This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Priya Mathew for Readers' Favorite
With all the charm of a small coastal town, Seaside Cove is back in focus in the eighth installment of the Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series. The Secret Ingredient to Murder by Terry Ambrose brings another murder mystery for ex-reporter and B&B owner Rick Atwood and his 13-year-old daughter Alex to solve. There is a new girl in town, Veronica, who is in Seaside Cove along with her uncle, Tyler Winkle. She tries to befriend Alex, but she also has a hidden agenda. Veronica has a troubled past and pressing concerns about her family’s legacy. She tells Alex about a secret chocolate recipe that was to be passed on to her, but which her Uncle Tyler wants to sell to Gideon Styles, a broker interested in the recipe. Soon after a lunch meeting with Tyler, Gideon is found dead, and the recipe is stolen from the Winkle residence. Were the two crimes committed by the same person? Or is there more than one culprit in Seaside Cove?
Although The Secret Ingredient to Murder was my first read from this series by Terry Ambrose, I was able to get a handle on the main characters at play within the first two chapters. Terry has created a blend of mystery, family dynamics, and community life against the backdrop of a seaside town. The Atwood family is at the heart of the narrative and the warm family dynamics add to the appeal of this story. Told from both Rick's and Alex’s perspectives, this helped me not only to pick up the clues from multiple angles, but also to see the personal struggles of parents who want to keep their daughter safe, but also want her to be independent, as well as Alex’s thought processes and the interplay between her desires and obligations. This mystery is cleverly crafted, with some well-placed deceptive clues and misleading trails. As I was piecing together the clues with the sleuths, I almost placed my bets on another character altogether. All in all, the small-town appeal and clever storytelling make this an enjoyable read, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries.
