Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (812)

Content

How to Land a Plane

Mark Vanhoenacker

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Hello! Welcome! Wow, you look surprisingly relaxed. That's great to see. Have a seat on the left...

The Little Book of Mindfulness: 10 Minutes a Day to Less Stress, More Peace

Patrizia Collard

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

"Everyone should read this. Mindfulness is such a great way to live life to the full." - Amazon...

OSHO Meditation for Busy People

Lifestyle and Health & Fitness

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

Osho Meditation for Busy People offers simple strategies to reduce tension, minimize chronic stress,...

Bridge Construction Simulator 3D a Real City Building Physics Sim

Games

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

Put your engineering skills, intuition and smarts to test in this brand new Bridge Construction...

Lullaby Songs for Babies: Baby Sleep Bedtime Music

Music and Entertainment

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

With lullaby songs for babies, sleepless nights will be a thing of the past! If you find yourself...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2516 KP) rated Smile Beach Murder in Books

May 26, 2022

Murder at the Lighthouse

After being laid off from her job as a reporter, Callie Padget has returned home to Cattail Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and landed a job at the local bookstore. She is forced to face a tragedy from her past when a friend falls from the island’s lighthouse almost on the anniversary of her own mother’s tragic death at the lighthouse. Callie doesn’t buy the official police ruling of suicide, especially since the victim had just found the first clue to a treasure hunt. Can Callie figure out what really happened? Is the treasure hunt related to the death?

Despite the vacation island setting, this book does have a bit of a more serious tone thanks to Callie’s own past and how the current death impacts some of the characters. It’s a delicate balance that this book handles well. I quickly came to love the characters, and I can only see that love growing as the series progresses. The plot has a bit of a relaxed pace, but it does get us to a logical conclusion. I loved the setting; I can see myself spending a week on the island on vacation. I also appreciated how this book used all the senses to bring the setting to life. This book would be fun on a vacation, but if you are looking for a virtual vacation, you’ll be extra glad you picked this one up.

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2516 KP) rated Murder at Chateau sur Mer in Books

Mar 7, 2026 (Updated Mar 7, 2026)

Was This Murder Political?

It’s July of 1897, and Emma is covering a polo match when she witnesses a strange scene – a young woman with a less than stellar reputation is insisting that she must talk to Senator Wetmore’s wife. The next morning, Emma is summoned to the Wetmore’s residence - Chateau sur Mer. The young woman from the day before is lying dead in their entry way. Emma has developed a reputation based on her past exploits, and Mrs. Wetmore wants Emma to investigate so that the whiff of scandal won’t haunt her family forever. But what is the victim’s connection to the wealthy family?

The book does a good job of putting us back in Emma’s world while also setting up the mystery. While there are great twists, I did feel a few things were rushed at the climax. Still, everything did make sense. I appreciated the updates we got on Emma and the other regulars, both real people and fictional characters. Speaking of which, I love how the two types rub elbows seamlessly. In fact, I was surprised to learn a couple I thought pure invention were real. Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end to find out the facts that support this fiction. As always, the summer setting gave me some relaxed vibes, and I felt like I was transported back in time. If you are looking for a fun historical series, this is one to check out.