A Killing by the Sea

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A Killing by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge takes place in a lovely setting on a barrier island off the Florida coast. Liz Holt has moved back to Melbourne and her aunt's eclectic beach hotel to continue her writing and forget about past problems. So far the writing is going well but somehow new problems seem to crop up.

The Melbourne Beach Theatre Company had been using the Indialantic by the Sea Hotel as their rehearsal location until the new theatre could be completed. Aunt Amelia had been an actress appearing in many famous television shows. Her chief competitor during that time is Susannah Shay and she is still in the picture. living at the hotel temporarily.

On a walk along the beach, Liz discovers the body of a missing young fisherman on the beach. It turns out to be the likable young man named Dylan, who was the nephew of one of her aunt's friends and an ardent underwater photographer.

Liz and her sort of boyfriend Ryan Stone quietly investigate while Agent Charlotte Pearson, girlfriend of Liz's father, investigates officially. There are pirates, treasure and possible drug smuggling underlying the investigation and an impending hurricane puts everyone in jeopardy.

My only complaint was the use of former actors as descriptions of the characters. I realize it was part of her aunt's cachet to reminisce about all the old-time actors she knew, but I had to look up some of them to even have a feel for what the characters looked like. Anyone under 40 would have no idea what these characters looked like i.e. Edward Mulhare. Otherwise an enjoyable mystery