LoveReading Says
I’ve long admired Emylia Hall as a colleague and writing mentor (and indeed, lovely person!) and so I was particularly looking forward to settling in to read her first in this new cosy crime series set in a place that’s clearly close to her heart – the Cornish coast.
The setting really is a character in this novel, where the sea is woven throughout, varyingly soothing and sinister. This fictionalised remote coastal community provides a perfect location for delicate personal histories, hierarchies and rumours to grow to fever pitch – where the connections of people to their old cottages or new glass mansions can be life or death.
A distinctive feature of this novel is that you dip into multiple different characters’ points of view – going close into the perspectives of not just the main detective duo Ally and Jayden, but also other members of the community, from bumbling policemen, beloved business owners, to violent suspects. You can tell Hall had fun giving them each distinctive habits, turns of phrase and idiosyncrasies, and these really bring the whole extended cast to life for the reader. I think so many readers will see themselves unexpectedly in these secondary characters, and Hall is lovely at using them to give depth and breadth to what would otherwise be throwaway characters. Even though there are, of course, crimes, I found this contributed to an ethos which held a fundamentally benevolent view of human nature, and the complicated psychologies and contexts that might lead people to behave the way they do – even to commit murder.
I’m sure this will continue to enchant cosy crime readers and I look forward to what the Shell House Detectives investigate next!
Lily Lindon
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The Shell House Detectives Synopsis
Welcome to the coastal paradise of Porthpella, where murder lurks among the dunes…
Late one night, a distraught young man knocks on the door of retired and recently widowed Ally Bright’s remote home on the Cornish coast. But before she can make sense of his confused words, he’s gone—not to be seen again until he’s found the next morning at the foot of the nearby cliffs.
In an instant, the peace of Ally’s beachcombing life is shattered. Feeling responsible for the young man’s fate, she wants to help find answers—as does ex-cop Jayden Weston, whom Ally meets at the scene. He shares her certainty that there’s more to the story than attempted suicide. When it emerges that the man is newly released ex-offender Lewis Pascoe, and that Helena, the wealthy new owner of his grandmother’s home, has subsequently disappeared, the tight-knit community of Porthpella is thrown into turmoil.
Driven by their need to know more, the duo decide to investigate the mystery together. Is there a connection between the Pascoe family’s tragic history and Helena’s disappearance? And if there is a killer stalking Porthpella, do Ally and Jayden have what it takes to catch them?
About This Edition
Emylia Hall Press Reviews
A cleverly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable book about dark deeds in beautiful places.
-Elly Griffiths, author of the Ruth Galloway series
What a fantastic book this is! Exquisitely written, set in Cornwall, great characters, and a gripping plot....Who could ask for more?
-Jill Mansell, author of Promise Me
Emylia was born to write detective fiction.
-Veronica Henry, author of The Impulse Purchase
An expertly plotted and hugely compelling murder mystery....Crime fans are in for a treat.
-Lucy Clarke, author of One of the Girls
Certain to win the hearts of Richard Osman and Agatha Christie fans.
-Hannah Richell, author of The Search Party
A big-hearted page-turner with twists you won't see coming and the best pair of amateur sleuths I've read in a long time. I loved it!
-Lucy Diamond, author of Anything Could Happen
My favorite new crime series.
-Ginny Bell, author of The Dover Cafe series
Irresistible, beautifully written, and hugely compelling....Kept me turning the pages for one more delicious chapter well into the night.
-Rosie Walsh, author of The Man Who Didn't Call
The Shell House Detectives is a hug of a book that is transporting and full of love, with a humdinger of a mystery at its big heart.
-Amanda Reynolds, author of The Assistant
Gorgeous writing and a plot crammed with suspense, this is your perfect new crime series for 2023.
-Kate Riordan, author of The Heatwave
Beautifully written, gripping, and so atmospheric....One for fans of Richard Osman!
-Emily Koch, author of What July Knew
The mystery is perfectly paced and the characters vivid and true, inviting us to join in as fellow sleuths as we unravel the secrets of the past. I can't wait to return to Cornwall with Emylia Hall for the next adventure.
-Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters
A treat of a book: immersive, suspenseful, full of twists and turns....It's as captivating as a Cornish summer. I loved it.
-Susan Fletcher, author of Eve Green
A total delight.
-Sarah Winman, author of Still Life
Captures the magic and beauty of Cornwall wrapped within a warm and engaging detective story. I loved it.
-Rosanna Ley, author of The Forever Garden
Suspenseful, twisty and unputdownable...Loved it!
-Claire Douglas, author of The Couple at No. 9
This beautifully written cosy coastal mystery packs a real punch! With wonderfully atmospheric prose and twists and turns aplenty, the plot will have you riding a wave of suspense long after you've turned the final page. If you love Cornwall, you will adore this book.
-Sarah Pearse, author of The Sanatorium
