Death and a Pot of Chowder by Cornelia Kidd

"Death and a Pot of Chowder" is the start of a fabulous new series! I enjoyed everything about it, beginning with Quarry Island, a small community of families who have lived on the island for generations, many making their living on the sea from lobstering. They are the kind of folks who will do anything to help each other. To an islander, where one is born and raised is important, but even if they are a bit suspicious of off-islanders, the residents will give them a chance. Most of the characters are gemstones, described so well that this reader felt she already knew them. Maine sounds like a breathtakingly beautiful place, and it is clear the author loves it. The springtime changes are shown in relation to the characters and how they respond accordingly, to anything from plants and trees showing new life, to muddy ruts, to the chill in the air.

One fun thing is that each chapter begins with a quote from a book from the 1800’s to early 1900’s with housekeeping, cooking, or family advice. Some of the quotes showed a side of life I wouldn’t have imagined many homes in those days being able to afford, hiring and overseeing household help.

Family relationships are challenged in this mystery, beginning with Anna Winslow, her mother, and her grandmother. Anna receives a letter from a woman introducing herself as her younger half-sister. Their father, who Anna never knew, had just passed away and Isabel “Izzie” Jordan and Anna would inherit equal portions of his estate. Anna’s mother had never talked about her father, never even told her his name, but her grandmother had stayed in touch with her father’s parents and knew about Izzie.

Anna and her husband Burt also face challenges. He found his brother Carl’s boat adrift with no sign of his brother on board; he towed the boat to shore and a search party went out. The following day, Carl’s murdered remains were found. Burt, having had a loud disagreement with Carl the day he went missing, is the prime suspect. I love seeing Anna’s love for Burt and her faith in his innocence; she will do anything to help him even as her she gets to know her sister Izzie.

Family ties may be strained but remain strong. There are plot twists changing the direction of who the bad guy might be. There were several good suspects. I did guess who the killer was, even though I didn’t know the real motive until the person admited to doing so, and why. I highly recommend this exciting new mystery set against the beautiful, wild backdrop of an island off the coast of Maine. For those who enjoy recipes, there are some included for the dishes in the novel.