Cider - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$0.99 with 86 percent savings
Print List Price: $6.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Kristie Klewes
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

DEAD IN A DECK CHAIR: Prequel! How it all began. (Merry Summerfield Cozy Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Kristie Klewes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 147 ratings
“I was walking my brother’s dogs on a very fine day in Drizzle Bay – and really didn’t expect to find an elderly man dead in a deck chair. Dozed off forever in the sun, you think? Think again!
Hi – I’m Merry Summerfield, law-abiding book editor and accidental super-sleuth. In this, my very first murder, I’ll tell you the tale of a beautiful bride, a handsome husband, a cutie-pie dog, and a very foul murder. Join me on the beach!”

This prequel is a complete novella, and leads you into all the other Merry Summerfield cozies. You can read them in any order, but you might enjoy them more starting with this one and then tracking through the rest. There are lots of laughs, two nice men for Merry to agonize over, and plenty of twists for your brain.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 8
    Merry Summerfield Cozy Mysteries
  2. Print length
    100 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 20, 2024
  5. File size
    3.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 8 books in this series.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
Next page
Loading...

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CYPM9P9N
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kris Pearson; 1st edition (March 20, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 20, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 100 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Kristie Klewes

Kristie Klewes

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Hello! Thank you so much for visiting my Amazon author page. You might already know me as Kris Pearson, author of steamy romances. But I see you've discovered my life of crime...

Yes, my other side is cozy mysteries. Bodies, but no gory scenes. Quite a bit of flirting. And definitely laughs as you follow the clues my sleuth discovers as she accidentally bumps into bodies along the way. There's a prequel called DEAD IN A DECK CHAIR, and the first book in the series proper is MURDER IN THE ASLE. This is followed by XMAS MARKS THE SPOT. Then there's MURDER! THEY MEOWED and BODY! THEY BARKED. BURIED IN HIS BOOTS follows this, and there's a box-set of three to save you money. All in KU. I've just launched (for my birthday) THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and I have more in the pipeline for sure.

I'm from New Zealand, and Drizzle Bay village doesn't QUITE exist. Let's say it's every small coastal settlement I've ever holidayed in or passed through on road-trips. Therefore, in my mind it's very real. So come with me and meet a cast of characters which grows with every book.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
147 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging as an amateur sleuth mystery with lots of twists and turns. One customer particularly appreciates the vivid descriptions of the area and situations. They also enjoy it as a fun read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

5 customers mention "Suspenseful"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful elements of the book, with its engaging amateur sleuth mystery featuring lots of twists and turns. One customer notes the vivid descriptions of the area and situations, while another mentions the surprise ending.

"...The whole story comes out in the big book coming out. It is a fun, romp and read and Merry is very misjudged by a handsome groom...." Read more

"...This Amateur Sleuth Mystery is engaging. The main character is always careful to turn any information she learns to the police, a refreshing stance...." Read more

"...From there the intrigue picks up with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A really fun read. Look forward to reading more of the series." Read more

"A well written cozy mystery! The characters were relatable. Vivid descriptions of the area and situations...." Read more

3 customers mention "Fun read"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a fun read.

"...The whole story comes out in the big book coming out. It is a fun, romp and read and Merry is very misjudged by a handsome groom...." Read more

"...A really fun read. Look forward to reading more of the series." Read more

"Good Read!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Gatorfan
    5.0 out of 5 stars great fun
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    DEATH IN A DECK CHAIR is a prelude to the next big book coming. This is a cozy mystery with Merry Summerfield, 40, being the main character. It seems Merry is always finding herself finding a body in her small town by the sea. If you have never read a cozy mystery, they are not the thing of nightmares. There is always a fun element as Merry seems to get in a bit of trouble from time to time. This is a series, but you will not be lost if this is your first read. All Merry's books have their own stories with the main characters in each book. They are easily explained.

    In this story Merry meets a beautiful young woman, obviously comes from money, and her little pocket-book pup Butter-Butter. She is a delightful young woman, obviously a bit spoiled from birth but not in a nasty way. Bella is on her honeymoon! She seems to have it all, but does she?

    Merry winds up in a rowboat with Bella that is anything but a lovely row on a calm lake. It turns into something more and Merry could just as easily turn into the next body found in her small town.

    The whole story comes out in the big book coming out. It is a fun, romp and read and Merry is very misjudged by a handsome groom. It is an exciting read and I am looking forward to the whole story. I definitely recommend this prelude and anxiously await the conclusion.

    I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer, nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am NOT A BOT. I am a reader, and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 3/26/24.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • mmmurdoog
    4.0 out of 5 stars This Amateur Sleuth Mystery is engaging.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Merry Summerfield is an independent book editor. As such, she has time to walk her brother's dogs along the beach, where she spots an older man sitting on a deck chair. On her return trip, she realized he was dead.

    This Amateur Sleuth Mystery is engaging. The main character is always careful to turn any information she learns to the police, a refreshing stance. Outsiders stand out as this is a small town setting, and the rumor mill operates at the speed of light. Modern technology offers the opportunity to collect evidence efficiently. The tale ends with the identified suspects, leaving room for them to return to the scene in future books.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Thomas G. Cummings
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun prequel read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first I have book I have read in this series or by the author. It starts out quickly with Merry discovering a dead body on the beach. From there the intrigue picks up with lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A really fun read. Look forward to reading more of the series.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of

    This series is set in New Zealand. Having listened to few series from there I am looking forward to it.

    She was out walking the dogs 🐕 when she comes upon a dead body. She gets in the middle of it when she makes friends with a young woman 🚺. It all comes to a happy ending 😀

    I would recommend this series and author to 👍readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰 2025 🐕👒
    Helpful
     Report
  • Anna M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A well written cozy mystery! The characters were relatable. Vivid descriptions of the area and situations. I enjoyed the unique sleuths who was a book editor and pulled knowledge from the multiple areas she reviewed. She also was intelligent, calm in an emergency and resourceful. Loved the small town atmosphere.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Janice - USA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Merry at her best!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
    Liked how the story unfolded and suspense kept me interested. Waiting for the finale to come to see if the story ends as I think or it has more twists.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • suegnu
    4.0 out of 5 stars Have the first book all ready to read after this
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Have to admit to reading this this book first. Like the character's and the hints at personalities yet to show. Storyline is interesting as is the setting, don't remember ever reading a New Zealand based one.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report