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Detective Grace McKenna #1
Murder by the Seaside
As dawn breaks over the empty beaches of Portobello, Grace McKenna emerges from the icy water after her daily swim, her loyal dog Harvey by her side. Little does she know, in the shadows, a cold-blooded killer is plotting his next move...
Edinburgh, Scotland. After the toughest year of her life, Detective Grace McKenna is grateful for her job running the fledgling Portobello Detective Agency… though another client or two would certainly help keep the wolf from the door. So when the glamourous widow of renowned psychic Paul Gordon entreats her to investigate his suspicious death, Grace sees a unique opportunity to make a name for the agency.
Joining forces with Tobias Sloan – a dapper investigative reporter seeking answers about his wife's tragic passing – their search takes a dark turn when the body of a beautiful young woman is found at a nearby elite golf club. The evidence leads them straight to Merchiston College of Psychic Studies – the very place where Paul Gordon met his grisly end.
Uncovering a shocking secret linking the two murders, Grace finds her professional and personal boundaries are beginning to blur. She is left to face not only the ghosts of her own past, but also the prospect of a hardened killer stalking the quiet lanes of Edinburgh. With time running out and the lives of her team hanging in the balance, can Grace McKenna solve the murders, and save herself from the same deadly fate?
Edinburgh, Scotland. After the toughest year of her life, Detective Grace McKenna is grateful for her job running the fledgling Portobello Detective Agency… though another client or two would certainly help keep the wolf from the door. So when the glamourous widow of renowned psychic Paul Gordon entreats her to investigate his suspicious death, Grace sees a unique opportunity to make a name for the agency.
Joining forces with Tobias Sloan – a dapper investigative reporter seeking answers about his wife's tragic passing – their search takes a dark turn when the body of a beautiful young woman is found at a nearby elite golf club. The evidence leads them straight to Merchiston College of Psychic Studies – the very place where Paul Gordon met his grisly end.
Uncovering a shocking secret linking the two murders, Grace finds her professional and personal boundaries are beginning to blur. She is left to face not only the ghosts of her own past, but also the prospect of a hardened killer stalking the quiet lanes of Edinburgh. With time running out and the lives of her team hanging in the balance, can Grace McKenna solve the murders, and save herself from the same deadly fate?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2023
200 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Baldwin
17 books72 followersScottish crime writer and former criminal lawyer.
Debut novel 'Dead Man's Prayer' published on 2nd September 2016 by Killer Reads, Harper Collins.
Debut novel 'Dead Man's Prayer' published on 2nd September 2016 by Killer Reads, Harper Collins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
April 30, 2023
After leaving the police force, Grace McKenna opened the Portobello Detective Agency in Edinburgh, with her helpers, Jean and Hannah, by her side. With such a new business, getting cases was important. Grace didn't want to Agency to fold before it got started. When the wife of a man who had recently died, suicide suspected, arrived at the Agency, wanting the team's help in proving her husband was murdered, Grace had no idea was she was about to face. Her first step was to include investigative reporter, Tobias Sloan, in their team as he had a parallel agenda and his skills would prove helpful.
Putting Hannah undercover to work at the elite golf club proved a good move, but with Hannah's keen enthusiasm to impress her boss, she put herself in danger on more than one occasion. And Jean also went undercover in a different area. The team were busy, the secrets were slowly revealing themselves and Grace, alongside her loyal hound, Harvey, followed the evidence. What would be the outcome for Grace and her fledgling Agency?
Murder by the Seaside is the 1st in the Detective Grace McKenna Scottish Murder Mystery series by Jackie Baldwin, and I was impressed! Glued to the pages, I had trouble putting it down and read it quickly. An excellent plot, a great set of mysteries and some special characters. And the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping! I can't wait for #2 in the hopefully not too distant future. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Putting Hannah undercover to work at the elite golf club proved a good move, but with Hannah's keen enthusiasm to impress her boss, she put herself in danger on more than one occasion. And Jean also went undercover in a different area. The team were busy, the secrets were slowly revealing themselves and Grace, alongside her loyal hound, Harvey, followed the evidence. What would be the outcome for Grace and her fledgling Agency?
Murder by the Seaside is the 1st in the Detective Grace McKenna Scottish Murder Mystery series by Jackie Baldwin, and I was impressed! Glued to the pages, I had trouble putting it down and read it quickly. An excellent plot, a great set of mysteries and some special characters. And the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping! I can't wait for #2 in the hopefully not too distant future. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2023
This was not very good, but I finished listening to it as it took place in Edinburgh, was read in a lovely Scottish accent, and there was a very nice dog in it. I also kind of wanted to know „who did it“.
I do not expect books to be realistic, as I read to escape (at least in part) and I love a good story. But it needs to at least seem believable. And this was not the case here.
All the characters acted very inconsistently, the detective agency did operate in a very strange way (even the admin goes undercover), people constantly did not do or know very basic stuff so the heroine could swoop in and save the day.
In the end all the suspects and some random other people were guilty of part of a crime, except for the crime that the P.I. was actually hired for. Luckily she still gets payed, so all is well in the end…
cw for child loss
I do not expect books to be realistic, as I read to escape (at least in part) and I love a good story. But it needs to at least seem believable. And this was not the case here.
All the characters acted very inconsistently, the detective agency did operate in a very strange way (even the admin goes undercover), people constantly did not do or know very basic stuff so the heroine could swoop in and save the day.
In the end all the suspects and some random other people were guilty of part of a crime, except for the crime that the P.I. was actually hired for. Luckily she still gets payed, so all is well in the end…
cw for child loss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2023
I’m a huge fan of Jackie baldwins novels - murder by the seaside introduces a new series with new characters in a new Scottish town - portobello, Edinburgh. Coming from portobello myself I loved it!
I loved the new characters especially Grace, Hannah and of course Harvey- the very last line of the book had my crying my eyes out as I hadn’t seen it coming at all!!
Despite being an avid crime and thriller reader what I enjoyed the most is that I had no idea who had done it! Twists and turns on every page - it was impossible to put down! I definitely recommend and hope to see more from the portobello private investigating team!
