Julie's Reviews > The Shell House Detectives

The Shell House Detectives by Emylia Hall is a 2023 Thomas & Mercer publication.

An outstanding British Mystery!

First, we have the location- the Cornish coast- an automatic creation of atmosphere. Then we have some well-drawn characters- Ally, a widow, whose husband was in law-enforcement, and ex cop, Jayden, a newcomer with a pregnant wife at home- pair up to solve a mystery that involves a young man named Lewis, who has recently been released from incarceration, and a missing woman named Helena. These two unlikely sleuths forge not only a partnership in crime solving, but a close friendship as well.

The mystery is very compelling with a few surprising revelations I didn’t see coming at all. If you are thinking this is a light, fluffy mystery simply because it is basically ‘clean’, and categorized as a 'cozy', think again. There is some good storytelling here and all readers of crime fiction will appreciate it, I think. It’s a whodunit that keeps you guessing, but it was also a portrait of a community, of people caring about others, and helping people.

“I think that’s the best thing someone can do, isn’t it? Want to help?”

Overall, an absorbing, atmospheric, and inspirational whodunit! I am very much looking forward to the next chapter in this series!