A Killer Plot

By Ellery Adams

In the small coastal town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina, you'll find plenty of characters, ne'er-do-wells, and even a few celebs trying to duck the paparazzi. But when murder joins this curious community, the Bayside Book Writers are there to get the story...

Olivia Limoges is the subject of constant gossip. Ever since she came back to town-a return as mysterious as her departure-Olivia has kept to herself, her dog, and her unfinished novel. With a little cajoling from the eminently charming writer Camden Ford, she agrees to join the Bayside Book Writers, break her writer's block, and even make a few friends...

But when townspeople start turning up dead with haiku poems left by the bodies, anyone with a flair for language is suddenly suspect. And it's up to Olivia to catch the killer before she meets her own surprise ending.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781101187869

Ellery Adams

Ellery Adams is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over thirty novels. A native New Yorker, she has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on a novel, she bakes, gardens, spoils her cats, and wastes time on Pinterest. She lives with her husband and two children in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she can't imagine spending a day away from her keyboard.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Writers should be read, but neither seen nor heard.

—DAPHNE DU MAURIER

Two of Oyster Bay’s lifelong citizens were in line at the Stop ’n’ Shop, gossiping over carts stuffed with frozen entrées, potato chips, boxes of Krispy Kremes, and liters of soda when Olivia Limoges breezed through the market’s automatic doors.

Here she comes, Darlene. The grouchiest woman on the entire North Carolina coast, the first woman remarked, jerking her head toward the produce department.

And the richest. Darlene watched as Olivia examined a pyramid of peaches, turning the fruit around and caressing the flushed, velvet skin of each golden orb before placing it in her cart. "She’s good-lookin’ enough. Doesn’t have the curves most men wanna hold on to at night, but with all that money, you’d think she could net at least one fish."

"She might have more money than Oprah, but she ain’t exactly a ray of sunshine, her companion pointed out. Half the town’s scared of her."

That’s because half the town works for her, Sue Ellen. Darlene pulled a sour face as her friend dumped a family-sized Stouffer’s lasagna on the moving belt.

She ever smile at you, Mandy? the woman named Sue Ellen questioned the cashier.

Mandy cracked her gum and shrugged. Ms. Olivia is nice enough, I reckon.

"Maybe she likes younger men. You know, one of those male models or somethin’. Or maybe she wants ’em to be rich and speak three languages and be as high and mighty as she is. She’s too fussy if you ask me. That’s why she doesn’t have a man, Sue Ellen whispered, clearly impressed with her own insight as the cashier ran her friend’s check through the register. Who knows what’s goin’ on in that big ole house of hers?"

Darlene’s dull brown eyes turned misty. "If I had all that money, I’d go on one of those cruises with them chocolate buffets. You ever heard of such an amazin’ thing? Whole fountains of chocolate! You can dunk strawberries or cookies or little bits of cake right in ’em. Lordy! I’d eat chocolate until I couldn’t move."

Sue Ellen unloaded two jumbo-sized bags of potato chips and a bouquet of scentless carnations onto the belt. She oughta give back to the community. After all, she grew up in Oyster Bay. Lots of folks kept an eye on her when her daddy was off on one of his trips.

Which trips? Darlene snorted cruelly. The fishin’ trips or the ones where he drifted along the coast with a net in the water and a case of whiskey by his side?

Either one. With her mama passin’ on when she was still at such a tender age, that girl needed folks to look in on her. I recall my mama bringin’ her a tuna casserole more than once. And how about that lighthouse cottage? Sue Ellen was becoming flushed in righteous indignation. "The way she’s lettin’ it fall to pieces—it’s a disgrace! She should fix it up and let the town use it. It’s not our fault her daddy left her all alone out on that boat in the middle of a storm for—"

Bam! The woman’s words stuck in her throat as a twenty-pound bag of lams Premium dog food was slapped onto the belt, instantly flattening the potato chips and the tight cluster of carnations.

Good morning, Mandy. The tall woman with white blond hair greeted the cashier as though the other customers did not exist. Just the peaches and the dog food, please. And whatever you’ve already scanned from my neighbor’s cart. You can charge me for the chips and flowers twice, seeing as they’ll both have to be replaced.

Mandy nodded, biting back a smile. She rang up Olivia’s fruit and kibble as well as the other woman’s frozen dinners, rump roast, potato chips, flowers, cookie dough ice cream, and maxi pads. Olivia swiped a credit card through the reader, shouldered the dog food bag as though it was filled with helium, grabbed her peaches, and wished Mandy a pleasant day.

She walked out of the store, squinting as the sun bore down on her. She slid glasses over eyes that had been fiery with anger a moment ago but had now returned to a placid, lake-water blue.

Inside her Range Rover, Captain Haviland, her black-furred standard poodle, barked out a hello.

You may find that a portion of your kibble’s been pulverized into crumbs, Captain. I’m afraid my temper got the better of me. Olivia gunned the engine, drove seven blocks north, and swung into an available handicapped parking space. Haviland barked again and added an accusatory sniff.

It’s tourist season. There’s no place else to park and if I do get ticketed, that’ll just add more funds to the community treasure chest. Apparently, I don’t give back enough, Olivia snidely informed her dog and together, they marched into Grumpy’s Diner. Olivia established herself at the counter, ordered coffee, and perused the headlines of The Washington Post. However, her concentration was repeatedly broken by a group of people seated at the diner’s largest booth. They were tossing out words like dialogue, point of view, and setting, and since Olivia had been trying to write a book on and off for the past five years, her curiosity was aroused.

She kept the paper raised, as though an article on escalating interest rates was inordinately captivating, while she listened intently as a woman read aloud from what sounded like a work of romantic fiction.

Maureen put her eye to the keyhole and gasped. There was her mistress, the duchess, in the arms of a strange man. His fingers were unlacing her gown, slowly, letting each piece of delicate silk slide over his powerful fingers.

What drivel, Olivia Limoges muttered to Haviland as the reader paused for breath. The poodle sneezed. Feeling that her canine companion hadn’t been in clear agreement with her assessment, Olivia leaned to the right in order to eavesdrop further.

He then turned her around, roughly, and pushed her frock to the floor I could hear her gasp as he caressed the ribbons on her petticoat, his dark eyes never leaning the duchess’s amber ones.

