Book ~ "Torn Asunder" (2024) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ A short boat ride from Busman’s Harbor, Maine, Morrow Island is a perfect spot for a wedding - and a Snowden Family Clambake. Julia Snowden is busy organizing both - until a mysterious wedding crasher drops dead amid the festivities.

Julia’s best friend and business partner, Zoey, is about to marry her policeman boyfriend. Of course, a gorgeous white wedding dress shouldn’t be within fifty yards of a plate of buttery lobster - so that treat is reserved for the rehearsal dinner. Julia is a little worried about the timing, though, as she works around a predicted storm.

When a guest falls to the floor dead, it turns out that no one seems to know who he is, despite the fact that he’s been actively mingling. And when an injection mark is spotted on his neck, it’s clear this wasn’t caused by a shellfish allergy. Now, as the weather deteriorates and a small group is stranded on the island with the body - and the killer - Julia starts interrogating staff, family members, and Zoey’s artist friends to find out who turned the clambake into a crime scene.

Julia is living on Morrow Island, running the family’s clambake business while helping plan her best friend, Zoey’s wedding. Everything’s set for a perfect weekend until, during the rehearsal dinner, an uninvited guest collapses and dies. What first looks like a medical emergency quickly turns into a murder investigation. Then a storm traps some of the guests, along with the soon-to-be bride and groom, on the island giving Julia and her boyfriend, state police detective Tom, opportunity to ask questions.

This is the 12th (and last) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. It works as a stand alone so you don't have the read the previous ones to know what's going on. It's 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 "whodunit" was obvious but I was okay with that. It was farfetched that so many of the guests happened to be connected not only to Zoey but randomly to each other.

Since it was the last in the series, all the loose ends were tied up and everyone had a happy ending. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story including baked lobster tails, fennel and orange salad and chocolate-covered toffee squares.