Homecomings can be murder.When Amanda Parker returns to the small seaside town where she lived for two years while in witness protection she finds that she left a piece of herself behind. Literally. A ghost image of her alias, Alyson Prescott, has been living in her house for the past decade waiting rather impatiently for her return. Unsure how to handle this rather alarming and amusing … alarming and amusing circumstance, Amanda seeks out an old friend to help her reconcile the disjointed situation she finds herself in.
Meanwhile a close friend has been murdered so the entire Scooby gang get back together to dig into the details and track down a killer. The deeper they dig the more certain they are that the roots of what has occurred could quite possibly extend centuries into the past.
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Homecoming By The Sea
Haunting By The Sea, Book #1
Kathi Daley
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Homecomings can be murder.
When Amanda Parker returns to the small seaside town where she lived for two years while in witness protection she finds that she left a piece of herself behind.
Literally.
A ghost image of her alias, Alyson Prescott, has been living in her house for the past decade waiting rather impatiently for her return. Unsure how to handle this rather alarming and amusing circumstance, Amanda seeks out an old friend to help her reconcile the disjointed situation she finds herself in.
Meanwhile a close friend has been murdered so the entire Scooby gang get back together to dig into the details and track down a killer. The deeper they dig the more certain they are that the roots of what has occured could quite possibly extend centuries into the past. (Goodreads)
Review:
Wow this was a really great book. I really liked the paranormal aspect of this book and the clever way that the author portrayed Amanda/Alyson.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. It was great to get to spend time with the Scooby gang again. If you have not read the previous books that this new series is based on, no worries. The author gives enough background information throughout the book that I do not think anyone would have any trouble catching up. I have to say that I liked Alyson’s carefree attitude more than I did Amanda’s uptight personality. Amanda has some decisions to make and I cannot wait to see what choices she will make.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. It allowed me to get a clearer picture of all of the characters lives. She is very talented in her descriptive writing and this helped me to become more engaged in the story.
The mystery was well plotted and evenly paced. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through. The culprit was a surprise to me but very plausible. I have said before in some of my reviews that I would not even care if there was no mystery to solve, I am happy just spending time with the characters that this author creates.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you like paranormal cozies, this book is a must read. I cannot wait to read the next book and see what is in store for Amanda/Alyson.
Amanda Parker is returning to Cutter’s Cove ten years after leaving. She lived in the small town along with her mother while they were in the Witness Protection program. When she goes into her bedroom in the their house she finds a ghost image of her alternate self, Alyson. Amanda is here to help solve the mystery of the murder of a man named Booker who was a good friend while she lived there. With Alyson’s help, Amanda learns she can now talk to the ghosts she sees as she and Booker’s ghost try to come up with what occurred in his last moments. Amanda’s reunion with Mac and Trevor is a good one and Amanda is faced with a decision of leaving again when the mystery is solved or once again making a home for herself in Cutter’s Cove.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read and kept me hooked from beginning to end. It’s well-written with well-rounded characters. I highly recommend it although I do suggest you read the Seacliff High series first to get a better understanding of the main characters.
Fans of the Seacliff High series will recognize the protagonist, Alyson Prescott, who lived in Cutter’s Cove, Oregon when she and her mother were in the witness protection program. Alyson’s real name is Amanda Parker, and she’s returned to Cutter’s Cove after the brutal murder of a high school friend, Booker. Amanda can see ghosts and hopes to help police find the killer.
Amanda’s shocked when she walks in the old house and finds the ghost of teenage Alyson has been waiting for her during the 12 years she and her mom moved back to New York. Alyson is still young and carefree and wants to help Amanda with the investigation. High school friends, Mac and Trevor, come to stay with Amanda and reunite the old Scooby Gang. They combine their talents to work on finding clues to Booker’s death. Shadow, a mystical cat, still lives in the house with Alyson’s ghost.
I enjoyed the para-twist to this mystery. What a neat idea to combine juvenile Alyson with mature Amanda. They look at things differently, yet similarly. The mystery flows smoothly and the pages flipped by fast for me because I wanted to know what happened next, and whodunnit! I’m eager to read future stories in this series.
I enjoyed this book, I had not read the previous series that Amanda’s had come about in but I had not problem following this.
Amanda comes back to the house that she had lived with her mother when they were in witness protection. A close friend had been murdered and she reunites with old friends to try and solve it. On top of that she finds a ghost of her former self and very interesting twist.
I loved the characters, they are real, easy to get involved in. The mystery was excellent and kept me guessing. I found the ghost of the victim and the ghost of her former self and interesting addition to the book and added quite a bit of humor. I will definitely continue on with this series.
I loved this book. I usually like my mysteries with a little more action, but the depth of the idea, the wonderful characters, and the skill of this writer kept me turning page after page longing to get time to finish the book and find out what happens. Loved the characters and the premise. I highly recommend this book.
“Homecoming by the Sea” earns 5/5 Reunions, Mysteries, and Murder!
