I really enjoyed Murder at Gulls Nest which introduced readers to the wonderfully quirky Nora Breen, a former nun looking for an old friend who gets caught up in a murder investigation. I’m delighted that Jess Kidd is continuing with the series in Murder at the Spirit Lounge and with a third instalment (A Pot of Poison) to come in 2027.
Nora Breen is such a fantastic character. Going into the first novel, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a former nun. I needn’t have worried – Nora is an absolute hoot. It’s great to see her develop in this novel as she must now seek work, landing a role as a journalist for the local paper. Nora is exceptionally nosy and not at all afraid to cause a commotion, and so this role suits her very well. And of course, she soon joins Detective Inspector Rideout’s latest investigation, the two angles complimenting each other for now.
And what an investigation it is. Local medium, Doreen Chimes, invites a select few to a séance, including Rideout. The evening ends with a death, and the attendees are gradually picked off one by one in the following days in increasingly bizarre circumstances. There are hints of the supernatural about these deaths, and it doesn’t take long for the residents of Gore-on-Sea to begin rumours of a curse. Nora is having none of it, firmly believing that there is a rational answer, something which pleased me greatly. As the death toll rises, Nora once again becomes involved in, or at least involves herself in, the investigation. And Rideout seems more willing to have her along this time around, with notably less friction between them.
While Nora is as sharp as they come, it seems that she is somewhat naïve in matters of the heart, at least when it comes to the two men vying for her attention. Rideout and Hosmer, two individuals she considers friends, are quickly becoming rivals for her affection. This is nicely handled throughout the novel as the reader can clearly see the attempts at one-upmanship between them and can almost track the points scored on each side, while Nora remains oblivious to it. While I think it’s obvious where it will go (but who knows, maybe Kidd will surprise me?), I enjoyed seeing this subplot play out, and hope to see it developed further in the third novel. While I’m not one for romance in novels, I’m kind of hoping that Nora gets to see some action.
I’m really enjoying this series – Nora is such a wonderfully unique character, and I love the supporting cast of quirky individuals that she finds herself surrounded by. There’s a note of humour running throughout the novel which keeps the tone light even as the body count rises and as our main characters find themselves in peril. While I did work out whodunnit, their motive remained a mystery until the reveal, and I thought that this was a clever and intriguing mystery. I can’t wait for the next Nora Breen Investigates.
About the Book
Sharp-eyed former nun Nora Breen is back, as the latest attraction in Gore-on-Sea turns deadly…
On a brilliant December morning, Nora finds her customary seaside walk rudely interrupted: she’s been summoned, with Detective Inspector Rideout, to the home of Doreen Chimes, Gore-on-Sea’s resident medium. Chimes would like to report a robbery – and to personally invite Rideout to that evening’s private séance.
It’s an invitation he will regret accepting: the evening ends in a suspiciously spooky murder. And in the coming days, more of the attendees will find themselves in peril. Can Nora figure out who – or what – is behind these spectral killings before it’s too late?
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