Nora Breen is a woman on a mission from the moment she arrives at Gulls Nest, a miserable little boarding house in Kent. The last letter she had from her friend, Frieda, mentioned that Frieda had found out something potentially incriminating about one of her housemates. Now Nora hasn't heard from Frieda in weeks. To the surprise of nearly everyone, Nora renounces her vows, leaves her convent, and sets off to find out what happened using only her natural nosiness and persistence. Jess Kidd's Murder at Gulls Nest is quirky and occasionally dark--something I've come to rely on with Kidd. Murder at Gulls Nest isn't as strange as some of Kidd's other books. For Kidd, I'd say this book is downright lighthearted (apart from a couple of spots of darkness) compared to Himself or Things in Jars.

As soon as I arrived at Gulls Nest with Nora, I was suspicious of everyone. On the one hand, several of them are struggling to keep their secrets secret. There’s clearly something going on with Teddy Atkins, who can barely make it through a meal without snapping at his wife. Another boarder named Ježek is suspect simply because he’s never around to answer questions. On the other hand, I had to wonder about some of the less suspicious characters in case there was a big twist. I’ll admit right now, though, that Kidd fooled me. I love it when an author can do that to me, even after all the mysteries I’ve read.

What really appealed to me about Murder at Gulls Nest wasn’t so much the mystery itself (though I very much enjoyed the complexity of what happens) but Nora herself. As a child, we learn, Nora felt a calling to be a nun. She was one for thirty years. The glimpses we see of her life in orders, however, made me think she missed her real vocation. Nora has a talent for finding clues and piecing them together. She also has the doggedness to keep going even when warned off, much to the annoyance of the local police inspector. The longer Nora spends out of her habit, the more brazen she gets. One scene, in which Nora questions a local rich man’s son, had me crying with laughter at her audacity. I am very much enjoying the recent trend of middle-aged or elderly women who just don’t give a shit anymore.

Readers who enjoy mysteries packed with eccentric characters will enjoy Murder at Gulls Nest.

I really enjoyed the coastal setting and Nora’s amateur sleuthing. Glad this is the start of a series! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nora Breen has sprung the coop, run away from her home of the past thirty years and come to Gull’s Nest, a rooming house near the sea. “Gull’s nest is that sort of place, isn’t it? Where the dreamers and schemers wash up.” And indeed, that’s our Nora. “A washed up nun…An abandoned friend. Flotsam and jetsam.”

Murder at Gull’s Nest is the first mystery in a series by one of my favorite novelists, Jess Kidd. I’m grateful to NetGalley and Atria Books for the review copy. This singular story will be available to buy in the U.S. April 8, 2025.

Nora is indeed a former nun; she’s shed her holy orders along with her tunic and scapular; she’s asked Christ for a divorce. Now she’s middle aged, and dressed in whatever castoffs were available when she departed. She has very little money, and is appalled at what inflation has done to prices between the time that she entered the monastery and the present day. Her first order of business now is clear, regardless: she must find her beloved friend Frieda, who left the order, came to live at Gull’s Nest, corresponded faithfully, then apparently dropped off the surface of the earth. If she’s alive, Nora will find her; if not, Nora will find her anyway.

She settles into the rooming house, and as she gets to know the other boarders, we get to know them along with her. The owner is a stickler for rules, and the cook and housekeeper—one person—is a tyrant. The food is dreadful! Nora resolves to float along beneath the radar for a bit, get the lay of the land before she does any obvious snooping about. However, since this is a murder mystery, someone dies while she’s still getting her bearings. And in time honored tradition, she irritates the very bejesus out of the local law man, Inspector Rideout, who is still deciding whether this death is due to murder at all.

“’I am not yet investigating a murder, Miss Breen.’
“’Are we not?’
“’No, I am not.’”

Don’t ask me to give away anything else about what happens here, because I won’t. I will tell you, however, that it crackles. Jess Kidd writes everything well: internal monologue? Check! Dialogue? Check! Denouement? Check, check, check!

Get this book and read it. You won’t be sorry.

