The Off Season

The Off Season by Kelly Simmons
10/1/24; 331 pages
Sourcebooks/Moonlight Press
Seasons Crime Collection #1

The Off Season by Kelly Simmons is a highly recommended mystery and coming-of-age novel set in the small town of Red Cliff on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Thirteen-year-old Vann (Savannah) Dixon goes to the police station wanting to talk to the coroner, insisting that her mother’s (Xan) drowning was not an accident. She is the one who found her mother's body, and is unhappy that they are not investigating it as a suspicious death. Vann is sure that they missed several clues at the scene. After talking to the police, she begins to investigate on her own.

Nate Hunter left the police force in Baltimore and joined the low-key police force in his hometown of Red Cliff. The two other young officers aren't interested in talking to Vann, but Nate takes her seriously and begins to look into the case. The Chief of police and the coroner say it was a drowning, but the more Nate looks into it, the more doubts he has.

Meg McKnight is a longtime resident who lives next door to the Dixon's. Interspersed between the story of Vann's present day investigation into her mother's death are excerpts from Meg's diary.

The characters are a large part of what makes this a special novel. Vann is an intelligent, determined, and observant young teen and her fully realized character comes to life in The Off Season. Nate is also an excellent, thoughtful character who carefully undertakes the investigation. Meg McKnight adds an additional voice and insight into the setting and background information. Rounding out the cast are interesting and unique secondary characters who add depth to the story.

The well-written narrative moves at a steady pace with clues carefully exposed and new questions arising along the way. Both Vann and Nate are introspective characters whose observations about the world help propel the plot forward and keep your interest high right to the end. As their investigations are undertaken, the characters excel at adding emotional depth to this coming-of-age novel. Look for the name-dropping of books in the plot.

The Off Season is the first book in the upcoming Seasons Crime Collection. It will be followed by #2 The Shoulder Season (2/25) and #3 The High Season (8/25). Thanks to BookSirens for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.