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?
***
Helena stands on the balcony, her hands gripping the cool metal railing. (PROLOGUE)
***
(Thomas & Mercer, 1 July 2023, e-book, 381 pages, borrowed from Amazon Kindle via Prime Reading)
***
***
I enjoyed The Shell House Detectives. Ally is a great character and I enjoyed the time I spent with her. I expected this to be more of a cosy mystery but it's more of a thriller/mystery so I was pleasantly surprised. I chose to read the book because I liked the title. I enjoyed the twists and turns as Ally, Jayden and the police struggle to connect Lewis's accident with Helen's disappearance and everyone goes round in circles wondering how it all fits together and if it even does. This is a gripping read. I'd recommend it.