Nora Breen certainly left no stone unturned in her search in finding a murderer and to discover what happened to her friend Frieda. She is a woman of sheer tenacity and grit which makes for a fantastic investigator.

This is the first book I’ve read written by Jess Kidd and I enjoyed her writing style, character development and the way she weaves a mystery.

The occupants at Gore-on-Sea were intriguing, secretive, baffling, corky, and at times I just wanted to shake them and at the same time to sit down with them, have a lovely cup of coffee or tea and a nice chat. That is if I know who is making the coffee or tea.

The mystery surrounding the murders and disappearance of Nora’s friend, Freida was well plotted and with all the right twist and turns. I look forward to reading the book in this series!

Murder at Gulls Nest is a little grittier than a cozy mystery with the vibes of a cozy. When Nora stops getting letters from her former-nun friend, Frieda, Nora leaves her convent to go investigate. She stays at a boarding house, the Gulls House, and meets a cast of characters/suspects. As Nora gets to know each character, we learn possible motives for each suspect. This mystery kept me guessing until late in the novel, and I enjoyed Nora's practical approach to solving the mystery. She reminded me of a Jessica Fletcher-type amateur sleuth, and I liked trying to solve the mystery alongside her.

Nora Breen, formerly Sister Agnes of Christ, comes to the seaside town of Gore-on-Sea in 1954 when a former postulant and her friend stops writing letters. She is certain that something has happened to her friend. She finds a place at Gulls Nest, a boarding house, which was also the last residence of her friend and finds herself immersed in the secrets to the residents.

Nora is a nosy woman who has lost her faith in her god. She is struggling for answers not only for her friend's disappearance but for what she wants for herself for the rest of her life. Frieda's disappearance is only the first mystery to be solved.

Another resident is found dead of what is apparently a suicide leaving behind a grieving and possibly pregnant widow. Nora explores his life and past because she can't believe the setup for the death. Then still another resident disappears leaving suspicions that he killed the other man.

Nora horns her way into the investigation being led by Detective Inspector Rideout and the two soon find that they work well together.

The story is filled with intriguing characters among the residents of Gulls Nest. I enjoyed the way Nora uncovered all of their secrets. I liked the setting and the time period of this mystery. I especially enjoyed Nora.

My first encounter with Jess Kidd was through Himself, a book that combined dark humor that elicited alternating gasps and laughter throughout the entirety of the novel. After reading Things in Jars and The Night Ship I accepted that this was Jess Kidd’s view of the world’s she creates. Murder at Gull’s Nest was no exception.

When Nora Breen arrives at Gulls Nest, a less-than-charming seaside inn in Gore-on-Sea in Kent, she is on a mission. She believes it’s covert operation to find her friend and penpal Frieda Brogan, but newly free of the monastery where she has spent the past 30 years as a nurse, Nora is not the subtlest of detectives. She quickly becomes a thorn in the side of Inspector Rideout, the town’s police chief, and an amusing companion to the inn’s quirky and mysterious roster of guests and staff. Soon, Nora is not only trying to solve Frieda’s disappearance, but the murders of two of her fellow guests.

As usual, Kidd has created memorable characters who are either endearing or put-offish. Only this time she has created a mystery befitting of curling up with a cup of tea and cozy blanket on your comfiest chair. At times I found myself wanting Breen to find the “Aha!” clues amongst the interesting tidbits she gathered along the way, but honestly they were fitting of a headstrong middle-aged monastic nurse in the world for the first time and determined to get some answers.

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC of this book through NetGalley, which I received for my honest review. Any quoted or excerpted material in this review may differ from the final published edition, which will be available to the public on March 25, 2025.

#jesskidd #atriabooks #books #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #nerdventureswithbooks

Murder at Gulls Nest appears to be the first book in a new series by Jess Kidd about Nora Breen, a former nun, as she investigates her pen pal's disappearance. Nora's search centers around a boarding house on the coast of England and the people that call it home. Not long after, Nora encounters murder and strange circumstances happening in the town. While a bit darker than cozy mysteries, this story still evoked a sense of cozy with the vivid descriptions of the area, boarding house, and the people. Kidd did an excellent job of building suspense and giving us glimpses into Nora's former life, but she's still a bit of a mystery to the reader. I would definitely check out the next in the series and to see what Nora does next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had reading this! I thought it'd be an easy and fun read, but there were a lot more layers to the plot than I expected.

