With a picturesque black and white lighthouse, pebble beaches and stunning views of sea and mountains, the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales is the perfect place for an idyllic mid-summer painting holiday.And watercolour artist, businesswoman, and amateur sleuth Penny Brannigan is enjoying the retreat enormously – until she discovers the body of a New Zealand journalist on a … secluded beach just as the tide is going out, threatening to take the body with it.
The post mortem reveals the victim died from injuries “consistent with a fall from a great height,” and the death is ruled accidental. But Penny thinks there’s more to the story. Curious how the victim came to such an untimely end at this most inhospitable spot, she uncovers a link to a mysterious disappearance several years earlier.
And as her holiday romance with a wildlife photographer turns to love, she learns some truths about herself, too, that surprise her.
As the winds of change blow through Penny’s own life, she sets sail on a friendly tide for a future she never dreamed possible, in a beautiful place she never imagined
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It has been a while since I read a British cozy and I had forgotten how the gentle charm of the writing can draw a reader in as quickly and irresistibly as a shocking or hilarious beginning although it does have its moments! With the 11th book in her Penny Brannigan series, On Deadly Tides, Elizabeth J. Duncan DOES a marvelous job of weaving her cozy tale while captivating this reader completely. The pace may be slow and easy but the fascinating story and the delightful characters drew me inexorably onward until it was almost impossible to put the book down.
Fans of the series will be particularly delighted to meet a new character that Penny encountered on her painter’s weekend, a weekend of tragedy and happiness. This is the first book that I have read in the series and I felt completely comfortable starting here but I also feel compelled to go back and discover the riches of the earlier books.
I found On Deadly Tides when I was browsing Crooked Lanes list on NetGalley’s and it fascinated me so I could not resist and I am so glad I chose it. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for allowing me to read and share my enjoyment of my newest addiction.
I am a great fan of Elizabeth Duncan’s books. I don’t want to write a spoiler so all I can say is that this is my absolute favorite and one I will read again.
This book is the 11th in a series and the first one I’ve read. That being said, it did work as a standalone for me, but I will be reading the previous ones. I really enjoyed Wales as the setting and I thought the art theme was interesting. The storyline moves right along and the characters are likable. There were enough twists to keep me interested. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher I’m voluntarily providing an honest review.
On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan is a wonderful read about a Canadian living in Wales and solving a murder. Well, another murder while also maybe finding some love?
Can Penny figure out who killed the young investigative reporter?
Penny Brannigan
Penny Brannigan is our sleuth, and she is away on a painting camp for two days before going back home. She ends up meeting a guy named Colin, who is her love interest. Penny is an interesting sleuth as she is in her early fifties and is great at solving puzzles. I like Penny because she runs a Spa place with a girlfriend, and then in her free time, she paints. I like that because it shows that she lives a balanced life. There isn’t really anything that I didn’t like about this character.
The Mystery
The mystery that Penny is working on solving has a tie into the past and the one that happened in the present. What happened to Mark Currie seven years ago? And what does that have to do with recently deceased investigative reporter Jessica Graham? Those are the two questions that Penny, with the help of the detective in Wales and her new beau Colin, has to figure out. I actually got this one earlier on, and I can’t believe that I was actually right, especially about the motive. I feel bad that another life being taken to have it figured out.
Three Stars
On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan is a good read if you are looking for one that isn’t where you live. Ms. Duncan’s Penny Brannigan Mysteries’ are located in Wales, and it’s definitely a different ball game over there to the ones based in the United States. It was nice looking at it from a different perspective. Ms. Duncan has done a good job of writing this book. I am giving it three stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of On Deadly Tides by Elizabeth J. Duncan.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
A quaint Welsh village, artists, and a murder. Penny normally is a businesswoman, partner in a spa in her home town. She and a friend travel to Anglesy to paint and get feedback from an actor turned artist. Their first night in town, they meet Colin, a wildlife photographer, and a young journalist from New Zealand who’s there to interview the famous actor, get some good photos, and look into a possible murder. Penny stumbles on the dead body the next morning. That, her curiosity, and her existing relationship with Bethan, the detective for the area, lead her to disentangling the relationships and hostilities that resulted in this person’s death.
