A cozy mystery series, Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, is set in Bar Harbor, Maine. Rather than the typical staple of lobster, this mystery begins and ends in the clam flats. Along the way author Lee Hollis has included several recipes that feature clams as well as outstanding cocktails such as the Cranberry Orange Cocktail that is featured here.
A bitter turf war between Bar Harbor’s top seafood families has extended to forbidden love as Mona’s son Dougie falls for a rival Leighton daughter. But when the rival patriarch turns up dead in the clam flats, it appears that the local seafood feud has turned deadly. Hayley Powell must dig to the bottom of this mystery before all love is lost.
Death of a Clam Digger by Lee Hollis
Cranberry Orange Cocktail Recipe
from a cozy mystery:
Death of a Clam Digger
by Lee Hollis
Book Outline and Tone:
Main character Hayley usually gets lobsters from her BFF Mona’s seafood business. Freshly caught lobster is quintessentially Maine. However, this novel focuses on Mona’s clam business. It turns out there are two decades old clam businesses on Bar Harbor and they have a rivalry that is anything but friendly. This rivalry is the perfect opportunity for a Romeo and Juliet troupe. Fortunately, that is what we get. One of Mona’s many children (now all grown up) is having a secret relationship with someone from the Leighton clan. The relationship comes to light after the patriarch of the Leighton family is found dead in the clam flats. Hayley has to determine if the death is from natural causes or if someone was trying to keep him quiet.
Interspersed in the novel are Hayley’s food and cocktail columns that she writes for the local paper. I love these columns! They are always like a bit of comic relief in the midst of the investigation. Each column contains a funny story, a cocktail recipe and a recipe that is inspired by the story. Since this novel is all about clams, all of the food recipes feature clams in a bevy of forms. I am not a fan of clams, so for this review, I included one of the amazing cocktail recipes, Cranberry Orange Cocktail. I created this cocktail with a twist. The recipe calls for mandarin orange vodka and raspberry vodka. I decided to make my own and it was so easy! See below for all of the directions.
The Best Quote:
“Do you really think this is a good idea, keeping your own son under surveillance?” Hayley asked. Mona kept her eyes glued on Dennis Jr.’s truck just ahead of them. “Hayley, sometimes desperate situations require desperate measures!”
The Point of View:
The novel is told in third person with the reader knowing Hayley’s thoughts.
The Author: Lee Hollis
This book was written by Lee Hollis. Well sort of… Lee Hollis is the pseudonym for the real authors, a brother and sister team, Rick Copp and Holly Simason. There is more information on Goodreads. Like their protagonist Hayley Powell, Copp and Simason are from Maine. Copp moved to Hollywood and wrote for The Golden Girls, Wings, Teen Titans and a long list of impressive television and movies. Simason is a columnist in Maine and writes a cooking column. Fortunately for us readers, they decided to combine their talents and write the Lee Hollis series, currently being published by Kensington House Publishing Corporation. The Hayley Powell series has a Facebook page. The authors are active on both Twitter and Instagram.
What’s not to like?:
For me the obvious is that I don’t like clams, so I won’t be trying any of the food recipes. But as far as the story goes, I can’t think of anything that let me down. This series is always a winner. Hayley, her family and friends are great characters to follow and the Island Food and Spirits columns are entertaining.
The verdict:
Most importantly, I recommend every book in this series. It is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. Secondly, make some infused vodka and try this recipe, it is delicious.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Cranberry Orange Cocktail
Assemble the Ingredients
Mandarin and Raspberry Infused Vodka
To make the infused vodka, rinse the fruit. Slice the mandarin oranges and tightly fill a clean canning jar with vodka. Allow it to sit for 2-4 weeks. Shake it every few days.
For the raspberry infused vodka, frozen raspberries will work fine. Fill a clean canning jar half way and add a quarter cup of sugar. Fill to the top with vodka. Allow to sit for 2-4 weeks. Shake it every few days.
When you are ready to use the vodka, strain out the orange slices.
Return the vodka to the canning jar.
Strain out the raspberries and return the vodka back to the canning jar.
Assemble the cocktail
Fill your cocktail shaker with ice. Pour all the ingredients into the shaker with the ice.
Start with the infused vodka
Then add the cranberry juice and orange juice.
Shake until well blended and pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.
If you are feeling fancy, you can garnish with a few cranberries and an orange slice.
Cranberry Orange Cocktail with Infused Vodka
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces mandarin vodka
- 1½ ounces raspberry vodka
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces orange juice
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail shaker with ice.
- Pour all the ingredients into the shaker with the ice.
- Shake until well blended and pour into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- If you are feeling fancy, you can garnish with a few cranberries and an orange slice.
Infused vodka
- For Mandarin vodka, wash and slice the oranges.
- Pack them into a canning jar and fill jar to top with vodka.
- For the Raspberry vodka, frozen raspberries work great, fill the jar half full with raspberries.
- Add ¼ cup of sugar.
- Fill the jar to the top with vodka.
- For both, allow to sit for 2-4 weeks and shake every few days.
- Strain the fruit out when ready to use the vodka.
What would I do differently next time?
I wouldn’t change anything. This is a refreshing cocktail.
More Drinks to Try!
Blueberry Lemonade Cocktail from Death of a Lobster Lover by Lee Hollis.
Sparkling Pear Champagne Cocktail from Death of a Cookbook Author by Lee Hollis
