Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

Sunset Beach Reviews

• 
  MarilynW

  This was my first Mary Kay Andrews book and I'll certainly be reading more of her work. I love the cover of the book which is really misleading because things are much darker in the book than the cover conveys. At the same time, we get to enjoy the beach and a worn out beach house that gets to come alive again as you read the book. In some ways I think the beach house coming alive and the life of Drue, the main character, mirror each other.
  
  Drue took some getting used to for me but mostly that was because I needed to understand her background and what had happened in her past, to make her seem so down on just about everything in her life. After learning that she'd been in an accident that ended her involvement of her passion, kite boarding, we also find out that her mother had recently died and Drue's relationship with her live in boyfriend was over, and in the beginning of the book she gets fired from her job as a waitress. With no reason to stay where she was, Drue heads to St. Petersburg to work for her estranged father's ambulance chasing law office., screening calls from potential clients.
  
  I really enjoyed the characters in the book because even minor characters seemed to be individuals and Drue's relationship with the various people in the book has the potential to change as she gets to know the people and they get to know her. Drue went from seeming like a grumpy, depressing, too down on her luck character, to someone I could see did care about others and wanted to make a difference in her life and the lives of others.
  
  Drue throws herself into researching and investigating an almost forty year old missing person case and also a two year old murder. Most of what she does has to be done on the sly since her dad might have been involved in the missing person case and her dad's firm represented the family of the murder victim, represented badly, as far as Drue is concerned. Drue wants to find out what happened to the missing person and she wants to right the many wrongs in the case of the murder victim and her family. The story has two timelines, as we go back in forth from the present to almost 40 years ago, when Drue's then police officer dad and his partner, interact with the missing woman, before her disappearance.
  
  I enjoyed the multi faceted characters and the mysteries the story presents.
  
  Published May 7, 2019.
  
  Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
• 
  Deanna

  My reviews can also be seen at:
  https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
  
  
  I’m surprised that it has taken me this long to read a book by Mary Kay Andrews. However, I’m excited to have found a “new to me” author with such an extensive backlist!
  
  Thirty-six-year old Drue Campbell has fifteen minutes to get to work but knows she'll never make it on time. If she was back in Fort Lauderdale, she could call a friend or take an Uber. Unfortunately, Drue just moved back to the west coast so she doesn't have any money or friends she can call. She heads for the bus stop, getting there just in time to see the bus pull away. She collapses on the bus stop bench and ends up with a large splinter in her butt cheek. The ad on the bus bench is a picture of Brice W. Campbell from the law firm Campbell, Coxe, and Kramer. “Her new boss. Her long-lost father, and as always, a major pain in the ass.”
  
  A few months earlier Drue’s mother passed away. Her father, Brice attended the funeral. It was the first time Drue had seen him in more than twenty years. After the funeral, he gave Drue a set of keys for her Nonni and Papi's cottage in Sunset Beach. He told her the cottage was hers, but it needed a lot of work. He asked Drue what her plans were. With a flaky boyfriend, a crappy waitressing job, and a recent injury, Drue had to admit she didn't really have any plans. He offered her a job working at his law firm, but Drue turned him down. “I have no interest in moving back to St. Pete and zero interest in the law.”
  
  Unfortunately, her circumstances worsened so here she was. Today is Drue’s first day of work at Campbell, Coxe, and Kramer. She finally makes it to the office and heads inside. And just when she thinks things can’t get any worse…
  
  She meets her father’s office manager.
  
  Drue tries to settle in at work. When she’s not at the office she’s working on getting the cottage into shape. In the attic, she finds some old papers and newspaper clippings about a missing person. She wonders why the papers are in the cottage. Drue also wonders about the recent suspicious death of a young woman who worked at a local beach resort. The woman's mother is unhappy with how the firm handled her daughter's case. Drue finds the case heartbreaking and begins investigating on her own.
  
  Is it possible that someone at the firm is involved in these cases? Could Drue be putting herself in danger as she tries to find the truth?
  
  
  
  I really enjoyed this novel!
  
  
  Most of the story takes place in the present, but there are chapters from 1975/1976 interspersed throughout the novel that give the backstory of one of the cases Drue is researching.
  
  I thought this was a very well-written, well-paced story with many great characters. Drue’s story was interesting and so were the cases she was investigating. It was emotional at times but was also often refreshingly funny.
  
  “Sunset Beach” was an engrossing and satisfying novel with layers and twists that kept me gripped and quickly flipping the pages.
  
  Now I just need to decide which Mary Kay Andrews novel I’m going to read next!
  
  
  
  I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Julie

  Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews is a 2019 St. Martin’s Press publication.
  
  A perfect beach read mystery!
  
  Drue, now in her mid-thirties, finds herself at loose ends, heading in no clear direction. Her mother recently passed away, and an injury ended her competitive days as a kite boarder. Adding insult to injury, she gets fired from her job. As a last resort, she reluctantly accepts a job offer from her estranged father, who is a personal injury lawyer.
  
  So, she moves to Sunset Beach and into the cottage she just inherited from her mother. Upon arrival, she is stunned to learn her father has remarried for a third time. Not only that, wife number three used to be Drue’s BF. Awkward!
  
  But at least she has a job and a place to stay, right? Unfortunately, her new stepmother and former friend is also her office manager, and for some reason she has it in for Drue. She’s also struggling with her new position, and the cottage is in horrible disrepair.
  
  However, when a disgruntled client barges into the law office, furious with the firm for dropping the ball on a wrongful death suit, Drue senses something is off about the situation and begins investigating in her spare time.
  
  If that weren’t enough to keep her occupied, she discovers a cache of old newspaper clippings detailing the disappearance of a local woman back in the mid-seventies. Why did her mother keep those newspaper clippings? Could her father have been involved in the case somehow? The more questions Drue asks, the murkier the two cases become. But, once she peels back enough layers, she may wish she had left the dead buried.
  