The characters are well developed and there is sufficient back story of Penny’s prior experiences with murder and Bethan to give her credence without being excessive. The island village of Anglesy sounds lovely, a place I’d like to visit some day. The pace is steady with unexpected discoveries that keep the story moving. If you’re a fan of British cozy mysteries, you’ll enjoy Penny
Brannigan’s latest adventure. Although part of a series, this is easily read as a stand alone.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
On Deadly Tides is the eleventh book in the Penny Brannigan mystery series by Elizabeth J. Duncan and the first book in the series that I have had the pleasure of reading…..and boy was it an awesome read !! On Deadly Tides felt like it could have been a stand alone book or the first in a new series.
Main character Penny Brannigan and her friend Alwynne are on a girl’s get away weekend to a motel for a painting retreat with actor turned painter, Bill Ward. On the friday evening there is a welcoming party in the bar of the hotel and Alwynne goes to bed early so Penny is on her own. Penny meets two people Colin Campbell and Jessica Graham both there seperately. Colin is a wildlife photographer in town to take photos of local wildlife and Jessica is in town to write about local interests as well as look into an old case of a missing person. The three of them share a table in the bar and get know each other.
After parting ways Penny doesn’t think much of Jessica until the next morning while her and Alwynne are at the local lighthouse setting up to paint it and its surroundings when Penny looks down the cliff at the beach below and sees Jessica’s lifeless body. After it is investigated it is ruled that Jessica’s death was an accident. Only Penny can’t help thinking there is more to it especially seeing as the backpack that Jessica had with her friday night was no where to be found. It wasn’t at the scene or in her hotel room.
When Jessica’s mother, Louise, comes to claim her body her and Penny hit it off and soon agree that there is more to Jessica’s “accident”. Unfortunately the police cannot just go on what someone thinks or feels and do not take things seriously until Louise is poisoned one night at the hotel.
Now that the police are looking into Jessica’s death Penny can concentrate on her growing feelings for Colin. The two have spent some time together and have been keeping in touch. But when Colin gets on board with his curiousity on Jessica’s death as well, Penny will allow him to assist her in investigating…..
On Deadly Tides will capture readers attention immediately and they will want to solve Jessica’s murder also. They will also be drawn to the storyline behind the missing person case from seven years ago. And who cannot be curious when a new relationship is blossoming….. Duncan will draw the reader in and as you get lost in the story you will be powerless to shut the book….not that you will want to. It is always a treat when you are reading a cozy mystery to have a love story intertwined in the story and Duncan has aced that as well. Whether you are a long time fan and have read the previous books or you are reading On Deadly Tides and this is the first book of this series that you have read, you will be a devoted fan !!
On Deadly Tides” the 11th instalment in A Penny Brannigan Mystery series by Elizabeth J. Duncan. I have read a few of the books in this series and really enjoy them, I like that the protagonist is a Canadian living in Wales. This can be read as a stand alone but recommend reading in order.
I really enjoy this series, and I need to start at the beginning to be fully caught up. I love the descriptions of the North Wales seaside and can picture myself walking along with Penny and her friends.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, with two murders to solve. I liked that even though Penny was away on a weekend holiday we returned to Llanelen and we got to visit with Victoria , Mrs. Lloyd, etc. I also really enjoyed the surprise ending and can’t wait to see what’s in store for Penny.
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was the mystery I needed, a classic cozy in a great setting with an art theme. Penny and her friend, Alwynne, are on an island in Wales to take a weekend art class. Beaumaris is on the island of Anglesey on the North coast Wales and draws lots of tourists. Twelve of those people comprise the painting class. It should be a nice relaxing getaway but not long after meeting a young woman from New Zealand, Penny finds her dead on the beach. The police rule it an accident – case closed. Penny isn’t buying it as the woman was a reporter following a story and chances are good she was murdered.Time to add sleuthing to their weekend.
This is the 11th in this delightful series and I very much hope that it isn’t going to be the last. Each entry is well crafted and the characters are people I would be happy to spend time with. Each book is like a vacation to visit friends. There are enough twists and turns to keep me guessing to the end and I’m pleased when I guess wrong. If you are new to this series, don’t worry, just dive in – it’s fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book has a little different story line, which I enjoyed very much. I loved getting to know the good folks of Llanelen. You never know when you might meet someone who becomes very important to you. Penny and Alwynne start out at an artist weekend and things pick up from there. Throw Colin and Jessica in the mix and things get interesting. I think you will enjoy the story as much as I did. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
On Deadly Tides is the eleventh book in the A Penny Brannigan Mystery series by Elizabeth J. Duncan.
