The quirky residents of the condo from Mary Frances (ex-nun and reigning Tango champ) to sultry Stella Sajak welcome Kate with open arms and immediately garner her support in fighting David Fry of Sea Breeze Inc. who plans to tear down Ocean Vista and replace it with a parking garage for the good of all Palmetto Beach. Stella, as board president is leading the charge against Fry, but doesn’t get too far when smarmy Stanley Ferris finds her body on the beach one night.

As Kate begins to mourn yet another loss, things begin to not quite add up: Stella’s presumed dead husband shows up, hot reporter Nancy Cooper has agreed to write Stella’s obituary and Timmy the newspaper seller goes missing.

Kate wasn’t married to a homicide detective all those years for nothing. Figuring she has nothing left to lose, Kate jumps in with both feet to help uncover Stella’s killer. Only problem is, Stella’s killer knows Kate is hot on the trail and does everything possible to make sure that Kate never solves the crime.

Proving that there is indeed life after fifty-five, Nora Charles creates a group of seniors whose lives are definitely far from over. While there are many characters introduced, each with their own personality, Stella, the most developed of the group is killed early on. What is learned about Kate is mostly learned through her musings and “conversations” with Charlie.

During the course of the book, the unsure widow gains confidence and gets her sea legs as she begins to make decisions for herself, rather than just letting things happen to her.

There are several twists the plot takes that may be more confusing than helpful (such as Timmy the newsman) but in the end, Kate, with a little help from her friends, manages to sort everything out and trap a killer before she becomes the next victim. A fun take on an English village cozy with an endearing heroine, Death with an Ocean View is a quick read that has potential to become a favorite with young and old alike.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry