Steamed Open

Written by Barbara Ross

Narrated by Dara Rosenberg

It's summertime in Busman's Harbor, Maine, and the clamming is easy-or it was until a mysterious new neighbor blocks access to the beach, cutting off the Snowden Family Clambake's supply. Julia Snowden is just one of many townspeople angered by Bartholomew Frick's decision. But which one of them was angry enough to kill?

Beachcombers, lighthouse buffs, and clammers are outraged after Frick puts up a gate in front of his newly inherited mansion. When Julia urges him to reconsider, she's the last to see him alive-except the person who stabs him in the neck with a clam rake. As she pores through a long list of suspects, Julia meets disgruntled employees, rival heirs, and a pair of tourists determined to visit every lighthouse in America. They all have secrets, and Julia will have to work fast to expose the guilty party-or see this season's clam harvest dry up for good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Apr 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781977345790

Barbara Ross

Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel, RT Books Reviewer's Choice Awards, and the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. The co-editor/co-publisher of Level Best Books, which produces anthologies of crime stories by New England authors, she lives in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. For more information, visit maineclambakemysteries.com.

Reviews for Steamed Open

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Steamed Open by Barbara Ross has readers journeying to Busman’s Harbor, Maine in the height of tourist season in the month of August. Julia Snowden is on the Jacquie II with the rest of the town for Heloise (Lou) Herrickson’s memorial service and to scatter her ashes. Lou’s heir, Bartholomew Frick arrives at the last minute is a fancy new red Porsche. Bart inherited Herrickson Point along with a privately owned lighthouse. The next day, everyone is shocked when they arrive at the beach access road to find a newly installed gate. The clammers and lighthouse enthusiasts are particularly upset by this afront. Since Snowden Family Clambake relies on the clams that the clammers find on that beach, Julia decides to visit Bart Frick and see if she can get him to change his mind (maybe he is not aware of the problem he has caused). Unfortunately, there is no reasoning with the rude man and Julia soon departs. When Julia returns to the pier that evening, she is greeted by the local police. Bart was found stabbed in his home with a clam rake and Julia was one of the last people to see him alive (besides the killer, of course). When Lou’s former housekeeper, Ida Fischer ends up at the top of the suspect list, the Snugg sisters ask Julia to don her investigator’s cap once again (not that Julia needs an excuse). Bart may not have been in town long, but he quickly managed to anger a significant number of people. Julia wades through the suspect pool to identify Bart’s killer while manages the clambake business and discovering what is bothering her boyfriend, Chris. Steamed Open is the seventh A Maine Clambake Mystery. It can be read alone if you have not read any of the previous books in the series. I enjoyed Barbara Ross’ conversational writing style. It makes for a light, airy cozy mystery that is easy to read. We get to experience the day-to-day running of the Snowden Family Clambake with Julia and her family. It is interesting to learn more about Maine and the clamming industry. I enjoy the descriptions of the area especially the beautiful home the Snowden’s own on their island. The mystery is uncomplicated, and the killer is easily identified (might as well have been a giant neon sign over the persons head flashing “killer”). There are several viable suspects including a couple determined to visit as many lighthouses as they can (they are not going to let a gate stop them). I am glad that we learned more about Julia’s boyfriend, Chris in Steamed Open. His story is heartbreaking. I did find his obsession with Vanessa a little odd despite the explanation. I hope that Chris will be more open to talking about the future with Julia now (he really needs to get counseling). There is repetition of information that I could have done without and lack of details about characters (i.e.—Chris’ last name, Livvie’s last name). Steamed Open is an upbeat cozy mystery that will have you yearning for warm days and sandy beaches with a cool drink nearby.

[joannefm2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Julia Snowden runs her family's clambake business, and the end of summer is near. But one morning everything is delayed for the funeral of a local, Heloise 'Lou' Herrickson, a woman who was generous and loved by all who knew her. But the funeral takes a turn when Lou's heir, Bartholomew Frick, shows up late and doesn't speak to anyone, then leaves just as quickly when the service is over.But what really causes problems is when Frick closes off the beach and road access in front of Herrickson House, angering the townspeople. The beach has been used daily by clammers who make their living, beachcombers, including one who lives in a nearby cottage, and the occasional tourist who stay in a small home next to the lighthouse. When Julia goes to talk to Frick she comes across the housekeeper who has quit rather than work for him, and her attempts at getting him to open the beach again are fruitless. But she learns later that day that Frick has been found dead, murdered, and she might have been one of the last people to see him alive.When she's asked by the Snugg sisters, who run a bed and breakfast across the street from her home, to help the housekeeper, Ida, prove her innocence if needed, she can't say no. But things get complicated sooner than later when her boyfriend Chris has secrets of his own, and it starts to affect their life. He also asks for Julia's help in something, but she needs more information before she's willing to commit herself. But Chris isn't so willing to share, and it causes problems.Now Julia has to help find a killer before someone is wrongfully accused and she doesn't realize just how complicated her life will become. Will she find a link that will lead her to the truth, or will it be too late and the wrong person will be convicted?Once again Ms. Ross has given us an intriguing mystery to be unraveled, because that is exactly what we must do. Take the tapestry she has woven and unravel it, thread by thread, to find the truth hidden inside. It is an engaging tale that manages to take each piece and connect them seamlessly, with the reader discovering the connections one by one, the same as Julia. While there are plenty of 'aha!' moments, it is indeed a pleasure to watch her as she takes each one and puts the puzzle together, coming to a satisfying conclusion.This was a highly enjoyable read, and I applaud Ms. Ross on a story that is both delightful and believable. We learn more about Chris's past and why he is the person he is, which, as a subplot, brings compassion and understanding to the narrative. The characters are convincing, and the descriptions of the clambake make you want to experience it firsthand.At the last, I was sorry to see the story end. It kept me reading throughout the night, captured in the mystery. This is the seventh book in the series, and quite as good as the others; I hope to see it continue on for a good long while. Highly recommended.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Maine, tourist-town, cozy-mystery, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, suspense, murder-investigation *****It's a good thing that the primary target for murder got done in early because he was totally odious! The townsfolk are all hardworking people with a very short earning season who have just lost their beloved centenarian benefactor who bequeathed her seaside property to above rat. Being a small town, it's the state police who bring in detectives and forensics, but sifting through the evidence isn't as useful as it might be. Then there is the issue of line of inheritance to dig through! Julia is a local back from away and she is very good at digging into the past despite problems in her own life that threaten to derail family harmony and the business. Well crafted and with escalating suspense, plot twists and red herrings. A very good read! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!