Emylia Hall – författare

"Atmospheric, suspenseful... A series to be devoured!"—Lucy ClarkeAs 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?

As the Shell House Detectives investigate a mystifying death, they discover rumours, betrayal and murder. Will a decades-old secret finally be unearthed too?"A gripping and propulsive read, with a deliciously dark mystery at its heart."—Lucy ClarkeAt Shoreline Vines, high on the Cornish cliffs, the Harper family are preparing to welcome glamorous investor Celine Chevalier to their vineyard.They desperately need Celine’s backing to keep their business afloat. But everything is jeopardised when a body is found in one of their fields. Police believe the death was a tragic accident but the victim’s family suspect otherwise and turn to the Shell House Detectives to investigate.As Ally and Jayden question the community, they discover that Shoreline Vines has always been shrouded in mystery. There are old rumours about buried bones, and even a curse on the land itself. Are these just local myths or is there something sinister hidden in the vineyard’s past?As tensions reach breaking point, Ally and Jayden must uncover the truth, in a gripping story of family secrets and shocking betrayals.

"A cleverly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable book about dark deeds in beautiful places."—Elly GriffithsWelcome to the coastal paradise of Porthpella, where murder lurks among the dunes…Late one night, a distraught young man knocks on the door of retired and recently widowed 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?

A killer on the loose, and a village gripped by fear. Can the Shell House Detectives save Porthpella?Springtime on the Cornish coast and Porthpella’s artistic community are throwing open their doors, welcoming visitors to the annual Arts Trail. And this year, celebrity artist Harrison Loveday is the guest of honour.However, the light mood soon darkens when there’s a dramatic death at the opening-night party, and after threatening messages start appearing around the village, fear takes over. Before long, Porthpella is shocked by a second brutal murder, and whisperings of a ‘serial killer’ start to circulate.With the press descending on the Arts Trail for all the wrong reasons, the Shell House Detectives find themselves vying with the police to hunt down the killer, fast. As the pair uncover bitter rivalries and hidden agendas, plus a growing list of suspects, the question of who has both the means and the motive makes this the most complex case Ally and Jayden have faced yet.Can the Shell House Detectives stop the Arts Trail Killer before they strike again?

"Atmospheric, propulsive, and menacing . . . the perfect mystery to curl up with this autumn."—Lucy Clarke"Few writers can pull off a devilishly twisting mystery while infusing the story with such soul" —Emma StonexA violent storm. An isolated hotel. A brutal murder. The Shell House Detectives are on the case—and everyone here is a suspect.The High Tide Hotel, overlooking stunning Trebaron Cove, is a dream destination for an autumnal getaway. But the serene atmosphere of this luxury enclave is shattered when the body of a guest is discovered on the terrace, directly below their balcony.The victim's friend is adamant that this was no accident, and when it emerges that the dead man was a detective with a chequered past, the police enquiry intensifies. Meanwhile fellow guest Jayden, one half of the Shell House Detectives, wastes no time in bringing Ally on board to help find the killer.With the hotel cut off by a storm on the night of the murder, everyone at the High Tide is a suspect. As Ally and Jayden delve deeper into the pasts of both guests and staff, they uncover a mass of secrets and complex connections. Who wanted this man dead—or rather, who wanted him dead most? As the tide turns, the investigation leads them into a life-or-death situation. Who will pay the final price for discovering the truth?

A stunning Cornish house, a shocking death—can The Shell House Detectives catch a killer hiding in plain sight?"Sensationally good... I absolutely loved it."—Rosie Walsh“No one does coastal crime like Emylia Hall.” —Lucy ClarkeMusic 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…

Escape to the picturesque Devon countryside and rural Hungary with Emylia Hall, the author of The Shell House Detectives, in this enchanting coming-of-age story.Real readers adore this Richard and Judy Book Club Pick:⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Beautifully evocative'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'In parts wildly exotic; in parts quietly wistful'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Completely enthralled'Beth Lowe has been sent a parcel. Inside is a letter informing her that her long-estranged mother has died, and a scrapbook Beth has never seen before. Entitled The Book of Summers, it's stuffed with photographs and mementos complied by her mother to record the seven glorious childhood summers Beth spent in rural Hungary. It was a time when she trod the tightrope between separated parents and two very different countries; her bewitching but imperfect Hungarian mother and her gentle, reticent English father; the dazzling house of a Hungarian artist and an empty-feeling cottage in deepest Devon. And it was a time that came to the most brutal of ends the year Beth turned sixteen. Since then, Beth hasn't allowed herself to think about those years of her childhood. But the arrival of The Book of Summers brings the past tumbling back into the present; as vivid, painful and vital as ever.⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'I found myself sticking page markers all over the place so I could re-experience the most poetic bits, of which there are many'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'What a glorious read'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A coming-of-age tale with a devastating twist; richly drawn characters bursting from the page and an utterly gripping plot - I was hooked from page one'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'I was swept up in the imagery of the Hungarian summers'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Poignant and engaging'

