Postcard from Sunshine

by Steve Murray

A Postcard from the Past
A Murder in the Present

It's 2026 and Reenie Green has lost her sparkle. She didn’t expect to be spending the summer as a widow. Now, her Hayling Island beach hut – and the tight-knit community surrounding it – is her only refuge. An unidentified body found on the beach piques Reenie’s interest. A second murder days later intrigues her. Surely it can’t be a coincidence? Reenie’s investigation leads to the discovery of a cryptic postcard sent from Sunshine Holiday Camp sixty years ago. Who sent the card? What does it mean? How does it link to the murders? With the help of her beach hut neighbours, Reenie is determined to find out.

The sixties aren’t swinging for Mick and Tommy. Two decades ago, they returned from the battlefields as heroes; now, they’re tired, underappreciated and broke. But Mick has a plan. A plan that hinges on the World Cup success of Alf Ramsey’s England. As the nation holds its breath, the two friends prepare for one final adventure: a mission that will take them back to the south coast island where they rehearsed for D-Day. They’re praying for English glory and hoping their luck holds out – but will Mick and Tommy really have the time of their jolly old lives at the Sunshine Holiday Camp?

332 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2026

Reviews

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery set on Hayling Island, blending a present day investigation with events that date back to 1966. As bodies begin turning up on the island, a group of friends decides to investigate the murders themselves, turning their amateur sleuthing into an unexpected hobby. The small town setting and cast of likeable characters give the story a charming, community focused feel.
One of the things that stood out to me was how much it reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club movie. It has the same cozy mystery atmosphere, with ordinary people coming together to solve crimes, balancing intrigue with friendship.
The pacing was slower than I usually prefer and a significant portion of the story revolves around a football championship. Since I am not interested in football, I found those sections less engaging and felt they slow the pace down. Readers who enjoy the sport may appreciate those details more then I did.
Despite that, I enjoyed the mystery itself and liked seeing how the past and present storylines gradually come together.
Overall, the book is an enjoyable cozy mystery with an interesting premise and a pleasant group of amateur detectives.


*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an ARC reader for Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. This is kind of a fun book - fun,because although it is essentially a murder mystery - to start with, the murders spark an investigation by a mixed group of people who own beach huts on Hayling island, Hampshire, England, that are grouped together such a configuration that they have a view of the beach immediately in front of them and each other. When a man is found dead in their section of surf they decide to investigate between them. What follows is a story that goes back to 1966, the world cup at Wembley and the Sunshine holiday camp on Hayling. As a child of the 50s and having spent holidays at such camps and watched the 1966 final this section really resonated with me. However, a carefully planned crime goes disastrously wrong due to a series of events. I enjoyed the characters, with which I could identify, and the way in which the story unfolded. I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys amateur sleuths.