Limelight

Enora Andresson #4

by Graham Hurley

Life is dangerous. No one survives it. Enora Andressen makes a series of mind-blowing discoveries when her friend disappears in this compelling thriller set in an idyllic Devon town.

Actress Enora Andressen is catching up with her ex-neighbour, Evelyn Warlock, who's recently retired to the comely East Devon seaside town of Budleigh Salterton. The peace, the friendship of strangers and the town’s prestigious literary festival . . . Evelyn loves them all.

Until the September evening when her French neighbour, Christianne Beaucarne, disappears. Enora has met this woman. The two of them have bonded. But what Enora discovers over the anguished months to come will put sleepy Budleigh Salterton on the front page of every newspaper in the land . . .

Limelight is a completely gripping and fascinating thriller featuring strong characters forced to make impossible decisions, the impact of which will be felt far beyond their quiet town... Perfect for fans of JOHN HARVEY and PETER ROBINSON .

What readers are saying about the Enora Andressen

"A first rate mystery with an exciting premise" Booklist on Off Script "Excellent characterization and plotting . . . I read it in a couple of days and loved it" NetGalley reviewer , 5 stars for Off Script "A very strong series debut . . . An intriguing start to a promising new series" Booklist on Curtain Call

The Enora Andressen series
Book 1: CURTAIN CALL
Book 2: SIGHT UNSEEN
Book 3: OFF SCRIPT
Book 4: LIMELIGHT

Genres: Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Graham Hurley was born November, 1946 in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. His seaside childhood was punctuated by football, swimming, afternoons on the dodgems, run-ins with the police, multiple raids on the local library - plus near-total immersion in English post-war movies.

Directed and produced documentaries for ITV through two decades, winning a number of national and international awards. Launched a writing career on the back of a six-part drama commission for ITV: "Rules of Engagement". Left TV and became full time writer in 1991.

Authored nine stand-alone thrillers plus "Airshow", a fly-on-the-wall novel-length piece of reportage, before accepting Orion invitation to become a crime writer. Drew gleefully on home-town Portsmouth (“Pompey”) as the basis for an on-going series featuring D/I Joe Faraday and D/C Paul Winter.

Contributed five years of personal columns to the Portsmouth News, penned a number of plays and dramatic monologues for local production (including the city’s millenium celebration, "Willoughby and Son"), then decamped to Devon for a more considered take on Pompey low-life.

The Faraday series came to an end after 12 books. Healthy sales at home and abroad, plus mega-successful French TV adaptations, tempted Orion to commission a spin-off series, set in the West Country, featuring D/S Jimmy Suttle.

Launch title - "Western Approaches" - published 2012. "Touching Distance" to hit the bookstores next month (21st November).

Has recently self-published a number of titles on Kindle including "Strictly No Flowers" (a dark take on crime fiction), "Estuary" (a deeply personal memoir) and "Backstory" (how and why he came to write the Faraday series).

Married to the delectable Lin. Three grown-up sons (Tom, Jack and Woody). Plus corking grandson Dylan.

You're very welcome to contact Graham through his website: www.grahamhurley.co.uk

Or direct on seasidepictures@btinternet.com.


Series:
* D.I. Joe Faraday

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: A news summary takes us to the coast of East Devon where, it seems, something rather bizarre has happened. The studio presenter throws to a reporter airborne in a helicopter. He bellows something I can't quite understand and then the camera pans to reveal a vast scar in the cliff face. This stretch of coast, the reporter tells us, is notorious for cliff falls and this one has happened overnight, thousands of tons of rock and soil deposited on the beach. I'm staring at the screen, at the shape of the cliffs. The colour is the giveaway, a rich ochre, pinking the waves that curl onto the beach. Budleigh Salterton, I think. Just where the coastal path runs beside the golf course.

But the cameraman hasn't finished. He's tightening the shot, until all I can see is a close-up of the rubble at the foot of the cliff. At first, I can't make sense of the object in the very middle of the picture. It's oblong, probably man-made. It looks like a long box, and as the cameraman tweaks the focus, I'm guessing it once had a lid. Then, as the shot tightens even further, I feel the blood in my veins begin to ice. It's not a box at all, it's a coffin. And the shrouded object inside, a grubby white, is a body.

