murder at gull’s nest by jess kidd

I like historical fiction combined with a cozy mystery. This one is sweet and the main character is well written and the characterization is strong. Although I did guess the ending very early on, there is a clue that jumped out at me, I did find all of the characters to be interesting and endearing. A small town and a tight knit community. Nora is a former nun who used to be known as Sister Agnes, she left the convent when her pen pail Freida goes missing. Nora goes to the place she sent all the letters in order to see what happens. 

This is a first in a new series, and I recommend reading it first so you can get the full backstory of Nora. I enjoyed the reading and the pacing of laying out the clues. Soon there is a murder at Gull’s Nest and Nora fancies herself an amateur detective and has some great chemistry with the real investigator. She uncovers many secrets and we learn secrets about Nora herself.

I enjoyed the pacing and the minor characters had good personalities. Some of the British references are heartwarming and quaint. Although I didn’t love this, I did like it quite a bit. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. Book published April 8, 2025.