Olivia snorted. "Cats have amber eyes. People do not" She cast a glance at the author who had abruptly ceased speaking, seemingly reluctant to continue. She was a pretty woman—small-framed and smooth-skinned, with hair the color of sunlit wheat, but her face was discolored and puffy, indicating a consistent lack of sleep.

"Go on, Laurel, my dear. I sense we’re nearing the juicy part," a middle-aged man with carefully gelled hair, a peach silk shirt, and finely manicured hands urged.

"Maureen knew she should back away from the door but the stranger’s movements were hypnotizing. His hand, which resembled the calloused palm of a man engaged in trade, not the smooth, pampered hands belonging to a gentleman, eased apart my lady’s bodice. His eyes lingered on the heaving swell of her breasts—"

Olivia couldn’t contain herself. Not heaving breasts! she exclaimed with a wry laugh. Anything but those!

The woman named Laurel blushed furiously and dropped her paper onto the table in front of her.

If you’d like to share your opinion, it’d be a mite easier if you joined their group instead of hollerin’ across the counter. It’s this kind of behavior that makes folks think you’re an odd duck, a high-pitched voice emanating from Olivia’s left scolded. Good morning, Captain, the woman greeted the poodle warmly. Your usual, sir?

Haviland issued a polite bark and parted his mouth in order to smile at the familiar speaker.

Good morning, Dixie. Olivia folded her paper in half and smoothed out the wrinkles. And for your information, people think I’m odd because I’m rich and single and perfectly content. All three of those factors are a rarity here in Oyster Bay. Olivia lowered her empty coffee cup from the counter so the vertically challenged diner proprietor could fill it with her famously strong brew.

At a total height of four feet seven inches tall, including the two inches provided by a pair of roller skates and an inch of comb-teased, sun-streaked brown hair, Dixie Weaver had the body of a kindergartener. She was not as young or as well proportioned as a five-year-old however, being that she was a dwarf.

Dwarf was the term Dixie preferred, and the residents of their coastal town had learned long ago never to refer to her as a little person.

I’m of short stature, she had told Olivia soon after Olivia had moved back to town and had struck up an immediate friendship with the feisty, roller-skating diner owner. "I’m not little. ‘Little’ implies young or innocent. Like a cute puppy or a baby bird. I’m a middle-aged waitress with a litter of children and a permanent tan. I smoke and do shots of tequila and I’m not cute. ‘Sides, I haven’t been innocent since the eighth grade. And do you have any idea how much I hate havin’ to wear clothes from Walmart’s kid’s department? I can’t exactly pull off sexy wearin’ Strawberry Shortcake, now can I?"

Today, Dixie was garbed in denim overalls, a green-and-white-striped T-shirt, and rainbow leg warmers. Her hair was meticulously feathered as though she were a diminutive version of Farrah Fawcett and her large, ale brown eyes were amplified by a layer of frosty baby blue shadow that spanned the entire area of skin from upper lid to brow.

Someone’s in my booth, Olivia complained to Dixie, gesturing at the table in the corner of the room. Most of the Oyster Bay residents knew better than to plant their buttocks on the red vinyl cushions of that booth between eight and eight thirty A.M. That was when Olivia frequently showed up at Grumpy’s to claim a booth. She’d then spend the better part of the morning there, eating, sipping coffee, and writing.

It was the only booth not surrounded by Andrew Lloyd Webber paraphernalia as it butted against the diner’s front window. Dixie, who practically worshipped the king of musicals, had filled her establishment with posters, masks, and themed-decorations celebrating the composer’s work. It was an adoration Olivia did not share with her closest friend, and she preferred the street view to being seated beneath a pair of Dixie’s used roller skates and a poster of Starlight Express illuminated by strings of pink Christmas lights.

You sound like one of the three bears. Dixie lowered her voice to a squeaky growl. "Somebody’s been eatin’ in my booth and they’re still there!"

The current occupants were not locals. They hadn’t been seated for long either, as they had only been served beverages. Olivia was surprised to see four college-aged boys awake, dressed, and functioning so early in the day. Normally, they’d be slumbering with their mouths open on the floor of a six-bedroom vacation home surrounded by empty beer bottles, brimming ashtrays, and overturned bongs.

You can eat here at the counter for once. It would do you good to rub elbows with your neighbors. Livin’ out there on the Point, all alone with your ghosts, with only a dog to keep you company. She quickly stroked Haviland between the ears. No offense to you, sweet darlin’. Dixie cocked a hip and rested her elbow on it, holding the steaming coffee carafe aloft. "It ain’t good for you to be all work and no play. Why don’t you take your highfalutin ass over to the Song and Dance booth and join that writer’s club? They call themselves the Bayside Book Writers, and since you’re tryin’ to write, it seems to me like you all were destined to meet"

Olivia grunted. "What do you mean by trying?" Still, she cast a quick glance at the document on her laptop screen and sighed. I never realized it would be so hard to write a book. Do you know how many times I’ve started this novel? I’ve never consistently failed in achieving a personal goal before.

Before Dixie could reply, an elderly couple entered the diner and immediately looked befuddled. Dixie skated over, handed them menus, and pointed at the empty Evita booth. She then disappeared into the kitchen for several minutes, which Olivia suspected were spent smoking Parliaments out the fire door. When Dixie reemerged, she was carrying Olivia’s breakfast on a decoupage tray. Pivoting onto the toes of her skates, she pushed the heavy china platter onto the counter.

One spinach and feta omelet with half a grapefruit. She slid another plate in front of Haviland. And scrambled eggs and sausage for you, my pet.

The poodle held out his paw. Dixie accepted it and then leaned against the empty stool next to Olivia. So the book’s not exactly writin’ itself then?

Olivia pushed her laptop aside in order to eat her breakfast. I’ve reworked the first five chapters a dozen times. For some reason, I can’t seem to move on to chapter six.

Dixie pretended not to notice a customer signaling for the check. What’s goin’ on at the end of chapter five?

Kamila, my main character, has just been selected to join the harem of Ramses the Second. It’s a huge honor, but she’s determined to become his wife, not just a woman he couples with a few times a year. Once she separates from her family, however, and is inside the palace, she’s terrified and insecure, despite her exceptional beauty. After all, she’s only fourteen.

