Shucked Apart (A Maine Clambake Mystery) Mass Market Paperback – February 23, 2021

I have read every book in this series. Of all the books in this wonderful series, I found this one really captures me as if Barbara casts a net over us and makes this all come to life. Right from the beginning, it should well along before I put the book down for Friday night. Saturday I went back to read and it was really hard to put down. This was on a day that allergies had been bothering me and I was sleeping on and off with the book right next to me. When you don't feel well, and have a sinus headache, reading is not something you usually might be doing. But it was that strong the pull to keep reading and resting. By Saturday night, I knew that I was loving this book and it was hard to stop reading. Sunday arrived and I did not read a lot during the day. I had much to do and was feeling better. "Shuckled Apart" grabs the reader and pulls you along. Some books you have to push yourself to read the book and get through the chapter. Here it was like one chapter would end and you would get to the next chapter and want to keep going. So much here to really captivate including the presentation about oyster farming and lobstermen and everything going on that truly has you spellbound like a full moon glowing in the evening sky. By evening, I was ready to read and knew that even though I might want to stretch out the book longer, I was going to keep reading to the last page. I finished reading the book by 11pm Sunday night, the last day of February 28th of 2021. I am pleased to recommend "Shuckled Apart" to all readers, even those who have never read Barbara Ross "Maine Clambake Mystery Series" before. I know I will want to reread this book again as it was really that special and indeed a book that I can say I truly did love. Just wanted to want this so Barbara would be happy to know how special it is and how I really do love Julia and I did love Andie so very much. I love the strength in each of these ladies and seeing an excellent writer have us spellbound.

I have lived in Maine all my life. I enjoyed that this series was based in my home-state. I'm hoping this storyline will continue. I was happy to see a change of living style.

A different kind of series with interesting plots and realistic characters. This book could stand alone but to best understand the characters and their dynamics one should start reading from the beginning of the series.

fun mystery and characters

Amazon asked me "What did you dislike (about this product)?" The price! What? 8.99? And the book is an odd shape as well - not the same size and shape as previous books in this series.I justified the price by figuring out how many hours of entertainment this book would provide me with, and thankfully it fulfilled that expectation.I'm a lover of this series. I have to admit, I'm not always a big fan of Julia, the main character. She's not unlikable, but she's also not endearing. She's not someone I ever feel like I get close to (in that way readers often get close to their favorite characters). But, the stories are always solid, and this is one of the few cozies I get into. I can picture myself in Busman's Harbor - in fact, I can almost smell the sea air when I read this series.This story starts off with a character I immediately took a liking to, so I read the back of the book (this isn't a spoiler, because it's right there on the back of the book) only to find out of course this is the character that gets axed.Boo!The mystery is solid, and it comes together nicely in the end. However, one thing doesn't end up nicely (and giving that away WOULD be a spoiler), which is why I can't wait for the next in the series.Please let there be a next!I'm excited to find out what happens next... this could be a whole new world for the main character.Hurry up, Ms. Ross - get us the next installment soon!

I was so glad to see the next book, and hope there's another one coming soon.....I love the characters, and hope there's more to come for Chris & Julia soon

I was drawn in quickly as usual with this series. I love the setting, characters, and atmosphere. I loved this mystery because Julia was drawn in to help a friend of Chris's but she was alive had had a major theft, and was looking for help. When this did turn into a murder I found that it really bothered me a lot. In most cozies you either don't know the victim or they are not the nicest person, we are sad that someone died but feel no connection, in this case we "knew" her and the more Julia looked into her death, the more she liked her. The mystery is good and had an interesting solution, but I have to admit that Andie's death and some storylines with regular characters left me feeling melancholy. I hope the next book in the series lifts us a little!

There are two things wrong with this series. One, the wait between releases is torture. Two, when they do come out I gobble them up in a day! This one was no exception! Come on, Barbara Ross, write them faster! And that ending... everything was tied up nicely with believable motive and the guilty rounded up, but... Well, I don't want to give away a spoiler...but now I have to wait a year (or so?) to see if things in Julie Snowden's personal life turn around!If you haven't figured it out already, I'm telling you: I'M A HUGE FAN OF THE MAINE CLAMBAKE SERIES! I always pre-order, because I can't seem to get enough of Maine and Julia Snowden! I also know that I can rely on Ross to deliver an easy read with interesting twists and a satisfying conclusion. On that note, I never reread books, but when Covid-19 first hit and I was looking for something comfortable and reliable, I actually found myself starting to do that with this series. So what can readers expect with SHUCKED APART? More of what Ross delivered in earlier installments of the series: a cozy mystery that takes place in Busman's Harbor, Maine. It's atmospheric, and I swear every time I pick up one of these books I smell the briny air and hear the squawking of seagulls. That just puts me immediately at peace. As for Julia herself, she knows how to ferret out killers, even to the disdain of the state police, who by this book she's established quite a good relationship with. She's persistant, opinionated, and stubborn, but all these characterisitics make her who she is and has me addicted.Now there's no need to really ask, but would I recommend this book and the entire series? Absolutely and start at the beginning!And, one more thing, when's the next one, Barbara Ross?

It was a brilliant read and really enjoyed it.

i really enjoyed this book and how it developed also looking forward to the next in this series.