I was really excited for this one. The description hooked me right away. Unfortunately the story seemed to drag on and on. I did alot of skimming as there was alot of back story that didnt seem important. I had to really push myself to finish it. It didnt pull me in and keep me hooked until maybe the last 25%. I did really enjoy the story line for this book. I was invested in the "who done it" and "why" but it just seemed to drag on a bit much. I am interested in finishing the series when it comes out and see how Isla grows.

Bay of Plenty by Jody Brettkelly

I spent part of my easter break reading Bay of Plenty by Jody Brettkelly (and eating too many hot-cross buns). On the surface, Bay of Plenty ticks many boxes for me. It's a crime thriller set in a small town in New Zealand, but there's also an amount of romance, which I haven't seen in a crime thriller before (instead of rom-com, is it a rom-trill? crime-rom?).

Isla is a Kiwi journalist living in London. One night, while out celebrating her birthday, she meets an undercover cop investigating a dangerous drug ring involving her parents. Her father has a heart attack, giving her the perfect excuse to go home to New Zealand, with the cop posing as her boyfriend. Trauma from Isla's childhood begins to surface, and the two cases become entwined.

This book is twisty—almost too twisty. There are many different threads in it, and (in my opinion) it's trying to do too much. I read an ARC copy, so maybe this has been ironed out before publishing, but especially near the end (I can't say more because of spoilers), a lot is happening, and I don't think the story needs it all. I liked the idea, the setting, and the writing, but thought it needed some editing.

A second book in the Isla Joyson series will be released in September; I'd definitely add it to my TBR pile. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Bay of Plenty by Jody Brettkelly is out now (I think it came out early).

👍 Thumbs up.

Go read a book!

Body count: 1.

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This book had me hooked from the get go!

I loved the characters and there were moments of humor interweaved within the suspense which I appreciated. I really liked the blossoming romance between the undercover agent and the main character.

I'm so thankful I got an advanced copy of this book to review. I will definitely read more from this author.

Mystery, murder, and manipulation converge in the shadows of London’s elite and the secrets of the sacred in Martyrs Convent, a taut and stylish thriller that blends gothic atmosphere with sharp, contemporary suspense.

When journalist Isla Joyson receives a panicked call from a nun about a mysterious drug shipment, it sounds like the start of a career-making story. But when that same nun is found dead in the Thames the next morning, Isla is thrust into a twisting investigation that pulls her deep into the veiled world of Martyrs Convent—and even deeper into the dark heart of British aristocracy.

Authoritatively paced and dripping with intrigue, Martyrs Convent reads like Ruth Ware with an adrenaline shot of Saltburn-style decadence. Isla is a compelling lead: ambitious, intelligent, and just reckless enough to chase the truth where others would back down. Her pursuit of justice takes her from cloistered religious orders with centuries of buried secrets to the opulent drawing rooms of dukes with their own hidden agendas.

The Duke in question—aristocratic, aloof, and determined to handle the investigation his way—adds a seductive tension to Isla’s mission, challenging both her resolve and her relationships. The novel doesn’t just deliver suspense; it’s layered with commentary on class, power, and the murky intersection of faith and corruption.

Do you want a literary thriller to read with a cocktail in one hand and your heart racing in your chest? Martyrs Convent delivers with deadly elegance.

This review is for Bay of Plenty by Jody Bretkelly.

The story opens strongly in London, where we meet Isla, a journalist who has suffered some sort of work scandal which has left her without a job. At her birthday drinks she meets a mysterious Irish man who messages her the next day with a cryptic message.

At this point, for me, the story did become quite improbable. I couldn't imagine that the police would allow someone who they had previously suspected of being involved to go undercover, in such a short space of time. The story with the parents being involved got dropped but surely the police would have done the background work that Isla does to work out who had bought the winery? Declan seemed too good to be true to the point where I kept suspecting him of being involved, which would be fine if it was part of the plot but I don't think it was meant to be. This in itself let the book down as it was a strange mix of suspense and romance, but the romance element was a bit too chick lit - perfect guy who tells main character there's no way he can be with her but then finds a way he can be

The descriptions of New Zealand and the culture were interesting, it's not something I know a lot about, and the characters of the parents and friends were well written.

Overall, the book was fine but I think just not my genre. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I liked the New Zealand setting and the story had great potential, but it was very disjointed and I lost interest fairly early on. There were too many side characters to keep track of, I never could figure out who was who. I did finish it, but I didn't like the writing style at all and found myself skimming way too much. The insta-love between Isla and Declan was not believable to me. Looks like the start of a series but I won't be continuing.