Dixie whistled. That ain’t too early to be a conniving slut. You walked into a high school lately? Turning to nod at her impatient Phantom customer, Dixie said, It seems to me that you’d describe the palace at this point in your story. How did folks treat this girl? Where is she sleepin’? Did she get a bunch of fancy clothes and jewelry when she moved in? Does everybody hate her ’cause she’s the new girl? Are the other girls from foreign places? What does she eat? Folks love to read about food, ya know.

Olivia cut off a corner of her omelet. I wish you’d read what I’ve written so far. I think you’ve got an editorial ear.

No chance in hell, ‘Livia. You’re one of the few people I call friend. I am not gonna mess with what we’ve got by pullin’ apart your novel. Dixie turned away. "If you want to get someone’s opinion, get off your rump and go talk to that writer’s group. I’m tellin’ you, they are what you need."

Haviland opened his eyes wide and made a sneezing noise—a signal to Olivia that his canine ears had picked up a solid recommendation.

I don’t know, Captain. Olivia concentrated on her omelet, trying to imagine reading page after page of grammatically incorrect, verbose claptrap, or florid romances such as the woman Laurel was penning. I wonder what the rest of them are writing? she asked her dining companion and stole a glance at the writer’s group.

In addition to Laurel, there was a stunning young woman with glossy black hair tarnished by stripes of electric purple. She had large, sable-brown eyes and tea-hued skin, which she had pierced in multiple locations as though she’d deliberately set out to mar her exotic beauty. She wore a tight tank top embroidered with a pirate’s flag, and her exposed arms were muscular and sinewy. Olivia had no difficulty picturing the girl creeping out at night in the form of a sleek black panther.

Sitting across from her was a young man in his mid to late twenties with a dramatic case of rosacea. His unfortunate skin condition precluded one from seeing that he was handsome, in a boyish way. With his elfin eyes, brilliant smile, and waves of reddish, unkempt hair, he reminded Olivia of Peter Pan.

The well-groomed, middle-aged man in the expensive peach silk shirt completed the assemblage of writers.

As Olivia blatantly stared at them, the man in peach caught her looking. He murmured something to his group and they quickly dispersed, their laughter trailing them out the door. He then settled onto the stool next to Olivia’s and began to study her as she renewed her pretense of being fascinated by the day’s news.

I come in peace, the man said and held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "In fact, Dixie advised me to speak to you, but to use extreme caution. He smiled, showing off a row of chemically whitened and perfectly straight teeth. She spoke as though I’d be approaching a coiled cobra instead of the vision of feminine power and beauty that sits beside me."

Haviland whined and the man laughed. Oh, you’re right, friend. I’m laying it on too thick. But seriously. He focused on Olivia again. Dixie says you might be able to solve our problem. He looked pained. "Our little critique group is looking for a new place to meet. I simply cannot concentrate within miles of that Jesus Christ Superstar poster."

Amused, Olivia struggled to keep her expression neutral as she openly assessed her neighbor. What do you write?

I pen a celebrity gossip column. Under a female pseudonym, of course. Ever heard of Milano Cruise? That’s me. But don’t go shouting that from the rooftops or I’ll be out of a job. He wiggled a pair of neatly curved brows. Most of my stories find their way onto the Internet. Milano’s MySpace page is one of the most popular in the world.

You hardly need a critique group for that kind of work, Olivia said with a dismissive wave of her fork.

No, indeed, the man agreed with a laugh. "I must confess that I’m quite good at my craft. However, I’m spending the summer in Oyster Bay in order to work on a top secret story. You see, it’s my intention to create a fictionalized biography of sorts. Names and dates changed—that sort of thing. He lowered his voice. Everyone would know who I was writing about, but I can’t get sued this way, you see? He cleared his throat and puffed his chest out. There are just piles of money waiting to be made on my idea."

Olivia found herself warming toward the man. Firstly, Haviland seemed comfortable in his presence, and Olivia found him refreshingly candid. Most importantly, he was well mannered and clearly intelligent. I have a banquet room in my restaurant, but it would be rather costly. How often do you meet Mr.... ?

Camden Ford, at your service. He bowed his head in exaggerated gallantry. "We’ve only had two meetings, but we’d like to gather once a week. And costly isn’t really the adjective to which I was aspiring."

What about the library?

Those spectacled harpies won’t let us partake of any alcohol. He smirked. How can we be proper writers without booze? Coffee and eggs are not acceptable substitutes for old scotch or a fine cabernet. Also, two of my fellow writers have scheduling conflicts with morning meetings. One has to care for a pair of imps in diapers while the other sleeps until noon so she can work the night away sliding beer bottles across a dirty, sweating bar to equally dirty, sweaty mean.

A laugh escaped Olivia’s throat. She felt inclined to introduce herself and Haviland to the entertaining newcomer.

Limoges? he asked in interest. As in the fine porcelain?

Pleased, Olivia nodded. My family name comes from the French city where the porcelain was produced.

"’Tis also the birthplace of my favorite comic hero, Astérix, mais non?" Camden stirred sugar into his coffee. So are you a fabulously wealthy porcelain heiress?

Oak barrel heiress, actually. Olivia passed him the cream. The kind specially produced for storing fine cognac.

Camden looked dutifully impressed. He then made a sweeping gesture with his arms. Oyster Bay’s not the type of town where I’d expect to meet someone like you. Unless you’re hiding from a sordid past? An abusive lover? The IRS... ?

Olivia disregarded his speculations. We’re hardly Beverly Hills gossip material either. There’s neither a renowned plastic surgery center here nor an exclusive detox facility, so whose trail are you following?

After taking a dainty sip of coffee, Camden winked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Indeed she would. Olivia liked to be informed about the goings-on in her town, no matter how insignificant. "Do tell. She came close to pleading and then decided to come off as unconvinced. There can hardly be any celebrity news to be gleaned in Oyster Bay."

That is where you’re mistaken, dear lady. He rose. Come, let’s move to a booth where I can gaze into your Adriatic blue eyes.

Olivia took her coffee and laptop and relocated to the vacated window booth. As soon as they were settled, Haviland ducked under the table, stretched out his front legs, and put his head on Camden’s shoe. Olivia was surprised. It normally took the poodle quite a while before he felt comfortable with a stranger. The gossip writer seemed content to provide a pillow for the groggy canine. Do you know the Talbot family? he asked.

