Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Murder-on-Sea (Whitstable Pearl Mysteries)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Murder-on-Sea

(Whitstable Pearl Mystery #2)

Julie Wassmer (Goodreads Author)

3.92 · Rating details · 244 ratings · 41 reviews

Christmas in Whitstable. Lights shine bright in old Harbour Street. A Christmas tree stands in place outside St Alfred’s Church. Carol singers surround it. The party season begins. Christmas cards drop through letterboxes . . .

Pearl is busy with the festive season, planning a great family occasion with Dolly and son Charlie - but she’s overstretched herself by agreeing to

...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 256 pages

Published October 1st 2015 by Constable

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Murder-on-Sea, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Murder-on-Sea

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.92 ·

Rating details

· 244 ratings · 41 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Murder-on-Sea (Whitstable Pearl Mysteries)

Mar 10, 2016 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing

It is almost Christmas in Whitstable and Pearl Nolan has just written and posted her Christmas cards including one to McGuire - the detective she met in the Summer when they were both investigating a suspicious death. Someone else in the town has been using Christmas cards to send anonymous messages and has upset several of Pearl's friends but she really doesn't want a case to investigate just before Christmas and she refers all the recipients to the police.

Pearl invites McGuire to the church fu ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 26, 2019 Jan Edwards rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Pearl, Whitstable restaurateur and private detective, is preparing for Christmas and involved in many of the local community's festivities. She is approached to investigate a spate of poison-pen Christmas cards, a job which she hands on to DCI McGuire for reasons never really explained. But when one of the recipients of a card, her friend and accountant, is poisoned at a very public event she is drawn into the investigation almost be default.

This is the second in the series. As expected in any s ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2017 Deanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: crimethriller

It's Christmas time in Whitstable, and not everyone appears to be full of the joys of the season. When some of the locals receive poison cards they ask Pearl to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The characters are an interesting ensemble, though I don't know how Pearl puts up with Dolly, keep picturing her as Rose from keeping up appearances. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2015 Heather rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really enjoyed my read of the first book in this series, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, and I was excited to get my mitts on the next book in the series Murder on Sea!

I loved this story, first of all it is set at my favourite time of the year, Christmas time, it is also set in the seaside town of Whitstable in Kent (England - I have been there!!) and there is plenty of foodies descriptions and a nice dollop of cosy romance, oh and murder!

Pearl Nolan is getting ready for Christmas, her successfu I really enjoyed my read of the first book in this series, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, and I was excited to get my mitts on the next book in the series Murder on Sea!

I loved this story, first of all it is set at my favourite time of the year, Christmas time, it is also set in the seaside town of Whitstable in Kent (England - I have been there!!) and there is plenty of foodies descriptions and a nice dollop of cosy romance, oh and murder!

Pearl Nolan is getting ready for Christmas, her successful seafood restaurant is still busy and she is excited for her son coming home for Christmas. Her private detective business is ticking over nicely but with Christmas on the way family and work take priority until....

Her friends start to visit her with cards they have received, each of them with hateful messages inside that they want Pearl to get to the bottom of but she feels it is a job for the police and that means her friend in the force DCI Mike McGuire.

McGuire is a good cop but he lost someone he loved and now after finally coming to terms with it, he is seeing single mother Pearl in a new light, the pair of them have many "moments" together but when she invites him to the church fundraiser their moment under the mistletoe is interrupted by the collapse of one of the locals, a lady called Diana.

Without giving too much away, Diana unfortunately does not survive and it looks like she was poisoned, the question is by who? Is it linked to the poison pen letters or could it be the grievance she had with her neighbours? But with Pearl and McGuire both witnesses to Diana's demise it is guaranteed they will get to the bottom of it.

I loved this book, it could have been the festive atmosphere, it could be because I had already met the characters in the first book and was comfortable around them or it could be that this was just a constant enjoyable read from start to finish.

I like hearing a bit more about McGuire's background and the chemistry between him and Pearl was certainly getting sparkier. There is also plenty of other supporting character such as her mother Dolly and her friend Nathan who give a wonderful light hearted aspect to the story.

