As with all Jackie Baldwin’s crime novels, her latest book shows her innate understanding of the importance of secrets in telling a story that holds the reader’s attention from the first page to the last.
Murder by the Seaside is populated by characters created by an author with an instinctive understanding of human nature and an appreciation of deceit as a powerful motive.
The book is also pervaded by a strong sense of place which provides an atmosphere laden with menace in a gripping tale which starts as dawn breaks over an empty beach and Grace McKenna emerges from the icy water after her daily swim, her loyal dog Harvey by her side. Little does she know that in the shadows, a cold-blooded killer is plotting his next move.
McKenna is a worthy central player in the story and is depicted using the author’s attention to detail in creating not just a believable personality but also an intriguing backstory as she finds herself recovering from the toughest year of her life and grateful for her job running the fledgling Portobello Detective Agency in Edinburgh.
The story, which also features characters like the glamourous widow of a renowned psychic who wants McKenna to investigate his death and Tobias Sloan, a dapper investigative reporter seeking answers about his wife’s tragic passing, takes a dark turn when the body of a beautiful young woman is found at an elite golf club.
As ever, the author takes what at first appear to be unconnected events and weaves them into a story told with pace and intrigue as a ruthless killer stalks the quiet lanes of Edinburgh. Much to be recommended.
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