Bristol novelist Emylia Hall moves into crime fiction with ‘The Shell House Detectives’

Writing from a shed in her garden, Bristol novelist Emylia Hall admits to daydreaming of the sea – more specifically, the wild Cornish coastline which she holds so dear.

Hall, who is also the founder of Mothership Writers and a writing coach at The Novelry, has published four previous novels – including Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Book of Summers and The Thousand Lights Hotel.

Her work has been translated into 10 languages, and broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music. Now, she is delving into crime fiction for the first time, with the first book in a new series, The Shell House Detectives, set for publication on July 1.

The book is set in the small Cornish coastal town of Porthpella, where a mysterious disappearance has rocked the community.

Widow, Ally Bright, and ex-policeman Jayden Weston, are the unlikely team drawn together in pursuit of solving the case.

Hall joined Bristol24/7 to talk about her inspiration for the novel.

Gwithian beach, Cornwall – photo: Emylia Hall

What drew you to your first foray into crime fiction? How different is the process from writing your earlier novels?

“Back in 2019 I was working on the third draft of a contemporary fiction novel set in Los Angeles. After four books with the same publisher, I was writing out of contract and the pressure was on. Although I was on a good path with the new draft, I started to realise I’d fallen out of love with the story; I felt like I was just making things up, without that intimate connection I want with fiction, where, to me, it feels real. I had a yearning to write something quite different: to embrace a genre, to learn something new, and have some fun. I really wanted writing to feel fun again. So, I turned to crime – and haven’t looked back.

“Writing a mystery novel feels like a problem-solving exercise, as much of a puzzle for the writer as for the eventual reader. I love the challenge of deciding whodunnit and then having to work out how on earth my sleuths can plausibly figure it out too; it’s as if I’m a detective myself, standing in front of a board of suspects in the Incident Room, trying to put it all together. This feels like a refreshing change in process to me and, above all, it’s the fun I was looking for.”

As a Bristol author, are there particular places or walks in the city from which you take inspiration?

“I’m always drawn to water, so whenever I need that fix, I head to the harbourside. Living in Southville, I love that Ashton Court is so close too: having such a vast green space on our doorstep feels like a gift, especially as I get a lot of my ideas when I’m out walking.

“Two years ago, I took up skateboarding and Bristol is an amazing city for it. As a writer I spend a lot of time in my own head so I really value getting out of it sometimes: when I’m on my board the rest of the world ceases to exists and it’s about as mindful as it gets (lose concentration and I’m likely hitting the ground). The Deaner in the quiet of early morning is my total happy place: the sun hits the spray-painted concrete and all the colours blaze. Likewise, I love the pump track at Brunel Way, which in summer feels like a wildflower garden.”

Emylia Hall – photo: Victoria Walker

The Shell House Detectives is the first in a series, with the second book coming later in 2023. Had you mapped out the whole story arc before beginning, or did it only become clear to you when writing that this was the start of a much longer narrative?

“I always saw The Shell House Detectives as a series and when my agent first submitted it to publishers, we shared ideas for future books. There will definitely be three: The Harbour Lights Mystery comes out in October this year and The Rockpool Murder will follow in spring 2024.

“I like to think of it as a series that could run and run but much depends on sales, so with the third novel I’ve tried to deliver satisfying arcs while also leaving the door open for more stories set in Porthpella. I’m travelling hopefully!”

What does Cornwall offer you as a landscape in which to set this particular story?

“As a family we’ve holidayed in St Ives and Gwithian for years, and it’s also where I go for solo writing retreats in mid-winter. I couldn’t love it more, and this personal connection is a big part of why this series means so much to me. The natural landscape itself offers amazing potential as a setting for mystery novels – the dramatic cliffs, shifting dunes, relentless ocean. And while there’s an element of romanticising to the world I present – the novels are considered Cosy Crime – I’m also keen to be sensitive to real issues that go beyond the picture postcards.

“Ally Bright, one of our sleuths, lives in a wooden house in the dunes. She loves solitude and is happiest walking the strandline, but since the death of her husband, the local sergeant, she’s become inward. When Ally meets Jayden – a young ex-cop from Leeds who’s recently moved to the area – they’re each adrift in different ways. The bond they forge, and the compassion that they bring to their investigations, drives the story. In this small coastal community, The Shell House Detectives really do make a difference.”

Writing on the Cornish coast – photo: Emylia Hall

Emylia Hall: The Shell House Detectives (Thomas & Mercer, 2023) is published on July 1, and available for pre-order now. Follow all news from Emylia Hall at www.emyliahall.co.uk.

Main photo: Victoria Richards (Emylia Hall)

Read more: Bristol crime writer Tim Sullivan on how his home city continues to shape his work

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