I loved the new characters especially Grace, Hannah and of course Harvey- the very last line of the book had my crying my eyes out as I hadn’t seen it coming at all!!
Despite being an avid crime and thriller reader what I enjoyed the most is that I had no idea who had done it! Twists and turns on every page - it was impossible to put down! I definitely recommend and hope to see more from the portobello private investigating team!
June 9, 2023
Murder by the Seaside is the first in a new crime series. I am new to Jackie’s writing, so wasn’t sure what to expect. I was both impressed and entertained. The novel contains some difficult to process topics (such as suicide) so isn’t the standard cosy fare, but seems to have found a niche in the cosy/crossover genre.
Grace, the central character, is a woman trying to come to terms with the loss of her son, the breakdown of her marriage and a new business venture – a private detective agency. She has two assistants, Hannah and Jean, each of whom have issues of their own. The characterisation is strong and credible – and I love Harvey the dog!
There were lots of twists and turns, nothing was straightforward or easy to predict. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Grace, the central character, is a woman trying to come to terms with the loss of her son, the breakdown of her marriage and a new business venture – a private detective agency. She has two assistants, Hannah and Jean, each of whom have issues of their own. The characterisation is strong and credible – and I love Harvey the dog!
There were lots of twists and turns, nothing was straightforward or easy to predict. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
May 19, 2023
This is a powerful book that touches on a lot of tough subjects. Grace and her staff take on a huge case for their little private detecting agency. I really enjoyed that it was an all-women-staffed agency and that there were three of them, plus Harvey, the dog. Both are unusual in the noir/cozy crossover type books. Other elements, like the multi-faceted love triangle (square?) for the main character and at least one character that could not stay out of danger, are common staples of the genre. The character building was beautifully done, though secondary characters could do with some expansion, which I know will come in future books.
The twists and turns were delightfully unexpected. So often, I read and watch mystery stories and know exactly who did it within the first few pages or minutes. This time, it kept me guessing right until the end. There is a bit of a supernatural thread, which I don’t think the author meant to imply as real, but even there she kept us guessing. That, coupled with the short, bite-sized chapters, can become a dangerous game of “just one more chapter” late into the night.
Grace is a bit of a broken character, and so are her two employees – Hannah and Jean. They are all loveable in their own way, and I rooted for them to find their way. This is going on my list of series to watch, and I look forward to the next installment.
Those who love a cozy mystery should enjoy this novel. It has all the common elements: whip-smart detective/assistants, a loveable animal companion, clean allusions to romance, and a non-police detective. The last one is a bit of a technicality, though, because Grace is ex-police. It is much grittier and dark than your typical modern cozy – heralding back to a different era of cozies, and I’m here for it. Today, it might well better fit into what is frequently called a cozy crossover. So, if you’re not into a gritter/noir feel, you might not enjoy it as much. I love both the touchy-feely bakery types and these, so I loved it.
Content Warning: Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Relationship Abuse, Adult Language, Child Harm, Violence
Originally posted on amorinacarlton.com with slight alterations.
The twists and turns were delightfully unexpected. So often, I read and watch mystery stories and know exactly who did it within the first few pages or minutes. This time, it kept me guessing right until the end. There is a bit of a supernatural thread, which I don’t think the author meant to imply as real, but even there she kept us guessing. That, coupled with the short, bite-sized chapters, can become a dangerous game of “just one more chapter” late into the night.
Grace is a bit of a broken character, and so are her two employees – Hannah and Jean. They are all loveable in their own way, and I rooted for them to find their way. This is going on my list of series to watch, and I look forward to the next installment.
Those who love a cozy mystery should enjoy this novel. It has all the common elements: whip-smart detective/assistants, a loveable animal companion, clean allusions to romance, and a non-police detective. The last one is a bit of a technicality, though, because Grace is ex-police. It is much grittier and dark than your typical modern cozy – heralding back to a different era of cozies, and I’m here for it. Today, it might well better fit into what is frequently called a cozy crossover. So, if you’re not into a gritter/noir feel, you might not enjoy it as much. I love both the touchy-feely bakery types and these, so I loved it.
Content Warning: Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Relationship Abuse, Adult Language, Child Harm, Violence
Originally posted on amorinacarlton.com with slight alterations.
November 20, 2023
Loved it! The is the 1st by this author that I have read and it won't be the last. I couldn't put it down. The twists and turns of multiple stories intertwined and then Grace grief at the loss of her son made this a page turner. And the ending! I'm so glad i can read the 2nd book straight away
October 22, 2024
Good book. I probably will listen to book 2....eventually....lol
May 13, 2023
I received an ARC of this from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I felt at home right away when I began this book, I could imagine Grace’s cosy flat above her detective agency and her golden retriever Harvey welcoming her home from the beach .
It’s been a devastating two years for Grace personally but she’s trying to survive and make her Portobello Detective Agency work but she needs a few more clients to achieve that.
Grace is an ex Detective Inspector so she’s highly skilled but just waiting for the chance to prove herself and her agency by working on a big case.
With this case it had SO many different elements that wove together perfectly, I was engrossed!. I can’t give too much away because I’ll spoil the storyline and I want the reader to enjoy the thrill just like I did.
What I will say is that I’ve found my new favourite series and I’ll be waiting to preorder the next in the series and catch up with Grace and the Gang.
⭐️ The Last page was WOW⭐️
I felt at home right away when I began this book, I could imagine Grace’s cosy flat above her detective agency and her golden retriever Harvey welcoming her home from the beach .
It’s been a devastating two years for Grace personally but she’s trying to survive and make her Portobello Detective Agency work but she needs a few more clients to achieve that.
Grace is an ex Detective Inspector so she’s highly skilled but just waiting for the chance to prove herself and her agency by working on a big case.
With this case it had SO many different elements that wove together perfectly, I was engrossed!. I can’t give too much away because I’ll spoil the storyline and I want the reader to enjoy the thrill just like I did.
What I will say is that I’ve found my new favourite series and I’ll be waiting to preorder the next in the series and catch up with Grace and the Gang.
⭐️ The Last page was WOW⭐️
May 11, 2023
The first book in a brand new series featuring Detective Grace McKenna.
