Set against the stunning backdrop of a coastal Cornish town, this quaint mystery novel kept me engaged with a delightful blend of charming characters, an atmospheric setting, and intriguing plot twists.
The author, Emylia Hall, writes with enough intrigue that keeps you guessing.
By the final chapter, I found myself looking forward to the next installment in this captivating series.
A must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and seaside adventures like I am!

Thankyou to author Emilia Hall, Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
Charlene 📚🌸🤗 @lastnownext

"The Shell House Detectives" by Emylia Hall is a gripping mystery set against the picturesque backdrop of Porthpella, a coastal paradise that conceals dark secrets among its dunes. This novel weaves a tale of suspense, murder, and a tight-knit community in turmoil, making it a compelling read for mystery enthusiasts.

The story unfolds as retired and recently widowed Ally Bright's peaceful beachcombing life is disrupted by a distraught young man, whose mysterious appearance sets off a chain of events. Emylia Hall skillfully introduces Ally and her determination to unravel the truth behind the young man's tragic fate. The addition of ex-cop Jayden Weston as Ally's investigative partner adds depth to the narrative, creating a dynamic duo that readers can root for.

The setting of Porthpella is vividly described, immersing the reader in the coastal beauty tainted by the shadows of crime. The author excels in creating an atmosphere of suspense, keeping the reader engaged as Ally and Jayden delve into the mystery surrounding Lewis Pascoe and the disappearance of Helena. The tight-knit community becomes a character in itself, adding layers to the narrative with its interconnected relationships and hidden secrets.

The plot unfolds with well-paced twists and turns, keeping the suspense alive throughout the investigation. Emylia Hall skillfully connects the Pascoe family's tragic history with Helena's disappearance, adding complexity to the mystery. The exploration of themes such as justice, redemption, and the impact of the past on the present enriches the overall narrative.

While "The Shell House Detectives" is a thoroughly engaging mystery with a well-crafted plot and intriguing characters, it falls just short of a perfect rating due to some predictable elements in the resolution. The ending, while satisfying, lacks the unexpected twists that could elevate it to a five-star rating.

In conclusion, Emylia Hall delivers a solid mystery novel that captures the essence of a coastal community grappling with crime and secrets. "The Shell House Detectives" is a four-star read for its atmospheric setting, well-developed characters, and a compelling mystery that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

The Shell House Detectives is the first book in a new British cozy series by Emylia Hall. Released 1st July 2023 by Amazon on their Thomas & Mercer imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book (and the others in the series) are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This was such a fun and engaging read. The characters, including main protagonist widow Ally Bright, are rendered believably and the author gives readers realistic and natural dialogue and interaction throughout the read. The mysteries in the plot follow on from occurrences decades earlier, when Ally's husband, the local police sergeant was still living and serving in the area. The plot is well engineered and the clues are fair play and cleverly presented.

Although not as adept (in the reviewer's humble opinion) as the inimitable Ann Cleeves' Vera books, fans of the latter will find a lot to enjoy with this book and the follow up. The settings (the Cornish coast and Northumberland respectively) feature prominently in both series.

Four stars. It would make a good choice for public library acquisition, home reading, and gifting. With two books extant, and a third due out late 1st quarter 2024, it would also be a good candidate for a light binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Ally Bright lives in a little cottage by the sea with her little dog Fox. She’s lived in the place the community of Porthpella on the Cornish coast of England, known as "The Shell House," for nearly 40 years. Everyone knows the little cottage not only for the exterior that named it but as the home of former Sergeant Bill Bright. Late one night, she’s scared by loud knocking on her door and an overwrought young man looking for her husband. Ally is confused by the late hour, the man’s distress, and not knowing of Bill’s death as it has been a year. Before she can explain, the man has left. But the next morning, the young man is dead, and it wasn’t an accident.

Ally has so many questions. But others have questions too. Jayden Weston, an ex-cop that runs to answer cries for help, and Gus Munro, on holiday, to write a detective novel, and now there’s a mystery on his doorstep.

I loved this story. The atmospheric writing took me to the little cottage by the sea and allowed me to completely imagine the coastal town, the characters, and their lives. A widow, a cop trying to make his way after the loss of his partner, and a man adjusting to life after divorce. As the character development is portrayed for Ally, Jayden, and Gus evolving and moving forward with their lives, it may give others inspiration and hope. As Ally and Jayden consider their partnership, readers will welcome the addition to cozies featuring senior sleuths.

