After the last outing for his sleuth Rachel Savernake, Martin Edwards has given her a holiday by the seaside - one with murder added, of course.

These books deliberately ape the style of golden age fair play detective stories - both in form and setting. The form is beautifully captured. The clues are elegantly laid out and the conclusions justified. Rachel Saverake does sometimes appear to make some implausible leaps in other books. Here the mystery is very fairly played - the clue finder explanation is largely unneeded; the downside is that an astute reader will be ahead at points and the main twist may be too easily guessed.

The setting is nicely drawn again. It is not flawless: a character uses the term ‘Art Deco’ but that. Is a much later term for the style; two women meeting on purely social terms are highly unlikely to have shaken hands in the period. That said, these are small complaints and more noticeable because otherwise the author shows himself to know his golden age milieu very well.

Entertaining stuff.

An enthralling read. Mr Edward writes interesting characters and the story line had me invested to find out what would happen next. The care he puts into setting the scene just makes the story even better.

Whilst Edwards is a “new to me” author, Hemlock Bay is in fact the fifth in the Rachel Savernake series. I was intrigued by the sound of this golden-age inspired mystery and happily read it as a standalone - and I suspect that Savernake is a bit of an enigma even to those who have read the earlier books!

At the outset we meet Basil Palmer and learn that he plans to murder Louis Carson, a man he has never met. He doesnt know where he lives or what he looks like but his quest takes him to the seaside resort of Hemlock Bay in Lancashire. Rachel Savernake buys a painting of the lighthouse in the bay; journalist Jacob Flint is told by a fortune teller that a murder is going to happen in the town. The two of them are sufficiently intrigued to decide to visit - and Savernake soon finds herself with plenty to investigate.

Savernake is an intriguing character who I am keen to know more about - cold and ruthless at times in her quest for justice, she also has a softer side, evidenced by her relationship with Flint and the Trueman family as they all come together to find answers.

What Edwards does so skilfully is weave the multiple strands of the story together.
There are twists and turns galore, no shortage of red herrings and clues scattered throughout - and Edwards helpfully provides a list of those at the end of the book for those armchair detectives who like to be proved right , or for those of us who are less skilled at spotting them! I will certainly be circling back to read more of this series!

Hemlock Bay is the fifth instalment in the Rachel Savernake series, yet it stands confidently on its own, crafting a compelling mystery that intrigues from the outset. The intricate dynamics among Rachel, Flint, and the enigmatic Trueman family add depth, though newcomers may find themselves puzzled by their history and relationships. Rachel, in particular, is a complex character—cold and controlling, with a keen sense of justice that leaves readers wanting to understand her better.

The plot kicks off with Basil, a man intent on murder, armed only with a name: Louis Carson. His pursuit leads him to Hemlock Bay, coinciding with Rachel's journey inspired by a recently acquired painting. As tensions rise and bodies are discovered, the layers of mystery thicken, creating a tapestry of suspense.

The ensemble cast includes both permanent residents and transient figures, each contributing to the unfolding drama. While the clues are skillfully woven into the narrative, their subtlety can leave readers feeling perplexed—until the final pages reveal a treasure trove of hints, prompting a rewarding “aha” moment.

Atmospheric and meticulously plotted, Hemlock Bay may start slowly, but it ultimately captivates with its rich storytelling and engaging twists, making it a delightful read for fans of mystery.

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A puzzling and atmospheric whodunnit set in a secluded coastal resort village during the Golden Age? Well count me in Sherlock !

First let me disclose that I didn't read the previous installments (shame on me !), but that didn't deter from thoroughly enjoying this finely crafted mystery. The characters are very well depicted, and the scene is masterfully set for a series of unfortunate events unfolding in a elegant manner - almost too close to the cozy genre for my taste. If I should find any fault, it is that the twist and turns seemed just a bit too constructed for the enjoyment of the reader, instead of being logically fit into the storyline. This was also confirmed at the end where you can find a list of hints and tips to find solve the mystery called "the Cluefinder". It is very tongue in cheek, and just good fun but I feel it isn't beneficial to the book as a whole.

