Acquired Book By: Uniquely, I discovered this book series via The Coffee Pot Book Club’s blog tour featuring the third novel in the South Shores Mysteries (“Murder on West Lake”). Ever the curious Cosy Historical Mystery reader – I decided to grab a copy of the first novel “Murder on Oak Street” whilst purchasing two other books of Chinese Fantasy (“The Earthly Blaze” by Alice Poon and “A Hero Born” by Jin Yong). It has been quite a few years since I’ve actively read and reviewed Cosy Historical Mysteries, and I was dearly intrigued by the premise of this one! Especially as I love Medical Examiner storylines and I like tucking into non-Contemporary centuries of thought about Forensic Science, too.
Thereby, this is a self-purchase of mine and I was not obligated to post a review. I am sharing my ruminative thoughts for my own edification and for continuing to share my readerly life on Jorie Loves A Story. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.
What I found so dearly intriguing about the South Shores Mysteries:
The second novel focuses on Kathleen’s brother Colin, of whom was a protective bloke in the first novel Murder on Oak Street – as he took his duties as a brother quite seriously. Even though they were at odds most of the time, you knew beneath that tug-of-war relationship they cared for each other as siblings oft do. I wasn’t surprised the second novel would focus on Colin as he was ever present in the first and I had a feeling his story might need to be focused on next. I am reading the series in order and so, I only had the synopsis to go on in respect to what the sequel involves.
The third installment, Murder on West Lake is interesting as it pivots from Kathleen taking a more distanced interest in sleuthing and turning into a bit of an investigative sleuth herself! I was quite charmed to read that in the synopsis as I had a feeling, she might have a natural knack for it! She has such a strong mind and heart – she isn’t easily offended nor swayed, and I had a feeling the harder bits to the realities of investigating wouldn’t phase her either. She was her own women in that respect, and she could handle anything she put her mind too as well.
I am also appreciating that Foster is keeping Daniel and Kathleen’s relationship a long-drawn out romance and not having them tie the knot too quickly. I would imagine it would have to do with a lot of the circumstances that were going on in the background of the story – originating in the first novel Murder on Oak Street and continuing forward from there, too. As much as I think for their sake – a longer courtship might be just what they each needed.
I can definitely say, Foster is writing convicting historically dramatic Cosy Crime stories with her South Shores Mysteries. She grips your heart as you read the installments and there are many times where you are either properly shocked by what is revealled or altogether gutted. This is also a family drama with lots of layers to unpack too. She takes you up close and personal to the crimes, but she does so with a deft hand for knowing where to lay the boundaries of what is seen on the page. I appreciate her choices and am enjoying becoming enraptured with the journey of reading her series.
Murder on Oak Street
Subtitle: A South Shores Mystery
by I.M. Foster
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Jenny Quinlan (JennyQ)
Source: Purchased | Personal Library
Places to find the book:
ISBN: 978-1733337571
Also by this author: Murder on West Lake
Published by Self Published
on 31st October, 2022
Format: Paperback Edition
Pages: 503
The South Shores Mysteries:
Murder on Oak Street (Book One)
Murder on West Main (Book Two)
Murder on West Lake (Book Three)
Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook
Converse via: #CoffeePotBookClub, #SouthShoresMysteries, #CosyHistoricalMysteries,
#CosyMystery, #HistoricalMystery
About I.M. Foster
I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes Historical Romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth-century archaeologist.
Inez is a historian and librarian, who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys doing the research almost as much as she does the actual writing of the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime.
Murder on West Lake
The Secret at Sunset Hill
The Gentleman and the Thief