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Dive Shack Mysteries #2
Duplicity at the Dive Shack
An exercise instructor too fit to fall. A cryptic note. An older British tourist who causes trouble wherever he goes.
The Dive Shack is on full alert. Meanwhile, Marlena is baking up trouble and trying to find her family’s ancestral mansion.
When a cute young exercise instructor is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, one death leads to another, and pretty soon, Shelby is embroiled in a puzzling murder case. The investigation takes her to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Underground River. But what she finds there raises more questions than it answers.
If you like gorgeous locations, tantalizing things to eat, fluffy cats and scruffy dogs, and a host of people who feel like friends, you’ll love this story.
Duplicity at the Dive Shack, the second book in the Dive Shack Mysteries series, is a clean cozy mystery novel with a tropical twist. It can be read as a standalone, but you will enjoy reading the continuing series.
The Dive Shack is on full alert. Meanwhile, Marlena is baking up trouble and trying to find her family’s ancestral mansion.
When a cute young exercise instructor is found dead at the bottom of the stairs, one death leads to another, and pretty soon, Shelby is embroiled in a puzzling murder case. The investigation takes her to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Underground River. But what she finds there raises more questions than it answers.
If you like gorgeous locations, tantalizing things to eat, fluffy cats and scruffy dogs, and a host of people who feel like friends, you’ll love this story.
Duplicity at the Dive Shack, the second book in the Dive Shack Mysteries series, is a clean cozy mystery novel with a tropical twist. It can be read as a standalone, but you will enjoy reading the continuing series.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2020
144 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 12, 2020
A good, clean, entertaining mystery!
This is the second book that I have read in the series and I love the description of the Palawan Island in the Philippines. It seems to be an idyllic place to visit. The speed at which Shelby made such amazing friendships with some of the locals is a blessing for her as her husband, Jesse, spends his days researching for his dissertation on WWII. Shelby is once again drawn in to a murder investigation involving her friends.
This is a good, clean, and easy read that I would recommend for anyone to read.
This is the second book that I have read in the series and I love the description of the Palawan Island in the Philippines. It seems to be an idyllic place to visit. The speed at which Shelby made such amazing friendships with some of the locals is a blessing for her as her husband, Jesse, spends his days researching for his dissertation on WWII. Shelby is once again drawn in to a murder investigation involving her friends.
This is a good, clean, and easy read that I would recommend for anyone to read.
March 6, 2020
Winnie's niece, Binky, is conducting the exercise class that Kassie and Shelby are attending. When leaving class for the night, Kassie and Shelby hear two men arguing outside the bar at the foot of the stairs below the exercise studio. Binky says she still has one more class before leaving for the evening. Unfortunately, Binky is found dead the next morning.
David Williams is a Brit spending time on Palawan Island. Unfortunately, he causes trouble everywhere he goes. He snuck out of a B&B without paying his bill and he seems to owe money to many people. He is currently staying at the Sydney Dive Shack Resort a few cabins away from Shelby and Jesse. Shelby also realizes that David Williams was one of the men arguing outside the exercise studio the night that Binky died.
While Shelby is searching for answers as to who killed Binky, Marlena is looking to find her ancestral home. Things become even more complicated when David Williams is found dead in his cabin.
Who killed Binky? Was it an accident or deliberate? Who killed David Williams? Are the two deaths related? Will Marlena be able to find her family's ancestral home? Can Shelby solve the mystery without putting herself in danger?
Donna Davis has created some wonderful characters and included some history of the area in her books. This greatly adds to the enjoyment of the stories.
David Williams is a Brit spending time on Palawan Island. Unfortunately, he causes trouble everywhere he goes. He snuck out of a B&B without paying his bill and he seems to owe money to many people. He is currently staying at the Sydney Dive Shack Resort a few cabins away from Shelby and Jesse. Shelby also realizes that David Williams was one of the men arguing outside the exercise studio the night that Binky died.
While Shelby is searching for answers as to who killed Binky, Marlena is looking to find her ancestral home. Things become even more complicated when David Williams is found dead in his cabin.
Who killed Binky? Was it an accident or deliberate? Who killed David Williams? Are the two deaths related? Will Marlena be able to find her family's ancestral home? Can Shelby solve the mystery without putting herself in danger?
