Beach Blanket Homicide

Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective #1

by Maggie March

Lucy is a human lie detector. Her rescue dog Paco is a ghost whisperer. Together, they solve crime in this laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series!

Everyone agrees that Lucy McGuffin bakes the muffins in Whispering Bay, but she's got another talent, one that she's tried her whole life to hide. Lucy can always tell when a person is lying or telling the truth. Being a human lie detector isn't all it's cracked up to be. Especially when you really don't want the answer to the universal question, "Does this dress make my butt look too big?"

When Lucy is hired to cater the grand opening celebration of the city's new community center, she stumbles across the dead body of Abby Delgado, a prominent member of the Sunshine Ghost Society. Lucy's brother, Father Sebastian, a local priest, is the last person to have seen Abby alive. Convinced he'll be breaking a confidence, Sebastian refuses to cooperate with the police, forcing Lucy to put her skills to the test to save her brother's good name.

Enter the town's new hotshot deputy, Travis Fontaine. Travis doesn't want an amateur like Lucy snooping around his turf, so he offers her a deal. He'll stay out of her kitchen if she stays away from his crime scenes. But Lucy isn't about to let her brother's fate rest in the hands of an arrogant cop.

Good thing she has her best friend, Will, and her new rescue dog, Paco, to back her up, because it's up to Lucy to figure out what everyone in the quaint little beachside town is hiding.

NOTE: This book was previously published under the name Maria Geraci

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Ebooks, Fiction, Cozy, Crime

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2018

About the author

Looking for your next addictive cozy mystery series? Maggie March delivers heartwarming whodunits that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Her stories blend clever mysteries with humor and just enough romance to make your heart flutter.

She brings the same warmth and humor from her close-knit family life – complete with a very patient husband, three grown children, two granddaughters, and one grumpy old pup – into her engaging mysteries that readers describe as "impossible to put down."

When she's not plotting her next murder mystery, you'll find Maggie at her favorite beachside café in Central Florida, testing yet another key lime pie in her quest for the perfect recipe.

Maggie loves hearing from her readers. You can write to her at maggie@maggiemarch.com

Maggie also writes heart-warming small-town contemporary romance as her alter ego Maria Geraci.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach Blanket Homicide is book one in the Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective series by Maggie March. This was such a cute cozy mystery. I fell in love with the cover before I even read the blurb. And I didn’t figure out who the bad guy was until she revealed it at the end.

Lucille (Lucy) McGuffin is part owner of The Bistro by the Beach, a cafe on the beach in Whispering Bay, Florida. She also lives upstairs in the apartment above the cafe which makes her long hours so much easier for her. Lucy has a gift I guess you could call it. She is a human like detector. She can tell if you are voicing even the tiniest of lies. She also bakes the very best muffins in all of Whispering Bay.

Lucy is allergic to dogs. But when one of Whispering Bay’s residents is found dead by no other than Lucy, it’s a sweet little dog named Paco that led her to the body. Paco seems to have attached himself to Lucy so for now, she’ll just have to dose herself with allergy medication, until she can find someone more suitable to take him.



There’s been a murder in Whispering Bay and at the moment, Lucy’s brother seems to be the main suspect! Lucy with the help of little Paco, will do whatever it takes to prove her brother’s innocence. And that means even going behind the back of the new town cop, Travis Fontaine, no matter how good looking he is.

This really was so cute and of course, little Paco was adorable. Travis and Lucy are constantly annoying each other. Travis wants Lucy to stay out of the way of the investigation but Lucy is determined to prove her brother had nothing to do with it. And Paco is right there with her every step of the way.

“Stay away from my crime scenes, and I’ll stay out of your kitchen.”

