The folks who inhabit Ross’ fictional universe are so vividly drawn and fully fleshed that it wouldn’t at all surprise me to encounter the lot of them while driving up the shore one day. The plot is twisty, the narration is witty, and Ross’ whodunit is both clever and complex, but if you ask me, what really elevates Boiled Over is its cast. The setting is marvelous Ross perfectly captures the sights, scents, sounds, and mood of coastal New England in August, and she’s crafted such a wonderfully compelling history for Busman’s Harbor that the town is practically a character in its own right. Boiled Over is a briskly paced, sharply written tale of love, lies, loss, and revenge in a small Maine town.

Can Julia solve the mystery and save the day, or will this fiasco be what finally sinks their financially strapped family business?īarbara Ross’ first Maine Clambake Mystery, Clammed Up, was one of the best cozies I read last year, and I’m happy to report that her follow up, Boiled Over, is every bit as good as – if not better than – its predecessor. Now the pier is closed, the pit is evidence, and one of their hardest working employees is wanted for questioning in relation to the crime. The clambake looks poised to do a brisk business – until a human foot falls out of their portable fire pit just as the festivities are about to begin.

It’s Founder’s Weekend in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and at Julia Snowden’s urging, the Snowden Family Clambake has set up shop on the town pier to take advantage of the increased foot traffic.

Clammed Up by Barbara Ross