Donna Davis has created some wonderful characters and included some history of the area in her books. This greatly adds to the enjoyment of the stories.
June 22, 2020
Wonderful storyline! I love the characters and their interactions are so perfect! Friends that are like family are the best! The deaths and murder mystery were interesting and suspenseful, with a lot of interesting facts about the people and country. Loved it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2020
Duplicity at the Dive Shack
Fantastic read with fantastic characters and storyline. Got interested from the very beginning, could not put down. From poachers to murder to great friends. A definite must read to get the goodies. Also a couple good recipes!
Fantastic read with fantastic characters and storyline. Got interested from the very beginning, could not put down. From poachers to murder to great friends. A definite must read to get the goodies. Also a couple good recipes!
March 2, 2020
Another great story! I look forward to reading to the next story in this series.
August 20, 2020
Duplicity at the Dive Shack by Donna Amis Davis
In this 2nd book in the series we are back in the city of Santa Lucia on the island of Palawan in the Philippines with Shelby and Jesse. They met here seven years ago when Shelby was working for the Tropical Seas Program and Jesse was biking around the island seeing the sites from WWII history, a passion of his especially in this corner of the world. They fell in love, got married back in California and came back to Palawan for their honeymoon when they stayed at the Sydney Resort. They are back again now, for about 2 years, while Jesse is finishing the research for his dissertation. And they are staying at the Sydney again. Shelby is keeping busy with their new kitten, their 'sometimes' dog (who really belongs to the resort's owners but gets around – a lot!) and making new friends like Kassie and her mother, Marlena. Marlena is the baker at the resort and she and Kassie lived in California, like Shelby and Jesse, before Kassie's dad died. He was American but Marlena was from Palawan so when he died, she and Kassie decided to come back to Palawan. Marlena is looking for her childhood home and hopes to buy it. It is a large manor which she knows is somewhere in the area but doesn't know the exact location.
As the book opens, Shelby is on her way to meet Kassie for a yoga class. After, they plan to meet their other friends at Sips & Sweets, a cozy cafe. The friends meet every Tuesday night to catch up and discuss happenings in their world. They call themselves the coffee cup girls and they talk about everything. In addition to Shelby and Kassie, there are Wynnie, the owner of the exercise studio they just came from . Wynnie's niece, Binky, was their instructor tonight. She is new to town, going to college in Santa Lucia but originally from Mahogany Town and she and her brother Rondel are staying with Wynnie. She really knew how to push the girls even though she was only 18 or 10. Then there are Jasmine and Lilla. Lilla owns an artifact shop and Shelby had gotten her kitten from her about a month ago. And Jasmine, who owns a local B&B with her husband, Winston, in Santa Lucia started this week's talk by telling them it had been a hard week for them because a guest, a 50ish English man, skipped out without paying his rather large bill, in the middle of the night, after a stay of 11 days. Then Lilla says that it sounds like the same person who came to her store looking for ivory, which is illegal, and then wanted to know if she wished to purchase a mynah bird, also illegal. Then Shelby wondered if it was the same man who had just moved into the Sydney resort. Even Clara, their nurse friend and not there tonight, had told Lilla that her husband, who worked at the island airport, had a hard time with a man who fit the same description. He wanted to fly to Malaysia but he was on the No-Fly list. And Lilla had also heard stories of a man fitting the description starting fights in bars and skipping out on a restaurant bill. Apparently this man got around!
When Shelby hears the next day that Binky died the night before she is shocked. They were saying she fell down a flight of stairs but Shelby knows that she was so young, limber and in such good shape, it just didn't make sense..
As she goes through day by day thinking about the British man and Binky's death, she begins to investigate. You will have to read this marvelous and inventive story to see how Shelby and her friends tie everything together, solve all the mysteries that come up and even use the mystery to help Marlena in her search for her childhood home! A wonderful mystery, masterfully told! Enjoy!
