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Poison Politics
Local elections can be brutal… but in Seacastle, they’re murder.When her best friend Ghita Chowdhury throws her hat into the ring for local council elections, vintage shop owner Tanya Bowe eagerly signs on as campaign manager. It should be hand out leaflets, knock on doors, smile at voters. But nothing in the seaside town of Seacastle is ever simple. Between candidates with dubious pasts, whispers of corruption in the council offices, and a town divided over everything from potholes to foxes, this election is heating up fast.
Then Marion Pocock, the formidable head of procurement, collapses at a candidates’ meet-and-greet. What begins as a medical emergency quickly becomes a murder investigation when antifreeze is found in her system. From blackmailed business owners to rival candidates with everything to lose, half of Seacastle seems to have a reason to want Marion gone.
As Tanya digs into Marion’s web of schemes and secret deals, the list of suspects grows longer by the day. And suddenly, Ghita isn’t just competing for votes—she’s become the target of people with nothing left to lose.
With Ghita’s campaign in tatters and a killer on the loose, Tanya must navigate the murky waters of local politics to uncover who wanted Marion dead… and salvage her friend’s hopes of victory.
Can she unmask a murderer before someone else pays the ultimate political price?Fans of Richard Osman’s humour and Agatha Christie’s twists will feel right at home in Seacastle, where coastal crime always comes with a side of cake.
Pre-order Poison Politics today and escape to Seacastle!
Then Marion Pocock, the formidable head of procurement, collapses at a candidates’ meet-and-greet. What begins as a medical emergency quickly becomes a murder investigation when antifreeze is found in her system. From blackmailed business owners to rival candidates with everything to lose, half of Seacastle seems to have a reason to want Marion gone.
As Tanya digs into Marion’s web of schemes and secret deals, the list of suspects grows longer by the day. And suddenly, Ghita isn’t just competing for votes—she’s become the target of people with nothing left to lose.
With Ghita’s campaign in tatters and a killer on the loose, Tanya must navigate the murky waters of local politics to uncover who wanted Marion dead… and salvage her friend’s hopes of victory.
Can she unmask a murderer before someone else pays the ultimate political price?Fans of Richard Osman’s humour and Agatha Christie’s twists will feel right at home in Seacastle, where coastal crime always comes with a side of cake.
Pre-order Poison Politics today and escape to Seacastle!
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
56 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Skinner
28 books69 followersPJ Skinner was born in Guildford, one of seven siblings. When she was six, the family moved to Ireland where she attended school. She went to Trinity College, Dublin University, graduating as a geologist. After graduation, PJ spent 35 years working in over thirty countries as an exploration geologist. PJ worked in many remote, strange, and often dangerous places, and loved every minute, despite encountering her fair share of misogyny and other perils. During this time, she collected the tall tales and real-life experiences which inspired her to write the Sam Harris Adventure Series. The series chronicles the adventures of a pioneering female geologist in an almost exclusively male world.
After finishing the Sam Harris Adventure series, PJ's childhood in Ireland inspired her to write the Green Family Saga, which follows the fortunes of an English family who move to Ireland just before the start of the Troubles, under the name of Kate Foley.
PJ moved to the south coast of England just before the Covid pandemic. There she wrote Mortal Mission, a sci-fi mystery set on Mars, inspired by her fascination with all things celestial. It is a science-based murder mystery; think The Martian with fewer potatoes and more bodies.
The enjoyment of writing Mortal Mission encouraged her to try writing a mystery series. She has always been a massive fan of crime and mystery, so it was inevitable she would turn her hand to it eventually. She published Deadly Return, the first book in the Seacastle Mysteries in July 2023 to great success. The Seacastle Mystery Series is a contemporary cosy mystery series with an amateur female sleuth, her grumpy ex-husband, hacker stepson and ungrateful rescue cat. The ensemble cast adds banter and humour as the series follows their stories between the murder mysteries. Poison Politics, book 10, will be released on the 31st of December 2025.
After finishing the Sam Harris Adventure series, PJ's childhood in Ireland inspired her to write the Green Family Saga, which follows the fortunes of an English family who move to Ireland just before the start of the Troubles, under the name of Kate Foley.
PJ moved to the south coast of England just before the Covid pandemic. There she wrote Mortal Mission, a sci-fi mystery set on Mars, inspired by her fascination with all things celestial. It is a science-based murder mystery; think The Martian with fewer potatoes and more bodies.
