The Shell House Detectives are back in what I think is their most layered and emotionally gripping case yet!

Emylia Hall masterfully layers intrigue, with rumours of buried bones and a land curse adding depth to the central mystery. The tension simmers beneath the surface, never quite what it seems, keeping the reader guessing with every chapter.

The story opens with a prologue that immediately piques intrigue (why so clandestine? who is it?) before settling into Ally’s reflections on a cherished summer visit from her daughter Evie and grandson. Jayden, too, is adjusting to life with his growing family, (Jasmine is now 20 months old)—a detail that adds warmth and realism to his character. But their personal moments soon give way to a new case when Russell Tremaine is found trampled in a field of bullocks. Though the police rule his death an accident, his father, Shaun, suspects otherwise and turns to Ally and Jayden for answers.

Shoreline Vines is a vineyard with a complicated past. When prospective investor Celine Chevalier arrives, I gained a different perspective on the owners and had lots of questions! As always with this series, I tried to figure out the answers and although partly right about one thing, way off the mark with another … the conflict in one situation doesn’t lay far below the surface but even that isn’t as straighforward as it looks.

Beyond the mystery, this story delivers emotional depth that really tugged at my heartstrings. I’m so invested in the community! Without spoiling too much, Wilson and Saff’s storyline had me on tenterhooks —I almost made it to the end without tears, but one moment undid me. Emylia Hall is so clever at layering emotions, proving once again why this series is so compelling.

What makes this novel particularly stand out for me is how much the Shell House Detectives have grown—not just with their confidence in their skills, but in their standing within the community. This time, the police aren’t dismissive; instead, Ally and Jayden find themselves working alongside them. Ally’s detective instincts truly shine in this instalment, her determination and sharp eye leading to some truly shocking revelations. The case is riddled with twists and turns, each reveal more satisfying than the last.

The Death at the Vineyard is a thrilling, unputdownable read. With its intricate storytelling, suspenseful twists, and emotional resonance, it cements The Shell House Detectives series as a must-read. And with that intriguing hint about Broady’s brother, I can’t help but wonder—has Emylia Hall already set the stage for their next case? I, for one, can’t wait to find out.

Emylia Hall delivers another fabulous mystery, weaving family secrets, shocking betrayals, and the ever-evolving dynamic between Ally, Jayden, their loved ones and the community.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series, and I was able to read as a stand-alone. I really liked the characters and their interactions. The mystery was complex, and I loved the setting. I was pulled into the story and couldn’t put it down.

The fourth book in the Shell House Detective series delivers another atmospheric cozy mystery. Ally and Jayden are back, this time tackling a missing quad bike, a man trampled under mysterious circumstances, and a missing book. The story weaves together past and present mysteries centered around the family that owns Shoreline Vines.

Curl up with a blanket, a glass of wine, and the soothing sound of the ocean, and join the close-knit community of Pothepella as they dig deeper into the secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth in the series, ‘The Shell House Detectives’, featuring Jayden and Ally as an unlikely yet totally believable pair of amateur detectives. It’s not necessary to have read the previous books in the series but it’s worth doing so because each of the characters have their own story arc, not just Ally and Jayden. The crimes take place in Cornwall, a popular setting, which Emylia Hall has captured well, showing both its beauty and its darker aspects. Death in the Vineyard ties together a young man trampled by cattle and events which occurred decades earlier. It’s darker than the previous books but the warmth and humour remain and it was a joy to revisit Porthpella and its residents. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

My thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased independent review.

This is a solid book and I will surely recommend it even if it's not my fav in this series. Well plotted, entertaining
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the Fourth book in the series which is developing into a must read for me. It has suspense, intrigue, murder of course but also other mysteries are there to be solved too. This one did feel complicated and perhaps a little darker than the others but still an interesting cosy read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fabulous. Fourth in the series, which goes from strength to strength - although you don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy this, I'd recommend them highly.

Ally and Jayden, the Shell House Detectives, are hired by Shaun to investigate his son's death - he was terrified of cattle, so why would he have gone into the field willingly and been trampled to death? The Harpers, who own the land, think he was trying to steal their equipment. But when Ally and Jayden investigate, they find a lot of secrets in the vineyard, including an old murder, love affairs and tangled family relationships.

The relationship between Ally and Jayden is fabulous - they're friends as well as business partners, and Ally feels like a favourite aunt. The relationships with other villagers - including Ally's neighbour Gus, the coffee-shop owner Saffron, and the local police - are beautifully drawn. It feels like a real community, and the twists and turns of the plot are very well done - very believable.

This series is an utter joy. Clever, warm and beautifully written.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the ARC.

Ally and Jayden are the shell house detectives they make the unlikeliest duo but their combined skills make them great at private detecting .
Shaun a reclusive older man asks the agency to investigate the death of his son .
The death is ruled as an accident by trampling of cattle as he was found in a field full of them , but he was afraid of cattle and would not have walked in to the field willingly .
The field is owned by the Harper family who also own the vineyard Shoreline vines , they’re expecting an influential investor and the death of a man in their field is not helpful.
The writing is excellent the story moves at a fair pace .
I like the dynamic between Ally and Jayden and all the characters are amiable it’s like meeting up with old friends .
The series gets better and better .
Highly recommended!
Looking forward to the next shell detectives case .
Thanks to a NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

In the fourth Shell House Detective mystery Ally and Jayden are hired by Shaun, a reclusive, elderly man who doesn't accept that his son's death was an accident. The dead man was trampled to death by cattle, an unlikely scenario according to Shaun who says his son was deathly afraid of the animals and would never have gone into the field willingly. The detectives, one a former policeman and the other the widow of a policeman, are initially skeptical of Shaun's claim but feel sorry for the old man and agree to look into the case. What they find is a convoluted puzzle that requires all their skill and diligence to untangle - including the secrets of the close-knit owners of a vineyard where a body may have been be buried years ago. Other things are hidden as well - love affairs, a mother who favors one son over the other and a mysterious investor in the vineyard. Subplots involve Saffron, owner of the local coffee shop and a talented chef and the developing relationship of Ally and Gus.
Hall creates believable characters who interact wonderfully with one another. Add to that, beautiful descriptions of the Cornish coast and you have a winning combination.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC.

The Death at the Vineyard is book #4 in the Shell House Detectives Mystery series by Emylia Hall.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I was able to read as a stand-alone. I really liked the characters and their interactions. The mystery was complex and I loved the setting. I was pulled into the story and couldn’t put it down. I have added the first 3 books to my Christmas list. I definitely want to catch up on this series.

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

When I decided to request this AND read the first three, I knew I was taking a huge risk as I have been seriously burned by this practice before [and yet, here we are LOL], but the [vague] premise I read seemed right up my alley, plus CORNWALL [Oh how I miss the TV show "Doc Martin", my first introduction to the magnificence that is Cornwall], so I jumped in. Boy am I SO glad I did. What a ride these first four books have been.

1. I absolutely love Ally and Jayden. I love that their relationship is NOT romantic [SO REFRESHING], even though they love and respect each other [plus, Ally could be Jayden's Mom ya know?]. I love that Jayden is devoted to his family [including his in-laws that quite often do not understand him], but also to the jobs that he and Ally are hired to do. I also appreciate how Jayden's wife [sadly, I currently have old lady brain and cannot remember her name] supports him completely all while expecting [and getting] him to do what he needs to do at home. It is a very real example of what a relationship is and I am here for it.

2. I am 100% behind how the author has dealt with Ally's grief. Grief is NOT linear and y0u never know when and how it will strike/manifest and how Ally navigates this is very true-to-life and it has been so refreshing. Ally and Jayden using Bill's old office for their detective work in this one shows this and also shows how far Ally has come, even from Book 1.

3. Gus. <3

4. Saffron. I love her and her very real, chaotic, complicated life. What she does and how she reacts to all of it feels very real to me and makes for an even more enjoyable reading experience. I want only the best for her as she has had quite the life so far.

5. WHOOOSH, this mystery was...W O W.
From the very beginning to that VERY CHILLING end [GREAT. GOOGLY. MOOGLY.], this was just fantastic and, while I had glimmers of what was going on, I never had the full picture [I mean, who would IYKYK] until the reveal and GGM, I think I held my breath for a good portion of all that.

6. Book 3 saw a change in narrators and I was initially not a fan. Thankfully, in this book, she has seemed to settle in [as have I] and while I don't yet love her narration, it didn't affect me [or my experience reading the book] like it did in Book 3 and I feel like it will just continue to even out and I'll settle fully in.

If you are looking for a new excellent mystery series with great characters and a fantastic setting, I highly recommend this one; you won't be sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley, Emylia Hall, Kristin Atherton - Narrator, Thomas & Mercer, and Brilliance Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

At Shoreline Vines, high on the Cornish cliffs, the Harper family are preparing to welcome glamorous investor Celine Chevalier to their vineyard. They desperately need Celine’s backing to keep their business afloat. But everything is jeopardised when a body is found in one of their fields. Police believe the death was a tragic accident but the victim’s family suspect otherwise and turn to the Shell House Detectives to investigate.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed it as Jayden & Ally are the main focus of the book, I’m loving their relationship & how it is changing albeit slowly. A well written murder mystery that kept me guessing, yes there were twists, turns & red herrings, which all added to the enjoyment. Roll on book five
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emylia Hall for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Death at the Vineyard coming out November 15, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the other books in the series. I really love cozy mysteries. I thought the setting was perfect. I thought the mystery was really good. Ally and Jayden were a fun duo. There were a couple parts of the book that were a little slow for me, but overall, I really enjoyed it. I would check out other books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

The fourth book in the Shell House Detectives Mystery series and I have read them all.

