A Side of Suspicion

Bluefin Harbor, every dish tells a story… and some are deadly. On the edge of the Atlantic, the tide brings more than fish to the docks of Bluefin Harbor. It brings secrets. It brings trouble. And sometimes, it brings bodies. Celeste Calder, chef and owner of the Oyster Pocket, lives for perfect flavors, quiet tides, and the rhythm of the harbor—until a single suspicious delivery tips her into a web of smuggling, sabotage, and murder. What starts with a tin of exotic spices turns into a dangerous game involving crown-ring smugglers, coded recipes, and a mysterious jar that some will kill to possess. From bustling fish markets to wind-lashed cliffs, from dockside shacks to the sleek and shadowy decks of ships that never anchor for long, Celeste and her close-knit crew—Rivera the fisherman, Lina the fearless deckhand, and a few old friends who know every back alley and reef—follow a trail salted with danger. Their tools aren’t just knives and nets, but wits, loyalty, and the wisdom of the sea. Every chapter comes with a “Chef’s Note”—a tantalizing metaphor from Celeste’s kitchen that mirrors the stakes of the hunt. As she dices through lies and simmers clues down to their essence, each note draws you deeper into the recipe of the truth. Expect: A richly drawn coastal setting where the sea is both friend and foe. A cast of locals whose quirks hide sharp edges. Culinary details that make you want to eat between chapters. A mystery that mixes cozy charm with dangerous undertows. A high-concept hook: a chef-sleuth whose kitchen wisdom solves more than hunger. Perfect for fans of Diane Mott Davidson’s culinary mysteries, Louise Penny’s sense of place, and the atmospheric coastal intrigue of Ann Cleeves. In A Coastal Mystery Served with a Side of Danger, every flavor has a backstory, and every tide carries whispers of the past. Pull up a chair at the Oyster Pocket—there’s coffee on, fresh bread in the oven, and a mystery still warm from the oven, waiting to be sliced open.