Jealousies and a body wash ashore during a summer retreat on the beach. Meg and Tom Richards negotiate a house trade for the summer. She will get a beach cottage on Galveston Island facing the Gulf of Mexico, and Tom will house sit for her while he wraps up the Hillard case from A Dickens of a Crime. What begins as a relaxing get away, becomes more complicated as Meg meets a family of locals … family of locals with a troubled past. Her closest temporary neighbor, Echo Charles is quirky and mysterious and, Meg decides, irritating.
Although Meg enjoys a visit from her best friend, Jean, and their outings on the island, she is distracted by her thoughts about her own mother’s past, a history Meg knows nothing about. As she anticipates the birth of her first grandchild, she mourns the absence of her own maternal grandmother. She wants to make memories for Dorie’s and Michael’s child, but she realizes she’s missed half of her own heritage and will have nothing to pass on from her mother’s side of the family.
The relationships she discovers during her beach stay remind her of the dysfunction and exploitation of the Hillard twins in her own hometown. The personalities and their consequences strike a familiar chord for Meg and she’s alert to every nuance in her conversations with the locals. It will be her ability to form relationships and follow her intuition that will help Meg flesh out the murderer, and again, it will disappoint her to know the consequences of neglected relationships.
Scenic, historic Galveston Island, Texas is the setting for a cozy mystery reminiscent of the best in amateur sleuthing. This story will set the stage for Meg’s next adventure and road trip to discover mysteries from her own family’s history.
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Pelican Beach Murder is the 2nd book in the Meg Miller Cozy Mystery Series written by Phyllis H. Moore and published in 2019. I joined a review crew for this book as I really enjoyed the first in the series and wanted to read and spread the news about this second one.
Meg is about to be a grandmother and has house-swapped with a friend from the first book for the summer. While she’s away, a few friends visit her, but something is amiss at the little getaway house. A neighbor frequently stops by for help and she isn’t quite put together. Neither are some of the other inhabitants in the town… they all seem to be related to two twin brothers who have quite a reputation. What’s truly going on? Meg is determined to solve it when the neighbor turns up dead and the suspect list is likely someone in her own family.
This cozy series is different from others. In some ways, it’s very light and has a slow build-up to the mystery. The murder doesn’t take place until 50% into this book, and the first half is spent with the main character commenting on the strange things happening since she arrived in the town. The second half then picks up quite quickly and shares a bunch of crazy theories, vibrant language, and curious proclivities of the townspeople. Both parts are written well, and they definitely connect… but it’s hard to categorize with the different styles. I like them though, and it keeps me on my toes trying to figure out what’s going on or what could possibly happen next.
Meg is definitely pushy and a bit rude. She makes snap judgments and is very direct when she doesn’t like someone. It’s good to see characters who are not always friendly on the outside. That said, she’s very caring and helpful to those she likes, so it’s a fine balance. The mystery in this one is intriguing because of the family elements. When we learn the killer’s identity, it comes together. I’m not entirely sure there was enough motivation for it, but it could’ve happened. All-in-all, it’s a good / quick read, and I like the development of the series. I’ll be reading the third one later this year, as it was just released this month.
I enjoyed this book with a great cast of characters and an interesting mystery that had lots of suspects, twists and turns that kept me glued to the book from the first page to the last word. I felt a real connection to Meg Miller and enjoyed her dynamic with the other characters especially her best friend Meg who visits her at the beach house after she and FBI special agent Tom Richards trade houses for the summer. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Moore but it definitely won’t be the last because this talented author has me totally intrigued and ready for more. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
A great cozy mysterie indeed! I got the change to review this book from the cozy mysterie review crew. Meg is such a wonderful character. I enjoyed reading. And to getting to know her better. The writing style is really engaging. Relaxing with a cozy mysterie is one of my favorite things. And this was a treat!
I love the beach! And with this story it felt like I was at the beach myself.
The story takes you in right away. It never gets boring. But it is relaxing. Just as a cozy mysterie is intended. Perfect!
I was asked to read and review this book and I did voluntarily. It was my pleasure.
This is the second book in this series, but it works as a stand-alone; there are enough references to things I assume happened in the first book that I think I would prefer to have read the first book in the series first—or have fewer references to previous happenings, that to me don’t really add to this story. I identify with the main character, whose daughter is pregnant with her first child, since I’m a grandmother with young grandkids. I love the setting of Galveston, one of my favorite places, and there are enough references to authentic details and places that I know the author has genuine familiarity with this fun vacation spot. I enjoyed the story and it’s a quick read. The writing itself is quite good, but I was surprised there are as many typos as there are, since this book has been out for several months, and I thought that it is pretty easy for authors and/or publishers to correct ebooks after they’re released. The mystery is intriguing and the resolution satisfying enough. Although I give 4 stars instead of 5, I may go back and read the first book in the series and subsequent books. I would hope that those interested would check this out. I was provided this book free of charge, but these opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book. It is different from other cozies in that the murder is almost secondary to the characters. I loved learning about the main family of the murder. I also loved the setting. The beach!
What could be better? The sleuth also travels in this series instead of finding dead bodies all over her town all the time. Meg, the sleuth, is very likable and very real! Will have to read the first book in this series and check out the next one too.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Meg Miller is a feisty widow who will soon
become a grandmother. Meg and her friend,
Tom Richards who is an FBI agent are
trading homes for the summer. Tom had
rented a beach home but his work is keeping
him from using it. Meg benefits by getting a
beach vacation.
Historic, picturesque Galveston Island, Texas
is where we join Meg enjoying her surroundings.
Meg calls her location: Pelican Beach as she
sits on her deck to watch the pelican activities
as they fly over the water.
What could possibly ruin this peaceful situation??
An odd woman arrives at Meg’s beach house. She
claims she is staying in the dilapidated house
across the road that overlooks the bay. There
are several houses there. She claims her boyfriend
is staying with her. After several encounters, the
woman is found on the beach dead!!!
Turns out the woman was a product of the
dysfunctional family well known in the area.
Murder, drugs, secrets, quirks, danger, suspense
and intrigue enter into the story.
The characters are multifaceted, well defined and
very interesting especially the ones involved with
the dysfunctional family members.
The story was plotted out flawlessly. There were sub
plots within the main plot and lots of twists and turns.
The scenery of the various areas was described so
vividly that the reader feels like they are right there.
Meg likes the challenge of solving a crime so join
her in her beach adventure.
This is book # 2 in the Meg Miller Mystery series.
It can be read as a stand alone as the author
effortlessly provides the past and present for the
reader’s understanding.
I volunteered to read Pelican Beach Murder. Thanks
to the author via the Cozy Mystery Review Crew for
the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and my own.