In this 2nd book in the series we are back in the city of Santa Lucia on the island of Palawan in the Philippines with Shelby and Jesse. They met here seven years ago when Shelby was working for the Tropical Seas Program and Jesse was biking around the island seeing the sites from WWII history, a passion of his especially in this corner of the world. They fell in love, got married back in California and came back to Palawan for their honeymoon when they stayed at the Sydney Resort. They are back again now, for about 2 years, while Jesse is finishing the research for his dissertation. And they are staying at the Sydney again. Shelby is keeping busy with their new kitten, their 'sometimes' dog (who really belongs to the resort's owners but gets around – a lot!) and making new friends like Kassie and her mother, Marlena. Marlena is the baker at the resort and she and Kassie lived in California, like Shelby and Jesse, before Kassie's dad died. He was American but Marlena was from Palawan so when he died, she and Kassie decided to come back to Palawan. Marlena is looking for her childhood home and hopes to buy it. It is a large manor which she knows is somewhere in the area but doesn't know the exact location.
As the book opens, Shelby is on her way to meet Kassie for a yoga class. After, they plan to meet their other friends at Sips & Sweets, a cozy cafe. The friends meet every Tuesday night to catch up and discuss happenings in their world. They call themselves the coffee cup girls and they talk about everything. In addition to Shelby and Kassie, there are Wynnie, the owner of the exercise studio they just came from . Wynnie's niece, Binky, was their instructor tonight. She is new to town, going to college in Santa Lucia but originally from Mahogany Town and she and her brother Rondel are staying with Wynnie. She really knew how to push the girls even though she was only 18 or 10. Then there are Jasmine and Lilla. Lilla owns an artifact shop and Shelby had gotten her kitten from her about a month ago. And Jasmine, who owns a local B&B with her husband, Winston, in Santa Lucia started this week's talk by telling them it had been a hard week for them because a guest, a 50ish English man, skipped out without paying his rather large bill, in the middle of the night, after a stay of 11 days. Then Lilla says that it sounds like the same person who came to her store looking for ivory, which is illegal, and then wanted to know if she wished to purchase a mynah bird, also illegal. Then Shelby wondered if it was the same man who had just moved into the Sydney resort. Even Clara, their nurse friend and not there tonight, had told Lilla that her husband, who worked at the island airport, had a hard time with a man who fit the same description. He wanted to fly to Malaysia but he was on the No-Fly list. And Lilla had also heard stories of a man fitting the description starting fights in bars and skipping out on a restaurant bill. Apparently this man got around!
When Shelby hears the next day that Binky died the night before she is shocked. They were saying she fell down a flight of stairs but Shelby knows that she was so young, limber and in such good shape, it just didn't make sense..
As she goes through day by day thinking about the British man and Binky's death, she begins to investigate. You will have to read this marvelous and inventive story to see how Shelby and her friends tie everything together, solve all the mysteries that come up and even use the mystery to help Marlena in her search for her childhood home! A wonderful mystery, masterfully told! Enjoy!
March 10, 2020
Shelby is shocked at the death of a young woman and other troubling events shared with the Coffee Cup Girls. I became familiar with the characters in Danger at the Dive Shack and enjoyed their involvement in the investigation. I was impressed with the description of the settings and issues in the Philippines.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2020
Wow‼️Just keeps getting better and better ‼️
Very anxious to read more . . .
Next please⁉️ More and more difficult to put down . . .Binge-worthy❣️
Very anxious to read more . . .
Next please⁉️ More and more difficult to put down . . .Binge-worthy❣️
August 23, 2020
Reading these books is like a vacation to Palawan!
This is the second book in the Dive Shack mysteries and it’ll definitely keep your interest! There were so many things I liked about this book, from the amazing descriptions of Palawan scenery, to the characters and customs, not to mention the
delicious recipes at the end! Shelby and Jesse met on Palawan 7
years ago and are now married and back, while Jesse does research. They’ve rented a cabin in a resort called The Sydney and are there for awhile. The mystery and murder involve their friends, a number of unscrupulous businessmen, along with trade in illegal island wildlife. Investigating by Shelby takes you all over the island, and I learned so much about the island that I’m now dying to go there. An excellent book!
This is the second book in the Dive Shack mysteries and it’ll definitely keep your interest! There were so many things I liked about this book, from the amazing descriptions of Palawan scenery, to the characters and customs, not to mention the
delicious recipes at the end! Shelby and Jesse met on Palawan 7
years ago and are now married and back, while Jesse does research. They’ve rented a cabin in a resort called The Sydney and are there for awhile. The mystery and murder involve their friends, a number of unscrupulous businessmen, along with trade in illegal island wildlife. Investigating by Shelby takes you all over the island, and I learned so much about the island that I’m now dying to go there. An excellent book!