What a delightful entertaining idea, especially for us fans of Seacliff High Mystery. Kathi Daley has reimagined her popular seven-book series into Haunting by the Sea. Originally tragic circumstances had forced Amanda Parker, living under the name Alyson Prescott, and her mother to be placed under the supervision of the federal witness protection program. However, feelings, voices, and the unsolved murder of her elderly friend, Rory Oswald aka Booker, have precipitated her return to Cutter’s Cove after a ten-year absence. During her absence her peculiar ability to “see” ghosts had seemed inactive, so college, a full-time career, and romantic relationships were all part of her “normal” life…but by returning to Cutter’s Cove, she essentially picks up where she left off…ghosts, danger, and…murder!
Wow! Kathi Daley’s signature writing style, clever whodunit, and engaging dialogue are on full display here. The setting is ten years later from the end of Seacliff High Mystery series, and although I highly recommend reading those seven books, it is easy for a newbie to join in. Kathi’s characters were already well-developed through the previous series, and although Alyson was always mature for her teen years, she has a delightful adult perspective in this new version. Along with the reunion with her high school friends, Mac and Trevor, who themselves have gained some adult instincts, we find out a bit how life has been for them without their friend Alyson/Amanda…a nice catch up. But for the “Oh, Wow!” twist, making it stand out that this is different, but still familiar, Amanda finds the ghost-like apparition of the image of her alias Alyson, the teenage version, and the ghosts…yes, the ghosts return! The paranormal aspect is not juvenile hocus-pocus; it is very entertaining, doesn’t overwhelm the characters and the mystery, and it just fits! I highly recommend this book, but don’t overlook the prequel series, Seacliff High!
Homecoming by the Sea was a really good book. I was caught up in it right from the start. I highly recommend this book.
In this new become we welcome some old friends from a previous series who are now all grown up and living new lives. Amanda learns that an old friend has been murdered in Cutter’s Cove and to much time has passed without even a suspect. It’s been ten years since she was in Cutter’s Cove where she was Alyson, a young girl that saw a killing and ended up in the witness protection program. When all of that was over she became Amanda again and shed her Alyson skin. Now that she is back she needs to figure out who killed Booker and why? He had been a big part of her life as Alyson. Follow along as Amanda becomes reacquainted with old friends, a forgotten pet, and the piece of herself she left behind. This was a touching read that was filled with great reunions, a missing piece, and as always an interesting whodunit. It was nice to see the old gang back together and I look forward to seeing how they progress from here.
Yes, you can go home again but where exactly is home? For Amanda Parker, who had been forced into hiding during her vulnerable, formative teen years, is her true home that from which she had to run or the one her mother and she built for themselves when starting over?
When danger passed, along with time, Amanda’s life moved on. Did you ever wonder what happened to Nancy Drew after college? This bittersweet story catches up with Amanda and a couple of her best friends when tragedy strikes and they feel the need to expose a killer and find justice for a friend.
It was a different feeling reading about Amanda, no longer Alyson, grown up and away from her seaside friends. There were sad moments followed by delightful surprise. The mystery behind a shipwreck is intriguing, but it is the search for a killer that drew me in. This story is also one of friendship and discovering things about oneself.
The series was originally intended for a YA audience but quickly gained popularity with adults at all stages of life. A more mature Amanda still has some life decisions to figure out.
I was happy and excited about the way this book ended.
Awesome Sequel to the Seacliff High Series
Homecoming By The Sea is the debut novel in Kathi Daley’s Haunting By The Sea series. This new series picks up ten years after the last book in Ms. Daley’s awesome Seacliff High series, but it isn’t necessary to have read the previous series before starting this one because sufficient character background has been provided. The well plotted mystery is intriguing and the affable characters are well developed. This is a clean cozy mystery with paranormal activity.
Amanda Parker left Cutter’s Cove, Oregon ten years ago after living there as Alyson Prescott for two years with her mother while in the Witness Protection Program. When the threat to her life was over, they decided to return to their life in New York. It was difficult making the decision to leave her two best friends, Mackenzie Reynolds and Trevor Johnson, but Amanda wanted to give her mother back the life she’d given up for her. When Amanda learned the police hadn’t made any progress in solving the six-month-old murder of her elderly friend, Rory Oswald, known as Booker to his friends, Amanda felt compelled to return to Cutter’s Cove to investigate. She found the home they had lovingly renovated when they lived in Cutter’s Cove dusty, but in good repair, however, when she went up to her old bedroom, she was shocked to find teenaged Alyson Prescott waiting for her. She knew the apparition it couldn’t be a ghost because she was still alive. Needing answers about what was happening, Amanda went to see Chan, a friend who owns a magic shop and had helped her sort out mystical occurrences in the past. After connecting with Trevor, they agreed to contact Mac who was living in California to see if she could come and help them investigate. Amanda and Mac met with Monica, Booker’s niece, who’s living in his house. While in Booker’s library, his ghost appears and Amanda, who has the ability to see ghosts, is able to speak with him, which was something she’d never been able to do before. Officer Woody Baker admitted he hadn’t made any progress in solving Booker’s murder and knowing the three friends had helped solve cases in the past, welcomed their help.