A Chain of Pearls Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Author Marketing Experts in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve covered a lot of mysteries on this website. They usually contain a similar formula of trying to find who and why someone committed the crime. Recently, I’ve been finding myself more drawn to the characters and their relationships in these mysteries. If they are done well, readers will keep coming back to them. A good example of this is A Chain of Pearls – a novel by debuting author Raemi A. Ray. It contains a memorable character trying to find out what happened to her estranged father in Martha’s Vineyard.

A Chain of Pearls is the first book in the “Martha’s Vineyard Murders” series. When the body of a respected journalist turns up on the shores of Edgartown Harbor, the official report rules it as an accidental death. But, why was he alone on a senator’s yacht during a nor’easter? That’s the first question London-based lawyer Kyra Gibson has when she arrives on Martha’s Vineyard to settle her estranged father’s affairs. She isn’t looking for closure. In fact, she hasn’t seen him in decades since he left her with her aunt after her mother died. But as Kyra digs deeper, she discovers that he had many regrets and wasn’t as retired as she believed he was. The more Kyra finds out, the more questions she has. With world-weary detective Tarek Collins, they uncover a web of intrigue and corruption involving a powerful senator, a dubious energy company, and a brutal murder. As they chase down clues, Kyra and Tarek face danger and race against time to solve the murders and uncover the secrets lurking beneath Martha’s Vineyard’s picturesque facade.

The mystery was well done. It contained some twists and turns as well as a finale that had me on the edge of my seat. There were plenty of red herrings too, so I was pondering who did it until it was revealed at the end. I didn’t mind that Kyra – a private citizen – was actively helping the police with their investigation because of how it personally affected her. Granted, she does some stupid things that impact the search and her relationship with Tarek, yet it still works out in the end.

Additionally, I enjoyed the environment. Ray made Martha’s Vineyard, specifically Edgartown, a character in of itself. It’s a cool coastal town filled with colorful characters like Grace and Charlie – the lesbian couple that Kyra’s father knew. There’s also the back and forth between the summer people and the native islanders. Most importantly, the descriptions are exquisite. I know that many reviewers have discussed this aspect prior, but they truly made me feel like I was there on Martha’s Vineyard with Kyra and the rest of the cast. I could even feel the brisk wind on the island. I can easily see why Kyra’s dad resided there.

I truly knew I would be intrigued by A Chain of Pearls when I read its synopsis of a woman dealing with her late estranged father. This personal conflict forms the backbone of the story, and it’s easily the best part. Because of how her dad abandoned her after her mother passed away, Kyra has a hard time trusting people and developed a hardened heart. She reminded me of Emma Swan from the television show Once Upon a Time as both have trust issues and make plenty of wise cracks. I could imagine Kyra with a red leather jacket similar to what Emma wore in the series. In addition, both find themselves working with detectives to solve a mystery in a remote town in New England. I enjoyed the banter Kyra has with Tarek the investigator. I kind of wondered if they were going to get together, but the mystery was still at the forefront.

I love how Kyra’s personal conflict is woven into the entire plot. As she searches for clues, she discovers how much her father talked about her and kept some of things she made while she was a child. It makes her realize that he cared about her more than she gave him credit for. I won’t spoil it, but I have to mention that the culprit has their own problems with their family that may or not be similar to Kyra’s.

A Chain of Pearls by Raemi A. Ray is a great mystery series debut. It has a good mystery that was filled with twists, turns, and a great climax. Raemi also does a fantastic job with the sense of place as readers like myself were able to imagine ourselves there. Above all, Kyra and her personal conflict are magnificent. They add plenty of dynamics to the story and absolutely make the book worth reading. I would recommend it to readers who want more character-based mysteries like the “Armand Gamache” series by Louise Penny and novels set in Martha’s Vineyard. I can’t wait to read the rest of “Martha’s Vineyard Murders” books.

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