I was immediately drawn to The Sea House by Louise Douglas—its beautiful cover and intriguing blurb set high expectations. Set on the stunning Brittany coast, the atmosphere really brought the story to life. Although it’s the third in the Toussaints Detective Agency series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I do wish I’d known about the first two books beforehand, as I think it would have enriched my experience.

This novel is a gripping, character-driven story filled with complex relationships, secrets, and mystery. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, although at times, I felt the plot drifted. As someone new to Douglas’s work, I did find it a bit challenging to get into, but I’m still keen to explore more.

While the plot didn’t grip me as much as I’d hoped, the gorgeous setting and strong character development were enjoyable. If you love a good detective story with a focus on character dynamics, this one is worth a read.

Feeling quite uneasy after reading this eerie novel, The Sea House!! Louise Douglas certainly has a way of building intense suspense through atmospheric settings and internal dialogue. Not to mention creating a creepy villain! Little by little the plot is eked out to the point I felt as if I was holding my breath too long under water! She provided lots of twists and turns that kept my mind spinning and flipping back and forth as to what might happen next.

When I picked up The Sea House to review, I did not realise it was part of a series. Having not read any of Louise Douglas’s books before, but being aware of her work, this was a new reading experience with this author for me. Now after completing The Sea House, I can verify she definitely knows how to create atmospheric mystery thrillers! It was the cover that caught my attention first and the title. The blurb was intriguing, too. Now that I have read one, I would like to delve into the rest of the Toussaints Detective Agency series and learn more about it. But even though I had not read the previous instalments-- I was still able to follow the recurring characters of Mila and Carter.

The ending left me with a question (as everyone else will see) and certainly made it seem like another book will follow. At least the crime case at the centre of this story was settled by the end with a complete and satisfactory conclusion to the mystery of the missing person of Astrid Oake and the unusual gift that was left to her by friend Elisabeth Quemener. The journey was quite interesting learning about both of these women and the lives they led. Again, the Oake family’s tragic past is not quite as it seems. Mila is determined to unravel this mystery connected to them and a child. This parcel left in a bequest must only be opened by the person it is intended for and we learn why that is so! As the secrets begin to unfold and Mila grasps more of the pieces of the puzzle, her determination to carry out the request is heightened and puts her in danger. But she will stop at nothing to deliver this package. At times it takes precedence over the troubles in her personal life that have been amassing. Distance has brought to light issues between her and her long time fiancé. On top of this, she has become a surrogate mother to her teenage niece since her stepsister and husband have strangely disappeared. But through her relentless detective work, her heart becomes fine-tuned and certain things come into focus: both with the missing person case at work and that of her extended family. With the help of Carter, her associate, shocking realisations are made.

Tragedy runs like a bitter thread through this novel. Severe victim control by a menacing villain is widely covered and left me reeling with disbelief. There are many twists and turns, surprises and alarming events that made me feel edgy. Reading this at night stoked my imagination a bit too much! But the author has delivered her stories well and I do want to know what will come next. 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.

I just love the cover of this book and was immediately drawn in and felt the deep blue set the scene perfectly for a story on the beautiful Brittany coast. The Sea House is book three in the Toussaints Detective Agency series and while I am sure it would be better to have read the earlier books it certainly didn't spoil things for me that I hadn't.

Working at the agency, central character Mila is tasked with giving a parcel to someone - IF she can find them - and if she can't then the parcel must be buried... Such an intriguing premise!

In the midst of the challenge posed by this bequest, other investigations crop up too and Mila finds herself faced with an investigation that is close to her heart and leaves her trying to take care of her niece which isn't always as simple as you might think.

This richly woven story has a lot to offer and takes the reader on a journey that navigates the complexity of relationships, secrets, love and lies all to a backdrop of mystery and detective work, before setting the path for book 4 in this fabulous series.

The Sea House by Louise Douglas is a richly atmospheric story set in France and England. Loaded with unsettling suspense and family dynamics, it is refreshingly different and interesting to follow. But what kept me spellbound is the lovely writing.

Who is Astrid Oake? That was the question on the minds of those who were involved in a missing person case, the specialty of Touissant Detective Agency comprised of Ceci, Mila and Carter. When Madame Quemener died, her bequeath and request were very strange and involved a package. But that's not the only mysterious element. Mila's step sister and husband tragically disappeared and Mila became a mother of sorts to their understandably troubled teen daughter Ani. Layers of nightmares and sorrows followed as investigations and personal lives enmeshed. There are slivers of romance and herbalism, too.

The setting, atmosphere and characterization are colourful and vivid. I enjoyed the ending which caught me off guard.

My sincere thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating novel.

Thank you to Bold Wood Books, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sea House is an atmospheric, suspenseful mystery/ thriller that certainly kept me guessing! The characters were well written and I loved the sweeping settings in Brittany and the UK. With dual storylines involving Mila of the Touissant Detective Agency, I did occasionally find the family mystery involving her step sister and husband a bit lagging behind though. The twists and surprise reveal was great!

