KEELED OVER AT THE CLIFFSIDE by Nancy Stewart
SERIES: Saltcliff Mysteries #1
GENRE: Culinary Seaside Cozy Mystery (Clean)
PUBLISHER: Independently Published
RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2024
PAGES: 227
Gilmore Girls meets Murder, She Wrote in this fast-paced culinary cozy (with a dog you’ll want to adopt yourself!)
In the charming seaside town of Saltcliff, Dahlia Vale’s life is about to take a dramatic twist. Leaving her monotonous job as a defense contractor, Dahlia inherits her late sister Daisy’s cozy inn and her spirited niece, Diantha. But Saltcliff holds more than new beginnings; it hides whispers of past loves, local feuds, and a string of suspicious deaths.
See AlsoSomething Borrowed - Susie Finkbeiner - Giveaway - Reading Is My SuperPowerLove's Second Chance - Scott - Giveaway - Reading Is My SuperPowerSoundi-lehtiä v. 1978-92Saved by the Matchmaker - Jody Hedlund - Review - Giveaway -Reading Is My SuperPowerWith her loyal service dog, Taco, by her side, Dahlia uncovers secrets Daisy left behind. The quaint Saltcliff Bed & Breakfast becomes the center of these mysteries, linking a controversial local chef’s death to Daisy’s secretive gardening. As Dahlia delves deeper, aided by Detective Owen Sanderson, she untangles a web of betrayal, blackmail, and hidden motives—all while serving perfect morning scones.
Join Dahlia, Diantha, and Taco in this cozy culinary mystery, where every character has a story, and the truth is as layered as a well-baked pastry.
The back cover copy for Keeled Over at the Cliffside promises that we’ll want to adopt the book’s dog ourselves… and that is absolutely correct. I adored Taco Dog, our protagonist Dahlia’s allergen alert service dog, and he gave the book – and Dahlia’s character – a lot of heart. Taco made me smile frequently, thanks in large part to the author’s talent in sketching his lovable personality through witty asides such as:
Taco Dog looked slightly more professional when he was wearing his ‘service animal’ vest, which was his usual travel attire. Of course, that was only true if you disregarded the time he’d worn the vest while chasing after the tennis balls on the bottom of an elderly lady’s walker… Taco didn’t like to discuss that.
One murder mystery becomes two, and despite her relatable social awkwardness Dahlia’s smart instincts and insightful observations soon make a favorable impression on swoony local detective Owen. I liked the balance that the author achieved in Dahlia’s amateur sleuthing, namely by having Owen see these strengths in her and value her help. So many times, cozy sleuths have to foolishly sneak around behind local law enforcement’s back to investigate because the detective/sheriff/police chief is either too territorial to accept help or so bumbling at it that the cozy sleuth is the suspect’s only hope. I thought this was a very intelligent way to go about it, plus it allows these two characters a reason to spend time together and be all cute in their obvious attraction to one another. The mysteries themselves have several plausible suspects and some interesting twists, and I wasn’t really sure how it would all end up.
Bottom Line: Keeled Over at the Cliffside by Nancy Stewart gives readers a delightful new amateur sleuth to love in Dahlia, along with her lovable service dog Taco and her tween niece Danny. The reasons for Dahlia’s sudden move to California give the story some complex layers to explore – a few which are fleshed out more than others in this first book – and I enjoyed watching Dahlia adjust to her new role in the B&B and her niece’s life. I thought the mysteries were nicely plotted, with red herrings that do their job, clues that do theirs, and a couple of turns that even this avid mystery reader wasn’t expecting. Lovely characters and a charming setting are the icing on the lemon cake. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Reviewer’s Note: Readers of this blog may want to be aware that there are a couple of mild curse words, a mock seance, and possible implications of a same-sex couple (though not confirmed yet) in this book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!
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Nancy Stewart is the cozy pen name of USA Today bestselling rom-com author Delancey Stewart. This is her first cozy mystery, despite being raised on a steady diet of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie, and supplementing that in adulthood with mysteries and thrillers whenever possible. She writes from her home near Denver, Colorado, where she lives with her former Marine hubby and two teenage boys. And of course, her dog, Charlie Taco (who appears in her mystery series as Taco the service dog). Connect with Nancy at her website.
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