This book is a cozy, yet thrilling mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The plot is well-crafted and the characters are complex and interesting, making for a truly engaging read.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the way that Baldwin weaves together multiple storylines to create a rich and layered narrative. From the murder investigation to the personal lives of the characters, there is always something happening to keep you invested in the story. The quote "Sometimes the truth is hard to face, but it's always worth seeking out.” rings true for their personal lives and the mystery they are investigating. The setting of the seaside town adds an extra layer of atmosphere and tension to the mystery.

This is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Overall, I highly recommend "Murder by the Seaside" to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery.

The narration by Samara MacLaren was beautifully done and helped place me into the small Scottish seaside location.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of "Murder by the Seaside," the first in the new PI Grace McKenna series set in Portobello, Edinburgh.

PI Grace McKenna, emerging from a tough couple of years and needing a big break for her new agency, is hired by a widow to prove her husband's suicide was in fact a murder. The case takes Grace and her all-women team into the world of professional psychics and a crew of zealots who are protesting the psychics and their business. Paths cross, twists turn, characters and incidents are never simple or straightforward, and in the end we are left with intersecting heartbreaking stories with an ultimate message of hope. I very much look forward to the next in the series.

Murder by the Seaside by Jackie Baldwin, an audiobook narrated by Samara MacLaren is a page-turning story full of twists and secrets.
What started as a simple investigation... Ok, not simple, it was challenging, as Detective Grace McKenna was supposed to find out if psychic Paul Gordon was killed or if it was a suicide. But quickly this case spread as a spider web and become more than complicated. Grace and her team is sucked into such an unpredictable roller coaster and life has been put in danger.
This is just a wonderful first book in the series Detective Grace McKenna. Book full of things we believe or don't believe, loss, grief, and hope. It's not just a detective story. In this book, we unwrapped Grace on a personal level and for sure it's interesting to know what will happen next. I will keep my eye open for the next book!
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a chance to listen to this audiobook! Samara MacLaren did an amazing job! The way how she added accents made it sound so real!
#MurderbytheSeaside #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

Murder by the Seaside by Jackie Baldwin
FIVE STARS

I am LOVING the lady detective books I've been reading lately! I struggled a little to follow all the characters but that's on me, I don't think my brain was working with me while I read this one. It was so twisty though! I did NOT see who that was coming, 10/10 on the shocked me scale! I am THRILLED that this is book #1 because I still have so many hopes and questions! The very end I did see coming but I need to know more details so I'll be looking forward to those in book 2.

Samara MacLaren did an AMAZING job bringing this to life with her narration. I really hope she is back for book 2.

#MurderByTheSeaside #JackieBaldwin
#DetectiveGraceMcKennaScottishMurderMystery
#BookOne #ReadThemAll #NeverStopReading
#Audiobook #AudiobooksAllDay #SamaraMacLaren
#ScottishMystery #ScottishLadyDetective
#ScottishDetective #ChildLoss #Suicide #Mystery
#FiveStarRead #AdultMurderMystery #SpiceLevelZero

Murder by the Seaside follows the story of bereaved mother, Grace McKenna, who is struggling following the death of her son. Grace has set up her own detective agency and finally gets an exciting case when the widow of a famous psychic wants her to investigate his suspicious death.

Soon, there is another murder and the evidence links the two, leading Grace and her reporter friend to a Psychic College. Grace is forced to face her own demons in order to track down the potential serial killer.

This was the first book in a new series and I already can't wait for the next instalment! I was totally invested in Grace's story and enjoyed reading about her personal life as well as professional.

This book was set in Scotland, which was an ideal location for the story; I easily found myself transported there.

Overall, this book was fast paced and gripping, I can't wait to read what comes next.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

I received an audio copy of this book and it is excellent. The main character, Grace McKenna, is complex with multiple levels of conflict going on in her life. The novel builds to a series of climaxes completing the different plot twist perfectly. I would highly recommend the audio which is exceptionally well narrated.

Unexpected cozy mystery, rich plot with a a twist, very well described deep characters and great narration.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Setting the Scene: In less than 2 years, Grace McKenna lost her son, her husband, and her career with the Edinburgh police force. Her fledgling detective agency becomes her focus, and her 2 employees like family. When the widow of a well known psychic hires the agency to look into his death, Grace sees it as an opportunity to promote the agency name. She could never have foreseen what followed.

What I Thought: This is a great start to a new series with a complex protagonist and interesting characters. Although it began a bit sluggishly, the story soon picked up, and it didn't stop. Nothing and no one is what they seem. To paraphrase Grace, this case did not flow, it sprouted appendages reaching out in multiple directions.

The narrator did an excellent job capturing the characters and distinctive voices.

Murder by the Seaside is a wonderful blend of Tartan noir and cosy mystery. I love it! I also loved how Grace’s detective agency was staffed by women. I usually don’t like alternating POVs but we were able to see the investigations from different perspectives as things were revealed over the course of the book. The narration was great as well so I’m definitely going to continue with this series!
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy for review.

Detective Grace McKenna of the Edinburgh Portobello Detective Agency has been contacted by the widow of famed psychic Paul Gordon. She wants Grace to uncover the truth about her husband’s sudden and suspicious death. Joined by investigative journalist, Tobias Sloan, the duo’s search leads them to a golf club where they discover the body of a dead woman which in turn leads them to the college where Gordon was killed. The link between the murders brings Grace’s personal life into play and she finds her boundaries blurred. This is an excellent “police procedural” style mystery with an interesting well developed main character

Loved the narrator but didn't care much for the writing or the main character. Probably a little too dramatic for me -- I like more cerebral or cozy mysteries. Sorry!