Book two in the series is called Whack The Mole, and sounds like so much fun. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you can’t go wrong with this book and series. Have fun!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my type of book

[JoAnn Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy is a human lie detector and in case you missed it in the first five chapters don’t worry you will read it again and again in the next twenty. While I didn’t think the storyline was bad it just seemed repetitive to me.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geraci is back with the same wry wit and host of captivating characters. This time around she throws in a hint of mystery to balance out the humor. Beach Blanket Homicide is a smorgasbord of what makes reading great. Lucy and her crew are a masterful blend of laughter, romance and suspense that has no problem captivating the mind and heart.

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 4 out of 5]

How on earth did I miss this when it first came out! I sat down and read this in one sitting giggling quietly to myself, and then promptly ordered book 2!

Lucy McGuffin has a couple of secrets, first off she really, REALLY loves her brother's best friend Will, and the other is that Will is the only person she can't tell if they lie, because secret number two is that she can always tell if people are telling the truth or not (which can be a little disconcerting at times and has led to problems in the past). So at the moment she wants to hunker down, bake her muffins, hopefully get onto Muffin Wars - a baking competition on the TV, but things are conspiring against her, first off finding a dead body, secondly looking after a rescue dog (whilst being seriously allergic to dog fur), oh and upsetting the latest hire at the local police force, but what's a girl to do when the person being looked at as the instigator of the dead body is her brother, the local Catholic Priest!

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute Rom com from Maria Geraci in her fictional small beach town in Florida. I have enjoyed several of the previous books and this one was a fun read also. If you have read any of the other books, you will recognize many of the secondary characters, but this truly is a standalone, although there is not an HEA per say. That did not bother me as I know another book is coming, hopefully soon. I also did not feel as if this were a cliffhanger as the mystery of this book gets solved. A seance, a murder, a dog who seems absurdly smart, muffins, and a hot policeman all make up easy to read Rom com mystery.

[Evelyn Grabas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. Loved the characters, particularly Paco. Look forward to reading more in this series.
One thing though, a Catholic priest cannot divulge that which he is told in the confessional, as it is considered privileged (similar to that of a lawyer and client), but any conversation or discussion he has with anyone, parishioner or not, outside of the confessional is not so covered and can be repeated by him without fear of breaking his vows. So, if it came down to it and Father McGuffin refused to apprize the police of his conversation with Abby, he could be arrested for obstruction of justice.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this book!💓

What a great start to a series! Lucy and her ability to discern lies from the truth really resonated with me. I sank my teeth into this book and discovered not only a new favorite series but a new favorite author.I am so excited to dig into book two. Totally intrigued. I wish she would have gone more into Lucy's priest brother but other than that this is one stellar start to a series!

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

lol Brit is delusional
Maggie is Maggie
Will is a wimp
Travis remains a mystery
Paco the dog is the hero of the book

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

This cozy mystery series started off on the right foot. Lucy didn't irritate me in the novel, I'm wondering what Will's Will's problem is, and I'm curious to see what happens next. Also, it seems like there's way more to her than just being a human lie detector. Also, Paco is just sooo smart, like what are his abilities.

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun loving characters, a small dog and a murder with lots of red herrings made this an entertaining read.

[Mari Hinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Good start to the series. I really enjoyed Lucy and really loved the little dog. Can't wait to read more on this series.

[Laney Beale · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun cozy mystery

[Lisa Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muffins

This book had me so enthralled in it. Just when I thought I had it all figured out there would be a new twist thrown at me. Loved this book!!

[Doris Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

good mystery

[Lola]

I received a free copy from Tantor Audio and voluntarily reviewed it.

I DNF'd this one about 15 minutes in. I just couldn't get into this one, the writing style didn't work for me. There was this large scene about the past and her lie detecting skill before starting the story, then there were so many characters with what they did and who they are and just nothign seemed to happen. Don't think this one's for me as I was getting impatient after the first 15 minutes, so on the DNF pile it goes.