Nora has asked to be released from her vows as a nun to investigate the case her missing friend, Frieda. She moves in to Frieda's previous living situation with a quirky cast of characters at Gulls Nest in a small seaside holiday town.

I loved Nora as a character. Her personality is fun and feisty and I enjoyed her history getting revealed to the reader in snippets. There were more heavy topics than I was expected, but I think they added a lot to the story and made the characters more interesting. Even with the heavy topics, there was a lot of whimsy and humor as well.

I hope this becomes a series!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Cozy Mystery

This is the first installment in this cozy mystery series that takes place in 1954 England. The story follows Nora, a former nun who has been in the convent for thirty years. What makes Nora leave the convent is the sudden disappearance of her friend, Freida. She decides to investigate why her friend disappeared and to find out the truth about it.

Nora’s search leads her to Gulls Nest, a guest house where she believes Freida was last known to reside. There she meets all the different residents, who she can trust will be a challenging thing, because every one of them has his own secrets to hide. With the help of the local detective, Nora’s mission becomes somewhat easier.

I think the author did a fantastic job with the cozy setting and the atmosphere of the story. The 1950s vibes of England were truly vivid throughout the book. The protagonist was quite interesting. A former nun getting in the shoes of a detective is something I believe will appeal to many readers.

While the book excels in some storytelling aspects, some portions didn’t resonate with me. It was generally a slow reading experience. The story features several subplots, which can make everything feel overwhelming at times. I believe the author focused more on character development and gradual mystery reveals rather than a fast-paced cozy mystery. There's nothing wrong with that, but I personally prefer cozy mysteries to maintain a quicker pace with a lighter theme.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Clever series premier with this one - great setting and time period for background. I found it compelling and kept trying to figure it out. Fans of gothic and Agatha Christie will enjoy this one and hopefully more will follow in the series. Solid mystery.

This is definitely a different kind of cozy mystery. This is the first book in a new series, and this was a new author for me. The setting is an English coastal village in the mid 50's and the main character Nora is a former nun. All that makes for a different kind of story and vibe but also a very interesting and engrossing one. Some of this is a little darker and heavier than your average cozy, the characters at the boarding house, Gull's Nest all have interesting histories and stories that play into our mystery in various ways. I really enjoyed Nora's different perspective, a snapshot of a time in history, and the discovery of good and bad no matter the circumstances. Nora has a lot going on, but this journey with her is fascinating, and I will continue the journey with her in the future. I would say that taking yourself out of your usual cozy mystery scenario is definitely worth the risk. Thanks to #Netgally, #AtriaBooks, and the author for the introduction to this series. #MurderatGull'sNest #JessKidd #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

1/5 stars: This is the first entry in Kidd's Nora Breen Investigates series which is a Historical Mystery set in England, 1954 and features a nun who leaves her order in search for answers at the charming hotel in a small seaside town after the disappearance of her former novice and pen pal. Hiding her identity, she pries into the lives of her fellow guests and after a series of bizarre murders rattles the occupants she has to ask if a dark past can ever really be left behind. Kidd's writing and character work are well done. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of the tense the book's written in; leading me to DNF it at 3%.

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

4 stars

Fans of a solid cozy mystery and/or great character development will find a lot to love in the start of this new series from Jess Kidd.

Nora Breen, a former nun, arrives in the titular location to find out why her pen pal has recently gone radio silent. Immediately, Kidd makes Nora a round, likeable character. While Nora has a lot of baggage, she also has a lot of hope and optimism, and she is a problem solver who won't easily be told what to do. Considering the time in which this is set and the structure of her life so far, Nora's sense of agency is even more provocative than it may seem at first blush.

