The Chowder House Murder - (A Downeast Maine Mystery) by Lee Hollis (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The first in a brand new, multi-generational cozy mystery series introduces three generations of strong, no-nonsense women who head the Holbrook family seafood dynasty in Downeast Maine...and a murder the Holbrook matriarch and her granddaughter must solve, even as it entangles them in a web of small-town secrets, and a Hatfields and McCoys-level chowder rivalry.

Ever since Halibut Cove's popular eatery, The Chowder House, started serving matriarch Maggie Holbrook's famous clam chowder it's been in high demand. Cooked up at the restaurant by Maggie's ambitious 19-year-old granddaughter, Audrey, the dish even has a regular nightly customer, retiree Chips Hogan. . . . Until one fateful Sunday night.

After serving Chips his chowder, Audrey rushes off to Maggie's hilltop home for the weekly family dinner with the rest of the Holbrooks--her three uncles, and her mom, Jill. But before the meal's end, Jill, a police chief, gets an alarming call. Chips has been found in the street--dead. Jill races out to investigate . . . and is shocked to learn Chips' chowder was poisoned.

When a Chowder House server recalls seeing local diner cook Waldo Duggan in the alley that same evening, he becomes a suspect. And when it's uncovered that Waldo bitterly believed the Holbrooks stole the lucrative chowder recipe from the Duggans in the 1930's, he's only further implicated . . .

Despite everything, Maggie can't believe Waldo would murder anyone. For fair-minded Maggie, to keep an innocent man out of jail, and to ease Audrey's guilt over serving the chowder, there's no choice but to team-up to crime solve. Soon grandmother and granddaughter are immersed in a stew of rivalries, long held feuds, and looming threats. Because beneath the surface, even a pretty town has its ugly side . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Lee Hollis's Mysteries

"A lighthearted cozy mystery with a showbiz twist...Readers are invested in the father-daughter pair and eager to follow them. My Father Always Finds Corpses features a winning blend of Hollywood intrigue, political cover-ups, romance and crime." --BookPage on My Father Always Finds Corpses

"An often humorous mystery replete with questionable decisions, fortunate coincidences, and opportunities for redemption." --Kirkus Reviews on My Father Always Finds Corpses

"Like her heroine's chatty columns, this is for those who want their murder with a side of personal drama. And lots of clams." --Kirkus Reviews on Death of a Clam Digger

"Crime abounds in a mystery with a ripped-from-the-headlines political angle and a surprising turn in the personal lives of both sleuths. With a diverse cast of characters, including Sandra's gay son, and the unusual political/school angles, the sequel to Murder at the PTA sets itself apart from most cozies." --Library Journal on Murder at the Bake Sale

"An enjoyably twisty mystery laced with the heroine's equally entertaining foodcentric newspaper columns." --Kirkus Reviews on Death of an Italian Chef

"Sandra's quest for independence and legitimacy as a PI, Maya's and Sandra's desires to resolve their marital situations, family relationships between parents and teens, and the realities of a political life effectively frame this engaging cozy." --Booklist on Murder at the Bake Sale

"A class act whose two strong women face both murder and marital problems with courage and humor." --Kirkus Reviews on Murder on the Class Trip

"The reality-show frame, combined with the intelligent, feisty heroines and the precocious Wyatt add up to a satisfying entry in the cozy series." --Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Backstabbing Bachelor

"Hollis delivers all the essentials: appealing characters, an intricate plot, and a colorful setting. Cozy fans will hope Poppy and friends will be back soon." --Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer

"A movie set in the California desert provides a suitably dangerous backdrop for the gutsy heroine." --Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer

"Well-drawn characters, including principals and supporting cast, especially the sleuths' 12-
year-old computer expert, combine with surprising plot twists and plenty of humor to make this a
satisfying entry in Hollis' popular cozy series." --Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Pillow Talk Killer

"Irresistible...Cozy readers will look forward to seeing a lot more of Poppy and company." --Publishers Weekly on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury

"An amusing cozy with quirky characters and a down-to-earth heroine with plenty of moxie." --Kirkus Reviews on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury

Share with those who enjoy M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries." --Booklist on Poppy Harmon and the Hung Jury

"Hilarious...Pop culture references throughout add to the fun, and Hollis wraps up the mystery with a truly surprising twist. Cozy fans will eagerly await the sequel." --Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW & PW Picks for Poppy Harmon Investigates

"Features a trio of likable sleuths in a story with a surprising twist for a cozy." --Library Journal on Poppy Harmon Investigates

"The theatrical frame, combined with a set of quirky characters, including a 12-year-old computer whiz, and plenty of humor, distinguishes this delightful cozy, the first in a projected series." --Booklist on Poppy Harmon Investigates

"A fun Christmas cozy." --Library Journal on Death of a Christmas Caterer

"Brother-sister writing team Rick Copp and Holly Simason set a snappy pace, introduce fun characters, and write a clever plot. This second series entry (after Death of a Kitchen Diva) is a tasty entrée for the culinary cozy crowd." --Library Journal on Death of a Country Fried Redneck

About the Author

Lee Hollis is the pen name for Rick Copp, a veteran Hollywood screenwriter who has written for numerous television series, including The Golden Girls, Wings, Scooby-Doo, Teen Titans, and Barbershop. He is the co-writer of The Brady Bunch Movie and also produced, wrote and starred in the hit web series Where the Bears Are, which has over 60 million views on YouTube. He has also authored a number of novels under his own name. As Lee Hollis, he has written over 30 novels and 9 novellas to date including the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries (with his sister Holly Simason), the Desert Flowers Mysteries and the Maya & Sandra mysteries. He lives in Palm Springs, California. Please visit LeeHollisMysteries.com to learn more.