So yes, it is absolutely very atmospheric, but it lacked a bit of intrigue for my taste.

A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Head of Zeus and Aries Book and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hemlock Bay is fun, entertaining, and is just a pleasure to pick up and read. I spent a few days reading it and I was always excited to get back into the story and carry on attempting to solve the mystery alongside Rachel and the gang.

Set in 1931, this instantly sees the story stand apart from other contemporary crime novels. Not at all graphic or shocking, there’s no ‘against the clock’ chase to catch the killer, but at the same time, the story is completely gripping and addictive. It’s got that classic Christie feel, where you just want to play along with the characters and help them catch the killer. In this case in particular it’s even more fun because there is a #Cluefinder at the end of the book with a number of hints to help you piece together different elements of the case.

Even though this is a Golden Age style detective story, it’s still incredibly complex and has plenty of smaller storylines running alongside the main murder mystery case to get you thinking. It was a real mix of the more emotional reasonings behind the events and pure humour as Rachel, Trueman, Hetty, Martha, Jacob and Inspector Oakes have such a brilliant dynamic.

Hemlock Bay has a lot of characters to keep track of, something which is made even more tricky as you will see that our main suspect is claiming to be somebody else right from the start. It’s definitely a story where you need to keep your concentration the whole way through, but it played on a really unique idea and had plenty of twists and turns to keep this crime fan very happy!

This book is the 5th in the series and can be read as a standalone as I haven't read all of the previous books in the series. The mystery is complex and intricate with the murders that seem impossible to have been committed and left me turning the pages to see where it was going to go next as I didn't succeed in working this one out at all. Another great instalment for all lovers of golden age crime stories. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The first rule of murder: Know your victim…”

A very intriguing Golden Age mystery! This one has little clues dropped out throughout causing you to try to figure it out alongside amateur sleuth Rachel Savernake.

It was very well written and the character development was good. Vivid descriptions made me feel like I was in Hemlock Bay myself.

This is the 5th of the Rachel Savernake series, but can be read as a standalone as I did.

I always love a good whodunnit and this one did not disappoint!

The fifth book in a series Hemlock Bay reads well as a standalone. Off course relationships between characters are always better when you have read the full series, but I had no issues.

I will say that I am gutted that I haven't read any other books by Martin Edwards before now, but that's something I am going to make right and pretty soon.
Hemlock Bay is a very cleverly written mystery novel. I knew I would love it as soon as I started reading. It has an air of the golden age of mystery novels. I couldn't put the book down!

It is full of intrigue, little clues dropped throughout that I picked up on, and some I didn't. This is a marvel of a book! The twists and turns as the story unfolded definitely kept me on my toes. The characters are clearly very well developed,and Rachel, for one, she is amazing. Everything combined together had my mind in overdrive!

To add to the uniqueness of the book ,here is a cluefinder at the back of the book. Just in case the reader misses the clues that are unravelled within the story! I think this idea is a great one. Such a pageturning read.
Thanks to Head Of Zeus and NetGalley for my gifted widget to take part in the tour with my honest review.

Martin Edwards is in fine fettle with this fifth entry in his Rachel Savernake series.

Lovers of the author’s ability to recreate in a dynamic way the forms , trappings and tropes of the Golden Age Detective novel will certainly not feel disappointed. Complete with a comprehensive Cluefinder, this is a compelling read, full, as ever, with larger-than-life characters yet dominated by the presence of the enigmatic Rachel.

I found the last in the series less effective than the others but here Martin Edwards is back in top gear with a testing jigsaw of a plot which tantalises to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the digital review copy

Being back in the company and mind of Rachel Savernake has been wonderful. The way she thinks about the conundrums in front of her is so entertaining. Martin Edwards has again written a thrilling and captivating story full of intrigue and mystery.

I always like the way Martin Edwards includes those little clues, those little links that help us as the reader to follow the thoughts of our intrepid investigators- although I must admit I can’t always keep up with Rachel’s speed of thought.

The relationships between Rachel, Jacob, and the Truemans play such an important role in the stories - the support they provide eachother but also their quick thinking and different skills all come to play.

This is the 5th Rachel Savernack book, written in the style of the golden age of crime. I loved the first two books in the series but somehow managed to miss the next two. I had high expectations for Hemlock Bay and certainly wasn’t disappointed as I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Like the other two Rachel Savernack books this is also a complex mystery, with several strands and plenty of twists and misdirections. It begins with a Prologue. It is July 1930 as an unnamed couple in a basement room in Temple, London hear a newspaper vendor announce the death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. They are discussing death, ending as the man lifts a revolver and squeezes the trigger. Then in January 1931 Basil Palmer makes a New Year resolution – to murder a man he has never met, Louis Carson. But he doesn’t know where he lives, nor what he looks like. This sets in motion a sequence of events, involving numerous people, all with their own agendas, all gathered together in Hemlock Bay.

Hemlock Bay is a seaside resort on the north-west coast of Lancashire. It was originally just ‘a small bay with a splendid beach, flanked by a stretch of sheer cliffs on one side and a tiny secluded cove on the other side of the steep headland‘ and on ‘a treacherous outcrop of rock was an old lighthouse‘. J M W Turner had visited the Bay on a sketching trip and said it was ‘as pretty as Paradise‘. In the past, ships were often wrecked on the shore and contraband was smuggled through a maze of underground passages. But after the end of the First World War it had been developed into a small and select seaside resort. Pleasure Grounds had been built on Hemlock Head, with provision for dancing and all sorts of amusements, known as Paradise, adopting Turner’s description. Jackson, a speculator, and his wife had bought the resort and then opened a new venture, the Hemlock Sun and Air Garden, a nudist club.

Rachel Savernack is intrigued by a surrealist painting of Hemlock Bay depicting a body stretched out below the lighthouse. She and Jacob Flint go to Hemlock Bay, where among others, she meets Virginia Penrhos, the woman who painted the picture, a reclusive doctor named Seamus Doyle, a man named Louis Carson and Basil Palmer under an assumed name. It’s a well plotted novel with interesting characters in a beautiful setting.

Martin Edwards’ Author’s Note at the end of the book is interesting, explaining that although Hemlock Bay is a fictional place it is based on Heysham in Lancashire, overlooking Morecombe Bay (where I enjoyed several holidays as a child). The information in the Heritage Centre in Heysham helped him with the description of Paradise. And the ‘Cluefinder’ at the back of the book listing hints and clues is most enlightening. But I resisted the temptation to read it before I read the book. It is a baffling and most enjoyable murder mystery.

Hemlock Bay is the fifth in the author’s historical crime series featuring amateur detective Rachel Savernake. The publishers are keen to stress the books can be read in any order and it’s true you don’t need to have read all the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. (I’ve only read books three and four.) There are passing references to previous cases (but they don’t amount to spoilers) and to Rachel’s past but, as it happens, she remains a bit of an enigma to even keen followers of the series.

Just what was it about her childhood growing up on the remote Gaunt Island as the daughter of the infamous Judge Savernake that has made her so impenetrable, has given rise to her sudden changes of mood and occasional bursts of anger? All we do know is that it’s inspired a liking for puzzling mysteries – the more impenetrable the better – and a burning passion to see justice done. If that means being a little bit ruthless, employing a good helping of subterfuge or stepping a teeny bit outside the letter of the law – well, the end justifies the means surely?

Rachel may seem a little unapproachable but that doesn’t mean she lacks for admirers, notably crime reporter for the Clarion newspaper, Jacob Flint, although he fears he may have a rival in Inspector Oakes of Scotland Yard. And she has inspired the utmost loyalty in the other members of her household – the Truemans – who act less as servants and more as companions, and as assistants in her crime-solving activities.

I don’t know about you but the name Hemlock Bay gave me negative vibes from the start, hemlock being a deadly poison. Although created as an upmarket resort, there’s something not quite right under the surface. Perhaps it’s the stories of wreckers luring sailors onto the rocks that surround the bay in olden times or a recent tragedy that took place. Or perhaps it’s the fact it’s a place where people can indulge in activities they wouldn’t want made public. Whichever, it’s not long before deaths start occurring, the suspects pile up, alibis are tested, timelines are calibrated and possible motives explored.

Fans of ‘Golden Age’ crime mysteries will love the intricate plot, the murders that seem impossible to have been committed and the familiar tropes of the genre such as the gathering together of all the suspects to reveal the solution. Oh, and the surprise you weren’t expecting – except you were expecting it because there’s always a surprise you weren’t expecting in this sort of story. The cluefinder at the end of the book lists 47 hints in the text that point to the solution. I spotted a couple of potential clues but was way off when it came to working out their relevance. Luckily, Rachel Savernake is on hand to piece it all together for us. Until then, sit back and enjoy being completely bamboozled.

This is the second book in this series that I have read but it could easily be read as a stand-alone. Rachel Savernake is the main character and I love her relationship with her staff. They are treated like family and help Rachel with her investigations. The main setting for this story is a seaside resort in the north of England. There are a number of interesting secondary characters and the murder is quite complex and there are a few surprises. Rachel is also a complex character, she can be kind and caring but at other times quite ruthless. This was a very entertaining read that I just had to keep reading. I received a copy and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book I have read in this wonderful series, and I still can’t solve the mystery!!
Told in a journal form, we meet Basil Palmer, who informs us that he is going to murder a person, a man he has never known, doesn’t know what he looks like, or where he lives, he only knows that this man deserves to die, and his name is Louis Carson.
His search for this man takes him to Hemlock Bay in Lancashire, where Carson and his wife are running a seaside hotel. It attracts stylish and titled persons, it has various attractions including a fortune teller, a beach photographer, and an intriguing barman. There is the added frisson of a naturist beach available for the select guests. Throw in two ladies who have rented out the lighthouse as an artist’s retreat, a retired doctor, and Rachel Savernake and her loyal and devoted staff , and the stage is set for murders, blackmail and poisonings.
Written in the style of the Golden Age thrillers of the 1930’s , this is so full of twisting turns, red herrings and a copious amount of clues, all generously scattered throughout this story, I felt so annoyed that I was only managed to get three correct. These clues are explained at the end, but if you like to be an armchair detective, this novel is absolutely right for you.
As a retired nurse, Ataxia, Veronal and a brand of cream, these clues called out to me. The rest I missed!. Remember that the female of the species is more deadly than the male. A wonderful addition to the series, I have already recommended this to my local book group for next year’s list.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Head of Zeus, for my advance copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. A five star read from a very ingenious author.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

I previously read and enjoyed the eight Lake District books Martin Edwards has written and enjoyed them all with the Lake District being my most visited and enjoyable place in the world. So after a few years away from Martin Edwards writing I eagerly anticipated Hemlock Bay and was certainly not disappointed. I always feel that the places Martin describes are brought to life in my eyes through his writing. It is not difficult to see why he has won awards for his writing. As a big Agatha Christie can of 50 years standing I felt some traits of Agatha Christie were noticeable to me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This is my second book by Martin Edwards and my second Rachel Savenake. I have to say that Edwards knows how to layout a fantastic crime thriller with a few red herrings, a lot of sleuthing and nostalgia to boot. I think I loved Hemlock Bay a little bit more than my previous read but it’s hard not to like.

In Edwards hands we are transported back to the Golden age of crime thrillers, namely in the 1930s. But we aren’t spared the darker side of the nostalgia either. You can expect an accurate representation of the time and characters that are well developed and constrained by the time they live in.