After surviving the worst 2 years of her life Grace is putting all her energy into running the Portobello Detective Agency. Things are ticking over when Grace is hired to find the truth behind the death of a famous psychic. Knowing this could be the big case she needs to put the agency on the map Grace can't wait to get started.
What follows is a brilliant plot with plenty of twists to keep us readers gripped. This book kept me up way past my bedtime.
I can't wait to read the next book.
After surviving the worst 2 years of her life Grace is putting all her energy into running the Portobello Detective Agency. Things are ticking over when Grace is hired to find the truth behind the death of a famous psychic. Knowing this could be the big case she needs to put the agency on the map Grace can't wait to get started.
What follows is a brilliant plot with plenty of twists to keep us readers gripped. This book kept me up way past my bedtime.
I can't wait to read the next book.
May 24, 2023
‘Murder by the Seaside’ is the start of a brand new Scottish crime series set in Portobello, Edinburgh! I have been reading more and more of what is termed ‘cosy’ crime this year and I absolutely loved this one. I haven’t read any of Jackie’s books before picking up this one but I was thoroughly impressed.
Grace has had the toughest year of her life. Her son went missing presumed drowned and she fell to pieces. Her marriage has crumbled under the strain and she also left her job as a detective in the police. She has now started up a private detective business in Portobello and she is slowly picking up the pieces. When a client comes in asking Grace to investigate her husband’s death, who was the infamous psychic Paul Gordon, she gets pulled into a world that quickly overwhelms her. She joins forces with Tobias Sloan, a investigative journalist who is determined to prove that Paul’s business partner and the Merchiston College of Psychic Studies is all fake and taking advantage of people. When the body of a young woman, who has links to the College, is found at the local golf club Grace realises there is a killer who won’t stop!
It is the characters that make this book so great! Grace is slowly coming to terms with the death of her son and the end of her marriage. I think the author has portrayed her brilliantly - her grief is palpable but she has an inner core of steel which is getting her through each day! The other two members of the detective agency are young Hannah who comes from a troubled home life and it determined to prove to herself that she can handle this job. Then there is Jean who has recently left her useless husband and needs a bit more excitement in her life. She is the mother of the agency looking after them all! Also of course there is a dog - the gentle Harvey! The combination of them all together made for a great team and I am looking forward to finding about more about them and how they develop in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't recommend it enough! It has the right blend of seriousness with playfulness. Brilliant characters and the plot was an entertaining read.
Grace has had the toughest year of her life. Her son went missing presumed drowned and she fell to pieces. Her marriage has crumbled under the strain and she also left her job as a detective in the police. She has now started up a private detective business in Portobello and she is slowly picking up the pieces. When a client comes in asking Grace to investigate her husband’s death, who was the infamous psychic Paul Gordon, she gets pulled into a world that quickly overwhelms her. She joins forces with Tobias Sloan, a investigative journalist who is determined to prove that Paul’s business partner and the Merchiston College of Psychic Studies is all fake and taking advantage of people. When the body of a young woman, who has links to the College, is found at the local golf club Grace realises there is a killer who won’t stop!
It is the characters that make this book so great! Grace is slowly coming to terms with the death of her son and the end of her marriage. I think the author has portrayed her brilliantly - her grief is palpable but she has an inner core of steel which is getting her through each day! The other two members of the detective agency are young Hannah who comes from a troubled home life and it determined to prove to herself that she can handle this job. Then there is Jean who has recently left her useless husband and needs a bit more excitement in her life. She is the mother of the agency looking after them all! Also of course there is a dog - the gentle Harvey! The combination of them all together made for a great team and I am looking forward to finding about more about them and how they develop in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't recommend it enough! It has the right blend of seriousness with playfulness. Brilliant characters and the plot was an entertaining read.
May 2, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of Murder by the Seaside, the first novel to feature PI Grace McKenna, set in Edinburgh.
After a hard year Grace resigned from the police force and has now set up the Portobello Detective Agency. As a new business her turnover is low, so she’s delighted when Sylvia Gordon, widow of renowned psychic, Paul, asks her to take another look at his suicide six months ago, because she is sure he was murdered. Then a young woman is killed and Grace sees links with the death of Paul Gordon.
I enjoyed Murder by the Seaside, which is an intricately plotted read with a likeable protagonist in Grace McKenna. It is told from the investigative point of view, with Grace and her two assistants, Jean and Hannah, contributing.
This is a very busy novel with all three of the women having their own brushes with danger and there is a wealth of detail in who said and did what, never mind all the lies and agendas, notably investigative journalist, Tobias Sloan’s crusade against one of Paul’s business partners and fellow psychic Xander Croft. Grace has agreed to work with Tobias to further the investigation. Are you keeping up? I felt that the middle of the novel got a bit bogged down in all this busyness and I got a little disheartened by the circles Grace kept running in, but the slog through it was worth it for the final chapters where the action ramps up and the twists keep coming. I was fooled by much of it and caught by surprise when the reveals come.
Grace is a sad figure. She has lost her marriage and police job to unspeakable tragedy and perhaps her will to live is next. Yet, her drive to solve the case keeps her going and she’s good at it. The end of the novel suggests that she may have reason for optimism going forward, so perhaps it will be a reinvigorated Grace in the next novel.
Murder by the Seaside is a good read that I can recommend.
After a hard year Grace resigned from the police force and has now set up the Portobello Detective Agency. As a new business her turnover is low, so she’s delighted when Sylvia Gordon, widow of renowned psychic, Paul, asks her to take another look at his suicide six months ago, because she is sure he was murdered. Then a young woman is killed and Grace sees links with the death of Paul Gordon.
I enjoyed Murder by the Seaside, which is an intricately plotted read with a likeable protagonist in Grace McKenna. It is told from the investigative point of view, with Grace and her two assistants, Jean and Hannah, contributing.
This is a very busy novel with all three of the women having their own brushes with danger and there is a wealth of detail in who said and did what, never mind all the lies and agendas, notably investigative journalist, Tobias Sloan’s crusade against one of Paul’s business partners and fellow psychic Xander Croft. Grace has agreed to work with Tobias to further the investigation. Are you keeping up? I felt that the middle of the novel got a bit bogged down in all this busyness and I got a little disheartened by the circles Grace kept running in, but the slog through it was worth it for the final chapters where the action ramps up and the twists keep coming. I was fooled by much of it and caught by surprise when the reveals come.
