Murder at the Lighthouse – a Review

Murder at the Lighthouse is the first Sparrow Haven Cozy Mysteries book. In the coastal town of Sparrow Haven, Olivia Harper is the town librarian and an amateur detective. Her curiosity is aroused when a long-lost oil painting surrounded by mystery is found, and she feels compelled to find the answers to the questions surrounding the lighthouse and this painting.

Assisted by her friend, Milly; her golden retriever, Barkley; and the town’s veterinarian, Ethan Foster, they doggedly pursue the clues, but how much danger does that put them in? When someone shoots through the windows of Olivia’s house, injuring Milly, they realize that someone doesn’t want the mystery surrounding the painting solved. By working to solve this case, it puts their very lives in danger.

A sweet romance is brewing in the present day, while in the past, how another romance turned out could be at the center of the mystery. Secrets are about to be uncovered, and not everyone is happy about that. Some are willing to kill to keep them hidden.

I really enjoyed this mystery full of suspense, a great start to the series. I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily. If you would like your own copy of this cozy mystery, I’ve provided an Amazon link below.

Amazon Link: Murder at the Lighthouse

Favorite Sentences:

I’m sure some might not be all that impressed with mold-covered, run-down, historical structures, but I thought the age of wear gave it a unique, timeless beauty.

Inside, a whiff of history and mystery emerged, mingling with the scent of aged wood and time-worn artifacts.

Society is my chain, and I’m a prisoner to a path that I cannot defy.

What would it have been like to marry someone, have a family with him and, all the while, love another with your entire being?

New Words Learned:

aortic stenosis – abnormal narrowing of the aorta, especially of its orifice, usually as a result of rheumatic fever or embryologic anomalies

desiccated – dehydrated or powdered

Fresnel lens – a large lens with a surface of concentric grooves of prismatic profile, used in automobile headlights, searchlights, spotlights, etc.

luminism – a style of landscape painting practiced by some mid-19th-century American artists, especially of the Hudson River School, that emphasized meticulously crafted realism and a technically precise rendering of atmosphere and of the effects produced by direct and reflected light.

mantis shrimp – any stomatopod crustacean having a pair of appendages modified for grasping prey and resembling those of a mantis. The mantis shrimp are notorious for their striking force, and have the nickname “thumb splitter,” due to the painful gashes they can cause if handled without care by humans.

mimic octopus – a species of octopus from the Indo-Pacific region. Like other octopuses, it used its chromatophores to disguise itself with its background. However, it is noteworthy for being able to impersonate a wide variety of other marine animals.

patina – a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value

About the Author, Claire Harlow:

I have a deep affection for mysteries that unravel gently, leaving me thrilled, satisfied, and always craving the next adventure.

Living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my family, our energetic labrador, and a couple of curious cats. I draw inspiration from life’s simple pleasures – walks in nature, a good book on a rainy day, and knitting cozy comforts.

When I was young, I spent many long afternoons curled up with one of our cats reading Agatha Christie and wishing I could grow up and solve mysteries like Poirot. Now I’m delighted to turn this passion into crafting each book as a personal puzzle for you to unravel.

I’m excited to welcome you to my world of whodunits, and I hope my books spark as much joy and intrigue in you as they do for me.