Murder at Gulls Nest
The first in a sparkling new 1950s seaside mystery series, featuring sharp-eyed former nun Nora Breen.
After thirty years in a convent, Nora Breen has thrown off her habit and set her sights on the seaside town of Gore-on-Sea. Why there? Why now? Instinct tells her it’s better not to reveal her reasons right now. She takes a room at Gulls Nest guest house and settles in to watch and listen.
Over disappointing – and sometimes downright inedible – dinners, Nora realises that she was right to keep quiet: her fellow lodgers are hiding something. At long last, she has found an outlet for her powers of observation and, well, nosiness: there is a mystery to solve, and she is the only person for the job.
Released March 2025.
‘I was wildly charmed by Murder at Gulls Nest…HIGHLY recommended.’ Marian Keyes.
After thirty years in a convent, Nora Breen has thrown off her habit. Her fellow sister Frieda has gone missing and it’s up to Nora to find her. Nora’s only clue is that Frieda was last seen at Gulls Nest boarding house. So she travels down to the seaside town of Gore-on-Sea, takes a room and settles in to watch and listen. Over dubious – and sometimes downright inedible – dinners, Nora gathers evidence about the other lodgers. At long last, she has found an outlet for her powers of observation and, well, nosiness.
When one of the lodgers is found dead, Nora decides she must find the murderer. Not least because she suspects the victim knew Frieda. Could solving this mystery help her to understand what has happened to her friend?
Siobhán McSweeney narrates the audio version of Jess Kidd’s Murder at Gulls Nest.
The actor, famous for her role as Sister Michael in Derry Girls reads the audio edition of Murder at Gulls Nest. After learning that McSweeney will narrate the audiobook, Jess said:
‘I am over the moon that Siobhán McSweeney will be narrating Murder at Gulls Nest. Siobhán is entirely brilliant, I’ve loved her work for a long time. I know she’ll bring exactly the twisted humour that will make this first Nora Breen story jump off the page.’ Faber will be returning to Gore-on-Sea in Spring 2026 for Murder at the Spirit Lounge.
Some favourite fictional nuns:
Writing for the Faber & Faber Journal to celebrate publication Jess selects her top eight nuns in literature, film and TV: READ ON >
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