Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for an eARC ♥️

Oh, what an absolute treasure of a book! If you love mysteries that feel like a warm cup of tea with just a dash of poison, then “Murder at Gulls Nest “is your perfect match. Imagine Agatha Christie and Father Brown had a literary love child—only this one’s a quick-witted ex-nun with a habit of stumbling over corpses.
Nora Breen is the kind of heroine you’d want as your best friend—or at least your partner in crime-solving. She’s sharp, compassionate, and refreshingly human, wrestling with her faith, her past, and the very earthly problem of *multiple murders* in her cozy seaside hotel. The setting—**Gore-on-Sea, *—is so vividly drawn you can almost smell the salt air and hear the seagulls squawking over the guests’ scandalous whispers.
And what a cast of characters! From the delightfully nosy Mrs. Peabody (who definitely knows more than she lets on) to the brooding Dr. Marsh (does he have secrets, or is he just *that* serious about his tea?), every guest at the “Gulls Nest Hotel” feels like they’ve stepped out of a classic golden-age mystery—with a few modern twists.
If you adore cozy mysteries with depth a dash of mid-century atmosphere and a sleuth who’s equal parts nun and Nancy Drew, this is your next obsession. **Five stars—and a whispered prayer that the next book comes soon! ♥️

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

Murder at Gulls Nest is an absorbing mystery filled with odd and engaging characters.

It is the early 1950’s, and Nora Breen, newly released from her vows as a Carmelite nun for 30 years, comes to the boardinghouse called Gulls Nest in Kent, England. She is there to find out the fate of her younger friend and former postulate, Frieda. Nora is a nurse, and during a serious illness of Frieda’s, they became close. Frieda, too, has left the monastery, and wrote regularly to Nora. Then the letters abruptly stopped, Frieda disappeared, and no one can say what happened to her.

Joining the small but motley crew of boarders at Gulls Nest, Nora seeks answers. Though WWII is several years behind them, many still suffer from its physical and emotional scars, and the consequences of events that occurred around it. Further deaths at Gulls Nest bring some to a breaking point.

Nora, herself, is a lovely character: interested in others, strong and sympathetic, as well as self-aware, noting her own transformation from cloistered nun to part of the larger world. She is inquisitive, clever, and finds people endlessly fascinating.

Gulls Nest does not have the depth, breadth, drama and fantasy elements of some of Jess Kidd’s earlier works, but this is like comparing a busy landscape painting to a small one: Gulls Nest is a more focused canvas, but with a vivid setting and quirky characters.

I hope that the advance materials, calling this the first in a series, are accurate. I would greatly like to spend more time with Nora Breen.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I unfortunately DNF'ed this at about 25%. This was just not for me at this moment. I thought Jess Kidd's writing was great, and it was incredibly descriptive, but the pacing and the tense of the novel made it feel like the story was dragging. The best thing I could compare this to is a noir detective film with the internal narration and realization Nora has. While this could be exactly what someone is looking for, I think I prefer a mystery novel that is slightly faster paced.

Super cute murder mystery- SUPER COZY and love the seaside setting. Beautifully descriptive
Thank you so much netgalley!

"The ultimate mystery is one's own self." (Sammy Davis Jr.)

Ain't that the truth? Complex, secretive, and constantly hiding our dirty laundry.

Jess Kidd has taken on a new genre here. I'm not usually a big fan of cosy novels, but then cosy novels never were inked by an author who ratchets up a storyline like Jess Kidd. Kidd puts a set of wheels on Murder at Gulls Nest and then the rubber hits the road at a fast pace.

Kidd introduces us to a bevy of strange characters who wear reflective vests flashing mystery upon themselves. It's 1954 with the prim and proper at Gore-on- Sea in Kent. But the prim and proper don't necessarily reside at the Gulls Nest boardinghouse. Just wait and see.

Nora Breen arrives with very few personal items. She's a middle aged woman who has recently left the convent after thirty years. Now most would think that Nora would be of a very complacent nature. Oh, not Nora. She's secretly trying to find out what happened to the young Freida who also resided at that convent but left for Gore-on-Sea. She and Nora corresponded continuously. Not a letter in quite a while. Nora will take it upon herself to find out why.

The inhabitants of the Gulls Nest are as feathered in secrecy as those birds. And then there is a death that visits upon them. The police think that it was a suicide. Nora thinks differently. Each resident could be a book unto themselves. But Jess Kidd places all the marbles upon Nora. Kidd keeps to the atmosphere of the 1950's with mindsets, deep conversations, and period dialogue. She also carves out Nora's witty nature and sense of humor. There's a section involving Nora with bare feet, a set of shoes, and the police station. It's a hoot.

Murder at Gulls Nest is the first in this new series. Like I always say, get in on the ground floor. This book has all the makings of more superb writing to come. If you've ever read Jess Kidd before, you know I speak truth loud and clear. Bravo, Jess Kidd.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Atria Books and to the talented Jess Kidd for the opportunity.

