Natalie Barnes has invested all her savings in buying the Gray Whale Inn on the aptly named Cranberry Island. Not only is she nearly empty during the high season in Maine, but one of her guests is the person who may be about to put her out of business by building a huge leisure complex for the rich and famous on the island. Her only defence is working with the local environmental group oppose the plans to save the local tern’s nesting places which may be disturbed by the plans.
Unfortunately for Natalie, her rich guest is murdered and, worse, she finds the body. As more evidence seems to point towards her, she does not help herself by annoying the local investigator on the case and inadvertently finding clues which she sometimes does not share with him. In addition, her life is in danger as the real murderer wants to curb her detecting talents.
This book was a charming mystery, with some lovely descriptions of the island, the characters and the food which Natalie cooks throughout. I am not sure that this is a low fat book, as the chances are you will feel hungry whilst you read it. Karen MacInerney mixes a tasty recipe of murder, island politics, environmental issues, blueberry coffee cake and a sprinkling of romance.
While I do not normally like those type of stories which add recipes or some other device to make the reader have a go at something after finishing the book, I found this engaging and enjoyably relaxing to read. Perhaps in the next book we will see whether the romance and Natalie’s bed and breakfast blossoms.
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Amanda Brown