ABOUT 'LIMELIGHT': Actress Enora Andressen is catching up with her ex-neighbour, Evelyn Warlock, who's recently retired to the comely East Devon seaside town of Budleigh Salterton. The peace, the friendship of strangers and the town's prestigious literary festival . . . Evelyn loves them all.

Until the September evening when her French neighbour, Christianne Beaucarne, disappears. Enora has met this woman. The two of them have bonded. But what Enora discovers over the anguished months to come will put sleepy Budleigh Salterton on the front page of every newspaper in the land . . .

MY THOUGHTS: I liked but didn't love this mystery with its strong characters and which addresses the topic of assisted death, or euthanasia. Please note: this is not a thriller. And anyone going into this book expecting a thriller will be disappointed.

Limelight is a slow burn, sort of mystery. It is one of those books that really doesn't fit into any particular category. It is topical, but I never became fully invested. It is a story that is told, rather than experienced, and I found some of the devices used in order to make this work a bit of a stretch to believe.

I liked the way both sides of the argument on assisted dying are aired, and also that we are provided with comprehensive information on MND.

This is #4 in a series and, while I haven't read any of the previous books, I don't think that this impacted on my enjoyment. Limelight is easily read as a standalone and, although some incidents in previous books are referred to, they don't impact on this story, and previous relationships are explained.

⭐⭐⭐.1

#Limelight #NetGalley

'Life is a loan.....it comes with strings attached, duties, obligations, responsibilities. One of them is not to waste it.'

THE AUTHOR: Graham Hurley was born November, 1946 in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. His seaside childhood was punctuated by football, swimming, afternoons on the dodgems, run-ins with the police, multiple raids on the local library - plus near-total immersion in English post-war movies.

He is married to the delectable Lin, has three grown-up sons (Tom, Jack and Woody), plus a corking grandson Dylan.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Limelight by Graham Hurley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Limelight, the fourth novel to feature actress Enora Andressen.

Enora is stopped at customs from taking her dead partner Pavel’s ashes to Prague for dispersal so she goes to Budleigh Salterton instead to visit her friend Evelyn. While there she meets and instantly warms to Evelyn’s neighbour, Christianne. Then Christianne disappears and the impact of this on both Enora and Budleigh Salterton is huge.

Limelight is my first dip into the series and while I have read some of the Faraday novels I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I enjoyed it to a certain extent but it is totally different and not my kind of novel. Because Christianne has disappeared there isn’t a provable crime and yet the Police, in the form of DI Bullivant and Operation Bulldog, are determined to find one. The first half of the novel picks apart the community’s grief over her disappearance and its reaction to the aggressive police investigation. The second half finds a body and the investigation ramps up.

The novel is told entirely from from Enora’s first person perspective and this is an interesting approach. Ostensibly an outsider she becomes an insider almost immediately due to her unlikely rapport with Christianne. It seems a bit contrived to me but what do I know about middle class England? The rest of the novel is occupied with Enora and the group of friends’ struggles with the forces of justice who see euthanasia as a crime. It’s fairly obvious where the author stands on the issue but his arguments are less than subtle. The police investigation is a farce that bears little resemblance to the hard truths of modern day policing - no force has the finances to push such a speculative investigation and no detective would be allowed to arrest suspects on such a flimsy and contrived assembly of circumstantial evidence. Yes, it makes for good reading if the reader can suspend their disbelief long enough.

Limelight is not my kind of reading. I liked it well enough but not enough to want to read the other novels in the series.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read most of the Portsmouth police series by this author. This was my first venture into the series about an actress, currently resting after severe illness. I didn't love her, as she is always at a remove from the action in this book, observing police activity from a distance and questioned as a possible suspect without advancing their investigation.
The story revolves around the search for a woman who was suffering from a degenerative illness and who vanishes, presumed drowned at sea. Be warned, the tale includes debates about suicide and assisted suicide under such circumstances.

