Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae

Widowed folklorist Maureen Nash is a woman on a mission. After convincing a ranger friend to take her across choppy waters still affected by hurricane season, she lands on North Carolina’s Ocracoke Island in search of answers.

Unfortunately, instead, it’s mostly troubling questions that she finds, starting with the identity of the corpse she ran from in fear before being awakened in a strange place by even stranger people. The latter introduce themselves as Glady and Burt Weaver, the neighbors who live in the house next to the store Maureen originally wanted to visit. Well, not necessarily the store, but its owner: Allen Withrow. Over the past few years, Allen had written several cryptic letters to Maureen’s late husband. Still grieving, Maureen has only just found the time and strength to come east from her home in Tennessee to ask him about it. But there are troubling gaps in her memory between landing on Ocracoke and waking up in the Moon Shell store – gaps she must fill if she is to figure out the meaning of Allen’s strange letters.

She is somewhat distracted in her search by the contents of Allen’s shop, particularly the beautiful carved seashell that once held pride of place inside. As a malacologist – a scientist who specializes in seashells and their shells – and folklorist, Maureen appreciates not only the rarity of the seashell specimen, but also the artistry of its carving. Even more unusual, the seashell is haunted by the ghost of a long-dead pirate that only Maureen can see.

The Phantom Emrys Lloyd wants to help Maureen not only regain her memory, but also solve the mystery of the letters. She will need all the help she can get, since Allen has disappeared. But as more and more strange things start happening on the island, Maureen must find out who in Ocracoke’s small community is willing to commit murder and why, before she herself becomes the next victim.

The first book in Molly MacRae’s latest cozy mystery series is full of charming, eccentric characters. The older Weaver siblings are a hoot, and I loved Maureen’s relationship with her adult children. The amnesia narrative is written in a way that’s as disorienting as the experience itself, but it all comes together satisfyingly in the end. Honestly, it’s so refreshing to read about older characters grappling with difficult and often dangerous issues. Plus, the inclusion of a friendly ghost adds a delightful touch of the paranormal.

There were three muffin recipes included and I decided to try this one:

Yield: 12

Ingredients

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana (two or three bananas, depending on size)

⅔ cup brown sugar

⅔ cup unsalted butter

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts

instructions

Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).

Grease 12 muffin tins with butter or line with muffin paper.

Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Stir in chocolate chips.

Melt the butter in a medium bowl, then stir in the mashed banana, sugar, egg, and vanilla until well combined. Transfer to the large bowl and fold until well combined, but not over-mixed.

Divide the batter evenly between the muffin tins. Sprinkle the top with the chopped walnuts.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the top is golden brown or a toothpick or tester comes out clean.

Allow to cool on a wire rack before removing from the pan.

I left out the walnuts, but otherwise baked it exactly as directed. I found that the batter made 18 muffins instead of 12, but that’s definitely not a complaint. I love the buttery flavor of these muffins and am seriously considering using this recipe the next time I have some overripe bananas left over. I might change it up a bit and see if I can convert the delicious flavors of this recipe into loaf form for a banana chocolate bread; I can’t imagine it being any less delicious than these muffins!

Next week we’re heading north to bake a very different kind of muffin while investigating the death of a controversial children’s author. Come along!

See also: Cooking the books: The diva goes overboard by Krista Davis

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