This book was a great armchair vacation to places I'd never be traveling (mainly because even in normal times, I'm not a travel fan). It even inspired me to look up sea tractors, the vehicle that hauled Margot and Evie across to the hotel on Tregarrick Rock.

There were so many different characters, and I got that really cool Agatha Christie type of vibe reading the book. The setting was kind of eerie at times, and everyone seemed to have secrets they were keeping--or someone knew they were keeping and were being blackmailed for said secrets. Kind of a crazy place for Evie who had just lost her husband, but Margot seemed to fit right in. She was already used to crazy Hollywood, so the island and dealing with its inhabitants didn't take a whole lot of effort on her part. Margot and police chief Patty were two of my favorite characters. Patty had a wicked sense of humor, but overall, she was good at her job.

I had a person in mind as the killer at a sort of early stage, and I was happy to find out that I was right. Reading and getting thrown off course by the red herrings is always fun though, so I wasn't too concerned if I didn't guess right. I had such a good time reading this that I didn't want it to end, and now I'm really excited to read the next book whenever it comes out.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Death at High Tide opens with Evie Mead speaking with her recently deceased, much-older husband's accountant. Evie had believed that she would be well provided for, as she and Robert lived well, and he always had lots of deals happening. On the contrary, the accountant informs her that Robert is nearly bankrupt. Evie's sister, Margot, has flown in from Hollywood to be with her, and the two discover a letter from Robert detailing a 100,000£ loan that Robert had made to a Jago Ferris. The loan collateral is a hotel on Tregarrick Rock, on one of the Scilly Islands off the coast of Cornwall. There is no sign of the loan ever having been repaid. The two sisters rush off with no notice to the owner that they are coming and why. Upon arrival, they find a very oddly decorated hotel, a mixture of beautiful Art Deco and 1970s kitsch, and a decided lack of welcome. Two murders ensue, and as outsiders, Evie and Margot are the prime suspects.

I wanted to like Death at High Tide much more than I did. The assorted characters at Tregarrick Rock are almost all unlikable, except the cat, and most of them are up to no good. The only surprise I felt about the victims was that they had managed not to be murdered before. Evie herself is the most naive 36-year-old-woman imaginable, oblivious to the fact that her sister Margot has problems of her own. The person at the bottom of it all was obvious to me at the outset. I did enjoy the setting, knowing nothing at all about the Scilly Islands.

As the body count climbs, an eerie Agatha Christ vibe takes over. An island hotel on Tregarrick Rock, off the coast of Cornwall, during the foggy offseason with only a few people in resident and you begin to realize that one by one they will die. It is now up to the author to not spill too many secrets at once. As characters are introduced, and subsequently die, you begin to narrow your suspect list, and with this, a new series by Hannah Dennison is born.

A series that introduces Evelyn (Evie) Mead, recently widowed, and her sister Margot, who is about to encounter life changes of her own. Each sister has been holding on to their secrets, but as the fog rolls in and the body count climbs, the sisters begin a quest for honesty that will bond them even tighter and give them the strength they need to set their worlds right. A world, for Evie, that involves her late husband’s financial dealings, an accounting that is trying to sort it out, and the possibility that she is the rightful owner of Tregarrick Rock. The current owner is challenging that claim, but as the layers unfold, the truth lies somewhere in the muddled mess and with the tide coming in, and a killer coming to roost, Evie and Margot have no other options than to fight for the truth, no matter where it lands them.

Who cares if some parts were a bit obvious isn’t that is what cozies entail? A simple getaway with rememberable characters and an ambiance that can be a character all its own. By the middle of the book, you begin to narrow down the suspects, a la Christie, and by this point, where the author ties up loose ends, you have realized that this series, The Island Sisters, will find a new place on your bookshelf.

Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison is the debut of An Island Sisters Mystery series. It is November in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England where Evie Mead just lost her husband, Robert to a heart attack. She is learning that her financial status is shaky, and Evie is glad to have her sister, Margot there with her. It turns out that Evie might be the owner of Tregarrick Rock which is part of the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast. Margot believes Evie needs to get away and they head off Tregarrick Rock. Evie Mead and Margot Chandler are as different as two sisters can be. Evie likes to wear comfortable clothing and is a homebody while Margot is a film producer who lives in Los Angeles and likes to wear designer clothes plus name drop. Margot is loud and outspoken. She does not hesitate to interfere in Evie’s personal affairs. However, Margot does not like Evie asking about her life. The characters lacked development. I would have liked more information on the sisters and the secondary characters fleshed out a bit more. I did feel that Death at High Tide was a slow starter with the death of Jago Ferris not occurring until the second half of the book. After Detective Sergeant Patty Williamson arrives on the island, the action begins to pick up. The police force may be small, but they are thorough. DS Patty Williamson has here eye on the two sisters and she is not about to let them head home. Evie takes matters into her own hands and begins searching for clues. She is new to the sleuthing game and makes some rookie mistakes. Evie and Margot discuss the evidence and come up with various theories. Those readers who devour mysteries will be able to solve this whodunit easily. I loved the descriptions of the Isles of Scilly and Tregarrick Rock. It sounds like a beautiful place to live despite the challenges getting there. The Art Deco hotel sounds like a gem despite the garish décor (rip out the 70s tacky and restore it to its former glory). Death at High Tide transports reader to the Isles of Scilly with pirate picture propaganda, a condescending curmudgeon, a prying patron, a secretive sister, an erratic employee, fatal fog, and temperamental tides.

I loved the setting of Tregarrick Rock a (fictional) Isle of Scilly, but I did struggle connecting with several of the characters – Margot, Evie’s sister was one of them.
Evie is grieving the death of her husband Robert, but I didn’t really feel her grief it felt a little flat despite what she is going through.
She discovers that her husband really didn’t leave all that much money and she faces losing the home, but a letter is discovered at her lawyers office that mentions should a debt not be repaid then she will be the owner of an old hotel on Tregarrick Rock. Though does the letter mean Evie or Richards first wife Joanne?

Margot I felt pressured Evie to go to Tregarrick Rock to check out the hotel and the area all on whim on the back of the letter, and when they arrive she concocts some story that they are film location scouts looking to use the island!

We are met some eclectic characters on the island, some likeable and some not so much and I loved the whole idea of the it being a locked island only accessible by a sea tractor at low tide.The murder doesn’t happen until about half way through and given that there is no way off the island or any medical or police force able to make it, Evie finds herself caught up murder, deception and a sister who seems to be keeping secrets from her. I had figured out the suspect but there were also a few things that I didn’t see coming.

Overall despite my misgivings about some characters I really enjoyed this book and I loved the wonderful setting – it reminded of a Agatha Christie novel (it might have been a Poirot one) and I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for Evie next.

The Island Sisters Series is off to an entertaining and enjoyable start with Death at High Tide.


Evie Mead is in quite a spot. Her husband suddenly dies, she finds out they’re broke, a mysterious letter from her late husband finds its way into her hands and her sister, Margot, has a crazy idea to figure things out. These two sisters are very different yet extremely hilarious together. You can tell they have a bond even though they’ve been away from each other for years.

The seaside town of Tregarrick is a unique setting. I loved the hotel, once used as a mystery writer's getaway. Even with its outdated decor it had a whimsical charm. Like most small towns, everyone knows everyone and the inhabitants of this town make up a colorful cast of unique, strange yet entertaining individuals. There are many secrets floating around and when several murders occur within a short time, checking out a simple hotel becomes something much more complicated.


This is my first read by Author Hannah Dennison and I will admit I am pleasantly surprised. The characters had a lot of personality, layers and a bit of mystery to the. The setting is amazing with just a touch of a gothic feel. Winter seas can do that. Lol. The story was well paced and entertaining. The mystery was well plotted and I honestly hadn’t figured out who had actually done it. This is one of those stories that will suck you in and before you know it you have finished the book in one sitting. Evie and Margot are an interesting pair and I look forward to seeing what interesting situations these two will find themselves in.

