Blog Tour: Murder on Sea by Julie Wassmer

The festive month is kicking off in style and Pearl is rushed off her feet with her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. She's also busy planning her own family Christmas and providing mulled wine for a charity church fundraiser when Christmas cards begin arriving all over town - filled with spiteful messages from an anonymous writer. 

Pearl's curiosity is piqued but having pledged not to take on a case at her detective agency before Christmas, she reluctantly agrees that Canterbury's DCI Mike McGuire should take over; poisoned pen cards are after all a matter for the police. And with only the church fundraiser now between Pearl and Christmas, she invites McGuire along as her guest. The event appears to be a great success; St Alfred's church hall is packed and Pearl happily finds herself standing close to McGuire beneath some mistletoe . . . but then a guest suddenly collapses. Too much of Pearl's delicious mulled wine - or could it be something more sinister?

The last thing Pearl expects for Christmas is murder but soon the bodies are piling up. Can Pearl possibly solve the mystery in time to make 25th Decemberan unforgettable day - or will the murderer contrive to ensure her goose is well and truly cooked before then?

First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Julie Wassmer's debut, and the first book of this series, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery. So I was quite excited to read the second one and catch up with the lovely Pearl. After solving her first case as a private investigator on summer, she has been slowly building her business while still managing her restaurant.

But now it's almost Christmas time, so Pearl has decided not to take any more cases and focus on spending time with her family during the festive period. But the appearance of some mysterious postcards with malicious Christmas wishes for some of her neighbours and an even bigger crime, a murder, make Pearl rethink about her intentions and she soon finds herself in the middle of an investigation. I love how she always follows her intuition and as Sherlock Holmes, himself, Pearl notices all the little details no one else seems to notice. One little things leads her to another and it's quite obvious that the police detectives, much to their despair, are not on the same high level.

Talking about the police, certain detective is back on Pearl's live after disappearing for a bit and the chemistry between them is palpable. I really enjoyed their interactions and I think their relationship added another dimention to the story.

Murder on Sea follows the classic cosy crime structure, with the author leaving small clues for the reader and a final scene where the brilliant Pearl reveals everything and leaves us all amazed with her obvious talent. I really enjoyed reading it and as with the first book. the setting plays its own role in the story. Even with Christmas around the corner the small coastal town has its own charm and I can't wait for more stories set in Whitstable following Pearl and her lovely lot.

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