Chance Encounter Embroils Clark is Another Murder
I always enjoy reading cozies that take place in resort or summer settings, so I keep returning to the Myrtle Beach Mysteries. It also helps that I’m intrigued by the overarching story involving the death of Clark’s wife. Unfortunately, the pacing betrayed Death on the Causeway, the fourth in the series.
Our main character is Clark Thomas, who has found himself caught up in some murders over the last year and a half or so. By day, he owns a bookstore on the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, a dream he’d shared with his late wife. He also has ghost written books and his first novel under his own name has just come out.
When this book opens, he’s returning from a book signing to promote that novel, but he’s stuck in Memorial Day Weekend traffic. That’s why he notices a young woman in obvious distress on the side of the road. When he stops to see if he can help, he discovers her name is Shelly, and she’s been traveling the country with her fiancĂ©, Brian. But Brian has just abandoned her.
The two set out to retrace Brian and Shelly’s steps in the last couple of days, hoping to determine what is going on with Brian. Can they catch up with him? Why did he take off? And what does that dead body they find along the way mean?
While I was originally intrigued by the premise of this book, I found the first half rather repetitive. We have the same thing several times, and I was more than ready for something different to happen.
When it did, I was intrigued again for a while, but I spotted a key part of the plot early on, leaving me waiting for Clark to catch up. Yes, I did find the ending answered my questions.
I do still like Clark and the other characters we’ve gotten to know along the way. Having said that, I wasn’t happy with one of the twists in Clark’s love life.
And I find the setting fun, including the bookstore Clark owns. Reading these books really make me want to visit Myrtle Beach.
I mentioned earlier that we have an ongoing mystery of what happened to Clark’s wife. As usual, we got a new twist at the end of this book. I’m happy to know this storyline has been resolved. I just need to get to the book where Clark figures it out.
If you are looking for a light read set in a resort community, these books will fit the bill. Even so, pick up Death on the Causeway once you are already familiar with the series.
Here are the rest of the Myrtle Beach Mysteries.
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