A snow-filled paradise is the scene for A Heart Bent Out of Shape from Emylia Hall, author of the Richard and Judy book club pick The Book of Summers. Readers of Patrick Gale and Esther Freud will adore this moving and evocative story of a first love, a terrible tragedy and a year that will never be forgotten.For Hadley Dunn, life so far has been uneventful - no great loves, no searing losses. But that's before she decides to spend a year studying in the glittering Swiss city of Lausanne, a place that feels alive with promise. Here Hadley meets Kristina, a beautiful but elusive Danish girl, and the two quickly form the strongest of bonds. Yet one November night, as the first snows of winter arrive, tragedy strikes. Hadley, left reeling and guilt-stricken, beings to lean on the only other person to whom she feels close, her American Literature professor Joel Wilson. But as the pair try to uncover the truth of what happened that night, their tentative friendship heads into forbidden territory. And before long a line is irrevocably crossed, everything changes, and two already complicated lives take an even more dangerous course...

From the author of the Richard and Judy bookclub pick The Book of Summers comes a captivating, moving novel of love and family which will sweep you away to the beautiful coast of Cornwall.In a remote Cornish cove, on one of the last days of summer, Robyn Swinton is drowning. She is saved - just - by local boy Jago Winters, and it is a moment that will change both of them forever.Over the next seven years, Robyn and Jago's paths lead them in different directions, to city streets and foreign shores. Will the bond forged that day Jago dragged Robyn in from the sea be strong enough to bring them back to one another, or has life already pulled them too far apart?

From the author of The Shell House Detectives comes a Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Book Club Pick set in idyllic Italy, for fans of The Garnett Girls.'I loved this book. Such gorgeous, delicate writing' - Kate Riordan'A gloriously intoxicating fairytale - sweet, sensual and sun-drenched. You won't want to leave!' - Veronica Henry''A real beautiful form of escapism' - Fearne CottonWhen Kit loses her mother in tragic circumstances, she feels drawn to finally connect with the father she has never met. That search brings her to the Thousand Lights Hotel, the perfect holiday escape perched upon a cliff on the island of Elba. Within this idyllic setting a devastating truth is brought to light: shaking the foundations upon which the hotel is built, and shattering the lives of the people within it.A heart-breaking story of loss, betrayal, and redemption, told with all the warmth and beauty of an Italian summer.Read readers adore The Thousand Lights Hotel:'An enjoyable escape, written perfectly' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The perfect feast for the mind (literally) whether you're soaking up some sunshine or in need of escapism from day to day life...' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A lovely, romantic story' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A touching tale of love, betrayal and new beginnings, set against the magical backdrop of the Italian island of Elba' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A pure delight' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'Packed with atmosphere, heart and a rising sense of menace.'—Gilly Macmillan'My favourite cosy crime writer.'—Lucy ClarkeA wealthy family. An isolated island. A dead body. Is it a tragic accident or foul play? The Shell House Detectives are investigating again…Lone Island is a remote and windswept spot, but for nature reserve warden Pippa Grant it’s always been a haven. Until a body washes ashore—and she’s the one to find it.The police believe the deceased, Axel Marks, accidentally fell from the cliffs near Porthmerrin House, the grand estate on the mainland where Axel’s mother once served as housekeeper to the Grey family. But Pippa is adamant that there’s more to Axel’s death, and begs Ally and Jayden, the Shell House Detectives, to take the case.Soon it emerges that Axel had a troubled past, and a complicated history with both Edward Grey and his son, Lucas. As the reasons behind Axel’s visit to Porthmerrin become clear, Ally and Jayden feel sure that the house holds the key, and both owners and staff come under scrutiny. But when the police switch their focus back to Lone Island, Ally and Jayden are forced to question whether it’s their client who has something to hide.Was Axel murdered out of jealousy and greed, or because of an ancient betrayal? And how far will the killer go to achieve their ultimate goal? As Ally and Jayden finally bring the devastating truth to light, it’s clear that Axel’s death was just the beginning of the story…