I will try another book in the series, I might find that more gripping if the protagonist gets to grips with crime solving. In this one, I can't credit her actions with her late lover's laptop. Nor her attitude at the end to the contents.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction and Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Graham’s work for a few years now. I haven’t quite read all of his books to date but I was a huge fan of the Faraday and Winter series and also the series featuring Jimmy Suttle. I must admit that I hadn’t realised that ‘Limelight’ was the fourth book in the series featuring Enora Andressen when I agreed to take part in the blog tour. Not that that made any difference. I read the synopsis for ‘Limelight’ and it certainly intrigued me. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and sat down for what I suspected, would be one hell of a read. I was spot on. I really enjoyed reading ‘Limelight’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘Limelight’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages, I knew that I was going to find it extremely difficult to put this book to one side for any length of time. To say that reading ‘Limelight’ became addictive is a bit of an understatement. I read this book in bursts. If I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book. If I had to put the book to one side for any length of time then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I became so involved in the story that I managed to shut out all other distractions and I was able to focus solely on the story. I also would lose track of time whilst I was reading the book. The pages turned at a fair old rate and I soon got to the end of ‘Limelight’ which I had mixed feelings about. I wasn’t disappointed with how the story ended but I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the characters and the story so much that I just wished the book had continued for longer. I soon cheered up when I realised that I had the first three books in the series to catch up on and I didn’t have to say ‘farewell’ to Enora Andressen just yet.
‘Limelight’ is well written. The author knows how to grab your attention with an intriguing synopsis which tempts you into the story itself. Once Graham has your attention, he won’t let you have it back until you read the last word on the last page. Graham has one of those writing styles that makes the reader feel as though they are in the thick of the action and as though they are part of the story itself. That’s how I felt anyway. Reading ‘Limeliight’ was like being on a very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. ‘Limelight’ is a tightly plotted, well written book that gripped me from start to finish and had me on the edge of my seat pretty much all the way through.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Limelight’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Graham’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Honestly, the turns in the book were beyond my expectations. What starts off as a simple mystery, soon turns into a tale of possible conspiracies and terrorist attacks. The story progresses in such a gripping manner that you wonder how Enora will get herself out of the various predicaments. Some of my memorable scenes in the story is when Bullivant and Brett arrest her because of her past in Syria, or the story she narrates in French about Marcel and his impending death after the Germans captured him.

The author does a wonderful job in maintaining the suspense in this story. Although I have not read the previous three books, I had no trouble reading this as a standalone. The author provides a nice recap in the beginning of what happened earlier. The supporting characters like Andy, Sylvester, Beth and Bullivant also added well to the story. I also liked Enora’s friendship with Christianne (even if Chris appears for just a few scenes). On a side note, I also liked the various French terms I learnt while reading this tale like “dégringolade” and “copine”.

However, the only downside to the story is in the reference to the characters. I get confused at stories that refer to characters on first name basis at certain times, and last names at others. The author did this quite often in the story, diverting my concentration, as I had to remember the full name of the characters.
Apart from that, this was a very nice story, igniting my interest to pick up the previous books in the series.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW

Limelight is book 4 in the Enora Andressen series from Graham Hurley, I have not read the previous books and definitely do feel it would have been best if I had, there was very little background to bring a new reader up to speed so from my personal point I do recommend reading this in series order. 

Enora is stopped at customs whilst trying to take Pavel's ashes to Prague, I need a more fleshed out back story on their relationship as I didn't really understand it - were they once lovers, or only every just friends? Instead of heading home she takes a detour and instead takes the ashes and visits her friend Evelyn in Budleigh Salterton. From here the story is a slow build of friendships with Evelyn's neighbour Christianne, and when she goes missing it starts to pick up the pace. The whole village is shocked by Christianne's disappearance and as the story progresses politics and ethics come into play.

This book covered the hot button topic in euthanasia, it is clear from reading what the authors stance is on this - and I have to admit I have no read much where a story line involves such a topic as people are going to have very strong opinions on the subject whether they agree with how the story plays out.

I enjoyed this book, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting and I do wish I had read the previous ones in - but it gives me an excuse to go back and do so now.

4 stars

[Satabdi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Limelight works as a standalone novel, even though it is the fourth book in the series. I like fast-paced thrillers, but if you want to see how a relatively slow-paced story can still be riveting, you’ve got to pick up this book.

Limelight is full of twists and turns–just when you’re expecting to finally get the answer. It takes great skill to write something so complicated, which, on the surface, looks simple.

I learned quite a few French phrases and words in this book–Enora (the MC) is part-French and the lady who disappears is also French.

The author tends to use people’s first names and surnames alternately throughout the book, and initially that confused me. I was wondering just how many characters there were in this drama! He! He!

When you’re looking for something relaxing yet engaging, this is just the right book. I’d also recommend that you read the other books in the series. I think you’ll get more background on Enora, although the beginning of this story provides enough information for the reader to grasp what’s happening.

(Thank you to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour!)