This is cosy crime with a little dark streak, perfect and just the way I like it! I hope to be back to Whitstable again soon! ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2015 Maureen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, mystery

In ‘Murder on Sea’ we are back in the town of Whitstable, it’s almost Christmas and restaurant owner and private investigator Pearl is in over her head with work. Especially since it’s almost Christmas and a lot needs to be done. Pearl really shouldn’t except new investigator jobs, but when people start receiving strange insulting Christmas cards, Pearl can’t resist to start asking some questions around town. But soon Pearl finds more than she bargained for and soon she is in the middle of a mur ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2015 Samie Sands rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book! All the characters were well written, rounded and realistic too. Although the plot line deals with a gruesome murder and a lot of nastiness, it manages to have a humorous edge to it too. The mystery was detailed and difficult to solve – which makes the reveal all that more exciting! Highly recommended!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 02, 2015 Martina Lennon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library

For those who like cosy mysteries, then this a new series just right for you. Now all I have to is to find the first and wait for the third next year.. Some times that is the only drawback to libraries, but then anticipation is everything . Irishmadoc this is a series for you.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2016 Katrina rated it liked it · review of another edition

Not quite as enjoyable as the first book in this series. Hopefully Rev Pru will be murdered in the next one!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2018 Alan rated it liked it · review of another edition

A good ‘cosy’ mystery set in the seaside town of whitstable with an interesting set of characters.
Pearl - Private detective/restaurant owner with family around her, makes an interesting focal point of the stories.
As with the first story this novel was an easy read and really drew you into the story.
Only downsides are some of the story elements borrow from other sources such as annoying but loved mother also present, potential love interest with local police officer.
So if you read a lot of myste ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 08, 2018 Cliff rated it liked it · review of another edition

Another cosy crime with a lady detective - shades of Miss Marple to Agatha Raisin. I found Pearl more realistic than most of this ilk with her feet firmly on the ground. OK, there is what seems to be the inevitable love interest, this time of a local DCI, but this isn't overdone and Pearl doesn't go around moping. She is the owner of a relatively up market seafood restaurant in Whitstable Kent. The story takes place in the run up to Christmas. There is the also inevitable denouement with Pearl d ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 26, 2018 Sarah Rayner rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the second of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries I have read and this one certainly was as good if not better than the first. Living in Kent it is nice to read a book with places in you can recognise and having been to Whitstable on a number of occasions it’s nice to be able to picture in your mind the places she is writing about. It’s one of those stories that you can put down and just want to read another few pages hence why it only took me two days from start to finish. Can wait to start ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 16, 2017 Dallass rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cosy-mystery, detective, mystery, series, better-than-expected, whodunit, family-relationships, contemporary

As per usual, I have picked up a book that is NOT the first book in a series. However, that didn't affect my understanding of the story as it only briefly touches on previous storylines. The characters were interesting, and there is the usual romantic angle that is touched on. I loved the little village, and the murder mystery itself was interesting and well done.

Will keep an eye out for more books in the series.

PS. I love these covers! ;-D ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 13, 2021 Hazel Lewis rated it it was amazing

Lockdown Reading

I started this story after you spoke at the book group I belong to chaired by Gill Lato.
I always think of Whitstable as a ‘Marmite’ town........talk to people some like it, some don’t. I love walking along the shoreline, round the harbour, some fine restaurants, fish and chips and of course oysters.
The story covers three murders, are they connected or not, well read the book to find out but if you are local you will easily recognise everywhere and if not, come and visit, when we ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 10, 2019 Elizabeth Grieve rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Lovely! This one ticks all the boxes - romance, murder, mystery, great setting, mouthwatering food, family! I found it charming, beautifully written, with interesting, realistic and sympathetic characters, and the mystery kept me guessing (with a few red herrings to go along with all the other seafood). I would love to read more by this author.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

flag Like · see review

May 27, 2017 Chloe Friend rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cops-personalsecurity-bountyhunter, romance, mystery

I really enjoy this series. It's an easy read and is coincidentally based in my home town! A very small town in the south east of England! I would really recommend if your looking for an easy read romance mystery with some serious sexual tension! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 22, 2017 Petula Darling rated it it was ok

If you like mysteries where everything is revealed once all the suspects have been invited into the drawing room, then this is the book for you.

flag Like · see review

Aug 06, 2017 Jane rated it liked it · review of another edition

a better writer for people, places and relationships than for mysteries I think.

flag Like · see review

Sep 19, 2017 Dee Martin rated it it was amazing

Loved this, set at Christmas. Again well plotted and enjoyable.

