Bodies on the Beach

Hang Ten Australian Cozy #1

by Stacey Alabaster

Two ex-friends. One dead body. The beach town of Eden Bay will never be the same again.

Claire is an up-and-coming movie exec who inherited her grandma’s book store in the quiet beach community of Eden Bay. Alyson is a surf-bum who embraces the small-town, beach lifestyle. When a surfer is killed, the two ex-best friends are pulled together to solve the murder. Can they put their differences behind them and find a killer before there are more bodies on the beach?

Bodies on the Beach is the first book in the Hang Ten Australian Cozy Mystery series

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Amazon, Cozy, Fiction

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

I have always loved a good mystery. From my early years watching Murder She Wrote to more recent shows like Monk, Psych, and my absolute favorite BBC show ever, Sherlock, I have studied what it takes to make an entertaining mystery. I am truly blessed to be able to write and share my own mysteries with you. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I loved writing them :)

If you want to keep up with all my new releases, be sure to sign up for my mailing list at FairfieldPublishing.com/cozy-newsletter

Reviews

[Pete]

I have read quite a few of Stacey Alabaster's books, and generally she produces very good, fun cosy mysteries, unfortunately she also occasionally writes quite disappointing ones. This book falls into the latter category. There isn't actually a lot wrong with it, but it just didn't hang together very well and didn't engage me, I think that a lot of this is due to the constant harping on about the differences in lifestyle between the two main characters Alyson and Claire, I also found the repeated references to Claire's designer clothes rather wearing. The main issue I had was the chapters alternating being written from the two girls' points of view, sometimes the same thing is described from both points of view, which I found rather irritating.
Having said all that, the plot is actually quite good and the 'Aussie' vibe is well done. There is a lot of potential for an interesting series.
I received an advance copy of this book but the review is honest and voluntarily written.

[Jackie]

What a story to keep you reading. Two ex friends and one dead body. What a combination to keep you intrigued. Loved it and ready for more.

[Vicki]

Claire and Alyson are old (ex) friends from way back when they were in 4th grade, but things led to their breakup. Years later, after Claire's grandmother died and left her a bookstore, she goes to her old town and runs into Alyson and a murder (murders). Alyson wants her to help with the investigation but Claire has business back in Sydney to take care of, thus begins more drama!

I loved Mr. Ferdinand who is a cat who loves milk LOL and mischief!

[Anita Burkett]

A nice clean murder mystery on the water.

[Mella]

I'm Aussie so with an Aussie setting I really wanted to like this, but I just didn't. And part of that was because the Aussie setting seemed to lack the Aussieness and part of it was I hated the main characters and the motives for murder were ridiculous.

The plot was weak - no one kills because they get a 1 star review (Or obviously I would be a gonner) - but I could've overlooked it as the cosy mystery genre isn't exactly full of strong plots. What I struggled to overlook was not liking any of the characters - afterall they're the redeeming feature of a cosy mystery. But Claire was an absolute brat and a stuck up one at that, and Alyson may not have been a brat but she was a total moron. The rest of the characters were bland and forgettable.

It just fell flat and left me struggling to get through 113 pages. 1 star.

[Jewett]

Supericial - reads like it's written for 3rd graders

[Merry Chapman]

A fast paced first book in a new series by a great story-teller! Fun to read and you will be kept in the dark until the end.
Written in a different format from the author's other series, this book is a fun and fast paced cozy mystery complete with personality problems, ex-best friends, surfing, beach bums, an inheritance of a bookstore which was around for 30 years and of course a murder. Claire Richardson who had moved from the small town of Eden Bay to become a city girl and involved in the movie production industry is called back to town when she inherits her grandmother's bookstore. Driving from Sydney back to Eden Bay in her sporty Porsche, she has to decide what to do with the bookstore. She feels smothered in her old small town and wants to sell it, but she is conflicted. Her ex-best friend, Alyson Faulks, who remained in the small town and sells personally designed surf boards on the beach and loves to surf and lead a lay-back lifestyle still holds a grudge against Claire for dropping their friendship like a hot potato when she became a "city" girl. The book is written from both girls point of view, chapter to chapter. When there is a murder on the beach, Alyson wants Claire to help her solve it because she thinks her handsome brother, Matt, or she might be next. They both share custody of their young niece. Alyson and Claire just want to get back to Sydney and her job, but something pulls her back. Will they solve the murder before another one occurs? This is a fast read that you will want to read in one sitting. A good first book in this new series and can't wait how these two ex-best friends will get on. Will Claire keep the bookstore? Will she leave as fast as she can? I received and ARC but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Cinda Inman]

A murder in Eden Bay, a beach town in Australia brings two ex-best friends back together to solve the murder. When Claire Elizabeth Richardson's grandmother, Mable, passes away, she leaves her bookstore "Fabled Books" to her. The bookstore has been there for 30 years and Claire is conflicted on whether to sell it or keep it. Claire has been working as a movie producer in Sydney, wearing designer clothes, high priced shoes and driving a porsche. She is not real happy with her current job but she doesn't think she wants to move back to Eden Bay. Her ex-best friend, Alyson Faulks, has never left Eden Bay. She is a beach bum, running her business "Y Designs", where she paints designs on surfboards, rides her bicycle and surfs whenever she feels like it. Alyson and her brother, Matt, do share custody of their nine-year-old niece, J, and take turns with J staying with them.
This is a fast paced cozy mystery with the author, Stacey Alabaster, going back and forth between the two characters. The story brings up a past life in school and careers for Claire and Alyson. Throw in a cat, Mr. Ferdinand, and a poodle for Alyson and you have a great story.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda]

In Stacy Alabaster's new cozy mystery series, Claire Elizabeth Richardson and Alyson Caulks were best friend for 10yrs starting in fourth grade (when Claire Elizabeth and her mother moved in with her grandmother following her mothers divorcé). But as soon as she could Claire got out of that small seaside town. She lives in Sidney where she's in the movie business. Claire comes back to Eden Bay to sell her grandmothers book store.
However Alyson (who owns a surf board shop) finds a close friend, Adrian, murdered on the beach.
She begs Claire to help her solve the murder because she remembered her friend loved murder mysteries. Claire refuses "because I'm leaving for Sydney tonight". However she decides to stick around for a while.
Stacy knows how to take her readers down the path to solving the crime, but she loves to keep you guessing. So enjoy this first book of her new series.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniell Marsh]

I had picked this book up for a challenge book read. For me it was just okay. I like cozy mysteries so thought this might be a different spin on one. I like that one of the main characters had connections to a book shop. It sounded like it would be a quick, fun read. I just didn't really connect with the characters. Friends, enemies, friends repeat. Now I have read some books where that has happened but there really didn't seem to be much of a reason for this or even an explanation of why that wasn't weak. I only liked some of both of the main characters which made it hard to really get into the story. I am not really interested in checking out more of this series. It was just an okay read for me. Glad I did read it as never hurts to try out a book you don't know.

[Lisa Denn]

Bodies On The Beach kicks off Stacey Alabaster's new Hang Ten Australian Cozy Mystery series.

Honestly, I'm not quite sold on the series, yet. The characters didn't sweep me off my feet nor did the plot I did, however, find Alabaster's presentation of "two different points of view" interesting.

Each of the points of view was plausible and provided a unique twist to the traditional cozy mystery format I am more familiar with.

Having read many of Alabaster's books I expect the next book in the series to see me gushing about how much I love the characters - hence my prior comment "Honestly, I'm not quite sold on the series, yet." Time (and book 2) will tell.

[Helen]

How Well Does This Author Know Australia?

This is quite a good cozy mystery, with believable characters and plot, and a setting a bit like Byron Bay was thirty years ago. However, there are two things that, as an Australian, I am very familiar with, that I don’t think the author has researched well.
The first is, Australian surf clubs are about surf life savers, not competitions for surfers. The second, a teacher in a coastal town who has been in the same job for several years would not be afraid of losing his job because of poor reviews. He would be a permanent employee, not on a contract subject to review.

[Jan]

They were opposites in high school, and even more so after years of living quite differently. One continues to live in the slow lane surfing, having a tiny business, and sharing care of her niece with her brother. The other is a high powered film executive who just inherited her grandmother's bookstore in the same sleepy town they grew up in and can't wait to leave and get back to business. But then there is a murder of a well known surfer and they work together to solve it. Nice summer read!

