MURDER AT GULLS NEST is a perfect cozy mystery set in a seaside town filled with uniquely entertaining and duplicitous characters. Kidd gifts her readers with the opening act to what I can only imagine will be a wonderful amateur sleuth detective series.

What makes a story like this work is the characters. They have to be diverse, interesting, and often with uniquely quirky personalities. And this book has that. Not only is our sleuth a former nun, but there is a full cast of town residents adding to the intrigue and antics. Dinah is a standout for me. I can only hope to meet her again, because this young girl is fascinating. And then you have the relationship with Rideout. I mean, what is a cozy mystery without the detective being dragged into a case by our amateur investigator?

Taking into consideration that this is the first in the series, I can say that MURDER AT GULLS NEST does not disappoint. The writing is crafted in a way that allows for a nice pace, all the while richly infusing the story with details that help unravel the murder cases. Kidd did a truly superb job of laying the groundwork for the future, entertaining the reader with a well-plotted mystery, and developing characters with depth and engaging dispositions. I cannot wait for the next one to be announced.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #MurderAtGullsNest. I enjoyed this cozy mystery set in the 1950’s. A former nun turns amateur sleuth is fun and enjoyable. I would definitely read another book in this series.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was truly delightful. It was a cozy little mystery. Even though I read it when it was sunny out, I could imagine myself sitting on my couch I the winter snuggled up with a cup of my favorite tea. Do yourself a favor and read it! ;)


Holly Collins

I thought this was going to be more interesting. I thought it was slow, lots of how did I get here, introspection. I do like that it’s progressive in the relationships. #MurderatGullsNest. #NetGalley

Nora Breen has quite the past, and her future is looking like it's headed toward a full on mystery when the correspondence she has been having with a friend stops suddenly. Nora, formerly Sister Agnes is now on the search for her friend, which lands her at Gulls Nest, a hotel in a seaside town, filled with an eclectic group of residents. This cozy, but also murder filled mystery gives Clue vibes and I'm here for it. Looking forward to book #2 in the Nora Breen Investigates Series!

This was slow to start for me, but I did get into it after a few chapters. Following former nun Nora, the story searches for answers about what happened to her friend, along with several deaths along the way that must be solved. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, all with their quirks, and it was nicely wrapped up by the end. I liked it, but I didn’t fall in love with the story or characters—I mostly just wanted the answers! The historical setting definitely helped here, making it a bit more interesting to read.

Thank you for the ARC!

Murder At Gulls Nest was a delightful find but was not what I expected. From the cute cover, I surmised it might be a cozy. Then when I began reading, after only a few pages I felt as if I had wandered into a Sarah Waters novel. Although the timeframe is the 1950's instead of Victorian England, there are a lot of shared elements. There is a boarding house packed with quirky and strange characters. There is an evocative setting by the sea. And there is a missing woman. But as I got deeper into the novel, I realized this wasn't a brooding novel in the vein of Waters' books. Murder At Gulls Nest has a sense of humor, and a good one.

Nora Breen, who was a nun and nurse, has left her order to search for a young novice who she befriended at the convent. She and Frieda had been corresponding regularly, when suddenly the letters stopped. Frieda had been rooming at Gulls Nest, and so Nora goes there and checks into the room left vacated by Frieda's absence. Soon after Nora's arrival there is another murder, and she is drawn into trying to find out who killed the young man in the boarding house.

Eventually Nora goes to the police and reports Frieda missing. The officers don't take her very seriously, initially. Inspector Rideout reluctantly accepts Nora's meddling/help in trying to solve the murders. Their relationship and repartee have very amusing moments, and I really enjoyed the interaction between the two of them. It looks like this may be the beginning of a series, and I will be eagerly waiting to read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jess Kidd, and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful cozy mystery that somehow had me giggling on one page and the next page felt very serious. I enjoyed the characters and overall story line. A promising first book in a series.

The tone of this book was completely out of left field, and something you'll need to read to really understand..

