It’s Founder’s Day in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and the tourists are coming out in force. One of the featured attractions of events like this is the food—especially clams and lobster (that would be “lobstah,” if you want to sound like a local). For Julia Snowden, who has temporarily moved back to town from New York City to put her family’s clambake company on more secure financial footing, the celebration seems like an ideal opportunity to put some much-needed cash in the company bank account. She even agrees to serve on the Founder’s Day planning committee, along with an interesting assortment of local characters, including Stevie Noyes, the owner of the local RV Park.When it’s time for the opening ceremony, all seems to be going well. Even the Claminator, an ingenious device designed by Julia’s brother-in-law, Sonny, so that lobsters can be cooked at the event, is working according to plan. Until someone notices a charred human foot fall out of the Claminator fire onto the pier.There’s no doubt that it’s murder, and the victim turns out to be Stevie Noyes. Suspicion falls on a new clambake employee, Cabe Stone, who was charged with the task of watching the Claminator overnight. The fact that Cabe immediately disappears when the dead man is discovered makes him look even guiltier. Julia believes Cabe is innocent and sets out to prove it, despite the constant warnings of the State Police to stay out of their investigation. “Boiled Over” is the second in Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake series. It’s a top-notch mystery with equal parts local color, likeable characters, excellent plotting, and yummy recipes. A Down-East, wicked-good winner! Susan Santangelo, author of “Class Reunions Can Be Murder” This is book #2 in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. Julia Snowden is a member of the Founders Weekend Committee. She also runs the Snowden Family Clambake. Early the first morning of the celebrations a dead body is found in the fire of her family's clambake stove-the Claminator. Then her newly hired employee Cabe runs from the scene and nobody can find him which makes him a prime suspect in the crime. Julia knows Cabe is in trouble so she sets out to uncover the truth. In her quest she will uncover many secrets about Cabe as well as the true identity and background of the deceased person they all knew as Stevie Noyes. She will also discover secrets about many of the people she knows in Busmans Harbor, Maine.I didn't read the first book in this series but found this one to read just find as a stand alone. The author did a great job of giving me just enough background information that I never felt confused or lost. There were a lot of characters and it took me a little bit to get them all straight. It was a good mystery with a lot of secrets and it took me a while to really figure out who the killer was. I enjoyed the small town setting and I look forward to reading more about Julia and her family. When I get caught up on my reading I will most likely go back and read book 1 as well as continue with this series. I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher, Kensington Books, through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
What do You think about Boiled Over (2014)?
Even better than the first one, especially if you like great characters from Maine.
—Abby
