Murder on the Downs

Whitstable Pearl Mystery #7

by Julie Wassmer

'While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl' Daily Mail

Murder on the Downs is the seventh book in Julie Wassmer's popular crime series - now a major Acorn TV drama, Whitstable Pearl, starring Kerry Godliman as private detective and restaurateur, Pearl Nolan.

A controversial new property development is planned in Whitstable which will encroach upon the green open space of the downs, to the dismay of Whitstable residents who view this as the thin end of the wedge with regard to local wildlife conservation.

A campaign springs into life, spearheaded by a friend of Pearl's family, Martha Laker. A committed environmentalist, Martha is no stranger to controversy herself. She has also managed to divide opinion across town, with the locals viewing her as their fearless champion while establishment figures seeing only an interfering agitator.

Tensions escalate between the developers and Whitstable residents, straining Pearl's close relationship with London-born police officer, DCI Mike McGuire, who harbours concerns that the local campaign will spiral out of control. Pearl's loyalties are torn, but the protest duly goes ahead - and newspaper headlines claim a moral victory for the residents in this David and Goliath battle.

But the victory is short lived when Pearl discovers a dead body on the downs...

Praise for Julie Wassmer's Whitstable Pearl Mysteries...

'While Oxford had Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl . . . True to the tradition of classic crime, [Julie Wassmer] weaves a strong story into a setting that has more to offer than murder and mayhem' Daily Mail

'As light as a Mary Berry Victoria sponge, this Middle-England romp is packed with vivid characters' Myles McWeeney, Irish Independent

'All of the thrills without any of the gore' The Sun

'This is a quality title...a very entertaining read' The Puzzle Doctor

'My new favourite author in the genre' George Galloway

'A wonderful way to explore Whitstable . . . if you love cosy mysteries, then get acquainted with Pearl (and her mum and her cats!) and enjoy a trip to Whitstable through the eyes of this very convincing author' Trip Fiction

'Proves she's mistress of her craft' John McGhie, author of White Highlands

'Thoroughly enjoyable with a host of wonderful characters - I adore Dolly! - and evocative descriptions of Whitstable. Perfect for foodies too. Pearl is great and the ongoing will they/won't they love story with McGuire is compelling. Comforting, cosy and entertaining with excellent Agatha Christie-style reveals. I love these books!' Jane Wenham-Jones, author of Mum in the Middle

'If you enjoy cosy crime fiction and you still haven't picked this series, then you are missing out' Alba in Bookland

'Julie Wassmer really knows how to tell a story' Victoria Best, Shiny New Books

'Good, solid whodunits, without gruesome details or gratuitous violence, Murder on Sea may be just your cup of tea' Bec Stafford

'Come to Whitstable without actually coming to Whitstable. A good read!' Anthony Jemmett

Praise for the TV series

'Scandi noir meets the English seaside in Whitstable Pearl, a murder mystery series based on Julie Wassmer's novels...' Drama Quarterly

'...explores all the murder and debauchery in the seemingly perfect English seaside town of Whitstable...' Washington Post

'...you never know what might turn up, either on the menu or alongside an oyster boat.' Wall Street Journal

Genres: Mystery, Crime, British Literature, Fiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2020

About the author

Julie Wassmer is a television drama writer who contributed for almost twenty years to the popular BBC series EastEnders.

She published her autobiography More Than Just Coincidence in 2010, in which she describes finding her long-lost daughter after an astonishing twist of fate. It was voted Mumsnet book of the year.

The Whitstable Pearl Mystery is the first in her series of crime novels, involving multi-tasking private detective-come-restauranteur, Pearl Nolan.