The writing managed to be serious and absurd, sad and funny all at once. This book was very, very thick with feeling, but, at the same time, I can’t accurately describe what it felt like to read. It was a super unexpected and unique experience...

Plot-wise, it’s a combination of things I like and things I don’t like, so it’s fitting that my rating landed right in the middle. I love boarding house settings. Something about a bunch of people, who would typically run in different circles, trying to work out life under one roof fascinates me. I like drifters, and grifters, and people running from the past. I also really enjoy religion in books. Not books that promote one religion, but rather stories where people are struggling to find purpose or something to believe in.

Murder at Gull’s Nest has all of the above, plus a series of mysterious murders to solve. The crime aspect is what lost me at times. I don’t typically like following an investigator. When the main chunk of the book is a person wandering around asking questions - where were you, who did you see, what did they say - that gets boring to me, fast. I’d much rather see action unfold in real time, than a person putting pieces together after the fact.

Even so, I think this premise has tons of potential, I liked Nora, and I will look out for the next book in the series.

As a long time cozy mystery fan, it is always exciting to see a new series begin. Jess Kidd's first book in the series takes place in a seaside village in England. Nora Breen leaves the convent to discover what happened to her friend who suddenly stopped her correspondence. The Gulls Nest is a residential hotel that is full of quirky characters. Did one of these people harm her friend? Follow along to find out!

Thank you to Atria Books #partner for the gorgeous finished copy to review.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery, the first in a new series set in 1954 in a small seaside town. Nora Breen was such a great character, and she really made this book for me. I listened to the audio while following along with the book, and it was so fun to do it that way. The audio is great, and overall I loved this mystery and I loved Jess Kidd’s writing. While I am waiting for the next book in this series, I will be going back and reading more of her backlist, as I am now a big fan.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery read set with a historical setting and fast-paced mystery. Set in the 1950s with an amateur sleuth who is a former nun/nurse and a number of interesting characters.

Sister Agnes leaves her vocation as a nun to move to Gore-on-Sea, a seaside town in Kent. She's arrives seeking answers about her friend, and also former nun, Frieda, who left the Church some time earlier. Frieda had been corresponding regularly with Agnes (now back to her original name: Nora Breen); then, Frieda's letters abruptly stopped, and Nora knows something must have happened, as Frieda seemed to be settling in well in the town.

Nora moves into the same hotel Frieda was living in, the Gull's Next, and gets to know the inhabitants, amongst whom there are a variety of tensions. Keeping her former identity a secret, as well as her friendship with Frieda, Nora begins to ask questions, which only become more pointed and urgent when one of the hotel guests is found dead of poisoning one morning.

Nora forces Inspector Rideout to look beyond what seems on initial consideration to be a suicide, but she's not taken seriously. Then another of the guests dies, and Nora not only has Rideout's ear, but she also begins to unearth much more about the relationships at Gull's Nest, and a darker picture begins to emerge.

I was already quite familiar with Jess Kidd's works, and have enjoyed all her books so far. She's always melded mystery with humour and a certain darkness in her characters, so this book worked really well for me.

Nora is a quiet, observant person, and this serves her well in her investigation. The hotel guests are all hiding secrets about themselves, and Nora slowly finds these out in this entertaining story.

Jess Kidd's writing is great, and I loved the depth she brought to Nora, and even to the other characters. Kidd builds friendships as Nora sleuths, and also explores the trauma experienced by soldiers after war in some of her characters.

The writing is emotional and smart, and I was ready to read my next Nora Breen Investigates story immediately after finishing this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The first in a new series featuring Norah Breen, a former nun. Norah leaves the security of her vocation to search for her novice, Frieda, who left the order, writing letters to Norah, but then disappears. On arriving at Gulls’ Nest, the boarding house on the English coast, Norah senses there is more going on with the boarders than at first glance. As a murder occurs in the boarding house, Norah injects herself into the investigation with the police. A cozy mystery that keeps you guessing, with the requisite red herrings, I enjoyed this book and look forward to more. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Murder at Gull’s Nest by Jess Kidd is a charming, slow-burning cozy mystery set in 1950s seaside England. It follows Nora Breen, a former nun turned amateur sleuth, as she searches for her missing pen pal at a boarding house full of secrets and eccentric residents.

