Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery) by Mona Marple! Today we are featuring a review of the first book in this new cozy mystery series. For fans of twisty village whodunits, seaside charm, and heartfelt mysteries with a slow-burning emotional pull, A Whale of a Crime is the unforgettable first instalment in a brand-new series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! There is also a Rafflecopter Giveaway for an eBook of any of the author’s books (winner’s choice) and a $10 Amazon gift card. ENTER HERE! ⬅️

A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

1st in Series

Setting – FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE COAST, ENGLAND

Independently Published (April 30, 2025)

Print length ‏ : ‎ 254 pages

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DTZ3KGWP

About the Book:

After ten years away, Ryan Kennedy never planned on returning to Flamborough—the tiny Yorkshire village he once called home. But when his fiercely independent gran, Iris, needs him, he finds himself back behind the counter at her chaotic seaside bookshop, wrestling with jammed tills, nosy villagers, and the memories he’s spent years trying to forget.

What Ryan doesn’t expect is to be swept straight into the heart of a murder investigation.

When a mysterious boat appears on the beach and a body turns up at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic, all eyes turn to the cliffs—and to the secrets the village has been keeping. As Ryan and Iris dig into the tangled history of the victim, long-buried truths begin to surface, not just about the case… but about the night Ryan’s own husband died.

With the tide cutting them off, a killer on the loose, and a very observant dog named Bracken by their side, Ryan and Iris must work fast—because in Flamborough, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the sea has a habit of washing everything to shore.

My Review:

This new, unique cozy mystery series is off to a strong start. While the start didn’t feel like a cozy mystery (it’s a bit sad and just a little dark), many of the elements that make a cozy a cozy appeared as the story went on. I’ll call this a cozy mystery with a twist

The chapters are told from different perspectives (alternate between Ryan and Gran) and are easy to follow as they are labeled. Gran is a great character – may we all age like Gran! I’m glad Ryan is home because it is clear to this reader he needs the village and his family. 

The seaside setting is charming, and let’s not forget to mention a shoutout for Ryan’s Bernese Mountain Dog, Bracken – I wanted to reach through the pages and pet him! 

About the Author:

Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community.

Author Links:

• WEBSITE
• FACEBOOK
• FACEBOOK GROUP
• INSTAGRAM

Purchase Link:  Amazon

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• June 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
• June 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
• June 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• June 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• June 5 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• June 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
• June 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
• June 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
• June 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• June 7 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• June 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
• June 8 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• June 9 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
• June 9 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• June 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• June 10 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
• June 10 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• June 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• June 11 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
• June 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

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