August 19, 2020
The second book in this series of mystery and adventures! The characters in this story you met in the first book and they are back again. You can read these books in the order that they come or stand alone.. Help solve this murder mystery of kooky characters and a delightful story. Off to read the next adventure!!
July 11, 2020
A Very Well Contrived Mystery
Shelby and Jesse are living in the Philippines. This is the second murder Shelby has been involved in. Her group of ladies meets on Tuesday evening at a local coffee shop. Quirky characters are a lot of fun.
Shelby and Jesse are living in the Philippines. This is the second murder Shelby has been involved in. Her group of ladies meets on Tuesday evening at a local coffee shop. Quirky characters are a lot of fun.
September 10, 2022
This book was AWESOME! As we all know I am a sucker for a murder mystery and this book did NOT disappoint! We all love a final standoff scene that gets your adrenaline running!
March 6, 2020
Shelby and her husband are settled for at least a while during his research at a lgreat cal museum. She has begun to collect a circle of friends. With that, there are growing pains as the young singles and young families grow and change
Mysteries and murder sadly are a part of the tapestry of their lives as well. A certain amount of chaos and skirting the edges of the laws seems inherent to transitional and temporary housing
Can Shelby and her friends hang on long enough to make it to the next phases in their lives, or have they reached their final destinations in a more terminal way?
A mix of friendships, both intense and light hearted, with self serving opportunists passing through
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Mysteries and murder sadly are a part of the tapestry of their lives as well. A certain amount of chaos and skirting the edges of the laws seems inherent to transitional and temporary housing
Can Shelby and her friends hang on long enough to make it to the next phases in their lives, or have they reached their final destinations in a more terminal way?
A mix of friendships, both intense and light hearted, with self serving opportunists passing through
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 26, 2020
In this second installment of the Dive Shack Series, readers can expect a light, clean mystery with multiple layers of complicating aspects giving nice depth to a cozy mystery plotline. The main character and amateur sleuth, Shelby, shows development and has a growing back story. Several secondary characters demonstrate similar development. Inter-character relationships and humor feels organic and fluid in this outing.
It is clear that the author is familiar with and loves the culture on Palowan. There is a scene in the middle of the book taking place in a smaller, traditional village that is simply beautiful!
I would like to see the author develop the characters of Jesse (Shelby’s husband), Dulce (the resort cook) and Jego (the dive instructor) specifically. They are recurring characters that are important to the main character yet lack depth of participation and character of their own.
All in all, Davis really ups her game in this new installment of the Dive Shack Series! Looking forward to the next installment!
It is clear that the author is familiar with and loves the culture on Palowan. There is a scene in the middle of the book taking place in a smaller, traditional village that is simply beautiful!
I would like to see the author develop the characters of Jesse (Shelby’s husband), Dulce (the resort cook) and Jego (the dive instructor) specifically. They are recurring characters that are important to the main character yet lack depth of participation and character of their own.
All in all, Davis really ups her game in this new installment of the Dive Shack Series! Looking forward to the next installment!
March 7, 2020
This is the second book in the Dive Shack Mysteries and continues the story of Shelby, Jessie, and their friends. But you don't need to read Book 1 first. This works well as a stand-alone. It's light reading, easily finished in 3 or 4 hours. Just right for a pleasant afternoon.
Donna Davis has given us a group of characters that are personable and friendly, the kind of people you'd like to be friends with. There's a mystery to solve, lots of suspense, and some fun interactions. A great way to spend some time.
Donna Davis has given us a group of characters that are personable and friendly, the kind of people you'd like to be friends with. There's a mystery to solve, lots of suspense, and some fun interactions. A great way to spend some time.
September 21, 2020
It’s a cozy mystery with a tropical twist.
Location: check. Getting hungry from the described food: check. Fluffy cats: check. Scruffy dogs: check. Friendly characters: check. Although the author does need to work on keeping the characters in character. Because at times I felt that they weren’t as friendly as they should be. And the conversations just need a little bit more natural flow to them. But I really liked it! I found it very entertaining, and pleasant to read. I would love to go there, be there, based on the descriptions alone! So it’s definitely a YES from me!