[Imjussayin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beach Blanket Homicide
Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective #1, by Maggie March

In a Nutshell:

A warm, inviting cosy mystery perfect for relaxing and drifting off to sleep. Sweet, easy, and with a surprisingly solid mystery — helped along by Paco the ghost-whispering dog and a best friend who may mean more to Lucy than she’s ready to admit publicly.

Story Vibes:

🪄 Psychic lie-detection
💫 Small-town beach charm
🪄 Gentle romantic buzz
💫 Paco’s supernatural instincts
🪄 A best friend she might secretly love
💫 Cosy, soothing escapism

The Plot:

Lucy’s involuntary truth-telling becomes a problem when a tourist is murdered. Between the investigation, her café, and her chaotic psychic gift, she leans on those closest to her — Paco, with his uncanny intuition, and her steadfast best friend, whose quiet loyalty hints at something tender beneath the surface, but what?

The Protagonist:

Lucy is genuinely likeable. Paco offers emotional steadiness and quiky fun, while her best friend adds a warm, unspoken romantic thread that gives the story extra heart or two as their is gentle stirring with a police offer me thinks. Meanwhile, Lucy is busy in work and guilty about her skill.

Themes & Style:
A breezy cosy with a touch of magic, warm friendships, and gentle romantic tension. The whole book has that soft, inviting quality that makes cosies such comforting company.

My Thoughts:

Perfect escapism after heavier reads. Warm, sweet, and easy to relax into. The mystery is decent, the relationships are lovely, and the combination of Paco and that quietly romantic friendship gives the story a comforting pulse.

Book Rating

Sexual Content: U
Language: mild
Violence: mild
Would I read the next one or reread?: Yes

Star Rating: 3.5★ – A read with charm and character.

[Latoya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good start to a new cozy mystery series. I think that the book title is a bit deceptive because it says psychic amateur detective but Lucy isn’t psychic. The book describes Lucy as a human lie detector but she doesn’t actually have any psychic abilities. Maybe she will develop psychic abilities throughout the series I don’t know 🤷 I guess I will have to continue reading to see. I thought the dynamic between Lucy and Brittany was funny and I think it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops throughout the books. Paco was one of my favorite characters in the book and yes he’s a dog 🐕 but just so lovable. The mystery had me thinking one person was responsible right up until the last few chapters and then it was easy to see who the culprit was after that point but still enjoyable. I will check out the follow up to this and see where the series goes. 3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️✨

[Kay Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEACH BLANKET HOMICIDE by Maria Geraci is the first book in the Whispering Bay Mystery series. It’s the story of Lucy McGuffin, co-owner of The Bistro, who is not only a human lie detector but also an amazing muffin baker.

While catering the opening ceremonies at the new city community center, Lucy finds Abby Delgado, member of the Sunshine Ghost Society, dead in one of the rooms led there by Paco, Abby’s dog, that she found running around loose. The celebration festivities are put on hold while the police investigate. Lucy, who is allergic to dogs, automatically becomes temporary caregiver to Paco who seems to be traumatized from the tragic event.

Lucy’s brother, Father Sebastian, comes into question by Officer Travis Tontaine, new officer to the police department, when he refuses to answer questions because he feels it would be breaking a confidence and the fact that he was the last one to see her alive.

From a very early age, Lucy has been able to tell if someone is telling the truth or lying. Will this ability help Lucy to clear her brother and help the police solve this crime? Between not wanting to reveal her “talent”, which she is sure would label her a weirdo, and the fact that there is a mutual unfriendliness between Lucy and Travis, makes it appear that Lucy will be working on the details of Abby’s passing without the help of the police department. It’s a good thing she has such great friends to help her out!

During all of this, Abby is trying to get both money and recognition for The Bistro by entering in the Muffin Wars. Hoping that by being labeled by the world’s best muffin maker by everyone that eats her muffins will mean she has a shot as being one of the finalists and for winning the prize money. The publicity would help business and the money would mean she could pay off her loan from best friend Will (and guy she has a big crush on) who helped her finance her half of The Bistro.

