The Penny Brannigan series is another that I've enjoyed in the past enough that this new title in the series caught my eye. I've enjoyed the locale, Wales, very much, and had hoped we'd read more about it in this story, which takes place in Anglesey. Penny and a friend are taking an artist's retreat with a retired and famous actor. Penny meets both a handsome, intriguing wildlife photographer and a very nice young journalist from New Zealand in the hotel bar, but is horrified when she finds the journalist dead the next morning. Penny embarks on a whirlwind romance with the photographer, and befriends the journalist's mother after she travels from New Zealand to accompany her daughter's body home. The location outside Penny's small village sets this story apart from others but in some ways was underutilized: we're not really shown the sites of Angelsey, and there do seem to be one or two coincidences too many. And the discovery of the final clue was a little too pat and too unbelievable. But the series is still pleasant, despite the annoying villagers who think Penny's marriage is their wedding (who would let them dictate to her where and how the wedding takes place?), and on that level, it's a perfect beach read.

Sadly this book s not for me. I found myself getting bored and my mind wondering elsewhere, but I know this book will find many fans.

I appreciate the publisher letting me read this book. I found it a great read the characters are beyond charming and the mystery kept me guessing

I love the cover of this book and I was very excited to be transported away from real life to a cozy mystery. Unfortunately, I had to put the book down for a work deadline and it wasn’t enough to pull me back in and finish. I can definitely see the appeal of the cozy mystery, the setting, etc but it wasn’t enough to hook me and bring me back to the story.

On Deadly Tides is the next entry in the Penny Brannigan mystery series, and I always return to these books for their settings as well as their simple, but engaging, mysteries. Cozy mysteries are my guilty pleasure reading in between the heavy-hitting fantasy, historical fiction, mystery/thrillers, and non-fiction that I usually tend to read and I love them because I can still get emotionally invested in the characters while the story lines tend to be on the lighter side of the spectrum.

What I especially love about this series is that the main character is in her early fifties rather than the usual twenties; she just seems to be quite different from the usual cozy mystery heroines, and I really enjoy that about her. She is single so her priorities tend to be somewhat different and romance usually play a huge role in these books, although it sometimes happens. However, unlike some of the books, it isn't a main feature which is something I really liked. An independent woman who is enjoying her life, has many activities and hobbies, has many friends, is active in the community, travels, and is having fun is definitely someone with whom I can identify.

I did find this book a bit different than the others and there was a reason for this. I don't want to go into that in detail as it would sort of spoil the fun of the book, but long-time readers will be happy for Penny. However, it did take away from the usual suspense and it was very easy to figure out the mystery and the culprits. I do think the author balanced out Penny's private life quite well with her investigations, and I have always liked how she never interfered with the police or their investigations. She also doesn't tend to do stupid things like some of the characters in some of the cozy mystery books, something that often makes me cringe. For example, if she is going to interview someone, she usually lets someone else know where she is and what she is doing, and she doesn't usually tend to go anywhere without telling people. Yes, she makes mistakes, but owns up to them afterwards. Like forgetting to lock her back door because she let the cat out.

On Deadly Tides was a slower book than usual, focused much more on Penny's personal life rather than the mystery, but it was still interesting. There were a couple things I couldn't quite believe, for example about the tides and the GPS coordinates , as if the RCMP would not be familiar with those and the Welsh police would not have checked the tides. The story was well-written, and I was able to read it in one sitting, but there still felt like there was something missing that was in the earlier books. It also sounds as if this may be the last book in the series, and if that is the case, I will be sad to say good-bye to Penny and company. It is possible to read this book as a stand alone, but I don't recommend it.

Penny Brannigan lives in Wales although she’s a transplant from Canada. With her friend, she’s part owner of a manicures and hairstyling salon. A recent attachment that lacked sparks has completely fizzled so she remains happily single.

As a change of scenery, she and an artist friend, Alwynne, travel to North Wales for a painting class with Bill Ward. He was a television star and has reinvented himself as an art teacher. He’s a bit creepy around the ladies.

Alwynne goes up to bed after one drink while Penny stays in the bar for a second. In the crowd, she bumps into Colin Campbell, a wildlife photographer, also a transplanted Canadian. The pair end up sharing a table with young Jessica Graham, a reporter for a New Zealand newspaper. She’s on her first trip abroad to interview Bill Ward, write travel pieces, and to discover any clues she can about the disappearance of a New Zealander several years ago.