Julie lives in Whitstable and is well known for her environmental campaigning.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Wassmer is the author of the ‘Whitstable Pearl Mysteries’ and this book “Murder on the Downs” is the sixth story in this quintessentially English series. I haven’t read any of these books (although I do own the first and third) but it still reads very easily as a stand-alone. However, I did feel that some previous background knowledge of the characters would have been beneficial to the enjoyment, especially Pearl’s relationship with DCI Mike McGuire. Saying that, I thoroughly connected with the book and how all the cast fit into the story perfectly and I have had my interest piqued enough to go back and start this ‘cozy mystery’ series from the beginning.
Set in the beautiful seaside town of Whitstable in Kent, Pearl Nolan is the owner of The Whitstable Pearl seafood restaurant and her own private detective agency. With a new property development planned on local green space, residents start a campaign to prevent it and when tensions start rising between the developers and a protest camp is formed, accusations of dodgy dealings and conflicts with the DFL’s (the down from Londoners) create antagonism and mistrust. It’s not long before a body is found and Pearl finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation that continues to spiral out of control.
The author has a delightful way of describing the area and the backdrop to the story in very vivid and colourful detail, her obvious love and passion for Whitstable and her own personal environmental campaigning, really shines through in her writing. As a scriptwriter for Eastenders for almost twenty years, she certainly knows how to portray characters, their emotions and relationships and this is visibly seen in this book. I personally haven’t visited the areas and towns mentioned but I actually felt I was there with Pearl as she looked out to sea and walked on the downs.
An exceedingly atmospheric novel that readers young and old can enjoy and a series I will without doubt follow from now on and I also look forward to reading the previous books and catching up on Pearl’s background history.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Many thanks to the TripFiction book club for my copy of the book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Downs is number 7 in the Whitstable Pearl series.

As well as being the owner of the ‘Whitstable Pearl’ a restaurant in Whitstable (Whitstable is somewhere I’ve never been, but would like to visit especially after reading this book), Pearl Nolan also has her private detective agency. As someone who formerly trained with the police but gave it up to become a mother, she still has investigating skills and can’t resist becoming involved, even when it causes conflict with her relationship with Canterbury detective, DCI Mike Maguire.

In this story, the locals are campaigning to try and prevent a property developer from building on land close to the Downs. With legal challenges involved and some hints of rather dodgy dealings, feeling are running high between the local environmentalists and those in favour of the development. When a protest camp is set up at which Pearl’s son Charlie and her mum Dolly participate, matters take a darker turn when a dead body is found. And that won’t be the first.

This is a cozy mystery with a conscience. The author’s knowledge and love for the area of Whitstable and the Downs comes through clearly and the topical subject of the ever increasing need for more homes but being affordable for the locals and built sensitively without spoiling the natural beauty of the surrounding area is prevalent.

Pearl is a conflicted character – as a native to the area, her father was a Whitstable fisherman, she understands the locals dislike of what they call the DFLs – ‘the Down from Londoners’ but as her DCI boyfriend is himself from London, as well as being in the police, she finds herself at times facing the brunt of people’s distrust. However, with the body count rising, and with her inquisitive and at times, impulsive, nature, she can’t help getting involved, even if it means putting herself in situations where she shouldn’t!

It is not easy jumping into a series part way through where the characters are established however in this case I didn’t really feel disadvantaged by not having read the previous stories and I was still able to enjoy it even without the character development. I’m certainly now keen to see how the series started and get to know Pearl from the beginning.

This is an entertaining story, with a strong and sympathetic character in Pearl at its centre, a sense of community spirit (despite the murders!), delicious sounding food, and a wonderful sense of place. If you want a lighter crime read, then this is recommended.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder mystery in WHITSTABLE



Read Julie Wassmer’s latest outing for private detective and restaurant owner Pearl Nolan, and you’ll conjure up an image of Kent’s coastal town of Whitstable being as violent as The Bronx. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In Murder on the Downs, Pearl is stuck between a rock and a hard place. A new property development is on the cards, encroaching upon the green open space of the Downs, a favourite spot for local residents. Soon, Pearl’s son Charlie and her Mum are joining the protest camp, led by force-of-nature environmentalist Martha Laker. But the developers are trying to persuade Pearl to be their mole in the community, putting her in a difficult position with everyone, including on-off boyfriend DCI Mike McGuire of the Canterbury Police.

