal. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Allie Larkin, a ballerina who is recovering from a broken ankle, is staying with her aunt and helping at her lobster shack, The Lazy Mermaid, in Mystic Bay, Connecticut. Allie goes out with Bertha Betancourt, known as Mystic Bay’s Lobster Lady, to help her collect lobsters from her traps when they make a gruesome discovery … the body of a young woman. The woman is unrecognizable, but has a distinctive tattoo, but when the police are unable to identify her, Allie decides to see if she can. Zoe Parker, personal assistant to Stellene Lupo, an influential island resident, contacts Aunt Gully to hire The Lazy Mermaid to cater Stellene’s annual Fourth of July bash at her estate, Harmony Harbor. One of the guests, Eden, a popular singer, insists Allie and Lorel spend the night on Stellene’s yacht, Model Sailor, with her and another guest. The next morning, Lorel finds the body of her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Patrick Yardley, in a ridge-hulled inflatable that’s tied up to the yacht. Since Lorel recently had a somewhat public confrontation with Patrick, the sisters worry she might be a suspect and Allie decides to try to identify the person responsible for Patrick’s death.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Allie Larkin, a ballerina who is recovering from a broken ankle, is staying with her aunt and helping at her lobster shack, The Lazy Mermaid, in Mystic Bay, Connecticut. Allie goes out with Bertha Betancourt, known as Mystic Bay’s Lobster Lady, to help her collect lobsters from her traps when they make a gruesome discovery … the body of a young woman. The woman is unrecognizable, but has a distinctive tattoo, but when the police are unable to identify her, Allie decides to see if she can. Zoe Parker, personal assistant to Stellene Lupo, an influential island resident, contacts Aunt Gully to hire The Lazy Mermaid to cater Stellene’s annual Fourth of July bash at her estate, Harmony Harbor. One of the guests, Eden, a popular singer, insists Allie and Lorel spend the night on Stellene’s yacht, Model Sailor, with her and another guest. The next morning, Lorel finds the body of her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Patrick Yardley, in a ridge-hulled inflatable that’s tied up to the yacht. Since Lorel recently had a somewhat public confrontation with Patrick, the sisters worry she might be a suspect and Allie decides to try to identify the person responsible for Patrick’s death.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
May 31, 2018
The first installment of this series charmed me, the second installment has me hooked! I love the family dynamics in this series, how normal yet dysfunctional it is. The author does a great job of setting the stage for a beautifully executed mystery! This is a book you can pick up again and again and just get lost in the settings, characters, and great food!
July 8, 2018
This book was fantastic! There were so many twists and turns, I wasn't sure how it was going to come together, but it did. Tying up the loose ends ended with a couple of shocking twists...Shari Randall really served up a good story and Allie, once again, cracked the case. #againsttheclaw
I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley.
I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley.
July 30, 2018
It was great returning to Mystic Bay to visit with Aunt Gully, Allie and Loren, who was home for the July 4th holiday to help at the Lazy Mermaid Shack. Loren had also taken back up with a guy named Patrick who ran the most popular bar/restaurant in town and who had a reputation of being a bad boy. Allie could never see what Loren saw in him, aside from his good looks.
While helping Bertha, known as Lobster Woman, Allie was on her lobstering boat when they pulled up a dead body. The young woman's body remained unidentified for quite awhile, but in the meantime, the restaurant was hired to cater a party at a wealthy woman's estate. Allie, Loren and Gully went over for it. Loren and Allie were to spend the night on the woman's yacht along with a famous singer and her friend. When the body of Lorel's ex-boyfriend Patrick was found in an inflatable boat that had been tied behind the yacht, Allie figured they were all suspects and was determined to find the real killer. With her friend Verity's help sleuthing as well as the occasional help from her friend Bronwyn who was a police department intern, the case slowly came together.
Meanwhile, Allie was appearing in a show while her broken ankle was still healing and she had to make sure she got to rehearsals, worked at the restaurant and did some sleuthing. While the showdown wasn't exactly with the main perp, it was still pretty awesome. Let's just say it involved Bertha chucking a vacuum cleaner over a railing at someone. I really came to like Bertha in this book and now she's another favorite character of mine, along with Aunt Gully, of course!