On their first plein air painting session, Penny and Alwynne have chosen to paint the famous lighthouse and seascape. Looking for an angle different from her friend’s, Penny notices a horrifying sight—a body at the foot of the cliff. It’s Jessica, and she’s been dead for hours, narrowly missing being swept out to sea.

Although her death is ruled accidental, Penny’s not sure. The position of the body, the fact that Jessica planned to go right to bed, and her comment about solving a cold case murder, together make Penny think there’s more to the girl’s death than first seen.

This is book eleven in the series. Penny is a level-headed woman, happy with her life, and not one to take dangerous risks. With this book, she’s confronted with possibilities she hadn’t imagined. Readers will be anxious to read the next book to see the changes she makes. This is a series I always look forward to reading because of Penny herself and the setting in Wales. A puzzling mystery, characters you’d want as friends, and a potential romance—what more could you ask for?

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
Well I was surprised to find that this was number 11 in an ongoing cozy mystery series by this author. I had not heard of it before and the author does such a good job that you can honestly read it as a stand alone. I really enjoyed the gentle style of this author’s writing though so I’m more than happy to be able to delve into her back catalogue.
This is the story of Penny, a Canadian living in Wales, who discovers the body of a journalist who has been investigating the disappearance of a New Zealand man. Penny finds the body on the beach and at first glance it would seem she maybe fell from the cliffs, but something doesn’t sit right with Penny and she feels the body is too far from the cliff for this to have been an accident so she decides to investigate.
This is a nicely paced mystery and for anyone who likes a bit of romance as well- there should be enough in here to scratch that itch.
Being in locked down, land locked Derbyshire during the Covid pandemic when I’ve read this, I find myself craving stories set by the sea so I can precariously travel there through my reading. I therefore really enjoyed the descriptions of the Welsh coast line and I can not wait until I’m allowed to travel again and maybe visit there.

3.75/5*

I had no idea that this was No 11 in a well-established series when I requested it from NetGalley (I obviously missed that somehow). Regardless, I enjoyed it enough that it's a series I could see myself starting from the beginning just to get a better feel for the characters, who are obviously all fully established at this point.

Like Penny, I'm a fifty-something Canadian living in the UK (although England, not Wales). It's usually young(ish) Americans in the cosy genre which, okay, but it leaves out a reasonable proportion of the readership of the genre, so this - just in the character alone - is a big plus as far as I'm concerned.

The only thing that dragged it down a bit for me was the amount of time spent between Penny and Colin. I realise that their getting to know one another is also a key element in this particular book, but it seemed, in some instances, to outweigh the murder and its subsequent investigation. There were a couple of times where I was like, 'Oh, yeah. It's a murder mystery!' simply because the point had got lost amongst the discussions of puffins or painting or photography. Also, I was a bit confused on the timeline, which came across a bit truncated in some instances (when we hear that Penny & Colin have been videocalling 'regularly' since he got back to Canada - a week? Two?) but which would ultimately mean the murder investigation has been drawn out for at least several weeks by the time it's wrapped up...?

Overall, though, it was an easy and enjoyable read and one I would definitely go back to.

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

A worthy read for the dog owner that wants to offer good safe and nutritious food for thier dog.
The book is well written and easy to read.
All the information is backed up with research.
There are parts that are astonishing but important to read.
I am glad I got a chance to read Big Kibble it completely validated my suspicions about the dog food industry.

I received a complimentary copy from Net Galley.

A cozy with a slight twist. The protagonist isn't as old as Miss Marple or Miss Polifax, but she isn't the 30 something we often find in other cozies.

Penny is a 50ish woman who goes to a painting weekend with a friend Alwynne. While there they meet a young journalist from New Zealand who is on assignment to write about the founder of the painting class who was once a TV celebrity. Jessica also mentions that she is working on a story about a wealthy man from NZ who disappeared in Wales years before. She also meets a wildlife photographer (not there for the painting class) named Colin.

Penny the next day discovers Jessica's body at the bottom of a steep cliff. It appears to be an accident. but Penny isn't so certain. There are things that don't add up in her mind. With the help of Colin, she learns the truth about more than just Jessica's death.