How will Paco work in the mix to solving what happened to his owner? Seems his past is mixed with untruths as well. Who is he really? Can he help lead them to murderer or will his life be in jeopardy too? With such a sweet disposition, how can Lucy give him to someone else, but then again with her allergies, can she live on Benadryl all the time?

There’s not a part of this book that I don’t love! Love the way that Maria Geraci wrote an amazing cozy that keeps you turning pages while bringing some issues to light. She addresses the human nature of lying as well as how small issues continue to grow unless addressed. Lucy had a major problem with Brittany Kelly that started way back in kindergarten. They just seemed to fester over the years until they actually talked to one another choosing then to move forward. I was very happy to see the beach blanket theme which brought back some wonderful memories as well. If you remember the late 50’s early 60’s, you will be shaking your head say “yep, remember that”. Enjoyed the subtle humor in this story as well. I think it would fun to visit Whispering Bay and check out Lucy’s muffins first hand.

If this is an indication to the caliber of books in this series, then it’s going to be an awesome series! I highly recommend this book to anyone loving a great, well-written cozy mystery. I know I’m looking forward to book #2 in the series with great anticipation.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beach Blanket Homicide is the first book in the Whispering Bay Mystery series and it is a connected story to the Whispering Bay romances. It's a nice cozy mystery. It was nice being reunited with characters we've met before as well as the town of Whispering Bay. The addition of new characters helped round out the story.

Thanks to the Sunshine Ghost Society there are ghosts or are there? There's definitely the demise of several characters but are their deaths by natural causes or due to foul play? Lucy, the resident muffin maker, is involved in everything in town and always seems to want questions answered more than other people, especially the police, want to give answers. She's quirky in her actions but has the best heart. Her care for Paco, the dog she inherits, is touching especially since she's allergic to dogs. She has good friends and a brother who's a priest. They share a best friend, Will, who she's loved from afar but doesn't want to ruin the friendship. Her brother seems to be in the thick of things and not all of it good.

There are family and friends, disagreements, celebrations, lots of muffins, crime shows, baking shows on the Cooking Channel, seances, investigations and crimes to be solved. Lucy is good at ferreting out lies but not all are happy with what she uncovers or what she says. There was a nice pace to the story but some of Lucy's actions were slapstick in nature. The characters definitely had a depth to them and we learn about them a little at a time. There was nice closure and a case solved but I'm sure this is just the beginning of the interactions between Lucy and Travis, the new deputy.

Ms. Geraci is one of my go to authors when I want to read a romance. Guess I'll be adding mysteries as one of my go to genres as well!

[Diana Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beach Blanket Homicide is the first installment of a new cozy mystery series centered in the Whispering Bay community that author Maria Gerarci has created. It is such a perfect mix of mystery, comedy, drama and pop culture trivia/references that will make you, the reader, unable to stop reading, laughing and longing for the next chapter.

Lucille (Lucy) McGuffin is a baker’s goddess, her muffins made her famous with all Whispering Bay and with some luck will land her a spot in the Cooking Channel’s “Muffin Wars” program. She is also gifted with a most unusual trait, she is a human lie detector which she tries to keep to herself to avoid heartache and trouble, but when she discovered one of her patrons dead during the opening of WB Recreational Center all mayhem breaks loose. Lucy can’t let go of what happened; enter a very intuitive dog named Paco; a new, sexy, out of town officer; best friends; a priest who happens to be her brother; her long time crush and the rest of the community including the Sunshine Ghost Society, the Grey Flamingos and a book club directed by the sassy Betty Jean, what could go wrong?

I truly loved and enjoyed this “who did it?” read. Whispering Bay is beautiful portrayed; you will really want to visit and taste one of Lucy’s muffins. The community is alive; you will want to check the library (not only for Betty Jean’s book club), get a word with the new officer in town and be friend with Paco. Maria Gerarci, when are we coming back? Five delicious stars from me.


