This is the 2nd book in a series
The story is set in Eastbourne. It’s very cleverly written.
The characters are well developed and believable
A gripping mystery

A really good read. Enjoyed the many twists and turns in the plot and it kept me hooked. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

I don't know what I expected from this book but I was pleasantly surprised. WHEN THE DEAD SPEAK is the second in the Eastbourne series featuring investigative journalist Dee Doran and her detective boyfriend Ed Mitchell. Of course I wasn't aware of it being part of a series when I selected it, but that doesn't matter because the story suffices perfectly as a standalone. There are a few references to the previous book but nothing to lose the reader as to its direction. It is essentially a gripping whodunnit with a thoroughly entertaining plot.

When the body of Lauren Shaw is discovered laid out on the altar of St Mary the Virgin Church in Eastbourne town, Detective Ed Mitchell is called to the scene immediately. But not for the reason he expects. As soon as he enters the church, he knows that he must recuse himself of the investigation leaving his partner Rachel Lewis as SIO in his place. The scene before him has chills running through him as memories of his grandmother haunt him. And only two people knew the secret of his grandmother...one of them is standing beside him. The other is sprawled out on the church's altar.

Sixty years ago an identical murder took place in this town. Eighteen year old Mary Palmer's body was also found laid out on the altar of the same church on 5th March 1960, with the same wounds as those of Lauren. Not only that...the two women were related. Mary would have been Lauren's cousin, related through her grandmother Annabelle Shaw nee Palmer. And now the two women were murdered in the exact same way sixty years apart. Ed knows this cannot be a coincidence.

When Ed left her house this morning after she blurted out that he should move in with her, Dee knew something was different about this call-out. Rachel had just said there was something he needed to see instead of tasking him with an investigation. And then her cousin, also a journalist, Louise alerts her to the murder and its similarities to a sixty year old one. This, of course, piques her interest and despite being involved in her own investigation into the disappearance of a young Polish woman Joana Helinski, Dee can't help but wonder how the two murders relate to Ed. She waits for him to enlighten her but when he doesn't she not only becomes suspicious but angry that he doesn't trust her enough to confide in her, particularly after her disastrous marriage to the adulterous Billy.

Instead Dee continues in her investigation into Joana's disappearance whose last known whereabouts was the illustrious Aldrington Hotel to meet a gentleman some five weeks ago. She hasn't been seen or heard from since and her best friend Eliza is increasingly worried about her. But the deeper Dee delves, the more she is convinced that Joana's disappearance and Lauren's murder are linked. The two women knew each other. Lauren worked at the Aldrington, while Joana frequented there with male guests and they were also both regulars at a pub patronised by the Polish community.

When Dee shares her thoughts with Ed he is quick to disagree. While she is certain Joana and Lauren's cases are linked, he believes that Lauren's murder goes way back to Mary Palmer's six decades ago. And when she tries to get him to confide in her, he shuts down. What is it that he is keeping from her?

And then Louise calls her with the news that her paper is going to run an exclusive the following day which ties Ed to Mary Palmer's murder sixty years ago in the form of his uncle who was thought to be her murderer and in which his family had been ostracised and bullied for many years after. Ed is sure Lauren had discovered something that shone a light on who was really responsible and that was why she was killed. But could it be that both Joana and Mary's cases were tied to Lauren's murder?

WHEN THE DEAD SPEAK is a cleverly written whodunnit in a style reminiscent of Agatha Christie. But with a simple plotline and various subplots throughout there are plenty of further twists to keep the reader guessing from beginning to end. Just when you think you know who is responsible, Bugler throws us another curve to distract us. Although the plot is complex, the story is fairly simplistic in nature. There's just plenty of red herrings thrown in along the way.

I love the simplistic storytelling through the third person narrative of mainly Dee but often Ed and Louise as well. The inclusion of Emma Reed's diary excerpts from sixty years ago up until her death eighteen years later is a clever addition that brings life to the Mary Palmer aspect and a voice to the mother of man accused of murdering her. And then I loved how it is all cleverly woven together with the present story.

I honestly have plenty of series to keep me occupied and I wasn't going to add yet another to my list, but after reading WHEN THE DEAD SPEAK I feel I am now going to have to seek out the first book and follow any subsequent ones and add them to my ever growing TBR list.

A delightful read, WHEN THE DEAD SPEAK is crime fiction at its best. Part cosy part thriller, this book is simple in its "complexities" with straight forward plot that is as intriguing as it is clever. My only complaint is Dee's dismissal at the very end of the book which I found to be a tad unfair as well as her high expectations all round concerning Ed and those of Ella and Jake.

Overall, a fun quick read that can be read in one sitting. Perfect for crime fiction fans of Joy Ellis, Daisy White and J.R. Ellis.

I would like to thank #SheilaBugler, #Netgalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #WhenTheDeadSpeak in exchange for an honest review.

Captivating from the start, full to the brim of twists and turns that you just don't see coming.
The authors writing style is wonderful and grasps your attention, and the level of suspense that builds throughout the book is quite simply perfect.
I really did enjoy this book and would certainly recommend it to others.

A captivating, twisty, addictive novel! A real page turner! A gripping read, you won't be able to put down. My first Sheila Bugler book and won't be my last.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Investigative journalist Dee returned looking into the disappearance of a Polish woman. A murder occurred elsewhere similar to one that had occurred 60 years ago.

Past and present intermingled in this detailed plot line. Twists abounded. I liked how the characters grew on me. The writing kept the prose flowing smoothly. Overall, a fun read

I enjoyed the first book in the series, so I knew what to expect, and once again I was not disappointed!
This book was a thrilling read, with twists and turns galore. Recommended for anyone who loves a good read.
TB

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Having read the first book in this series I looked forward to the second one. I wasn’t disappointed, this book was just as enjoyable as the first book and takes place a few months later. I thought this was a thrilling read with a couple of sub plots that involve a murder and its similarity to one 60 years before and the disappearance of a local lady. Very likeable characters (mostly) and lots of twists and turns that I didn’t expect. Told in the past and present day and the authors writing and switching from past to present times was done seamlessly. At times the book was very tense, and had me wondering what would happen next. Overall a good follow on from the first book and I would recommend this series.

A page turner with a gripping and entertaining plot, a great cast of characters and a solid mystery.
I couldn't put it down and I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

WELL....... what can i say ....having never read anything by this author i was dubious. However this was brilliant. The characters were brilliant and the storyline just kept me wanting to read more my heart was thumping a few times as to what was going to happen next.....

Brilliant twisty thriller. Loads of action with some great characters. This is a great page turner which has left me wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I really could t get into this book. A bit slow for me and not my style. Things didn’t happen quickly enough.

3.5 really.

I'm all for twists and turns and sometimes a slow burn is great but this had so much going on it felt a little disjointed. I didn't realise this was a second book in a series, so the main character's relationship (Dee and Ed) and the deterioration of it felt strange and out of place to me. I didn't guess who the killer was but in the end I didn't really care because there was so much bouncing about it sent me in too many different directions to be thoroughly invested. Shame really, cause I thought I'd like this one.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping thriller, Dee is an intriguing lead character whose navigation of relationships and journalism is a thrill ride on the Southern coast of England

When the Dead Speak by Sheila Bugler is a twisty and addictive anachronic-style psychological thriller that drew me in right from the beginning. Narrated in third person, the present-day timeline focalises on the perspective of Dee Doran, an investigative journalist. What makes Dee’s character so compelling is not only how we see her struggling with what appears to be an impossible investigation, but also the problems she faces in her personal life. This is the second book in the series, and whilst the novel works as a stand-alone story, I'm itching to read the first book to find out what has gone on with Dee in the past. And now just when things are starting to look up for Dee, her relationship with Ed seems to take one step forward and two steps back. I loved both of these characters but at times felt like banging their heads together!

Ed is a senior detective, so when the body of a teenage girl is discovered at the local church, it seems logical that Ed would be part of the investigation. However, the case appears to be a copy-cat of the murder of a young woman who is linked to Ed’s past and he is quickly removed from the investigation. But is the murder also linked to Dee’s missing case? Dee seems to think so, but Ed thinks she’s being ridiculous. Who is right?

The past timeline has an epistolary-style narration and is told in the form of a journal left by Emma Reed, Ed’s grandmother. Emma has an incredibly sad story to tell and it is this deep level of heart-wrenching characterisation that explores exactly what it means to be human. This part of the story will leave you sobbing – so make sure you have plenty of tissues!

As the two timelines converge, and Ed faces the demons of his past, murders from both the past and present are solved - but whose? I guess you will just have to read and find out for yourself! And what happens to Dee and Ed’s relationship? Yet another strand of the story that had me sobbing! I need the next book in the series NOW!!

I would recommend this book for fans of Jane Corry, Cara Hunter, or Elizabeth Hill.

