The Rockpool Murder

A stunning Cornish house, a shocking death—can The Shell House Detectives catch a killer hiding in plain sight?

Music legend Baz Carson is ready to welcome his closest friends and family to celebrate his seventieth birthday at Rockpool House, his stunning mansion set high on the cliffs on the Cornish coast. But the festivities come to an abrupt end when Baz is found dead, floating fully clothed in his infinity pool.

Tallulah, a boho-chic Californian and Baz’s first love, is convinced that his death wasn’t an accident. He’s just published his tell-all memoir, and the list of those who might wish him harm is long. But with just eight guests at Baz’s luxury, gated home, who could have killed him—and why?

Tallulah hires Ally Bright and ex-cop Jayden Weston to uncover the truth. It’s a case that becomes a race against time, and one that will push Ally and Jayden to their limits as they draw ever closer to a killer. A killer who’s hiding in plain sight and feels they have nothing to lose…

Publication date (book 3): 19th March 2024

Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.

  • “Kindness dominates this entertaining page turner. Think Cornish Midsomer Murders. Surely a TV series to follow. A total delight.”

    Sarah Winman

  • “A cleverly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable book about dark deeds in beautiful places.”

    Elly Griffiths

  • “An expertly plotted and hugely compelling murder mystery.…Crime fans are in for a treat.”

    Lucy Clarke

  • “This beautifully written cosy mystery packs a real punch! ...If you love Cornwall, you will adore this book.”

    Sarah Pearse

  • “Suspenseful, twisty and unputdownable...Loved it!”

    Claire Douglas

  • “My favourite new crime series. It’s utterly transporting, beautifully written and impeccably plotted. I can’t wait to return to Cornwall with Emylia Hall for the next adventure.”

    Emma Stonex

  • “Beautifully written, gripping, and so atmospheric.…One for fans of Richard Osman!”

    Emily Koch

  • “What a fantastic book this is! Exquisitely written, set in Cornwall, great characters, and a gripping plot.…Who could ask for more?”

    Jill Mansell

  • “Emylia was born to write detective fiction.”

    Veronica Henry

  • “A big-hearted page-turner with twists you won’t see coming and the best pair of amateur sleuths I’ve read in a long time. I loved it!”

    Lucy Diamond

  • “A treat of a book: immersive, suspenseful, full of twists and turns. ...It’s as captivating as a Cornish summer. I loved it.”

    Susan Fletcher

The Harbour Lights Mystery

As The Shell House Detectives try to solve a family mystery, their investigation runs dangerously close to a murder case. Are the two linked?

It’s December in Cornwall, and Mousehole harbour is illuminated with its famous Christmas lights. Ally Bright is among the crowd listening to the carol singers―and then to the piercing screams that rip through the darkness. A body has been found, brutally murdered and dumped in a fisherman’s boat.

The victim is chef JP Sharpe and there is no shortage of people who might have wanted him dead. Eager for a new case for The Shell House Detectives, Ally calls ex-cop Jayden, but he’s keen to leave it to the police―until a letter in Sharpe’s pocket draws them into a seemingly unconnected family mystery. As they take on this highly charged mission, the duo can’t help scrutinising the murder suspects. Who among the close-knit community has reason to kill, and how far will they go to protect themselves?

As fear spreads, Ally and Jayden need answers―fast. Could the letter offer a clue to the murder case or will it reveal a terrible truth? And when a new witness comes to light, Jayden closes in on a desperate killer…but can he warn Ally in time?

Publication date (book 2): 17th October 2023

Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.

The Shell House Detectives

Welcome to the coastal paradise of Porthpella, where murder lurks among the dunes...

Late one night, a distraught young man knocks on the door of Ally Bright’s remote home on the Cornish coast. But before she can make sense of his confused words, he’s gone―not to be seen again until he’s found the next morning at the foot of the nearby cliffs.

In an instant, the peace of Ally’s beachcombing life is shattered. Feeling responsible for the young man’s fate, she wants to help find answers―as does ex-cop Jayden Weston, whom Ally meets at the scene. He shares her certainty that there’s more to the story than attempted suicide. When it emerges that the man is newly released ex-offender Lewis Pascoe, and that Helena, the wealthy new owner of his grandmother’s home, has subsequently disappeared, the tight-knit community of Porthpella is thrown into turmoil.

Driven by their need to know more, the duo decide to investigate the mystery together. Is there a connection between the Pascoe family’s tragic history and Helena’s disappearance?

And if there is a killer stalking Porthpella, do Ally and Jayden have what it takes to catch them?

Publication date (book 1): 1st July 2023

Available to order from wherever you like to get your books.

Other Books

The Book of Summers

A sun-kissed and bittersweet coming-of-age story set in rural Hungary.

“An addictive read and an amazing debut” – Cosmopolitan

A Heart Bent Out Of Shape

A romantic mystery set in wintry Switzerland.

“A crystalline tale... A novel that glints with passion, loss and doubt” – Marie Claire

The Sea Between Us

A story of love, family and creative discovery set on the Cornish coast.

“An extraordinary story by an author who’s fast becoming one of our firm faves” – The Sun, Fabulous Magazine

The Thousand Lights Hotel

A novel of love, loss and redemption set on the Italian island of Elba.

“Pure dreamy escapism” – Fearne Cotton for Stylist.