I received an ARC and these are my honest thoughts.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in this hilarious murder mystery/romance series about human lie detector, Lucy McGuffin and her ghost whisperer dog, Paco. In this book, all the many characters are introduced: Lucy is co-owner of The Bistro by the Beach with her partner, Sarah Powers. Sarah makes comfort food and Lucy makes the best muffins. Her best friend is Will Cunningham, who was first her brother, Sebastian's best friend and whom she has had a crush on since she was 7 years olds- but he is oblivious. Travis Fontaine is the new town deputy. Brittney Kelly is her frenemy, since kindergarten, when Lucy caught her in a lie. Plus all the rest of the zany residents of Whispering Bay and the introduction of the mysterious author with the pen name J W Quicksilver.

Whispering Bay has been "the Safest City in America", until Paco leads Lucy to a body in the new rec center. Abby Delgado was a member of the Sunshine Ghost Society. Paco had last been seen with Abby, but how he became her dog is a mystery. When Travis suggests that Sebastian is somehow involved, Lucy decides she must find the real culprit with her unique talent and drags Will along to help her. This series is full of laughs.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an a fun book and I really enjoyed reading it. Lucy McGuffin is a baker and the owner of The Bistro By The Beach, in the small town of whispering bay, fl. She is famous for her outstanding mufins.- --and has another talent that she doesn't talk about, She is a human lie dector, can always tell if someone is lying. This is a talent she is going to need very soon., She is chosen to to bake muffins for thr Grand opening of a new community center. She finds the dog paco that Abbey had at the Bristiro the day before and then finds Abbey--dead.The new cop in town is looking at Lucy as a suspect and her brother because he was the last one to see her. Lucy decieds to solve the mystery to clear her brother and herself. She asks her friends in the Gray Famingo senior group and her brothers best friend Wiil (love 0f her life)to help her find out where the Dog belongs and what Abbey was doing in the Rec building, Who killed he and why.There are some really funny situations and a bunch of odd ball characters that keep things interesting. Romance also. just clean fun and some suprises. Alice

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beach Blanket Homicide is the first of a brand new series, Whispering Bay Mysteries by Maria Geraci. The community center has been built, now it is time for the grand opening. Lucy McGuffin get the catering contract, finding the dead body of a prominent city member along the way. I have read other books by Ms. Geraci that were romances with a bit of mystery in them. Beach Blanket Homicide gas a mystery with just a hint of romance.
What it has in abundance is a loyal sister, great baker, and smart woman in Lucy McGuffin. Did I mention she is a new dog owner too, Paco is one amazing dog? Next to Lucy, he is my new favorite character, especially near the end of the story as the murderer is finally caught. Beach Blanket Homicide also has Ms. Geraci’s engaging style of telling a story, with colorful description and just the right amount of easy not snarky humor. Now I can’t wait to see what Lucy will be in to next, and to see if the dinner date goes well.
The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Dew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s confusing to me when authors don’t do minimal research on topics that they use as hinge-points for their plots. In this book, a dog is one of the main characters and the fmc is allergic to dogs with fur. As opposed to dogs without fur? Fur is hair. People are not allergic to hair. They are, however, often highly allergic to pet dander (dead skin), saliva, and urine. The fmc goes from being so highly allergic that she is sneezing and has a runny nose within minutes of coming into contact with the dog to having the dog live inside the restaurant where she lives and works. Maybe it’s just me, but even though I love dogs and own 2 of them, I still would not want to go to a restaurant that has animals roaming freely in the kitchen where food is prepared.

I had a hard time with the whole seance/ghost theme and the list of peripheral characters is very long. When I attempted to read the 2nd book in the series to get a better feel for the author’s style, the fact that the town has 7 murders in 2 weeks with a population of 10k, it seems less like the Safest City in America than terribly crime-ridden.

As it is, the books are just okay.