I look forward to the future of the Shell House Detectives.

Thank you to Emylia Hall, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

#TheShellHouseDetectives #NetGalley

This was a fun read and a great start for a new series. The author painted the story and the characters with vitality. I look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ally Bright lives in a tiny Cornish village nestled among the sand dunes. Her husband was the local police officer but he has recently died and she is feeling lost.
Jayden loved being a police officer in Leeds but he cannot cope with a tragic event and has come to Porthpella to heal and wait for his much wanted child to be born.
One night a young man - Lewis Pascoe fresh from prison comes to find Ally's husband looking for help. The next morning he is found at the bottom of the cliff badly injured.
His family home has been bought and renovated by arrogant newcomers. When the wife of this family goes missing there is only one suspect but Ally and Jayden want to find out more

This is a story of an investigation but also the healing that happens when two people make friends.

tives (Emylia Hall)

#TheShellHouseDetectives #NetGalley

This is the first in, what appear to be, three Cornwall set mysteries featuring two characters with complex pasts. They are Ally and Jayden. Ally was widowed and misses her police officer husband deeply. Her daughter would like Ally to leave Cornwall to be with her in Australia; Ally is very ambivalent. Ally is an artist who creates works from the detritus that she finds on the beach. (She makes a relevant find there).

Jayden worked as a police officer who left the force after a tragedy. He is biracial and not sure if he fits into his wife’s community. Both of these characters are trying to keep their lives moving forward. Will solving a case help them to achieve their goals?

Ally’s husband Bill was haunted by one person’s death. When he arrested this man’s son, Bill offered to help him in the future. When this young man comes knocking on Ally’s door, she (regretfully) turns him away.

Events move forward and this young man is now in the hospital, gravely wounded. His grandmother and only support was not there for him when he got out of prison. Lewis Pascoe has an interaction with the couple that built a new home where his grandmother had been. These events set the scene for the novel.

I enjoyed the main characters in this book and was also interested to meet the people around them. There are many community members in the story so there is no lack of suspects. For example, there is the coffee shop worker and a recently divorced man who is trying to write a novel.

In addition to the mystery and the characters, Cornwall is also a strong presence in the book. Readers will be able to smell the sea, see the cliffs and walk along the shore.

All in all, this was a most enjoyable read. I recommend it to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK. All opinions are my own.

The Shell House Detectives by Emylia Hall is a gripping start to a new crime series set against the backdrop of the picturesque and atmospheric landscape of Cornwall. With its intriguing plot, well-drawn characters, and richly detailed setting, the book offers an immersive reading experience that will captivate fans of crime fiction.

The story takes place in Porthpella, a small coastal town in Cornwall, where the retired and recently widowed Ally Bright lives a quiet life. Her world is disrupted one night when a distressed young man, Lewis Pascoe, knocks on her door seeking help. Before Ally can comprehend the situation, Lewis vanishes, only to be found unconscious at the foot of the nearby cliffs the next morning.

Ally's curiosity and sense of responsibility are piqued, leading her to become involved in the investigation alongside Jayden Weston, a former police officer grappling with his own personal challenges. Together, they embark on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding Pascoe's troubled past and the disappearance of Helena, the new owner of his grandmother's home.

Emylia Hall's narrative deftly weaves together the lives of a diverse cast of characters, each with their own secrets, motivations, and flaws. Ally, a sympathetic and relatable protagonist, is still mourning the loss of her husband, and her involvement in the investigation provides her with a renewed sense of purpose. Jayden is a complex character struggling with guilt and uncertainty, making his journey of self-discovery an integral part of the story.

The small-town setting of Porthpella plays a crucial role in the narrative, offering a sense of isolation, community, and the power of nature. Hall's vivid descriptions of the Cornish landscape, the crashing waves, and the hidden coves enhance the overall atmosphere and contribute to the story's immersive quality.

The Shell House Detectives is both intricately plotted and well-paced. The mysteries surrounding Lewis Pascoe, the past events in the town, and the disappearance of Helena are skillfully interwoven. As Ally and Jayden delve deeper into the secrets of Porthpella's residents, the reader is drawn into a web of intrigue, false leads, and unexpected twists. Hall excels in building suspense and maintaining the reader's interest throughout. It's a story that challenges assumptions, examines the consequences of one's actions, and showcases the resilience of the human spirit.

