Death and a Pot of Chowder: A Maine Murder Mystery

Anna received a shocking letter from a sister she never knew about, telling her the father she’s never met has died and she wants them to meet. The day Anna goes to meet her new sister, Izzie, she gets a shocking phone call from her husband, Burt. His younger brother, Carl, has disappeared. Not long after Carl’s body is found, it’s revealed he was murdered. To make matters worse, her teenage son seems to be keeping secrets from her, and Burt is accused of murder. When Burt gets arrested, Anna and Izzie are diven into the mystery to prove his innocence.

Sibling relationships are a focal point throughout as Anna bonds with her newfound sister, but it’s Burt’s relationship with Carl that’s front and center, though never actually seen.

Anna and Izzie have a charming dynamic that’s instantly likable, which makes their sleuthing fun and humorous. As they uncover clues, they discover new things about each other. Secrets are a prominent theme not just with the mystery but within Anna’s family. Anna is a strong-willed and endearing character who pulls you into the story and makes you care about her life. She’s easy to sympathize with as she struggles to balance getting to know her sister, save her husband from going to jail, and in her role as a mother trying to help her son cope through this difficult time. The problems she faces are real and makes the danger all that more realistic, while Cornelia Kidd maintains humor and charisma throughout with smart wit and charming characters.

A heartfelt mystery about family and secrets, exploring the past and questioning the future,Death and a Pot of Chowder is the first book of the Maine Murder Mystery series.