Certainly. The Talbots are real estate developers.

Not developers. Tycoons. Think big. As in Donald Trump big. Camden lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "That’s just the parents. There are three kiddies too. The daughter designs haute couture and sleeps with NFL quarterbacks. The older son likes snorting coke and fondling beautiful young men, and the baby boy is the lead singer of a hot punk band. He’s nailed half the starlets on E!’s up-and-coming list, and I know for a fact that he’s brought his latest paramour here, to the Talbot beach house. Oh, and did I mention that the gorgeous creature he’s wooing is barely legal? And she’s appearing in two big-budget films this summer after wrapping a third season as the star of a hit television show? He crossed his arms smugly. Manolo Cruise will dine off this story for years, thank you very much."

Are the Talbots the family you plan to write about in your novel?

Camden put a finger to his lips. Absolutement. I wrote the first three chapters on the plane from LA to DC, but I require help choosing which of the so very, very juicy, dark, and scandalous events I should focus my poison pen upon. He stroked Haviland’s soft ears, and both man and poodle sighed contentedly. Madame Limoges, we need an alcoholic haven in which our creativity can flow. Dixie mentioned an unused cottage on your property. An isolated lighthouse keeper’s house with the ambiance sure to encourage even the most reluctant of muses. Would you open it up to us for an hour or two each week?

Olivia signaled Dixie angrily with her eyes. That place has been uninhabited for years. It’s falling apart—utterly unsuitable for your purpose at this point in time.

"At this point in time, Camden repeated. Dixie also relayed that your work in progress is historical fiction and that you’ve reached an impasse. He looked at Olivia warmly. We need one another, my dear. Join the dark side. Sweep the dust out of that cottage, share your manuscript, and let’s hit the bestseller list together. He reached over and gave her forearm a playful swat. Don’t pout, ma chérie. It’ll be fun. I’ll handle all the insipid, organizational stuff."

Olivia was silent for a long time. It was impossible to remain unaffected by Camden’s charm. I’ll think about both offers, she promised sincerely.

I have long since learned to take all I can get. Do call me if you’re willing to take a chance, my dazzling, halo-haired Duchess of Oyster Bay. Camden placed a business card next to her water glass and then gently slid his foot out from beneath Haviland’s snout. Excuse me, my fine sir.

Olivia watched him walk away, strangely conflicted by the encounter. Camden was quite charismatic and she would enjoy spending more time in his company. But to commit to his group required some adjustments on her part. For one, such a change meant she’d have to walk into the home of her childhood. A structure haunted by loneliness and loss.

Is Dixie right? Am I living with ghosts? she murmured to the snoozing poodle. Perhaps I am, or near enough anyway. Perhaps the time has come for an exorcism.

Olivia examined herself in the reflection of the mirror lining the back wall. She didn’t see the handsome, confident woman her neighbors saw, but a skinny, frightened, and friendless child with white blond hair and eyes that spoke of the sea’s secret depths.

Blinking, Olivia passed her hand across her face, as though she were wiping it away in the mirror. She nodded to her reflection and Haviland stirred as his mistress squared her shoulders and came to a decision.

Her purposeful feet might not have carried her so lightly through the door had she known that one of the diners she’d seen at Grumpy’s that morning would soon be dead.

And it would be a death the likes of which the residents of Oyster Bay could never have imagined.

Chapter 2

Always do sober what you said youd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.

—ERNEST HEMINGWAY

Olivia turned the skeleton key in the door and paused. After so much time she wondered what sights awaited her within the lighthouse keeper’s cottage, the home of her childhood. Thirty years had passed since Grandmother Limoges had descended on Oyster Bay, swooped up her only grandchild, and installed her in one of the country’s most elite, all-girl boarding schools.

Before then, she had been an unheeded and unhindered ten-year-old girl named Livie. A girl raised by her fisherman father. Or the girl who raised herself, as some of the townsfolk whispered.

Twisting the key farther, Olivia heard the click of the lock releasing. As she eased the door open, she half-expected a rush of whiskey-tinged air and lost dreams to burst out through the crack and knock her to the ground, but only a wisp of decay escaped from within.

Come along, Haviland, Olivia whispered, irritated by the hush in her voice. Run ahead and make sure there are no vermin waiting to scurry across my feet.

Pleased to obey, the poodle rushed into the house, barking a warning to any rodents or insects that would certainly have grown bold enough to claim proprietorship over the abandoned cottage.

Dust. Olivia walked over a solid film of the stuff, formed by layer upon layer of dirt, mold, spiderwebs, and time. Glad she had had the foresight to don her rubber boots before entering the house, she took several steps into the hall and turned right into the living room.

Olivia surveyed the room quickly, trying to keep the memories of moments spent in this space at bay. Her attempts were futile, of course, and the dark gloom seeped into her being and reduced her to the motherless child who spent her days in solitude, battling feelings of perpetual trepidation and oppressive isolation.

There was not enough natural light to banish the shadows. It took the full measure of Olivia’s arrested will to wrench the faded plaid curtains right off the rods. They pooled on the floor in clouds of dust, allowing the sun to illuminate the bloodred walls, the faded green fabric on the drooping sofa, the broken rung of the wooden ladder-back chair that had once been Olivia’s assigned seat, and her father’s prized collection of maritime art.

How I hated these, she told Haviland, yet she couldn’t refrain from reexamining the paintings. These were not scenes of pleasure cruises on flat, cerulean waters, but schooners with rent sails or shabby fishing trawlers being tossed about in angry oceans of black waves. An element of violence permeated each picture. Even in the few paintings depicting calm skies and still seas, the hint of a dorsal fin or a low bank of menacing thunderclouds implied imminent danger.

I hate them still, she murmured.

Olivia returned to the central hallway,

[nancynova · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An ABC book that turned out to have a "bookish" bent, so it will travel on in the bookish bookbox. Writer Olivia is back in town and is talked into joining the Oyster Bay Bayside Bookwriters group. Lots of characters...that are characters...but then townfolk start turning up dead with haiku poems left by their bodies. Can Olivia help the local sheriff catch the killer?