Overall, The Shell House Detectives is a promising start to a new series that combines a captivating mystery with rich character development and an evocative setting. Hall's storytelling prowess shines through in this engaging crime novel, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

A beautiful seaside location, a widow of a local policeman, a cute dog and a body usually says cozy. It is kind of but the characters have more depth and it is as much about relationships, finding a place that is home and meaning as anything else. It definitely leaves you with a good feel.

Oh, yeah. There was a mystery. A good mystery too!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a great cozy mystery along the shores of Cornwall. Ally is grieving her husband who was her connection to the small community of Prothpella. Jayden promised his wife that he would retire from being a cop in a big city. They form a partnership to help the young man who fell off the cliff. At the same time figuring out what they are supposed to do in the next stage of their lives. Loved the small town characters and their quirks. Highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

In a move away from previous fiction she has writer, Emylia Hall turns her pen to the crime novel. The Shell House Detectives is the beginning of a series which is set in the wild landscape of Cornwall.

Ally’s husband was the local policeman in Porthpella, a fictional town in Cornwall. Ally still grieving for her husband, lives a solitary life still after a year since her husband death. At the end of a lane, overlooking the beach with her dog. Her passion is her art, gathered from the shore that is just yards away from her house. Her daughter, now in Australia thinks she should come and live out there, but Ally still feels very connected to her husband in the house, in the town.

One night, disturbed by a knock on the door, by a young man recently released from prison and looking for her husband, who said he would help him, if he needed it. Lewis Pascoe, is the young man and he has just found out that his grandmother is dead and now the other person he thought might help him is also dead.

The following morning Lewis Pascoe turns up at the bottom of the cliff.

Jayden is sat in his truck looking out at the surf, contemplating where he finds himself now after some a tragic event. Without a job, back in his wife’s home county, a baby on the way and wondering what his purpose is. He spots a woman running, not it seems for pleasure but away from something. He wonders what her story is?

Jayden and Ally cross paths as all the events in this seaside town interlink and locals, like Saffron the coffee shop owner, and Roland a recent resident and his brother Nathan, then Gus Munro hiding from his divorce with the idea of writing a novel.

What was Lewis Pascoe after?

Who was the woman running away?

And are they connected?

Ally finds a purpose, something which connects her to why her husband was so dogged and popular in his police career. Jayden realises what he has been missing and perhaps helping Ally find out what has been going on, is his way of healing. The two of them set out to find the truth.

This is not some twee cosy mystery that you might get the impression, it is far more than that. A different sort of mystery which starts slowly as we get to know the main protagonists as well as the wild landscape of Cornwall, the power of the sea, and the impact all of that can have on any one of the characters that have been created.

I am intrigued to see how Emylia Hall may develop this series and who we might meet next.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The mystery (and short chapters) kept me hooked until the end. It's a great light read for people who enjoy a detective story. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

The story was well written, as were the characters. I would actually really like to read the next book(s) in this series to see where this story goes.


Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

This book just wasn’t for me. I tried reading it and got bogged down with all the descriptive prose (not my thing) so I thought listening might be better but it didn’t work out that way. There is an interesting story but the writing is difficult to get through. Add into that that the story is told from multiple (A LOT) of different points of view and I lost track of who was who and what really was going on. Ultimately, after the first mystery was solved, I had to give up.

I eventually stopped reading about halfway through the book:
I found the first few chapters very muddled, and admit not being keen on the writing style either: the author is sloppy with her grammatical tenses; a gripping story is written in either present or past tense. Or you describe the present in the present tense, and the flashbacks in the past tense. But you can't suddenly change the time in the middle of a scene, and that is exactly what happens here regularly.
The story is very descriptive of what everyone does and should and thinks and I found that rather boring. I sometimes felt that this story tended more towards a feel good novel and I prefer not to read those.
In addition, I found the overuse of adjectives annoying. I get the feeling that this was written by someone who does not know exactly how and what she wants to write.
As a piece of advice, I would say that the story should be edited here and there for the sake of readability.
I am extremely sorry that I am not really positive about this book, the blurb made me very excited, unfortunately my expectations were not met.
2 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I leave my review voluntarily.

