The Shell House Detectives (Shell House Detective Mysteries Book 1)

Received this book free as one of my Amazon First Reads. Wow! What an amazing freebie! Thoroughly enjoyed it. The description of the Cornish landscape and beaches was so wonderfully written and so beautifully atmospheric I could actually smell the salty air, feel the wind on my face, hear the crash of the waves and visualise the surfers. The characters were so believable and engaging i felt like I really knew them….I seriously dream about sitting with Ally on her veranda sharing a chilled bottle of Sauvignon! The “Mystery” element wasn’t as dramatic as some books I’ve read, but was believable and engaging and really made me want to read to the end to find out who/why/how and I wasn’t disappointed; the ending wrapped everything up in a way that was satisfying and totally heartwarming. Really loved this book, thank you,

I love a cosy mystery novel and this is one of the best I’ve read in BC a long time. Compelling characters, great location and good twists. Generally just very well written.

This was a nice easy to read story and I enjoyed it immensely. I liked the characters in the book and found myself wishing I lived nearer the sea as the descriptions of the setting were so real. It had a good plot but not heavy and these characters were believable. Look forward to Book 2 which I am just about to read.

This is a great detective story with no loose ends. An easy, relaxing read. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

A gentle but compelling story, the characters are believable and for once I didn't guess the villain. Delightful read and will get the next one ASAP.

It seemed quite flat, one-dimensional ('d just finished reading Mick Herron's prose). However, it had page-turning, short sharp chapters that draw you in. Reading the first five chapters back again, it is quite charming with good characterisation of people and place, some intrigue, things not quite explained. The ineptitude of the local police might be distracting but the young PC is shown to have some sense and to want to do better. It is couched as a mystery but it is a novel about relationships, old and new, across the generations, which is quite refreshing. There are a few red herrings that could have made it a more complex cold case but it is a nice rounded story as it is. I did think the pace of the last few chapters was too slow. Yes, we want to find out what happens to everyone but maybe a bit more quickly.

The Shell House is the kind of Cornish property by the sea most of us would like to own. Simple and charming with a view of the lighthouse and access to the dunes it was the perfect home for Ally Bright and her husband but since he died a year earlier her daughter has been urging her to join the rest of her family in Australia. While she mulls this over dramatic events engulf her. A young man called Lewis, recently released from prison, knocks on her door seeking help from her husband, Bill, who was the local police sergeant. When he realises that she can’t help him he leaves, and it is a shock next morning to discover that he has fallen from the nearby cliffs and is badly injured.She is not the only person to be dismayed. Jayden Weston, who has recently moved to the area with his pregnant wife Cat, has left the police force after his partner died and like Ally he feels he must do what he can to discover what happened to Lewis. Soon they have more to investigate as Helena Hunter, who lives in the nearby new built house, Sea Dream, has disappeared. The unlikely partnership of Ally and Jaden are not popular with the local police force, but they have more success at following leads.The small town of Porthpella contains many interesting characters who add to the plot. The local “plod” PC Mullins seems to lack initiative but gradually he becomes more sensitive to the victims and begins to gain our respect. There is plenty to interest the reader in solving a cold case and hoping for happy conclusion. Ally and Jayden are complex people who work well as a team, and I am glad to hear that this is the first of a series of investigations.

This is exactly the kind of crime novel I enjoy: gentle, ‘cosy’ crime. The peaceful coastal community of Porthpella, which sounds idyllic by the way, is thrown into turmoil when a young man is found at the bottom of the cliffs in an apparent suicide attempt and a wealthy woman goes missing at the same time. Ally Bright, widow of much loved local policeman Bill, and ex-policeman Jayden Weston meet coincidentally at the scene. They feel drawn to the case, connected to it in a way, and feel compelled to find out what has happened.I particularly liked the characters in this book. The story is mainly told from the perspectives of Ally and Jayden and I enjoyed getting to know them. Looking into the case really gave Ally a focus after the death of her husband and it was clear that she had his shrewdness and compassion. Jayden has left the police behind after a traumatic incident and with a baby on the way, his wife is not happy at all when he gets involved in investigating, possibly putting himself in danger. It was good to meet other local characters too such as Scarlett who runs the café and Gus who has rented a cottage after his divorce. It added another layer to the narrative to hear about the goings-on from their point of view. Some other characters were rather more unpleasant!I found the pace of the book to be perfect. The chapters moving between the different characters kept my attention throughout. The story had many unexpected twists and turns that were cleverly done. I was completely engaged and intrigued throughout the book, keen to know what had happened and why. I tend to enjoy the kind of crime novels where the amateurs do better than the real detectives, and this book did not disappoint. While the local policeman, PC Mullins, was not very likable at the beginning, he grew on me and became a more sympathetic character as the story progressed.If you are a fan of cosy crime with amateur detectives, you will enjoy meeting The Shell House Detectives. Porthpella is a great setting and the author’s atmospheric descriptions of the Cornish sea and sky brings the wild beauty of the area to life and creates a great sense of place. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series soon. The Shell House Detectives is perfect for reading cosied up in a comfy chair.

This is my first book by English Hull and I loved every minute of it. A very inspiring story that's absolutely uplifting. I enjoyed this story so much I couldn't put it down. The characters are a breath of fresh air, down to earth. If you like mystery/detective in a seaside village then this books for you.

A beautiful setting. Wonderful character development. The plot had enough twists to make the story engaging. I particularly liked that the relationships that organically developed were so unlikely. It made the story much more interesting. Sometimes I felt there was a little too much introspection that slowed the momentum of the plot. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in the series.

This story is intriguing raising lots of questions about different events. The cast of characters are well-developed and the key ones feel like they are people I would like to get to know better. I look forward to seeing how their relationships play out in Emylia Hall's future books in the Shell House Detective series.The setting in wild Western Cornwall with beautiful sunsets, the beach and the sea is intrinsic to the story and it is written so well you feel you're a part of it. A great story.

Every character in The Shell House Detectives was very well developed. Each seen in their full complexity. I can't wait to read more by Emylia Hall.

What a pleasant read, good solid cast of characters that each bring something to the story, the climate, location and scenery are the Cornwall my great grandmother spoke of.The plot was good with enough artistic creativity, clean worded violence, reasons for menace, twists and turns to keep reading / listening.Looking forward to reading book #2.Thank you for your delightful collection of Emylia Hall and Kate Rawson for your eloquence, much appreciated ladies :-)