The Arts Trail Killer
A killer on the loose, and a village gripped by fear. Can the Shell House Detectives save Porthpella?
Springtime on the Cornish coast and Porthpella’s artistic community are throwing open their doors, welcoming visitors to the annual Arts Trail. And this year, celebrity artist Harrison Loveday is the guest of honour.
However, the light mood soon darkens when there’s a dramatic death at the opening-night party, and after threatening messages start appearing around the village, fear takes over. Before long, Porthpella is shocked by a second brutal murder, and whisperings of a ‘serial killer’ start to circulate.
With the press descending on the Arts Trail for all the wrong reasons, the Shell House Detectives find themselves vying with the police to hunt down the killer, fast.
As the pair uncover bitter rivalries and hidden agendas, plus a growing list of suspects, the question of who has both the means and the motive makes this the most complex case Ally and Jayden have faced yet.
Can the Shell House Detectives stop the Arts Trail Killer before they strike again?
Publication date (book 5): 8th April 2025
Available to pre-order from wherever you like to get your books.
The Death at the Vineyard
As the Shell House Detectives investigate a mystifying death, they discover rumours, betrayal and murder. Will a decades-old secret finally be unearthed too?
At Shoreline Vines, high on the Cornish cliffs, the Harper family are preparing to welcome glamorous investor Celine Chevalier to their vineyard.
They desperately need Celine’s backing to keep their business afloat. But everything is jeopardised when a body is found in one of their fields. Police believe the death was a tragic accident but the victim’s family suspect otherwise and turn to the Shell House Detectives to investigate.
As Ally and Jayden question the community, they discover that Shoreline Vines has always been shrouded in mystery. There are old rumours about buried bones, and even a curse on the land itself. Are these just local myths or is there something sinister hidden in the vineyard’s past?
As tensions reach breaking point, Ally and Jayden must uncover the truth, in a gripping story of family secrets and shocking betrayals.
Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.
The Rockpool Murder
A stunning Cornish house, a shocking death—can The Shell House Detectives catch a killer hiding in plain sight?
Music legend Baz Carson is ready to welcome his closest friends and family to celebrate his seventieth birthday at Rockpool House, his stunning mansion set high on the cliffs on the Cornish coast. But the festivities come to an abrupt end when Baz is found dead, floating fully clothed in his infinity pool.
Tallulah, a boho-chic Californian and Baz’s first love, is convinced that his death wasn’t an accident. He’s just published his tell-all memoir, and the list of those who might wish him harm is long. But with just eight guests at Baz’s luxury, gated home, who could have killed him—and why?
Tallulah hires Ally Bright and ex-cop Jayden Weston to uncover the truth. It’s a case that becomes a race against time, and one that will push Ally and Jayden to their limits as they draw ever closer to a killer. A killer who’s hiding in plain sight and feels they have nothing to lose…
Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.
The Harbour Lights Mystery
As The Shell House Detectives try to solve a family mystery, their investigation runs dangerously close to a murder case. Are the two linked?
It’s December in Cornwall, and Mousehole harbour is illuminated with its famous Christmas lights. Ally Bright is among the crowd listening to the carol singers―and then to the piercing screams that rip through the darkness. A body has been found, brutally murdered and dumped in a fisherman’s boat.
The victim is chef JP Sharpe and there is no shortage of people who might have wanted him dead. Eager for a new case for The Shell House Detectives, Ally calls ex-cop Jayden, but he’s keen to leave it to the police―until a letter in Sharpe’s pocket draws them into a seemingly unconnected family mystery. As they take on this highly charged mission, the duo can’t help scrutinising the murder suspects. Who among the close-knit community has reason to kill, and how far will they go to protect themselves?
As fear spreads, Ally and Jayden need answers―fast. Could the letter offer a clue to the murder case or will it reveal a terrible truth? And when a new witness comes to light, Jayden closes in on a desperate killer…but can he warn Ally in time?
Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.
The Shell House Detectives
Welcome to the coastal paradise of Porthpella, where murder lurks among the dunes...
Late one night, a distraught young man knocks on the door of Ally Bright’s remote home on the Cornish coast. But before she can make sense of his confused words, he’s gone―not to be seen again until he’s found the next morning at the foot of the nearby cliffs.
In an instant, the peace of Ally’s beachcombing life is shattered. Feeling responsible for the young man’s fate, she wants to help find answers―as does ex-cop Jayden Weston, whom Ally meets at the scene. He shares her certainty that there’s more to the story than attempted suicide. When it emerges that the man is newly released ex-offender Lewis Pascoe, and that Helena, the wealthy new owner of his grandmother’s home, has subsequently disappeared, the tight-knit community of Porthpella is thrown into turmoil.
Driven by their need to know more, the duo decide to investigate the mystery together. Is there a connection between the Pascoe family’s tragic history and Helena’s disappearance?
And if there is a killer stalking Porthpella, do Ally and Jayden have what it takes to catch them?
Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.
Other Books
The Book of Summers
A sun-kissed and bittersweet coming-of-age story set in rural Hungary.
“An addictive read and an amazing debut” – Cosmopolitan
A Heart Bent Out Of Shape
A romantic mystery set in wintry Switzerland.
“A crystalline tale... A novel that glints with passion, loss and doubt” – Marie Claire
The Sea Between Us
A story of love, family and creative discovery set on the Cornish coast.
“An extraordinary story by an author who’s fast becoming one of our firm faves” – The Sun, Fabulous Magazine
The Thousand Lights Hotel
A novel of love, loss and redemption set on the Italian island of Elba.
“Pure dreamy escapism” – Fearne Cotton for Stylist.