Terry Ambrose

The Secret Ingredient to Murder by Terry Ambrose is a cute and intriguing story. I enjoyed returning to Seaside Cove where the Atwood’s have their hands full with the B&B, Alex, and Baby Jack. I like Alex’s journal entries. The author captures the thoughts and feelings of a thirteen-year-old girl (reminds me of my journal when I was that age only Alex is more courageous than I ever was). Alex is an inquisitive young lady who finds herself embroiled in another mystery and, also, in some hot water. The whodunit involves newcomers to town and a special family chocolate recipe (yum). Alex, of course, is on the case and so is her father, Rick (since the mayor has yet to increase the budget for the police department which would allow them to hire another deputy). I had fun following along collecting clues along with nuggets of information. Alex decided to try her hand at matchmaking once again. She feels that one of the B&B guests would be the perfect match for her English teacher. Rick and Marquetta are going to be kept on their toes with a teenage Alex. The Secret Ingredient can be read as a standalone for those new to A Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast Mysteries. The Secret Ingredient to Murder is an entertaining tale with a precocious youngster, a missing recipe, a shrewd adolescent, Marquetta’s appetizing culinary creations, romantic prose, and parent problems.… (más)

Treasure Most Deadly by Terry Ambrose is the 5th A Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast Mystery. I have enjoyed following this series from the beginning with A Treasure to Die For. If you are new to the series, you can read Treasure Most Deadly as a standalone (but why would you want to do that). I thought this cute cozy mystery was well-written with friendly, developed characters. Rick Atwood owns the Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast in the charming coastal town of Seaside Cove. He has a precocious eleven-year-old daughter, Alex who is inquisitive and conniving. Marquetta Weiss is a lovely woman who is Rick’s fiancé. She is warm and wise. Marquetta’s mother, Madeline is a hoot. She is an older version of Alex. Alex and Grandma Madeline are scheming to get Rick and Marquetta wed as soon as possible. Their pushiness, though, is not what Marquetta needs. I like newcomer Ms. Kama and I am glad that she will be sticking around. The mystery is well-plotted. A mystery man is killed after Alex and a guest spy him stealing treasure. The treasure has the town inundated with tourists, treasure hunters, and reporters. That makes it harder for Rick and Chief Adam Cunningham to search for the killer. There are a couple of good suspects, a red herring, and subtle clues. I like how it all came together with a satisfying conclusion. I liked that the chapters are told from Rick and Alex’s point-of-view. Alex’s chapters are particularly entertaining. I laugh often while reading about her antics and her diary entries. The only negatives are that I did find the pacing a little slow at times and there was repetition of case details. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town, the treasure, and the bed-and-breakfast. The author’s word depictions bring the story alive for me. Treasure Most Deadly is a sweet cozy mystery with purloined pirate treasure, roving reporters, a sabotaged sailboat, nuptial nuisances, and one keen tween.… (más)