The enjoyment of writing Mortal Mission encouraged her to try writing a mystery series. She has always been a massive fan of crime and mystery, so it was inevitable she would turn her hand to it eventually. She published Deadly Return, the first book in the Seacastle Mysteries in July 2023 to great success. The Seacastle Mystery Series is a contemporary cosy mystery series with an amateur female sleuth, her grumpy ex-husband, hacker stepson and ungrateful rescue cat. The ensemble cast adds banter and humour as the series follows their stories between the murder mysteries. Poison Politics, book 10, will be released on the 31st of December 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2026
I was so excited to be heading off back to Seacastle for this, book 10 in The Seacastle Mystery series and couldn't wait to see what was going to present itself for Tanya, Harry and the gang.
Obviously, having read all the previous books so far, I'm pretty hooked on this series now and it felt like coming back home to visit friends.
I loved that in this book we get to see quite a lot of some of our favourite characters, but especially a couple who, although are regulars, haven't really featured heavily in the previous books.
Ghita, our favourite cake lady has been even busier than normal and has decided to stand for local councillor this time around.
Along with a group of dubious characters, she battles to fight prejudice and win her place among the locals.
When one of the other candidates dies after a policy speed dating event, we see Tanya getting involved in solving the case once again and Joe Brennan taking a leading role on the side of the police.
This case proved a tricky one as usual but I love that we're at that stage now where I'm just as invested in the characters' lives as much as I am in the case itself.
I do still think that all these books could be read as a standalone, but there's so much more going on with the character development now, that I feel you'd get so much more out of reading them in order and following each of these side threads fully too.
I loved this case and seeing all of the dodgy dealings within the local council offices. Definitely not too much of a surprise, but still enlightening all the same!
I absolutely could not imagine entering into this world of politics and am really pleased with the outcome of this case, for all concerned.
Another brilliant read - I never doubted it!
The ending was great and leaves us dangling a little in anticipation for the next couple of books which will be concluding the series.
I can't wait to see what's to follow......
Obviously, having read all the previous books so far, I'm pretty hooked on this series now and it felt like coming back home to visit friends.
I loved that in this book we get to see quite a lot of some of our favourite characters, but especially a couple who, although are regulars, haven't really featured heavily in the previous books.
Ghita, our favourite cake lady has been even busier than normal and has decided to stand for local councillor this time around.
Along with a group of dubious characters, she battles to fight prejudice and win her place among the locals.
When one of the other candidates dies after a policy speed dating event, we see Tanya getting involved in solving the case once again and Joe Brennan taking a leading role on the side of the police.
This case proved a tricky one as usual but I love that we're at that stage now where I'm just as invested in the characters' lives as much as I am in the case itself.
I do still think that all these books could be read as a standalone, but there's so much more going on with the character development now, that I feel you'd get so much more out of reading them in order and following each of these side threads fully too.
I loved this case and seeing all of the dodgy dealings within the local council offices. Definitely not too much of a surprise, but still enlightening all the same!
I absolutely could not imagine entering into this world of politics and am really pleased with the outcome of this case, for all concerned.
Another brilliant read - I never doubted it!
The ending was great and leaves us dangling a little in anticipation for the next couple of books which will be concluding the series.
I can't wait to see what's to follow......
February 4, 2026
Poison Politics takes place in a fictional town called Seacastle Bay. There is plenty going on for on, corrupt councillors, murder and a love interest. The local elections whereby several individuals are running for the one spot in the council. Some of the individuals running are corrupt council members. The story is narratored through Tanya Bowe. Her friend Ghita Chowdhury has decided to run for the local election. At one of the events one of the participants for the local council collapses and dies in hospital. Tanya Bowe a former journalist is unable to resist founding out what happened and investigates. Ghita has several moments when she criticise her friend for investigating the murder. There were a few times whereby I was confused. For example through out the story Tanya's ex husband George, (who happens to be a Dective Inspector), as for her help and then later on is shouting at her to stop and let him do his job. I found this rather annoying. Also, when the police found out that Marion Pocock was murdered why didn't they search her home and her office at the council. Or even pick up her belongings from the hospital. Surely that would procedure, even if you knew very little regarding police procedures, they would search through the victim's life.
My favorite quote, it made me smile as well as showing the corruption in that is running rife in Seacastle Bay council
"Being a criminal and a narcissist doesn’t seem like a barrier to getting elected these days,’ I said. ‘It’s our fault for encouraging them by voting."
Whilst I did enjoy the story, Poison Politics is number 11 in the series. Whilst it can be read as a stand alone there are several references to previous books and characters, which can be a little confusing due to the lack of background. However will I back track and read them. In short no.
My favorite quote, it made me smile as well as showing the corruption in that is running rife in Seacastle Bay council
"Being a criminal and a narcissist doesn’t seem like a barrier to getting elected these days,’ I said. ‘It’s our fault for encouraging them by voting."