Tensions escalate, and then the body count starts to rise….

Julie Wassmer has crafted another cosy murder mystery, set in this atmospheric Kent location where she has lived for 20 years. Along with regulars Pearl, Charlie, her Mum and DCI McGuire, we’re introduced to a host of colourful characters on both sides of the argument, at the same time as she deftly airs the real-life conflict of over-development versus opportunities for new homeowners.

‘A tried and tested crime recipe with Whitstable flavours‘ says the Daily Mail. ‘While Oxford has Morse, Whitstable, famous for its oysters, has Pearl.’

Julie has found a successful formula. Her Pearl mysteries are fun and well-crafted, as you’d expect from a professional TV drama writer who worked on Eastenders for almost 20 years. And for lovers of TripFiction, there’s the integral pleasure of the author’s passion for a sense of place:
I love the idea of location becoming almost another character in a novel, and I’m lucky to be able to feature not only a seaside location here in Whitstable, but also beautiful local countryside and the great city of Canterbury just a few miles away.‘

‘I know many readers will never be able to visit Whitstable in person, but I hope reading my books will allow them to feel they can still enjoy a welcome break here on our mysterious coast…‘

The very definition of TripFiction! And for this reader, who spent many of his formative years living in the area, the enjoyment of reading Murder on the Downs was as much about a nostalgic trip back to the region, as it was the story. My heart lifted when one of Julie’s characters ventured somewhere I knew as well as Pearl a lifetime ago. Tankerton, Whitstable, Canterbury, Chestfield, ‘the dual carriageway known locally as the Old Thanet Way‘, Borstal Hill, ‘the Old Neptune – the white clapboard pub that stood on Whitstable beach itself.’

Such happy memories from nigh on 50 years ago…and without all that murder and over-development.

And also looking forward to Murder on the Downs being our TripFiction Book Club read for July & August 2020!

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary slice of Whitstable cosy crime with a sympathetic protagonist.

Murder on the Downs is the seventh instalment in Julie Wassmer’s hugely popular cosy series set in Whitstable featuring early-forties restaurateur and amateur private detective, Pearl Nolan. Not having read any of the previous outings certainly didn’t hinder my enjoyment with the relevant history of Pearl and the recurring cast drip-fed gradually throughout the narrative to bring new readers up to speed.

Pearl has only just returned from a brief city break with her policeman lover, DCI Mike McGuire, a reactively recent transfer form London to Canterbury CID. Having made a pact not to let their work come between them and make time for each other it proves harder than either of them imagined when they return to find the town in the midst of a controversial new housing development on a greenfield site that divides the seaside town. Whitstable Preservation Society have joined forces with dynamic environmentalist and adopted DFL (Down From Londoner), Martha Laker, of the Save Our Downs campaign to prevent Invicta Land, with the approval of the local council, from building.

As locals protest about the supposedly “affordable” development pricing young people out of remaining in their hometown and new homes being sold off to DFL’s, the developers (and McGuire) claim NIMBY-ism and sour grapes about spoilt views. As both sides urge Pearl to take a stance her conscience and heart are divided when her anti-establishment mother, Dolly, and son Charlie join the protest camp to save the land. When one of the figureheads of the protest is murdered and Pearl stumbles on the body things take a decidedly darker turn. As the body count rises is quick succession with both sides of the argument paying with their lives, a third murder by a very different method rocks the town..

Pearl is a well-developed and likeable character with an interesting background and I particularly liked the fact that she only stopped training as a police officer when she discovered she was pregnant giving credibility to her amateur detection. She definitely holds her own when talking through the crimes and motives with McGuire and if anyone lacked the detection skills it was him! I also found myself wishing McGuire had stamped a more distinctive presence on the novel. Things get quite convoluted in the end but there are clues along the way so when the killer is revealed there is a rationale behind the madness, albeit a bit of a stretch to imagine, as is more often that not the case is the world of cosy crime.

My first Whitstable Pearl mystery but certainly not my last and despite cosy crime not being my go-to genre I certainly felt this was a worthwhile encounter. In contrast to some of the genre there was a well thought out plot but not obvious murderer, a brisk pace and a feisty yet sympathetic protagonist who actually wants to detect! A contemporary slice of cosy crime with a real sense of a thriving local community that value where they live and the community they are part of.

[Sarah Rayner · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books never disappoint and living not far from Whitstable and a place I like to visit makes the stories so much more real. Another great plot and I can never manage to guess the killer. Can’t wait for the next one to be published.

[Novel_Natters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy murder mystery with a clever plot that kept me guessing till the end!

I really loved the sense of community. The whole cast of characters are relatable, everyday people and Pearl especially is absolutely brilliant. This was a well-plotted entertaining read, with enough twists to keep you turning the pages.

This novel was the first Whitstable Pearl Mystery but I didn't feel at a disadvantage having not read the previous books it works well as a standalone. That being said I am now off on the hunt for the rest of the series.

A huge thanks to Anne Cater & Constable for sending me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Karen's World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will I ever get the right murderer? I think I get so pulled into the actual story and the places in Whitstable that I miss the clues. Another super ‘who dun it’ from Julie Wassmer under her belt plus I’m sure it will be a best seller. Lots going on plus the news about Pearls romance and what Dolly has been up to. Great reading and perfect for a holiday read or should I say a sit in the garden read as that’s where I read most of this. A big five out of five and a recommendation from me.

[Vanessa-Ann Dowsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please Julie, I loved it. Wish that I could have given more than 5stars

[Puzzle Doctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at classicmystery.blog

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

How have I missed this series? It has complex characters that bring the story to life and an authentic coastal setting. The murder mystery plot has many suspects and twists and a contemporary edge to it.

Pearl is a restauranter and private investigator who lives in Whitstable in Kent. Her relationship with McGuire, a Detective Chief Inspector, is challenging but rewarding. The family dynamics are believable, and there's a host of supporting characters, who bring the story to life.

The author's use of sensual imagery makes the characters, location and story easy to imagine and the story enjoyable.

This is another series that I will be seeking out.

I received a copy of this book from Little Brown Book UK in return for an honest review.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this one. I had saved this up to read as I love the series and Kentish setting. However I found this one slow, with too many shallow characters being introduced and no body until page 114. Perhaps too much time spent on Pearl and McGuire and Pearl's family. After that the bodies kept on appearing, there were a lot of false trails and an exciting denouement.But 3 stars is enough overall. I still look forward to Julie Wassmer's next book.

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very particular detective story this one, considering that we don't even have one victim in the first 100 pages, which, I admit, didn't exactly fly. The other 200, however, I devoured them, also because the number of corpses continued to rise and I still had no idea who the culprit was. Not that I understood it, but I certainly enjoyed reading the book.

Un giallo molto particolare questo, considerato che non abbiamo nemmeno una vittima nelle prime 100 pagine, che, ammetto, non sono proprio volate. Le altre 200 peró le ho divorate, anche perché il numero dei cadaveri continuava a salire e io continuavo a non avere la minima idea di chi fosse il colpevole. Non che poi lo abbia capito, ma sicuramente mi sono divertita a leggere il libro.

THANKS TO THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR FOR THE ARC!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitstable Pearl is a person - a woman who balances her successful oyster restaurant in the town of Whitstable with being a private detective. Pressure is added by her relationship with Detective Chief Inspector Mike McGuire, which is always finely balanced partly owing to her unofficial help with cases of murder in the town. Pearl must also consider her outrageous mother Dolly and her student son Charlie, who returns from Canterbury for the duration of this book. As a committed member of the community as opposed to the DFLs - Down From London - people who fill the town every summer, when a local issue of a proposed housing development comes to the fore, Pearl becomes involved.