I didn't guess the actual killer but it didn't surprise me when I found out who did it. There were a lot of secrets being kept by different people and a few twists along the way that kept this plot moving along and so interesting that I had trouble putting the book down. I'm anxious to see what happens in the next book. Allie doesn't have a guy interest but I think she could be interested in Hayden, her old classmate, if he showed any interest in her. It'll also be interesting to see how soon her ankle becomes able to fully dance ballet again. Will she travel back and forth to Boston to dance an occasional show or will she decide that Mystic Bay is too much of a home for her to leave Aunt Gully and the Lazy Mermaid? I hope we don't have to wait too long to find out!
While helping Bertha, known as Lobster Woman, Allie was on her lobstering boat when they pulled up a dead body. The young woman's body remained unidentified for quite awhile, but in the meantime, the restaurant was hired to cater a party at a wealthy woman's estate. Allie, Loren and Gully went over for it. Loren and Allie were to spend the night on the woman's yacht along with a famous singer and her friend. When the body of Lorel's ex-boyfriend Patrick was found in an inflatable boat that had been tied behind the yacht, Allie figured they were all suspects and was determined to find the real killer. With her friend Verity's help sleuthing as well as the occasional help from her friend Bronwyn who was a police department intern, the case slowly came together.
Meanwhile, Allie was appearing in a show while her broken ankle was still healing and she had to make sure she got to rehearsals, worked at the restaurant and did some sleuthing. While the showdown wasn't exactly with the main perp, it was still pretty awesome. Let's just say it involved Bertha chucking a vacuum cleaner over a railing at someone. I really came to like Bertha in this book and now she's another favorite character of mine, along with Aunt Gully, of course!
I didn't guess the actual killer but it didn't surprise me when I found out who did it. There were a lot of secrets being kept by different people and a few twists along the way that kept this plot moving along and so interesting that I had trouble putting the book down. I'm anxious to see what happens in the next book. Allie doesn't have a guy interest but I think she could be interested in Hayden, her old classmate, if he showed any interest in her. It'll also be interesting to see how soon her ankle becomes able to fully dance ballet again. Will she travel back and forth to Boston to dance an occasional show or will she decide that Mystic Bay is too much of a home for her to leave Aunt Gully and the Lazy Mermaid? I hope we don't have to wait too long to find out!
June 22, 2018
Allie was healing from an injury to her ankle and helping Aunt Gully in her restaurant in Mystic Bay. While helping a friend on a lobster boat she discovered a body in the water. This started a fantastically crazy chain of events that sent her back to her amateur sleuthing. When another murder was discovered things got out of hand. While trying to identify the first victim she was coming upon clues that connected both victims. This read was a wild and crazy adventure and I loved every page of it! This mystery is highly recommended!
July 30, 2018
Against the Claw by Shari Randall is the 2nd book in A Lobster Shack Mystery, and it is great. Allie Larkin is a ballerina who is recovering from a foot injury by working at her Aunt Gully's lobster shack, Lazy Mermaid. One morning while helping out a neighbor, Allie and the women found a dead body hooked to the lobster trap. No one can identify the women, so Allie is determined to find the truth. That is only one story line in this book. Lorel, Allie's sister, is dating her ex boyfriend, which Allie knows is bad news, and they are catering a 4th of July party for a rich business women on the island. I loved this book, it kept me interested from the first page to the last. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I strongly recommend this book for all cozy mystery lovers.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 22, 2018
It’s the week of the Fourth of July, and Allie and her aunt Gully are getting ready for the onslaught of customers the holiday weekend will bring to their town of Mystic Bay, Connecticut and the lobster shack that Aunt Gully has started. However, the holiday weekend takes a sad turn when Allie finds a dead body in the bay. No one seems to know who she was. But if no one recognizes her, who would want her dead?