[liscarey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Olivia Limoges lived her first few years in the little town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina. Her mother died in a freak accident during a storm when she was seven, though, and her father, a fisherman, died when she was ten. The little village pulled together to care for her until her grandmother arrived to take custody of her, and take her away. Many years later, she has returned, a successful businesswoman, and has been investing her money in redeveloping Oyster Bay in ways that preserve and enhance the existing character of the community.

But Olivia isn't outgoing and social, and she resents any questions, perfectly normal in most circumstances, that might lead to talking about her childhood traumas. She really has only one close friend in Oyster Bay, and is the subject of gossip.

But that one friend, Dixie, who works with her husband, Grumpy, in their Grumpy's Diner, introduces her to Camden Ford, who in turn coaxes her into joining the Oyster Bay writers' group he's a member of. She's working on her own historical novel, and has run into a problem, so, why not?

Shortly after she joins, though, one of their members is murdered. Olivia, along with the other members, start investigating. The group includes computer programmer Harris (the only male member besides Camden), stay-at-home mother of twins Laurel, and the young, female bartender with multiple piercings, whose name is pronounced "Maylee." Since I listened to the audiobook, and I'm not familiar with that name, I don't know the spelling. All of them have skills, knowledge, or contacts that help them do so--but in a pleasing departure from the norm in cozy mysteries, they also have the sense to avoid foolish risks, and back off to let Chief of Police Sawyer Rawlings do the serious investigation. They turn up what information they can find to him, rather than deciding they know better.

There are two more deaths to come, and some scandals to uncover. Olivia is not an easy character to like, but she gets more likable as we learn more about the traumas of her childhood, and she opens up as she builds real friendships with the writers' group, Chief Rawlings., and Flynn McNulty, owner of the new bookstore in town, Through the Wardrobe. Olivia also has a dog, a standard poodle, named Captain Haviland. Haviland is smart, well-behaved, and perfect. A little too perfect, perhaps, but I loved him anyway.

It is sadly true that Olivia is a snob. She judges people on their taste in wine, food, and coffee, as well as dress and interior decorating. She's a bit too willing to use her wealth to get her way--though she'll do that for her friends, too.

There's also the matter of the Confederate cemetery. It's in a public park, and both the park and the cemetery are sadly neglected. Yet when an outside developer comes in with a plan to develop a high-end residential community, the idea that it would require moving the Confederate dead from this neglected cemetery to a well-maintained church cemetery is An Outrage, and dishonoring the Confederate dead.

Now, first of all, where's the insult in moving them to a place where their graves will be tended and maintained? No one has cared enough about them to actually maintain the supposedly precious park and memorial. More provoking to me, is that even the Evil Yankee Outside Developer ever mentions that Our Honored Confederate Dead were in fact traitors. That's not a reason to treat their bodies with disrespect, but moving them to a better-maintained cemetery is hardly that.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Olivia grew on me, and I liked Dixie, Chief Rawlings, Flynn McNulty, and the writers' group members. The mystery itself is pretty interesting, and it's hard to go wrong with a likable dog, who emerges healthy and happy at the other end of the book.

I bought this audiobook.

[kevn57-163679 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3 stars
This series is very different from Adams’ Book Retreat Mysteries Series, especially the main characters. But one thing they do have in common is their ability to solve mysteries. I knew this series was about books but that’s all I knew so I surprised to find out the main character was a restaurant owner, thought for sure that the lighthouse on the cover was a bookstore. The interaction with the writer’s group makes for a refreshing viewpoint in helping to solve the crime.
The story did take a little while to grab my interest, but that may be due to the fact that it’s a first in the series and the author had a lot of world and character building going on early in the novel.

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The characters are the best part. The mystery itself is convoluted and full of twists and misdirections.
The narrator didn't really seem to be engaged with the main character or her very personable dog.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Olivia is a wealthy business woman who is more comfortable with her dog than she is with people, especially on a personal level. She doesn’t mind being alone, and she doesn’t mind breaking rules if the occasion calls for it. When the head of a writers’ group approaches her for a favor, she finds herself intrigued by his request. And when her town is threatened by a murderer in its midst, she becomes personally involved. The first in a series, this mystery has an intricate plot and complex characters. The charm is not only in the small town setting, but also in the imperfect and flawed characters who people it. This audio version is excellently performed by Karen White who adds much to its enjoyment.

[paradiseporch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

(Fiction, Mystery, Cozy, Series)

In the small coastal town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina, “Olivia Limoges is the subject of constant gossip. Ever since she came back to town-a return as mysterious as her departure-Olivia has kept to herself, her dog, and her unfinished novel.”

But when townspeople start turning up dead with haiku poems on their bodies she, as a writer, becomes suspect and is drawn into solving the crimes. This is the first of the Books by the Bay series and is a solid, although not overly exciting, debut.

3½ stars

[ffortsa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well, I had to go back to read the first of these fluffy mysteries, having started by mistake with the second. Ms. Adams (a cheesy pseudonym, don't you think?) could use a copy editor from time to time, but it was an entertaining read on a rainy day.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Oyster Bay, North Carolina used to be a well-kept secret, but since a national magazine rated it one of the best places to live / vacation, the population has swelled and economic growth has increased. Olivia Limoges has recently returned to Oyster Bay; wealthy, single and aloof, she owns a number of commercial buildings as well as her family homestead. A chance encounter with a group of writers, draws her out of her shell, but before she had establish herself with the group one of them is murdered.

This is a pretty interesting cozy mystery, featuring a group of aspiring authors who together try to solve the murder of one of their group. I like Olivia Limoges, though I was picturing her as much older (and eventually figured out she’s probably in her mid-30s, or perhaps early-40s). I like that her faithful dog – a standard poodle named Captain Haviland – is a DOG, not a character who helps solve the crime (though his ability to track does come into play). I also like that Olivia and her friends do not take unnecessary chances; they are curious and do meddle (wouldn’t be much of a cozy mystery without SOME intervention by the amateur sleuths), but they seem to know when to back away and let Police Chief Sawyer Rawlings step in.

I thought Adams did a good job of setting the scene. I really got the sense of a small sea-side community that relies on tourist trade in season, fishing year-round, and is struggling with issues of new-found wealth and investment. As is typical of most cozies, there’s a pretty large cast of supporting players, not a few of whom are pretty colorful (a roller-skating dwarf waitress, for example) I found a few of the relationships stretched credulity, but not enough to mar the fun.

