The Summer Jenkins Mystery Series
Series Overview
The Summer Jenkins Mystery Series
Follow Summer Jenkins through Hawaii's Big Island, where paradise meets peril and every sunset could hide a deadly secret. This tropical mystery series combines cozy charm with international intrigue, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters, authentic Hawaiian settings, and just the right mix of danger and romance.
Perfect for readers who love: Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, tropical settings, strong female protagonists, and mysteries with heart and humor.
Book 1: Beach Club Bloodshed
Available Now
Summer Jenkins day just went from bad to a downright dumpster fire.
First, there’s the dead body covered in stab wounds. Then, she finds out her best friend Lani’s missing and considered a person of interest in the murder.
With Lani MIA, everyone is looking to Summer for answers, including one hot hunk of a detective, Cole Peterson.
Detective Hottie, uh, Peterson, is a complication Summer doesn’t need right now. He senses Summer’s hiding something behind those pretty blue eyes, but when she becomes a victim of a hit and run, all of his protective instincts emerge as Summer gets drawn farther into the web of intrigue.
As the accidents start to pile up, Summer takes matters into her own hands and lands herself in hot water with a Yakuza boss, a Russian oligarch, and Auntie Miriam.
She can’t decide who’s scarier…
With the stunning backdrop of the Big Island’s Kohala Coast and a cast of quirky characters, this story is anything but a typical murder mystery.
Beach Club Bloodshed will keep you on the edge of your seat as Summer and her friends race against time to solve the murder and clear their names.
But with danger lurking around every corner and unexpected twists at every turn, will they be able to crack the case before it's too late?
What Readers Are Saying
Beach Club Bloodshed gave me the same lighthearted yet thrilling feeling I get from Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I was hooked from the start and quickly became invested in the characters.
Haley, Amazon Review
This story truly puts the cozy in cozy mystery. The Summer, Cole, and Elliot trio is written with such a fun, modern voice—I often felt like I was right there having adventures with friends.
Gina, Amazon Review
The Hawaiian setting really pulls you in—it feels like you're right there on the beach, and the mystery kept me guessing the whole time. If you're into cozy mysteries with tropical vibes, this one's a must-read!
Bianca, Amazon Review
Book 2: Waikoloa Warfare
Summer Jenkins is broke, burned out, and one whistle-blow away from quitting her lifeguard gig for good. So when her dad offers her a part-time job at his PI firm, she figures why not? If she can survive lifeguarding at one of Hawaii’s poshest beaches and the demanding clientele there, she can handle working a few hours a week with her slightly pushy but lovable dad.
Then her nosy neighbor turns up dead and Summer becomes the prime suspect.
Now she’s suspended, scandalized, and seriously ticked off.
But with a crooked police chief breathing down her neck and a killer still on the loose, things are about to get way more complicated than sunscreen and whistle duty.
Summer teams up with her ride-or-die bestie Lani to crack the case before she ends up in jail—or worse, six feet under.
Armed with sass, sunscreen, and zero chill, Summer’s diving headfirst into a murder mystery that’s got more twists than a luau conga line. But when the killer starts closing in, she’ll need more than beachside instincts to survive.
Kawaihae Killer
Coming March 21, 2026
When a beloved local known for his eccentric behavior turns up dead off the Kohala Coast, the tight-knit community is left reeling. HPD glosses over the evidence and labels it an accidental drowning, but Summer Jenkins and Lani Davis, part-time assistants for TS Jenkins Investigations and well-known Nosy Nellies know better—especially after Mack Davis discloses the last text he received from the victim: The fish aren’t the only thing that smells down here—I think they’re on to me.
Less than a week later Otis’s body is found at the bottom of the harbor.
Mourning his friend and convinced whatever Otis found is what got him killed, Mack enlists Summer’s dad’s firm to uncover the mystery at the harbor. The deeper Summer and Lani dig, the more the idyllic seaside town starts to feel like a spider web of lies and secrets. Everyone seems to be hiding something—and one person is determined to keep those secrets hidden at all costs.
After one too many suspicious ‘accidents,’ the pair is ordered off the case. Rather than listen, the duo doubles down and goes all in to catch the murderer and uncover the secret he’s desperate to hide. Summer and Lani race to decipher the cryptic messages Otis left behind, but with the murderer watching their every move, they'll need to solve the final puzzle before the murderer terminates their investigation—as well as their lives.
Reading Order
Start Here: Beach Club Bloodshed (Book 1)
Next: Waikoloa Warfare (Book 2) - December 2025
Coming: Book 3 - TBA
While each book features a complete mystery, the characters and relationships develop throughout the series. We recommend reading in order for the best experience.
About the Series
Christine Wellert draws from her real-life experiences splitting time between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii to create authentic Big Island settings that transport readers straight to paradise. As a registered nurse, she brings a unique perspective to handling emergencies—though Summer Jenkins faces situations no medical training could prepare her for!
The Summer Jenkins series celebrates friendship, community, and the beauty of Hawaiian culture while delivering the twists, turns, and romantic tension that keep readers coming back for more.
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