Grace is a sad figure. She has lost her marriage and police job to unspeakable tragedy and perhaps her will to live is next. Yet, her drive to solve the case keeps her going and she’s good at it. The end of the novel suggests that she may have reason for optimism going forward, so perhaps it will be a reinvigorated Grace in the next novel.
Murder by the Seaside is a good read that I can recommend.
May 22, 2023
Grace McKenna is now a private investigator running her own business which is set on the Portobello Esplanade with views of the sea straight out of the office windows. She employs Jean and Hannah as office staff but is looking to utilise them in other tasks in the longer term.
When Sylvia Gordon walks in asking Grace to investigate her recent husband, Paul’s death as murder not suicide, Grace sees it as a way to making a name for the agency if she can solve the case. Sylvia Gordon points the finger at Xander Croft as the murderer of her husband as they had been arguing quite a lot the last few weeks before Paul died. They both worked at the psychic college and were members of the golf club so Grace arranged with Brian, her father-in-law to do an investigation into missing jewellery items for them in return for a trial at the golf club. She included Tobias Sloan, an investigative reporter who wanted to oust Xander Croft as a con man.
Hannah had just started her undercover work when a pregnant woman’s body, Maria, was found in the changing rooms of the golf club, she was hanging onto life by a thread. The baby was born by caesarian and managed to survive. Grace learns that the two murders are connected so there might be a killer in Portobello with an agenda. Then the office is broken into and when Grace tries to apprehend the intruder she is nearly strangled in the process.
Can Grace prove that Paul Gordon was murdered? Why was Maria killed? Who snatched her baby?
I loved reading this book! It was great, had everything: murder, easy to read style, hook you in, twists and turns, don’t put down, detail, a dog. The backstory was there to fill in the details of the main characters. Plenty going on. Very well written. I would read more of this series, desperate for book 2!
When Sylvia Gordon walks in asking Grace to investigate her recent husband, Paul’s death as murder not suicide, Grace sees it as a way to making a name for the agency if she can solve the case. Sylvia Gordon points the finger at Xander Croft as the murderer of her husband as they had been arguing quite a lot the last few weeks before Paul died. They both worked at the psychic college and were members of the golf club so Grace arranged with Brian, her father-in-law to do an investigation into missing jewellery items for them in return for a trial at the golf club. She included Tobias Sloan, an investigative reporter who wanted to oust Xander Croft as a con man.
Hannah had just started her undercover work when a pregnant woman’s body, Maria, was found in the changing rooms of the golf club, she was hanging onto life by a thread. The baby was born by caesarian and managed to survive. Grace learns that the two murders are connected so there might be a killer in Portobello with an agenda. Then the office is broken into and when Grace tries to apprehend the intruder she is nearly strangled in the process.
Can Grace prove that Paul Gordon was murdered? Why was Maria killed? Who snatched her baby?
I loved reading this book! It was great, had everything: murder, easy to read style, hook you in, twists and turns, don’t put down, detail, a dog. The backstory was there to fill in the details of the main characters. Plenty going on. Very well written. I would read more of this series, desperate for book 2!
June 15, 2023
4 stars
I really enjoyed this mystery. The story is suspenseful & intriguing but is also heavy on character development. I really like the MC and her associates & I look forward to the next book in the series!
[What I liked:]
•The characters, their psychology & motivations, & their relationships to one another are well developed & believable. Grace, Jean, Hannah, & Brody are all sympathetic characters who don’t always see eye-to-eye & are dealing with personal struggles outside of work. The way their personal lives intersect with the investigation & influence their actions makes for a well-rounded story & characters I want to learn more about in future installments.
•The plot was satisfying & exciting. While I picked up on a few things and at least suspected part of the solution nearing the end, quite a bit of the mysteries’ resolutions I did not see coming! Largely in part to the depth of even the side & minor characters.
•This is a very touching story in part about dealing with grief & loss. Suicide features in more than one subplot, but I think it is discussed in a respectful way. Grace’s desire for connection with her son beyond the grave comes into conflict with her doubt of the supernatural, & her struggle to reconcile the two was relatable for me. (The ending is very touching 🥲 I loved it!)
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•At times Hannah comes across as overly petulant & reckless. I get that she’s young & inexperienced in investigation, but she’s also supposedly had a tough life & been forced to grow up very early. Sometimes her naïveté seemed exaggerated.
CW: domestic violence, murder, suicide, death of a child, kidnapping, sexual harassment, infidelity, sexism, gambling addiction
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
I really enjoyed this mystery. The story is suspenseful & intriguing but is also heavy on character development. I really like the MC and her associates & I look forward to the next book in the series!
[What I liked:]
•The characters, their psychology & motivations, & their relationships to one another are well developed & believable. Grace, Jean, Hannah, & Brody are all sympathetic characters who don’t always see eye-to-eye & are dealing with personal struggles outside of work. The way their personal lives intersect with the investigation & influence their actions makes for a well-rounded story & characters I want to learn more about in future installments.
•The plot was satisfying & exciting. While I picked up on a few things and at least suspected part of the solution nearing the end, quite a bit of the mysteries’ resolutions I did not see coming! Largely in part to the depth of even the side & minor characters.
•This is a very touching story in part about dealing with grief & loss. Suicide features in more than one subplot, but I think it is discussed in a respectful way. Grace’s desire for connection with her son beyond the grave comes into conflict with her doubt of the supernatural, & her struggle to reconcile the two was relatable for me. (The ending is very touching 🥲 I loved it!)
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•At times Hannah comes across as overly petulant & reckless. I get that she’s young & inexperienced in investigation, but she’s also supposedly had a tough life & been forced to grow up very early. Sometimes her naïveté seemed exaggerated.
CW: domestic violence, murder, suicide, death of a child, kidnapping, sexual harassment, infidelity, sexism, gambling addiction
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
May 1, 2023
Murder by the Seaside by Jackie Baldwin has rich characters who each have trials and tribulations. The story unraveled how each character had to make choices such as leaving a relationship, putting food on the table for their family, or navigating grief.
