This is a house that keeps her secrets well hidden. Her yew trees whisper together in their dour huddles and her windows reflect nothing more than the darkening sky.
Gulls Nest may be quiet but Nora does not feel at peace here. Who knows what dark thoughts are brewing, what chaos is being hatched? In her old life Nora was a ship anchored firmly to the bedrock. Tumultuous waves might come and go but she knew she had a lifeline. At Gulls Nest she feels like a frantically bobbing cork in an unfriendly ocean.
Nora Breen is late of a monastery, having spent the last thirty years as Sister Agnes. A young nun had left the sisterhood, but promised to write back regularly. The sudden absence of these letters is the prompt for Nora’s sudden travels. Frieda had been staying at a seaside hotel, Gulls Nest, in Gore-on-Sea, so that is where Nora begins her search. But what starts out as a missing person inquiry takes a turn when one of the guests catches a bad case of dead. And the game is afoot.
There were several sources of inspiration. The idea of writing a former religious sister came from my childhood. I was taught by a former nun as a child. I was intrigued by her story, in terms of why she joined a religious order and then why she left, but I was never brave enough to ask her about it. The main setting of the first book, Gulls Nest boarding house, was inspired by a disastrous romantic weekend. We booked into an unnamed hotel in Kent, and it was marvellous but not perhaps in the way you’d hope for. There was a formidable landlady, haunted plumbing and eccentric guests. The house would have been beautiful in its day but was shabbily strange when we came to it. But I loved it for its character. – from The Nerd Daily interview
Kidd has planned out a series of eight Nora Breen novels. In the first we are introduced not only to Nora, but to several characters who will be returning. In the Dabble interview, Kidd talks about having a detective who is seeing the world with fresh eyes, after having been shut away for thirty years. Her age, and complete absence of ego also make her seem unthreatening. They do not, however, make her ineffective. While she had to stifle her curiosity and willfulness in the community, she is patient and very deliberate. That said, she remains very much a stranger in a strange world.
Jess Kidd – Image from Faber & Faber
1953 England is indeed a strange, gritty place. Still recovering from the war, impacted by the massive loss of men, and the damage done to many of the returning soldiers, and their families. Survival is all. Making things pretty takes a back seat. Gulls Nest is down at the heels, well past its prime. There is a non-zero concern about the safety of the less-than-palatable meals being served at the hotel (very reminiscent of a memorable personal hospital stay). But it is not short on quirky characters. The supporting cast in this one is quite robust. “But Gulls Nest is that sort of a place, isn’t it? Where the dreamers and schemers wash up.”
The hotel residents include Professor Poppy, a Punch and Judy showman, looking the worse for wear, with his own studio and a collection of puppets, Teddy, a well-liked caretaker at the local amusement park, his wife Stella, who clerks at the town hall, Bill Carter, a retired navy chief who works as a bartender at another hotel, Mr. Karel Ježek, a small photographer with a difficult-to-place accent, Irene Rawlings, a resentful housekeeper, the hotel owner, Helena Wells, who sports a posh accent, suggesting a reduction in her circumstances, and then there is Dinah, her daughter, a seemingly feral child who has the run of the hotel and grounds, appears in surprising places, and does not speak. A few locals, including a non-human one, flesh out the roster. Everyone in Gore-on-Sea has secrets, including Nora. Part of the fun of this novel is getting to each one.
Every cozy amateur detective requires a police contact, and DI Rideout serves that role here. We can assume that they will form an alliance. He has the added benefit of rugged good looks, and sundry characteristics that Nora cannot help but observe. But, as in most cozies, there is not much actual flesh on display, of either the steamy or cold variety. Per the genre, bodies are discovered, not actively deprived of their life forces on the page. That said, there are some scary bits.
Nora goes about her detecting business, follows clues, talks to people in the hotel and in town. She keeps her eyes peeled, pokes her nose in places beyond her remit, makes a few friends and develops a very useful local informant. Nora growing parallels Nora finding things out.
While this is a pretty-straight-ahead crime story, Kidd drops in at least one dollop of magical realism, a major feature of her prior work. Personally, I would have liked more of this, fan as I am of Kidd’s magical realism writing, but that’s just me. The 1950s setting is rich with possibility, beautifully achieved here. Kidd is a wonderful writer, and offers not only well-realized characters, but an intriguing mystery or two, and evocative atmospherics.
While it may not hold the same appeal as more exotic vacation spots, if you appreciate a little time away, with quiet days in which to read, walk the beach, enjoy a cuppa, and maybe stumble across the odd body, Gore-on-Sea might be just the place. Jess Kidd will save you a room. You will find yourself eager to return.
Nora tells herself that the world may seem confusing but it is just the sum of its parts. Take it piece by piece until you can work out the whole.
Review posted – 5/9/25
Publication date – 4/8/25
I received an ARE of Murder at Gull’s Nest from Atria in return for a fair review. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.
This review is cross-posted on Goodreads. Stop by and say Hi!
=======================================EXTRA STUFF
Links to Kidd’s personal, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram and FB pages
Profile – from Calgary Women’s Literary Club
Kidd holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, she has earned numerous literary awards from England and Ireland, and—in addition to her novels, short stories, and children’s books—she is currently developing her own original television project.