The characters are well described as is the setting in Wales. One feels as though he knows the place and the people well. Although this is the eleventh book in the series, it is the first I have read and works well as a stand-alone. The author doesn't spend too much time repeating past tales, but does hint a a future.

It is a future I want to be involved with. I will bet looking for more Penny Brannigan books.

This book is the 11th in a series and the first one I've read. That being said, it did work as a standalone for me, but I will be reading the previous ones. I really enjoyed Wales as the setting and I thought the art theme was interesting. The storyline moves right along and the characters are likable. There were enough twists to keep me interested.

On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan is a wonderful read about a Canadian living in Wales and solving a murder. Well, another murder while also maybe finding some love?

Can Penny figure out who killed the young investigative reporter?

Penny Brannigan
Penny Brannigan is our sleuth, and she is away on a painting camp for two days before going back home. She ends up meeting a guy named Colin, who is her love interest. Penny is an interesting sleuth as she is in her early fifties and is great at solving puzzles. I like Penny because she runs a Spa place with a girlfriend, and then in her free time, she paints. I like that because it shows that she lives a balanced life. There isn't really anything that I didn't like about this character.

The Mystery
The mystery that Penny is working on solving has a tie into the past and the one that happened in the present. What happened to Mark Currie seven years ago? And what does that have to do with recently deceased investigative reporter Jessica Graham? Those are the two questions that Penny, with the help of the detective in Wales and her new beau Colin, has to figure out. I actually got this one earlier on, and I can't believe that I was actually right, especially about the motive. I feel bad that another life being taken to have it figured out.

Three Stars
On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan is a good read if you are looking for one that isn't where you live. Ms. Duncan's Penny Brannigan Mysteries' are located in Wales, and it's definitely a different ball game over there to the ones based in the United States. It was nice looking at it from a different perspective. Ms. Duncan has done a good job of writing this book. I am giving it three stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Although On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan is book 11 in the Penny Brannigan Mystery series, it was my first. I was not lost as the author provided some background and the mystery was individual to this novel.

Fifty-something Penny is a painting enthusiast and runs a Spa with a friend. Meeting her was like seeing an old friend and she was easy to get on with. I liked the supporting cast in the story, too. The mystery itself was compelling and well written by Elizabeth J. Duncan. Set in Anglesey in North Wales, the descriptions of the coastal town helped to make this story a good one, with the lighthouse, pebble beaches, and the wild landscape all delightfully depicted. On Deadly Tides certainly grabbed my attention and I will doubtlessly be reading more in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley and this is my own unbiased opinion.

Penny Brannigan is a businesswoman, an amateur sleuth and a watercolour artist. And she’s very much enjoying an art retreat with a good friend on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. There is so much to choose to paint, and Penny settles on the lighthouse. And then she discovers a body on the beach, just before the tide carries the young female journalist’s body out to sea.

The autopsy says the victim died from injuries consistent with a fall from a height, but Penny thinks there may be more to it, since the journalist was there working on a story that may tie into a disappearance that’s seven years old. Was it a tragic accident or is there more to the journalist’s death? Penny sets out to find out what really happened on the cliff.

Penny’s doing more than solving a mystery however as she finds herself attracted to wildlife photographer Colin Campbell. But his work takes him all over the world, so can their meeting lead to more?

There’s mystery, intrigue, suspense and a dash of romance in this eleventh in the Penny Brannigan series by Elizabeth J. Duncan.

This is my first book I have read by Elizabeth J. Duncan and the first in her Penny Brannigan series of which this is the eleventh title but I had no trouble following the storyline and getting acquainted with the characters (old and new).

Penny, who is in her 50s, is an amateur sleuth and a painting enthusiast who in this installment goes to a painters' retreat in Anglesey with her friend. There she meets a young journalist from New Zealand Jessica Graham, who is in Anglesey to interview Bill Ward an ex-actor who is leading the retreat and also investigate the disappearance of a New Zealand man from Anglesey seven years ago. Next morning, Penny finds Jessica's body on the beach. Penny puts on her sleuthing cap on and is determined to find out why Jessica was killed. Penny also meets a wildlife photographer Colin Campbell at the retreat who turns out to be a potential romantic interest for her.

I really like how the author describes Anglesey, Wales and the small town of Llanelen, with its natural beauty and greenery making it sound so visually appealing.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.

The book was published on 10th November 2020.