  I realized with a shock that it is already August and I have yet to indulge in an official summer ‘beach read’. I chose this book specifically because it had a ‘beachy’ cover and title, and while we may all have our own definition of ‘beach reads’, I think this book would be perfect to take along on your vacation, or for a day at the beach.
  
  Granted, this is more of a mystery- or in this case, two mysteries, instead of a drama, or romance, although both of those elements are included, as well.
  
  My only small gripe is that I never understood why Drue’s old friend was so heavy handed and mean, but I suppose all’s well that ends well. The family makes progress, though, and Drue deserved a little overdue attention from her father. The story is quite absorbing, but not too heavy and the ending is a real stunner!!
  
  This is my second book by MKA and once again, I see why this author is so popular. I love the amateur sleuth element, and the cold case story. Drue is funny, sarcastic, determined, and a very believable character. I instantly took a liking to her.
  
  I enjoyed seeing her carve out a niche for herself and discover a hidden talent she can build a career on. I’d like to touch base with Drue again and see how her detective skills are developing and touch base with her family and friends, as well.
  
  Overall, a very satisfying read! I am definitely reading more books by Mary Kay Andrews!!
  
  
• 
  Nilufer Ozmekik

  Four sea breezing, kites flying, sun shining, I didn’t expect to like so much mysterious stars!
  
  This is my second round with MKA. I did read Beach town before. It was okay but not on my list of all time favorites! Lately my bad luck with chic lit books made me doubt and a little biased before starting this book.
  
  But as soon as I turn the pages, story attracted my full attention, I wanted to know more about our heroine, Drue, her life, motives, dysfunctional family and personal relationships. She is waiting for tables, dumbed by her boyfriend, has a kiteboarding accident, suffering from injured knee, loses her mother recently and finally loses her job she detests! ( When bad things start to happen, they never stop)
  So she reluctantly moves to Sunset Beach, inheriting her grandmother’s house and gets job offer from estranged father Brice Campbell ( he leaves her mother, they have limited connections for 20 years) So Drue starts to work for her father’s injury law office and her manager is her old time frenemy also her new stepmother Wendy( yeap, her father likes to make big surprises)who is determined to turn her life into hell!
  
  But Drue is really busy to fix her dilapidated house she’s inherited, deal with her suffering knee, two cases/ 40 year old missing person and 2 year old murder of maid mysteries.
  Two of the mysteries are solved with surprising and unexpected revelations because two of them connected with the ones who are close to Drue!
  
  The author did great job because it is not a regular chic lit or an easy and light summer reading. There are unsolved cases which are perfectly developed and keeping your curiosity alert! There is a family drama, resentment, unsaid words, misunderstandings and there is also a woman’s story who works hard to put her life in order, deserves her second chance happiness.
  
  Going back in forth between two timelines and juggling different genres and different but really interesting characters’ story require a brilliant brain and good writing skills. Thankfully Mary Kay Andrews has all these gifts and gives the readers a good ending they deserve.
  
  Definitely engrossing, captivating book with layers, twists that keep you satisfied ! I enjoyed this one!
• 
  Paula K (on hiatus)

  The beach chairs on the cover had me when I saw this book being read by many Goodreads friends. What a surprisingly fun summer read!
  
  Drue Campbell, a thirty-something cocktail waitress, gets fired and decides to go work for her estranged, attorney father after her mom passes away and moves back to St. Petersburg. She inherits her grandmother’s run down beach cottage at Sunset Beach and decides to get the place back in shape. Secrets are to be found in the old cottage and a mystery unfolds.
  
  Mary Kay Andrew’s SUNSET BEACH is not just a typical beach read, but has more going on - some romance, lots of family drama, a witch for a boss, and an old unsolved murder mystery. Our down-and-out heroine, Drue, turns out to have a knack for detective work and getting in trouble.
  
  I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. It’s always a good one when I take the CDs out of the car to finish listening to at home because I want to know what is going to happen next and don’t want to wait till jumping in the car again!
  
  Lots of fun to read to fill your summer days.
  
  4 out of 5 stars
  
• 
  Berit Talks Books

  ꜰᴜɴ. ʙᴇᴀᴄʜʏ. ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀʏ.
  
  
  This was an entertaining beach read packed with Mystery and an added splash of romance and family drama. Mary Kay Andrews has written one heck of a perfect beach Mystery. When I pick this up I was expecting a bit more of a contemporary beach romance, but I was pleasantly surprised buy this charming Mystery. I loved being dumped into the middle of Druze messy life and watching her pick up the pieces and solve a couple mysteries. So pick up your detective hat, grab your bikini, and settle into your favorite beach chair for this fun ride.
  
  Drew is recovering from a knee injury, working as a cocktail waitress in a beach bar, and missing being able to participate in her favorite activity, kite boarding. Drew’s beloved mother has just passed away when out of the blue Bryce her estranged father shows up. She is less than thrilled, but when she gets fired from her job she begrudgingly takes her father up on his job offer. Drew soon finds herself working for her father, a personal injury attorney and guess what? Her boss is her old eighth grade BFF turned enemy. Even better Wendy is now also Drew’s new step mommy. The silver lining to all of this is that Drew has inherited her grandparents beach bungalow and even though it is in need of much TLC it is a sanctuary from this crazy storm. Drew is not wild about her new job so she is easily distracted when Mystery comes a knocking. What follows is Drew’s involvement in two murder cases. One involves one of her father’s cases and the other is over 40 years old.
  
  Loved Drew she was sassy, smart, strong, and a little salty. I loved solving these mysteries right along side her. Both these mysteries were compelling with outcomes that took me by surprise. The family drama was engaging and I liked how Drew and Bryce’s relationship evolved. The romance was subtle, sweet, and satisfying. This was an entertaining book that will be enjoyed on the couch just as much as at the beach.
  