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 4, 2018
Against the Claw is the second installment in the A Lobster Shack Mystery series set in the coastal town of Mystic Bay, Connecticut and featuring Allie Larkin, a ballerina who is recovering from an injury by helping her Aunt Gully serve up delicious lobster rolls in the family's Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack. Celebrity and modeling agency owner, Stellene Lupo has requested that the Lazy Mermaid caters her fourth of July party at her exclusive estate, Harmony Harbor and she only wants Aunt Gully, Allie and Lorel do serve up the tasty lobster treats.
In an effort to help lobster supplier Bertha Betancourt, Allie sets out for a day of pulling up traps. One of the traps contains not only lobsters but the body of a young woman. With no identification found on the body, Allie finds herself feeling responsible for locating the girl's family but the only clue she has to go by is the distinguished pitchfork tattoo circling the girl's wrist.
The ladies are shocked to learn that among the party's A-listers is the famed singer, Eden. Sneaking into the kitchen during clean up, Eden seems shaken that someone is stalking her and she begs Allie and Lorel to come stay the night with her on Stellene's yacht that is anchored in the harbor away from prying eyes. Delighted to have an opportunity to get to know the singer better the sisters agree. Morning dawns with a dead body in the inflatable boat tied to the yacht, and it's not long before Lorel becomes a prime suspect.
Allie sets out to solve the two mysteries and quickly begins to suspect that the recent deaths in Mystic Bay are connected and somehow also involve the Broadway by the Bay performance of Ondine that Allie has agreed to be a part.
A fast paced page turner from the first paragraph. The author does a fantastic job describing the cozy New England town and the locals who call Mystic Bay home. The lobster rolls and Aunt Gully's secret sauce will have you drooling for a trip to the shore.
I received an advanced copy of Against the Claw from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
In an effort to help lobster supplier Bertha Betancourt, Allie sets out for a day of pulling up traps. One of the traps contains not only lobsters but the body of a young woman. With no identification found on the body, Allie finds herself feeling responsible for locating the girl's family but the only clue she has to go by is the distinguished pitchfork tattoo circling the girl's wrist.
The ladies are shocked to learn that among the party's A-listers is the famed singer, Eden. Sneaking into the kitchen during clean up, Eden seems shaken that someone is stalking her and she begs Allie and Lorel to come stay the night with her on Stellene's yacht that is anchored in the harbor away from prying eyes. Delighted to have an opportunity to get to know the singer better the sisters agree. Morning dawns with a dead body in the inflatable boat tied to the yacht, and it's not long before Lorel becomes a prime suspect.
Allie sets out to solve the two mysteries and quickly begins to suspect that the recent deaths in Mystic Bay are connected and somehow also involve the Broadway by the Bay performance of Ondine that Allie has agreed to be a part.
A fast paced page turner from the first paragraph. The author does a fantastic job describing the cozy New England town and the locals who call Mystic Bay home. The lobster rolls and Aunt Gully's secret sauce will have you drooling for a trip to the shore.
I received an advanced copy of Against the Claw from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
July 9, 2018
Still home in Mystic Bay, Connecticut recuperating from ankle injury, Allie Larkin helps out at her aunt's popular lobster shack, the Lazy Mermaid. On one of the days she is out of the water collecting lobsters with Bertha, they find a body of a young woman. With no identification, it is difficult for the police to find out who she is. In the meantime, the owner of a large modeling agency in New York who owns a house in Mystic Bay wants Aunt Gully to cater. When the evening arrives, Allie and Lorel head to the house to help with the party. Later in the evening someone is found dead and there are only four suspects: Allie, Lorel, and two guests.
May 23, 2018
Allie is back in the second, Lobster Shack Mystery. As the result of a broken ankle, Allie continues to remain in Mystic Bay helping Aunt Gully at the lobster shack. Allie ventures out on a lobster boat, assisting a friend, when they discover the body of an unidentified girl caught up in a lobster trap. Once again, Allie is caught up in a mystery and this one involves her sister.
I thought this book was well-written. I enjoyed the descriptions of coastal life and the 4th of July celebrations. I like Aunt Gully, Allie and friends. Aunt Gully is busy at the lobster shack, making lobster rolls and catering a party. And! Allie, a ballerina, is readying herself to perform locally, careful with her healing ankle.
The mystery all comes together in the end. These lobster shack mysteries are enjoyable reads and I look forward to reading more of these stories in the future. 4.5 **** stars!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I thought this book was well-written. I enjoyed the descriptions of coastal life and the 4th of July celebrations. I like Aunt Gully, Allie and friends. Aunt Gully is busy at the lobster shack, making lobster rolls and catering a party. And! Allie, a ballerina, is readying herself to perform locally, careful with her healing ankle.
The mystery all comes together in the end. These lobster shack mysteries are enjoyable reads and I look forward to reading more of these stories in the future. 4.5 **** stars!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 28, 2018
Against the Claw is a great addition to the Lobster Shack Mystery series. It was fun to return to small town Mystic Bay and the cast of characters, including Allegro (Allie) Larkin, Aunt Gully and Lorel, Allie's sister as well as other locals. Allie is a dancer recovering from a broken ankle and helping out at Aunt Gully's Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack. She also has a part in an upcoming play at a local theater. Both she and Lorel live in Boston. Lorel also returns on the weekends to help out in the lobster shack. It is the week of the 4th of July so Lorel is home for the week. Thankfully, Aunt Gully has quite a few friends that are available to help out at the restaurant when it gets busy because Allie has a tendency to get caught up in trouble. When Gully gets a big catering job for a local celebrity on the fourth, she calls in the troops to help.
One morning as Allie is helping lobster woman Bertha check her traps, they discover the body of a young woman attached to one of the traps. No one knows who she is (or they aren't admitting it) or where she came from but she is soon called Pitchfork Girl because of a tattoo of a pitchfork on her arm. Lorel is back with on again/off again since middle school bad boy sweetheart Patrick Yardley-to the dismay of Allie and Aunt Gully. He owns a popular bar but has his hands in unsavory stuff too. When something happens to him on the fourth, things really get interesting.
There are lots of twists and turns in the story so it is hard to decide who might have it in for Patrick. Could it be tied to Pitchfork Girl? This is a mystery that is not easily figured out. I had suspicions but not a clear idea and the answer is, it is a complicated plot with many players that are diverse and far reaching. The local color adds interest and depth to the characters and makes for a enjoyable page turner with a ending with a twist. I am looking forward to the next book.
Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing through NetGalley for a complimentary ARC to read and give an honest review. Thoughts and opnions are mine only.
One morning as Allie is helping lobster woman Bertha check her traps, they discover the body of a young woman attached to one of the traps. No one knows who she is (or they aren't admitting it) or where she came from but she is soon called Pitchfork Girl because of a tattoo of a pitchfork on her arm. Lorel is back with on again/off again since middle school bad boy sweetheart Patrick Yardley-to the dismay of Allie and Aunt Gully. He owns a popular bar but has his hands in unsavory stuff too. When something happens to him on the fourth, things really get interesting.
There are lots of twists and turns in the story so it is hard to decide who might have it in for Patrick. Could it be tied to Pitchfork Girl? This is a mystery that is not easily figured out. I had suspicions but not a clear idea and the answer is, it is a complicated plot with many players that are diverse and far reaching. The local color adds interest and depth to the characters and makes for a enjoyable page turner with a ending with a twist. I am looking forward to the next book.
Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing through NetGalley for a complimentary ARC to read and give an honest review. Thoughts and opnions are mine only.
April 28, 2019
In questa storia ci sono ben due morti misteriose da risolvere e sono rimasta piacevolmente sorpresa su come l'autrice è riuscita a risolvere tutto in una maniera chiara. Alla fin fine avevo capito chi fosse il colpevole, ma c'erano così tante altre cose legate alle due morti che non ero sicura di come si spiegassero tutte insieme in una maniera netta...
