This was a pleasant surprise! The writing was excellent, the characters all felt real and distinct, and the mystery kept me guessing till the end. I actually had to go back and reread certain chapters to check on some of the clues that were laid.

Usually I read the first book in a series before reading any further, but I didn't feel like I lost anything by starting here at book 2. I am curious which characters show up in Book 1 (like Saffron and Mullins) and I'm sure the relationship between Ally and Jayden would have been even more rewarding, but this book gave me all the feels. I definitely want to read more of this series. Emylia Hall has a wonderful way with words, and hits a lot of topics (new parenthood, difficult job market, being a widow, etc) without being over-the-top. The mystery was good as well, but the payoff was in the characters' relationships (my personal favorite being Bev with my second favorite being Phil).

At times I did think it was a bit slow - mostly the Saffron bits - but the ending picked up and I could picture the location.

The second book in the Shell House Detective series and every bit as good as the first.

The series is set in beautiful Mousehole in Cornwall, England. Ally Bright is an older, recently widowed woman who has made friends with Jayden, a younger, married, ex policeman. In the previous book they worked together to solve a murder and here they are doing the same again.

I enjoyed everything about this book. I loved the scenery and the descriptions of places I know from childhood holidays. I really like both main characters, especially since they work seriously at their investigations and do not do silly things as MCs do in many Cosies. I found the mystery and the resulting investigation to be interesting and never dull.

I hope there will be more books in the series for me to read!

This is a good cozy series: solid mystery, likeable characters and lovely setting. The plot kept me hooked and guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It’s December in Cornwall, and Mousehole harbour is illuminated with its famous Christmas lights. Ally Bright is among the crowd listening to the carol singers and then to the piercing screams that rip through the darkness. A body has been found, brutally murdered and dumped in a fisherman’s boat.
The victim is chef JP Sharpe and there is no shortage of people who might have wanted him dead. Eager for a new case for The Shell House Detectives, Ally calls ex-cop Jayden, but he’s keen to leave it to the police until a letter in Sharpe’s pocket draws them into a seemingly unconnected family mystery.
Ally & Jayden return to solve another murder, we again meet up with several characters from the first book as well as being introduced to some new ones. A well written & entertaining cosy mystery with plenty of twists & turns as well as red herrings plus I was kept guessing. I especially liked the sense of a well knit community & the mix of characters & I look forward to getting to know them even more in future books
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Having really enjoyed ‘The Shell House Detectives’ (the first instalment in this series), I was delighted to meet Ally and Jayden again, alongside the rest of the gang. The stunning setting of Cornwall never disappoints, and it is made all the more magical by Christmas and a very engaging whodunnit vibe. All characters that we met in the first novel continue to be well developed, and new characters are introduced with just as much insight into their thoughts and states of mind. Thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced read which is perfect for a nice wintry day!

The second in the Shell House Detectives series sees Ally and Jayden investigate the murder of a chef. I like the partnership and their associated friends. The beautiful and atmospheric Cornish setting is an added bonus.

In the second of this cosy crime series, it's good to be back with Ally, Jayden, Gus and Saffron in Porthpella, Cornwall, this time before Christmas. There's the murder of an unpopular restauranter and the chance to trace Saffron's unknown father. The Shell House Detectives soon find themselves with an impossible dilemma.

With a gentle pace, investment in the plot took a little time, but definitely worth it. There are several perspectives other than the main characters, which took time to come together and understand their roles as potential suspects. Short chapters with cliffhangers kept me turning the digital pages. The small community setting, with its coastal landscape, flora and fauna, along with the cast of relatable and recurring characters, makes this a warm and cosy read. I also enjoyed the way local customs and traditions are interspersed in the plot, including Tom Bawcock's Night, Stargazy Pie and Mousehole's festive harbour lights. The pace picks up in the second half, with more mystery and drama, as the culprit and those with secrets, panic. There's emotional depth as characters struggle with dilemmas and tough situations, but ultimately a happy ending for most is in sight. I look forward to where the next installment takes Ally, Jayden, Saffron and Gus.