Jess Kidd excels at creating an environment for her stories. This novel, set in coastal Britain, gives off the mood of gulls, damp air, clouds. It is a cozy mystery, and while there is some gore, it is mostly mild.

Sister Agnes has left the monastery to find a friend, Frieda, who also left the monastery for her health. Frieda landed at Gull’s Nest, a tattered boarding house on the coast. When Sister Agnes suddenly stops receiving letters from Frieda, she feels compelled to try to find out what happened to Frieda. It’s back to being Nora Breen after 30 years as a nun.

Nora takes over Frieda’s room at the boarding house, but does not tell the other inhabitants that she knew Frieda. Her investigation begins of the rather diverse population. Stella and Teddy, newlyweds. Professor Poppy, a puppeteer. Bill, the bartender. Then there is the proprieties, Helena and her mute daughter, Dinah. We cannot forget the very domineering Irene, the housekeeper and cook.

All have taken refuge in this locale which is known for its people who come and go. All have secrets as well. Nora is convinced that Frieda didn’t just take a train out of town. Especially once murder happens at the boarding house. Murder becomes quite the theme of this house, with fingers pointing at all the occupants and then some. While the local constabulary seems to think it’s coincidental, Nora thinks otherwise and is out to prove them wrong. All the while becoming something of a companion to Inspector Rideout.

I love that this is going to be a series of books. Nora is such a pleasant, fun former nun. The time and setting are perfect for mystery and crime solving. I look forward to the next installment.


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This is Kidd's best book! The characters are kooky and heartfelt and the twists are fun, told in her signature voice. Highly recommended.

First book in a new series. The book started out feeling a bit depressing for some reason. Not sure why, maybe it was just me. I think all cozy mystery lovers will enjoy this book

Taking place shortly after WWII, Nora requests to leave her sisterhood and goes undercover to try and find out what happened to her missing novitiate. What follows is a cozy with so many twists and reveals that it seems like hard boiled thriller! Everyone has something to hide. Adding to the feel of the book is Nora herself who not only has to figure out her place outside the nunnery but also has to face her own past and secrets. the character development needed for a new series did not overshadow the mystery and plot of the book and I am looking forward to future books in this series. While the murder at Gulls Nest was solved, the mystery of Nora Breen continues!

Murder at Gulls Nest is the first in a new cozy mystery series by Jess Kidd. It is quite different from the author's others works. The story centers on Nora Breen, a former nun who has left her convent in search of a friend (also a former nun) who went missing. When Nora arrives at Gulls Nest, the bodies start piling up and she and the village inspector, Inspector Rideout must solve the case.

I really liked the atmosphere of this book. It was a little spooky and dark and I could feel the chill breeze coming off the ocean. It's set in 1950s England and I feel you really do get the ambiance of that. I liked the characters, especially Nora. Her character is slightly improbable, but I loved her personality and her never give up attitude.

The writing in this story is so much better than your typical cozy mystery. The prose is lovely and it really flows. That said, the plot can be slow in some parts and I found myself getting frustrated with the pace. But I was kept guessing until the end and didn't solve the mystery ahead of time.

I think this is a great start to the series and I look forward to more installments! Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the ARC!

Classic mystery fans should check this one out!

In the 1950s, ex-nun Nora Breen has left her convent for the seaside in Kent, England, a woman on a mission. Her friend from the convent, Frieda, has stopped writing, and Nora is convinced that her friend is the victim of foul play. Nora takes up residence at Gulls Nest, the same boarding house Frieda was staying in before she died. The other residents of Gulls Nest are eccentric, with secrets of their own, and when someone turns up dead, it’s up to Nora to solve the case.

This had the feel of a classic Agatha Christie mystery—cozy, but more so in the Christie sense than the modern day cozy mystery genre. I enjoyed the setting of this historic seaside town in England and Nora as a main character was pretty interesting. She was a fun character to follow, with a keen intellect and determined spirit, as well as a complicated backstory that we get some hints of throughout the novel. There was also a hint of a potential romance for her that I enjoyed.

Because the cast of characters is small, I did guess who the murderer was. I mean, there’s only so many people it could possibly be! But I think if you love that classic mystery vibe that you get from Agatha Christie and co., this book is gonna be for you.

This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting based off the cozy/cutesy cover. This was more of a melancholic, slow burn mystery with great atmospheric writing. In general, I think this book had a good foundation with the potential for an interesting main character and a gripping plot as the tension rise with increasing dangers, but it felt a bit too surface level for me. I wanted to explore the characters more deeply, especially the main character, as you get glimpses of how interesting she could be as a main character but she just didn't feel fully realized.