June 20, 2018
Shari Randall is a new to me author and I enjoyed her a great deal! I believe this is only the second in the series and the good news for me is that there's another one for me to read! I love the characters of Mystic Bay and I especially love everyone involved with The Lazy Mermaid. I want to be a Gully Gal now. I want Aunt Gully to adopt me (nevermind that I'm an adult and she's fictional). On a more realistic note, I desperatelyl want to go to New England and this has only intensified that desire - a great deal. The scenery was so beautifully written, I could feel the breeze, smell the air, and taste the yummy food. As for the characters? The sibling relationship was believable and I hope to see it evolve in future books. The entire family dynamic was actually pretty relatable though we didn't really see much of Dad in this book. The mystery was well done. I was able to figure out the puzzle pieces but I couldn't quite figure out how they went together. It was very nicely put together at the end. The only downfall was that one of the characters that was a bit of a key player wasn't fleshed out very well. We never really got to know her character or motivations. I think that's really the only reason I'm not giving this a full 5 star review. I wish I could give half stars because I would make this a 4 1/2 star review. As I can't, I have to dock a full star. I absolutely cannot wait to try out the recipes from the back of the book. This is a wonderful cozy that will satisfy cozy lovers and foodies alike.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Shari Randall for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest opinions to others.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Shari Randall for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest opinions to others.
May 25, 2023
I liked this second book of the series more than the first.
June 29, 2018
Against the Claw by Shari Randall.
July 2018
Cozy Mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me preview this book.
The author certainly knows her geography of the Connecticut shoreline. Ms. Randall also knows her boat and does a good job explaining what all the types are. Besides the typical murders there are some family issues involved. Lots of eating going on which is always great to read about.
July 2018
Cozy Mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me preview this book.
The author certainly knows her geography of the Connecticut shoreline. Ms. Randall also knows her boat and does a good job explaining what all the types are. Besides the typical murders there are some family issues involved. Lots of eating going on which is always great to read about.
July 20, 2018
Shari Randall's Against the Claw is a perfect summer cozy mystery read. It's Fourth of July week, and dancer Allie Larkin is spending time at home in Mystic Bay, Connecticut while recovering from a broken ankle. She and her sister, Lorel, are helping their Aunt Gully at her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack when she discovers one body hooked on a lobster trap, and another the night after a big party that they're catering. A clever and creative mystery that is nicely written, and so well told that the ending really surprised me! A+ to this second book in the Lobster Shack Mystery Series, this reader is off to track down the first book - note: I haven't read it (Curses, Boiled Again!) yet, but Against the Claw really worked as a standalone! A+
July 31, 2018
I'm in love with this series. Allie is moving right up there in the top five of my favorite amateur sleuths. I love her sweetness, spunkiness and doggedness to find the killer. Even a bum ankle does not slow her down.
In book two of the Lobster Shack Mystery series we join Allie, Aunt Gully, and friends as they prepare for the Fourth of July. The Lazy Mermaid has more customers than ever and Lorel, Allie's sister, agrees for the Mermaid to cater "THE" Fourth of the July party for Stellene Lupo. Before that can happen a Jane Doe is found by Allie as she lobsters with a family friend. Can Allie find out who she is and what happened before she ends up sleeping with the fishes?
The Lobster Shack series is a pure joy to read. The description of Mystic Bay, CT is so real that you feel like you are right there with Allie. You can taste the lobster rolls, smell the salt from the ocean and feel the sand under your toes. This is a place I wish I could visit and meet Allie. She seems like a great person to have in your corner.
Her sister, Lorel, was not so frustrating this book. In the first book, Curses, Boiled Again, I did not like Lorel and was hoping she was going to be a minor character with little interaction. She was needed and added a lot to the second book.
If you are a new fan of cozies and like the beach, you should grab the first two books in the series and block out a weekend (preferably on the beach) and read, read, read. I don't think you will be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed n the review are entirely my own.
In book two of the Lobster Shack Mystery series we join Allie, Aunt Gully, and friends as they prepare for the Fourth of July. The Lazy Mermaid has more customers than ever and Lorel, Allie's sister, agrees for the Mermaid to cater "THE" Fourth of the July party for Stellene Lupo. Before that can happen a Jane Doe is found by Allie as she lobsters with a family friend. Can Allie find out who she is and what happened before she ends up sleeping with the fishes?
The Lobster Shack series is a pure joy to read. The description of Mystic Bay, CT is so real that you feel like you are right there with Allie. You can taste the lobster rolls, smell the salt from the ocean and feel the sand under your toes. This is a place I wish I could visit and meet Allie. She seems like a great person to have in your corner.