I liked this! It starts out a bit twee, and there are occasional wobbles (for example, the author must be younger than the protagonist, and doesn’t ‘know’ her yet)), but the mystery(s) kept me guessing. Most of the characters were interesting, and really came to life. The setting is lovely, although it would be helpful if each location were described better the first time—I had a difficult time picturing which buildings were behind or between dunes (how big are these dunes?), and which actually had a view of the shore; as opposed to those just being able to hear the sea, but not see it. And the author really needs to decide on a verb tense, and use it throughout! Verb tenses keep changing, sometimes more than once in a single scene. Each change forced me to stop and figure out what she was trying to say—each time throwing me out of the story.
But overall, a light and enjoyable read. The premise is a bit unlikely—not unusual for citizen detectives—but most of the characters were so wonderful that they kept me going. I would welcome a chance to revisit these characters, see how their relationships continue to develop, and spend some time in this beautiful setting again.
I’ll look forward to the next in the series!

Ally lives alone in Porthpella after the death of her husband a retired policeman .
One night a young man knocks on the door looking for Bill her husband , he is in a fragile state and is later found at the bottom of the cliffs.
A chance meeting with Jayden who has recently moved to the Cornish coast makes for an unlikely friendship .
A woman goes missing her husband is distraught but is all as it seems there?
Jayden has his own issues and shares them with Ally and together they decide to try and find the truth behind the woman who has gone missing and also Lewis the boy who fell from the cliffs was it deliberate an accident or something more sinister?
I like the characters and the coastal setting and the unique relationship between Ally and Jayden .
An enjoyable and easy to read cosy mystery with a feel good ending.
A strong start to a new cosy mystery series.
I’m looking forward to more from the shell house detectives .
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

The small Cornish village of Porthpella doesn't seem like the setting for a murder enquiry but behind the dunes and holiday cottages something unpleasant is lurking.


Ally Bright is disturbed late one night by a distraught young man knocking on her door. Lewis Pascoe is newly released from prison, and has just discovered that his grandmother's bungalow has been sold to incomers, and his grandmother moved miles away to a nursing home..In his anger and confusion Lewis turns to the only man who might help him - Ally's husband, the retired village policeman - but unfortunately he's died while Lewis has been in prison. Before Ally can decide what to do about the situation, Lewis heads off again into the night.



And next morning he's found at the foot of the cliffs. Alive, but unconscious..



At the same time, an incomer, Helena, goes missing. She and her husband are the couple responsible for buying and knocking down Lewis's grandmother's bungalow. Are the two incidents related? Did Lewis threaten her in some way?



While the police assume Lewis is responsible, and wait for him to regain consciousness, Ally and a new acquaintance - ex-cop Jayden Weston - aren't convinced and decide to investigate themselves.



The Shell House Detectives is Emylia Hall's first foray into the cosy crime genre (although there's a taste of it in her earlier novel A Heart Bent Out of Shape). and the first of a three book series.





Ally and Jayden are an unlikely pairing - a middle-aged widow, and a young man who's left the police because of his partner's death but can't help but be inquisitive. What they have in common is a sense of curiosity and obligation to see things put right.



There are other side issues - a potential love interest for Ally, Jayden's worry of having been too quick to leave the police and relocate to Cornwall plus his impending fatherhood, the inadequacies of the new village policeman - which give a firm backdrop to the central crime investigation.





If you like dark psychological thrillers, then this probably isn't the book for you, but it has a twisty plot, great characters (some more fleshed out than others, but all recognisable individuals), and a lovely Cornish setting. An excellent holiday read.

The Shell House Detectives is my favourite read so far this year. I’ve loved every single thing about this story. I was so very sad when it finished, books two (The Harbour Lights Mystery) and three (The Rockpool Murder) can’t come fast enough for me!

In all honesty I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. This isn’t a genre I’m interested in reading (although I like to watch fictional crime series). Why read it then? I chose to read it because I’ve enjoyed Emylia Hall’s previous novels. And I’m so glad I did! If you’ve read this author’s previous books and you’re not sure about the change in genre, give this a go. You WON’T be disappointed. I guarantee it.

