Sealed Off

The clambake season is winding down in Busman's Harbor, Maine, and the Snowden family only has a few more events before fall arrives.  In Sealed Off by Barbara Ross, Julia Snowden is looking forward to the season ending. Between the constant bickering among her crew and the renovation of her family's home on Morrow Island, she cannot wait for the last remaining clambakes to be completed.  (Sealed Off will be released by Kensington Publishing Corp. on December 31.)

While she is touring the family home with her mother's cousin 90-year-old Marguerite and her granddaughter Tallulah, the demolition crew discovers a mysterious room, sealed off from the rest of the house. In the room are furnishings and the possessions presumably belonging to the nanny or governess of the family's children. No one is more surprised than architect Wyatt Jayne.

When Julia unearths several handwritten journals from among

the effects in the room, a new mystery crops up. Who was the young woman and what became of her? While Julia would love nothing more than to research the history of the hidden room, she finds herself thrust in the middle of a quarrel among her crew.

Long-time employee Jason has been flirting relentlessly with Emmy but not to be outdone, another employee Terry seems to be interested in her as well. Of course, this does not sit well with Jason's ex-wife Pru, who also works for the Snowden Clambake. 

When Jason is found dead under the wood pile a few days later and Terry is missing along with one of the Russian demolition crew members, the local police naturally focus on Terry, an ex-con. Because Terry is the brother of Julia's boyfriend Chris, she feels obligated to clear him. 

With two mysteries on her mind, Julia plunges into her investigation. The Maine Clambake Mysteries make me hungry for lobster, corn on the cob and all the trimmings. Another intriguing addition to Barbara Ross' series with two tightly woven mysteries. 

Steamed Open

When an elderly neighbor, Heloise Herrickson dies and her heir decides to cut off access to the beach, everyone in Busman's Harbor, Maine, is worried about their business and their recreation opportunities. Most of all Julia Snowden is concerned about her Clambake Company's ability to get the staple of their cookouts - clams - with the beach access closed. (Steamed Open will be released on December 18 by Kensington Publishing.)

Clammers, locals and tourists alike are outraged when they discover a chain link gate across Herrickson Point, the access to the beach. The sign calling out Private Property means business. When Julia discovers the heir to the property is responsible for the fence, she sets out to change his mind.

Despite her urging Batholomew Frick keeps the gate closed and prohibits access, but shortly after Julia speaks with him, he is found dead. Not a good sign being the last to see the victim alive. Especially when he is dead with a clam rake stabbed into his neck.

Julia knows other clammers from surrounding areas can provide her with clams for a short time, but she knows the local beach needs to be open again. As Julia investigates, she finds many suspects. Included among them is a couple who have a reservation at the lighthouse near the beach, but they cannot drive their RV to the lighthouse because the local access is blocked by the fence.

When Julia discovers a connection between one of the locals and Heloise Herrickson, she probes deeper to discover who the murderer is.

You will feel the warm Maine sun and smell the ocean breeze and the clambake while you are reading this. I think a trip to Maine might be appropriate. I always crave Maine seafood when I read this series.

Pre-order purchase link

Clambake

When murder crashes a wedding party, Julia Snowden fears for her family's Clambake Company. In Clammed Up, Barbara Ross depicts the fragile balance between success and failure of a small family-owned business.

After years in New York as a venture capitalist, Julia Snowden returns to Busman's Harbor, Maine, to save her family's struggling company. For years it was run by her father, but when he died, her mother turned the management over to Julia's brother-in-law Sonny, whose name is as far from his disposition as possible. Constantly butting heads with Sonny and warding off the bank's threat to call their loan, Julia lines up a wedding to be held on Morrow Island, the locale of their clambakes.

As the bride and bridal party are leaving the harbor to motor to the island, someone notices the best man missing. Tony, the groom, volunteers to stay behind and round him up while the others go to the island to prepare for the wedding. Already having wedding jitters, the bride seems even more upset by the missing best man.


When the party arrives on Morrow Island, they head towards Windsholme Mansion where the wedding will be held. As Julia throws open the door, the bride crumples to the floor crying out "Ray! Ray! Ray!" at the sight of the best man hanging from the grand staircase. Did Ray kill himself and why do it in such a visible manner where the bride would obviously see him? Was his suicide directed at her or is it murder disguised as suicide?

Julia sees her hoped for successful season flash before her eyes and shudders at the thought of losing the family business. With no hesitation, she decides to investigate.

For more books in the Clambake Series, click here.