A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery Series: Book 1
Publication Date: April 30, 2025
After ten years away, Ryan Kennedy never planned on returning to Flamborough—the tiny Yorkshire village he once called home. But when his fiercely independent gran, Iris, needs him, he finds himself back behind the counter at her chaotic seaside bookshop, wrestling with jammed tills, nosy villagers, and the memories he’s spent years trying to forget.
What Ryan doesn’t expect is to be swept straight into the heart of a murder investigation.
When a mysterious boat appears on the beach and a body turns up at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic, all eyes turn to the cliffs—and to the secrets the village has been keeping. As Ryan and Iris dig into the tangled history of the victim, long-buried truths begin to surface, not just about the case… but about the night Ryan’s own husband died.
With the tide cutting them off, a killer on the loose, and a very observant dog named Bracken by their side, Ryan and Iris must work fast—because in Flamborough, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the sea has a habit of washing everything to shore.
For fans of twisty village whodunits, seaside charm, and heartfelt mysteries with a slow-burning emotional pull, A Whale of a Crime is the unforgettable first instalment in a brand-new series.
A body is discovered at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic after a mysterious boat is found on the beach, setting Ryan Kennedy and his gran on a search for the killer in Mona Marple’s A Whale of a Crime, the first book in the Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery series.
Coastal small towns are another favorite genre of mine. I like that each generation grows up together and respects their grandparents.
I love being able to read the first book in a series, where I can immerse myself in the world the author creates. I could almost smell the sea air and hear the birds. I feel like I lost contact with reality while reading.
The relationship between Ryan and his gran is heartwarming, and their faithful, loyal, and very perceptive dog, Bracken, is a nice addition to the story. Any book with animals in it is A-OK to me.
I appreciate the sense of family solidarity, community spirit, and coming together when times are tough, as well as taking care of one’s neighbors. I’m so glad that the author incorporated those themes into the plot of her book.
The mystery was solid, but the author has left some of the plot unsolved in order to continue the series’ main arc. I’m excited to get lost in this world again with Murder at the Lighthouse.
Heartwarming relationships and a fantastic mystery drive the plot of A Whale of a Crime, with a loyal dog as a bonus!
Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community.
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