  🎧🎧🎧 Kathleen McInerney does a brilliant job bringing Drew to life in this book. She gave each character their own distinct voice and that really added an additional layer to an already wonderful story. Another book I feel that was enhanced by the listening experience.
  
  *** thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy of this book ***
• 
  Tina

  I have only read one other Mary Kate Andrews book and I thought it was just okay. My friend urged me to read more and told me I would not be disappointed. Well boy, am I ever glad I did! This one has been sitting on my TBR shelf for a while and now I'm shaking my head as to why I waited so long to read it!
  
  It's a perfect book for this time of year! It's Victoria Day Weekend in Canada and our kick off to summer begins now (and it's already been scorching hot!) I was so in the mood for this book. I loved the setting of the small beach town in Florida (similar to the one that my family has been wintering in for years now.) I was surprised to learn that this book involved not one but TWO mysteries. I was hooked right from the start!
  
  Drue's mother has passed away and she inherits her Grandparents old beach house and is summoned to work at her estranged Father's law firm. Drue has fallen on some hard times so she decides to leave her home in Fort Lauderdale and travel back to her hometown of Sunset Beach on the West Coast of Florida. There she begins a new job and some new adventures await.
  
  This book was such a delightful surprise! A Beachy Read with two engrossing mysteries and a dash of romance too! I must say I really liked Drue and her "amateur sleuth ways." Kudos to MKA for writing two captivating mysteries within one book! This book is not to be missed on your summer reading list! 🏖 ☀️ 🏝🍊🕵🏻‍♀️
  
  I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy.
  
  * I really enjoyed the Author's notes at the end of the book about Beach house dreaming and also the summer recipes that she provided. I've been to Tarpon Springs and my background is Greek so I will for sure try the "Greek Salad" from the famous old restaurant called, "Louis Pappas." 🇬🇷
• 
  Tina

  I love this book. The book is mostly about a young woman finding herself and learning to love her father. There is two deaths that is solve during this book, and I have to say that I did not see either case ending how they did. I love that the author keep me guessing through out this book. This book is a romance/mystery book - I think. If you love those type of books you should read this book.
• 
  Larry H

  Sunset Beach has a little family drama, a little unsolved mystery, a little romance, and a beach setting. Not bad, eh?
  
  Drue has had a bad run of luck. She was about to turn pro as a kiteboarder when a knee injury ended things for her. Her mother just died, leaving her broke and homeless, and then her estranged father turns up at her mother’s funeral.
  
  Her father comes bearing a job offer at his law firm and news that she has inherited her grandparents’ condo on Sunset Beach. The last thing she wants to do is take a handout from her father but she’ll need money to rehab the condo, which has seen years of neglect.
  
  Then she discovers her father’s new wife—his much younger new wife—is her former best friend turned worst enemy. And she’s the law firm’s office manager to boot. She wants to make Drue’s life miserable enough so she’ll quit, but Drue refuses to give her the satisfaction.
  
  When Drue learns of a case the firm was handling, in which a young woman who was working as a hotel housekeeper was murdered, and thinks it was settled unfairly to the victim’s family, she decides to do some digging on her own. And when she finds what appears to be the official police files of a decades-old missing persons case in the condo’s attic, she can’t resist looking into that as well. But will she discover her father was at fault in either of these? Does this amateur investigative work put her in danger?
  
  I’ll admit I thought was going to be a lighthearted, beach-related romp, but that’s what I get for reading a book without seeing what it’s about! I enjoyed this, though; obviously you have to suspend your disbelief when you have a neophyte investigating cases, but Mary Kay Andrews’ writing had a relaxed, compelling vibe and she threw in some good twists and turns.
  
  Sunset Beach was an enjoyable read which gave me the beachy feel without tracking sand in the house!!
  
  Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at
  https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
  
  Check out my list of the best books of the decade at
  https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
  
  See all of my reviews at
  itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
  
  Follow me on Instagram at
  https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
• 
  Susanne

  What a Fun, Beach Mystery!
  
  Drue finds herself at wit’s end after losing her mom and her job in the same week. Recovering from a sports injury, she is at a loss as to what to do with her life until her estranged father offers her a job at his law firm and informs her that she has inherited her grandparent’s cottage on “Sunset Beach.” With a new lease on life, thirty-something Drue moves to Sunset Beach.
  
  There, she starts her job at the firm as an Intake Specialist, working for her father, and his new wife - her former BFF, turned frenemie. Can you say awesome? Not!
  
  Drue soon becomes embroiled in a cold case at the firm and begins investigating. Can she find justice before she gets herself into deep trouble?
  
  A beachy mystery filled with fun, friendship, family and a little bit of romance! “Sunset Beach” is a great distraction from everything that is going on in the world. This was the first book that I’ve read by Mary Kay Andrews and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Since I liked this book so much, I can’t wait to add more MKA novel’s to my library queue!
  
  Thanks to my local library for loaning me the library book.
  
  Published on Goodreads on 6.23.20.
  
  
  
• 
  Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader

  4 bold stars to Sunset Beach! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
  
  Drue Campbell is having a hard time. She’s lost her job and nothing sunny is on the horizon. Her mother has passed away, and her father, Brice Campbell, whom she hasn’t seen in over twenty years, shows up to the funeral.
  
  The icing on the cake is that Brice is married to Wendy, a frenemy of Drue’s from middle school. Brice and Wendy offer Drue a job at Brice’s personal injury law office…
  
  The job doesn’t sound desirable, but Drue also has an inheritance; a bungalow in Sunset Beach. The house isn’t all that alluring either because it’s been through some storms and is outdated; however, it is charming.
  
  Drue has to work side-by-side with Wendy in the office, which is no fun. Then, a mysterious death happens, which might be tied to corruption at Brice’s firm. Now Drue dons her detective hat and starts her own investigation. There’s also a romance looming at the law firm…
  
  Ahh, Mary Kay Andrews! What a charming read! There’s her trademark wit, a few giggles, some well-done intrigue with the mysteries, a quaint, beachy setting, and so much fun!
  
  In the last two books from MKA, I’ve noticed the added mystery elements, and she executes them well. Drue reminded me a bit of Kinsey Milhone from Susan Grafton’s books, and I loved that. Overall, this is everything we want and more from a MKA book. I think all her fans, myself included, will be happy readers!
  
  I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
  
  My reviews can also be found on my blog:
  www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram:
  www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
• 
  Erin

  Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Honestly, I didn't read the entire synopsis of this book before heading over to Netgalley to snap it up. So far, Sunset Beach is my favorite deceptive cover of 2019. I feel I need to create this new category because those beach chairs swayed me into thinking this would be straight up contemporary romance. I have never been so delighted to be proven wrong. Yes romance and family drama is present, but when protagonist, Drue, gets wrapped in two unsolved cases of missing women- from 1976 and a more recent crime, I was unable to do anything but give myself over to this story. Fair warning though, if you have any knowledge of the criminal justice system, accept that things work out so much better in the fictional world. This was my first Mary Kay Andrews read, but it definitely will not be my last.
  
  Goodreads review published 23/02/19
  Expected publication 07/05/19
• 
  Meredith B. (readingwithmere)

  4.5 Stars...rounded up!
  
  Is it truly summer unless you've read a
  Mary Kay Andrews's book? I look forward to her book coming out every May and the covers always give me serious summer vibes! However, don't let this beach cover fool you, this book has some serious depth!
  
  Drue was doing what she loved - kiteboarding and working on the side to bring in some cash. Her life is then turned around when her mother passes and now she's suddenly out of a job. When Drue goes to her mother's funeral her estranged Dad shows up and he tells her they need to talk because he has some news for her. Nothing could be farther from what Drue wants. Her Dad is now married to her high school nemesis and he ran off her her as a child. She reluctantly meets with her Dad and finds out that she has inherited her grandparent's house on the beach - Sunset Beach.
  
  Drue's Dad also offers her a job at his law firm to take calls - her boss is her new step mom and it's the worst job imaginable. One day Drue is manning the front desk and an old client comes in demanding justice. This gets Drue's gears grinding and Drue wants justice for this family who is struggling. Something just seems "off" with how this case was settled and Drue won't stop until she figures out where this went wrong. We watch Drue try to find love, repair her relationship with her Dad and try to get through life. She just has to go through some twists and turns to get there.
  
  This book was so much more than what I expected it was going to be! The cover really does make it look like it's going to be a summer chick lit read but this is way more than that. This is a full blown mystery that the main character comes in to once it's been "solved" and reopens the case to find out the truth. She wants justice for a family that definitely got played by the system. Although Drue could be over the top about how enthusiastic she was about this case (i'm talking no sleep, not eating, etc.) I appreciated her dedication.
  
  There's something about MKA books that suck me in every single time. The way that she writes is so engrossing and the short chapters keep me wanting more. They're definitely not thrillers but the mystery is usually something that I haven't really read before. I suppose I love how fresh her writing is each year. Plus who can not like books with a beach theme? I feel like as I was reading and imaging a beach town it almost made me calmer in the intense parts. Overall this is a great book to start off my summer reading and I will continue to look forward to her books each and every year!
  
  This book is out now so go pick it up! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of this book.
• 
  Susan's Reviews

  My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
  So, get ready to go along for a long, bumpy ride as Drue tries to solve an old mystery which may or may not incriminate her estranged father (who recently hired her to come work at his law firm.)
  
  I felt the story could have used a fair amount of trimming. By chapter 40, I was ready for this story to come to a graceful conclusion. Well, 65 chapters and one Epilogue later, this very long, strung out mystery finally came to an end. I'm still wondering whether we really needed to read about Drue's swimming sessions with Corey and all that free knee therapy he gave her? Frankly, Corey was probably added to create a love triangle with Jonah, but even the relationship with Jonah was very, very tepid. This book is heavy on the mystery solving, and very light on the romance aspect.
  Still, the story is well-written and fans of Mary Kay Andrews will enjoy Drue's relentless pursuit of the truth behind young Colleen's disappearance and a potential scam which may or may not involve her father.
• 
  Lucy

  This is my fifth MKA book, and I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. This story is about two unsolved mysteries, which Drue (main character) takes upon herself to solve. One is a 40-year old case about a missing woman. The other is a more recent case about a murdered woman.
  
  Specifically, here's what didn't work for me:
  
  🔸Having Drue doing some amateur sleuthing for not one, but two unsolved mysteries. This entailed a lot of fumbling around and getting into more and more unrealistic situations.
  
  🔸The "humor" in the story didn't work for me i.e. Drue drives a white Bronco she calls OJ, the phone calls from prospective clients with bogus cases, etc.
  
  🔸Drue is 36-years old, and her age is mentioned several times throughout the story. Why was it mentioned so much? I found this age odd for her anyway, since she acted and was treated like she was much younger. One character would even refer to her as little girl.
• 
  Carrie

  Mary Kay Andrews has done it yet again with this new novel, Sunset Beach. Looking at the covers of her novels you would almost expect to be picking up a contemporary romance but instead there has been so much more involved in her stories making them a bit hard to label and classify as any one thing.
  
  In Sunset Beach readers meet Drue Campbell who is one of those characters that has really yet to find herself even though she’s in her thirties. Drue’s passion had been kite boarding but she’s had to give it up due to a major injury. To fund her passion she’s bounced from mediocre job to mediocre job.
  
  After Drue’s mother passes her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a hotshot attorney who she hasn’t seen in years steps back into her life to let Drue know she inherited her grandparents cottage. He also offers Drue a job which she desperately needs and reluctantly accepts only to find her new stepmother, a former childhood friend, is her new boss. However, Drue quickly finds an old case that catches her attention that she’s determined to solve.
  
  Sunset Beach really had something more going on with the characters and story with each turn of the page. Anything from family drama and personal relationships to a murder mystery from an old client case at the law office along with another mystery more close to home for Drue as she cleans and renovates the beach house. I also wondered starting off if I would even like Drue but really did so this one was one that I flew through finding it hard to put down.
  
  I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
  
  For more reviews please visit
  https://carriesbookreviews.com/
• 
  Bkwmlee

  Technically, this book came in at just a little under 3 stars for me, but it was close enough that I decided to just go with that rating. For me, this one was able to stand out as a “better than average” beach read mostly through the way that the author Mary Kay Andrews was able to incorporate a bona fide mystery into the story that actually did keep my interest but didn’t dive too deep as to overwhelm the rest of the story. I also liked the cast of quirky, unconventional characters and how most of them came from complicated, dysfunctional backgrounds – I especially liked the main character Drue Campbell, who is trying to put her miserable life back together after enduring several hardships in a row, such as being fired from her job, a life-changing injury, and her mother’s death. I like how she is portrayed so differently from the “heroines” we usually encounter in books of this genre – Drue is tomboyish, too nosy for her own good, and at times can be difficult to get along with, but at the end of the day, she’s a good person with a flawed personality who is trying her best to turn her life around. With all that said though, one thing that I felt was lacking in terms of characters was that we don’t really get to know the other characters in the story, since all the action revolved mainly around Drue and most of the time, there didn’t seem to be much of interest going on with everyone else.
  
  In terms of the writing and structure of the story, it was a bit all over the place in that I felt like this book was trying to be too many things at once – i.e. mystery novel, crime thriller, rom-com, feel-good beach read, etc. -- to the point that, in the end, it didn’t really know what it wanted to be. For me, there were moments where I felt the story lost focus a little, some parts that were a bit dull and predictable and caused my attention to falter at times. To be honest, I actually felt the story arc involving the decades-old missing person case (which was interspersed sporadically throughout the story) was a lot more interesting than the main story – it was actually written better too! In fact, I found myself skimming certain sections of the main story and skipping ahead to the parts that talked about the case from the past. As for the writing, I found it a bit inconsistent in that there were sections which came across as overly descriptive and didn’t seem to fit in well with the story, while in other sections, the writing felt a little too simple, which to me, made the story not flow as well as it potentially could have. I also felt it was odd the way Drue got involved with the Jazmin Mayes case and seemed to come across as more competent than the detectives who had spent years investigating the case. It also seemed a bit far-fetched that an “amateur sleuth” like Drue would be allowed to poke around haphazardly on her own as much as she did without repercussions and even have access to information that seemed to always be readily shared with her.
  
  I would say that all in all, this was a decent read that did sustain my interest for the most part, but I felt had the potential to be much more than what it turned out to be. This is my first time reading this author, so I don’t have a reference point in terms of how this one stacks up to her previous works, but I would be willing to read more from her and possibly explore her other books in the future.
  
  Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
  
  
• 
  Jenny

  It was a con. It was a con that I fell for. The cover of Sunset Beach screamed summer read; and I fell for it. I pictured myself at the beach under a colorful umbrella protecting me from the suns rays. With the cool drink beside me, I would pick up this novel and settle in for a large afternoon of reading but with idyllic day dreaming intruding on the printed page. The cover of the book seemed to promise this.
  But this is not what I got. Instead of a nice beach read, I got a voyage on a choppy sea sailed by an unsteady captain.
  Thirty six year old Drue Campbell returns to her childhood home following the death after a long illness of her mother. Adding to her stress and sorrow is the fact that Drue has recently lost her job. She is treading water but could go under.
  Surprisingly a life saver is thrown her way by her father, Bruce Campbell, a man she has been estranged from for nearly 20 years. He offers her a job at his law firm and a place to live, a bungalow that belonged to her deceased grandparents.
  Looks like smooth sailing. Not quite. The bungalow is old and in need of substantial repair. The job at the law firm would be under the leadership of Drue’s father’s new wife, Wendy, who was also Drue’s childhood frenemy. I see white caps on the waves.
  But wait there is more. While dealing with the emotional pain of her mothers death and her fathers reappearance in her life, Drue also deals with physical pain from injuries sustained in an awful kite boarding accident.
  Enough! No. Mary Kay Andrews has more. There is a murder mystery at Sunset Beach. Bruce Campbell’s law firm might be corrupt. The “perfect storm “ approaches.
  Yes I was conned and mislead. I should have remembered “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” The story with its many issues and twists holds your attention. You won’t soon forget Sunset Beach.
  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #SunsetBeach #NetGalley
• 
  Mary

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5 (4.5/5)
  
  Progression of reading MKA: Read
  The Weekenders, didn't love it; read
  The High Tide Club and loved it, so much heart! A mystery! Humor!; reads
  Sunset Beach BAM,
  Mary Kay Andrews has officially become an auto-buy author for me.
  
  What it's about: Drue Campbell has recently lost both her mom and her job, so when her absentee dad shows up offering to let her work at his law firm, it doesn't take her long to decide she should do it. Luckily, her mom left her a bungalow on Sunset Beach, close to Drue's dad's firm. The only problem is the house needs a lot of work, plus a new roof... Drue sets to work on fixing up the house while also working on the Justice Line at her dad's firm where she quickly manages to get pulled into an unsolved murder. Her own investigating quickly turns up information that the cops and her dad's old friend and investigator Jimmy Zee didn't turn up. Plus she ends up with yet another mystery on her hands after she finds the case file of a missing woman in her house's attic. What is it doing in her mom's grandparent's home, and how does it relate to her family?
  
  When I first started Sunset Beach I wasn't sure how much I was actually going to end up liking it, but after I got into the meat of the story and the mystery, I couldn't pull myself away from it. I love that MKA's books have a bit of everything, there's a bit of romance, lots of family drama, love, loss, and mystery. The way she pulls everything together always pulls at my heart and I somehow manage to end up in tears (usually happy) by the time I get to the end of her books. Sunset Beach was no exception.
  
  The character's really came to life in this story for me, and I loved Drue's quick wit throughout the book. She is in her mid-thirties and while I don't think she always acted her age, she definitely made for a very real and relatable character. I love how relatable MKA makes her characters, and if you can't relate to one of them, you can usually relate to at least someone. Plus, the setting of Sunset Beach in Florida made ME want to be on a beach. This really is a perfect beach read, whether you are by one or not.
  
  Sunset Beach has viewpoints from a few different people, although Drue is the main one. It also eventually starts to switch between past and present, which is ultimately where the book started to pick up for me and had me completely hooked. The mystery was a good one, and I didn't really see the ending coming.
  
  Final Thought: Drama! Mystery! Intrigue! If you like a good women's fiction novel that gives you beach vibes plus involves mystery and some light romance, I highly recommend checking out Sunset Beach. I think MKA fans will love this book if they liked The High Tide Club, and newer fans (like me) should love this as well. If you don't love it at first just hang in there, I promise the mystery is so worth it!!
  
  Thank you to Meghan Walker and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
• 
  Judy

  Loved it and highly recommend this as a great beach read! I truly got started and was lost in this one for two days - couldn't put it down. This is my first Mary Kay Andrews read and I'm sure I will be reading more soon. Loved the characters and the plot. There's a couple of mysteries here and a love story as well as a little growing up and being an adult. Drue Campbell was a believable character and I liked the historic beach town setting.
  
  At the end Ms. Andrews shares her adventures searching for a place at the beach and the renovations, some tips for prospective beach property buyers, and even a few recipes.
  
  Thanks so much to Mary Kay Andrews and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Stephanie

  Mary Kay Andrews is on fire with her newest summer read! I've been reading MKA since the early 90s and own all of her books, but I think she just keeps getting better with every book, and Sunset Beach is the perfect example. I loved everything and I mean everything about Sunset Beach!
  
  Thirty-six year old Drue Campbell doesn't feel like her life can possibly get any worse than it already is when her estranged father, a hot-shot personal injury lawyer walks back into her life and offers her a job. After all, her mom just passed away from cancer, she's not quite recovered from a knee injury she received in a kiteboarding accident, and she was just fired from her waitressing job. 
  
  Drue really has no choice but to take Brice's job offer and move back to St. Petersburg. Once there, she realizes things can get worse when she finds out her dad is now married to a woman her own age...who just happens to be her 8th grade best friend turned enemy, Wendy! The only upside to moving back to St. Petersburg is that Drue discovers that she has inherited the beach cottage on Sunset Beach that her grandfather built decades ago and where she spent so many happy years while growing up.  It's now dilapidated and needs major repairs, but Drue is thrilled it's all hers.
  
  What she's not thrilled about is working with Wendy every day, and it doesn't help that Drue is really bad at screening calls at the law firm and drumming up clients for her dad. Instead, Drue's more interested in trying to figure out who strangled the daughter of one of their clients--and mainly why her dad didn't get the girl's mother a bigger settlement in the wrongful death suit! As far as Drue is concerned, the client is right and justice wasn't served, so Drue turns secret investigator to figure out what happened and if the law firm (and her father) is somehow involved in hiding things.
  
  If that mystery weren't enough to keep Drue busy, she finds a box in her attic while trying to prevent a leak in her roof that has an old police file from 1976 in it about a missing woman. Her dad used to be a police officer, but why would an entire police file just happen to be in her grandparent's attic and what happened to the missing woman 40 years ago? Let's just say that Drue has some suspicions!
  
  Drue's investigations in both mysteries take her on a shocking path where she can trust no one! I love when MKA adds mystery and intrigue in her novels because she always adds just the right touch of suspense to keep you glued to the pages without letting it get too dark and heavy (although we all know I love my dark and gritty novels!). But for a summer read, this is the perfect mix of mystery, a bit of sleuthing, some intrigue, family drama, some romance, and a perfect southern summer setting!
  
  Sunset Beach is another delightful summer novel from the queen of the beach reads, and it gets my highest recommendation! Make sure you grab a copy or add it to your TBR before it releases on May 7, 2019!
  
  **Thank you, St.Martin's Press and Mary Kay Andrews for the early review copy. All opinions are my own.**
• 
  ✨ Gramy ✨

  ,,
  
  I attempted to listen to the audio version of this book. It turns out the printed version would have been equally offensive. It appears I am in the minority, such as it is. Different strokes for different folks as the old adage goes.
  
  Consequently, this is definitely not my cup of tea! I don't think I heard a whole chapter before I closed this book and pitched it to the DNF pile.
  
  I do not appreciate profanity in any shape or form - not in my personal life, not in music or movies, and not in my literary get-aways. I have a right to my preference in my personal space.
  
  So, after an obnoxious confrontation with super nasty profanities rolling off a minor's tongue, I knew instantly that I was not interested in reading anymore. For those not offended by deplorable language, you may find this an acceptable piece of entertainment. However, the reviews reflect additional reasons for me to avoid this book as well.
  
  So, I did not get far enough to discover Mary Kay Andrews' signature wit, heart, and charm that I had so been looking forward to. I was sorely disappointed...
  