Location: check. Getting hungry from the described food: check. Fluffy cats: check. Scruffy dogs: check. Friendly characters: check. Although the author does need to work on keeping the characters in character. Because at times I felt that they weren’t as friendly as they should be. And the conversations just need a little bit more natural flow to them. But I really liked it! I found it very entertaining, and pleasant to read. I would love to go there, be there, based on the descriptions alone! So it’s definitely a YES from me!
October 7, 2021
Duplicity at the Dive Shack (Dive Shack Mysteries, #2), my second read from author Donna Amis Davis and the second book in her Dive Shack Mysteries. A well-written cozy mystery with unexpected twists throughout. So enjoyable I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Just an enjoyable afternoon read. I look forward to my next read from this author, Disquiet at the Dive Shack: Murder at the Bed & Breakfast (Dive Shack Mysteries Book 3). “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I got this book back in June of this year & lost track of it until I read Danger at the Dive Shack: Book 1 Dive Shack Mysteries. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
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March 14, 2020Trouble keeps finding Shelby
This is another good read in the series. I enjoy hearing about Palawan. I've never been there so I don't know how much the locations and scenery are true and how much is fiction. I enjoy the Morgan's antics. Marlene is always up to something. With multiple murders to solve, Shelby keeps her mind and body on alert.
I look forward to other books in the series.
This is another good read in the series. I enjoy hearing about Palawan. I've never been there so I don't know how much the locations and scenery are true and how much is fiction. I enjoy the Morgan's antics. Marlene is always up to something. With multiple murders to solve, Shelby keeps her mind and body on alert.
I look forward to other books in the series.
March 9, 2020
Disquiet at the Dive Shack, the third book in the Dive Shack Mysteries series, is a clean cozy mystery novel with a tropical twist. If you like gorgeous locations, tantalizing things to eat, fluffy cats and scruffy dogs, and a host of people who feel like friends, you’ll love this story. It can be read as a standalone, but you will enjoy reading the whole series.
November 3, 2021
Again, a most enjoyable book, continuing along the vein of book 1, with many of the same characters. However, it can be read without having read book 1. Thoroughly recommended if you want a light romance/mystery book.
February 28, 2020
Fun sequel to the Dive Shack series! Good to know Shelby and her friends are enjoying life and getting embroiled in mysteries again. Love the setting!
July 13, 2021
Great location and community of characters, as well as an interesting murder to solve.
July 30, 2021
Very disappointed with this book. Very weak story with some very annoying characters. The best part of this book were the 3 recipes at the end.
March 6, 2020
This book was okay. I felt like the dialogue was somewhat stilted and quite frankly found some of the main characters annoying. Although Shelby and Marlena both appear to be good hearted, both had mannerisms that were over the top but not in an endearing way.
When a young exercise instructor falls down a steep flight of stairs, the police rule it an accident but Shelby insists there was foul play. There are various other mysteries within the book that Shelby pushes her way into solving. I know she means well but she comes across as strident when she insists on doing something.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
When a young exercise instructor falls down a steep flight of stairs, the police rule it an accident but Shelby insists there was foul play. There are various other mysteries within the book that Shelby pushes her way into solving. I know she means well but she comes across as strident when she insists on doing something.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
September 11, 2020
Another great installment in series
This book is the second in the series set in Palawan in the Philippines. You do not need to read the first one to enjoy this cozy mystery. The story continues to develop the relationships between Shelby and her new friends. Several mysteries surround them and one of the unique things about this story is The Who did it isn’t necessarily the center of the story, but rather the why and details are much of the story development. It is easy to relate to Shelby and her curiosity and actions. I look forward to reading the next book in the series
This book is the second in the series set in Palawan in the Philippines. You do not need to read the first one to enjoy this cozy mystery. The story continues to develop the relationships between Shelby and her new friends. Several mysteries surround them and one of the unique things about this story is The Who did it isn’t necessarily the center of the story, but rather the why and details are much of the story development. It is easy to relate to Shelby and her curiosity and actions. I look forward to reading the next book in the series
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews