Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Murder Most Eastern (Great Maine Mysteries) by Nellie H. Steele. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Murder Most Eastern (Great Maine Mysteries)
by Nellie H. Steele
Murder Most Eastern (Great Maine Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Maine
Publisher : A Novel Idea Publishing, LLC
Publication date : August 28, 2025
Print length : 210 pages
A seaside Victorian. A skeptical artist. A cat with secrets. And a murder that won’t stay buried…
When struggling artist Emily Harper inherits a charming but creaky Victorian on the rugged coast of Maine, she expects a fresh start—what she doesn’t expect is cryptic notes, eerie visions, and a cat with an uncanny sense for trouble.
But nothing unsettles her more than the bracelet. A striking piece of tourmaline jewelry left behind in the house, it sends shivers up her spine whenever she wears it. At first, she chalks it up to stress—until she visits West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and is struck by a chilling vision of a man begging for his life. The next day, his body is found.
With a storm brewing, long-buried secrets rising to the surface, and a killer who will do anything to keep the past hidden, Emily must embrace the unexplainable—or risk becoming the next victim.
Fans of Ellery Adams and Carolyn Hart will love this twisty, atmospheric paranormal cozy mystery full of seaside charm, ghostly intrigue, and a heroine who refuses to back down—no matter how haunted her past may be.
Read now and sleuth the clues today.
My review of Murder Most Eastern
Murder Most Eastern is the first book in the new Great Maine Mystery series by Nellie H. Steele. This book kicks off the series brilliantly, and I’m already excited to read more! This cozy mystery is sprinkled with a little bit of magic and a whole lot of charm!
When Emily Harper inherits a Victorian home on the coast of Maine, she doesn’t expect it to come with secrets nor a very intuitive cat named Grayson. She also didn’t expect the stipulation that she has to live in it for at least a year, but since she’s a starving artist in a tiny Boston apartment, she packs up what little she has and moves to Machiasport, Maine.
One thing that I appreciated about Murder Most Eastern is the fact that the author doesn’t throw a bunch of characters at us! In essence, only three main (human) characters are introduced: Emily, attorney Bill Anderson, and librarian Martha, who doesn’t even enter into the book until about halfway through. There are a few side characters, but they’re only important to the mystery. I’m sure that as the series continues, more main characters will be coming, but I liked that I only had to keep track of a few. I felt like the author made Emily very authentic in that she was really grieving the loss she experienced. You could feel her regret and sorrow. Bill becomes her first real friend as he helps her navigate the mystery that she finds herself in the middle of. Though the author doesn’t tell us his age, she says he is older, and I don’t think he’s meant to be any sort of love interest…just a good friend.
The mystery is very well-plotted, and it’s where the magical aspects come into play. Grayson, the cat, seems to have a definite human quality about her, and she’s the one who brings Emily’s attention to the bracelet which brings her some insightful visions. Though the murderer is apprehended, the entire mystery is not solved. That mystery is a “treasure” hunt. In Murder Most Eastern, Emily is able to find the first artifact that will help her on the hunt. I’m sure that this mystery will weave throughout the entire series.
I could not put this book down and easily read it in one sitting. Murder Most Eastern is a real page-turner that kept my interest with its atmospheric Maine setting, well-developed characters, and intriguing mystery. I highly recommend this 5 star book!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Nellie H. Steele
Nellie H. Steele is a storyteller who doesn’t just write books—she writes the stories her characters tell her. With distinct voices and minds of their own, her characters often take over, guiding her through tales of romance, mystery, adventure, and suspense.
A lifelong bookworm, Nellie vividly recalls sitting on the concrete floor of her childhood library, eagerly devouring Nancy Drew books and dreaming of solving mysteries of her own. Now an award-winning author, she spends her days crafting immersive worlds and unforgettable characters that feel like old friends. Her house is a zoo—literally—thanks to her rescue animals who seem perfectly happy napping while she writes.
Nellie’s writing process often involves background TV she never actually watches because she’s too wrapped up in her characters’ antics. When she’s not spinning stories, she works as a professor of statistics, where students who know her as an author are often surprised to find she really does teach math.
If you love twisty mysteries, soap-opera-style romance, and thrilling adventures, dive into Nellie’s books today and discover worlds you won’t want to leave. Connect with Nellie on Facebook at @NellieHSteele—she loves chatting with readers about characters, stories, and more!
Author Links
Website: https://nelliehsteele.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NellieHSteele/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nelliehsteele
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19769743.Nellie_H_Steele
Purchase Link: Amazon
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Murder Most Eastern TOUR PARTICIPANTS
August 28 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 29 – Hall Ways Blog – REVIEW
August 29 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 30 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 30 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 31 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
August 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 1 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
September 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
September 2 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
September 2 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
September 3 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
September 3 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
September 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
September 4 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
September 5 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
September 5 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW
September 6 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
September 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
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