  NOTE: I could have probably saved myself from wasting my time if I had perused the reviews first. But, I usually avoid them until I read the book, to avoid being tainted by another reader's opinion. I guess I learned a valuable lesson with this one.
  
  ..
  
• 
  Leslie Ray

  I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't necessarily categorized under mystery but should be as there were 2 mysteries surrounding the main character, Drue, who ends up working for her father's law firm. She is at a low point in her life, and agrees to the job offered by her father who has come back into her life after the death of her mother. There is romance but I found the mysteries she is embroiled in more enjoyable. This would make a good series as I enjoyed the interaction between Drue and Detective Hernandez.
  I enjoyed the flashbacks and resolution to the mystery of a woman that involved her parents and the one that Drue solves to help a client that had previously sought help from her father's law firm.
  This was described as a good beach read and it was. However, because of the 2 mysteries that Drue solves and her taking control of her life, make this a good read for anyone.
• 
  Judy Collins

  I absolutely LOVE MKA and all her books! SUNSET BEACH is a perfect beach read, mixed with thrilling suspense, humor, chick-lit, and a multi-generational mystery. (always love parent's dark secrets). Do we ever really know our parents?
  
  Drue Campbell is down on her luck. (you are going to love her). Her mom died. She is suffering from a knee injury from kiteboarding, and just lost her waitressing job in Ft. Lauderdale. Her estranged father Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney (St. Petersburg, FL), shows up at the funeral and lets her know she has inherited her grandparent's cottage on Sunset Beach in Treasure Island, Florida's gulf coast.
  
  She loved this cottage and it holds special memories for her. It is in shambles, the roof leaks and it is not liveable. However, her dad offers her a job at his law firm as a cube rate (answering phones). The last place she wants to work. But she swallows her pride and accepts in order to have the money to fix up her cottage. After all it is waterfront and a prime piece of real estate. However, little does she know her frenemy from middle school is now married to her dad and makes her life miserable at work.
  
  Soon she discovers a case from a poor African American grandmother who lost her daughter when she was murdered at a nearby hotel resort and is raising her granddaughter. The law firm did not do the case justice and left the woman hanging. Drue has made it her mission to seek justice for this woman and granddaughter. (loved this relationship).
  
  Drue is better at sleuthing with some mad detective skills, versus manning the phone. However, something is fishy and she is determined to get to the bottom of this (in secret). With a little help of the detective and some of her friends, she begins to unravel the coverup. In addition, she also uncovers another murder mystery and cold case in her mom's things stored in the cottage attic.
  
  She doesn't know who she can trust. Even members of her own family and her co-workers. Things heat up in a race against time as she goes undercover to bring the truth to the surface.
  
  WOW! what a great book. If you love historic beach cottages and much as I do and renovations (reno)— get in the spirit. A historic cottage handed down from generations past. Both damaged and shabby. A lifetime of childhood memories and unforgettable summers at a grandparent's cottage.
  
  A worn-down woman from life's blows and plenty of bad luck. Metaphors for life. Lots of treasures and surprises await (personally and professionally) from the past within this old cottage. A strong empowered young woman starting over, as she breathes new life into the walls of this much-loved cottage as well as into her own life and future.
  
  From mystery, intrigue, romance, suspense, humor, relatable characters, a strong love of family, nostalgia, heart, and plenty of home-reno! Second Chances. An avid fan of the author's Callahan Garrity Mysteries as well as her Southern contemporary beach fiction. The best of both worlds. Plus I love her kick-ass female characters.
  
  This book resonates with me as a Floridian, and a lover of Indian Rock Beach (Colonial Court Inn), the entire Treasure Island, and Gulf Blvd on the Gulf Coast. (I have lived and worked all beach areas from the north, south (even the Florida Keys), east, and west; each coast has its own charm).
  
  SUNSET BEACH makes you want to revisit all the many places. I spent many weekends riding bikes there, from Clearwater to St. Pete, St. Johns Pass - and have stayed at many of the colorful beach cottages on the beautiful Gulf Coast with its white beaches. I will have to say the Gulf coast has more charming cottages. ( love Siesta Key as well).
  
  Also as an added bonus, Mary Kay shares her secrets and love of vacation rentals, renovations, cottage buying and decorating tips. . . as well as some great recipes! I am always hungry when reading her books.
  
  I adored this book and spent many years working with interior design, photography, and marketing for Florida vacation rental properties, cottages, renovations, and quaint inns as well as designing of their websites. They are charming and delightful with much history. Gosh, I miss St. Augustine and its great rare finds!
  
  My recommendation would be to rent a quaint beach cottage and grab a copy of SUNSET BEACH. I suggest a hammock (there is one as well as Adirondack chairs at Colonial Court) or Morada Bay, Islamorada - and a cocktail on a summer breezy day or evening. It is heaven! I am going to buy a copy for my favorite B&B WPB vacation rental to add to their library.
  
  I highly recommend all Mary Kay Andrews books (My #1 Southern Author) In addition to Sunset Beach,
  The High Tide Club,
  Top Books of 2018 as well as MKA's cookbook
  The Beach House Cookbook. I have the hardcover cookbook and have given it as gifts and everyone loves it - they still email me about recipes they have tried.
  
  Fans of Wendy Wax's
  Ten Beach Road (another favorite) will enjoy as well as Viola Shipman's
  The Summer Cottage ! I urge you to pre-order this top beach read. It is on my
  Top Books of 2019!
  
  I was immersed from page one to the end, reading it in one weekend- finding it difficult to put down. Dying to see how it would turn out. Mary Kay is a wonderful Southern storyteller and her love and passion of the beach, renovations, cooking, and historic cottages are reflected and mixed with her great wit.
  
  An ideal beach read and book club pick. Also, the cover is DAZZLING! No one can spin a story like MKA!
  
