Death at High Tide

Death at High Tide follows sisters Evie Mead and Margot Chandler as they inherit an old hotel on England's Scilly Isles. After the death of Evie's husband, the sisters travel to the Tregarrick Rock Hotel to investigate their unexpected inheritance and consider renovating the aging property. Upon arrival at the remote island hotel, they encounter an eccentric cast of staff members and guests, along with mounting evidence that the inheritance may be contested. The sisters soon find themselves caught up in investigating suspicious circumstances at the hotel while navigating their own strained relationship. Combining elements of classic British mystery with modern family dynamics, this first installment in the Scilly Isles series establishes the groundwork for ongoing mysteries set against the backdrop of Cornwall's rugged island landscape. The story balances traditional cozy mystery conventions with themes of sisterhood and fresh starts. Through its island setting and focus on family ties, the novel explores how isolation and shared history can both heal and complicate relationships, while examining the ways people reinvent themselves when given unexpected opportunities.

Readers describe this as a light cozy mystery that serves as a beach read. Many reviews note the atmospheric Channel Islands setting and British charm as highlights. Liked: - Setting details and descriptions of Tregarrick Rock - Sister relationship between Evie and Margot - Historical hotel renovation backdrop - Clean content without graphic violence Disliked: - Slow pacing in first half - Too many secondary characters introduced quickly - Several readers found the ending rushed - Some plot points felt underdeveloped - Multiple reviewers wanted more depth to the mystery elements Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (850+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Perfect escape read but needed tighter plotting" - Goodreads review "The setting is the real star" - Amazon review "Characters feel authentic but mystery lacks complexity" - BookBrowse review "Cozy but forgettable" - LibraryThing review

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🌊 Author Hannah Dennison worked as a flight attendant for British Airways before becoming a writer, which helped shape her experiences with travel and different locations. 🏰 The book is set on the Isles of Scilly, a real archipelago off Cornwall's coast known for its rich history of shipwrecks, smuggling, and piracy. 🎬 Before writing novels, Dennison worked as a story analyst for Hollywood studios, evaluating screenplays for companies like Columbia Tri-Star and Embassy Pictures. 🏨 The fictional Tregarrick Rock Hotel in the book was inspired by the real Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher, one of the Scilly Islands. 🌿 The Isles of Scilly, where the story takes place, have a unique microclimate that allows tropical plants to grow, making them home to stunning gardens and rare flora not found elsewhere in the UK.