3.5 stars

Death at High Tide has the feel of an Agatha Christie mystery in many respects, but almost in caricature. In fact it reminds me more of an old Tim Conway / Don Knotts movie – Private Eyes – where all the characters are more than a little “off” and none are especially likable. The closed room nature of the vividly drawn setting (an eccentric Art Deco hotel on an isolated island only accessible when the tide cooperates) definitely gives the book a boost of interest, as do the closely guarded secrets of its inhabitants. While the only character I found consistently engaging was killed off in this first book, I’m still curious as to where the series will go from here. Fans of British cozies should give this one a try for sure!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that this book does contain more cursing & coarse language than is typical for this genre.

Death at High Tide (Island Sisters Mystery #1) is the new mystery from Hannah Dennison. First, let's give praise for the gorgeous cover! I know not to judge a book only by its cover but the cat and the spooky coastal setting grabbed my attention and made me want to try this book. And am I glad the content lives up to the gorgeous cover.

Our story begins as Evie's husband suddenly dies of a heart attack. Devastated, Evie with her sister Margot, visit her husband's accountant. While there, the secretary gives Evie a mysterious note that indicates that Evie may own the rights to an old hotel on Tregarrick Rock, one of the Isles of Scilly.

Evie and Margot decide to get away for fun and explore the old hotel (really Margot) and let's just say it is an adventure. Bad weather, cranky and quirky locals, treacherous crossings all await them as they try to get to the hotel. Once there, they realize they don't have a reservation after all and there is definitely more to the story. After 2 bodies are found, we know there is MUCH more to the story. Evie and Margot are the outsiders and obvious prime suspects so Evie will do her best to figure out who the murderer is and what it has to do with her and her husband.

Although I figured out pretty early who the killer was, I still enjoyed the story and the mystery. Evie, Margot, and all the other very interesting characters made it an enjoyable read. Highly recommend!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To tell the truth, I found this book a bit hard to get into. The characters and the scenes jumped all over the place. I do believe with some changes it could be an excellent book. I especially did not like Margot, she is entirely too bossy and secretive. I'm sure there are many out there that will love it. Enjoy! 📚

Rating: 3 Scillonian Stars

When I requested this book from NetGalley, I thought I was getting a light-hearted cozy mystery with a pair of sweet senior citizen sisters. What I received was a closed-door mystery with middle-aged sisters who come from very different worlds. As it turns out, that was fine with me.

This book reminded me of Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’. Recently widowed Evie Mead, and her Hollywood Producer sister Margot travel to the island of Tregarrick. Evie’s recently deceased husband may have claim to a hotel on this remote island in the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall. Since the seemingly rich Robert left Evie penniless, Margot urges Evie to scope out this new potential source of income. The Scillonians (Scilly residents) are wary of the two sisters when they arrive. It is not a great cover story, but Margot introduces them as film producers who are scouting for a location for a new ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie set to be filmed in the Isles of Scilly.

Tregarrick can only be reached by boat, or by sea tractor at low-tide. Hence the closed-door aspect of the mystery. The murder of a local on the remote island did not happen until about halfway through the book. There was lots of time spent introducing the sisters and their respective backgrounds; describing the Isles of Scilly and its history; describing the remote rundown family owned hotel on Tregarrick; and introducing the other various characters found on the island. The setting of the scene was good, but it meant that not much mystery action took place until deep into the book.

Even though I had puzzled out who the murderer was, and what their motivation was before the end of the book. I still found this to be an enjoyable read. It is not up to Miss Marple standards. However, those are high standards! This book was intriguing. It has prompted me to look out for the next book in the series when it is published.

I would recommend this to patient readers of quasi-cozy mysteries. I have a hunch that this sister duo has more capers up their sleeves. I want to read about their next adventure.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

Death at High Tide is the first installment of Dennison's new series featuring two sisters running a historic Cornwall hotel. The story is well-plotted and descriptions of the natural setting contribute to the overall eerie. melancholic tone of the novel. Dennison skillfully combines just the right amount of suspense with "signposts" of the cozy genre that readers will enjoy.

Evie Mead is suddenly dealing with several revelations at the unexpected death of her husband. That he died of a heart attack – a here-to-fore unknown condition – is merely the overture. He died virtually penniless. She will most likely lose her home. It seems, however, that she does have ownership of an old hotel on some remote island off the coast of Cornwall.