flag Like · see review

Apr 29, 2018 Carolyn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Too much historical background and not enough nitty-gritty detection for my liking, but a pleasant enough read.

flag Like · see review

Jul 28, 2018 Heather rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Easy to read. Enjoyed the touch of romance, the crime story and the writing of this book. Great!

flag Like · see review

Aug 14, 2018 Suzy Dominey rated it liked it · review of another edition

Comfort reading perfect for a cold winter's day ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 09, 2019 Claire rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Charming, engaging and riveting read. I highly enjoyed it - even reading ‘out of season’ didn’t make a difference.

flag Like · see review

Apr 09, 2020 Alison rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Cosy mystery, an easy read. Thoroughly enjoyable

flag Like · see review

Oct 02, 2015 Nayuleska rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was super eager to dive back into Pearl's world since I enjoyed book 1, The Whitstable Pearl so much (see suggested read below for the link to my review). It's a fairly good 2nd in a series book filled with humour, chaos and murder. I liked feeling that I knew most of the characters, especially Pearl's mother who always makes me smile with her antics. I was a little sad that her son Charlie didn't have more page time, since he had such a prominent role in book 1, but the mysterious note sand I was super eager to dive back into Pearl's world since I enjoyed book 1, The Whitstable Pearl so much (see suggested read below for the link to my review). It's a fairly good 2nd in a series book filled with humour, chaos and murder. I liked feeling that I knew most of the characters, especially Pearl's mother who always makes me smile with her antics. I was a little sad that her son Charlie didn't have more page time, since he had such a prominent role in book 1, but the mysterious note sand murder kept me nicely distracted.

There is an awful lot of suspense and spine tingling moments, which in my eyes are elements of a brilliant book. I only figured out the murderer right before they got revealed, as they hid their tracks from me, Pearl, & McGuire well. However I guessed what the poison was fairly early on, which pleased me!

I spent most of the book caught up in the drama, rolling my eyes semi-good naturedly about Pearl's feelings for McGuire, getting spooked by the messages which made the murderer that bit more sinister. I did like that McGuire ended up being further involved in the murders than he'd have liked, as it altered how Pearl investigated it a bit. As ever I adored all the restaurant goings on - you know how much I love what I call 'shop fiction'!

Ordinarily such a good read would gain full marks, but there was one thing which I really wasn't keen on. Please bear in mind this is my own opinion, as both a reviewer and a writer. Because I enjoy the rest of the book so much, and Julie is very lovely, I'm finding it hard to phrase what I feel, so apologies if I'm a bit blunt. There was one chapter in the book which I felt was unnecessary as it was predominantly full of description rather than action. There was a smidge of information about the plot revealed at the start, but the rest of it had me bored. I'm not against descriptions of places, and I know Julie lives in Whitstable so knows it well, I just didn't see the point of such an extensive description. I stopped at the end of the chapter to figure out my views on it, and the fact that I did that instead of just continuing on reading impacted the overall grade. I feel that if that chapter had been axed it wouldn't have affected the plot.

That chapter aside, I truly love Pearl's friends and family, who have their own quirks and provide entertainment when murder arises. I like the depth of the characters, how Pearl has several things going on in her life alongside the murder, which is realistic because life never happens neatly. I am excited for book 3, though I'm not sure when that's going out!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on my review blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co... ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 24, 2015 GONZA rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

This is the second book I read by Julie Wassmer and I think that she is getting better at describing people and places, but this time the plot was not so gripping like the first one.
We have the old Characters and some new one that are all involved in Christmas preparations and also McGuire is back for the joy of Pearl and mine also. There as spiteful messages coming to some of the most prominent people of the village but Pearl has too much to do to get a case before the festivities, also Charlie This is the second book I read by Julie Wassmer and I think that she is getting better at describing people and places, but this time the plot was not so gripping like the first one.
We have the old Characters and some new one that are all involved in Christmas preparations and also McGuire is back for the joy of Pearl and mine also. There as spiteful messages coming to some of the most prominent people of the village but Pearl has too much to do to get a case before the festivities, also Charlie is coming back from Berlin, but in the middle of a Celebration in St Alfred's Church a guest dies and so this postcards appears to be something completely different from anonymous insults.
I like the plot and the way the author finds a way to explain the whole mess, but problem was that the solution was a little too twisted for me. Anyway this is a real good cozy mistery and I'm going to read the next one also, even because I'm waiting to see what is going to happen between the 2 "Detectives".

Questo é il secondo giallo che leggo di Julie Wassmer e penso che lei stia migliorando nella descrizione delle persone e dei posti, ma stavolta la trama non é stata avvincente come la prima volta. Abbiamo i protagonisti giá incontrati nel primo libro e anche alcune new entry e tutti sono molto impegnati nei preparativi natalizi, inoltre anche McGuire fa un'apparizione, per la gioia di Pearl e anche la mia ovviamente. Alcune lettere anonime con frasi offensive sono arrivate nelle cassette di alcune delle personalitá del villaggio ma Pearl ha deciso di non prendere altri nuovi casi prima del ritorno di Charlie per le feste e inoltre ha giá tanto da fare per la chiesa, ma quando proprio alla raccolta fondi nella Chiesa di S.Alfredo una delle ospiti si accascia al suolo, queste cartoline assumono un contorno molto piú sinistro.
Mi é piaciuta la trama e anche il modo, tipicamente da tenente Colombo, che l'autrice trova per risolvere il caso, ma la soluzione mi é sembrata piuttosto stiracchiata e poco credibile quindi sono rimasta un po' cosí.
Comunque per quanto riguarda il filone cozy mystery questo é uno dei migliori e mi piacerebbe continuare a leggere gli altri libri di questa serie anche per vedere come va a finire tra i due detective.

THANKS TO CONSTABLE FOR THE PREVIEW! ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 28, 2015 Alba rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/09...

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Julie Wassmer's debut, and the first book of this series, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery. So I was quite excited to read the second one and catch up with the lovely Pearl. After solving her first case as a private investigator on summer, she has been slowly building her business while still managing her restaurant.

But now it's almost Christmas time, so Pearl has decided not to take any mo ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 30, 2015 Ian rated it really liked it

ARC review for Little, Brown Book Group Ltd via Netgalley.

Christmas in Whitstable. Lights shine bright in old Harbour Street. A Christmas tree stands in place outside St Alfred’s Church. Carol singers surround it. The party season begins. Christmas cards drop through letterboxes . . .

Pearl is busy with the festive season, planning a great family occasion with Dolly and son Charlie - but she’s overstretched herself by agreeing to cater a charity fundraising event at St Alfred’s. As if she didn’t ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 12, 2016 Clare Hudson rated it did not like it · review of another edition

:( Very weak - so disappointing. Didn't feel there was any depth to the characters and plot line simplistic .... too much so. Despite being based in Whitstable and it being really nice to read about places where I live and know - I confess I don't think I shall be reading any more in this series. There's 'holiday reading' and then there's 'holiday reading'! Shame.

Amazon synopsis:
The festive month is kicking off in style and Pearl is rushed off her feet with her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. ...more

flag Like · see review

Sep 25, 2015 Priscilla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Someone has been sending out anonymous cards jam-packed with hurtful remarks. “You have no style.” “Greedy pig.”

Amateur sleuth Pearl didn’t take them seriously until her accountant ends up dead. What’s even more terrifying is the card that she had received. It says: “Lose your temper — and you lose everything.” Because the victim’s nephew doesn’t trust the police, he hires Pearl to take on the case.

“Pearl possessed both a breadth of local knowledge and a natural instinct for people that was inv

...more

flag Like · see review

May 08, 2016 Louise Culmer rated it liked it

the second book about Pearl, who has a restaurant in Whitstable, which doesn't keep her busy enough, so she is a private detective on the side. pearl is worried because some of her acquaintances have received Christmas cards with spiteful anoynymous messages inside. This gives her an excuse to get in touch with Mike, the handsome detective from Canterbury whom she is pining for, not having seen him for months (as canterbury and whistable are only six miles apart this is a bit strange). of course ...more

flag Like · see review

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Mystery

9 users

Mystery > Crime

4 users

Audiobook

2 users

Romance

2 users

See top shelves…

About Julie Wassmer

Julie Wassmer

35 followers

Julie Wassmer is a television drama writer who contributed for almost twenty years to the popular BBC series EastEnders.

She published her autobiography More Than Just Coincidence in 2010, in which she describes finding her long-lost daughter after an astonishing twist of fate. It was voted Mumsnet book of the year.

The Whitstable Pearl Mystery is the first in her series of crime novels, involving ...more