A cozy mystery with low stakes and a milder plot is what I need sometimes and Secrets in the Water was it. However, I wanted more story to it for it to be a great mystery read.

Right from the start, Alice captured this tight-knit town of Meredith Island with some lovely characters. It was a strong opening and got me in the mood for this mystery novel. The characters in this book is the highlight for me and I really liked their interactions with one another. The protectiveness the Islanders had for their own was beautiful and it felt like I was engulfed in family. I also really liked Kate and Siobhan's friendship. It felt very natural and I love how they contrast each other so well.

While I loved the characters and the atmosphere, the story is on the weaker side. There wasn’t much of it and I found the events and information to be repetitive. For the information discovered, it felt too loose and there wasn't a lot. I wasn't a fan on how things were tied together essentially. I think the storyline was just missing more depth to it and if that was improved this would have been a solid read.

One thing I did like about how the story was told is it reminded me of the old Cold Case TV show where it gives flashback to the younger days of the Islanders. With this, the descriptive nature given to Meredith Island and the atmosphere were excellent.

Overall, the characters in Secrets in the Water won me over but I wanted more story. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a cozy and lighter read. I do think if you're looking into starting reading mystery, this would be a grear place to start as well.