"Twenty-five years after a murder and the disappearance of her best friend, Nell begins to uncover the truth in this compelling and oh so readable tale."
Stop here to discover a terrific new voice in mystery and suspense, a voice owned by an established and truly eloquent author. Within a period of three weeks in 1993 the body of a young woman is discovered on the beach by teenagers Nell and Jude, then Jude disappears, twenty-five agonising years later Nell begins to uncover the truth. If you already love Dorothy Koomson, then you’re in for a real treat as she has combined her wonderful ability to observe human relationships with mystery and shivery suspense. The change in direction is beautifully subtle as her previous books have been moving this way and existing fans can still feel her unmistakable touch, yet she has opened the door to a whole new audience. Each short chapter remains very much in its moment as the story swings between the past and present. As I read and peeled each layer by exquisite layer I found surprises waiting to snare me, to make me exclaim and sit up. The characters are individual, fascinating (even when displaying hideous character traits), and Nell is an absolute delight to get to know. The Brighton Mermaid is a compelling, fabulously readable story full of energy and tenacity - highly recommended.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
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Closing date: 04/07/2026
Brighton Beach, 1993
Teenagers Nell and Jude find the body of a young woman and when no one comes to claim her, she becomes known as the Brighton Mermaid. Nell is still struggling to move on when, three weeks later, Jude disappears.
Twenty-five years on, Nell is forced to quit her job to find out who the Brighton Mermaid really was - and what happened to her best friend that summer.
But as Nell edges closer to the truth, dangerous things start to happen. Someone seems to be watching her every move, and soon she starts to wonder who in her life she can actually trust...
Fast-paced and thrilling, The Brighton Mermaid explores the deadly secrets of those closest to you.
The Brighton Mermaid features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Books of the Month, Crime and Mystery, Sharing Diverse Voices, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
The Brighton Mermaid is available in Paperback
The Brighton Mermaid was written by Dorothy Koomson and published by Arrow Books Ltd an imprint of Cornerstone
The Brighton Mermaid has 429 pages
£8.99