I was always so nervous and worried about the dog, Harvey. Harvey was a great canine character, and I want to thank the author for not putting him in harm's way just to create more drama. He was a sweet doggo!
Sylvia hires Grace to prove that her husband Paul was murdered and did not jump off the roof of his place of work. A great line in the book is how we can never truly see into the heart of another person; that is so true and really makes this book great in trying to figure out if Paul did commit suicide or was murdered.
Grace is also grappling with her own demons and loss, and this made for such a dynamic character that I found myself rooting for and also wanting to shake her.
There are some good "wow" moments and reveals that I did not see coming. And I burst into tears at the end of the book; the scene was both shocking and so good!
Murder by the Seaside definitely had me hooked, and I cannot wait to read more in the Grace McKenna series.
I loved the author's note at the book's end about her dog, Poppy, who passed and is the inspiration of Harvey and how Harvey is a way of keeping Poppy alive. I lost my own dog recently, and it is so sweet how the author incorporated her dog into the story.
The story was almost secondary as the characters were each on their own journeys and dealing with life and growth.
I really liked this book, and I liked the author's writing style. I cannot wait for more books! A 5++ rating!!
#MurderbytheSeaside #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co @JackieMBaldwin1
I was always so nervous and worried about the dog, Harvey. Harvey was a great canine character, and I want to thank the author for not putting him in harm's way just to create more drama. He was a sweet doggo!
Sylvia hires Grace to prove that her husband Paul was murdered and did not jump off the roof of his place of work. A great line in the book is how we can never truly see into the heart of another person; that is so true and really makes this book great in trying to figure out if Paul did commit suicide or was murdered.
Grace is also grappling with her own demons and loss, and this made for such a dynamic character that I found myself rooting for and also wanting to shake her.
There are some good "wow" moments and reveals that I did not see coming. And I burst into tears at the end of the book; the scene was both shocking and so good!
Murder by the Seaside definitely had me hooked, and I cannot wait to read more in the Grace McKenna series.
I loved the author's note at the book's end about her dog, Poppy, who passed and is the inspiration of Harvey and how Harvey is a way of keeping Poppy alive. I lost my own dog recently, and it is so sweet how the author incorporated her dog into the story.
The story was almost secondary as the characters were each on their own journeys and dealing with life and growth.
I really liked this book, and I liked the author's writing style. I cannot wait for more books! A 5++ rating!!
#MurderbytheSeaside #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co @JackieMBaldwin1
May 24, 2023
I really enjoyed Jackie Baldwin's previous series so I was beyond excited to have the opportunity to read Murder By The Seaside. This series is classified as more of a "cosy crime" - and there's definitely less blood and guts - but Murder By The Seaside is no less gripping or thrilling.
The protagonist for this series is Grace McKenna, who is just starting out with a private investigating business. I love her character: she's feisty and determined but she is also very vulnerable and she has an absolutely fascinating back story which I loved delving into. The supporting characters should also not be underestimated. Jean and Hannah, Grace's employees, are also incredibly tenacious and just as keen to find some answers as we are as readers, so it's very easy to get sucked into their investigation and not want to turn away until it is solved.
Jackie Baldwin is a fabulous writer and this can be seen in her descriptions of Portobello and the surrounding areas where Grace works. I've never visited Portobello but the description of the sea in particular took me there straight away and I was fully engaged in the action.
Murder By The Seaside is a well plotted novel and I genuinely had no idea where it was going until the final few chapters. There is tension and danger alongside the intrigue and this gives us a fantastic ending!
The novel ends on a very naughty cliffhanger, so I'm very excited to see where the characters go from here.
The protagonist for this series is Grace McKenna, who is just starting out with a private investigating business. I love her character: she's feisty and determined but she is also very vulnerable and she has an absolutely fascinating back story which I loved delving into. The supporting characters should also not be underestimated. Jean and Hannah, Grace's employees, are also incredibly tenacious and just as keen to find some answers as we are as readers, so it's very easy to get sucked into their investigation and not want to turn away until it is solved.
Jackie Baldwin is a fabulous writer and this can be seen in her descriptions of Portobello and the surrounding areas where Grace works. I've never visited Portobello but the description of the sea in particular took me there straight away and I was fully engaged in the action.
Murder By The Seaside is a well plotted novel and I genuinely had no idea where it was going until the final few chapters. There is tension and danger alongside the intrigue and this gives us a fantastic ending!
The novel ends on a very naughty cliffhanger, so I'm very excited to see where the characters go from here.
June 18, 2023
OMG, what a ride! What an ending!
OK, let me start over. I really enjoyed Murder by the Seaside. It was my first book by Jackie Baldwin, and even though some people say it's considered a cozy mystery, I beg to differ. I think it has much depth and touches sensitive topics such as suicide. The spiritual world is also addressed, albeit not as absolute truth.
Grace is an extremely smart private detective who used to be part of the police force until her son apparently drowned and tore her career, marriage and life apart. A body has never been found, so she has been consumed by grief and guilt. In her first case as a PI, she and her 2 undertrained staff members are hired by a woman who claims her husband has been murdered, even though his death was officially considered suicide. The following events and the several strands of the investigation lead to an "only one more chapter" type of story. I could not guess the culprit (but then, I usually don't) and was definitely shocked by the last sentence of the novel. I need more! There's going to be a second installment which I'm already looking forward to reading.
To be honest, it took me some time to get hooked. Maybe it's because I listened to the audiobook version and I thought the narration could have been a little more lively, emphatic, something of the sort. But after a few chapters, I was all in.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
OK, let me start over. I really enjoyed Murder by the Seaside. It was my first book by Jackie Baldwin, and even though some people say it's considered a cozy mystery, I beg to differ. I think it has much depth and touches sensitive topics such as suicide. The spiritual world is also addressed, albeit not as absolute truth.
Grace is an extremely smart private detective who used to be part of the police force until her son apparently drowned and tore her career, marriage and life apart. A body has never been found, so she has been consumed by grief and guilt. In her first case as a PI, she and her 2 undertrained staff members are hired by a woman who claims her husband has been murdered, even though his death was officially considered suicide. The following events and the several strands of the investigation lead to an "only one more chapter" type of story. I could not guess the culprit (but then, I usually don't) and was definitely shocked by the last sentence of the novel. I need more! There's going to be a second installment which I'm already looking forward to reading.