Her sister, Lorel, was not so frustrating this book. In the first book, Curses, Boiled Again, I did not like Lorel and was hoping she was going to be a minor character with little interaction. She was needed and added a lot to the second book.
If you are a new fan of cozies and like the beach, you should grab the first two books in the series and block out a weekend (preferably on the beach) and read, read, read. I don't think you will be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed n the review are entirely my own.
July 30, 2018
The second Lobster Shack mystery, after Curses, Boiled Again, is as good as the first! Against the Claw starts with Allie pulling lobster traps with Bertha. The last trap also pulls up a dead girl.
With Aunt Gully’s Lobster Shack expected to host a huge number of customers on the Fourth of July, a catering opportunity that is too good to pass up appears. Catering the famous modeling agent Stellene’s annual party would be excellent publicity. When Allie and her sister Lorel get the opportunity to stay on Stellene’s massive yacht with only superstar singer Eden and her guitarist boyfriend on board, it seems like the perfect day. But when Lorel’s recently ex-boyfriend Patrick is found dead in the morning in a raft tied to the yacht, the party abruptly ends.
I love the characters in the Lobster Shack books. They feel like old friends who are stuck in bad circumstances whose wits will ultimately win out over evil. The mystery was good—not to easy or too difficult to figure out. You definitely do not need to read the first book in the series, Curses, Boiled Again, to enjoy this one. Even better, Against the Claw has no spoilers to the first book so they can be read out of order. Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans. 4 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
With Aunt Gully’s Lobster Shack expected to host a huge number of customers on the Fourth of July, a catering opportunity that is too good to pass up appears. Catering the famous modeling agent Stellene’s annual party would be excellent publicity. When Allie and her sister Lorel get the opportunity to stay on Stellene’s massive yacht with only superstar singer Eden and her guitarist boyfriend on board, it seems like the perfect day. But when Lorel’s recently ex-boyfriend Patrick is found dead in the morning in a raft tied to the yacht, the party abruptly ends.
I love the characters in the Lobster Shack books. They feel like old friends who are stuck in bad circumstances whose wits will ultimately win out over evil. The mystery was good—not to easy or too difficult to figure out. You definitely do not need to read the first book in the series, Curses, Boiled Again, to enjoy this one. Even better, Against the Claw has no spoilers to the first book so they can be read out of order. Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans. 4 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
July 30, 2018
Against the Claw is the second book in the Lobster Shack Mystery series. I did not feel lost in picking up with book 2.
Allie Larkin is working the summer at the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack for her aunt. In the afternoons, she is rehearsing for the summer stock production. Since she has a broken ankle that isn’t healed, she is the sprite that sits on the rock and also flies through the air.
Her sister is helping on her days away from her real job. Lorel is a marketing wiz. She gets them a catering job for a modeling big shot.
Allie and Bertha, a lobster fisherman find a young dead women hooked to one of the lobster pots.
After the catering gig, Lorel finds her ex-boyfriend dead on the boat they spent the night. Allie tries to help the police solve the murders.
What I liked about this story is:
It is well written, flows smoothly and has a delightful cast of characters.
Can be read as a standalone.
It made me laugh!
I am looking forward to more from this author.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from St Martin’s Press via Netgalley and these are my own opinions.
Allie Larkin is working the summer at the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack for her aunt. In the afternoons, she is rehearsing for the summer stock production. Since she has a broken ankle that isn’t healed, she is the sprite that sits on the rock and also flies through the air.
Her sister is helping on her days away from her real job. Lorel is a marketing wiz. She gets them a catering job for a modeling big shot.
Allie and Bertha, a lobster fisherman find a young dead women hooked to one of the lobster pots.
After the catering gig, Lorel finds her ex-boyfriend dead on the boat they spent the night. Allie tries to help the police solve the murders.
What I liked about this story is:
It is well written, flows smoothly and has a delightful cast of characters.
Can be read as a standalone.
It made me laugh!
I am looking forward to more from this author.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from St Martin’s Press via Netgalley and these are my own opinions.