[Tessa Talks Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Limelight is a slow build mystery with a big message.


What I Liked


I loved how the story covered a hot button topic in euthanasia. Even as modern as medicine is, there are still some diseases that medicine can do very little for, and it is scary. Most of us are lucky, and we will never have to face any of these diseases/disorders. But, how about the ones who do have to face a fate worst than death? The big ethical dilemma still exists about euthanasia and a person's right to choose not to have to endure the unendurable. The story explores both sides of that debate in-depth, and though it is obvious which side the story leans on, it does an excellent job of showing why.

At the beginning and end, it is a story about friendship. I have not often seen the importance of enduring friendships in a mystery novel, so exploring it in Limelight has a refreshing element. Enora and Evelyn have been friends for many years, and watching their friendship throughout the story is heartwarming and gives the reader a message to take with them well after the story ends.

Technically, the story is slow to build – almost atmospheric in that slowness, with a languid pace that belies its thrilling events. The crime does not take place until about a quarter of the way into the story. The police action is contained within the second half, making this book a good choice for people willing to take their time and meander through the mystery with Enora Andressen (the main character). It is in the first person from her perspective.

To Read or Not to Read

If you enjoy stories that explore legal and political gray areas and you don't have to have the roller coaster ride that defines most thrillers, you will enjoy this quiet mystery with a big message.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a different sort of crime thriller to the norm… because at the end of it, I was left wondering if there had actually been a crime.

Enora Andressen, half-French actress, is the narrator of this tale. Thwarted in an attempt to visit Prague to scatter a loved one’s ashes, Enora instead accepts an invitation to visit a friend living in Budleigh Salterton, a quiet coastal village in Devon. There, she meets Christianne, her friend’s neighbour, a Frenchwoman with a fascinating past, and the two become instant friends over the course of a weekend. It’s a couple of days later when Enora receives the shocking news that Christianne is missing, and that she was suffering from motor neurone disease (MND), and is thought to have taken her own life in a bid to avoid the disease’s painful degeneration.

The police, however, are wondering otherwise. To her own astonishment, Enora finds herself questioned as a suspect, accused of conspiring to murder a woman she liked but barely knew. And even her certain knowledge of her own innocence might not be enough to keep her out of jail.

The topic of euthanasia is heavily explored here, as well as the political backdrop in the UK. Anger over the decision to spend enormous amounts of police resources pursuing a case which was, at worst, an assisted suicide, comes into play in a small, tight-knit community. Realistically, I’m not sure I’d actually call it a thriller, because there was never really all that much at stake. Certainly Enora was never in any physical danger, and it was clear that her lawyers were confident no legal case against her would stick. It’s more of a women’s fiction with a few unusual twists and turns.

For the most part I enjoyed it, but there were a few moments when Enora’s inner monologue made her come across as privileged and spoilt - her unkind thoughts about a fat policewoman were something of a slap in the face which made me really not like her. I also really didn’t understand the subplot with her son going to work for a guy selling doomsday superyachts to the mega-rich, and thought it distracted from the main story. The two threads never tied back together at all, which meant all those scenes breach a major rule of storytelling - if a scene doesn’t advance the plot, it doesn’t belong in the story. Maybe it’ll come to something in a later book in the series, but in and of itself that creates a problem… if you need to have read an earlier book to understand a plot point. Although this is the fourth book in the Enora Andressen series, and there were references to earlier happenings, the plot in this one did stand alone quite nicely if you haven’t read any others.

Overall, I’ll give this four stars; the author does a nice job with setting the scene and getting the feel of the town, and introducing an intriguing cast of characters, but I think as a thriller it’s a little underdone and takes a few too many unnecessary diversions from the main plotline.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources.

[Shohinee Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

*So what's the Story?*

'Limelight' starts with a 42 year old woman trying to takes the ashes of the man she loved to Prague. She wants to scatter those ashes at the bridge that was special to him. This woman is the protagonist, Enora Andressen. An actress, by profession.

Alas, Enora isn't allowed to board an airplane with an urn full of ashes. Understandable, considering airport security. But emotional decisions seldom bow down to reason, do they? Air travel out of the picture, Enora plans to go to Prague via road. That is when she recieves an invitation from her friend/ ex neighbour Evelyn. She asks Enora to come and stay with her at a small, quiet seaside town called Budleigh Salterton.