Kidd has already written #2 in the series, Murder at the Spirit Lounge. It centers on a famous medium who arrives in Gore-on-Sea and starts taking seances. When one séance goes terribly and mysteriously wrong it seems that Nora might have a supernatural serial killer on her hands.
Interviews
—–The Nerd Daily – Q&A: Jess Kidd, Author of ‘Murder At Gulls Nest’ by Elise Dumpleton
—–Dabble – Writing Historical Cozy Mysteries With Jess Kidd by Hank Garner – video – 56:26
Items of interest – author
—–Writing.ie – Changing Genre by Jess Kidd
—–The Guardian – Jess Kidd: ‘My older sister taught me to read with Mills & Boon’
Item of Interest
—– Death in Paris – this review offers a walk-through on elements in the cozy mystery genre
My reviews of other books by Jess Kidd
—–2020 – Things in Jars
—–2022 – The Night Ship
Nita Prose – image from her site
It is upsetting, of course, but so is the fact that his shoes are misaligned on the floor, and the room is in need of much more cleaning than usual. She calls down to the front desk, where she can be counted on to be ignored, then sees something so alarming that she faints straight away. Returned to consciousness, Molly phones down to the lobby again, this time demanding that the hotel manager, Mr. Snow, be notified. People soon arrive.
She has some challenges to overcome, both financial and social. When the police get involved in the hotel killing, her problems only multiply. Thankfully there are some who appreciate her, and are willing to help.
Over the course of the book we learn more and more about both the dodgy folks in and about the Royal Grand Hotel, and about Molly herself. It is clear to readers that Molly is on the spectrum, but has found work that she finds satisfying and well-attuned to her proclivities (neat-freak). It has the added element of honoring her beloved, recently-deceased grandmother, who had raised her, following in Gran’s career footsteps. Molly’s penchant for cleanliness stands out in stark contrast to the rather dirty goings on at the hotel. Her social cluelessness makes it tough for her to understand that there is something decidedly rotten about some people she believes to be good eggs. But, while not entirely morally pristine herself, Molly is a decidedly good egg, who values friendship, honesty, and loyalty. Her total recall makes it possible for some of the events of that terrible day to be played back, in detail. This makes it possible to unscramble the mess, at least some, but will anyone listen?
Nita Prose (pen name for Canadian editor Nita Pronovost) has a lot of fun with The Maid. In addition to an appealing, first-person narrator to lead us through the action, she decorates the scenery with nicely chosen colors, patterns, and motifs. Starting with colors, Molly is, of course, Gray. The hotel manager is Mister Snow. Molly’s unpleasant landlord is Mr Rosso (red). Her corrupt supervisor is Cheryl Green (notorious for poaching tips intended for other maids) . An unspeakable ex is Wilbur Brown. One of her co-workers is called Sunshine. Coloring applies to people, themselves. The deader sports red and purple pinpricks around his eyes. Giselle has green eyes. Molly has alabaster skin.
The palette extends to the surroundings, a black and white background against which some colors can glow. As I place a hand on the shining brass railing and walk up the scarlet steps that lead to the hotel’s majestic portico, I’m Dorothy entering Oz. (The Oz notion is picked up later, beyond the visuals, when Molly thinks of Giselle as bridging two worlds.) The hotel features an obsidian countertop on the front desk, marble floors that glow white, and emerald loveseats in the lobby. Molly’s uniform consists of black trousers and a white blouse. The receptionists, in black and white, look like penguins. A white bathrobe is found on the floor of room 401. Giselle stands out for having a yellow (yolk-colored?) purse. One character wears a wine-colored dress with a black fringe. Molly is sensitive to the colors of her world, and they stand out for her like a blood-red rose against a colorless background.
Prose also offers up invisibility as a theme throughout. Molly is invisible to most of the world due to her difficulty with social interactions, and welcomes this invisibility in her job. My uniform is my freedom. It is the ultimate invisibility cloak.; It’s easier than you’d ever think—existing in plain sight while remaining largely invisible; [Mr Black]…often did this—bowled me over or treated me like I was invisible; Discretion is my motto. Invisible customer service is my goal. Molly is always intensely grateful whenever someone makes her feel seen or appreciated. Some find Molly’s invisibility enviable. And she is not the only person at the Regency Grand to be afflicted with translucence.
Eggs offer a bit of focus, as Molly thinks of people as good or bad ones. And there is a very different sort of egg that impacts Molly’s life. Someone preparing eggs for someone else is a very clear symbol of affection.
Florence Pugh – image from Daily Actor
While reading, I was totally reminded of a TV series, Astrid et Raphaëlle, as it is known in France, and 
Sara Mortensen as Astrid – image from Amazon
Hopefully, you will not wait until all your rooms are in a pristine state to give The Maid a look. It is a charming, engaging, cozy mystery, with a wonderful lead, a colorful cast of supporting players, and an effervescent sense of style. Ideal for kicking back and just enjoying while you recover from the holidays. But be sure to put a coaster under that drink. Someone is going to have to clean that up.
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