Book review: Murder in the Mangroves by Joanne Tracey

Murder in the Mangroves by Joanne Tracey is the second book in the Clementine Carter cosy crime series. I adored One For Sorrow, giving it a pretty rare (for me!) 4.5 stars. I probably didn’t enjoy this quite as much but I suspect it’s because I was more personally invested in the first one as it focussed on Clem’s aunt’s death (discovered to be murder). What I am still really loving about this series is how real the characters feel; as if the action is playing out in front of me. Or that I’m in the mix somehow. I mentioned (in my review of One For Sorrow) that Jo and I initially intended to write a slightly-different series together so I was there for the brainstorming birth of Clementine (even deciding on our muse was for her character – though I’m unsure if Jo still envisions Catherine McClements as Clem) but I’m reminded that Tracey (switching to formal use of surname now cos I’m a professional reviewer ‘n’ all that!) excels in developing and delivering very real and relatable characters – something I’ve recognised in her other books, including her Philly Barker cosy crime series.

Former divorce lawyer Clementine Carter’s life in Whale Bay is close to perfect. She’d never admit it, of course, because that would invite disaster and she’s got big plans for her new-age store as well as her romance with local barista Finn Marello.

Disaster still finds her anyway, in the form of Finn’s not-quite-ex-wife, who comes to town to conduct an environmental assessment. Only something smells off about the whole process to Clem and her friends—and it turns out to be the dead body Clem discovers floating in the mangroves.

With Finn under suspicion for his wife’s death and Clem needing answers, she sets out to investigate the proposed development of the protected mangroves area.

But Clem has secrets of her own, and when the reason she left Whale Bay twenty-five years ago arrives in town in the middle of a murder investigation, Clem might need an alibi or two of her own.

Whale Bay is loosely based on my current hometown of Hervey Bay. Tracey’s daughter lived here for a while and (Jo) and I caught up often. So many of the references made are familiar to me, including the proposed eco-tour sightseeing featured here as well as the whale festival and blessing of the whaling fleet.

This kicks off with Clem discovering that new boyfriend/lover Finn is not technically divorced, which she only learns when he tells her his wife (Tamzin) is coming to town to supposedly discuss their overdue divorce. Tamzin’s got an ulterior motive as well, having been contracted to undertake a feasibility study relating to development in an environmentally-protected mangroved area of Whale Bay. Clem discovers that—even though Council ‘just’ voted to fund the study—Tamzin had already commenced work, the town’s powerbrokers so sure Council would kowtow to their financial interests.

After Tamzin’s body is found Finn is steamrolled by out-of-town cops and held in the lock-up on suspicion of murder. Clem realises she needs to prove that Tamzin’s death was related to her work rather than anything more personal. It helps that Clem and her bestie (and fellow lawyer) Maggie already had suspicions about the the proposed development Council was trying to fast-track through approvals.

Although Tamzin’s death seems to be driven by greed, Tracey also introduces a personal agenda and I appreciated the complexity it gives the unfolding plot – throwing several new players into the mix and making this a more suspenseful read.

But it’s her character-development that draws me in the most. I don’t want the books to end. Or more specifically, I don’t want my time with Clem, Maggie, Siouxsie (and others) to end.

Murder in the Mangroves by Joanne Tracey is available here.