A charming love story and intriguing mystery. Several interesting characters. I don't recall having read any of Penny Brannigan's previous adventures. Some of them are mentioned briefly, but not necessary to have read them to enjoy this one.

3.5 Stars

Penny Brannigan and her best friend are enjoying a painting holiday on an island off the coast of Wales. Penny is able to relax, paint, and meet new people, including a charming wildlife photographer named Colin. However, the fun comes to a halt when Penny discovers the dead body of a young journalist from New Zealand that she had just met. It looks like it may have just been a tragic accident, but Penny thinks there is more to Jessica’s death. She begins asking questions to see if the ambitious reporter ran across anyone in her short visit that didn’t want their secrets to become a newspaper headline.

This is the eleventh book in a series that I’ve not read before, but I was able to get to know the main characters without any trouble. How you feel about this book will depend on what you’re looking for. The pace of the story is slow and leisurely, with the exception of Penny’s romance with Colin which is rushed and a bit forced. The mystery itself is light and isn’t the main focus of the book. For most of the book, Penny doesn’t seem to have any sense of urgency about solving the crime and that carried over to my attitude toward the book. It was pleasant when I was reading it, but when I put it down, I didn’t feel compelled to pick it back up. Overall, I did enjoy the book, though. The author excels writing vivid descriptions of the setting. I could imagine fighting my way through the crowded bar to get a drink as Penny does, and I could picture the lighthouse on the shore of the island that Penny admires. Penny is likable for the most part, although there are a few examples when she seems a little self-centered, worrying more about her fledgling romance than the safety of other people. I like the other side of Penny, such as when she drops everything to comfort Jessica’s mother who is alone and grieving far from home.

Penny has a way about her that she is able to get answers when she begins asking questions about Jessica’s death. She is able to find possible motives that support the theory that Jessica was murdered and she is able to pass along the information to a friend who is a member of the North Wales police force. I thought the motive was fairly obvious pretty early on, but the author is still able to include a few details that took me by surprise when the crime is solved. The ending is a little pat but very sweet and should please fans of the series. I don’t know if this is the end of the series or if the author is just taking Penny’s character in a new direction, but either way there are a lot of new adventures in store for Penny.

~ Christine

On Deadly Tides is the eleventh title in the Penny Brannigan series of cozy mysteries. Penny, who is in her 50s, is a Welsh amateur sleuth who always land in the middle of things. This entry is set in scenic Anglesey where Penny is enjoying a group painting excursion. Unfortunately for her ( but not for readers), Penny finds the body of a New Zealand journalist. How did the journalist come to be there? Who is the murderer?

Along with solving the case, readers will follow Penny’s personal and romantic life. Those who enjoy cozies may well want to give this title, and the series, a look.

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

Attending an art retreat at picturesque Beaumaris on Anglesey on North Wales, Penny Brannigan is pleased to meet new people - friendly (and attractive) wildlife photographer Colin, clever young New Zealand journalist Jessica, her fellow artists and the staff at the hotel. But on her first morning out painting, she and her painter friend find Jessica’s dead body on the beach, and suddenly her peaceful weekend is something else entirely.

Penny is an interesting variant in the modern cozy mystery heroine; most of them are twenty and thirty-somethings, but Penny is in her fifties, and she has slightly different priorities. This is apparently book 11 in this series, but I think you could jump in here and pick up without missing out on anything… though if you have been following Penny’s journey throughout the series, you might be slightly startled by her suddenly developing a love interest here and (slight spoiler) actually marrying him at the end of the book.

I struggled to get into the book because in the first few chapters, there was an awful lot of ‘telling’ rather than going on as everyone was introduced, and the locations were described. This did improve as things went on but I am marking down a star for it because a good editor should have helped the author to fix things up.

The cat on the cover is also pretty misleading. Yes, Penny owns a cat. But it doesn’t feature in the story at all, is only mentioned a couple of times, and frankly only seems to be there because an animal is Obligatory in the genre. It’s not. Miss Marple didn’t need a cat. If there isn’t one playing a significant role in your story, don’t put it on the cover, because your animal-loving readers will be annoyed by the bait and switch. I was.

Overall, this was okay; I liked Penny as a character but the telling made the beginning of the book especially very dull, and the bait and switch with the cat on the cover annoyed me. I’ll give it three stars.