Recent Reads | Vol. 6 | A Trace of Sun and The Cornish Coast Murder
Originally published on September 21, 2025 | Last updated on September 21, 2025
Happy Sunday! Today I’m back with a Recent Reads post. I’m sharing two novels: A Trace of Sun by Pam Williams and The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude. Read on to find out how I got on with them.
A Trace of Sun by Pam Williams
Set in the 1960s, A Trace of Sun follows Raef, a young boy left behind in Grenada when his mother, Cilla, travels to London with his younger brother in hopes of creating a better life for the family. They remain separated for seven years. When Raef finally gets to reunite with the family, he feels like a complete stranger. As he grows up in England, he feels resentment, confusion about his identity, and as if he doesn’t belong. He also endures severe emotional and mental health struggles. It’s not until later on in his life, he discovers a huge secret, which explains why Cilla made the choices she did and the distance between them.
I found this novel to be very emotionally deep. Williams really makes you feel Raef’s pain and his feelings of “otherness.” She also portrays Raef’s mental health struggles with grace and in a very authentic way. Its lyrical prose makes the novel very vivid and compelling to read. It explores some very interesting themes including migration, separation, identity, depression, and mental health. Due to these themes and the novel’s overall plot, I found it to be a very thought-provoking read.
The novel is long (nearly 400 pages). I did feel that there were parts that were a bit overly descriptive or unnecessary, which caused the novel to lose a bit of momentum at times. Despite this, I found the novel to be an enjoyable read overall.
A Trace of Sun is a moving, heart-breaking tale that conveys the possible consequences caused by separation, migration, and hidden truths. It’s thought-provoking and written well in lyrical, descriptive prose. Although there are parts that drag, overall the story is emotionally powerful and a great read.
4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Cornish Coast Murder by John Bude
Set in the quiet Cornish fishing village of Boscawen, the story begins when Julius Tregarthan is found shot dead on a stormy night in his house. The local police inspector, Bigswell, is confronted with the task of finding out who committed the murder. Suspicion first turns to Ruth, Tregarthan’s niece, who lives with him, and then spreads to others including her novelist acquaintance, Ronald, the household servants, and local villagers. Reverend Dodd and his friend Dr Pendrill both help with the investigation, and gradually piece together any clues they can find until the murderer is revealed.
The novel has an atmospheric Cornish setting. The isolated location and stormy night give the novel a moody, classic mystery feel. It features some charming characters, including Reverend Dodd and Dr Pendrill, who both are pleasant and keen readers of detective fiction, who make it their goal to help solve the crime. I liked the classic format of the novel with its steady build-up, small-village cast of suspects, and the enthusiastic but amateur characters stepping in alongside the police. The characters and plot format help make The Cornish Coast Murder an engaging read.
Without giving away spoilers, I did think the ending came out of nowhere. The culprit’s revelation seems to come from an angle that wasn’t shared with the reader, making it impossible to guess well ahead. This would definitely reduce satisfaction for those who like to play detective and guess “whodunnit”.
Overall, The Cornish Coast Murder is an enjoyable, cosy mystery that is well written with well developed characters. Although the ending is a little weak, the setting and characters make this an enjoyable read.
3.5/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐💫
What have you been reading lately?