Thanks to the intervention of her sister, Evie finds herself making the somewhat dubious trek to Tregarrick Rock, to find out more about what her sister Margot thinks is an exclusive spa resort.

What the sisters find instead is a far cry from Margot’s vision. An owner that insists he’d repaid the loan that would have lost him the hotel. A village that claims they know nothing. And more questions than they could possibly find answers for. But answer them they must as the discovered of two murders in succession has the fingers of suspicion pointing directly at Margot and Evie.

Dennison’s talent at weaving mystery into the storyline is clear from the start. There are many secrets on Tregarrick for the sisters to uncover, even though most of the island’s inhabitants would do everything in their power to keep them hidden.

Death at High Tide is the perfect story to begin a new cozy series. While Evie isn’t entirely likable – her way of acquiescing to those around her quite grated on me right from the start – she is still an engaging type, and her story impels the reader to persevere. I found her sister to be almost a caricature – which isn’t all bad – but I also knew early on that all was not as it seemed. As we meet others of the residents of Tregarrick, we become further invested, questioning each character’s involvement as Dennison pulls you along to the conclusion. Unexpected, yet at the same time, there is a feeling of “of course!” as she lays out the trajectory of the narrative. It’s a totally fitting ending, however, and I look forward to the next entry in this series.

[I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the author, though I was not required to write a review. The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]

A serviceable cozy mystery, with a moderately interesting (although formulaic) mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

Death at High Tide by Hannah Dennison is the first in a new Island Sisters Mystery series in which newly widowed Margot has just discovered that her deceased husband was deeply in debt and she may walk away without even a place to live. The only thing that may be salvageable is a hotel on an island off Cornwall. She and her sister, Evie go to explore the possibilities and run into a nest of problems so convoluted as to be almost beyond repair. There they discover secrets long hidden that they are almost undiscoverable. Peoples' lives are at stake as well as Margot's livelihood. This is an amazing mystery and interesting story.

Dennison always presents a good novel. This one is so far out of most peoples' purviews that it is interesting simply for the descriptions of the settings, more natural and man-made. She was written excellent characters that absolutely feel like someone the reader knows. It is not really a cozy mystery but it has elements of that genre. It is lovingly honed into a novel of such depth that one is almost able to forget that they are not there in the middle of it. Interesting plot, interesting characters, wonderful setting, fully described. This is an excellent introduction to these two sisters and what they plan to do with their loves. Excellent. I recommend it.

Death At High Tide is the first book in the Island Sister Mystery series.

Evie’s husband has recently died from a heart attack, and after meeting with their accountant, she learns that she is broke and may have to sell the house to have any money at all. But there has been a note found where her husband had loaned Jago Ferris money, and Ferris had given his hotel on Tregarrick Rock, one of the Isle of Scilly, as collateral. Soon Evie’s sister, Margot, arrives to console her sister. Margot lives in Los Angles and works in the movie industry, which she’s not ashamed to flaunt. Margot finally convinces Evie that if she is to inherit the hotel, they should plan to spend the weekend there.

They’re both deflated when they arrive. It is far from the beautiful spa they were expecting. The hotel is in the Art Deco era with well-used 1970s furnishings.

Evie will meet with Jago, where he will deny knowing her husband or anything about the note. She sees pictures of her husband, his first wife, and Jago hanging in Jago’s office. The next day, Evie is out looking for Margot, who has gone for a walk and comes upon Jago’s lifeless body. Since Evie and Margot are unknown to the area or the police, they immediately become the primary suspects. Evie and Margot will have to do some investigation to clear their names. They will soon be considering almost everyone at the hotel for wanting Jago dead. Well, except for Mr. Tig, the hotel’s tuxedo cat.

The book is well-written and plotted. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. Most of the characters are interesting and well-developed. I had a problem with Evie and Margot. Evie seemed too mousey and would have to become stronger if she were to manage the hotel. I thought Margot was a prima donna for most of the book, but by the end was a much better person.

I’m looking forward to learning what will happen with the hotel and how Evie and Margot will be involved.

Newly-widowed Evie and her sister Margot are taking a weekend holiday on a small island off the coast of Cornwall. Evie discovers the body of the owner at the bottom of the cliff. Was he pushed or did he jump?

