When Andie Greatorex is robbed of two buckets of oyster seed worth $35,000, she wonders if somebody’s trying to mussel her out of business. Could it be a rival oyster farmer, a steamed former employee, or a snooty summer resident who objects to her unsightly oyster cages floating on the beautiful Damariscotta River? There’s also a lobsterman who’s worried the farm’s expanding lease will encroach on his territory and Andie’s ex-partner, who may come to regret their split.
Before Julia can make much headway in the investigation, Andie turns up dead, stabbed by a shucking knife. Now it’s up to Julia to set a trap for a cold and clammy killer.
As Julia is getting ready to open the Snowden Family Clambake Company for the season, Chris, her boyfriend, introduces her to his friend, Andie, an oyster farmer. Someone stole $35,000 worth of oyster seed from her business and she’s desperate to find out who did it and get the seed back.
Julia agrees to help but before she can dig too deep, Andie is found dead. Now Julia’s not just helping with a theft, she’s investigating Andie's murder.
Between rival oyster farmers, cranky neighbors and troublemaking lobster fishermen, there’s no shortage of suspects.
This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It's a quick read and a cozy mystery so there is no violence, swearing or adult activity. The author obviously did a lot of research about oyster farming. The whodunnit was a bit of a stretch. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story including banana bread, baked oysters and lobster mashed potatoes.
This is the ninth (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I read the first eight recently and will keep moving through the series.
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