Enora agrees and drives up to Budleigh. In this little known place, she certainly does not accept an adventure. It is idyllic and restful. She befriends Evelyn's neighbour. All seems quite normal. But she starts to observe slight.... anomalies. You know how you can feel something is wrong but can't really put a finger on what?
And then this new friend of Enora suddenly disappears. And suddenly the silent little Budleigh Salterton gains infamy. What follows is a fiercely tangled mess of lies, conspiracies, suspicions, political greed and ultimately....the forever debatable question of what discriminates right from wrong.

*Honest Impressions*

At first, I couldn't quite get into the plot of 'Limelight'. But for that, I cannot assign all the blame to the book. I am a fan of thrillers that jump into the mystery in the first few pages. Limelight, in contrast, is a story that churns out its thrills slowly but steadily. Although, I appreciate the finely tuned build up by author Graham Hurley, it did make me a tad impatient.
It was precisely after I covered 42% of the book, that I really felt as if things started happening. And once they did, no going back. Also, I should mention that the story has a background focus on the dynamic political environment. I personally do not enjoy that. However, as the main plot was intriguing, I was not deterred in my reading experience by this element.

*Reasons to read 'Limelight'*

1. There are multiple story lines running through 'Limelight'. The manner in which Graham Hurley manages to tie them each up in a neat little bow is clever.

2. The enigma of a sleepy town has been captured well through the storytelling style.

3. 'Limelight' successfully highlights the drastic changes and the fluid power of public perception which plays a big part in this story.

4. It is not the sort of thriller we are generally used to. That, I do believe, is a part of the charm.

*Do I recommend it?*

Yes. But I would like to mention this. Although, 'Limelight' can be read as a stand alone, I am of the opinion that it is best read as a part of the series. It feels like readers would be able to get involved in the story more quickly if they are already invested in the protagonist Enora's character.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 in this series and, as for all series, I do recommend you start from the beginning and read in order. Sometime this is not wholly necessary as main stories are usually self-contained, but in this case, the characters are a bit complex and also there's quite a backstory that, although filled in here, is really best read about in its entirety in previous books.
OK so... Enora is visiting ex-neighbour Evelyn down in Budleigh Salterton (lovely place btw). There she meets Evelyn's closest neighbours and hits it off with the wife, Christianne. They go on a long walk together chewing the fat, connected by them both being of French origin. Next day, Enora is due to depart so she tries to say goodbye only to be told by her husband that she is poorly and asleep. A few days later and her husband has reported her missing, presumed dead and, as the police start to investigate, a whole bunch of secrets and lies start to pour out, sending the finger of suspicion of foul play spinning round many of the other neighbours and also Enora too.
I have been a fan of this author for many years - specifically his Faraday and Winter series which is set in the area where I live. That sadly came to an end at around the time he also moved away from Portsmouth. It spurned a spin off starring Jimmy Suttle but I never really gelled with that so I am delighted to have found this series which I absolutely love. Mostly for its larger than life characters - Enora being one! We start when she is trying to take Pavel's ashes to Prague and gets stopped at customs - kinda comedy gold in a really sad sort of a way but it sets the book up nicely. We also have her son Malo and his shenanigans - thankfully for Enora he is a bit better behaved in this book. There is mention of his father H but sadly only in passing.
Anyhow... The mystery in this book - what happened to Christianne was interesting and intriguing and, at the end of the day, extremely well plotted. There were clues along the way, some of which I totally missed, others I invented myself and which came to nothing! Secrets, Lies, Duplicitous Behaviour, Red Herrings, all the stuff you need for this genre book and all delivered in the author's own inimitable way. Through Enora, as the book is told by her in the first person.
Pacing is good. We start off a little slower as the layers are built up, but there is little to no superfluous waffle - description sets scenes rather than being distracting. The action ramps up towards the end, culminating in a conclusion that wholly satisfied.
All in all, a good solid addition to what is now a well established series. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enora is getting into trouble again!!

This is the 2nd book in the series that I have read. I missed out on 1 and 2 but have now read 3 and 4. Although I enjoyed the last book, I found it challenging to pick up on what had happened in the past.

I enjoyed this book far more as I now have learnt a bit about Enora’s chequered past and could appreciate how she manages to find trouble. We start as she is trying to take her long-time love, Pavel’s ashes, to Prague, a place he loved. She is turned back at the airport and decides to visit her best friend, Evelyn, who is now settled in Budleigh Salterton’s town in Devon. The previous book was set in Exmouth. A part of the country obviously loved by the author. Part of this book’s charm is the descriptions of many of the characters living in the area. It is almost as if they are a law unto themselves, which becomes apparent as the book unfolds.