From the intriguing prologue (what happened 5 years ago!?!) through getting to know the characters, the setting, the conflict and the resolution I’ve lived and breathed this amazing world Emylia Hall has created. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about this story. And I often found myself wanting to pop down to Hang Ten for one of Saff’s cookies 🙂 There is so much that happens over the three days.

It’s not just about the mystery or the investigating (although that’s really cool and clever too) but also how easy it is to be invested emotionally in all the characters’ lives. For me, these fictitious people drew me in completely. I care about them (yes, present tense – I still do!). Emylia Hall also tackles a few social issues in the telling of The Shell House Detectives. There’s lots of depth and layers.

Ally and Jayden take the central leads but their lives touch so many others in this small community. There’s about 34 years difference in age between them and they complement each other perfectly. They make an awesome detective team. It’s not all smooth though! They’re getting to know each other in this first story and I loved how they can get straight to the point and as a result, get to know themselves and their own needs better.

I couldn’t make up my mind about Roland, Nathan or Sebastien. I wasn’t sure whether Jayden and Cat would last the distance. I wanted Helena to find where she belonged. I had hopes for Gus and his future. Constable Tim Mullins grew on me! I’m excited for Saffron and what’s in her future. Lewis is absent for most of the story but I felt his confusion and emotional pain and wanted so much more for him. And OMG, the photo. It broke me …

The setting is also a big feature. Not just because it’s a part of the life of the community but is also (I felt) a character in its own right at times. Set before the tourist season begins, you can really feel the isolation as well as the beauty of the natural world.

Did I guess what happened? No! I’d finally made up my mind and was completely wrong.

I can’t wait to see where the tentative bonds take us. As well as the crimes that need solving 🙂

This one is staying on my bookshelf.

When I was contacted about reviewing The Shell House Detectives I was intrigued as the concept was so different from the authors previous books so I immediately said yes. And I'm so glad I did as I really enjoyed my first introduction to the beachside town of Porthpella and its residents, especially artist Ally Bright and ex-cop Jayden Weston.

Both Ally and Jayden have been feeling off-kilter as their lives as they knew it have changed over the last year. Ally's due to the death of her beloved husband Bill who was the local cop, and Jayden's because of a traumatic event he experienced on the job in Leeds which saw him quit the policeforce and move back to his wife's hometown in Cornwall for a change of scenery and a fresh start. But little do they know that an incident on the beach will bring them together and their curious nature and combined experiences will have them searching for clues as to what actually happened.

The mystery at the heart of the story revolves around Lewis who has returned to Porthpella not knowing his gran had sold her house and had recently died. The reasonings behind this are soon discovered and you can't help but feel sorry for Lewis who himself was trying to make a fresh start of things as he had promised his gran he would. His whole world has been turned upside down and you question whether his fate was a tragic family history or whether there was something more sinister at play. The more Ally and Jayden dig for clues, the more deeply hidden secrets they uncover and they realise that there is more at stake than they first realised.

Ally and Jayden made a great team although I'm not sure that the local police force and Jayden's wife were as keen for their involvement. But for both of them it gave them a renewed sense of purpose and they both really seemed to enjoy their adventures as they work together to follow the clues and put the pieces of the puzzle together to work out not only what happened in these recent tragic event but also to something that happened in the past.

The Shell House Detectives was a fabulous introduction to these characters, the town of Porthpella and its residents. I'm pleased to see that this is the first in a planned series with more books to follow including The Harbour Lights Mystery which is due to be published later this year.

Late one night, recently released prisoner Lewis Pascoe knocks on the door of Ally Bright’s remote home on the Cornish coast, wanting to speak to her recently deceased husband who was a policeman The next morning, the peace of Ally’s beachcombing life is shattered when she finds an unconscious Lewis at the base of the cliffs. 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. Helena, the wealthy new owner of Lewis’ grandmother’s home, has subsequently disappeared, a coincidence or not? Driven by their need to know more, the duo decide to investigate the mystery together.
The start of a new series & there were quite a few characters to get my head round, so it took me a while to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked & read until the early hours to finish it. I really liked Ally, Jayden & Foxy Ally’s dog & I enjoyed their budding friendship. The secondary characters of Saffron & Gus also add to the story. A captivating read with twists & turns, some I wasn’t expecting! I look forward to more outings for Ally & Jayden
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read