August 7, 2018
Against The Claw
By
Shari Randall
What it's all about...
This book is about two sisters, an aunt who knows her way around a lobster and a quaint beach town filled with tourists. And...because it’s a very cozy mystery...there are just one or two murders.
Why I wanted to read it...
The mystery in this book begins when Allie finds a dead body floating near a lobster trap. And the mystery continues as Allie investigates this murder and gets involved in another murder...this time it’s someone that both she and her sister know well.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
The touristy town, the lobster rolls, Aunt Gully along with her Lobster Love Sauce Recipe...all made this book fun to read.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who love cozy mysteries with tons of interesting characters should love this fun book. Great plot, well written and quite a page turner!
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
August 26, 2018
After reading the first installment in this wonderful new series, I was so anxious to read Against the Claw. I was not disappointed; in fact, I could not put this book down! Spending time at the Lazy Mermaid again with Allie, Lorel, and the quirky Aunt Gully was like going home to a house full of old friends. I could almost smell the ocean all around me, see the waves washing over the sand. But don’t let all that charm deceive you--there’s murder afoot, and some scheming characters who will stop at nothing to get what they want. I found the story fast-moving and riveting, with every character adding more depth to this wonderfully complex mystery. The plot thickened with every stir of the lobster pot, while red herrings swam among them. The ending was a killer--a surprise a minute. I’m as hooked on this series as a fish on a line. I can’t wait for book three in this delightful series by the sea.
September 29, 2019
Fun in the First Degree!
The second in the Lobster Shack Mystery series is top grade. Main character Allie did annoy me a bit in the first book, but in this story the series is finding its stride and I enjoyed every moment. Great characterization, lively plot. I did spot a couple of clues that I can't believe Allie failed to notice, but that's the sort of thing I can forgive - as long as the characterization is on point. Which it is. But, where is reporter Leo Rodriguez at the end?! Surely he would be around! At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of reading this. Highly recommended!
The second in the Lobster Shack Mystery series is top grade. Main character Allie did annoy me a bit in the first book, but in this story the series is finding its stride and I enjoyed every moment. Great characterization, lively plot. I did spot a couple of clues that I can't believe Allie failed to notice, but that's the sort of thing I can forgive - as long as the characterization is on point. Which it is. But, where is reporter Leo Rodriguez at the end?! Surely he would be around! At any rate, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of reading this. Highly recommended!
September 28, 2018
This series has me wanting to jump into the car and head for Maine and the scrumptious food they cook at Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack. This is book 2 in the Lobster Shack Mystery series and Allie is still home nursing her broken ankle before returning to her dance company. But now her Aunt and sister are venturing into catering and their first job lands them in the middle of a murder investigation. Great story and the family is fantastic. I'm hoping that Allie is going to remain in Mystic Bay for more great adventures. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 31, 2018
A lark and a romp as Allie and the gang continue at Aunt Gully's lobster shack in SE coastal Connecticut. Engaging plot and subplots, and, at last, Aunt Gully's secret recipe for lobster bisque.
Allie's sidekick Bronwyn, a local PD intern, is Allie's effective sidekick.
Anticipating more fun and games in Lobster Shack #3, but worry that Allie will return to her dancing career in Boston.
Allie's sidekick Bronwyn, a local PD intern, is Allie's effective sidekick.
Anticipating more fun and games in Lobster Shack #3, but worry that Allie will return to her dancing career in Boston.
June 9, 2024
3.5 stars
Very cute cozy mystery; there's only 1 more book in this series and it's a bit of a bummer these characters had such a short run. Normally the heroine inserts herself into the investigation so it's refreshing that Allie doesn't and just sort of comes upon the clues naturally...there were plenty of red herrings and all the clues cleverly introduced throughout the narrative for a fun slow burn mystery.
Very cute cozy mystery; there's only 1 more book in this series and it's a bit of a bummer these characters had such a short run. Normally the heroine inserts herself into the investigation so it's refreshing that Allie doesn't and just sort of comes upon the clues naturally...there were plenty of red herrings and all the clues cleverly introduced throughout the narrative for a fun slow burn mystery.
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