Clammed Up (A Maine Clambake Mystery, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Mar 29, 2015 Chaitra rated it it was ok

Shelves: cozy-mystery, first-of-a-series, food-drink, mystery, food-fiction, first-book, amateur-sleuth

I'm not quite sure, but from reading and watching detective stories - (view spoiler)? Why would the cops not know that? Or maybe I missed something? I spent way too long on the book, much more than a book of this type warranted, alternating between wondering at Julia's martyr complex and feeling nostalgic about beautiful Maine. About Julia's martyr complex: she left a successful car I'm not quite sure, but from reading and watching detective stories - (view spoiler)? Why would the cops not know that? Or maybe I missed something? I spent way too long on the book, much more than a book of this type warranted, alternating between wondering at Julia's martyr complex and feeling nostalgic about beautiful Maine. About Julia's martyr complex: she left a successful career in NYC to come save the family clambake, sure, but she'd been AWOL for 10 years before that when the other members of her family were working like dogs. She comes to her senses, but it was too little too late - I was already quite ticked off about her self absorption.

The mystery was a bit off, see above, and it seems that Julia did everything a beat after the cops did and the cops still didn't get the right answer. Well, neither did Julia. In true cozy mystery fashion, the killer just happened to be doing murder-y stuff when Julia traipsed along. I did like the Maine described in the book, since I really liked Maine when I went there on a week-long vacation a couple of years ago and this was a nice refresher. I don't have an opinion on the recipes, since I'm a vegetarian (what was I doing in Maine, right?) and would have no idea if these are good recipes or not. Not much was said about clambakes, considering this whole thing was about clambakes in the first place - Julia isn't a bake master, neither is she any kind of cook. They spend most of the time closed, and when they are open, one day, Julia spends most of the time wandering around the place rather than pulling her weight. From this book, I have only the barest of ideas of what it means to have a clambake experience.

Anyway, the series does have potential, since Julia's whining about herself seems to be at an end. I can't find the second book, but I have the third one on Kindle courtesy the publisher, and I hope that book is better than this one. ...more

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Mar 20, 2018 Carol rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cozy-bingo, z2018-cruisin-thru-the-cozies, z2018-craving-for-cozies, z2018-cloak-and-dagger-inspector

Welcome to the Snowden Family Clambake Company.
It is located in Busman, Maine.
Julia Snowden has returned home to Busman to help
save the company which is in financial trouble. This
could mean that it would go out of business. Julia has
taken a leave of absence from her New York job to sort
things out.
The Snowden Family owns Morrow Island on which the
family mansion (although in disrepair) is located. This is
where the clam bakes are held in season. The business
charters guest out to the Island daily ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2015 Moondance rated it liked it

Shelves: cmt-bingo, small-business, small-town, mystery, cozy, woman-sleuth, betrayal, family, weddings, twists-and-turns

She hadn't seemed like a Bridezilla

Julia has come home to Busman's Harbor, Maine to help save her family's business. Snowden Family Clambake Company ferries people to a private island owned by the family for authentic clambakes. The first group of the season to the island is a wedding party that is missing its best man. Julia and the bride unfortunately find the missing man hanging from the staircase of the old house on the island. The investigation shuts down the family business and puts them a ...more

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May 26, 2021 Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Did not see that coming

I was shocked by how much loved this book. I didn't see the twist coming nor who the killer was which I loved. I will be reading the next book ASAP. ...more

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