Dead & Breakfast by Emma Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As a child, Charlotte O'Neil spent summers with her grandparents in the small seaside town of Fox Point. That's where she met her first love, Noah George, though they haven't spoken since they were teenagers. The relationship ended awkwardly after Lottie headed off to university in Bristol; Noah stayed behind in Fox Point and eventually ghosted her. Ten years later, Lottie's back in town for her grandfather's funeral when she learns that she's unexpectedly inherited the family bed and breakfast. She decides to stay and try to make a go of the business, though the building will need extensive renovations before it can reopen.
Unfortunately, things take a turn after Lottie has an unpleasant encounter with a property developer, Declan Tierney, who doesn't take it well when she refuses to sell him the property. The next day, she's at the bed and breakfast preparing for an electrician's visit when she stumbles upon Tierney's dead body. Noah, now a police detective, is assigned to investigate the murder, and Lottie is apparently the prime suspect. She's not going down for a crime she didn't commit, however. With a little help from Noah's twin sister Ash, she decides to do her own investigating and clear her name.
It might seem strange to describe a murder mystery as fun, but this one really was. The investigation into Tierney's murder was twisty and kept me guessing, I enjoyed the witty banter between Lottie and Noah as well as the exploration of their romantic history, and the story's secondary characters were truly entertaining, particularly Noah's sister Ash and grandmother Gwen. There is a ton of potential here for future books set in Fox Point, and I can't wait to find out what the author's planning next.
Overall, I highly recommend this story for all fans of cozy mysteries, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy. Hopefully we won't have to wait long for book 2's release!
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
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