Finger-licking delicious, Shari Randall’s Against the Claw is the second in the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack series. Welcome back to the seaside village of Mystic Bay, where someone’s been found sleeping with the fishes. . . Ballerina Allie Larkin is still back home, healing up from a broken ankle and lending a hand at her aunt’s Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack. But now that the famed restaurant is … that the famed restaurant is branching out into the world of catering, Allie’s help is needed more than ever–even on the lobster boat. The last thing she expects to find once she’s out on the bay, however, is the dead body of a beautiful young woman.
When days pass and not even the police can ID the corpse, Allie takes it upon herself to learn the truth about what happened. Her investigation leads her all the way from the local piers to the secluded estates of Mystic Bay’s posh elite. But how can she crack this case when everyone seems dead-set on keeping their secrets beneath the surface?
“Suspenseful and entertaining–left me longing to visit the Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack!”
–Donna Andrews on Curses, Boiled Again!
“Delightful…Full of New England coastal charm…and clever sleuthing [that] will keep you turning the pages.”–Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva mysteries
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After reading the first installment in this wonderful new series, I was so anxious to read Against the Claw. I was not disappointed; in fact, I could not put this book down! Spending time at the Lazy Mermaid again with Allie, Lorel, and the quirky Aunt Gully was like going home to a house full of old friends. I could almost smell the ocean all around me, see the waves washing over the sand. But don’t let all that charm deceive you–there’s murder afoot, and some scheming characters who will stop at nothing to get what they want. I found the story fast-moving and riveting, with every character adding more depth to this wonderfully complex mystery. The plot thickened with every stir of the lobster pot, while red herrings swam among them. The ending was a killer–a surprise a minute. I’m as hooked on this series as a fish on a line. I can’t wait for book three in this delightful series by the sea.
I really enjoy this series. This is the second I have read and it was just as fun as the first. It is the 4th of July in Mystic Harbor and the tourists are celebrating. Allie finds herself involved in another murder and this time her sister is the prime suspect. I like the town and the fun characters and that Allie works with the police. The mystery was once again very good with lots of suspects and red herrings. This series is the perfect summer read. Enjoy the visit.
Shari Randall is a new to me author and I enjoyed her a great deal! I believe this is only the second in the series and the good news for me is that there’s another one for me to read! I love the characters of Mystic Bay and I especially love everyone involved with The Lazy Mermaid. I want to be a Gully Gal now. I want Aunt Gully to adopt me (nevermind that I’m an adult and she’s fictional). On a more realistic note, I desperatelyl want to go to New England and this has only intensified that desire – a great deal. The scenery was so beautifully written, I could feel the breeze, smell the air, and taste the yummy food. As for the characters? The sibling relationship was believable and I hope to see it evolve in future books. The entire family dynamic was actually pretty relatable though we didn’t really see much of Dad in this book. The mystery was well done. I was able to figure out the puzzle pieces but I couldn’t quite figure out how they went together. It was very nicely put together at the end. The only downfall was that one of the characters that was a bit of a key player wasn’t fleshed out very well. We never really got to know her character or motivations. I think that’s really the only reason I’m not giving this a full 5 star review. I wish I could give half stars because I would make this a 4 1/2 star review. As I can’t, I have to dock a full star. I absolutely cannot wait to try out the recipes from the back of the book. This is a wonderful cozy that will satisfy cozy lovers and foodies alike.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Shari Randall for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest opinions to others.
It’s the week of the Fourth of July, and Allie and her aunt Gully are getting ready for the onslaught of customers the holiday weekend will bring to their town of Mystic Bay, Connecticut and the lobster shack that Aunt Gully has started. However, the holiday weekend takes a sad turn when Allie finds a dead body in the bay. No one seems to know who she was. But if no one recognizes her, who would want her dead?
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and it was a delight to return again. The characters are lots of fun, and it was great to see them again. The new characters fit right in; they were so nice, it was hard to believe there was a killer hiding among them. I did think the plot wandered a bit in the first half, but it picked up in the second half. When we reached the climax, I discovered there were some clues I hadn’t even realized where hiding in the book. The location is charming; the perfect summer resort town. So if you are looking for a book to hold on to summer, pick this one up.
Shari Randall has given us another wonderful entry into the Lobster Shack Mysteries. Aunt Gully and her girls are asked to cater a 4th of July party for a well to do, famous resident of the area. Prior to the party, Allie discovers a body while out on the lobster boat early in the morning. The girl is unrecognizable and soon the town is wondering who she might be. Allie and her sister Lorel begin an investigation on their own and realize the ties to this girl strike very close to home. This is a strong entry into the Lobster Shack Mysteries and I very much enjoyed the thrill a minute adventure. Each of the story lines presented were well woven together and I appreciated the creative murder plot. This is a great, quick read and should be added to your beach reads this summer! I can’t wait until the next entry into this series!
Very good book! In this second book in the series, Allie is helping out on a lobster boat when she and the person she’s helping find a dead body. Then, after a night catering and sleeping over on a yacht, the body of Allie’s sister, Lorel’s, ex-boyfriend is found. Allie of course investigates to figure out what happened before her sister is accused of murder. I found this book very intriguing and I absolutely love all the characters and the charming town. I look forward to seeing what’s next for Allie, Aunt Gully, and Lorel!
Shari Randall’s Against the Claw is a perfect summer cozy mystery read. It’s Fourth of July week, and dancer Allie Larkin is spending time at home in Mystic Bay, Connecticut while recovering from a broken ankle. She and her sister, Lorel, are helping their Aunt Gully at her Lazy Mermaid Lobster Shack when she discovers one body hooked on a lobster trap, and another the night after a big party that they’re catering. A clever and creative mystery that is nicely written, and so well told that the ending really surprised me! A+ to this second book in the Lobster Shack Mystery Series, this reader is off to track down the first book – note: I haven’t read it (Curses, Boiled Again!) yet, but Against the Claw really worked as a standalone! A+
Against the Claw is a rollercoaster ride of plot loops that will challenge readers to correctly guess whodunnit. Allie Larkin and her Aunt Gilly are kind-hearted characters who simply want to successfully run the Lazy Mermaid, Aunt Gilly’s lobster shack. They have loyal employees and numerous friends helping them. Allie is relieved when her sister, Lorel, finally breaks up with two-timing town bad boy, Patrick Yardley, but the tense moments don’t stop there—they become deadly.
I was pleasantly surprised by each twist and turn of this cozy mystery. Somehow, a mysterious death that’s connected to a second, not-so-surprising death, immeshes the sisters and their aunt in a web of deception, addiction, and lies. I was astonished at all the secondary characters who were not as they appeared to be. A pageturner with an ending that left me wanting more adventures with the cast of the Lobster Shack Mysteries! The author provides a delicious recipe at the end.
I read and reviewed an arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. Thank you.