A Call for Kelp

A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker is the 4th A Seaside Café Mystery. It can be read on its own if you are new to the series. Personally, I would read the series in order so she can follow the characters from the beginning. I thought A Call for Kelp was well-written with friendly characters in a cozy seaside town. The story moved along steadily thanks to all the action in the story. Everly lives in Charm, North Carolina where she owns the iced tea café called Sun, Sand and Tea (in a Victorian on the beach). Her great-aunts, Clara and Fran live in the family home where Everly was raised. There are some delightful characters in this series. They are the highlight of this character driven series. Everly is upset when Mitzi is killed before she can talk to her about her grandmother. She was looking forward to learning more about her grandmother and maybe the identity of her mysterious grandfather. The mystery starts off with a bang when Mitzi is found dead inside a plexiglass educational hive. There are several promising suspects, a variety of clues and misdirection. Detective Grady Hays does not want Everly investigating, but we know her curiosity will win out. Everly gets several scary threats. They frighten her, but it does not stop her from sleuthing. All the details of the whodunit are wrapped up at the end. There is a side story involving Detective Grady Hays and the case he has been working on for his mother-in-law, Senator Olivia Denver. I like the humor sprinkled throughout the story as well as the hint of magic. There are recipes at the end of the book for items served at Sun, Sand and Tea (the Swan Family Rum Cake is one of them). A Call for Kelp is an enchanting cozy mystery with buzzing bees, threatening texts, sharp stings, documentary drama, and tasty teas.