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Jackie Baldwin

“A super cosy mystery, best read on a Sunday afternoon with tea and biscuits” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Glued to the pages... the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Portobello, Scotland. Grace McKenna is just back from a hearty breakfast at The Espy seaside pub when a perplexing mystery arrives at her door. Glamorous widow Sylvia Gordon is determined to find the truth about the death of her husband, Paul. Once a local celebrity with supposed psychic abilities, Paul is now the talk of the town after a deadly fall from the tower at a nearby college. The locals believe it was a tragic accident, maybe even a consequence of dabbling too deep into the psychic realm? But Grace has a feeling there's more than meets the eye…

With the help of Tobias Sloan – a dashing English journalist with a keen appetite for mysteries – Grace starts unravelling the puzzle of Paul's last days. As she digs deeper, it becomes clear that plenty of people had reason to want Paul gone. Both his work and home life were rife with long-held grudges… was one of Paul’s trusted friends actually his murderer?

Then, Grace’s search takes a frightening turn when another body is found – this time in the changing rooms of the posh local golf club.

Uncovering a shocking secret linking the two deaths, Grace finds her professional and personal boundaries beginning to blur. She is left to face not only the ghosts of her own past, but also the prospect of a killer stalking the cobbled lanes of Edinburgh. Can Grace uncover the truth before another innocent life is taken?

A totally unputdownable Scottish mystery, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Clare Chase and Frances Evesham.

What readers are saying about this book:

"I freaking loved it... a seriously brilliant page turner that will have you hooked from start to finish." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I burst into tears at the end of the book; the scene was both shocking and so good! Murder by the Seaside definitely had me hooked, and I cannot wait to read more in the Grace McKenna series…I really liked this book, and I liked the author's writing style. I cannot wait for more books! A 5++ rating!!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I absolutely loved this book. Kept me gripped on so many levels." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I have not been so drawn into a book for a long time. So much so I sat up for two nights reading it." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was hooked on this book from page one, and it never dropped me! A compelling, twisty story with rounded, believable characters and a plot that kept me guessing. Even the very last line of the book came as a complete - and fantastic - surprise. I can't wait to read the next thriller with Grace at the helm. Highly recommended!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I’ve found my new favourite series and I’ll be waiting to preorder the next in the series and catch up with Grace and the Gang.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Loved, loved, loved this story. Cannot wait to see what happens next. Will recommend to others.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Glued to the pages... the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping! I can't wait for #2 in the hopefully not too distant future. Highly recommended.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Samara MacLaren

Storm Publishing

A Grace McKenna Mystery

Murder by the Seaside: A completely unputdownable cozy mystery novel

Grace McKenna sits outside the café with her faithful dog Harvey at her feet, gazing over the sea at Portobello Beach. She sneaks Harvey a piece of sausage and he scoffs it happily. Life doesn’t get much better than this, she thinks, turning her face to the early morning sun. But in the shadowy corridors of nearby Castle Traprain, a remorseless killer is preparing to strike… 

Edinburgh, Scotland. It’s been one thing after another for Detective Grace McKenna and her team at the fledgling Portobello Detective Agency, and she’s finally enjoying some peace as the leaves turn and Autumn beckons. But when a wealthy local landowner contacts her about a case so sensitive he can’t even discuss it over the phone, Grace is instantly intrigued.

Russian collector Sacha Komorov lives out of the public eye, despite his immense wealth and marriage to a famous ex-prima ballerina. As Grace gazes at the ominous silhouette of his Scottish estate, Castle Traprain, with its high walls and thrusting turrets, a shiver runs down her spine. Komorov himself is just as forbidding as he discloses the disappearance of a priceless rose-diamond Fabergé egg from his collection. It's an inside job, and he needs Grace to uncover the traitor within his own household.

As Grace dives into the case, her team goes undercover at Castle Traprain to win the trust of the staff. But things take an unexpected turn when Komorov's beautiful and troubled wife, Katya, begs for Grace's help to catch a disturbing stalker. Are the two cases connected? And why does Katya want to keep her husband in the dark about hiring Grace?

The plot thickens when one of the potential suspects is found murdered in the Housekeeper's quarters. It seems this is no ordinary jewel thief. The killer lurking within Castle Traprain will do anything to achieve their ends and, as the tension mounts, Grace and her team find themselves ultimately becoming targets in an increasingly deadly game…

An unputdownable Scottish mystery that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next, perfect for fans of Clare Chase, Faith Martin and Frances Evesham.

What readers are saying about this series:

 “I was engrossed… I’ve found my new favourite series and I’ll be waiting to preorder the next in the series and catch up with Grace and the Gang. ⭐️ The last page was WOW⭐️.” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I was hooked on this book from page one, and it never dropped me! A compelling, twisty story with rounded, believable characters and a plot that kept me guessing. Even the very last line of the book came as a complete – and fantastic – surprise. I can't wait to read the next thriller with Grace at the helm. Highly recommended!” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“There are some good ‘wow’ moments and reveals that I did not see coming. And I burst into tears at the end of the book; the scene was both shocking and so good!... Definitely had me hooked, and I cannot wait to read more in the Grace McKenna series.” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I was impressed! Glued to the pages, I had trouble putting it down… An excellent plot, a great set of mysteries and some special characters. And the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping!” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This was amazing. It had me hooked from the very beginning all the way to the end. I could not put it down it was so good!” Online reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder at Castle Traprain: A totally gripping cozy mystery novel set in Scotland

‘I was engrossed... I've found my new favourite series.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 When young, pretty Eliza Anderson walks through Grace McKenna’s door begging for help finding her missing sister, it sparks the Portobello Detective Agency’s most dangerous investigation to date.

 The trail leads Grace and her team to a plush clinic nestled in Scotland’s remote wilderness. On the surface, Whiteadder House seems too good to be true, offering miracle cures and luxury comfort at no cost. But as they dig deeper, the cracks in its gleaming façade start to show.

 Before long, Grace and her protégée Hannah are fighting to infiltrate Whiteadder’s inner sanctum, going undercover while racing to uncover its dark secrets. Little do they know that Whiteadder’s founders have been buying influence at the highest levels to keep prying eyes away, and this time Grace is not going to get any help from the police. Has her handsome ex-husband Brodie been compromised too?

 With the facility locked down tight and a web of corruption allowing Whiteadder to operate unchecked, Grace must trust her instincts and sacrifice everything to find a way in to save her client’s sister – and, even more difficult, a way out. Then a young woman’s body is found on a nearby beach – could it be linked to the clinic? Grace knows she must find out before more lives are lost...

A totally gripping Scottish cozy mystery. Fans of Clare Chase, Faith Martin and Frances Evesham will love this series. 

What readers are saying about this series:

“A super cosy mystery, best read on a Sunday afternoon with tea and biscuits” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 “Glued to the pages... the last sentence in the book saw my jaw dropping!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Gripping from the start, with twists that will leave your head spinning! An excellent murder mystery… I couldn't put it down.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 “I loved this cozy mystery. I was captivated from the start… intricate characters, and tons of moving pieces which set it apart from others in this genre… had me guessing the whole time… cannot wait for the next.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 "This book was a nail biter and had me hooked from page one. There is a twisty plot, plenty of red herrings, and likeable main characters. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 "Couldn't put it down.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 “An atmospheric and gripping Scottish mystery… this novel unfolds a tale of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected connections… an unputdownable mystery that leaves readers craving more." Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 “Wow what a book! Thank you ever so much for the opportunity to review. I could not put it down.” Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder at Whiteadder House: An absolutely brilliant cozy mystery novel that will have you racing to the end