The High Tide Murder by Emylia Hall

#TheHighTideMurder #NetGalley

Emylia Hall has become one of my favorite authors of traditional mysteries. Each of her titles is now a must read for me with my always looking forward to the next in the series.

This time, as the story opens, Jayden and Cat are celebrating with some time alone at an ultra luxury hotel in Cornwall. (If it weren’t for the nefarious events, I would certainly stay there!) The two run into someone with whom Cat went to school. Summer is now a travel blogger on a paid junket that she hopes to enjoy with her boyfriend, Blake.

However, soon so many things go wrong. An ex (abusive) policeman is murdered leaving behind a number of suspects but not many mourners. Summer’s boyfriend and others are arrested.

Are the crimes related to abusive police tactics? Broken promises? A 40 year old “accident?” The pages will turn as readers watch for the resolution.

Ally and Jayden have been hired to look into the case. Readers can trust that they will solve it as Hall tells an involving story.

I love the settings of the Shell House series. The light, the water and the atmosphere of Cornwall are so vivid in these stories. I also very much like spending time with the many recurring characters and watching their relationships evolve and grow.

I highly recommend this book and series. I feel that it is most deserving of more attention and readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK-Thomas Mercer for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 November 2025

Post first published on 25 December 2025

Description:

from the publisher

“Atmospheric, propulsive, and menacing . . . the perfect mystery to curl up with this autumn.”—Lucy Clarke

“Few writers can pull off a devilishly twisting mystery while infusing the story with such soul” —Emma Stonex

A violent storm. An isolated hotel. A brutal murder. The Shell House Detectives are on the case—and everyone here is a suspect.

The High Tide Hotel, overlooking stunning Trebaron Cove, is a dream destination for an autumnal getaway. But the serene atmosphere of this luxury enclave is shattered when the body of a guest is discovered on the terrace, directly below their balcony.

The victim’s friend is adamant that this was no accident, and when it emerges that the dead man was a detective with a chequered past, the police enquiry intensifies. Meanwhile fellow guest Jayden, one half of the Shell House Detectives, wastes no time in bringing Ally on board to help find the killer.

With the hotel cut off by a storm on the night of the murder, everyone at the High Tide is a suspect. As Ally and Jayden delve deeper into the pasts of both guests and staff, they uncover a mass of secrets and complex connections. Who wanted this man dead—or rather, who wanted him dead most? As the tide turns, the investigation leads them into a life-or-death situation. Who will pay the final price for discovering the truth?

A Note From the Publisher

Emylia Hall lives in Bristol with her husband and son, where she writes from a hut in the garden and dreams of the sea. She is the author of the Shell House Detective Mysteries, a series inspired by her love of Cornwall’s wild landscape. The first, The Shell House Detectives, was a Kindle Top 10 Bestseller, with the rights being optioned for TV. The High Tide Murder is her sixth crime novel. Emylia has published four previous novels, including Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Book of Summers and The Thousand Lights Hotel. Her work has been translated into ten languages, and broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music. She is the founder of Mothership Writers and is a writing coach at The Novelry.

Instagram: @emyliahall_author

X: @emyliahall

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘Atmospheric, propulsive, and menacing—plus all the deliciously cosy Shell House vibes—The High Tide Murder is the perfect mystery to curl up with this autumn.’ —Lucy Clarke

‘A new Emylia Hall novel is always such a treat and The High Tide Murder did not disappoint. I was gripped from the very first page, unable to put the book down until the end. A brilliant cast of characters, brimming with emotion and intrigue, all set against an escapist Cornish backdrop. What more could you want?’ —Libby Page

‘I loved this book for its intelligent plotting, its bursting heart, its clever surprises, and its company of characters who have fast come to feel like family. Few writers can pull off a devilishly twisting mystery while infusing the story with such soul; I savoured every page of this wonderful, life-affirming read and cannot wait for the next one.’ —Emma Stonex

‘Windswept and utterly unputdownable, this is the perfect winter read. The Shell House detectives are fast becoming my favourite literary duo and Emylia Hall is a genius. Brilliant!’ —Veronica Henry

Other Emylia Hall books:

The suspects abound: The Rockpool Murder
I enjoyed spending time with: The Shell House Detectives (Emylia Hall)
The Harbour Lights Mystery (Emylia Hall)
The Arts Trail Killer by Emylia Hall

A spa to die for: Death in Daylesford

by Kerry Greenwood

An e book bargain

Welcome back Phryne and Dot! A new novel with these beloved characters is always cause for rejoicing. This time, Phryne and Dot make their way to a spa for recovering WWI soldiers. It may sound like a peaceful retreat but series regulars know that mayhem is sure to follow, along with a resolution by the end of the novel.

Readers who enjoy fashion, wit and spas are sure to love this latest entry in the series. After reading this, many will look for other titles by Ms. Greenwood or they may want to watch the Miss Fisher mysteries on Acorn TV. Whichever way readers choose to encounter Phryne, they can’t go wrong.

Also note the gorgeous cover of this novel. The artwork is magnificent and Miss Fisher shines.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

An e book bargain: What You are Looking for is in the Library

Michiko Aoyama

#WhatYouAreLookingForIsintheLibrary #NetGalley

I am a great fan of books about books. A favorite of mine is The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, and I recently read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. Aoyama’s lovely title shares with the others a love of books and reading, an acknowledgment of how books open worlds to readers, and an understanding of how self-knowledge and growth are fostered through reading. A bit like, Wait Until the Coffee Gets Cold, What You are Looking for consists of a series of vignettes about people who are at a crossroads. When they meet a very particular librarian, they may not understand why she gives them certain recommendations (a small felted frying pan, the suggestion of a children’s book when the reader was asking for books on Excel) but readers can trust that all will become clear and that the books’ borrowers will benefit. This book is one that reads in a deceptively simple manner. There is much to think about as well in these pages, however, especially about the meaning of work. This book would make a delightful gift for a book lover. It looks very nice in its hardcover version. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

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The Inklings Detective Agency (John R. Kelly)

#TheInklingsDetectiveAgency #NetGalley

Anyone who has stepped into Narnia, or traveled with a Hobbit, or read stories by the wonderful Agatha Christie and/or Dorothy Sayers, will, I think, be intrigued by this book’s cast of characters. They are most impressive.

