Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross

Nobody gives us a more perfect summer reading series than Barbara Ross with her Maine Clambake Mysteries. You can’t help but feel like you’re on island time every time you pick up one of her cozy tales.

Hidden Beneath is her newest entry in this series, giving readers a delicious taste of summer tainted with the bitterness of murder.

Summer is in full swing as the Snowden family hosts scads of tourists pouring into Busman Harbor, Maine to enjoy the annual Snowden Family Clambake. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s become a solid family business with a promising future as they continue to expand.

But in spite of the busy tourist season, Julia Snowden and her mom, Jacqueline, are heading over to Chipmunk Island to attend a Memorial Service for Ginny Merrill. Ginny went for her usual swim 5 years ago and was never seen again. Now poor Ginny has been officially declared dead — her friends and neighbors hoping her Memorial service will give everyone closure.

Jacqueline and Ginny went to high school together. They were not only BFF’s (well before the term was invented), but they were also part of a group called the Wednesday Club. Even after all those years, the Wednesday Club still carried on with 6 members, one of them being Ginny – until she disappeared.

As it often happens, friends grow up – they drift apart, they move away – and that’s what happened with Julia.  She and Ginny only kept in touch once a year through Christmas cards.

Unfortunately no one really knows what happened to Ginny. Locals tend to believe she accidentally drown in rough currents. A few speculated suicide, but at the end of the day, no one really knew for sure.

At the Memorial Service, Jacqueline has a somber moment of regret. A regret for missing a phone call from Ginny just prior to her death. That’s when she realizes she’s got to find out what really happened to Ginny, and of course, she’s coming after her amateur detective daughter, Julia, to help her get some answers – and REAL closure.

As Julia and Jacqueline dig into the Ginny’s past, a woman is brutally murdered on the island. The police have long moved on from Ginny’s disappearance and are now solely focused on the recent murder. But both Julia and Jacqueline are wondering if these are two separate cases or just one.

The author, Barbara Ross, gives us a lot to ponder in Hidden Beneath. It’s a tight mystery with summery, sandy, beach-laden characters and island vibes. What could could be better than grabbing a copy of Hidden Beneath, a beach towel and heading off the pool, beach or even the chaise lounge in your own backyard (don’t forget the lemonade)!

A copy of this book and cover photo were provided by Kensington Publishing.