Although this is a book in a series, I think it works well as a standalone story. This is an excellent portrait of a town’s politics and concerns when there is a real threat to a well loved piece of land in the countryside surrounding Whitstable, as well as the demand for affordable housing for local people. It is at its heart a murder mystery, with plenty of red herrings for both Pearl and McGuire to consider in their different ways. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this extremely well written book.

The book opens with Pearl and McGuire having just returned from a short break in Bruges, a romantic trip when they promised to find more time to spend with each other in the face of both careers. All too soon they are interrupted by the demands of their lives, as Pearl has to check on her restaurant and McGuire is summoned to work. On her way to work she encounters a protest meeting led by Martha Laker, an activist intent on protecting a greenfield site adjacent to her own house, and Frederick Clark, her uneasy ally in the dispute. When the leaders of the opposition in the form of the developers turn up at the restaurant in the company of an odious council official, Dolly is appalled and Pearl is disturbed to find that her own loyalties may be called into question. As before, Pearl’s family concerns contribute to her confusion in the case, and when a friend becomes embroiled in a violent confrontation her relationship with McGuire seems once again under threat. When the local newspaper and gossip carry all sorts of allegations around the town and surrounding area, Pearl makes discoveries that will shake her confidence in the town that she has felt so much a part of for her entire life.

This is a well plotted book with enough twists and turns to make it a tense and exciting read. I enjoyed particularly the developing character of Pearl, as she faces new challenges from within a community that she knows so well. There is romance, maternal concern and much more in this fast moving story, when the people closest to Pearl remind her of loyalties and experiences in the face of panic. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Whitstable Pearl mystery and recommend it to fans of contemporary mysteries set in a solid and believable community.

[Paterson Loarn · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A controversial new property development is planned in Whitstable, to the dismay of Whitstable residents who view it as a threat to local wildlife. A campaign is spearheaded by Martha Laker, a committed environmentalist and no stranger to controversy. The resulting tensions strain local restaurateur Pearl's close relationship with London-born police officer, DCI Mike McGuire. The protest goes ahead, and residents claim a moral victory. But the victory is short lived when Pearl discovers a dead body on the Downs.’

Murder on the Downs is a delicious summer pudding of a book, and every reader who dips into it will pull out a plum. Set in the exceptionally rich and varied terrain of Kent, UK, with countryside and orchards only a ten-minute drive away from Whitstable town centre, and the great city of Canterbury just eight miles down the road, it features 'indie' producers of vegetables, fruit, bread, cakes, honey, jam, wines and ales. The local economy depends on visitors, but too many of them results in the kind of change that threatens the very nature of the town's charm. Entrepreneur Pearl is a strong and fearless survivor, and I enjoyed cheering her along in her struggle to defend her family, her community and their treasured environment from multiple threats. I recommend 'Murder on the Downs' to Kent enthusiasts, foodies, environmentalists and lovers of cosy crime.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearl Nolan owns a successful restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl and the Nolan’s Detective Agency.

Pearl takes part in a local protest against a property developer’s plans to build new housing on green land. While new housing is desperately needed the locals feel there are better options available.

But when Pearl finds a body on the downs, she begins her own investigation, all the while she is defending her home town of Whitstable. Her family and her relationship with DCI Mike McGuire.

Murder On The Downs is the perfect summer read, a cosy murder mystery with a clever plot and hunger inducing descriptions of delicious sounding foods. A thoroughly entertaining read.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.

[Caroline Venables · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read any of this series before, so I was really pleased to get stuck into this cosy mystery.

The main character Pearl, runs her own restaurant and is also well known for being an amateur detective. The town is up in arms as the go ahead has been given for a development on green belt land. Villagers are forced into action as they fear for the destruction of their land and local wildlife. Pearl’s family join the campaign.

The dispute takes a more deadly turn when Pearl comes across a body. How is it connected to the development?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a proper cosy mystery that made me keep turning the pages. I have never been to Whitstable, but the author conveys this part of the world beautifully, it makes me want to go, despite the dead bodies!

