Sally Solari is a former lawyer, restaurant owner, and for the third time now, (much to the chagrin of the local police) amateur sleuth. This time, a regular patron of her father's restaurant has washed up on the shore in Santa Cruz and it may not have been an accidental drowning. While the real detectives go about their jobs, Sally noses around herself to try to find out who might have been involved. To make matters more personal, blame threatens to fall on Sally's father for possibly allowing the man to indulge too much and then go home alone. And then there's the hapless diner's cap, found shoved under a seat in her father's boat....

I have to admit, I didn't guess whodunit, but it's not because of a twist or revelation or a major clue that was overlooked, so much as nobody really has much of a motive. The most incriminating factor is that maybe someone has a reputation for being a little aggressive--maybe it's him!

Agatha Christie it isn't, but it was a nice little mystery that was indeed, cozy. The characters are likeable, and there's nothing really horrible that will traumatize a sensitive reader. There's a lot of food talk, as menus and meals are prepared for a big dinner event. There are some pleasant painting interludes. And there are a few recipes in the back based on dishes described in the story. A couple of them sound pretty good!