Picture a British storyteller who weaves romance and mystery into the windswept cliffs of Cornwall—meet Emylia Hall! A bestselling author with a knack for crafting evocative tales, Hall’s novels, like the beloved Shell House Detectives series, transport readers to vivid landscapes where dark secrets unfold. Her passion for place and storytelling has made her a standout in contemporary British literature.
Born in Devon, Hall’s journey from a tiny village to literary stardom is as captivating as her books. With a career spanning romance, cozy mysteries, and women’s fiction, she’s not just a writer but a mentor, inspiring new voices through her Mothership Writers program.
The Making of Emylia Hall
Growing up in a small Devon village, Emylia Hall was surrounded by cottages, valleys, and the nearby sea. Her childhood was filled with nature walks and dreams of becoming a Wimbledon champion—later, dating one! She studied English Literature at the University of York and Lausanne, fueling her love for storytelling. After a stint in advertising and winters as chalet staff in the Alps, Hall penned her first novel draft, learning the ropes through rejections before her breakout success.
Her early experiences shaped her writing, infusing it with a deep connection to place. In 2012, she burst onto the scene with The Book of Summers, a coming-of-age tale inspired by her childhood holidays in Hungary. This debut set the stage for a career defined by heartfelt narratives and richly drawn settings.
Emylia Hall’s Unforgettable Stories
Hall’s novels are a love letter to landscapes, from the Tuscan isle of Elba to the rugged Cornish coast. Her debut, The Book of Summers, a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, follows a young woman uncovering family secrets in rural Hungary. Translated into ten languages, it captured readers with its nostalgic charm. The Thousand Lights Hotel, selected for Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place Book Club, is a romantic tale set on the Italian island of Elba, blending love and self-discovery.
In 2023, Hall ventured into cozy crime with The Shell House Detectives, a Kindle Top 10 bestseller optioned for TV. Set in the fictional Cornish village of Porthpella, it follows widow Ally Bright and ex-cop Jayden Weston as they solve mysteries amid dunes and cliffs. Sequels like The Harbour Lights Mystery and The Rockpool Murder deepen the series’ appeal with intricate plots and atmospheric prose. Hall’s style—compassionate, immersive, and layered with social issues—makes her stories both thrilling and heartfelt.
Her settings aren’t just backdrops; they’re characters. Cornwall’s wild beauty drives the tension in her mysteries, while her romance novels explore how places shape identity. Whether it’s a murder in Mousehole harbor or a bittersweet summer in Hungary, Hall’s storytelling invites readers to feel the sea breeze and unravel the truth.
Why Emylia Hall Matters
Emylia Hall’s impact extends beyond her page-turning novels. Through Mothership Writers, founded in 2019, she’s empowered new mothers to explore their experiences through creative writing, publishing works like Dispatches from New Motherhood. As a writing coach at The Novelry and a tutor for Arvon, she nurtures aspiring authors, sharing her belief that writing enriches life. Her work, translated into ten languages and broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music, resonates globally, blending emotional depth with genre-spanning versatility.
Hall’s ability to capture the human experience—grief, love, and resilience—while rooting it in unforgettable settings has earned her a loyal readership. Her cozy mysteries, in particular, offer a fresh take on the genre, balancing suspense with compassion and community. She’s a storyteller who makes readers care, not just about the plot, but about the people and places within it.
- Born: Devon, England
- Key Works: The Book of Summers, The Thousand Lights Hotel, The Shell House Detectives series
- Notable: Richard and Judy Book Club pick, Kindle Top 10 bestseller, TV option for The Shell House Detectives
Snag The Shell House Detectives and dive into Emylia Hall’s cozy crime world—where Cornwall’s cliffs hide secrets, and every page feels like a seaside escape!