[Claire (c.isfor.claire_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book worked well for me as a stand alone, having not read the previous six in the series. I certainly didn't feel at a disadvantage not knowing the background of main characters beforehand.

I found this an entertaining, easy read with a clever developing plot. Not the usual 'bloody' murder mystery; it was more of a fuzzy, cozy murder mystery. All characters came across as everyday people and all easily relatable.

A departure from my usual crime mysteries but I thoroughly enjoyed this lighter read, and I'm now eager to check out the previous Whitstable Pearl Mysteries in the series.

'𝖠𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗅𝗅𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗋𝖾'

[Dan Harding]

A battle between the printed and the digital world, between the old and the new, and the desire for change versus a need for things to remain the same. With some terrific set pieces and a Hitchcockian denouement, a welcome addition to a developing crime canon.

[Tandy Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am awaiting the next instalment as I find these unlikely but engaging tales utterly therapeutic and I love the setting- post lockdowns I will be bringing the area my tourist custom .

[Amy Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a crime fiction fan, a good cosy mystery is definitely one of my ‘comfy jumper’ genres and Julie Wassmer’s latest Whitstable Pearl Mystery, Murder on the Downs, ticked the box perfectly!

Although this is the seventh in the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries series, I found it relatively easy to jump into Murder on the Downs despite having no prior knowledge of the previous books. Although there are established characters and personal relationships, the mystery itself is entirely self-contained and characters are introduced in such a way as to make it clear how they relate to each other.

Pearl Nolan has taken a step back from the day-to-day running of her restaurant in order to set up her own private detective agency, although she has some reservations about whether her new line of work will add conflict to the tentative relationship she has begun with DCI Mike McGuire. When tensions over a new property development erupt, it isn’t long before a body is found and Pearl and Mike’s skills – and their relationship – are put to the test.

As with many ‘cosy’ mysteries, there are plenty of contemporary issues bubbling away under the surface of Murder on the Downs. Corruption, bribery, prejudice, the housing crisis, and economic inequality are all touched upon as Pearl begins her investigation into the death of a local property developer. So whilst there isn’t any gore on the page, this certainly doesn’t lead to any reduction in tension, with Murder on the Downs placing Pearl and her friends into a number of potentially dangerous situations. Wassmer has a background in writing for television and this shows in the expert way that she maintains tension – creating ‘scenes’ within each chapter, sowing in red herrings, and providing plenty of cliffhangers that kept me turning the pages!

As someone new to the series, it was a little harder for me to immediately engage with the characters. As I said earlier, Murder on the Downs is the seventh in a series and, whilst the plot and mystery is very easy to jump into, it does spend quite a bit of time examining the burgeoning relationship between Pearl and DCI Mike McGuire. As I had no prior knowledge of these characters, I was probably less engaged with this plot strand than I would of been as a long-time reader of the series. That said, by the end of the book, I had come to really like Pearl, Mike and their community of friends and relations – and I was keen to go back and read earlier books in the series to see how their relationships had developed up until this point.

I also really enjoyed Wassmer’s evocative depictions of Whitstable and the Kentish countryside. Sadly I am not familiar with the area in real life but I could imagine the beautiful sweep of the downs and the bustle of the seaside – as well as all the delicious locally grown/caught food that Pearl serves in her restaurant!

Murder on the Downs provides exactly what you want from a cosy summer read – an eclectic mix of characters in a contained (and, for some readers, familiar) setting, an engaging plot, and plenty of twists and turns along. Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this latest addition whilst cosy mystery fans like myself may well discover another series to enjoy!

NB: This review first appeared on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the Blog Tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Mike Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Whitstable Murder Mysteries number seven. I'm completely hooked. It's welcome back to north-east Kent where I was born. A Man of Kent (not a Kentish Man) born east of the River Medway. Julie Wassmer nails it for me, using real locations in and around Whitstable and Canterbury. Number seven in the series is another gem although once again Pearl Nolan, successful restauranteur and sometime private detective, intelligent and perceptive - puts herself in harm's way! You come to expect it as it happens in every plot.

