They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but the one for this novel by prolific writer, Yvonne Marrs immediately caught my attention. An attractive shade of aqua blue, it features photographs with a pretty coastal theme. The title and author’s name on the front and spine are clear and stand out well. I was also enticed by the story’s premise. As someone who lives in a seaside town, the setting appealed. I recognised both the beauty and brutality of the sea and these elements are explored well. When I found out that the tale featured a cat, I was even more thrilled! Our town has a famous feline named Hendrix, who the star of this story, Vimto reminded me very much of. Some of the scenes featuring him provide joyful and jovial highlights.
Despite the serious subject in the title, the author has a light touch that means the book never becomes too grim or gritty. Think more Midsomer Murders than Luther or Silent Witness. There’s a cast of charming and colourful characters whose lives all intersect with each other, giving it the combination of cosy and claustrophobic that is often found in small villages. The descriptions of their character traits make them come alive and I found it easy to visualise them all. Yvonne has included a character starting with each letter of the alphabet in the book and many of their names relate to their line of work. Alicia Cakebread and Eddie Clare (E Clare) both work in the café and bakery and Caitlin Gardener is indeed someone who looks after plants! Others, such as Oxander Knowe and Ursula Watt sound out common phrases when the initial of their first name and surname are spoken aloud ( O Knowe, U Watt). Another quirk is the epilogue coming at the onset of the novel. This is a deliberate device used by the author, the reason for which is later revealed.
Yvonne is a confident writer and I felt safe in her hands as the story unfolded. In Harbourtown Murder she has created an enjoyable murder mystery, which also serves to provide a history and nature lesson on the beautiful Cornish coast. I award this fantastic find 5 stars.