Adams includes several interludes where the writers’ group members share chapters from the books they are working on. Well … I could have done without those. The reveal seemed abrupt and it happened a good 50 pages before the book ended, which made me wonder if there wasn’t another twist coming up. That kind of extra padding really isn’t necessary.

Still, it held my attention, it had a good pace and I enjoyed trying to figure out who-done-it. I’ll definitely read another in the series.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I picked this book because it contained a writing group and I thought it would be interesting to see how writers would tackle an investigation. It seems an eclectic group with each person writing in a different genre. I liked that we got some excerpts from the writers as well as some critique/feedback on the passages we saw.

I'm not sure if it was just because it is the first book in the series, but there seemed to be quite a few extraneous characters that didn't really need to be involved in this plot.

[jean_sexton-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got the second book of this cozy mystery series as a gift, so I bought the first book. I honestly wanted to love A Killer Plot. It has a would-be writer as the lead. She has a poodle (what is not to like?). It is set on the coast of North Carolina in the fictitious town of Oyster Bay, near New Bern. The mystery is just difficult enough to solve that it kept my interest.

That written, there were some missteps. Olivia Limoges, the lead character, has some serious personality flaws. She throws money around to get rules bent. She parks illegally in handicapped spots, saying she can afford the fines. No matter how nice she is to others, there is a hint of calculation behind her actions. I hope that some of this is smoothed out in the next book as I don't really like her.

There are two gay men in the book. Both of them are close to being stereotypical in their language and clothes. Did I like those characters? Absolutely. But still I wish there were some level of balance.

I will read the next book and hope for the best. After all, this is just the start of the series and the premiere may have some rough spots.

[mmoj_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would. Ellery Adams writes with a clean, logical style that has enough character description to keep you reading. She excels with her descriptions about the location. I pictured myself in Oyster Bay standing on the beach, tasting the salt air or feeling the pressure of the humidity while I walked the shops of downtown. Olivia Limoges was an interesting character who I want to know more about, and while I'm not overly fond of the romantic triangles believing they are over-done in the cozy mystery genre that storyline didn't overshadow the main story. I was surprised almost to the end about who did which for me is very satisfying. Can't wait to read more.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Since she moved back to her home town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina, Olivia Limoges has pretty much kept to herself. She is still sensitive about the childhood tragedy that caused her abrupt departure from the town. A new writer's group breaks through her barrier of reserve, but just as she begins to feel comfortable with the group, its leader is murdered. Police Chief Rawlings and his staff are very capable of investigating the murder on their own, but the Chief welcomes the help of the writer's group in deciphering the meaning behind a haiku left with the body. More murders and mysterious haikus ratchet up the stakes, and the group feels pressure to identify the unknown killer before he or she claims another victim.

It took a while for me to warm up to Olivia. She comes across as snobbish and rude early in the book, but her growing friendship with the writer's group reveals a caring personality underneath her reserve. I love dogs, but her perfectly trained poodle who accompanied her everywhere is a bit too much. He'd be more realistic if he misbehaved every once in a while. Olivia has what seems to be the required two potential suitors to choose between in the owner of the town's new bookstore and the widowed police chief. I liked most of the secondary characters from the beginning, and I'll give the series another chance to see if it develops into one that will have me eagerly anticipating the next book.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A reclusive woman who is attempting to write a novel forms an authors’ group and then renovates the a lighthouse cabin on her property for them to meet once a week. The locals start dying and haiku poems are left as clues as they try to figure out who the murdered is. I found, Olivia, the main character not very likeable but her dog, a standard black poodle named Captain Haviland was the perfect pet.

[debbieaheaton · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In Adams mystery novel, Olivia Limoges has returned to Oyster Bay, North Carolina as quietly and mysteriously as she left. Financially stable, she runs her business, cares for her standard poodle, and struggles with her historical novel. Most of the community gossips about her lack of giving back to the community. When Camden Ford approaches her about a place where his writer’s group can meet, Olivia steps up and arranges for them to use the old lighthouse keeper’s quarters on her property. But when locals start turning up dead with poems written on them, everyone with a flare for words becomes a suspect forcing Olivia to launch her own investigation to find a killer before he strikes again.

Strong first installment to A Books by the Bay Mystery series.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the characters in this one, as well as the North Carolina coastal setting. It took me a little while to get sucked into the story, but once I got on a roll with it, I enjoyed the book.

[bookswoman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great first book in a series. I love JB Stanley's books so having her write another series under Ellery Adams is a bonus.

My favorite character in this book is Captain Haviland -- the black standard poodle, he is smart, funny, protective and did I mention smart? All the things that poodles are and do are evident here. Owner Olivia has trained him well and he plays a part in the mystery without being the center of attention.

There is plenty of character development here and with a sub-plot of a writers group you get to know not only the characters as they relate to other people but also how they relate to the world through their writing.

The mystery was a good one and had me fooled completely -- there is a red herring that I just had to snap at so I was totally going the wrong direction. I love it when that happens.

I already have the next in the series, so I can't wait to get started. Have a library book to finish first but I believe that #2 in the Books By The Bay series will be on deck sometime this weekend.

[bsquaredinoz · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Olivia Limoges has moved back to the town where she was born, Oyster Bay in North Carolina. Having experienced some personal tragedies in her life she is something of a loner, preferring the company of Captain Haviland, her highly trained standard poodle, than other people. Almost against her will though she is drawn into friendship with a group of local writers who meet regularly to discuss and critique each other's work. When one of the group is killed and a haiku left next to the body Olivia and the other members of the writer's group all feel a particular interest in investigating the murder.

I really enjoyed this introduction to a new series with its great location and interesting characters. Olivia is working on a novel set in ancient Egypt in between her business interests which include owning the town's only 5-star restaurant and being a member of the town's Planning Committee. She is aloof and a bit prickly but she has a practical approach to helping people when they're in need and I liked her. It probably helped that she treated her dog with the deference and adoration that all dogs deserve. There are loads of great minor characters too who I will enjoy getting to know in future installments of this series.

I thought the resolution to the mystery was a little bit awkward and unnecessarily complicated but overall the plot development was solid and importantly did not involve depicting the official investigators as moronic simpletons. There's lots going on in the novel though as the body count piles up and the alibis are scrutinized and the tension builds nicely. Overall it's a fun, light mystery with a load of engaging characters and if you are a dog lover I think it's one you will particularly enjoy.

