The Arts Trail Killer by Emylia HallMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Its time for the Porthpella annual arts festival and this year the organisers have managed to get a famous artist to return to his Cornish roots for the exhibition.
Harrison Loveday was born in Cornwall, but left when he was just a child. He feels no particular draw to the place, much preferring his life in Italy, but this year the invitation fits with his personal agenda so he decides to accept and dashes off a few lacklustre pictures for an exhibition.
As a local artist of some renown, Ally is one of the artists on the Arts Trail - a guided walk between local artists' studios - and has been invited to the opening drinks reception, taking along Gus as her plus one. But imagine her surprise when one of the other guests turns out to be none other than her first boyfriend Ray, they both knew Harrison when they were at art school.
Tragedy strikes when Harrison's agent drops dead in the middle of the party - the local police detective immediately suspects foul play, but who could it be? So few people knew her. Then graffiti appears daubed on some outdoor artwork and on a poster for the arts trail - is there a serial killer terrorising the town or is it just someone with a grudge against the arts trail?
There seem to be lots of suspects, especially when there is a second murder, and the Shell House detectives are called in by the arts trail's organisers to identify the vandal and restore faith in the exhibitions.
Another strong book in this cosy series, although I can't help but feel that having set up two potential budding/future romances the author is rowing back and introducing new elements *and I don't want it*. Also, I love, love, loved the covers for the previous books, they were striking and different and instantly recognisable - why suddenly change it?
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
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