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Mystery wise, well I think it could have been stronger, but I enjoyed the investigation, and following Ally and Jayden as they put on their detective hats. I wonder if this would have been better if the book focused on them more, instead of switching to other character POVs so often. I think it may have. But, overall an enjoyable first book in a new series. There's room for growth in the series, and it will be interesting to see what's in store for Ally in future books.
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 The Cornish setting is glorious. There’s not a wasted or extraneous syllable here and the idea of place serves to enhance the plot whilst enabling the reader to visualise where things are happening. I loved the fact that this is no idealised or romanticised concept of Cornwall, but that weather, seas and surroundings can have moods and attitudes every bit as much as the people. I loved the characters in this book and the way that your relationship with each one develops throughout the story, the way in which the chapters are structure really helps you see each characters point of view and allows you to get to know them individually. I adored the relationship between two of the main characters and it was a lot of fun to watch that develop as you read further in to the book. I was easy to feel a part of the story and i really found myself rooting for my favourite characters. By the end of the book i was fully invested in the story and was willing the characters to come to the right conclusion and have a happy ending.That said, whilst The Shell House Detectives might be billed as cosy crime and it does draw on some Golden Age crime characteristics, it also considers dark themes and social issues in a natural and mature manner so that this story feels like a read for grown ups. I thoroughly appreciated this aspect. I loved, too, the exploration of truth and right. Ally and Jayden don’t always employ conventionally acceptable means to support their highly morally motivated actions so that the story is thought provoking as well as diverting. Emylia Hall understands what causes people to behave as they do and weaves this understanding so sensitively into her narrative. She shows us how we all too often live for the approval of others, losing sight of who we are for ourselves. I found this such an affecting and uplifting theme. Fate must have brought them together because they become friends almost immediately and, when the police make very little progress in the murder investigation, the two of them bring their combined knowledge of police work together and set out to solve the mystery. And what a mystery as turns out to involve a cold case of suicide and another of murder, and new cases of a missing woman and a possible attempted suicide. I’ve long been a fan of Emylia Hall’s writing and cannot believe how long it is since she featured here on Linda’s Book Bag. I was thrilled when Emylia arranged for me to receive an early copy of her new book, The Shell House Detectives and delighted subsequently to be offered a slot on the blog tour for the book. It’s my pleasure to share my review today. With books set in Cornwall’s wild and wonderful west, the Tuscan isle of Elba, the Swiss Riviera, and rural Hungary, Emylia’s work – whether crime or women’s fiction – is strongly influenced by place. Her writing and short fiction have appeared in a wide range of publications, including The Guardian, Elle, The Simple Things and broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music.
When I discovered the second book in the Shell House Detectives series was available, I simply had to grab a copy. I enjoyed the first book with the protagonists, Ally and Jayden. I also recalled Shell House, Ally's home near the sea. In reality, probably described too close to the sea for real life, but the house in book one was magical in its description.Lewis Pascoe recovered. He became close friends with Saffron. He was going to live in his mother’s assisted living apartment until he fully recovered. Maggie Pascoe left him some money. The Shell House Detectives is the first in a series, with the second book coming later in 2023. Had you mapped out the whole story arc before beginning, or did it only become clear to you when writing that this was the start of a much longer narrative? Truth. A word that delivers a sharp and precise cut, every time she thinks of it – so mostly she tries not to. If you like a book with some great characters and a good mystery then grab yourself a copy of this, the story flows, the characters grow, I love the relationship between Ally and Jayden she is an older lady who has spent most of her life keeping the home going, she had a happy marriage but losing her husband just after he retired has left her adrift. So when her and Jayden start investigating she comes alive again. What could have happened to Helena? Will Lewis wake up from his coma? There are several twists and turns I thought I had guessed what had happened but I got it wrong. Can you solve what has happened before you reach the end of the book?. Captures the magic and beauty of Cornwall wrapped within a warm and engaging detective story. I loved it." - Rosanna Ley
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