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Copper Cove #1

Seaside and Homicide

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Dead Bodies...
Sleuthing Teens...
What could go wrong?

When high school seniors, Brynn O'Connell, and her best friend, Peyton Patterson, discover a dead body during the Copper Cove Festival, they had no idea their lives would forever change...for the better. Standing next to the victim is the strange new girl in town, Raven Masters. When Brynn identifies the murder weapon as belonging to her Grams, the three girls set out to prove Granny Winnie is no killer! Brynn and Peyton must learn to set aside their prejudices and trust the quirky new girl. After all, she seems to be an old pro at sleuthing. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the girls get to cut their sleuthing teeth in Raven's cool '66 Fastback Mustang. But when things go from bad to worse for Granny Winnie, Brynn decides to call in her Grams' estranged younger sister, Aggie, a former bounty hunter.

Can the girls learn to trust one another, follow their instincts, and get Granny Winnie out of jail? Or will Brynn be destined to spend her last year of high school alone in the small town of Copper Cove?

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2019

134 people are currently reading
128 people want to read

About the author

Jenna St. James

141 books280 followers
Jenna writes in the genre of traditional cozy, paranormal cozy, and romantic comedy. Her humorous characters and stories revolve around over-the-top family members, creative murders, and there's always a positive element of the military in her stories. Jenna currently lives in Missouri with her fiancé, step-daughter, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever dog, Brownie, and her tuxedo-cat, Whiskey. She is a former court reporter turned educator turned full-time writer. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She also spent twelve years in full-time ministry.
When she’s not writing, Jenna likes to attend beer and wine tastings, go antiquing, visit craft festivals, and spend time with her family and friends. You can friend request her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjennas... or catch her on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/authorjennas.... Check out her website at http://www.jennastjames.com/. Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter so you can keep up with the latest releases!

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5 stars
153 (60%)
4 stars
71 (27%)
3 stars
26 (10%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Sabine.
602 reviews91 followers
April 22, 2019
4.45 fun stars
A great start to the Copper Cove mystery series. The main characters are high school aged girls but there's not much difference compared to other mysteries that have protagonists that are in their 20's.
The only reason why this book didn't get a 5 star rating from me is the scene where the killer is unveiled. The way the killer talks is just too unbelievable...
I am already excited for the next installment.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,757 reviews103 followers
July 7, 2019
This was a fun switch having a younger main character. Brynn and her friends may have only been seniors in high school, but once they got together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Brynn's grandma Winnie had been accused of killing two different people, and the police seemed to be railroading her to jail. Brynn seemed to think it had to do with local rumors that Grams was a witch, when all she did was sell homeopathic remedies. I just loved Brynn's two friends, Peyton and Raven. Brynn who had basically been orphaned and cared for by her grandma all of her life got a peek at what it would have been like to have a dad in her life when Peyton and Raven's dads helped the girls.

I hadn't figured out the killer at all, what a surprise! I loved little Jinx, the cat that Brynn had all of her life. She had a real connection with the cat, and Jinx played a major part in taking down the killer. It was pretty awesome! Along with the murders, there were some pretty funny scenes that I could picture happening in a TV movie. I'm really anxious now for the next book! This was a great borrow from Kindle Unlimited!
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,481 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2021
Seaside and Homicide is a cute cozy mystery starring three high school girls rather than 20 somethings that are usually featured in cozies. Brynn, Peyton and Raven are all clever and determined to clear Brynn's grandmother who is the number one suspect. A few deft twists and a surprising reveal.
Profile Image for Amy.
22 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2019
I absolutely LOVED the teen characters of this book! This is a great first book collaboration between the authors. I truly cannot wait for the next book in the series!

An aside note, it's a great idea for teen book clubs to discuss the wide variety of occupations found in this storyline while discussing the book. Don't let "homicide" in the title to scare off school book clubs from reading this book.
Profile Image for Miss W Book Reviews.
1,821 reviews153 followers
April 13, 2019
Seaside and Homicide is the First Book in the new Copper Cove Book Series. This book is written by Jenna St. James and her stepdaughter Maddy Maddson. This young lady has a great future as a writer!

I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I enjoyed reading about the high school seniors Brynn and Peyton and their discovery of a body during the Copper Cove Festival. There are other great characters and I just love Granny Winnie!

