I did not enjoy this book.

The first half was a mess. I almost stopped reading it but the library's website was down, so I wasn't able to get a replacement.

Drue was unlikable--36, no life, no career, no strength of character, no motivation to do something with herself, no skills, and no attempts to deal with her family issues anout which she was openly bitter.

In the second half, the author decided that the book would be a murder mystery, so the story finally had a point.

But it was a bit too amateur for me. Add the mess of the first half, and it was two/two-point-five stars.

Thirty-six-year old Drue Campbell is the protagonist. 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. Of course she ends up taking the job.

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?

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.

I needed a change of pace from the thrillers and suspense reads I've been immersed in and to step away from world events for a few days and Sunset Beach was a good choice. It's definitely "Lifetime" movie action -- some high drama. The characters generally started off unlikable but by the end I was liking Drue, Jonah and Brice. Wendy I still had some issues with. I felt the ending, especially the part about Colleen wasn't quite done. It was like the author got there and didn't quite know where to go with it.

SPOILER SPACE

Sherri shot Colleen and Zee took part in chasing her. If she hadn't been shot she wouldn't have run and wouldn't have fallen and died. Zee aided and abetted what was at a minimum manslaughter.

Still, I'll read Andrews again when I need an escape read.

Beach read, enjoyable even in February

I throughly enjoyed it! Very hard to put down!

This is the second Mary Kay Andrews book and I really enjoy reading her books. When I read the description I was intrigued: who can resist a beach read with a 40 year old mystery and a murder. I was hooked when I read the acknowledgement when Ms. Andrews talked about St. Petersburg, Florida, where I lived most of my life. “Sunset Beach” is a great book that will have you reading into all hours of the night to figure out the mystery to the murders. It was fun to read about places that I have visited and, oh my gosh, Maas Brothers, Central Plaza, and many of my old stomping grounds. Cannot wait to read more of Ms. Andrews books.

I just finished sunset beach. In Epilogue there was a name I never or cannot remember seeing in the book. Can anyone tell me who Corey is?

'Sunset Beach' was not what I expected, especially from the cover, but I enjoyed it immensely.

'Sunset Beach' may be a beach read but it is not a light, fluffy beach story; it's a mystery that takes place at a beach.

It's fun to see MKA expand her beach horizons to include some mystery depth, in this case two mysteries, with all the beauty of the beach.

Unfortunately, the 36 year old heroine of the story sounded and acted a bit too much like a petulant 18 yr old. I found that off-putting. However I feel MKA left the door open to more mystery sequels. If that's the case, perhaps Drue will mature into her age.

3.75 stars for 'Sunset Beach'

I was most disappointed in Ms Anderson's latest offering. It fell short in the characterization and wit, for which she known to excel. I'll wait very patiently for her next one, with fingers crossed that she, does better.

this book was a disappointment to me...it started off great,but by the middle of the book,it seems to get in a rut and just goes around and around ,,page by page on the same thing..same conversations..I could not even read it...