  A special thank you to St. Martin's Press for a print copy and NetGalley for a digital early reading copy.
• 
  Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader

  Are you looking for a beach read? I have found you the best one of 2019. It is full of romance, suspense and surprising twists you never see coming.
  This book has it all. Andrews is the queen of beach reads and this book did not disappoint. I HIGHLY recommend this book.
  Make sure before you head out on your vacation that this book is in your bag.
  4.5 stars and I can't wait for you all to read it.
  The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
• 
  Anita

  Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
  
  This is my first book by Mary Kay Andrews, although she is a favorite of my oldest daughter. Should be fun! I've got a conundrum with this book. I'm not sure just what it is. I didn't read the blurb and started expecting a Chick-Lit sort of romance. It's not really that. It is definitely Chick-Lit as the 36 year old chick is sorting out issues from her childhood with her father, moving on with her life after an accident that has ended her favorite recreational activity, the death of her mother, the breakup with a long time boyfriend and the loss of a dead end job. In other words, just about her whole world crashed.
  
  No woo-is-me martyr, just a woman putting it together without the help of anyone from the male species. Drue Campbell is determined to fix up the beachfront cottage that had belonged to her grandparents and to make peace with her father and newest stepmom. But, there is also a mystery, make that two mysteries she has fallen into, both of which involve her father and one is over 40 years old. I just love how she keeps digging even after she has been warned off.
  
  This is a very interesting read, not at all what I am normally into. I still have no idea what to Bookshelf/tag this book. It just doesn't fit neatly into a specific genre, so since the mysteries were a big part of the plot, I'm going to call it a Mystery - or - a Chick-Lit Mystery, but I don't think that's an actual genre. Maybe a Chick-Lit Mystery with a hint of Romance? Read the book and if you can come up with a better Tag, let me know.
• 
  Selena

  I received a free copy of Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews from NetGalley for my honest review.
  
  This is the first book I have ready by Mary Kay Andrews and I was very impressed.
  
  Drue is 36 years old, has no career and her life is without purpose. She has lost her mother to cancer and Drue is just lost in life. Her estranged father suddenly offers her a job in his law firm.
  
  Drue excepts the job, and returns home to where she grew up 20 years ago. Drue blames her dad for everything that has happened in the past. Drue also find out that her dad married her best friend from school Wendy.
  
  Drue does get some good news. She finds out that the beachfront house she spent her summers in when she was young is now hers. One of the only places in her life that ever made her happy, is now hers.
  
  While renovating her late grandparents’ cottage, she discovers police files from a missing person’s case from the 1980s. Colleen Hicks disappeared without a trace. She was a married woman with an abusive husband. She throws herself into information about the case and finds evidence that her own family might be involved in a 40-year old missing persons case. Drue throws into both of the investigations. Now Drue might have put herself in danger.
• 
  Bam cooks the books ;-)

  *4+ stars. At 36, Drue Campbell's life has fallen apart: her mother has passed away; her long-time boyfriend has left her; she's lost her job as a server at a beach bar in Fort Lauderdale; and she's recovering from a knee injury that has ended her competitive kite-boarding career.
  
  At her mother's funeral her estranged father offers her a life-line--to take a job with his law firm in St Petersburg, FL. She just might be desperate enough to accept. She's also thrilled to learn she has inherited her grandparents' old cottage on Sunset Beach from her mother. It's pretty ramshackle but is filled with lots of warm, happy memories from her youth, and she dreams of fixing it up once she gets some cash.
  
  She's not so thrilled to learn that her 'frenemy' Wendy from their middle school years is now married to her father and is the office manager at his law firm. It looks like Wendy plans to ride her relentlessly, hoping she'll quit, and Drue wonders if being a cubicle monkey, answering the 'Justice' hotline all day, is the right job for her anyway.
  
  But investigating just might be. Drue is interested in two cases she comes across: one at work involving the murder of a young hotel worker; and the other, a cold-case she reads about in clippings she finds in her grandparents' attic. She is dogged in her pursuit of answers, even when everyone around her tells her to drop her investigations, especially the local homicide detective.
  
  This story is equal parts intriguing and charming. Drue is a feisty, gutsy young woman whom you can't help but cheer for. Loved the beach setting and wouldn't mind owning something just like Coquina Cottage, watching some of those amazing sunsets! The book's cover design fits the story perfectly.
  
  This is my first taste of this author's work and it won't be my last! A nice mixture of click-lit, summer beach read and mystery. Highly recommend. As an added bonus, there are delicious-sounding recipes included at the book's end, perfect for summer entertaining. Who could ask for more?
  
  I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. I'm very grateful for the opportunity. It was nice to escape this cold, wet Illinois spring and spend some time at the beach.
• 
  Amy

  This is only my second book my MKA and I’m so excited to see she has such an extensive backlist because I enjoyed this one so much! I really expected it be light and fluffy but it went darker than I thought as it delves into two murder cases. Besides that though it did have plenty of lighthearted humor, romance and a heroine that I was rooting for all along.
  
  I don’t often describe WF as gripping but this one really was, Drue stumbles upon an old unsolved missing persons case and she’s also digging into a more recent murder case with ties to her fathers law firm. I was so interested in both cases and loved Drue as an amateur sleuth. She was a fantastic lead character, enough bad ass fearlessness mixed with real life, realistic clumsiness to make it believable. Her life is messy and complicated and those kind of characters are always my favorite kind.
  
  This was a really fun read and one that held my interest all the way through, MKA’s writing style was fluid and easy and the setting of Sunset Beach was fabulous. If this book doesn’t make you want to rent a little beachside cottage and mix up a mai tai I don’t know what will, totally recommended by me to add to your summer reading list!
  
  Sunset Beach in three words: Humorous, Entertaining and Engaging.