The mystery I did not guess at all. This book was hard to put down with a fun story and a great mystery. Looking forward to reading more from this writing duo in the future!
818 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2019
Laugh out Loud Funny

I absolutely loved this book. Grams is hilarious being sarcastic and the comradie between Brynn, Peyton, and Raven was special. I was always bullied in school and this really hit home for me. I wish I'd have had that good of friends. I have always loved Jenna's books and now that she's taking the time to write with her stepdaughter is awesome. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Profile Image for Janice Booth.
34 reviews3 followers
April 16, 2019
Terrific new series

Could not put this book down!!!!!!! From start to finish Seaside Homicide introduces three fun and intriguing teenage sleuths! Brynn, Peyton and Raven have so much fun!!!!! The mystery was fast paced and kept you guessing!!!! The relationships and family are what make Copper Cove so wonderful. Ladies you both wrote a great book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Wulfwyn .
1,173 reviews108 followers
April 13, 2019
This is the first book in a new series by a new power writing team. Jenna St James is an author I found last year. She quickly became one of my favorites. Maddy Maddson is her teenage stepdaughter. This is Maddy’s first book. I’m already looking forward to more by her. I wasn’t certain if this book would appeal to me being YA but curiosity won out. I’m happy it did.

I’m a character type of person. Yes, the mystery has to be a good one, (this one is), but if the people don’t interest me, I move on. I love that Brynn lives with her Gram and has a good relationship with her. There are a couple of very interesting storylines with Winnie, (Gram). I like the friendship between the girls. I also liked that in the beginning it was Brynn and Peyton with Raven being the new friend. I thought it brought an interesting element into it. Brynn and Peyton have history. They know each other well. They will get to know Raven better, along with us, as the series moves on. (There was a joke between Raven and her dad that made me chortle though my other half groaned..but then chuckled, too. Yes I did tell it to him.) The friendship formed fast and close, as some do particularly when your young. Will it last? Will it get stronger? Will they turn out too different from each other? Will they stay cohesive when they go off to college? That’s right. Our crime solvers are in high school. Just like one of the authors. This will keep the series authentic and unique, in my opinion. You might be thinking that this is a series best left to teens. It is a series I think young teens and up will enjoy. But if you think that it is not for adults you would be missing out on a modern Nancy Drew type series. If you liked Nancy, you’re going to enjoy this book. I’m certainly looking forward to more.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
April 11, 2019
The garden helper

A great fast read about three teenagers and the murders that occur in their small community. Okay I did guess part of the solution but I must admit that I didn't see the other part coming at all. Nice plot full for great characters - who are all different but together make a great read.
She's always been called a freak, possibly because her Gram ran a natural remedies store. Her best friend is another outsider, due to the fact that her dad not only runs the funeral parlor but is also the ME. The day should end on a good note with the festival but instead the two girls found themselves facing a dead body and the newcomer to town. A goth. The local police chief has only one suspect that he is keen on. Her Gram. Okay it was a garden stake that killed the nastiest woman in town from her Gram's collection but they had reported them stolen a few days ago. When her Gram is hauled in, it's the goth that comes to the rescue (or rather her lawyer father). Now the girls decide to investigate. Is it the mayor who had had a row with the woman earlier? Is it the botanist who admitted being in their garden uninvited? A other dead body, the return of her great aunt, a note, a cheeky young boy and a feisty cat all blended together for what is going to be a great new series.
Profile Image for Laine.
19 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2019


Everything about this book is appealing. It’s a cozy mystery with a fine plot (I was totally surprised by the killer’s identity, after spending the entire book trying to fit one or another character into the part), but it’s more. It’s a book about families--traditional, adapted, blended, and even self-made. It’s also about growing throughout a lifetime. It has a villageful - and more - of fully-developed characters. It has several different sub-stories developing at different rates, and the ending left the future open for them to continue to develop. And then there’s Jinx! Jinx’ humans are Brynn, the protagonist, and the grandma she lives with.

This is a solidly-written and very readable first book by the collaboration of Maddy Maddson and her stepmother, Jenna St. James, and I’m hoping for many more in this series.
Profile Image for Karen Wright.
606 reviews5 followers
August 26, 2019
Another great series!

I was already a huge fan of Jenna St. James, so I was really excited for this book to come out. I bought it and kind of forgot about it and just got around to reading it now. It was awesome! Of course it was well written and the story was fantastic, but my favorite part was that Brynne was young and had wonderful friends. I also really liked how her Grams suddenly had 2 people come back into her life after such a long time. There was a lot to love about this book. Her friends were amazing and so were their families. I am anxiously waiting for the next book to come out!
Profile Image for MK.
1,658 reviews23 followers
September 9, 2019
I adored this book. A book Ms. St. James wrote with her step laughter how great is that.
So we a little something new. A cozy mystery with a teenage twist.
The two girls Brynn and Peyton who have been best friends since forever.
Things become very interesting when they run into Raven at the fair. She’s standing over a dead body at the fair. Peyton confirms until her dad gets there.
The worst part is that something is looking like Grams could be in big trouble.

See what happens and buy the book.

Profile Image for Reggie.
2,891 reviews
December 6, 2019
Teenager Bryn has grown up with her grandmother and an adorable cat named Jinx. When her grandmother is accused of murder, Bryn and two friends begin their own investigation. Can a trio of teens solve a really make a difference and solve a murder? I don’t normally listen to YA stories but this one was well written and kept my interest. Great narration as well.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Darcy Weber.
156 reviews11 followers
April 14, 2019
Murdering Witch, Or Not?

This was a great 1st book in a new series. When Brynn and her best friend, Peyton, find the dead body of the town busybody, evidence points to Brynn's grandmother, everyone suspects her. It's up to Brynn, Peyton, and their new friend Raven, to prove the town wrong.
Profile Image for Monica.
1,125 reviews
May 23, 2019
I've loved all of the Jenna St. James books I've read so far and writing with Maddy was a cute addition to her books. The group of teens that they came up with is wonderful. I love how unique these girls are and I love their strong friendship. Even the new girl fit in with them. Their family members were awesome also. Good mystery with a surprise ending. Nice start to a fun series.
2,058 reviews
August 20, 2019
Book by the author and her daughter. (I gather the daughter is in high school.) Daughter does make the younger characters more realistic. Book with a good amount of humor and some great scenes.

Several plot twists and several dead bodies that made it hard to figure out the murderer until near the end! I will definitely try the next one in the series.
2 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2020
This book was cute. If you can describe a book that way. An interesting group of characters were introduced. It was short and sweet. Very quick read. It kept you guessing till the end. I will read the next one in the series to see how the characters develop their relationships. Good for all ages of reading.
2 reviews
February 3, 2026
It was fun trying to figure out who dunnit, and I really liked the dynamics of the high school girls however, it was irritating to me how a character you knew was innocent was arrested with a ridiculously small amount of circumstantial evidence, twice! I will read the second book in the series and see if it's better because I usually love Jenna St. James' books.
1,063 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2019
Great read

Ok what a great debut for what I hope is the start of a long series I can't wait to see what happens next in Copper cove if you love a great cozy with characters you will love then this new series by Jenna St. James and Maddy Maddson is a must read
Profile Image for Suzanne Homeier-poe.
491 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2019
Enjoyable

I really had a tough time with teenagers. I. E. Nancy Drew but as I got caught up in the story it was enjoyable. The characters are great. I hope to see more of this series.
1,300 reviews19 followers
May 19, 2019
I enjoyed reading Seaside and Homicide. It is a great cozy mystery. The characters are great and the mystery was interesting. I enjoyed the relationships and interactions between the teenagers. I could not put the book down once I started reading. I look forward to more in the series.
592 reviews2 followers
April 9, 2020
Cute mystery geared towards young adults

Cute mystery geared towards young adults. Young adult story about 3 late teens who investigate a murder and a growing frie dahip. Enjoyed reading.
Profile Image for Christie Marks.
172 reviews4 followers
April 15, 2019
Great beginning

I've been a fan of Jenna St. James's books for awhile and was excited to hear that she was collaborating with her stepdaughter on this one. I was not disappointed.
Profile Image for Becky.
50 reviews6 followers
April 21, 2019
Excellent

Nice cozy story. I enjoyed it, looking forward to rest of series. I can't wait to see what the girls get into next. The recipes were a nice bonus
Profile Image for Roxi.
144 reviews2 followers
May 29, 2019
This was a great start for a new series. A group of smart young women, getting into mischief to protect friends and family. Mark twain would be proud.
Profile Image for Geneva.
679 reviews7 followers
June 14, 2019
Going to be some fun times in Copper Cover, Seaside and Homicide is a cute cozy mystery. Granny is a hoot. great reading
Profile Image for Elliemae.
698 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2020
Have Predictable plot and I could not connect with the characters. For me this was a boring read and I just could not get interested in the story. I finished it but not at all thrilled with it.
Profile Image for Wancket Enterprises.
632 reviews6 followers
April 11, 2020
Cute

This was a silly book but it was good reading. Not my usual fare
however I did enjoy reading it. Thanks Jenna St. James!
Profile Image for Brenda.
247 reviews3 followers
May 9, 2020
Seaside and homicide

I have read a lot of Kenya's book. This is the first time I've read one with Maddy. I like the fast moving story. Looking forward to next one. Good job maddy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews

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