This is Emma Burstall's fourth book set in the little Cornish seaside village of Tremarnock. I have read and enjoyed all three previous books in the series and have got to know the villagers, but this book, like the rest, can easily be read as a standalone if you are a first-time visitor to the village.

In A Cornish Secret, we meet all the usual Tremarnock characters, with the addition of a few new faces, and we get to know one particular person a little better. The clue to that person's identity is on the book's beautiful cover, for there is Esme's ginger cat lying on the windowsill looking out through the village to the sea. Esme's quiet existence is quite shaken up when an old school friend comes to visit, bringing back memories and slowly revealing a secret from the past. There is a lot more going on in the village though. At the centre of all these stories is Liz and her daughter Rosie. The latter has found a message in a bottle washed up on the beach that, in a round about way, threatens her happy little family and cosy life. Then there is the threat of a housing development that would jeopardise the peace and tranquility of the village. Of course the inhabitants are not going down without a fight over this; once again, we see the tremendous community spirit in the village of Tremarnock.

Esme's storyline this time was really interesting; it took us out of the village and I would never have guessed the secret that emerged. I also really enjoyed witnessing the development in Liz's daughter Rosie, who was quite young in the first book; she is growing up into a young lady now and had her own strong opinions on events in the story. However, her message in a bottle discovery brought a sinister element into her family's life that I really didn't like. I have very much enjoyed this book. Whether you are new to the series or have read one or more of the previous parts, I think it would make a great holiday read. As with previous books in the series, there is a mix of humour and drama. It was good to meet familiar characters and learn a little more about them.