[Terri Eaches · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fun Twist on a Murder Mystery

Welcome back to Whispering Bay where the senior group, Gray Flamingos, are fit, spry and ornery. You also have the Sunshine Ghost Society and in the middle of it you have Bistro on the Beach with co owner Lucy McGuffin with her own special talent. Lucy is known for her awesome muffins but her talent of being a human lie detector it's something she keeps hidden. When she discovers the dead body of one of her patrons her life is turned upside down. Her brother is the last to see Abby alive but he refuses to break a confidence being the local Priest so Lucy tries her hand at investigating to help her brother. Add in a ghost whispering dog, Pacco, the new and handsome Deputy Travis Fontaine, a fake seance, her best friend and not so secret love Will and a lot of lies makes this a fun filled story. Maria Geraci did a fabulous job with the first story in the new series and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy McGuffin is a co-owner of a Bistro and she makes the best muffins in the world. She also has a talent for knowing when someone is lying to her. A frequent customer turns up with a dog in her purse and Lucy knows she’s lying about where he comes from. Then Lucy stumbles upon the body of that customer.
Lucy isn’t content to let the police solve the murder. She gets herself involved in the investigation and in the process, she meets all sorts of people, many of whom are lying to her. She can’t believe that her brother, the priest, is the last person to see the deceased alive.
Lucy has always been in love with her brother’s best friend, Will, but now there’s a new deputy in town who annoys her, but who is also interesting. Mix in her new dog, Paco, and now there’s a whole lot going on.
I read the second book in this series first and I enjoyed it so much that I sought out this book. It’s a fun read. Clean language and not scary so anyone would enjoy it. I highly recommend this book and the following book, Whack

[Thelizyouknow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy McGuffin bakes muffins in a tiny beach town in the Florida panhandle. Lucy has a secret, over and above the special recipe that she's hoping will earn her a spot as a TV chef on Muffin Wars: Lucy can tell when someone's lying. Always. It's been a problem for her all her life, but when a member of the Sunshine Ghost Society turns up dead and Lucy winds up caretaking her psychic chihuahua, things get a lot worse. And then Lucy's brother Sebastian, the local Catholic priest, turns out to have been the last person to see the victim alive.

I didn't foresee the surprise ending of this one, and I read enough cozies that that's unusual. Looking back though, the story is perfectly foreshadowed, albeit with expert distractions at every step. The characters are offbeat and sweet without departing from the cozy genre, and the setting, while perhaps not as subtropical as one would expect, is still a good depiction of a modern small town in the American south.

I enjoyed the book, and I recommend it.

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute mystery and the beginning of the author’s new series, Whispering Bay Mystery. For those long time fans of Ms. Geraci, it’s a return to Whispering Bay and a visit with some of the residents you have met before.
The series stars Lucy McGuffin a funny, sweet, bistro owner whose “gift” is being able to tell when someone is saying a lie.
She and her partner , Sarah, are hired to cater the opening of the new community center . Little did she know she would discover a body in the center. Her brother, Father Sebastian, is the last to see the dead woman alive. But he refuses to cooperate with the police. So Lucy decides to investigate, much to the dismay of the new cop, Travis Fontaine.
Add to the homicide, the quirky cast of characters, and a little romance, and you have a fun book to enjoy in an afternoon of leisure.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only he could talk

A good plot with lively, if zany, characters. There are some great red herrings that take you completely the wrong way to catch the killer. However I did expect this to be funny but for me it wasn't.
A dog is the first strange thing that really gets her attention. As the 'owner' really seemed to care for it although some parts of the story was untrue. She knew that as surely as she knew her name as she had the special talent of being a human lie detector. However when the 'owner' is found dead and her brother is suspected of murder she knows she has to do something. Especially as the new cop in town thinks her brother is involved plus the man she has had a crush on for ages wants to date her arch enemy. A ghost whisperer dog, some strange deaths and her need to get to the truth has her rushing headlong into danger. Will she find the killer? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?