The locations and settings in this historical mystery were also well done. I enjoyed being in the clubs, the pubs, Lewis’s home and more. It was easy to imagine each of these places.

The mystery itself is fine. It is just not what most made me want to read this one. That said, I have hopes that this will be the start of a series.

Also, the cover is gorgeous. I wanted to read this one as soon as I saw it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 May 2026

Post first published on 24 December 2025

Description:

from the publisher

J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Agatha Christie, and other literary legends join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy in this gripping mystery that sweeps from the halls of Oxford to the streets of London and the shores of Loch Ness.

In the streets of 1936 Oxford, dark forces are at play and members of a secret society keep turning up dead. After being called upon to help solve these murders, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and their fellow literary enthusiasts known around town as the Inklings trade their pens for magnifying glasses to catch this evasive killer. With time running out, they get a helping hand from mystery writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to help unravel a sinister web of secrets. Can they crack the case before the murderer strikes again?

Packed with historical intrigue, mystery, and a cast of literary giants, this novel is a masterful blend of high-stakes drama. Dive into a world where the creators of fantasy and mystery confront a real-life menace in a race against time.

The Hunter is an e book bargain

#TheHunter #NetGalley

The Searcher…The Hunter. These linked and simply titled novels by Tana French are highly recommended. While The Hunter can be read without having read The Searcher, they are best as a pair (even if, for any reason, a reader picks up The Searcher second.)

These stories feel different from the author’s earlier Dublin Murder Squad books. I loved those and miss them but these two titles tell of new directions (and welcome ones) on French’s part.

Ardnakelty, the setting, a small, Irish, mostly farming community feels so real that a reader will believe that they could visit. It is a place with a population that includes some quirky characters.

Readers will get to know the most important characters well (although I think that some of the secondary characters sometimes were hard to keep track of). Among these are Trey. To me, she feels like a kindred spirit to Scout in Harper Lee’s book. Both have strong opinions and beliefs. Trey is a teen who has become close to Cal, initially despite herself. Cal is an incomer to Ireland. He has become a kind of mentor to Trey and their relationship has much meaning to both. Lena has become involved in a relationship with Cal though she does not want to marry. She also cares about Trey.

In this novel, Trey’s ne’er do well father, Johnny, is back from England. He has a grand scheme in mind. Readers can find out about this when the pick up the novel…and they should! How will Johnny’s arrival impact Trey who is just beginning to have some stability? Will there be a great deal of destruction?

This book, for me, was kind of a slow burn. I relished its pace however and was in no hurry to turn the last page.

It is very easy to recommend The Hunter. Its characters, setting and story are all memorable.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 March 2024

Is there such a things as: An Ideal Husband (Erica James)

I have been reading books by Erica James ever since her first, A Breath of Fresh Air, was published in 1996. An Ideal Husband is her newest release, having been published in 2024.

James writes stories that take place in attractive settings, feature characters with complex interrelationships and, generally, have reasonably happy endings. All of that is the case here.

This book has beautiful real estate including a well loved, family home, a refurbished lighthouse and more. I wanted to visit each of these places.

Protagonist Louisa and husband Kip have three adult children, in laws and grandchildren, all of whose lives intersect in these pages. Life seems good and Louisa is content. All of that changes, however, when Kip announces that he is leaving Louisa for their younger son’s ex. Definitely messy. Readers follow what happens to all of the members of the family, each of whom has their own challenges and faces loyalty issues. Will their be growth? Will characters remain stuck?

James looks over her characters with a sympathetic eye. She helps readers to understand how each of them has come to be in their present situation. Along the way the reader gets to know them very well.

This over page 400 book, kept me occupied during a bout of the flu. That seems like a good recommendation to me.

I look forward to whatever this author writes next.

Have you read this or other Erica James titles? If yes, what are your thoughts.

‘She’s so good, isn’t she? Wonderful on characterisation and family dynamics, and done very deftly, with wry humour’ Marian Keyes

The uplifting story of fresh starts and second chances from the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James

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After a long and seemingly happy marriage, Louisa is stunned when her husband Kip suddenly asks for a divorce. He’d never seemed unhappy – and they’ve raised three children together.

For months, Kip has been secretly seeing a younger woman – and if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s the woman who broke their youngest son’s heart.

Now Kip is moving out and embarking on a new life with Zoe, and Louisa is left to pick up the pieces. Their beloved family home, Charity Cottage, is up for sale, and tensions are running high.

Yet, despite the betrayal and anger, when Louisa lays eyes on what might be a unique and welcoming new home, she feels a first glimmer of hope that life might be taking a turn for the better.

And while Louisa is making exciting plans, Kip finds himself facing challenges of his own and begins to learn that living the dream may not be as simple as he thought…

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Praise for An Ideal Husband:

‘So, so good … A deliciously satisfying story’ Cathy Kelly

‘I couldn’t put it down’ Sarah Morgan

‘A compelling family drama … Effortlessly elegant storytelling from Erica, as ever’ Veronica Henry

‘So warm and kind’ Fern Britton