Stowed Away

Stowed Away is the 6th book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries by Barbara Ross. I’m truly a big fan of this series not only because the books take place in Maine, where I’d like to live, but they have a fascinating set of characters who feel real to me. I’m continuing my quest to catch up on the series by the end of the summer, and since there are 3 more full-length novels and 3 shorter novellas still at large, it’s anyone’s guess if I’ll make my own deadline. Either way, it’s a win because I enjoy the series tremendously.

In this installment, Julia’s high school associate (not a friend) shows up in Maine on a huge yacht thanks to a former boyfriend, Quinton. Quinton and Julia are friends, but she thought he was gay, so things are a little confusing to her. Add to that, the woman’s going by a different name and she’s secretly dating the yacht’s owner, a recluse who basically took a lot of money away from people who needed it to live on. A recipe for disaster. When someone dies, Julia’s forced to intervene, and she’s not happy about it. All the while, she’s got days left to set up the family’s clambake for the summer and figure out what’s going on with her boyfriend, Chris.

For most of the book, I was completely drawn in. It changed styles slightly, in terms of revealing info but not revealing info, and specifically in revisiting history we thought we understood but were wrong about. It kept my focus, yet at times, I thought we were veering off into strange territory, and in the end, we learned the criminal’s identity, but we also opened up a whole new can of worms. So… I waffled back and forth between a 3 and a 4, ultimately going with a 4 because it really does make me smile when this series shows up in my reading queue. Now I just have to figure out what to do when they’re all done; ah, don’t worry, I’ve lined up another Maine-based series with 25 books — I’m glutton for punishment, I see!

*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

What a great addition to this series! Since this is book six I am highly invested in the Snowden family by this point enjoying all of their ups, downs, and inner moments. This time Julia is asked to look into the murder of a billionaire at the request of Quentin though none of the family are suspects. I think she just can’t help herself by this point so she agrees. What follows is a fascinating mystery that is just full of little clues with enough twists to keep you guessing until you finally learn who the real culprit is. I especially liked the tie in to the events of the last book as well as all of the character growth as it made me feel like part of the family. A must read for cozy mystery fans. I really enjoyed reading it so I give it 4/5 stars.

I started this book…could not put it down. That’s the thing for me with a series I love. I am immediately sucked in and the story pulls me along.

What I liked about “Stowed Away”:
The mystery – One thing I really appreciate about this series is that the cases are inventive and yet still ring as believable. Additionally, while Julia may be involved in the cases, she isn’t always the one to discover the unfortunate victim. This particular case had me bewildered until about four pages before one of the two reveals, and I never did figure out the other one on my own.
The writing – Part of why I feel like I can read these so easily is the writing style. It’s comfortable to read. I’ve said this repeatedly in other reviews for previous books in the series, and it remains true. This is a continuity I can especially appreciate.
The characters – Gosh, I just enjoy these characters so much. Not a single one feels like the caricature of a human being. They are quirky and flawed and likable. I want to be friends with Julia and Livvie and Chris and Quentin…and whoever else we get to meet as the series progresses.
The use of the ongoing storylines – This is a series that truly cannot be read out of order, in my opinion. The references to previous books and cases aren’t just casual mentions but can play crucial roles in current mysteries. It makes the series feel rich and deep to me (yes, even though it’s a cozy mystery). It makes me care about what happens to the characters.
The character development – I love that we get to keep learning more about our recurring cast. Their layers are exposed slowly, the way you actually get to know a person. They tug at your heart, surprise you, elicit sympathy. I love to watch the characters emerge a little more clearly and relationships develop at an organic rate.
Unresolved threads – Typically a HUGE pet peeve of mine, the bits left without resolution aren’t enormous (yet) and they aren’t of the aggravating variety you feel will never receive clarity. There is a sense they will resurface and be addressed in another installment of the series, and I like that. I do like a well-placed cliffhanger, but I wouldn’t go as far as to classify them as such. These are character and relationship nuances, things that will round them out more as they are allowed to develop.

What I didn’t care for:
Just one and I have to nitpick to have something to put here – Someone needs to proofread the ebook version that I read. Typos and missing punctuation.

I adore this series. I am already in possession of not just the next book but the subsequent two holiday novellas, and I will be diving into them with great delight in the very near future. I have to know what comes next for Julia!

I loved this book in the Maine Clambake series. It had many twists, turns, and an ending I didn’t see coming. This was a fun, easy, fast read. I can’t wait to see what the next book will bring.

I ejoyed this book. It’s well written and entertaining. I’m really lousy with book reports , so this will have to suffice.

Fast reading. Good mystery

The series is well written and entertaining.

“Stowed Away” earns 5/5 Lobster Salads…Murderously Fun!

“June [and murder] is bustin’ out all over!” This exciting sixth book in Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake Mystery series has made me a big fan. “Stowed Away” starts out with the delightful Julia Snowden and “friend” Chris Durand setting up Morrow Island for the summer business on which the Snowden Clambake Company relies. Several family members are returning to pitch in adding to an entertaining bunch. Quentin Tupper, a family friend, made a large investment last summer and is now a partner in the family business. He is also, along with Julia’s mother Jacqueline, eager to renovate the family’s ancestral home, Windsholme, perched on the island’s bluff despite Julia’s thoughts that it is impractical to spend that much money on what should be extensive renovations. The estate has been uninhabited and not maintained since the 20s, and last summer’s fire has made matters worse. Enter Julia’s prep school nemesis! ‘Susan’ Wyatt Jayne, a well-known architect, is brought in to evaluate the viability and projected cost of the project. That evening Julia, Chris, and Quentin join Wyatt and her reclusive boyfriend and billionaire Geoffrey Bower for dinner on his yacht, a yacht the size of a football field, but instead the quiet evening ends with an annoying local protest…then a murder.

I was engaged throughout the entire book with Julia’s subsequent investigation (amateur, but realistic, and she does not circumvent, but works cooperatively with law enforcement) and character interactions (delightful friends and family dynamics, evolving love interest, and resolving the past). Protests against the one-percenters? Alleged financial shenanigans? Greed? Secrets? Lies? Barbara Ross has penned a clever mystery with several suspects and motives that challenged my inner “Sherlock,” and the final reveal was definitely a “Wow!” moment. Her compelling descriptions and dialog brought the environment, the mansion and yacht, emotions, and various personalities to life along with the interesting ins and outs of the Snowden Clambake business and life of the rich and reclusive. As a newbie, now a fan, I never felt out of the loop. Barbara provided enough background information and references to the past, although no spoilers, to make my experience rewarding…I highly recommend this book, and the series is quickly becoming a favorite.

A favorite part in many culinary-themed cozies is the inclusion of easy-to-follow recipes. I especially enjoy recipes that are actually mentioned in the story. Inspired by Julia’s favorite chef Genevieve your dinner party can enjoy Tarragon Ricotta Gnocchi with Lobster Veloute or test out at home Herbed Halibut Sous-Vide. Julia’s sister Livvie fixes for the family her Oven-Roasted Beer-Can Chicken with Potatoes, and with the recipe you can, too!

“Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. This voluntary review is my honest opinion and insights.

Loved this whole series.

Stowed Away by Barbara Ross is the sixth book in A Maine Clambake Mystery series. Julia Snowden is getting ready for another tourist season in Busman’s Harbor, Maine. Julia and her family own the Snowden Family Clambake Company. They host authentic Maine clambakes on Morrow Island. Windsholme, the old mansion on Morrow Island, suffered severe fire damage and Quentin Tupper is bringing an architect to provide an evaluation on the house. Wyatt Jane, the architect, went to prep school with Julia (Julia is less than pleased to see her). Wyatt arrived on the reclusive Geoffrey Bower’s yacht, Garbo. She invites them to dinner that night to see some of her work and they are surprised to see their friend, Genevieve Pelletier who is the chef for the yacht. The next evening, Julia gets frantic call from Wyatt. Julia races over and Geoffrey Bower is dead in the dining room with a strange grimace on his face. Julia had noticed a diamond ring on the table which disappears before the police arrive on the scene. There was something about the diamond that looked familiar to Julia. Suspicion falls onto Wyatt and Quentin asks Julia to investigate the murder. Julia dives into her investigation and begins by chatting with the crew. She wants to see if any of them had a motive to kill Mr. Bower. But then Geoffrey’s attorney arrives with news that surprises them all and changes the focus of the investigation. Who is the killer? Will they find the culprit before the crew departs town?

Stowed Away is nicely written and has a good pace. While Stowed Away is the sixth book in the series, it can be read alone. All the necessary details are included in the books. There are many cozy elements in the book. Getting the business ready for the season, Genevieve and her romance with Sgt. Tom Flynn, why Julia dislikes Wyatt, Page’s friend, Page’s friend Vanessa Bailey with green eyes just like Chris’, Julia’s romance with Chris Durand, whether to renovate or tear down Windsholme, and the upcoming Family Day clambake (for friends, employees, and family). The mystery is interesting, and many readers will not solve it before the reveal. Can it be solved? Yes. The clues are there to aid readers in solving the crime. There is a delightful twist that will surprise you (unless you paid close attention while reading the story). This is my favorite book in A Maine Clambake Mystery series. I especially appreciated the complex mystery and that the romance between Chris and Julia was in the background. Ms. Ross has created a lovely community of people in A Maine Clambake Mystery series. The main characters are smart, caring and friendly (instead of silly, bumbling fools). Fans of A Maine Clambake Mystery series will be delighted with Stowed Away.