Evelyn’s next-door neighbours are Andy McFaul and Christianne Beavearne, who have been together for 20 years working in Angola, where Andy dealt with landmines and Portugal. They are now settling down in Devon, and Enora feels an instant connection with Christianne mainly because of their shared French heritage. They have a few days together, including a walk where Christianne shows Enora her favourite place. When Enora must return to London, she says goodbye only to be told by Andy that Christianne is sleeping. Enora leaves an invitation with Andy for Christianne to visit her in London and departs.

She is horrified to then discover that Christianne is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and has disappeared. The common consensus is that she has taken her own life before her illness completely overwhelms her. Unfortunately for Enora, Christianne has left her a note, which makes the local police convinced that she was involved in assisted euthanasia. To complicate matters further, Andy has fled, breaking his bail conditions, and it is discovered by the police that Enora has given him a mobile phone.

The story twists and turns and seems to involve so many local people who all adored Christianne. It makes you think about the concept of euthanasia in particular concerning someone suffering from this most horrific of diseases with only a horrendous death to look forward to.

The ending was satisfactory for me but may not be for everyone, but it certainly makes you think about ethics and what I would do if put into this situation either for myself or my loved ones. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to meeting Enora again, hopefully.

Dexter
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review

[Michelle Lamude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially attracted to this book as it’s based in Budleigh Salterton. A lovely little coastal village and somewhere Touring Tails visited on our first motorhome trip.

The story begins with actress Enora Andressen checking in at the airport for a flight to Prague. However, her plans are cancelled when for some reason airport security aren’t happy with her carrying her dead boyfriend’s ashes in her hand luggage!

So instead of Prague, she heads down to Budleigh Salterton for the weekend, following an invite from her friend Evelyn. Just what Enora needed right now, a relaxing weekend away. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be as relaxing as she’d hoped, far from it.

Evelyn takes great delight in showing off her actress friend around the village. Enora is introduced to several of Budleigh Salterton’s wealthy and very charming residents. She also meets Evelyn’s friendly neighbour, and fellow french women Christianne. They hit it off immediate and spend a lovely day touring the village and coastal walks.

What started out as a lovely weekend soon turns sour when Enora finds herself the centre of attention in the village and in hot water with the local police. Apparently, she was one of the last people to see Christianne before she’s reported missing by her husband. The only lead the police have is a note addressed to Enora.

The book sensitively raises awareness of one of many tragic illnesses that modern medicine cannot yet cure. It reminds you of the impact incurable disease can have on the individual, their families, friends and even their community.

This is the fourth book from author Graham Hurley to include Enora Andresson. Limelight can be read as a standalone novel. I haven’t read the previous books and this wasn’t a problem.

I finish reading Limelight with a new-found appreciation of the importance of friendships. Also, that we should have a right to be in control of our lives, right up to the end.

I loved this book. With strong likeable characters and a gripping detective story, I couldn’t put this down. Well worth a read, definitely a 5 stars from me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance eBook copy of Limelight.

[A.J. Sefton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Budleigh Salterton is a quiet and sophisticated town on the edge of the Jurassic Coastline, in East Devon. I visited once and remember the large-pebbled beach and tearooms. Fond memories. So that's the reason I plumped for this novel by a writer I have not read before.

In Limelight, a spur of the moment visit to this little town sees the budding friendship between two French women. The first quarter of the story show the development of this relationship along with their closest friends and neighbours (not forgetting their snake-hipped sons). It's quite slow here but the tranquillity of this lovely place sets the scene for the tragedy that unfolds. The new friend disappears, the assumption being that she is lost in the sea, as she is a eager daily swimmer. A missing person means the police become involved and intense questioning follows. The missing woman is extremely popular and the locals are not keen about telling the police anything that may be perceived as negative. The interviews at the police station at the end of the book are captivating.

A gentle, refined and well-written mystery, this book looks at the choices we have for the end of life, whether that is to spend it 'at the end of the line' in Budleigh Salterton, or in the sea. It also looks at friendship and whether it's defined by time, intimacy, disclosure or keeping promises.