A controversial new property development is planned in Whitstable which will encroach upon the green open space of the downs and, well - the sh*t hits the fan! Opinion is divided across town when a campaign springs into life spearheaded by Martha Laker, a friend of Pearl's family. Needless to say, this unrest is going to result in a murder! The tension strains Pearl's close relationship with DCI Mike McGuire and loyalties are torn...

It's all wonderful stuff, so go on, enjoy a visit to Whitstable and a few oysters at The Whitstable Pearl!

[Philip Maughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've said in a previous review, Whitstable is fast becoming the murder capital of North Kent, and I'm only on Book 7.😁
Today, we are involved in housing development on green land, the ruptions between conservationists and land developers, how the local press is handling it, and a curious man who lives in a hut in the woods!!
As usual, Pearl is at the centre of it all.
And for good measure, DCI Mike McGuire still has the hots for Pearl, and their romance is blossoming, along with a few downs along the way.
These books have got better and better, flowing nicely, and when we come to the denouement, it is captivating in its description (if slightly cliché), but still engrossing as I read it. It was well written.
Reviewers of this genre complain of a lack of jeopardy in "Cosy" mystery books. There is jeopardy here.
I do hope that, in between these books, Pearl gets some counselling.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in this series which while interesting didn't feel as satisfying. For instance only couple of historical facts, rather less than what is fascinatingly usual and while not wanting to dislike the work, it felt,to me at least, like a pot boiler, keeping the characters warm but they didnt so much develop and tango into new forms as dance around into different poses. We get the same description of them as they enter the plot and in this case some of the side characters didn't get that. It's a competent tale, but I felt she has written more integrated puzzles and await what is to come.

[Kathryn A Rodenbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the TV series based on these books but I'm a little disappointed in the books. I do read a LOT of mysteries and I'm getting a bit bored with the amateur sleuths who think they are smarter than the police. Pearl continues to put herself in dangerous situations after making promise after promise to her mother, son and cop boyfriend that she will not. At this point she just seems very self-centered and not a likeable character. I'm not sure if I will continue reading this series.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, compared to some of the previous novels in the series. However, am I the only one who gets a bit angry/annoyed at the way Marty behaves with Pearl? He's like a stalker, he's really creepy but yet Pearl just lets him get away with it, especially in this book? But yet, whenever McGuire does something slightly wrong, Pearl treats him harshly? Maybe it's just me...

[Mezzie Elen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking tale by Julie Wassner. Pearl is someone you would love as your bff, see my previous reviews to read of my love for the setting of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries.
This is number 6 and perfect gift a lazy Sunday or holiday read. Feel Good factor is right up there.
Another Gem. Thank you Julie.

[Jane Shand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearl is getting closer to DCI McGuire, until murder gets in the way - again! With a passionate campaign against a housing development, could this provide the motive? Things get complicated, Pearl and her son are put in danger, there are some wild theories thrown around. I didn’t guess the culprit. Well written, decent characters and strong plot. A good read.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so I have finished book 7. Just as good as all the others and one I never guessed the murderer to be! Now. I have discovered there is a new book published so my reading of this series can continue!

[Sara Tilley · Rating 2 out of 5]

When this series started it was a rather charming homage to its real life location but now it’s becoming a bit too ‘Midsomer’ as bodies pile up amidst quaint festivities.
The story focuses on another Whitstable landmark but it’s embellished beyond recognition which leaves me a little disappointed.
And despite a great assortment of potential villains and victims, it is difficult to picture the murders actually taking place. Disbelief definitely suspended.
At its heart the series has a strong central cast and a photogenic location but I miss the almost-reality of the earlier books.

[Anne Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Reminds me of Agatha Christie but in the present day. I live close to Whitstable but have never visited- maybe this summer.