The Sea Breeze - The Lynnford Mysteries
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
It's Autumn, 1951. Robert Lynnford, star crime-reporter for The London Herald, is asked by a friend to investigate the mystery of a yacht - the Sea Breeze - found at anchor in an isolated cove on the Devonshire coast with one of its crew floating dead in the water and the others missing.
When he arrives in the seaside town of Westcliff, Lynnford is alarmed to find his friend missing and his wife in fear for his life. Determined to set about to solve the case, Lynnford soon discovers that he's not welcome himself and the local police refuse to co-operate with him.
But it takes much more than some threats to put off this reporter. When events quickly escalate, pieces of the puzzle snap into place and Lynnford uncovers a plan that has treachery at its heart and is yet more sinister than he could have imagined.
The Sea Breeze is the first in a series of retro-detective mysteries by SJT Riley based on the investigations of Robert Lynnford. This novel introduces his newspaper colleagues and friends who reappear in subsequent stories. Ideal for fans of the more retro-detective crime, this story will take you back to the past where a mystery was solved with the mind instead of technology.
Reviews
5 Stars From the cover design and description, I got the impression that this would be a pleasant cosy mystery, and something that I might enjoy, so I was pleased to be approved for a copy to review. The cover design and illustration are eye-catching and pretty, with turquoise and shades of blue, emphasising the seaside setting of the story. From the start, the author gave the impression of a calm and peaceful setting for the reader to escape into, and this is what I always expect when reading a cosy mystery - I want to feel like an escape. As I carried on reading, I was reminded quite strongly of Agatha Christie - in particular, her book Evil Under The Sun. This made impression on me because she is one of my very favourite authors, and I feel her style is difficult to emulate. It was an entertaining cosy mystery, relaxing to read, and not too long. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys cosy mysteries or typically enjoys authors like Agatha Christie.
5 Stars I loved this historical mystery as it's solid, well plotted, and entertaining. It's a relaxing read featuring a cast of well developed and interesting characters. I want to read other books by this author and I think there's a lot of potential. Highly recommended.
3 Stars The Sea Breeze by SJT Riley. This came out last year and is a murder mystery set in 1950s Devon. A crime reporter at a London paper receives a call from an old friend after a boat is found abandoned in the harbour with a crew member dead and others missing. When he arrives in town, he finds his friend missing and the locals are closing ranks against him. But that's not going to stop him investigating. This throws you in without a lot of explanation and the pacing is a little spotty at times, but it's a pretty well-executed murder mystery that will appeal to you if you like things like the British Library Crime Classics titles that are set at sea (or near the sea).