If you get the chance to visit Budleigh Salterton, I recommend a visit. They also hold a rather splendid literary festival, too. Limelight is a great read, which I recommend as well, and is part of a series.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Limelight by Graham Hurley is the fourth book in the Enora Andressen series. I must be truthful and say I never realised this when I accepted the blog tour. I needn't have worried, after the blurb enticing me in, I was prepared to throw myself in head first! The book works well as a standalone, which I was happy with.
Actress Enora loves her home town, the people, the peace and the literary festival that happens as well.She enjoys chatting to her neighbours and making friends with them all.Then one of them disappears, Christianne Beaucarne, a French lady who is one of Enora's friends as well as neighbour. She decides she is going to find Christianne and nothing will stop her, maybe Enora, isn't prepared for what will happen as she investigates this missing friend.
A book that you think is a straight forward mystery story, until you realise it is beginning to become more complicated by the chapter.Before you know it you are on the edge of your seat, reading an intriguing mystery that is becoming more of a conspiracy with the twists and turns in the story.
I enjoyed the characters and feel this is a very character driven plot and they all play their own parts in making this as suspenseful as I found it. I have definitely been missing out on an excellent mystery/suspense series and that, I feel, needs rectifying!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Graham Hurley for my copy of the book today for this review.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Enora Andressen is on her way to Prague with Pavel's ashes but is turned away, not allowed to fly with them. Instead she goes to visit a good friend, Evelyn, in Budley Salterton by the sea. She meets Evelyn's neighbors and has an immediate connection with Christianne, a fellow French woman. When Christianne goes missing, presumed drowned, the village is stunned and a large search is put into action, with no result.
What follows is a mystery that is tense and super readable, I loved it!
Superb writing and absorbing details about politics, euthanasia and a deadly disease make this much more than just a mystery.
I like Enora a lot and, having read all four books now, I'm eagerly waiting for the next in the series. Highly recommended!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
Limelight starts off feeling like it will be simple, and quickly turns into a twisty-turny, conspiracy mystery. The story itself is very intriguing and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I haven’t read the previous books in the series, and think this works fine as a standalone. The characters are well written. Thy felt realistic and their places in the story were necessary to drive the plot forward.
There are times when the characters did get a little confusing and I had trouble keeping up with them.
Overall, a great suspense and worth the read.
Rating:
4/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

[L.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with Enora heading to Prague with her partner’s ashes, only to be stopped at customs and told she can’t take the ashes on board. Rather than leave them behind, she instead leaves the airport and sets off to visit her friend, Evelyn, in Budleigh Salterton.

The opening scenes are beautifully written, drawing me effortlessly into Evelyn’s relaxed lifestyle away from her previous life in London. Enora is welcomed by Evelyn’s friends , especially her French neighbour, Christianne, with whom she can chat in French and enjoy their shared cultural heritage.

Then Christianne disappears. Has she taken her own life? Enora learns that Christianne has Motor Neurone disease, for which there is no cure. But was she so desperate to end her life? Did Christianne’s partner, Andy, know of her plans? Did he help her? Was he alone?

Limelight raise many issues as the police investigate first Christianne’s disappearance, and then later her death. Suspicions abound among the close-knit community and the police seemed determined to find someone to charge with the “crime”. Are Evelyn’s other friends complicit in Christianne’s death? (Evelyn herself is never implicated, yet Enora who has only recently met Christianne is … because of the very close (and French) friendship they had formed. To me, that felt a little forced to propel the plot forward, but as I’ve not read any of this author’s previous books, I don’t whether that is his style of storytelling.

The police investigation is also a little contrived and, for me, seems an unlikely portrayal of how a police force would investigate such a case. That said, with fiction, anything is possible.

This is a slow-burner of a mystery, with a very understated crime at its core. The debate as to whether there has been a crime at all does form a central feature of the story. Of course, it’s a valid discussion point, and I congratulate the author in weaving the theme of euthanasia into his mystery so beautifully.

Limelight is a gentle mystery with a solid message about euthanasia. It encourages discussion well beyond the last page which can only be a good thing. There’s a heart-warming element to the story when looking at how the friendship of Evelyn and Enora has lasted, and how strong the community spirit and commitment to each other is in Budleigh Salterton.

