"Murder at Gull's Nest," Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider

Here’s an endorsement. Though I’m not a fan of mysteries, I was gobsmacked by the first book in a who-dun-it series featuring a protagonist I loved more with each passing page.

Talking up “Murder at Gulls Nest” by Jess Kidd, is my new self-described assignment. Take a look at this brightly packaged mystery and you’ll be like me—anxiously awaiting Kidd’s next story featuring an ex-nun turned investigator who has spot-on skills, a curious mind, and a drive to do good.

A one-page prologue awakens our curiosity from the get-go.  An unnamed character is in a pit, a “slumped figure,” “Her hand held out as if in supplication.” That said we move on to meet Nora Breen, formerly Sister Agnes of Christ, climbing a hill to reach Gore-on-Sea where “…brave daytrippers from London” relish a “lungful of bracing October air.”

Nora is hatless so feels the wind in her hair—she’s “missed the sea all these landlocked years.” Nora, a trained nurse, has just left the “sisters” after years in the convent and is headed for Gulls Nest, at the end of the promenade, a rambling guest house, four stories, “an aging beauty” that was the last known address of her best friend, an abode where “Gloomy huddles of yew trees lend a funeral aspect.” How’s that for foreshadowing?

Using the guise of needing a break, “Doctor’s orders,” Nora goes to Gulls Nest to track down Frieda Brogan, her best friend from the convent, a nun who also turned in her habit. Frieda was regularly corresponding with Nora, who wrote of Gulls Nest, where she resided, mentioning the people who lived there, all of whom seemed to harbor a secret.

Suddenly Frieda’s letters stopped coming, leaving Nora concerned enough to leave the convent—but is that the only reason Nora did so? Readers will find out more when Nora unloads in her backstory.

An interesting array of quirky humans live at Gull’s Nest, often rooming for long periods of time. Readers meet them at the onset—Irene, a rule-spouting, disgruntled housekeeper; Diana, a weird 8-year-old who continually baffles; Helena, her mother and the guesthouse’s owner; Professor Poppy, an aged showman with a growly dog; Teddy and Stella, a handsome young couple, Bill, who works at a nearby hotel and fixes a mean mixed drink and Karel, a foreigner who gives his heart away.  Rounding out the cast of characters is Detective Inspector Rideout, who learns to value Nora’s intuition—that might not be the only thing he appreciates.

“Murder at Gulls Nest” is a delight, a who-dun-it with atmospheric charm that’s purely British but never upper-crust. Readers will enjoy Nora’s antics and grow fond of her like she’s an old friend, her personal history awakening empathy and her devotion to her best friend admirable. For an extra treat, have a listen to this one—the audio book’s narrator, Siobhán McSweeney, is sheer perfection.

Buy the Book.