Stowed Away
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Stowed Away is the sixth book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries series by Barbara Ross. It’s a cozy mystery, set in fictional Busman’s Harbor on the coast of Maine and centered on the main character Julia who, along with her family, operates a lobster and clambake on the island off the coast. Her family has been in the area for generations and owns property including the abandoned mansion, Windsholme.
It’s Windsholme that acts as the catalyst for this mystery, bringing Julia’s old schoolmate/nemesis, Wyatt, to Busman’s Harbor. Wyatt is an architect who is working on the refit of a reclusive billionaire’s yacht (said billionaire is also her boyfriend) while also offering advice to Julia’s family on how to handle the restoration/renovation of Windsholme. The billionaire, Wyatt, and the yacht’s crew are all staying in Busman’s Harbor - and it’s the yacht where the murder occurs.
Throughout the book, several other side stories appear that keep things interesting in Busman’s Harbor. Relationship issues, high school drama, and family secrets all make appearances.
The central mystery of the murder is itself interesting enough to keep even the most seasoned reader of cozy mysteries guessing. While there’s an official investigation ongoing, Julia teams up with State Police Detective Flynn as they use their connections to dig into motives and alibis. During the investigations, Julia learns about far more than just the crime from some of those she is closest to. Along the way, the mystery involves a billionaire, a yacht, crew members from around the world, expensive jewels...but none in a straightforward way. There’s plenty here to keep your eyes on the page until the book is done.
TL;DR: Overall, it’s a fun read with a strongly developed lead character. A good book to have in your bag when you head to the beach in the summer. If you haven’t read the rest of the series, there’s enough backstory provided that you can enjoy this mystery on its own.
Maine Thoughts: Does a good job of showing the balancing act many families take on to make a living in coastal, tourist-dependent areas. Julia’s boyfriend holds down several part-time jobs, they all pitch in to make the island clambake operation a success, and the difficulties of their acquaintances and the way they help each other out is a part of the plot. The clambake itself is similar to actual operations like Cabbage Island Clambakes. Throughout the book, Ross also peppers in mentions of real places - Portland’s Old Port, Damariscotta - that anchor Stowed Away firmly on the Maine coast.