The Harbour Lights Mystery by Emylia Hall

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. 

The Harbour Lights Mystery will be available on 17 October 2023, with the third book in the series, The Rockpool Murder scheduled for April 2024.

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