Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd a book review

I enjoyed Murder at Gulls Nest so much I went straight into Jess Kidd’s second book in the series, Murder at the Spirit Lounge. With many of the same characters and set in the same area it was lovely and familiar but the murders where very different. Read more about what I think later but for now here’s the book details.

Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd

The Blurb on the back of the book

Sharp-eyed former nun Nora Breen is back, as the latest attraction in Gore-on-Sea turns deadly . . .

On a brilliant December morning, Nora finds her customary seaside walk rudely interrupted: she’s been summoned, with Detective Inspector Rideout, to the home of Doreen Chimes, Gore-on-Sea’s resident medium. Chimes would like to report a robbery – and to personally invite Rideout to that evening’s private séance.

It’s an invitation he will regret accepting: the evening ends in a suspiciously spooky murder. And in the coming days, more of the attendees will find themselves in peril. Can Nora figure out who – or what – is behind these spectral killings before it’s too late?

My Review of Murder at the Spirit Lounge

Nora Breen is back and I love her! A middle aged former nun turned detective and now part time journalist. She has such energy and appears to be fearless.

Nora is still at Gulls Nest guest home although some of the residents are now missing. There is a new man though and the housekeeper, Irene seems rather taken by him. Sadly, her food doesn’t improve too much though. I love the humorous touch of the meal descriptions, I certainly wouldn’t want to eat there. When further guests arrive in an emergency, Irene starts making what she calls a buffy of little bits and pieces of food to pick at. It really is quite funny.

The murder’s are not so funny, Jess Kidd does not hold back with inventive ways of death. It appears that everyone who attends a séance by invitation dies one by one. Each in quite horrible ways. The last man standing appears to be the detective Rideout whom Nora is rather fond of.

I love Nora’s approach to romance, she notices all the little things about the men she cares about, but she doesn’t rush in with any passion. It’s all insinuated and feels so true to the character.

With Nora’s investigation skills I think the reader is more aware of who the murderer is before the big reveal, but how on earth they manage to do each murder remains a mystery until the end. And the ending is a lot more climactic that the previous story.

Once again there is wonderful character development, you really get a feel of what life is like in a post war sea side town. I’m looking forward to more.