I loved that the description of the hotel included rooms named after writers from the golden-age of mystery and a brief description of a collection of first editions for those same writers. I would love to stay at this hotel (except for the fact that everyone who lives or works there is mysterious and a little scary!)

This mystery is written in first person and is fast-paced with an atmospheric location (almost Gothic) and really interesting characters. I look forward to more in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy for review.

A wonderful whodunnit debut filled with mystery and just the right amount of suspense. I loved it, and I can't wait for what's next in the series. The details, and build up of the story line was written carefully, and incredibly. I loved all the details, and characters, Definitely recommending this one, and I can't wait to read it again before the next installment comes out to the world!

3.5 stars!
Evie’s husband has passed away suddenly. Her sister, Margot, has flown overseas from Los Angeles to help her with the arrangements. When Evie discovers that her husband died broke when he was supposedly very wealthy, she is taken aback. She is even more surprised when she learns that her husband has left behind a hotel for her in his will. The sisters set out to scope out Evie’s new property on the isolated Tregarrick Rock, an island that can only be reached when the tide is low. They end up entangled in a murder mystery when the hotel’s proprietor is found murdered after he refuses to honour Evie’s new ownership.

This is a modern whodunnit murder mystery for fans of Agatha Christie. The cast of characters at the hotel are quirky and I enjoyed Margot and Evie’s banter. The length is great as it’s a short and fast paced story that picks up quickly after Dennison expertly sets the atmosphere and setting. It’s easily read but I did find the twist a bit unbelievable which bumped it down to 3.5 stars for me. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this fun read!

When Evie’s much-older husband dies, leaving her in financial straits but with the potential inheritance of a hotel in the Isles of Scilly, her glamorous sister Margot persuades her to take a weekend trip to scope out her legacy. But the hotel isn’t quite the luxurious, welcoming resort the sisters envisaged, and soon its faded charms are marred by murder.

Death at High Tide pulled me in immediately, and kept me turning the pages. It’s a great set-up for the series, introducing us to Evie, Margot, and several other characters who I suspect will become series regulars, including a possible love interest and the island’s female police constable. Dennison excels at creating believably quirky characters, and the island has its share, from perennial guest Lily and her cat Mister Tig to the local vicar and the aforementioned constable.

Tregarrick Rock itself is wonderfully atmospheric, and I found myself wishing I could go there to experience the hotel’s lush gardens and windswept isolation for myself. High tide cuts the hotel from the nearby island and village of Tregarrick, adding to the locked-room (locked-island?) suspense as first one, then another character falls victim to an unknown killer. The mystery plot is well-constructed, and Dennison’s sure hand makes sure the pacing doesn’t falter. But it’s the characters and setting that really make Death at High Tide shine. I’m already looking forward to the next book, and Evie’s further adventures on the island of Tregarrick.

Evie was living a good life as the second wife of Robert Mead....that is until he drops dead of a heart attack and Evie finds out there was much about her very rich husband she didn't know. To start with it turns out he left her broke. Then a letter surfaces, the classic "to be read in case of my death" sort of missive. It's a good thing that Evie's sister Margot has flown from LA to support her sister in her time of need. The letter tells her that he loaned somebody a whole lot of money and took a hotel as collateral for the loan. Now it's hers. Margot it ready to go see it even though it is on Tregarrick, a remote island in the Scilly island chain 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall. Even calling it a birders paradise and that its climate resembles the French Riviera - it's still remote. But off the sisters go to see what Evie has inherited. And then the fun begins.
The sisters want to check it out without tipping their hand but that plan falls apart and the hotel owner insists that he is the owner and never heard of her husband. If so, why are there photos of him in the man's office? Well one thing leads to another, a murderer strikes and Evie and Margot, as outsiders, have to investigate or take the rap for the crimes.
This is a classic locked room mystery as the island keeps them prisoner at high tide. The killer is amongst them. The puzzle is well plotted and the various island residents are a colorful lot. The banter between Evie and Margot is great with Margot taking the lead from the start when poor Evie is stunned by the sudden shambles of her life. I have already added the next book in the series, Danger at the Cove due out August 17, 2021, to my must be read list.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.