I also felt the story dragged on too long. It took until 95% to receive answers and the ending wrapped up super quickly and left me feeling wanting. This is kicking off a new series and based on this first book I don't think I'll be continuing, but I do think it has potential.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

Quirky, charming, smart! A nice cozy mystery with a welcome seriousness at heart. I loved the amateur sleuth headlining this new series, a former nun named Nora Breen who is intelligent, kind, and feisty. Great setting in a boarding house by the sea. This book has an admirably slow pace - never boring but unfolding carefully, as it to set this up for many more books to come! Highly recommend.

“In a house as beset by misfortune as this one… where deaths both sudden and violent have occurred, and mysteries abound…”

She’s a 10 but she…
- fancies herself the hero of an old-fashioned detective story, even though she has zero experience with investigative work
- stares down degenerate rakes in bars and threatens to take them outside & knock their teeth out
- accidentally finds herself three sheets to the wind by lunchtime
- bribes bedraggled young ragamuffins with sweets
- has conversations with errant seagulls named after notable members of the clergy
- isn’t quite seeing eye-to-eye with the Big Man Upstairs, despite her 30-year career as a nun

”What kind of fool throws up thirty years of dedication to solve a puzzle?”

That’s Nora Breen in a nutshell, the heroine of this delightful cozy mystery from Jess Kidd. Nora is about to walk away from her life as a nun in favor of another existence entirely—one filled with missing friends, suspicious deaths, a smuggler’s cave, and a rabbit hole filled with nearly 100 actual rabbits.

”Sometimes a little chaos is beneficial…”

I can barely find the words to express how much I loved this. Nora and her fellow characters are quirky, winsome, and charming, and the layers of mystery were artfully crafted and compelling. The early 1900s setting makes the whole thing feel rather grown-up and literary, rather than falling into the often-cheesy tropes of cozy mysteries set in the present day.

”I believe every one of us at Gulls Nest is concealing some kind of secret—I shall make it my business to find out.”

Jess Kidd has always been an auto-read author for me, and even though this genre is so different from her previous work, I didn’t doubt for a minute that she could execute it flawlessly. Her narrative voice is unlike any other, and that is as true as ever in Murder at Gull’s Nest. Five wholehearted stars.

“The blessings of the Holy Family upon you; mind how you go…”

——

A huge thank you to Jess Kidd, Atria, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"In a house like Gull's Nest, curiosity might prove fatal."

Former nun Nora Breen has picked a rather odd spot for her spell of rest and relaxation, but like the other residents of Gull's Nest, she's got a hidden agenda.

"I believe every one of us at Gull's Nest is concealing some kind of secret . . ."

And, someone is wiling to kill to keep that secret buried forever.

I've yet to be disappointed by anything Kidd writes. This one proves to be another winner, and a great start to a promising new series.

A nun goes undercover to find a missing friend; a nun puts the town womanizer in his place; a nun befriends a grumpy detective with her persistence and wit. If any of those statements intrigue you, then Nora Breen is your girl. Nora is a spunky character who I quickly enjoyed following in this mystery. The first 100 pages of this book were incredibly atmospheric and I felt instantly transported to the costal town of Kent.

Truly would love to read another mystery with Breen, Detective Rideout, and whatever cute animal she befriends next.

I’m a sucker for a good cozy mystery, and this one didn’t disappoint! Nora Breen, a former nun, leads a cast of misfits as she solves her friend’s disappearance from a British seaside boarding house. Themes of mid life reckoning, self discovery, the power of friendship, and overcoming hidden pasts. 4.5 star reading experience + the discovery of a series I’m looking forward to following.

Due out April 8

4.5
This was a perfectly plotted mystery with an entertaining cast of characters.

Sister Agnes has left the convent. When her friend, former nun Frieda, abruptly stops writing, Nora leaves her work as a nurse and nun to find her. Upon arrival in Gulls Nest, Nora keeps her past quiet so she can learn more about Frieda's housemates. She also begins prodding the local Inspector Detective, who believes her friend has simply moved on, to assist in the search for her friend. When there's a death, Nora decides she will have to head the investigation herself.

Nora is clever and delightful, and so easy to root for. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this fourth book that I have read by this author.. they all are very different.
This book takes us to a coastal boardinghouse in an English seaside town.
A nun goes undercover to find out what happened to her younger novice..Frieda, who had left the convent by orders of her doctor to go to the seaside for her ill health.
The younger nun who promised to write often.. stopped writing and Nora..the older nun, is very worried.
This was quite an entertaining and fun read.. in spite of some murders that are happening at the run down inn that Frieda stayed at and that Nora takes up residence in… along with a hand full of other residents with different ages and history’s.
Nora plays amateur detective… and it is quite amusing..

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!

Jess Kidd writes a cozy mystery? Yes, please! I loved Nora Breen and her plucky, investigative nature. I certainly hope this is a series that will continue!