[cyderry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Olivia Limoges is as special as her last name suggests. Living on the Outer Banks, Olivia owns a 5* restaurant and is working on writing a book. Her constant companion Captain Haviland, a well-trained Poodle, seems almost human when the "conversations" between the two come to the fore front.

This first book in the Books by the Bay Mysteries has wonderful characters, numerous villains (non terribly bad except the murderer, of course)and with the small town feel that the secondary characters exude, it's a place you want to visit, so make your reservation at the Yellow Lady.

Well, maybe you need to be a bit careful because there's a murderer running around and he's a cut above the norm leaving HAIKUs at the scene of the crime. Could the murderer be part of Olivia's writers group? Well, the Chief of Police is a writer so maybe you'll be safe there.

There are all different angles in this murder mystery and the Olivia is so multi-dimensional, I was enthralled through the entire book. Even at the end, there were still areas of Olivia that were left unexplored, so I am definitely looking forward to the next one. Too bad I have to give it back, it's a keeper!

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Olivia Limoges has returned to the town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina. She's wealthy and owns quite a bit of the town's real estate. She becomes involved with a local writers group. It's not long until the group's organizer turns up dead with a haiku nearby. The authorities enlist the help of the writers group to help unpuzzle the haiku clue. I found myself enjoying this mystery. The characters are interesting, and the chief of police is not depicted as incompetent, which is a refreshing change. I must confess that I pictured him as being very similar to Sheriff Tupper as depicted by Tom Bosley in the Murder, She Wrote television series. It's not often that a poodle is featured as an intellectual dog, but Captain Haviland is depicted as such in this book. I'm definitely looking forward to the second in this recent series.

[chinquapin_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It took me a much longer time than expected to work myself through this cozy mystery set in a small coastal town in North Carolina called Oyster Bay. The main character, Olivia Limoges, is a wealthy woman in her 40's who has returned to live in her childhood town, buying up many of the buildings and becoming the landlord to what seemed like half the town. She is reserved and miserly in the beginning of the book, living quietly with her standard poodle, Captain Haviland, and working on her historical novel. When she joins a local writer's group, she abruptly changes and becomes overtly friendly, generous and civic-minded. She is befriended by a gay author who is in town researching a famous, wealthy family for a tell-all type book. When this man is found murdered at a local park that has created a development controversy due to a small Confederate cemetery on its grounds, Olivia can't help but become involved in investigating what happened.

Somehow, I just could not connect with Olivia Limoges. I think she was just too perfect...beautiful, rich, smart, well-educated, well-mannered, witty, generous and perfectly politically correct in everything she said or did. She has even taken "several courses on administering canine first aid." Oh, and the dog was perfect too. At one point Olivia tells the Chief of Police that, "Haviland has the killer's scent down now and he can identify him! Trust me, the Captain earned perfect scores in all his tracking courses. He has more training than your combined K-9 unit." The murder mystery itself was well-constructed and nicely plotted, I just had a difficult time sympathizing, or even liking, the main character.

[cathyskye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First Line: Two of Oyster bay's lifelong citizens were in line at the Stop 'n' Shop, gossiping over carts stuffed with frozen entrees, potato chips, boxes of Krispy Kremes, and liters of soda when Olivia Limoges breezed through the market's automatic doors.

Olivia is no stranger to gossip-- she's been its regular subject ever since she came back to town. Preferring her own company and that of her dog, Captain Haviland, to most townspeople, she works on her novel in solitude. Writer Camden Ford has to turn on all his charm, but he finally gets Olivia to agree to join the Bayside Book Writers group. Just when she seems on the verge of making new friends, people begin turning up dead with poems left by the bodies. Anyone with the gift of language becomes suspect, and it's up to Olivia to catch the killer before she meets a poem with her name on it.

There seems to be more and more cozy mystery series using the North Carolina coast as a setting, and I don't mind a bit. This first entry in the Books By the Bay series has so much to recommend it.

I loved Captain Haviland, the black standard poodle. So many people only know poodles from seeing them in the show ring, and I for one can testify that you don't have to keep them groomed in those ridiculous styles-- plus they're some of the most intelligent dogs on the planet. (Yes, I'm a former poodle owner!)

I also loved the new bookstore in town, Through the Wardrobe, and really enjoyed the secondary characters. Olivia proved to be a fascinating main character. She's used to having money and spending it, so it was interesting to see how she used it in her own small hometown which relies so heavily upon tourism. So much of the time she was very prickly and aloof which made it difficult to warm up to her, but she's an onion that has to be peeled back a layer at a time. The more she interacts with the other characters, the more approachable she's going to get.

I'm going to enjoy peeling back those layers as this series progresses!

[scoutlee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Killer Plot is the first in a brand new cozy series by Ellery Adams. Olivia Limoges is the main character with a haunting past. She returns to her hometown a wealthy woman and is often the center of the town’s gossip. She comes across as aloof and uncaring. She’s still wounded from her childhood and is learning how to break down her walls.

She’s given the chance to join the Bayside Book Writers, a group of hopeful writers who meet regularly to critique their rough drafts, where she meets new friends. The offer comes from Camden Ford, who is currently writing a book about the high-powered Talbot family. When Camden is killed, Olivia feels a sense of loss for her new friend and takes it upon herself to find his killer.

A Killer Plot is a fresh addition to the cozy genre. Olivia is a complex main character, while the secondary characters assist with moving her forward from the isolation she feels as a result of her past. There’s a hint of a love interest for her, but it doesn’t deflect from the mystery. Adams does a fantastic job with character development and description of Oyster Bay, that the reader can easily visualize each scene while reading. Some may question Olivia’s relationship with her poodle Havilland and how she communicates with him. It’s through this relationship that Olivia is the most vulnerable and is seen with emotion.

The storyline moves at a steady pace and I never felt it was rushed. I didn’t solve the mystery and was quite surprised at the killer’s identity and the motives for the killings. If you’re a cozy fan and looking for a new series, I highly recommend A Killer Plot. The second book, A Deadly Cliche will be released in March 2011.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Olivia has always been a loner, even after returning to her hometown on the coast of North Carolina. But joining a writers club is starting to bring her out of her shell. When one of her fellow authors is killed, she and her fellow writers join forces to help solve the crime.