When I first started reading this, my first impression was that it seemed cosy, comforting and festive all at the same time. I liked the cosiness of the village setting, and I thought the author brought the characters to life, in a way that made them seem likeable and relatable. I would probably like to read some more books featuring the Shell House Detectives.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Cornish-coast, ex-cop, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, small-town, crime-fiction, series, pet-dog, relationships, family-dynamics, widow, murder, mystery, investigations, investigators****

Ally Bright is the still grieving widow of former Sergeant Bill Bright whose daughter wants her to move to Australia, trying to find her place in life, and can't quite get back to her artistic use of plastic waste from the coast.
Jayden Weston is an ex-cop suffering survivor's guilt from the death of his partner, recently moved to Cornwall to live near the in-laws as he and his wife learn how to live now that they have their first baby.
Together Ally and Jayden begin working as the Shell House Detectives once again and delve into the mystery of a note in the pocket of a murdered man known in the village. They find out many things, not all of them pleasant or for town consumption. The characters are so clearly portrayed that I felt as if I had known them for years. The investigation is filled with red herrings and a few unexpected twists. I liked this one just as much as the first.
I requested and received an EARC from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.

Jayden and Ally make such a good team. Mystery to be solved, People dying and a fire too. I was entertained. I liked the cast of characters and how they all meshed together. I good story.

Its Christmas time in Mousehole and time for the famous lights to be switched on.
However soon the festivities turn to horror when a body is found.
Its the body of a well known chef and soon the Shell Detectives are in action again.

Another enjoyable book about the Shell House detectives! This is turning into a great series, and I particularly love the strong Cornish setting and community ties that weave all the characters together. I think it’s interesting the way that the book is written from the point of view of many characters, but there were perhaps a couple too many in this story, as I missed the focus on Ally and Jayden that was such a strength of the first book. There were some tantalising hints about how relationships might develop in the next book and I’m looking forward to reading it.

This is the first book I have read in this series although it is actually book 2. This didn't affect my enjoyment of it so can be read as a stand alone. However I liked it very much so will also check out the first book. The story is well written with likeable character's who feel like a family and full of complex twists and turns and the occasional red herring. There are two mysteries for the Shell House detectives to look into, One is official and the other is due to be dealt with by the police and unofficial. This results in a surprising resolution, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

An enjoyable follow-up. I'm looking forward to book 3 in this cozy Cornwall-set mystery series!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Ally and Jayden are back in the second book of the series set in Porthpello, Cornwall. Despite resolving not to get involved, the pair get drawn in to the murder of an unpopular local chef. An unsigned letter is found in the murdered man’s coat pocket sends the pair off on their own investigation.

This book has a cozy feel to it, with the character’s developing nicely. Jayden’s life has been totally changed with the birth of his and Cats daughter Jazzie, but however much he loves the pair of them, he still misses being a police officer. That said at times he comes across as a bit naive for someone with his background. I couldn’t take to Phil and his thread seemed a bit contrived. However, a nice easy read, set in a lovely location with some good characterisation.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was not only an intriguing mystery, but a wonderful novel filled with engaging, complex characters.

I did not read the first book in the series, but the author has created a community of people that the reader wants to get acquainted with. I am looking forward to encountering these folks in many more of Hall’s future books.

The Cornish setting was a treat for me because my husband’s family roots are there. And, I know little about the area.

1/5 stars: This is the second entry in Hall's Shell House Detectives series and takes place in Cornwall. Book one is The Shell House Detectives. While well-written, I have a hard time connecting with the tense used in this book. And while I really like Ally and Jayden, 9 different POVs is a little too much for me. This lead me to DNF at 23%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Festivities Hide A Fatality..
The second outing in the Shell House Detectives mystery series and a pre Christmas atmosphere has arrived in Mousehole - but amid the festivities lies a body. It’s not long before the detectives have a new case to ponder and it’s one with many threads. Another enjoyable instalment in this series with a lovely backdrop, a cast of well drawn characters and an entertaining mystery at its heart.

Lovely, laid back off-season Cornwall is the scene for The Harbour Lights Mystery written by Emylia Hall. It's the second book about the Shell House Detectives, but you can read it standalone (although you may like it as much as I did and read the first book in the series afterwards!).

December in Cornwall and there are probably more locals than tourists attending when the famous Christmas lights are turned on in Mousehole harbour.

Ally, one half of the Shell House Detectives, is watching the lights with her friend Gus and she's worrying that he may be after more than friendship. Anything that was about to be said is abruptly stopped when there is a piercing scream ripping through the darkness. Joining the crowds, Ally finds out that someone has been brutally murdered and dumped in a fisherman’s boat.

It turns out that the victim is the not so very popular chef JP Sharpe, but what has Ally and her detective partner intrigued is an unfinished letter found in Sharpe's coat pocket.

The Shell House Detectives start to investigate the letter - as murder cases really ought to be left to the police, but the investigation soon mixes with that of the police.

Suspense and a great story with (mostly) endearing characters, showing Cornwall in a non-touristy light and the locals' animosity to the emmets taking over supplying to local restaurants.

Second in this series featuring the Shell House detectives. Lots of interesting characters and a mystery or two to solve.