4 STAR REVIEW: SOMETHING FISHY by Lois Schmitt

A Kristy Farrell Mystery: Book 2
Publication Date: July 15, 2019

When attorney Samuel Wong goes missing. wildlife magazine reporter Kristy Farrell believes the disappearance is tied into her latest story concerning twenty acres of prime beachfront property that the Clam Shell Cove Aquarium hopes to purchase. Sam works for multi-millionaire land developer Lucien Moray who wants to buy the property for an upscale condominium. The waterfront community is divided on this issue like the Hatfields and McCoys with environmentalists siding with the aquarium and local business owners lining up behind Moray.

Meanwhile, a body is found in the bay. Kristy, aided by her veterinarian daughter, investigates and discovers deep secrets among the aquarium staff–secrets that point to one of them as a killer. Soon the aquarium is plagued with accidents, Kristy has a near death encounter with a nine foot bull shark, and a second murder occurs.

But ferreting out the murderer and discovering the story behind Sam’s disappearance aren’t Kristy’s only challenges. When her widowed septuagenarian mother announces her engagement, Kristy suspects her mom’s soon to be husband is not all he appears to be. As Kristy tries to find the truth before her mother ties the knot, she also races the clock to find the aquarium killer before this killer strikes again.

Something Fishy by Lois Schmitt is the first book in the Kristy Farrell Mystery series and held my interest throughout. There are multiple murders, scams, thefts, lies, and a whole lot more all set in Clam Cove, Long Island. 

Ms. Schmitt writes with depth to the story with many twists and turns, clues, cops, and other law enforcement and, as a reporter, Kristy Farrell, tries to solve the cases. There’s a lot of action and reaction along with information and misinformation as the story unfolds. The detective she keeps crossing paths with would like nothing better than to arrest her and see her behind bars. He was a hard person to like.

Ms. Schmitt vividly depicted the aquarium, Katie’s home, the horse farm, and the waterfront area. The aquarium was involved in much of the story and many varieties of fish and other marine life and lots of facts were depicted. I liked Kristy’s family and how her daughter and her boyfriend helped with research and pulled together the clues. Kristy’s husband was supportive of her sleuthing but always cautioned her to be careful. The pets were a nice addition to the story as well. Finally, there was a nice closure with the cases dramatically solved and a happily ever in the offing for one of the characters.  

Ms. Schmitt is a new to me author, and with her splendid writing style and a solid mystery, I can honestly say I look forward to reading more of her books. 

A mystery fan since she read her first Nancy Drew, Lois Schmitt combined a love of mysteries with a love of animals in her series featuring wildlife reporter Kristy Farrell. She is a member of several wildlife and humane organizations as well as Mystery Writers of America. Lois worked for many years as a freelance writer and is the author of Smart Spending, a consumer education book for young people. She previously worked as media spokesperson for a local consumer affairs agency and currently teaches at Nassau Community College on Long Island. Lois lives in Massapequa with her family which includes a 120 pound Bernese Mountain Dog. This dog bears a striking resemblance to Archie, a dog of many breeds who looks like a small bear, featured in her Kristy Farrell Mystery Series. Lois was 2nd runner up for the Killer Nashville Claymore Award for Something Fishy.