Dee Doran & Ed Mitchell #2

This time investigative journalist Dee Doran is looking into the disappearance of a young Eastern European woman. There's also the murder of a woman who had been laid out in the church. The body had been laid out in a similar position to another murder that happened sixty years ago. But back then the main suspect, Graham had been murdered. Ed has been asked to be taken off the case of the murder victim due to a family connection.

Set in Eastbourne. The plotline is complex and cleverly written with a few subplots. It's told in the past by entries in the diary that belonged to Emma Ried (Graham's mother)) sixty years ago and present day by Dee Doran. There's plenty of curve balls thrown at you. The characters are well crafted and believable. Ed is keeping secrets from Dee. Will their relationship survive? This is turning out to be a really good series. I liked this book more than the first one. A gripping whodunnit you won't want to put down until you reach the conclusion.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Canelo and the author Sheila Bugler for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sixty years since a murdered woman was found in a church; now there's another one lain out in a similar position, add to this the disappearance of a young eastern European girl and there are the makings of a complex set of threads. Are they related or are they not. The main protagonists are Ed, police detective but not allowed to work on the case because of conflict of interest (not that that stops him) and girlfriend Dee, an investigative journalist. Add to that their rather complicated and deteriorating relationship. She takes up the case of the missing girl as the police are of the opinion that she's gone off to a better job, with a bloke or something else. Dee doesn't. Everyone is chasing a missing letter, which is a diary in fact, and there are plenty of red herrings or vaguely related sub-plots to keep you trying to figure out the various characters, past and present and how they are related or not. Well written though and enjoyable enough..Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had read the previous novel in this series and enjoyed it so was looking forward to the follow on story. Great writing. Fantastic characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me enthralled. Although I did guess the culprit hence the four stars. I would definitely read her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

I previously read and reviewed I could be You by the same author so, it was a no brainer when I got the chance to read When the Dead Speak.
Once again, the story revolves around freelance journalist Dee Doran. It was great to see that she was well on the way to rebuilding her life and was now in a relationship with Ed Mitchell, the policeman who helped to save her in the previous book.
This is a standalone story which does contain a nod to the previous book.
The story revolves around the murder of Lauren Shaw and the disappearance of a young Polish woman. At face value, neither case seems connected but, Dee is determined to make sure.
This book continues with the same urgency and style as the previous and I thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the story.
Dee Doran is flawed but diligent and it would be easy to assume what decisions she may make. Those assumptions may be erroneous as her mind works differently to others and she’s less likely to follow an obvious path.
Once again, Dee’s cousin Louise is involved in the story. A journalist at one of the local papers, Louise is sure that one of Dee’s lines of inquiry is a dead end, but Dee is not convinced.
I found this book to be tense and thrilling. Sheila Bugler is excellent when it comes to building a complex story. That said, she doesn’t allow for convoluted storylines which makes for a believable thriller.
I highly recommend this book and would love to see what Dee must deal with next.

A dirty weekend at a seaside hotel. Still happens and always will. But does murder often come into the scenario and if you are thinking of seaside resorts does genteel Eastbourne come to mind?
Well it will now as Sheila Bugler sets sail with the second in her excellent Dee Doran series about the investigative journalist who has returned to live on the south coast and finds herself once again embroiled in a grisly murder. But this time it is personal and the relationship that we saw developing nicely with local detective Ed Mitchell is now under threat when Dee discovers his family has connections to the gruesome copycat murder scene in a local church.
I live in Eastbourne myself so loved the local scenes and actually found the undercurrent of threats to those carving out some sort of life in the gig economy( hotels, cleaners) very plausible as it is easy to see the local population of most seaside resorts supplemented by employees like these who often will work the long hours in hospitality and in the case of this plot become vulnerable to extra temptation to try and eek out a future for themselves or their children.
The characters are believable and I like the dynamic with the past experiences of those who have now returned to live in Eastbourne alongside those (and it is often a high majority) of those who have lived in such places all their lives. There is also an interesting journalist link with Dee's cousin Louise who works on a local newspaper and who this time becomes more integral to the plot. Keeping local newspapers going is vitally important although I am not sure the local Eastbourne Herald (on which the novel's paper is based) would like to continually have 'Murder in sunny seaside resort' as a headline every week!
Great stuff. Well written and believable plot about those you'd see around any town alongside those who are often in the shadows and yet as here are often ignored at our peril. Look forward to further Eastbourne adventures. Any downsides? Poor Dee - who does have some personal demons to deal with - always resorts to many bottles of wine. She could do with a bit of a detox!