Smuggler’s Cove is the first book in a new series by author Fern Michaels. The book is mostly the backstory of Madison and Lincoln Taylor,m who now go by their mother’s last name, Wainwright. The two have had something of a privileged upbringing but were brought down to earth when their father, a Wall Street executive, was sent to jail for fraud and swindling people out of their money. They managed to find their way in the world even after that happened and now live quite modestly. Madison is the editor of a fashion magazine. Lincoln is a college professor, married to Madison’s best friend, Olivia. The three of them are very tight.

The majority of Smuggler’s Cove is about their family up until the present day. Their father really was never there for them, something they realized when he was arrested. His not being around really didn’t make a difference in their lives. They did feel the sting of their mother’s absence. She had to leave the country until she convinced authorities she knew nothing of her husband’s business dealings. Even now, she still lives across the border in Canada.

Smuggler’s Cove is billed as a thriller/mystery, but it’s neither. It’s pretty much all backstory for the next book in the series. It’s a very immersive backstory, but I still found it hard to connect with the characters. I kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing did.

The main plot point is that Madison and Lincoln inherit a dilapidated marina down on the Jersey Shore from their Uncle Kirby, who they haven’t been in contact with in some time. He’s their father’s brother who lived a life quite different from them. He found his way as a fisherman and won the marina in a bet. There is some question about the water rights, and Madison’s first inclination to sell the place as fast as possible is put on hold. Lincoln comes up with a plan to fix the place up and operate it for the upcoming summer season, at least, while they wait to iron out all of the questions surrounding this inheritance.

There is build-up here for a treasure hunt, as the stories of treasure possibly buried nearby by a pirate. While cleaning out the shack on the property, Madison comes across a hidden map. They think it will be a great conversation piece for the facility they intend to build. Unfortunately, near the end of the book, it’s stolen. Is the treasure hidden nearby, or is it just another legend with no basis?

Nothing much happens, really, in Smuggler’s Cove except for the disappearance of the map near the end. Readers are introduced to two people who are much more down to earth than their early life would lead us to believe. The book felt more like a slice of life or family drama than a mystery or thriller. Madison has sworn off men, but when they are at the marina, she meets a handsome Coast Guard Captain who is also interested in her. There are lots of details about their trips to the marina from Manhattan. Most of the book seemed to go nowhere.

I ended up frustrated. I listened to it as an audiobook. Eliza Foss narrated it and did a fine job. I was listening to it and was lost in the story when I suddenly realized there were only a few minutes left in the book. I was scratching my head because not much had happened. Most of the book was the family background. The closest thing to a mystery was that there was a dead body found in the water at the marina, but even that was cleared up fairly quickly, with neither Madison nor Lincoln implicated in what was ruled an accidental drowning. That was it for excitement or peril.

On its own, I don’t know if Smuggler’s Cove is worth reading. You would have to be committed to at least the next book in this series for it to be worth the time to read it. My instinct tells me that it was written as one book, then split into two. It’s only about 250 pages, so not long at all. If you’re a fan of the author, I could see picking it up. This was my first Fern Michaels book, and I wasn’t impressed.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and author Fern Michaels for the advance reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.