Dying to Live Here

Estate Sales Mystery, #1

by

Shelley Marsh

Murder, romance, and Mother Nature combine in this intriguing Florida-set cozy mystery!

Dying to Live Here is the first book in author Shelley Marsh’s fabulous new Estate Sales Mystery series set in the Atlantic coastal city of Jacksonville, Florida. Emma Stewart and Laura Benton have been best friends since college, having each other’s back and a ready shoulder to cry on through life’s ups and downs, and when a home opens up after the death of its elderly owner in Laura’s exclusive beachside community, she’s excited and insistent that Emma take a look. Although the house is not yet on the market, Laura has a key she took when she watched the house while the owner was away, and she talks Emma into coming over late one evening so she can get an early preview. But when Laura opens the front door and steps inside the dark house, they discover blood and the body of the former HOA president, and Laura’s nemesis, just over the threshold. With the police looking hard at Laura for the murder, Emma teams up with Laura’s attorney and handsome, single neighbor, Sam Turner, to find the real killer and clear Laura’s name. 

I loved this story, with its engaging main characters, the murder of a bitter, mean victim, the neighborhood drama, and the fun romance between Emma and Sam. Emma is a successful software developer, long-divorced after a short-lived marriage immediately after college, and the only male in her world is a rescue bulldog mix named Hopper. She and Laura are very different, but their shared past has cemented a strong, long-lasting friendship. I loved their camaraderie, back-and-forth banter, and how they played off one another as they investigated Laura’s neighbors. Sam is adorable and single-minded in his attention to Emma and not afraid to let his interest show. 

The plot moves briskly, and many neighbors make appearances as the author builds the vibe of the much-coveted community. All the warts of HOA-covenanted living are on full display, as well as the perks, but this lively neighborhood could have been lifted straight out of Peyton Place. And what would Florida in September be without the threat of a hurricane? I loved the big reveal, which occurs as Mother Nature joins the neighborhood shenanigans. 

I recommend DYING TO LIVE HERE to readers of cozy mysteries, romantic suspense, and domestic thrillers, especially those who enjoy Florida settings, stories of HOA nightmares, and neighborhood gossip. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.