Baz Carson, a music legend, purchased Rockpool House, the mansion atop a cliff on the Cornish coast, and with a curated guest list, he's ready to celebrate his 70th birthday and the publication of his memoir. The guest list will be the same select few of family and friends given space in his memoir. The only outsider who will stay at the mansion with Baz and the guests for the weekend is Saffron, owner of Porthpella's Hang Ten coffee shop, who will be the chef preparing all the meals. The weekend will be unforgettable.

Reminiscent of classic mysteries using the setting of locked locations as the setting that ends in a murder investigation, this is a contemporary delight. The locked location is the luxury mansion behind electric gates with a limited number of guests at the time of the crime.

The pairing of Ally Bright and Jayden Weston has added diversity of ages, life experiences, and investigation approaches. I also enjoy the secondary characters that add dimensions to life in Porthpella and broaden the scope of possibilities in the lives of Ally and Jayden.

I look forward to the continuation of the series.

Reviewer's Note: Each novel may be read as a stand-alone. Still, I recommend reading the books in the series in order to fully appreciate the characters as they evolve in life's decisions and adventures.

Thank you to Emylia Hall, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book. ( )

Cornish-coast, ex-cop, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, artist, small-town, mystery, murder, crime-fiction, suspense, series, closed-circle-mystery, dysfunctional-families, dysfunctional-people, pet-dog, widow, relationships, family-dynamics, famous-persons, investigators*****

A music industry celebrity hosts a house party for his 70th birthday but winds up dead in the pool. Permanent residents of the area include a burned-out former PC turned campsite manager and the widow of a former detective now an eco-artist. Together, they have become the Shell House Detectives, and they are expected to solve the crime before the next murder occurs. I enjoyed the first two and this has no disappointments.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 19 Mar 2024 #ShellHouseDetectivesBk3 ( )