Pub Date Mar 18 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

On a tiny island off Paradiso, Florida, in 1970, neighbors gather to toast two new arrivals: shy Catherine and her taciturn husband, Dr. Frank Overbrook, who is taking over an old friend’s medical practice. It’s an intimate welcoming for the newlyweds, who have abandoned city life for swaying palms and an ocean breeze. But the morning after is anything but peaceful when Frank is found dead on the beach.

Detective Quentin Jones has his eyes on the island’s residents and the welcome party’s guest list. There’s the retiring doctor and host, as well as his nurse. Volatile marrieds Miriam and her husband, David, constantly at each other’s throats. The Carters, a strangely antisocial young couple. And Sylvie, a blind sculptor to whom Quentin lost his heart years ago.

But which one is a murderer? As the investigation unravels a close-knit group of friends, secrets are exposed—and more than one of them is worth killing for.

My thoughts:

I love a good mystery with all the right elements and this one is just the ticket. The story is compelling with intriguing and complex characters. Anyone of the people on the small island could have been the murderer and the motives are stacked high! Quentin Jones makes a great laid-back detective and completely unassuming with his breezy, casual Florida attire which helps him fit right in with the close-knit community.

I must confess I haven’t read stories by these authors before and what first caught my attention to the book was that it takes place in Florida-my home state. The premise sounded so intriguing and I wanted to know how the authors depict the setting for the story. Florida is an interesting place to say the least and what I mean by that is the people. I was thrilled that they chose the 1970s for this story because that period is still remnants of old Florida. If you’re not from Florida, you may not know what I’m talking about. Well, this story depicts a little of that and the small-town atmosphere of its native Floridians. I am pleased I chose this story and I found it engaging and the mystery had me guessing until the big reveal.

I rated this book four stars and I obtained a review copy from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

I must caution you, there is a little spice in this story. I did skip over it but luckily, the scene was brief. Also there is a little profanity but not so much that it overwhelming or on a whole lot of pages, thankfully.

Stephanie