Treggan Bay Mysteries
Devon coast mysteries—village secrets solved by clues you can hold.
On the south Devon coast, journalist-sleuth Noah Yalland is pulled from “just passing through” into murders and long-buried secrets—solved the pre-digital way, through parish registers, found objects, forensics, and remembered alibis. Each mystery stands alone, while a quiet queer slow burn and a found-family circle deepen across the series.
At a glance
- Setting: A fictional village on the south Devon coast
- Time period: Mid-1990s (pre-digital investigations)
- Detective: Noah Yalland, London journalist turned reluctant sleuth
- Mystery style: Evidence-led, fair-play cluework (paper trails + found objects)
- Tone: Cosy-leaning, atmospheric, quietly witty, melancholic-hope
- Romance thread: Slow-burn M/M; fade-to-black (occasional on-page kiss)
Reading Order
Behind the Series
Each summer, I find myself wandering the coast paths of Devon—those ribbon-thin trails that flirt with the edge of the sea—wondering what secrets might be tucked beneath the rocks and gorse. The air smells of salt and wild thyme; the cottages huddle together against the wind, their stone walls crusted with sea spray, their roofs furred with lichen in the afternoon sun. Tiny gardens bloom between them—lavender, mint, and mischief. It’s the sort of place where stories don’t need to be written; they simply rise from the soil like mist after rain.
And it was there, between the leaning chimney stacks and gossiping gulls, that I stumbled upon Noah Yalland—London journalist, resourceful enough to untangle Parliament but somehow incapable of boiling an egg without supervision. He arrived in Treggan Bay like an uninvited guest at a wake and, naturally, tripped over a murder before he had his first cup of coffee.
Among the so-called ‘charming’ residents, Noah found himself reluctantly untangling one mystery after another—if only to make it back in time for supper with Leo, who has the patience of a saint and the griddle of a tyrant.
Jern Tonkoi
FAQ
Do I need to read the series in order?
Each mystery is self-contained, but the character relationships—especially Noah and Leo—build from book to book. Reading in order gives the fullest experience.
Are these cosy mysteries?
They’re cosy-leaning: character-led, low on graphic content, with atmosphere and community at the centre. The themes can be serious, but the lens stays gentle.
How explicit is the romance?
It’s a slow-burn queer romance handled with fade-to-black intimacy. Book 2 includes a brief on-page kiss; there is no explicit sexual content.
What’s the level of violence?
Minimal on-page violence. You’ll see a non-graphic death scene and, later, human remains; any historical violence is off-page. There is occasional strong language.
What makes the mysteries different?
They’re resolutely pre-digital: parish registers, council minutes, sign-in books, forensics, and clues you can physically hold. The cases turn on what can be verified.
Who are the recurring characters?
Noah is the throughline, supported by a small circle: Eileen Thorne (librarian/former registrar), DS Scott Langdon, Leo Petit (Drift Café), and Issey Ashford (old friend with a notebook).
Where is Treggan Bay?
Treggan Bay is fictional, set on the south Devon coast near the very real town of Kingsbridge.
Do the books end conclusively?
Yes. Each book concludes its central mystery, while the relationship and community threads continue across the series.
How long are the books?
They are relatively short novels, at around 60,000 words.