Isla Joyson's life has gone off the tracks as she prepares to celebrate her birthday. At 35 years old her investigative journalist career has stalled and she is compelled to follow an undercover cop from her adult home in England , back to the tiny beach town in New Zealand where she grew up.
Assisting the detective could help clear her parents names in a case she is sure they aren't knowingly involved in and the story could revive her career. Things quickly become complicated and her new undercover "fake boyfriend" starts to become startlingly real.
This is a good twisty read. I read it all in a single day. Hard to believe this is Brettkelly's first novel. I will be following her.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Release Date: 18 April 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Jody Brettkelly for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

An ambitious debut set against a stunning backdrop, blending mystery, romance, and second chances

Are you a fan of stories that blend romance with a dash of suspense? Bay of Plenty might just be your next read. Set in a small coastal town brimming with golden sands and buried secrets, this novel intertwines past and present as it follows Isla, a journalist trying to reignite her career while investigating the mysterious disappearance of her friend twenty years ago. Add in a fake relationship and a family with something to hide, and you’ve got an intriguing premise.

The book immediately drew me in with its strong sense of place and layered storyline. There are moments of sharp insight and promising writing throughout. However, early on, I found the tone somewhat uneven—uncertain whether it was leaning more towards a twisty thriller or a heartfelt romance. This blend may work well for some readers, but at times it left the narrative feeling slightly muddled for me.

That said, it’s worth sticking with. As the story develops, the plot threads begin to converge and the emotional resonance of the characters starts to shine through. While Isla’s decisions didn’t always align with her status as an award-winning journalist, by the second half of the book I was far more engaged in her journey and the complex relationships around her.

With some refinement—particularly in pacing and character development—this debut could really strike a chord with readers who enjoy romantic suspense and small-town mysteries. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Jody Brettkelly’s future work; she has a talent for setting and isn’t afraid to weave multiple threads into her storytelling.

A fun whodunnit with a familiar local setting!

A little slow going at first, but definitely picked up and gained momentum and speed when the main character goes home to New Zealand.

It did feel a bit messy at times, with a lot of plot points flying around, and a lot of chapters ended with a literal question, which got a bit old, but it helped drive the mystery and chapter cliffhangers.

The romance angle was also unexpected, perhaps a bit cliched, but it cut through the tense and difficult themes.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this, and would be interested to see what happens to Isla next. Thanks to NetGalley and Jody for the ARC!

3.5⭐️ rounded up

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Jody Brettkelly for an advanced copy of this book.

2.5⭐️ rounded up. I love a thriller where the present can’t escape the past. The premise of this one was right up my alley, and overall it was a fun, quick read.

The writing was a little hard to follow at times, and it definitely has some kinks to work out. However, Brettkelly has huge potential! The plot was interesting enough to stand out amongst all the other thrillers I’ve read, and the characters were well thought out and had connections that made me want to keep reading. There was plenty of tension and I really enjoyed Isla’s development as a character.

The pacing was the biggest issue I had with Bay of Plenty. For something less than 300 pages, I was hoping for something with more consistent suspense and a clearer timeline. The events felt scattered and it was hard to decipher why the author told the story in the order she did. Combined with the writing, I was a little confused at times. The ending was okay, but I normally give some grace with plot twists and solved mysteries because it takes a lot to stump me. It wrapped up nicely which helped clear up some of the parts that confused me.

I can’t wait to see where Jody Brettkelly takes us next and I will definitely continue to read her books!

When Isla's best friend vanishes many years later Isla is on a mission to uncover what really happened to her best friend all those years ago. But Isla has more worries of her own as her parents are caught up in a dodgy business, can Isla work together with a cop to help save her family from going down. There is a lot of trouble, tension, grittiness to this story with a good pace to follow along with. Can Isla solve both crimes whilst working undercover? I liked the story and the way it flowed. All the characters were believable and I could not see what was coming. The ending wrapped everything up brilliantly.

Bay of Plenty was an interesting mystery/thriller. While I enjoyed the dynamic between Ilsa and Declan, I had a really hard time getting through the book. I found that my biggest two problems were pacing and the actual mystery. In terms of pacing it felt like the story hopped from place to place with little explanation. I also felt like the author struggled to pick the mystery for the heart of the story. It felt like the main mystery was supposed to be about the drug ring but instead you spent so much time focused on Janey. I understand the two end up with some connections, but I would have enjoyed the story more if it had focused on one.