When Natalie’s niece Gwen’s boyfriend, lobsterman Adam, finds the wreck of a possibly centuries old ship tangled in his lines, Natalie finds her inn booked. She is playing host to the underwater archaeologist from a university who has come to the island to investigate the wreck and to the company who tries to get to the treasures ahead of the archaeologist and sell the bounty for profit. 

What Natalie doesn’t expect to be housing, however, is a murder victim and possibly a murder suspect. The island is very excited about the shipwreck; there are some who think it belongs to the notorious pirate Davey Blue, but it could also possibly be the ship that belongs to Jonah Selfridge, the sea captain who built Natalie’s house. 

When a body floats to the surface of the cove, it is not from the wreck, but belongs to one of the treasure hunters who is staying at Natalie’s.  Soon an islander is in jail, and Natalie finds herself on the trail of a murderer to save one of her new neighbors, but can she save him before she finds herself in Davey Jones’s Locker?  

A swashbuckling entry, Berried to the Hilt adds the romance of the age of piracy and the excitement of buried treasure to the usual cozy mystery featuring island transplant Natalie and her bed and breakfast turned full service inn. At first, Natalie thinks being asked to serve as a judge for the cranberry cooking contest is a sign of acceptance until her friend, general store owner Charlene, warns her about the strong feelings associated with the contest. 

Her niece Gwen has also fit in nicely to island life, though Natalie does wish Gwen would return to UCLA to finish her degree, even if it means putting off making her relationship with Adam more permanent. Natalie is excited to start the next part of her new life as John’s wife, but first must solve the murder. There are several good suspects and the plot is neatly laid out, combining history, local lore and good old fashioned greed. 

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry