Although this turned out to be the third book in a series it was perfectly easily read as a stand alone. Based in Brittany and the UK the main character is Mila a young English woman who has moved to France and taken on the care of her French stepsister's 15 year old daughter and her detective agency. The stepsister and her husband were suddenly lost at sea. There are lots of intertwined plot strands which slowly but surely become disentangled during the course of the book but serve to maintain interest in the story. I enjoyed the book enough that I intend to go back and read the previous two books. Hopefully this will serve as a good recommendation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The Sea House is the third book in the Toussaints Detective agency series by Louise Douglas. I have read the first book in the series, so I was interested to reveal this episode in the series.
When Elizabeth Quemener died her lawyers contact The Toussaints agency to help with her last request. Find Astrid Oake and give a small parcel that has been left in her will for her. But who is Astrid Oake and where is she?
Let me first say this is not a bad book. But for my personal preference I found this quite slow. I did also think that the story is some instances went off the track of the main aim of the storyline. I found that I only started getting totally engaged in the last 30% of the book. Which had a surprising ending. 3.5 stars from me.

"The Sea House" by Louise Douglas is the sequel to "The Summer of Lies", and continues the story of Mila's life and work in Morranez, Brittany. While the Toussaints agency tries to track down the heir to an inheritance there are more developments in the case of Ani's late parents. There are contrasts in people and places which are described atmospherically. We have Ani and her young friends heading towards adulthood and some dark and disturbed/disturbing characters at the other end of the spectrum. Then there is a lovely coastal seaside town in Brittany contrasting with a run down farmhouse in a bleak area of the North Yorkshire Moors. This is a page-turner of a novel, but it doesn't feel as though we have got to the bottom of the mystery of Charlie and Sophie's final days.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Louise and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Sea House before the publication date.
I have read a number of books by the author and have enjoyed each one.

Louise has created a number of believable characters, flaws and all. Ceci, in particular, sounds like the very essence of an elegant, sophisticated French woman.

Set in France and the north of England, Louise has described the scenes so well that the reader feels they are present. Without giving away any spoilers, there was more than one chapter which was so atmospheric that I wanted to shout ‘run’.

I think that it is telling that the book includes a section of helpful suggested book club questions at the end.

When I finished the last book I read by Louise Douglas, my review ended like this:

“... unless... this is set up for a sunny sequel?”

When I downloaded this one, I didn’t actually realise that this was that sequel, and it’s the third in this series.

Mila and Carter, The Touissants Detective Agency, are tasked with tracking down Astrid Oake, a long lost recipient of a small parcel, bequeathed by a recently passed local lady. What they discover is that the quiet Elisabeth had lived her life in fear, but of what? Or whom?

This is a brilliant read, I loved the setting, I feel like I’ve caught up on anything I had missed in terms of character development from not having read book one and am really getting to know Mila and her family now. There is plenty going on aside from the main case and I was as invested in finding Astrid as Mila was!

I can’t wait for the next one!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Louise Douglas and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading books by louise, this was an emotional. I was immersed in the story and felt a bond with the characters . I look forward to reading more

I do like Louise's books and think she is a writer more people should know about. This is a quality story and has lots of layers and excellent characters. The storyline is enticing and the overall feel of the book just lovely and thoughtful. Love a house of secrets!

Having read the previous books in this series I was keen to read this and catch up with previous characters. The setting of Brittany is once again joyful and the characters felt like long lost friends that I was catching up with.
However for me, this had a weaker plot as sadly there was a lot of focus on the characters and the developments in their lives and not so much attention given to the investigative plot. This was a real shame as the investigation was intriguing. Equally, learning the developments about the characters was also intriguing reading and I feel like this could have been improved if Douglas had picked to focus on one plot thread over the other.
I still enjoyed this read and look forward to any future instalments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

I didn't realise it when I chose this book that it the sequel to The lost notebook that I enjoyed a few years ago. I was very pleased to carry on Mila's story and read more about the Touissant agency. There were many unexpected twists in this novel and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

An intriguing book full of twists and turns as it journeys back and forth over a varied timeline. I loved the way it contains several interconnected story lines. A great read

An intrigue running deep in the past. Enjoyed the slow unravelling of the mystery and the ending. Not saying any more.

I loved this book. I hadn’t read the previous ones in the series but it didn’t matter. It was very clever in that it didn’t focus on the murder investigation, A slow build with a tense conclusion. The only thing I didn’t like was the abrupt ending which I presume leads to the next in the series.

What a sensational book this is, with a plot that unrolls like clockwork, and simmering tension that never lets up. Betrayal, double-crossing and the most delicious sting in the tail... I couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a read and such an improvement in Louise Douglas’s writing since the earlier novel of hers that I had read, which was good, but not even close to the caliber of this book.

This was the third in the Toussaints Detective Agency series, I had not read the first two and this did not matter, however, I will now be looking to read both of these and the next book in the series to follow.

Mila is now working for the Toussaints Detective Agency. They receive a bequest from Elizabeth Quemener, that on her death to place a parcel into the hands of Astrid Oake, or if unable to locate her, bury it unopened in her own grave. Here starts the mystery of who is Astrid Oake and makes you wonder, where on earth could she be?

Whilst the investigation is ongoing, other mysteries are afoot as her sister’s partner is found deceased and it would appear not by natural causes. Mila is trying to look after her niece, Ani, after her sister and her partner’s demise, and coming to terms with a new lifestyle in France, albeit her fiancé is back in the UK and wanting her to return.

The story explores the lives of the family and friends, the detective work investigation with the unravelling of many different threads, then a sinister turn as Mila and Ani’s safety are suddenly under threat.

This story just kept giving, and there was so much to absorb and keep you interested that the pages just kept turning until everything comes to a head, no spoilers given but wow, you will be gripped! Very clever writing for you to live in the story, rather than to just read the words.

If you want all the ends tied up then this isn’t for you, most are, but we are left with baited breath for the next in the series. I would thoroughly recommend this book and a 4 star read from me.

Very much looking forward to the next one. Thank you Louise Douglas!

Mila is still in Brittany looking after her niece Ani, putting her life with her fiancé, Luke and her job in England on hold, following the events ar sea that claimed the life of her step-sister Sophie, and possibly also Charlie. She has also taken over Sophie’s role in the Touissants detective agency.

Touissants is tasked by the lawyer representing the estate of Elisabeth Quemener who has left instructions in her will for a small parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The only problem is that nobody knows who she is. There is just one clue, a picture of the two women, when younger, with Elisabeth’s daughter as a young child..

Following a search of Elisabeth’s house, all Mila finds is proof of how scared she was.. the more Mila tries to look into finding Astrid, the less she finds.
A very well written book and as good as, if not better than the first two books in the series. I could hardly put it down, there is so much going on.

The Toussaint detective agency receive a strange request, a lady has died and left instructions for a mysterious package to be delivered to an Astrid Oakes. The search takes Mila around the UK and delving into the deep dark past of both women and their families. We also discover more around the puzzling deaths of her Stepsister Sophie and her husband Charlie.
I didn't realise this was the 3rd book in a series but it didn't alter my enjoyment of the book. I had read the first installment The Lost Notebook so I already knew the characters.
Louise Douglas is a go to author for me, her characters and their lives are relatable. I love the French village and descriptions of the relaxed lifestyle.

I have read all of Louise Douglas work. She is the master of simple yet engaging stories. I loved the setting of this novel and the characters were really engaging. I love the air of mystery that seems to be a common theme. Very well written and I look forward to her next story.

Thank you to the author, publishers Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of this excellent book.

This is the third book in the Mila Shepherd series. Mila has left London and is currently living in a small village in Brittany. Her halfsister and her brother-in-law have recently died in a boating accident. Mila has taken over raising their daughter and has joined her stepmother's detective agency. The agency has been approached by a local lawyer to find Astrid Oakes. She's been left a small bequest but the lawyer's office has been unable to trace her. All that seems to exist of her is a photograph of her and the deceased in their teens. In the midst of that search new details are discovered about her half sister's accident.

This is an excellent, well crafted book. Eventhough I had not read the previous works in this series, I was able to follow along just fine. I will be definitely reading the early two books. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
When Elisabeth Quemener dies, she leaves a mysterious parcel. There is one stipulation-it can only be delivered to Astrid Oake. The problem is no one knows who Astrid is. Mila Shepherd of Touissants Detective Agency is hired to find her. This mystery has a lot of twists and turns, and the ending was a surprise to me. I recommend it to all mystery lovers!

Very, very good read! I couldn't put it down! Definitely kept me guessing until the big reveal. I can not wait for the next book.