While Nora is the clear highlight of this book for me - a positive start for a new series! - the plot, additional characters, and pacing all come together nicely, too. I also appreciate that some of the borderline slapstick activity I've read in other recent cozies does not appear here. There are lighthearted moments, but this isn't a goofy read by any stretch.

I enjoyed this and was surprised by the depth considering the genre. I recommend it to folks who are struck by the description and will absolutely be waiting to devour the next in line.

I loved this cozy seaside mystery! Nora is a very likeable detective, and the other characters were layered and intriguing. The mystery was complex enough to keep my attention, and I really enjoyed it! I will eagerly await another Nora Breen mystery!

This first in series was a treat! Welcome to the world of mystery readers, Nora Breen! She is a former nun whom we meet when she seeks to discover what happened to her friend and also former nun, Frieda. Frieda promised to keep in touch and she did faithfully, until she just didn't. This was such uncharacteristic behavior that Nora was compelled to take the drastic step of leaving the order to find out what happened to Frieda...granted, she admits that it was probably the catalyst for a decision that was long in the making. Nora is intelligent and belovedly feisty. There was humor and insight galore here and I am looking forward to our next encounter with this interesting protagonist. This is one of those you don't want to put down, with plenty of interesting twists and revelations. I want more!

In Murder at Gulls Nest, Jess Kidd introduces readers to Nora Breen, a former nun who leaves her convent in 1954 to investigate the sudden disappearance of her pen pal and former novice, Frieda. Nora's search leads her to Gulls Nest, a quaint yet slightly shabby boarding house in the seaside town of Gore-on-Sea, Kent. Disguising her true identity, she immerses herself among the eclectic residents, each harboring their own secrets. As Nora delves deeper, a series of bizarre murders disrupts the community, intertwining with her quest to find Frieda and challenging her to confront her own past.

Kidd masterfully captures the post-war atmosphere of 1950s England, highlighting a society still bearing the scars of conflict. The setting of Gore-on-Sea, with its off-season desolation, mirrors the internal struggles of its inhabitants, adding depth to the narrative. The ensemble of characters at Gulls Nest is richly developed, each contributing to the story's intricate web of mystery and suspense.

Murder at Gulls Nest is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and character-driven storytelling. Jess Kidd's nuanced portrayal of a woman stepping beyond the confines of her former life to uncover hidden truths makes for a captivating read. This novel is a promising start to the Nora Breen Investigates series, leaving readers eager for more of Nora's adventures in sleuthing.

Loved this book. Great characters! Can’t wait to hear about more of Nora’s adventures! I left a detailed review on StoryGraph and have linked it below.

Top notch writing, a compelling protagonist, and a great cast of characters. It somehow manages to stay within the genre confines of a cozy mystery, and exceed it at the same time.

For fans of: Agatha Christie, Deanna Raybourn
Series: #1
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: Historical Mystery
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓 (mostly off’page)
Spice: 🚫
TW: death of a pet, PTSD, discussion of suicide

Premise: 1954, Southern England. When letters stop arriving, Nora obtains release from her religious vows to find former novice. She starts her search at Gulls Nest, the shabby boardinghouse where Frieda lived with a motley assortment of characters.

Thoughts: For those familiar with Jess Kidd (author of Things in Jars & Mr Floods Last Resort), this 1st in a cozy mystery series is a bit of a departure from her previous speculative fiction, though an otherworldly feel persists. But Murder at Gull’s Nest retains her distinctive fingerprint. The evocative, often whimsical, prose brings people & places to life. Even characters who appear only briefly are painted with memorable qualities, whether it be a herd of rabbits or a penchant for romance novels. Nora Breen, the novel’s main character, dances off the page. Kidd plays against type in crafting Nora , at times leaning into & at others away from the nun stereotype. The mystery at the novel’s heart is also pleasing, what started as a missing person’s case growing more & more complex as the pages add up. The fate of the tenants lends an “And Then There Were None” air to it, which I always enjoy, keeping me guessing until nearly the end. The relationship between Nora & the police inspector—who is at turns vexed & impressed by Nora’s investigatory skills—adds a delightful sub-plot to the novel. Overall, a great read & I’m looking forward to the sequel.