This is a very well written mystery. I found Olivia a bit hard to warm up to. But then that is her character in the book so is just another testament to the writing. But she really is a nice person under that hard shell. All the characters are well defined and I found the town and town folk quite charming. Her dog, Haviland, is irresistable.

[booklady123 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a young child Olivia Limoges left the coastal town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina after the mysterious disappearance of her fisherman father. Years later, still haunted by his disappearance, Olivia returns to her hometown. No longer the unhappy child found abandoned in a floating boat, Olivia is now a mysterious, sophisticate and wealthy woman working on her first novel. Olivia is convinced the only companion she needs is her faithful poodle, Captain Haviland. However, after joining the local writer’s group, Olivia begins to make friends only to have one brutally murdered. Devastated, Olivia and her fellow writers take it upon themselves to assist the police chief, Sawyer Rawlings (a potential love interest for Olivia) in solving the murder.

I’m a huge mystery fan of all kinds, but I’m particularly fond of cozy mysteries, especially those with a theme. I picked up A Killer Plot because Olivia is a writer. (Something I dream of myself.) It sounded just like the kind of book I would enjoy. I was not disappointed. Adams has created well-developed characters that the reader will enjoy getting to know. Each one is diverse and interesting, from feisty waitress Dixie, who insists on being referred to as “dwarf” rather than “little person” to Millay who changes her color highlights often and feels very protective of the rough and tumble fishermen who hang at Fish Nets, the bar where she works.

Often when a series debuts, the main character is not as well developed as Olivia. But Adams has created a character of great depth. There is more to Olivia than just her money, sophistication and aloofness. The fact that she is a woman of mystery is introduced early on and we get to see her grow. She is my favorite character and I’m looking forward to learning more about her.

One final reason I found this book so entertaining goes back to the theme: writers. I’ve read other stories where one or more of the characters are writers. Some have even belonged to writer’s groups just like the Oyster Bay Writers. What singles out Adams’ book from the others is that reader gets a glimpse of what it’s like to be a writer. We get to see some of the process and we get to see how a real writing group operates (though granted, most real life groups don’t get involved in solving crimes). I enjoyed reading their works in progress almost as much as the main story. This is a series that has a lot to offer and I can’t wait for the next one.

[ethel55_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oyster Bay, North Carolina better be careful, or it's going to fall off of Time's "Top Ten Best Kept Vacation Secrets" list! Wealthy Olivia Limoges has returned to the town and is part of the re-vitalization of town by being a restaurant owner and a landlord to many of the new businesses in town. Olivia's poodle, Captain Haviland, seems to be her best friend in life until the Bayside Book Writers group invite her to join them. A murder in town, coupled with haiku clue, get the writers group involved in some detecting. Adams secondary characters, like rollerskating Dixie, gentle, yet deep police chief Rawlings and all of the Bayside writers shine in this debut novel. I definitely look forward to their next mystery.

[tututhefirst_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a combo! Take an elegant but mysterious single wealthy female Olivia Limoges owner of an adorable intelligent well mannered dog named Havilland, living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Add an intelligent, sympatico, charming eligible police chief. Mix in small town atmosphere, great food served in several locations, a group of would be writers, and a murderer who writes Haiku! This one is delightful. Billed as the beginning of a new series (Books by the Bay Mysteries) written by the popular J.B. Stanley under the pseudonym Ellery Adams, the reader is instantly in love with the characters and the setting, and becomes wrapped up in the town's dilemma: should they approve the sale of a popular but run down park to a conglomerate owned by a native son who made big bucks and moved away, even though it means moving several old graves to a non-descript setting across town?

When a visiting journalist, intent on digging up dirt on the would be owners is found murdered in a dark alley, and the only clue is a strange Haiku spray painted at the site, the local writers group (which the victim belonged to) led by Olivia, sets out to help the chief interpret the Haiku and find the murderer. The reader will have to read the rest of the story.

There are several other delightful characters who- in this first volume-are given just enough personality for us to want to get to know more. And in addition to the chief, the new book store owner also appears to offer possibilities for some romance in addition to the mysteries to come.

[quietcait · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great plot, just enough twists to keep me off track but not for me to lose interest. Olivia is interesting as is the rest of the Bayside Book Writers. Can't wait to see further character development. Love the town & quirky supporting cast, they add wonderful seasonin...g. Last, but definitely not least, Captain Haviland (blk, std poodle) made a delightful sidekick.

[lgondelman_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Welcome to Oyster Bay, North Carolina where the living is easy and murder is on the mind.

Olivia Limoges has returned to the hometown she left as a young girl. She is rich, stunning, suffering from a case of writers block and still a mystery to the locals, and often keeping only the company of her loyal poodle Captain Haviland. She also owns the local five star restaurant and has invested a lot in local properties, becoming landlord to many of the businesses around her. While having breakfast at the local diner she overhears some people talking “book stuff.” Dixie, her friend and waitress explains that they are a group called the Bayside Book Writers and encourages her to join. She hesitates until she speaks with Camden Ford, the apparent leader of the group. She finds him witty, charming and impossible to refuse. Olivia decides that she is going to fix up the lighthouse cottage on her property for their meetings.

It looks like things are improving for Olivia, particularly in the friend department, until people start showing up dead. When one of her new friends winds up dead, with of all things a Haiku poem left next to the body, Olivia and her writer friends know they will do whatever they can to find out who is responsible for the murder. But can they figure it out before more bodies start to fall? Do the murders have to do with the gossip book one of their group members is writing about a well know family, the desire to push through a new housing development no matter what the cost, or something else no one could have possibly anticipated?

A Killer Plot is a fantastic start to a new series. The characters are fun, fresh and a bit on the eccentric side. There is Dixie, the roller skating dwarf waitress, Harris the computer geek who suffers from a serious case of Rosacea, and Millay the bartender, who likes to show up with her hair a different color each time they meet. These are just a few of the fun people you will meet in this charming first book of the Books By The Bay Mystery series. The characters are believable and the author gives the reader great insight into the world of a writer. With new friendships, possible romance(s) and promises of great things to come, A Killer Plot is one book you don’t want to be caught dead missing.