[Linda]

3 1/2 stars from me for Bodies on the Beach. This book was just too short for me. I liked the setting of Eden Bay and I liked Claire Richardson and Alyson Faulks, women who were best friends when they were younger. Claire returns to Eden Bay when she inherits Fabled Books, her grandmother's bookstore. When a surfer is found dead, Claire and Alyson spend time together investigating. It was interesting that Alyson and her brother were helping to raise their 8 year old niece. This story line could be fun to read about in future books in the series.

[Kelli's fire]

I was ok with it until towards the end.

I don't want to poo-poo anyone's writing dream, so I'll just say it was cute, but towards the end it went a little goofy for me. I won't spoil anything, but when you get to the line "She didn't care that she was in the arms of a murderer..." see if it doesn't ring just a little silly.
Overall a cute story about friendship, roots and life choices, with a little murder thrown in for color.

[Terri Gonsiorowski]

A quick mystery read. Claire came back home after her grandmother passed away and left Claire her book shop. Alyson was her best friend until she went off the college and never came back. Claire wants to sell the shop and get on with her life. The day of her return a body was found on the beach - Alyson wanted Claire to help solve the mystery so the town didn’t lose tourists. As the story unfolded, there were twists that you don’t see coming. Definitely recommend!

[Bobbi]

Wow, did not see that ending coming at all. Love mysteries and Stacey Alabaster writes some of the best. Alyson and Claire were best friends but time made them drift apart. Nothing like a good murder mystery to bring good friends together. You will enjoy this story, set in Eden Bay, Australia. The charming town makes you want to travel there and stay for a long time.

[Kathleen]

Bodies on the Beach

I found this to be a light and entertaining read. I really enjoy a good cozy mystery and this one didn't disappoint me. I am a lover of cats,books and beaches and all of these are in this story. I highly recommend this book. A very intriguing mystery that supports the importance of family,best friends,honesty and forgiveness.

[Carol Ward]

Disappointing but good

Bought to see how Ms Alabaster, an American, wrote an Aussie mystery. This was the disappointing part. Sun, surf and a mystery. Could be any beach, anywhere, so why label it Aussie?

Not to give the "mystery" away I will only say it was a great introduction to the ongoing characters and I look forward to how they develop.

[Valerie Hartup]

Great new series

Great new series taking place in Australia. Written from two different perspectives makes this book an interesting read. This cozy mystery had me wondering ‘who done it’ up til the very end. Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Virginia Bast]

Very good

It was a good story. I certainly liked the two main characters. J and Matt as well. It was nice to have a brother and sister taking care of their niece. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you and look forward to more in the series.

[Zina Losey]

Loved it!

Was taken off guard by the writing...switching between the two characters but I found out that it was a great, new reading experience. Characters and plot was great. Somethings were anticipated but the killer was not!

[Kim Butler]

Good story, but bad grammar and typos throughout. Typos are one thing, but bad grammar isn’t fun to read. Please learn how to use me and I appropriately. That being said, I am on book 9. 😀 These books are good if you just need something light to read.

[Celest]

More Of A Teenage Read

This book is more for a much younger generation, a good teen read. The surprise ending was very entertaining and unexpected. I loved that. Even though I have more books in this series, I doubt that I'll be reading them.

[Lee Brothers]

This is a fun book as a first read of a series. There's a lot more going on than you would suspect and it's surprising when it comes out!! I'm enjoying watching Claire realize who she is now I'm wondering what she's gonna do.

[Lois Hinderliter]

Good mystery

It's a story of two friends brought back together due to death. They embark on a murder investigation trying to solve it. They have a !it of suspects. They also have family drama going on. It is an I Ferrari g read.

[Stephanie Abelli]

Cute cozy mystery

Claire goes back to her hometown to sell her bookstore and finds a dead body on the beach. Claire and her old best friend Allison start investigating. This was a really cute cozy mystery. I enjoyed it.

[Kandy]

A fun new series by Stacey Alabaster, told through the view of two different characters. Set in a book store and on the beach. Two great locations.

[Kitten Peters]

Cute book

Can best friends get back to being best friends again? Can the murderer be caught before the surf competition? Awesome new series

[Roslyn Donohoe]

I enjoyed this story.

I have read this author before and enjoyed her stories. She's a great writer and very well worth the read.