First, take a spunky, intelligent heroine (who in the series’ debut is usually down on her luck) and drop her in the middle of a murder. I love them and wouldn’t write this column if I didn’t, but there are certain basic plot points that I sometimes wonder if writers feel they must include-almost as if they’re the ingredients in a recipe for success. So, I’m going to detour on a mini-discourse about cozy cooking mystery novels here. But a murderer may put an end to far too many things far too soon, including perhaps Julia’s own life. The beautiful white elephant of Morrow Island has been host to clambakes, memories, ghosts, and secrets for as long as Julia has been alive. When a murder occurs that threatens to shut down not only the entire clambake season but the company for good, Julia has to go into high gear to find a murderer in order to save both her family’s livelihood and her mother’s childhood home. Providing visitors to Busman’s Harbor with an authentic Maine dining and sailing experience, the company is also the only thing keeping several local families afloat, Julia’s included. Our heroine, Julia Snowden, has left behind New York City and her life as a venture capitalist to help resuscitate the family business, the Snowden Family Clambake Company.

It’s easy to discern why this novel and several of its sequels have been nominated for the Agathas, among other awards: the writing is whip-smart, the characters are deeply sympathetic, and-most importantly-the murder mystery is clever and compelling. At the end of this delightful series debut, I literally squealed like a schoolgirl with glee.

Clammed Up by Barbara Ross