Whilst I did enjoy the story, Poison Politics is number 11 in the series. Whilst it can be read as a stand alone there are several references to previous books and characters, which can be a little confusing due to the lack of background. However will I back track and read them. In short no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
I received this book for being part of a beta reader group, hence my being able to post a review so soon after the book's publication.
I have read every book in the Seacastle Mysteries series and have enjoyed them all. This book was another well-written addition to the series that definitely had a very surprising twist at the end. If you haven't read books in this series, I can thoroughly recommend them. They are all standalone stories, but you may get more out of them if you read the series from the beginning.
I have read every book in the Seacastle Mysteries series and have enjoyed them all. This book was another well-written addition to the series that definitely had a very surprising twist at the end. If you haven't read books in this series, I can thoroughly recommend them. They are all standalone stories, but you may get more out of them if you read the series from the beginning.
January 23, 2026
I absolutely love the characters in this series #10 and will read every book in the series. Tanya is helping Ghita try to win the local election and one of the constituents dies. Murdered - Tanya has to help Ghita win election and solve a murder to make sure her friend isn’t framed for it.
Love the little town of Seacastle and the characters. Hope there will be more books after this.
Happy 📖Reading
Love the little town of Seacastle and the characters. Hope there will be more books after this.
Happy 📖Reading
January 9, 2026
An enjoyable read.
I waited for this book to come out and I was not disappointed. A clever plot and a few subplots that were very interesting. I didn't figure out who did it early and the ending gave me happy tears. I love the characters and will be waiting for the next book in the series. I don't give 5 stars so 4 stars is high praise.
I waited for this book to come out and I was not disappointed. A clever plot and a few subplots that were very interesting. I didn't figure out who did it early and the ending gave me happy tears. I love the characters and will be waiting for the next book in the series. I don't give 5 stars so 4 stars is high praise.
January 3, 2026
another good tale
Lots of twists and turns before the mystery is solved. I love cross references to previous mystery characters, which helps with consistency.
Lots of twists and turns before the mystery is solved. I love cross references to previous mystery characters, which helps with consistency.
January 9, 2026
One of my favorite series. Great characters and the mystery is always good.
December 8, 2025
For all Ghita would be the most honest politician in the world, is she ready to take on corruption, old boys club, covert/overt racism and political back-stabbing?
I loved getting to see more of Ghita. She is so much more than the cake lady. She is passionate and incorruptible. She cares about her town and its people. She is also naïve on how anything gets done in a council - even having worked for the council for years!
The cast of fellow political nominees has the usual cast of culprits and I really enjoyed loathing them all, except Ghita and one other. They are shiny, suave, sleekit and you can see the slime coating them all - bluuuuurgh.
The "speed dating" for meeting the candidates was a great idea and I'd certainly take part in something like that. But the other shining star in this story is Joe, DI Brennan himself. He's come so far in the books and he's really hit his stride. He finally makes his feelings known and he may even get the girl!
The found family vibes remain strong and the relationship between Mouse, Tanya and Harry just makes my heart happy. I still dislike George - I work with far too many folk like him, LOL. But he is softening a bit and I don't outright loathe him now.
I have been left feeling vindicated in my thoughts that anyone who wants to be a politician should be banned from becoming one! We're left with a happy glow and some great, and very unexpected news. I did guess this early on but I had a good chortle watching the penny drop.
Another great adventure and here's hoping the next adventure isn't too far away!
I loved getting to see more of Ghita. She is so much more than the cake lady. She is passionate and incorruptible. She cares about her town and its people. She is also naïve on how anything gets done in a council - even having worked for the council for years!
The cast of fellow political nominees has the usual cast of culprits and I really enjoyed loathing them all, except Ghita and one other. They are shiny, suave, sleekit and you can see the slime coating them all - bluuuuurgh.
The "speed dating" for meeting the candidates was a great idea and I'd certainly take part in something like that. But the other shining star in this story is Joe, DI Brennan himself. He's come so far in the books and he's really hit his stride. He finally makes his feelings known and he may even get the girl!
The found family vibes remain strong and the relationship between Mouse, Tanya and Harry just makes my heart happy. I still dislike George - I work with far too many folk like him, LOL. But he is softening a bit and I don't outright loathe him now.
I have been left feeling vindicated in my thoughts that anyone who wants to be a politician should be banned from becoming one! We're left with a happy glow and some great, and very unexpected news. I did guess this early on but I had a good chortle watching the penny drop.
Another great adventure and here's hoping the next adventure isn't too far away!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews