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.

I loved this mystery, it had elements of being a cosy read but included a lot of dark moments to keep you gripped by the danger,

The story begins with Basil Palmer intending to kill Louis Carson! So how will go about this? He makes a plan to find him and how to pull off the grand scheme? He finds the Carsons at Hemlock Bay running a hotel for the rich and those from the high echelons of society. He travels north using a false name - Dr Seamus Doyle to carry out his plan. In other news, Jacob Flint of The Clarion and Rachel Savernake hear of a fortune teller and his prediction, which intrigues her to go on holiday with the Truemans to Hemlock Bay. The subplots all weave together with a dramatic conclusion. It was well written, full of brilliant characters and locations. It was a page turn of read.

This is the fifth book in the Rachel Savernake series, but the first I have read and, while there were certain references to 'things that had come before' the author did a fine job in making this accessible to new readers while not over labouring everything which has presumably gone before.
As one would expect from Martin Edwards this is a clever, intricate plot wrapped in a highly readable story.
When a fortune teller turns up at a London newspaper with a prediction of a murder to come, Rachel Savernake; amateur sleuth and recent purchaser of a surrealist painting of the very same location is intrigued enough to investigate with her loyal gang and books a cottage to find out more...
There's plenty to find out, too: not least as we learn in chapter one what is really going on with Basil Palmer - a man who has decided to murder Louis Carson (despite not knowing what he looks like or anything about him...)
The setting of an 'upper class' seaside resort (complete with fortune tellers, puppet shows, grand hotel and, gasp, naturalist area, and the various characters living or visiting was fun and the narrative is perfect for those wanting a more 'golden age' crime story - not 'cosy', but not graphic.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and was never anywhere guessing the outcome but it all made sense when revealed - particularly with the inclusion of a Cluefinder section at the end of the book - a feature from Golden age fiction long disused which highlights 46 of the hints expressed in the book (unlike a number of modern set crime books where publishers promise 'jaw dropping twists' which actually feel like cheats, the inclusion of this is a testament to the author's skill in dropping hints throughout but still writing so well you're likely not to have picked up on them.
I really enjoyed this and will definitely be checking out other books in the series.

Hemlock Bay is built on a interesting question: a man called Palmer is planning to kill someone called Carson, but there is a problem. Not that problem, the practical problem - Palmer doesn’t know who Carson is. Savernake finds a way or life finds a way to bring Savernake to Hemlock Bay to solve the crime.
Our expectations prove false, when someone else is murdered.
3.5 stars
Certainly one to enjoy.
Plot 3.5
Characterisation 4
Prose 3.5
The essence, the classic murder mystery feel 4

This is the fifth book in a series, and perhaps that is why the first part seemed a bit slow to me. Already knowing the main characters certainly makes the reading more enjoyable.
More than a cosy mystery, I would call it a classic detective story, à la Agatha Christie. Rachel Savernake is a character who deserves to be known, even though she can come across at first as quite cold and even too drawn to the murders.
Cover is very beautiful.
I really think this series deserves to be read from the beginning, from the first volume entitled Gallows Court.

I have read and enjoyed all of Martin Edwards Rachel Savernake books so far and I really enjoyed Hemlock Bay, the latest in the series. Martin has such an in depth knowledge of the crime fiction genre, in particular, Golden Age crime, and he uses this to great advantage in his writing. I particularly like his placement of clues throughout the book which allows the reader to become really involved in the story.
Rachel is, of course, the central character in the book but the cast of characters are all appealing and Jacob Flint, journalist, makes an admirable sidekick.
The story centres around a strange painting and a fortune teller’s prediction which is enough for Rachel and friends to hot foot it to Hemlock Bay in order to find out what is going on. Murder or murders most foul.
A great continuation to this series, Martin Edwards just gets better and better.

I’ve read a couple of Martin Edward’s’ Rachel Savernake series now and they are by far my favourite of the golden age tributes - he writes ever so slightly modern takes on the 1930s style, with a great sense of mystery and all wrapped up with a ‘cluefinder’ at the end so you can see just how all the conclusions were seeded through the book if only you’d known where to look. Strong set of regular characters, an interesting set of victims and suspects and genuine mystery - it’s a real read through the night for me.

I do love a good Rachel Savernake adventure and loved this one. Cosy but interesting. Good mystery and a really good atmosphere and sense of foreboding.. This author writes lots of good books and writes the intros for the british library books. He's part of the crime fiction most beloved figures and reading this series you can see why.

Rachel Savernake and her trusty cohorts, the various Truemans, are keen to get involved in a mystery at the beautiful Hemlock Bay Resort. The details of the enigma, involving a luxury seaside playground for the better off, a dodgy fortune teller and an expected murder have been brought to them via Jacob Flint, crime reporter on The Clarion newspaper. Taking up residence in a rented cottage on the Hemlock Bay development, the group soon acquaint themselves with locals and holidaymakers alike. With Jacob located in the elegant Hemlock Hotel, they have all bases covered to investigate!

This is a number 5 of the Rachel Savernake series, but the first I have read. Whilst it is ok as a standalone, perhaps some knowledge of past books would have been beneficial. The decision to read was made as I was a bit bored with the usual psychological thrillers and thought this would be a good alternative as I am fond of Agatha Christie type books. Whilst it had an essence of Christie, it was a bit too ‘cosy’ and had that been in the blurb I would have given it a wide berth as even that description annoys me.

The characters were interesting, though some were as subtle as a brick, and the plot good.

All in all it was an ok read, and I did like the Cluefinder at the back, which confirmed the clues I had picked up on.

I imagine this series has a generous and faithful following which I can understand, as it is well written and I’m sure the protagonists grow on you.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries.

This is the latest addition in Martin Edwards's historical Rachel Savernake series in the style of the golden age of crime, allowing the reader to play detective with the carefully placed clues that the author reveals at the end. With its now established set of core characters, it is 1931, in London Rachel has purchased a surreal Hemlock Bay painting by the upcoming surreal artist, Virginia Penrhos, although perhaps not to everyone's tastes. Intriguingly it depicts a body stretched out over Mermaid's Grave. Journalist Jacob Flint has done well, established at the Clarion, envied by other reporters with his uncanny ability to secure career enhancing exclusives, obtained through Rachel's talent in crime solving.

Jacob receives a surprising visitor in his office, Gareth Bellamy aka The Great Hallemby, a fortune teller operating in Hemlock Bay, claiming to foretell a death, a strange scenario that catches Rachel's eye. Her entire household of Cliff, housekeeper Hetty, and Martha set off for the Bay where Rachel has rented a place, allowing them to begin to make inquiries. Jacob has managed to persuade his editor to let him go too. They are a variety of threads and characters they encounter, including Penrhos who is residing at the lighthouse with her companion, Ffion, a retired Dr Seamus Doyle (actually Basil Palmer), intent on murder, and many more. There will be more than one murder.

I struggled more with this series addition, it is becoming a trifle too cosy for me, and I yearned for there to be more character and relationship developments in its central characters. Rachel is becoming a little wearing as the ice Queen Bee, a tad too controlling, with her strong sense for justice, still an enigma, someone who can be relied on to arrive at the intricate solutions to the mysteries at play here. Where the novel was particularly good was in the eventual raising of suspense and tension which I did enjoy very much. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I've read the other books in this series and they are all masterful recreations of the golden age murder mystery, this one no exception. I loved the detailed setting of the story at the upmarket seaside resort of Hemlock Bay, with intriguing period detail. The plot gives further depth to the characters and Rachel Savernake is a compelling and mysterious protagonist. I love the fact that Martin Edwards makes it possible for the reader to detect along with the characters by putting enough clues into the text, and lists them at the end so you can test your acuity.