To be honest, it took me some time to get hooked. Maybe it's because I listened to the audiobook version and I thought the narration could have been a little more lively, emphatic, something of the sort. But after a few chapters, I was all in.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
June 19, 2023
I really enjoyed the D.I. Frank Farrell series that Jackie Baldwin has written and so when I saw that she’d written a new series featuring a female detective, Grace McKenna, I decided to give it a try. I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed. Grace McKenna is a very different character from Frank Farrell and with it being set in a Private Eye Agency it is not the standard cosy crime police procedural.
Grace McKenna has had the worst possible year that anyone could experience, her son apparently took his own life, her marriage has broken down and she has left the police force to set up a private eye agency. Her two staff, Hannah and Jean are new to detective work and so Grace is also having to train them as well as work a very difficult and time-consuming case. At times the pressure and stress become almost overwhelming for her and her staff, but they persevere.
I won’t give the plot away, but there are a number of twists and turns and more than one suspect. I liked the novel immensely and found it engrossing and one that I couldn’t put down. It gave a new angle on solving a crime, with at times rather unorthodox methods, that Grace hopefully wouldn’t have been able to use in her previous career in the police. Well done Jackie Baldwin and I look forward to reading the next novel in the series, Murder at Castle Traprain, which I believe is coming in September 2023.
Grace McKenna has had the worst possible year that anyone could experience, her son apparently took his own life, her marriage has broken down and she has left the police force to set up a private eye agency. Her two staff, Hannah and Jean are new to detective work and so Grace is also having to train them as well as work a very difficult and time-consuming case. At times the pressure and stress become almost overwhelming for her and her staff, but they persevere.
I won’t give the plot away, but there are a number of twists and turns and more than one suspect. I liked the novel immensely and found it engrossing and one that I couldn’t put down. It gave a new angle on solving a crime, with at times rather unorthodox methods, that Grace hopefully wouldn’t have been able to use in her previous career in the police. Well done Jackie Baldwin and I look forward to reading the next novel in the series, Murder at Castle Traprain, which I believe is coming in September 2023.
May 18, 2023
After the toughest year of her life, Detective Grace McKenna leaves the police force & opens the Portobello Detective Agency with her assistants Jean & Hannah. When the glamorous widow of renowned psychic Paul Gordon entreats her to investigate his suspicious death, Grace sees a unique opportunity to make a name for the agency. Joining forces with Tobias Sloan – a dapper investigative reporter seeking answers about his wife's tragic passing – their search takes a dark turn when the body of a beautiful young woman is found at a nearby elite golf club. The evidence leads them straight to Merchiston College of Psychic Studies – the very place where Paul Gordon met his grisly end. Uncovering a shocking secret linking the two murders, Grace finds her professional and personal boundaries are beginning to blur.
An interesting start to the series I really liked Grace who is at rock bottom, thank goodness she has Harvey, this case is just what she needs to begin to lift her. The characters have depth whether you love them or hate them, the pace is good & there are plenty of twists & turns which kept me turning the pages & I read this entertaining read in a sitting & I look forward to the next book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
An interesting start to the series I really liked Grace who is at rock bottom, thank goodness she has Harvey, this case is just what she needs to begin to lift her. The characters have depth whether you love them or hate them, the pace is good & there are plenty of twists & turns which kept me turning the pages & I read this entertaining read in a sitting & I look forward to the next book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
June 25, 2023
Murder by the Seaside
Detective Grace McKenna Scottish Murder Mystery #1
Jackie Baldwin
Grace McKenna was a member of the Edinburgh police force; she resigned to be a private detective. She is now the owner of the Portobello Detective Agency. Life hasn’t be easy on Grace; she lost her son and blames herself. The business is struggling but a case comes along that could make or break the business. It could at least put the agency in the black. The widow of Paul Gordon approaches her to investigate his death. He was a well-known psychic. Grace is vulnerable emotionally due to the loss of her son; the case has her surrounded by psychics. She is unsure of who to trust. The clues lead her to Merchiston College of Psychic Studies.
I love most books set in Scottland. There is something about the Scottish countryside that calls my name. Naturally I was eager to delve into this mystery and I wasn’t disappointed. This is the first book in what is sure to become a successful series. I liked Grace, our main character; I wanted more background information but I’m sure that will come with future books in this series. Kudos to Jackie Baldwin on a well written interesting book.
Detective Grace McKenna Scottish Murder Mystery #1
Jackie Baldwin
Grace McKenna was a member of the Edinburgh police force; she resigned to be a private detective. She is now the owner of the Portobello Detective Agency. Life hasn’t be easy on Grace; she lost her son and blames herself. The business is struggling but a case comes along that could make or break the business. It could at least put the agency in the black. The widow of Paul Gordon approaches her to investigate his death. He was a well-known psychic. Grace is vulnerable emotionally due to the loss of her son; the case has her surrounded by psychics. She is unsure of who to trust. The clues lead her to Merchiston College of Psychic Studies.
I love most books set in Scottland. There is something about the Scottish countryside that calls my name. Naturally I was eager to delve into this mystery and I wasn’t disappointed. This is the first book in what is sure to become a successful series. I liked Grace, our main character; I wanted more background information but I’m sure that will come with future books in this series. Kudos to Jackie Baldwin on a well written interesting book.
June 4, 2023
Following the success of her three DI Farrell books, we now have a new sleuth, ex Detective Inspector Grace McKenna. Her back story is gradually introduced without detriment to a very exciting plot that kept me riveted as I delved into the world of psychics and possible charlatans. The vulnerability of the main characters is gently introduced and each has their burden, rarely shared but always felt. The story has a great pace, the usual excellent descriptions of people, places, and atmospheres...plus it's about women testing the boundaries of expectations - both their own and others. The last line hit me like a bolt out of the blue - totally unexpected yet, somehow right as alternatives might well have been trite. It sets the scene for the next book - without being an irritating cliffhanger - just a great sense of rightness and of possibilities...and, of course, drama and conflict! Jackie should be delighted with her latest book and protagonist(s) as it augurs very well indeed and I can't wait for the next one!