Beautifully written this is the third in a series by Louise Douglas.Emotionally moving great characters I was completely drawn in to the story.

I loved this book, such a wonderful story, so thrilling and interesting. I raced through this as I wanted to find out the outcome. I loved Louise's books very much. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Although this turned out to be the third book in a series it was perfectly easily read as a stand alone. Based in Brittany and the UK the main character is Mila a young English woman who has moved to France and taken on the care of her French stepsister's 15 year old daughter and her detective agency. The stepsister and her husband were suddenly lost at sea. There are lots of intertwined plot strands which slowly but surely become disentangled during the course of the book but serve to maintain interest in the story. I enjoyed the book enough that I intend to go back and read the previous two books. Hopefully this will serve as a good recommendation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The Sea House is the third book in the Toussaints Detective agency series by Louise Douglas. I have read the first book in the series, so I was interested to reveal this episode in the series.
When Elizabeth Quemener died her lawyers contact The Toussaints agency to help with her last request. Find Astrid Oake and give a small parcel that has been left in her will for her. But who is Astrid Oake and where is she?
Let me first say this is not a bad book. But for my personal preference I found this quite slow. I did also think that the story is some instances went off the track of the main aim of the storyline. I found that I only started getting totally engaged in the last 30% of the book. Which had a surprising ending. 3.5 stars from me.

"The Sea House" by Louise Douglas is the sequel to "The Summer of Lies", and continues the story of Mila's life and work in Morranez, Brittany. While the Toussaints agency tries to track down the heir to an inheritance there are more developments in the case of Ani's late parents. There are contrasts in people and places which are described atmospherically. We have Ani and her young friends heading towards adulthood and some dark and disturbed/disturbing characters at the other end of the spectrum. Then there is a lovely coastal seaside town in Brittany contrasting with a run down farmhouse in a bleak area of the North Yorkshire Moors. This is a page-turner of a novel, but it doesn't feel as though we have got to the bottom of the mystery of Charlie and Sophie's final days.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Louise and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Sea House before the publication date.
I have read a number of books by the author and have enjoyed each one.

Louise has created a number of believable characters, flaws and all. Ceci, in particular, sounds like the very essence of an elegant, sophisticated French woman.

Set in France and the north of England, Louise has described the scenes so well that the reader feels they are present. Without giving away any spoilers, there was more than one chapter which was so atmospheric that I wanted to shout ‘run’.

I think that it is telling that the book includes a section of helpful suggested book club questions at the end.

When I finished the last book I read by Louise Douglas, my review ended like this:

“... unless... this is set up for a sunny sequel?”

When I downloaded this one, I didn’t actually realise that this was that sequel, and it’s the third in this series.

Mila and Carter, The Touissants Detective Agency, are tasked with tracking down Astrid Oake, a long lost recipient of a small parcel, bequeathed by a recently passed local lady. What they discover is that the quiet Elisabeth had lived her life in fear, but of what? Or whom?

This is a brilliant read, I loved the setting, I feel like I’ve caught up on anything I had missed in terms of character development from not having read book one and am really getting to know Mila and her family now. There is plenty going on aside from the main case and I was as invested in finding Astrid as Mila was!

I can’t wait for the next one!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Louise Douglas and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading books by louise, this was an emotional. I was immersed in the story and felt a bond with the characters . I look forward to reading more

I do like Louise's books and think she is a writer more people should know about. This is a quality story and has lots of layers and excellent characters. The storyline is enticing and the overall feel of the book just lovely and thoughtful. Love a house of secrets!

Having read the previous books in this series I was keen to read this and catch up with previous characters. The setting of Brittany is once again joyful and the characters felt like long lost friends that I was catching up with.
However for me, this had a weaker plot as sadly there was a lot of focus on the characters and the developments in their lives and not so much attention given to the investigative plot. This was a real shame as the investigation was intriguing. Equally, learning the developments about the characters was also intriguing reading and I feel like this could have been improved if Douglas had picked to focus on one plot thread over the other.
I still enjoyed this read and look forward to any future instalments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

I didn't realise it when I chose this book that it the sequel to The lost notebook that I enjoyed a few years ago. I was very pleased to carry on Mila's story and read more about the Touissant agency. There were many unexpected twists in this novel and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

An intriguing book full of twists and turns as it journeys back and forth over a varied timeline. I loved the way it contains several interconnected story lines. A great read

An intrigue running deep in the past. Enjoyed the slow unravelling of the mystery and the ending. Not saying any more.

I loved this book. I hadn’t read the previous ones in the series but it didn’t matter. It was very clever in that it didn’t focus on the murder investigation, A slow build with a tense conclusion. The only thing I didn’t like was the abrupt ending which I presume leads to the next in the series.

What a sensational book this is, with a plot that unrolls like clockwork, and simmering tension that never lets up. Betrayal, double-crossing and the most delicious sting in the tail... I couldn't put it down.