-By Soul Sword-
Genre- Cosy Mystery
Rating 4.5/5
Who would have thought that a landscaper can moonlight as a detective! Pam Lecky’s novel, The Clewbay Detectives follows Ali, who moves to Clewbay, to work on her latest landscaping project. As she settles in to her new life, the town suddenly is abuzz with the news of a missing person. Soon, Ali finds herself working a murder case.
The book is a light read and has cozy mystery vibes. The novel immerses readers in the picturesque Irish landscapes through its descriptive writing. We can almost feel the constant patter of rains and gusty winds as the story unfolds.
The novel takes its time building a vivid sense of place before introducing the mystery, yet the transition feels natural. As the investigation unfolds, the story retains its focus on character dynamics, giving the mystery added depth.
A minor issue I had was that the novel occasionally mentions characters without much initial context, leaving me unsure of their role in Ali’s life until later in the story.
Ali is portrayed as a strong-willed and persistent protagonist, preferring to make her own decisions rather than rely on others’ guidance. The subtle romantic tension between Ali and her ex, Aidan,was well written. Ali and her nephew Gav were an unexpected duo, and their relationship was particularly endearing to read.
Though the various details in the beginning seem unimportant, they become significant in the end. The mystery unfolds steadily, with well-placed clues and revelations that kept me guessing until the final pages.
This was my first book by this author . Ill definitely be checking out her other books !
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
-By Soul Sword-
The Writers Room 