June 9, 2023
Murder by the Seaside by Jackie Baldwin, an audiobook narrated by Samara MacLaren is a page-turning story full of twists and secrets.
What started as a simple investigation... Ok, not simple, it was challenging, as Detective Grace McKenna was supposed to find out if psychic Paul Gordon was killed or if it was a suicide. But quickly this case spread as a spider web and become more than complicated. Grace and her team is sucked into such an unpredictable roller coaster and life has been put in danger.
This is just a wonderful first book in the series Detective Grace McKenna. Book full of things we believe or don't believe, loss, grief, and hope. It's not just a detective story. In this book, we unwrapped Grace on a personal level and for sure it's interesting to know what will happen next. I will keep my eye open for the next book!
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a chance to listen to this audiobook! Samara MacLaren did an amazing job! The way how she added accents made it sound so real!
#MurderbytheSeaside #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia
What started as a simple investigation... Ok, not simple, it was challenging, as Detective Grace McKenna was supposed to find out if psychic Paul Gordon was killed or if it was a suicide. But quickly this case spread as a spider web and become more than complicated. Grace and her team is sucked into such an unpredictable roller coaster and life has been put in danger.
This is just a wonderful first book in the series Detective Grace McKenna. Book full of things we believe or don't believe, loss, grief, and hope. It's not just a detective story. In this book, we unwrapped Grace on a personal level and for sure it's interesting to know what will happen next. I will keep my eye open for the next book!
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a chance to listen to this audiobook! Samara MacLaren did an amazing job! The way how she added accents made it sound so real!
#MurderbytheSeaside #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia
June 20, 2023
First impression of this book is that it's written in a style that I like. I do feel like I am missing something of the background. This is the first in a series and it did confuse a bit. I am happy to enjoy the ride as it is well written.
Grace is the main character and she seems to be a competent investigator who is all business when it comes to the job.
Many know I am a huge fan of psychic style books in crime but it's hard to sometimes find a good quality one. While this story has a psychic component but it's not in the investigator that has it but the case that has the tinge of that world.
Grace is a skeptic and it shows in how she reacts to the case she is working on. That skepticism you can see as draining on her as well as her past.
I like finding out more about the past of the characters and in some ways it's more compelling than the story that it is about.
I do find that while it is well written it just feels that the story to me is taking a second place to what I really wanted which was the backstory
Grace is the main character and she seems to be a competent investigator who is all business when it comes to the job.
Many know I am a huge fan of psychic style books in crime but it's hard to sometimes find a good quality one. While this story has a psychic component but it's not in the investigator that has it but the case that has the tinge of that world.
Grace is a skeptic and it shows in how she reacts to the case she is working on. That skepticism you can see as draining on her as well as her past.
I like finding out more about the past of the characters and in some ways it's more compelling than the story that it is about.
I do find that while it is well written it just feels that the story to me is taking a second place to what I really wanted which was the backstory
May 20, 2023
An interesting story with several strands of investigation. Grace, an ex police detective, is now a private detective. She is approached to investigate the supposed suicide of a psychic man, whose wife believes that he was murdered. Grace's own past is also quite complicated as her own son drowned after which her marriage broke up. The plot seemed all over the place in the first part of the book, but it started to make more sense and the different strands came together more as it moved on.
The setting, in the Edinburgh suburb of Portobello, provided the seaside location. Grace and her staff were well described and hopefully in future episodes we will get to know them better. Parts seemed repetitive and did not add much to the story for me ( the repeated conversations with the dog, for example) . I did enjoy the book on the whole though.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will look out for more from this author
The setting, in the Edinburgh suburb of Portobello, provided the seaside location. Grace and her staff were well described and hopefully in future episodes we will get to know them better. Parts seemed repetitive and did not add much to the story for me ( the repeated conversations with the dog, for example) . I did enjoy the book on the whole though.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will look out for more from this author
June 7, 2023
Murder by the Seaside follows the story of bereaved mother, Grace McKenna, who is struggling following the death of her son. Grace has set up her own detective agency and finally gets an exciting case when the widow of a famous psychic wants her to investigate his suspicious death.
Soon, there is another murder and the evidence links the two, leading Grace and her reporter friend to a Psychic College. Grace is forced to face her own demons in order to track down the potential serial killer.
This was the first book in a new series and I already can't wait for the next instalment! I was totally invested in Grace's story and enjoyed reading about her personal life as well as professional.
This book was set in Scotland, which was an ideal location for the story; I easily found myself transported there.
Overall, this book was fast paced and gripping, I can't wait to read what comes next.
My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.
Soon, there is another murder and the evidence links the two, leading Grace and her reporter friend to a Psychic College. Grace is forced to face her own demons in order to track down the potential serial killer.
This was the first book in a new series and I already can't wait for the next instalment! I was totally invested in Grace's story and enjoyed reading about her personal life as well as professional.
This book was set in Scotland, which was an ideal location for the story; I easily found myself transported there.
Overall, this book was fast paced and gripping, I can't wait to read what comes next.
My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.
June 18, 2023
Grace has left Edinburgh police force. She is now the proud owner of a struggling detective agency. She takes a shocking case. She hopes this will take her agency out of the red. But, it does more than that…it puts her and her team lives on the line.
I enjoyed Grace. She is definitely in a bad place in her life. And she struggles every day. But, she does pull through. She has lost her son and she blames herself. This makes her very vulnerable in this story, because she is surrounded by psychics. Psychics are not known for their truthfulness and, one especially, takes advantage of Grace’s vulnerability.
This story has a great many twists and turns and the setting of Edinburgh is wonderful. I loved hearing about Old Town and the Closes (street alleys to Americans.) But, it tends to ramble a bit, in my opinion.
The narrator, Samara MacLaren, is very good. She brought life to all the characters.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
I enjoyed Grace. She is definitely in a bad place in her life. And she struggles every day. But, she does pull through. She has lost her son and she blames herself. This makes her very vulnerable in this story, because she is surrounded by psychics. Psychics are not known for their truthfulness and, one especially, takes advantage of Grace’s vulnerability.