As always the pace is fantastic, we get just enough to keep us hooked and start us working alongside Rachel but not enough that we know what is happening before our protagonist does. While these novels do tow the line of cosy crime there is plenty of grit and darkness in there too. The characters are really what sell these books for me. Rachel is a wonderful protagonist and I would defy anyone not to like her. In short if you love cosy crimes the likes of Miss Maple then Edwards is one you need to read right away.

As always thank you to Head of Zeus for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.

This is my first introduction to reading a book by Martin Edwards. I know, which rock have I been living under, right? It’s one of those names I’ve seen pass by numerous times, but it wasn’t until now that I decided to give his work a go.

That didn’t entirely work out as well as I expected. I had no idea ‘Hemlock Bay‘ is the fifth instalment in the Rachel Savernake series. As far as the mystery part of the story is concerned, that wasn’t an issue. It stands on its own perfectly. However, the dynamics of the relationships between Rachel, Flint, and the Trueman family were another thing altogether. It’s clear there is history between these characters relating to events from the previous books, but obviously I had no idea what was being referred to. The Trueman family connection puzzled me immensely. On the surface, they seem to work for Rachel but their relationship isn’t at all employer/employee. Rachel herself is someone I couldn’t quite warm to. She comes across as rather controlling and cold as ice. Evidently she has a great sense for justice but I couldn’t quite work out what makes her tick.

The mystery is a good one to delve into. A man named Basil is out to murder someone. Slight problem : he doesn’t know a thing about his intended victim. Not even what he looks like. All he has is a name. This man has done him wrong, and Basil intends to make him pay. His search for the man called Louis Carson leads him to a place called Hemlock Bay. Meanwhile, Rachel is also making her way there, purely based on a painting she recently bought. Soon, the first body will be discovered. But who killed them and why?

There are quite a few characters to get acquainted with in Hemlock Bay. Some are there permanently, others are just passing through. But, one way or another, they all have some part to play. I wasn’t able to figure any of it out at all, although I feel like I should have. The clues were definitely there. As is evident from the final pages of the book where all the hints and tips are listed by page, which I absolutely loved. Even if it made me feel rather dumb at having missed so much of it.

‘Hemlock Bay‘ is incredibly well plotted and, despite what I felt was a rather slow start, I was hooked by the mysterious happenings. There’s something rather atmospheric about it all. Not just the surroundings of Hemlock Bay, but the author’s writing as well. It definitely felt as if I was being transported to another time as it has this wonderful golden age crime feeling. I enjoyed the way Rachel and her team split up, made their own enquiries, then came together to talk things over. Even if I felt like I was missing out on something there, they undoubtedly care very much for one another.

I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. I probably would have enjoyed it even more if I had been up to speed with the background stories surrounding the main cast of characters. It didn’t ruin the reading experience, though. If anything, it has made me want to find the other books in this series and start from the beginning.

This is my favourite in this series as it's the more complex, a crime which is announced but we don't know when. WE know that someone is plotting a murder even if we don't know why.
There's plenty of possible culprits, secrets, a place that could be a paradise but it's also full of darknes.
A page turner that I couldn't put down till I read the last page.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

How have I missed out on this series so far?? As soon as I started reading, I knew I was going to love this book! It's reminiscent of the golden age of mystery and has such strong Agatha Christie vibes.

Rachel Savernake has just purchased a surrealist painting depicting a body on a beach in Hemlock Bay. Journalist, Jacob Flint is visited by a psychic that has had a vision of a murder about to be committed in Hemlock Bay. Basil Palmer writes in his diary of his wish to kill a man he's never met and travels to Hemlock Bay to execute his plan.

There are so many different mysteries within the pages of this book that are masterfully woven together. And if you miss the clues as you're reading, there's a handy clue finder at the back of the book to spell them all out. Although this was book five in the series, I had no issue getting into the story so it can definitely be read as a standalone.