A dead body found at a Cornish vineyard is ruled an accident by the police but the victim's father refuses to believe this and asks Ally and Jayden to investigate. It certainly is an original method of killing someone - trampled to death by cattle. It is an interesting case and our intrepid duo get themselves mixed up in some danger.

I enjoyed the Cornish setting, the friendly relationship between Ally and Jayden, and especially the mystery which is complicated. I liked seeing Jayden getting help and information from the police. This book furthers Ally and Gus's relationship - a little bit anyway!

A fun, easy and entertaining read with red herrings aplenty and some exciting dangerous moments in the climax of the story. Another excellent book in this series.

When Ally and Jayden are asked to look at the loss of a quad bike from Shoreline Vines, because the owners do not think it’s worth worrying the police about, they do not expect to turn up to find the police already there. But, the police aren’t there about the quad bike, there is a body in the field and the man has been trampled by the cattle in the field.
Initially looking like a tragic accident the father of the dead man asks Ally and Jayden to work out why his son was ever in the field as he was very scared of cattle.
An enjoyable read with plenty of twists and turns, and an unexpected one right at the end too.

This book felt like it just elevated this entire series back to it's best. The structure of this mystery is really well done. And we finally have a return to focusing on Ally and Jayden for most of the book, which is something I found lacking in the prior two books. The series is definitely at its strongest when the protagonists are the main focus. The way in which Ally is written in this book is just amazing.

What a great setting for this mystery. And when you include the characters we're introduced to for this mystery, this book has a slight Gothic feel. I found the atmosphere from both setting and characters rich and even chilling at times. This book is much darker than the other books so far in the series. It's a book I found hard to put down and in fact I forced myself to stay up until some ridiculous hour to complete the final page.

What the author has also done in this book is stretch the two protagonists further with their investigative skills, which after four books you could even say is somewhat late, but at least the growth felt natural and not forced. I liked the use of Bill's old office as a new base of operations - it was a sweet touch in the book. Something lighter on the cosy side to balance with the darker mystery.

And I think that's what made this book so enjoyable as well. The balance with cosy and mystery was perfect.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc. I loved this cosy book which had mystery, heart and good writing. The perfect relaxing crime read.

I thought the first few chapters were a bit confusing due to the number of characters introduced. However, once the plot got going all was well. These Shell House books are a departure from a typical police procedural and require considerable suspension of reality to accept the amateur detective premise. Nevertheless, Emylia has created some sympathetic characters and you can’t help but hope for there success in solving the mystery.

Cornish-coast, mystery, small-town, ex-cop, detective, series, suspense, crime-fiction, local-gossip, local-history, local-legends, investigators, investigations, vineyard, survivor-s-guilt, cold-case, missing-persons, thefts, artist, murders, relationships, relatives, pet-dog****
Ally Bright is the still grieving widow of local Sergeant Bill Bright who has turned into an artist using plastic waste from the coast.
Jayden Weston is an ex-cop suffering survivor's guilt following the murder of his partner and lives near the in-laws as he and his wife adapt by turning campsite managers.
Together, they have become the Shell House Detectives who are on call by their friends and relatives and makes them feel right. This starts with the theft of an expensive vehicle, shifts gears to the body of a local who appears to have been trampled by cattle. Investigation leads to a cold case of a missing person and a whole lot more. it's the characters who keep bringing me back to this series as they are so very real and I stay interested in how they feel and what happens to them.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Nov 15, 2024
#TheDeathattheVineyard by @EmyliaHall #AShellHouseDetectivesMysteryBk4 #ThomasAndMercer
#NetGalley #CozyCrime

"'A punishment?' Ally's brow wrinkles. 'Did Frank hold himself responsible for the death?'.
'Are you asking me if he killed someone?' Shaun looks from one to the other. His eyes are red-rimmed and bleary, his voice slightly slurred. 'Yeah, I reckon he did.'...
Frank Harper killed someone, and the body's buried at the vineyard."

Book 4 of The Shell House Detectives Mystery series sees Ally and Jade investigating a sudden violent death on a farm and vineyard. It results in a cold case and uncovering secrets the family want to keep hidden.
I always enjoy this series, with its Cornish setting, returning and new characters, but I think this is my favourite so far!