Nora is a standout protagonist—smart, bold, and quietly funny—and the seaside setting is richly drawn. The mystery unfolds gradually, with plenty of atmosphere and a few clever twists, though the pacing can feel uneven, especially in the early chapters where many characters are introduced at once. Still, the cast is colorful, the tone strikes a nice balance between dark and whimsical, and there are some satisfying payoffs by the end.

A solid series opener for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a vintage flair. I’d give it 3.75 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley + Atria Books

Jess Kidd’s Murder at Gulls Nest is hands down the most satisfying mystery I’ve read in 2025. While many reviewers characterize this novel as a “cozy mystery,” I instead see it as a throwback to Golden Age mysteries, but with very modern day concerns.

Unlike many mysteries which move from clue to clue and are primarily plot driven without much character development, Murder at Gulls Nest succeeds on so many levels because it is character-based. The novel is extremely well-written, and the author does a good job bringing each of the major characters to life, particularly the main character Nora Breen. Nora is a former nun who leaves her order in part to find her friend who moved to a run down bed and breakfast in Gore-on-Sea for health reasons and who suddenly stopped writing to Nora. Kind but tough, Nora presents a solid sparring partner for Inspector Rideout, who was physically and psychologically injured in World War II, and is now in charge of investigating the murders and disappearances that have taken place at Gulls Nest. The plot is complex, although the mystery is quite solvable and highly entertaining. First in a series, I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series. 5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

Was so excited to get something new from this author! Sadly, I just don't think that cozy mystery is the genre for me and I wasn't really enjoying this one so I ended up DNFing. I do think there is an audience out there for it though!

Murder at Gull's Nest by Jess Kidd is the perfect cozy mystery for those who love a captivating, atmospheric read. The setting alone—set in a remote, windswept corner of Ireland—provides an eerie yet inviting backdrop for a slow-burn whodunit. Kidd excels at creating a sense of place, with richly detailed descriptions that transport you straight into the heart of the story.

What I particularly enjoyed was the mix of quirky characters, small-town intrigue, and a murder mystery that unfolds at just the right pace. The book offers just enough suspense to keep you hooked without ever veering into overly dark or graphic territory. It's the kind of mystery where the focus is on unraveling the puzzle and getting to know the eccentric individuals who might be involved.

Kidd’s writing is full of wit and charm, balancing the tension of the mystery with moments of lightheartedness. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a touch of whimsy, Murder at Gull’s Nest is a delightful read that will leave you wanting more.

Missing person, check.
Murder, check.
Intriguing personalities, check.
Amateur detective, ex-nun variety, check.
Wait, what? Yes, Middle-aged Nora has left her convent to discover what happened when her dear young friend goes missing shortly after she herself left the convent. She's spent decades nursing her fellow nuns and has decided she spent enough time serving penance for a youthful indiscretion. Nora is inquisitive, some say nosy, and is out of touch with the workings of the outer world, but doesn't come off as naive or spinsterish. She's quite the character, throwing her shoe at a policeman who is bent on ignoring her and befriending a mute 10yo girl with a predilection for dressing up in vintage opera wear.

All in all, Nora is fun, witty, and perseverant. It's a glorious start to what I believe to be a series. The book goes into deeper ideas than most cozies, a la Maisie Dobbs, and is sure to please readers of all ages who enjoy aa gripping mystery.

This novel has a slow build, however, the main character development helps keep the pace.

Nora Breen, formerly Sr. Agnes, is investigating the disappearance of her friend. She arrives at Gull’s Nest, a boarding house to a cast of characters and additional misfortunes.

Nora’s transition from the convent to the “real” world helps catapult the story forward and her humor and dry wit are fun to witness along the way.