The characters meander through the story, ably assisted by beautiful prose, stunning scenery, and a vibe that is captivating and engaging. Not your average crime mystery at all, but one that will keep you thinking about the story even when you’ve finished reading.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just wasn’t for me. It’s a decent friendship story with a character, Enora who is stopped at customs whilst transporting her dead partner’s ashes and so goes to stay with a friend whose neighbour subsequently disappears. It’s a book in a series that I’ve not followed and this may go some way to explain why I just couldn’t get into the book.
It’s got some interesting elements, not least a philosophical view on euthanasia and it’s well written. Unfortunately, it just didn’t capture me sufficiently and I found it a bit difficult to finish.

Overall though, it’s a 3* good read and thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham Hurley is a great writer. I've been reading his books for over a quarter of a century. His Pompey crime thrillers are now surely classics of the genre. Now, he's moved on to other themes and writes with just as much confidence and mastery.
Enora Andresson is a powerful narrative voice guiding one through a story that couldn't be more timely. It's engaging and endearing and has a beautiful cast of well-written characters.
This year we have surely all been aware of the Doomsday Clock ticking louder than ever but this novel reminds us to cherish life and celebrate our longevity.

[Greville Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth Enora book that Graham Hurley has written in a remarkably short period of time and they are getting better and better.

Her character is developing all the time and I really feel that I’m getting to know her, her son and her friends.

For an actress she seems to get herself into all sorts of scrapes - but without them there’d be no series of books.

I loved Faraday and Winter but this series is really growing g on me.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mystery. multilayered and entertaining.
I love this series and I loved this installment.
It's a bit slow at the beginning but the mystery is solid and full of twists and turns.
Excellent character and plot development.
I liked how the author deals with sensitive topics like euthanasia
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Caroline Venables · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Enora Andressen series. It can easily be read as a standalone though.

When a friend of Enora disappears she endeavours to find out what has happened to the lady.

What she discovers throws her into the middle of a murder investigation. The book concentrates on several themes, euthanasia being one of them.

The book is extremely well written and I really enjoyed the character of Enora. I look forward to reading the others in the series.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absorbing crime novel, dealing sensitively with the topic of euthanasia. The characters are well drawn and engaging, and the setting is appealing. Recommended.

[Joanne Pulham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this

[Catherine]

I tried I really did. 100 pages and bored silly. Graham what are you thinking? Get back to the detectives. This was really monotonous. Gave up but needed to talk about it. So disappointing.

[Cathy Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, nothing very exciting. I enjoy Enora asa character but preferred the previous book with Pavel. Bit of a girly book to me…still I will read the next one in this series

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Limelight has been a breath of fresh air. A busy schedule has meant that I haven’t been reading as much lately – I’d even go so far as to say I had lost motivation. However, picking up Limelight has reminded me just why I love curling up with a good book. It’s a gem of a mystery novel that has been so easy to read because it has a lot of elements I love – a unique plotline, investment into character and world-building, and above all, an easy to read writing style that I couldn’t put down. In addition to all these, the book, particularly the setting, has a sense of familiarity to me.

I grew up in a seaside town much like Budleigh Salterton. Even now I live only a few minutes drive away, but the thing I really relate to in this novel is the sense of community that comes with small places such as this one. The concept of knowing everyone in town, even if just by sight, might seem strange to anyone living in large cities. Living in a place such as this myself though, I can say that the author has portrayed the town and the relationships of the characters within, perfectly.

Up until Christianne’s disappearance, Budleigh Salterton has the quiet, relaxed feel that I know and love. On the island here we have a phrase for it, ‘Traa dy Liooar’, meaning ‘time enough’. Equally, in places like this, any bit of news is a scandal. Christianne’s disappearance and the events that follow will inevitably dominate the headlines...

What also fits with this is the pace of the novel and the amount of characterisation shared with the reader. I enjoy novels with a lot of depth and time taken in bringing the main characters and the setting to life. Limelight in this regard is also right up my street! This also works well to draw the reader into the community. We really get to know each of the characters in their own right, as well as how they interact with each other.

Limelight is a mystery novel with a unique premise. Never before have I come across a mystery with a theme of euthanasia in it. It makes Limelight a unique novel within its genre and I’ve enjoyed reading the arguments and ethics around the debate that come up in the book. Despite the content matter, Limelight isn’t a heavy read at all. I have read this book over the course of a weekend and enjoyed every moment of it! I hadn’t realised it was part of a series when I signed up for the blog tour. Based on how much I enjoyed reading this book, I’m absolutely inclined to go back to the beginning and read the rest of the books!