“Suspicious Delivery” by Terry Overton

Suspicious Delivery

Terry Overton
Independently Published (2026)
ISBN: 979-8254623731
Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro for Reader Views (07/2026)

Finley Burke is concerned over a recent email received by her friend, Birdie in Terry Overton’s Suspicious Delivery. The email, purportedly from an old boyfriend, has come out of the blue, and while Birdie is almost ebullient over hearing from her old flame, Finley is skeptical. The boyfriend, Cash Gentry, had hurt Birdie years earlier by leaving her at the altar, and the correspondence bears the scent of a scam. If this were the only problem Finley was facing, her day would be relatively tranquil. However, news has reached Finley and her fellow citizens of Sunset Cove of an escaped criminal named Bertoni who is intent on exacting revenge on Finley.

Sunset Cove is a relatively tranquil town in Texas where the town’s denizens know each other by name, so the appearance of a stranger is an occasional cause for concern, particularly if the outsider appears content to hide their identity from friendly sorts such as Finley, Birdie, Amelia and others. The delivery of a suspicious package at one of the group’s local hangouts adds another riddle for Finley and her friends to solve, but the band of friends proves up to the task of sleuthing.

As the group congregates at a potluck, they discuss the motives of Birdie’s ex, the dubious package delivered to the coffee shop, and the possible identity of a random jogger. Finley shares her various concerns with law enforcement, but the cases require some further digging. The letter to Birdie, the appearance of a menacing stranger, and the arrival of a conspicuous parcel may be unrelated, but the timing is unfortunate, and the need to find who is responsible becomes more urgent by the day.

There is more than a level of danger that exists in the recent developments of Sunset Cove, but the author allows the action to unfold in a way that is both genuine and with an adequate amount of drama. When the characters reach an impasse in their investigation, there may be the occasional raised voice, but a sumptuous meal is often the deciding factor in charging the collective brainpower. The plot is deftly moved by the intellect as opposed to force, which makes for a lighthearted but engaging read.

Suspicious Delivery, book 2 in The Finley Burke Mysteries series, is a delightful tale of mystery set in the bucolic splendor of Sunset Cove, Texas. There is an element of spirited camaraderie that exists between Finley Burke and her group of friends, which allows them to gather, eat, and discuss crimes in their respective houses or at the coffee shop. While Finley is the respected investigator, her social circle doesn’t lack for intrepid minds, whether it be Amelia, Lynn, or Birdie. One of the most distinctive qualities in this fun novel is the loyalty that exists among the group of friends. Finley and others are looking out for Birdie and want the reappearance of her lost love to be genuine, but they retain a level of skepticism as their devotion to their friend is resolute. Author Terry Overton knows how to pen an amusing mystery from start to finish.