This story has a great many twists and turns and the setting of Edinburgh is wonderful. I loved hearing about Old Town and the Closes (street alleys to Americans.) But, it tends to ramble a bit, in my opinion.
The narrator, Samara MacLaren, is very good. She brought life to all the characters.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
June 18, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Grace McKenna is a private investigator with her own agency. Previously she was a detective, but after the tragic loss of her son Grace left the police force, as well as her husband, and is trying to sort out her life. She is hired to investigate the apparent suicide of a wealthy psychic by his widow, who believes his death was murder. Grace teams up with an investigative reporter who is seeking answers about his own wife's death as the two both seem to be connected to a psychic college.
I found this novel to be very interesting and well planned. This is the first novel in a planned series by Jackie Baldwin. The author did a great job of connecting all her plot points, developing her characters and relationships, and keeping her twists interesting and plausible. I tend to prefer stand-alone books because I don't want to get invested in a series, but I would definitely be interested in the next novel in this series.
Grace McKenna is a private investigator with her own agency. Previously she was a detective, but after the tragic loss of her son Grace left the police force, as well as her husband, and is trying to sort out her life. She is hired to investigate the apparent suicide of a wealthy psychic by his widow, who believes his death was murder. Grace teams up with an investigative reporter who is seeking answers about his own wife's death as the two both seem to be connected to a psychic college.
I found this novel to be very interesting and well planned. This is the first novel in a planned series by Jackie Baldwin. The author did a great job of connecting all her plot points, developing her characters and relationships, and keeping her twists interesting and plausible. I tend to prefer stand-alone books because I don't want to get invested in a series, but I would definitely be interested in the next novel in this series.
May 22, 2023
This is Book One in 'A detective Grace McKenna Scottish Murder Mystery.'
We meet Ex Detective Inspector Grace McKenna, who's live hasn't been easy over the past few years, but things are going to get better. Grace is a strong women and now owner and running Portobella Detective Agency below the flat she shares with Harvey, her golden retriever dog. Grace is asked for help from the widow of Psychic Paul Gordon to find out what happened. This could be just what she needs. With the help from Hannah and Jean her assistants and also Tobias Sloan an investigative reporter, who also wants answers about his wife death, they start asking questions.
What has Merchiston College of Psychic Studies got to do with it? Are these deaths linked? There are plenty of twists in the two cases,
I enjoyed the storyline and the writing style of the author
We meet Ex Detective Inspector Grace McKenna, who's live hasn't been easy over the past few years, but things are going to get better. Grace is a strong women and now owner and running Portobella Detective Agency below the flat she shares with Harvey, her golden retriever dog. Grace is asked for help from the widow of Psychic Paul Gordon to find out what happened. This could be just what she needs. With the help from Hannah and Jean her assistants and also Tobias Sloan an investigative reporter, who also wants answers about his wife death, they start asking questions.
What has Merchiston College of Psychic Studies got to do with it? Are these deaths linked? There are plenty of twists in the two cases,
I enjoyed the storyline and the writing style of the author
June 7, 2023
This is the first in a new cosy crime fiction series. This had me fully intrigued from the first page.
I am really liked the short chapters and found that it was a really easy to read writing style.
I also found that the writing style had me so connected to the characters.
I really liked the main character grace and the side characters including Hannah and Jean. I also love Harvey the dog, he seems so adorable.
It kept me guessing and on my toes throughout and I did not see any of the twists and turns coming.
I will definitely be reading more by this author and can’t wait for the next book in this cosy crime fiction series
Thank you to LBT for allowing me to be a part of this book tour and thank you to LBT, Jackie Baldwin and storm for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am really liked the short chapters and found that it was a really easy to read writing style.
I also found that the writing style had me so connected to the characters.
I really liked the main character grace and the side characters including Hannah and Jean. I also love Harvey the dog, he seems so adorable.
It kept me guessing and on my toes throughout and I did not see any of the twists and turns coming.
I will definitely be reading more by this author and can’t wait for the next book in this cosy crime fiction series
Thank you to LBT for allowing me to be a part of this book tour and thank you to LBT, Jackie Baldwin and storm for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2023
Poor Grace is struggling after the probable death of her beloved son. She is also getting used to her ex having a new partner AND she has started a private detective agency after leaving the police force.
Then, enter Sylvia Gordon, who is not convinced that her husband's suicide wasn't murder and she engages Grace to find out. He was a psychic, which muddies the waters in this case quite a bit, as other psychics from Merchiston College put in their 10 cents worth. What is actual psychic ability and what is just sleight of hand?
A clever book with a lot of twists and turns. I would dearly like to know what happens for Grace next! Enjoyed the last little bit of the book, immensely :)
4.5 stars from me.
Then, enter Sylvia Gordon, who is not convinced that her husband's suicide wasn't murder and she engages Grace to find out. He was a psychic, which muddies the waters in this case quite a bit, as other psychics from Merchiston College put in their 10 cents worth. What is actual psychic ability and what is just sleight of hand?
A clever book with a lot of twists and turns. I would dearly like to know what happens for Grace next! Enjoyed the last little bit of the book, immensely :)
4.5 stars from me.
June 11, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of "Murder by the Seaside," the first in the new PI Grace McKenna series set in Portobello, Edinburgh.
PI Grace McKenna, emerging from a tough couple of years and needing a big break for her new agency, is hired by a widow to prove her husband's suicide was in fact a murder. The case takes Grace and her all-women team into the world of professional psychics and a crew of zealots who are protesting the psychics and their business. Paths cross, twists turn, characters and incidents are never simple or straightforward, and in the end we are left with intersecting heartbreaking stories with an ultimate message of hope. I very much look forward to the next in the series.
PI Grace McKenna, emerging from a tough couple of years and needing a big break for her new agency, is hired by a widow to prove her husband's suicide was in fact a murder. The case takes Grace and her all-women team into the world of professional psychics and a crew of zealots who are protesting the psychics and their business. Paths cross, twists turn, characters and incidents are never simple or straightforward, and in the end we are left with intersecting heartbreaking stories with an ultimate message of hope. I very much look forward to the next in the series.
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