Penny Brannigan and her friend, Alwynne Gwitt, are looking forward to attending an artist retreat at a nearby town on the coast of Wales. On the evening of their arrival, Penny stops in the hotel’s bar for a drink. The bar is quite crowded, so Penny shares a table with a handsome Canadian wildlife photographer, Colin Campbell. Jessica Graham, a reporter from New Zealand, Jessica, will ask if she can share their table. Jessica relates that she is here to do an article on Bill Ward, actor turned artist, whose television show was a hit in New Zealand. Jessica states she will also be investigating the disappearance of a wealthy New Zealander who was visiting the coastal town several years ago.
The next morning Penny and Alwynne head out for a spot from where they can paint the impressive lighthouse. Penny thinks she has found the perfect place but approaches the cliff’s edge to get a different perspective and looks down to view the waves crashing the shore and see what appears to a body. Penny finds a path and carefully slides down to the shoreline. As she thought, there is a body and drags the body on to land as the tide is going out and afraid it will take it out to sea. Penny recognizes the body as that of Jessica. Penny called the police, and after their investigation, they determined that it was an accidental death.
When Jessica’s mother, Louise, arrives, she contacts Penny to learn what she saw at the scene as she doesn’t believe it was an accident, and Penny has to agree with her. Penny decides to look into what Jessica had been doing since arriving in town. Penny and Colin have hit off rather well, and Colin agrees to help Penny with her sleuthing. When Louise is found unconscious from an overdose of sleeping pills, she will deny taking any sleeping pills, and Penny feels confident that she is getting close to the killer. Penny hopes that the killer will be arrested before anyone else is hurt.
I enjoy this series a lot. Ms. Duncan’s description of the area makes to visit the place. The story is well-written and plotted with enough twists and turns to keep guessing until the end. The book’s characters are both well-developed and interesting and who I would enjoy calling friends.
I’m hoping there will be more books in this beautiful series.
I don’t think I have ever read a book set in Wales. I found it enchanting. Penny is on a painting weekend with her friend when she finds the body of a young journalist she had just met the night before on the beach. Something about the whole thing bothers Penny. She and her new friend Colin ask a few questions.
The location sounds beautiful and I like Penny and Colin and her small village. I have not ready any of the other books in the series. Occasionally there is a reference to adventures in other books, but nothing that kept me from understanding the background for this book. I would read another book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion.
Elizabeth Duncan’s On Deadly Tides offers a lovely escape to Wales, amidst a cleverly plotted mystery, reminiscent of Agatha Christie. The darkness of murder is kept at bay by the cozy setting and lyrical prose. Duncan provides a delightful Canadian twist on the classic English mystery. A must-read!
Murder and Drama on the Welsh Coast
This book is one of a series that I have not read and I did not feel lost at any time. This mystery is very good. It is tinged with romance and art. While our heroine is an amateur sleuth, she does not take ridiculous chances and stays in close contact with her friendly detective. This book kept my interest all the way through and was difficult to put down. I will be reading more of this author’s work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
On Deadly Tides is #11 in the series but the first one I have read. It worked extremely well as a standalone and I thoroughly enjoyed it-I read it one sitting.
Penny Brannigan is an engaging protagonist and an amateur sleuth, but she does not go looking for murders. In a nice change from most cozies, she has a good relationship with the police.
Penny and her friend are attending an artist workshop in a town near where she lives. She strikes up a conversation with a gentleman at the hotel bar and they are joined by a young newspaper reporter from New Zealand. The next morning when Penny and her friend are painting at a picturesque lighthouse Penny spies what appears to be a body in the water and discovers the young woman who she had met the night before. It appears to be an accidental death but Penny has doubts. And when the young woman’s mother arrives from New Zealand, Penny feels she needs to dig a bit deeper, especially as some strange things occur.
There is also a very nice romance in the story and it is nice to have an older heroine fall in love.
There was a blurb from Carolyn Hart on the cover and since she’s an author I enjoy I thought I’d take a chance. I’m glad I did and hope to read the earlier entries and hope there will be more.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley but any opinions expressed are my own.
Wales, amateur-sleuth, cosy-mystery, women-s-fiction, murder, contemporary, artist
Think Jenny Colgan in Wales with an unusual murder weaving throughout. There are the wonderful Welsh of the village and the island retreat, two peripatetic artistic Canadians, and a probably murdered New Zealand journalist. The author writes in a way that made me feel like I knew everyone, especially the main characters. The mystery and sleuthing are very well done and not the clinical or procedural sort. I really enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!