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gbawden's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. Great characters and setting and cracking story that leaves you guessing till the end. Brilliant book. One of my new favourites
nannamoo's review against another edition
4.0
Good story but felt I could have been reading Peter May's 'The Blackhouse' or similar books with a rugged macho hero and a slight love interest. Having said that will probably read more in the series.
ru_the_bear_reads's review against another edition
3.0
A good easy read crime novel. I liked the characters and the Cornish/Scilly Isles setting.
wisewise's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lesleyo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
louisemarley's review against another edition
4.0
Detective Inspector Ben Kitto takes a leave of absence from the Metropolitan Police Force and returns to his childhood home on Bryher, one of the Scilly Isles. He is hoping to work in his uncle's boatyard, but no sooner has he arrived than a teenage girl is found murdered and the local Detective Chief Inspector asks him to take on the role of investigating officer. Everyone on the island is under suspicion and it doesn't take long for Ben to realise that all have secrets to hide.
I really enjoyed this traditional murder mystery. I loved the character of Ben, who has come to the island hoping to get over a traumatic event in his past, only to be thrust back onto the front line of a murder investigation. I thought the island of Bryher, bleak and desolate out of the holiday season, was a terrific setting, and the eccentric inhabitants (especially Rose) made up a great cast of characters. Shadow the dog was a lovely addition and there was a little bit of a romance too. This is exactly the kind of crime fiction I love to read and I do hope it will be the start of a new series.
The only negative for me was that I did find it slightly unbelievable that an officer on a leave of absence from one police force would be assigned investigating officer with another (and without returning to work first), and that he would be expected to conduct an enquiry with only the help of one constable.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed it!
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book, which will be published in ebook and hardback on the 25th January 2018, and in paperback on the 3rd May 2018.
Thank you to Kate Rhodes, Simon & Schuster UK, and Netgalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this traditional murder mystery. I loved the character of Ben, who has come to the island hoping to get over a traumatic event in his past, only to be thrust back onto the front line of a murder investigation. I thought the island of Bryher, bleak and desolate out of the holiday season, was a terrific setting, and the eccentric inhabitants (especially Rose) made up a great cast of characters. Shadow the dog was a lovely addition and there was a little bit of a romance too. This is exactly the kind of crime fiction I love to read and I do hope it will be the start of a new series.
The only negative for me was that I did find it slightly unbelievable that an officer on a leave of absence from one police force would be assigned investigating officer with another (and without returning to work first), and that he would be expected to conduct an enquiry with only the help of one constable.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed it!
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book, which will be published in ebook and hardback on the 25th January 2018, and in paperback on the 3rd May 2018.
Thank you to Kate Rhodes, Simon & Schuster UK, and Netgalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.
la_luz_mala's review against another edition
5.0
I'd like to thank Simon Schuster Audio UK, the author & NetGalley for the copy of this audiobook I received in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very entertaining book, expertly narrated (Stephen Perring is a gem). It did take me some time to finish due to the format (still not used to audiobooks) but had a blast all through it. The story mainly reminds me of Henning Mankell's Wallander series, as it does revisit a bunch of tropes common in the genre: a middle-aged detective experiences a traumatic event & tries to move forward by moving to a remote and/or isolated location, where a murder happens. The detective will cooperate or lead the investigation because of their talent, everyone is a suspect, etc.
This **does not mean** I did not like it: tropes are tropes for a reason and I have no problem with them if used well. Kate Rhodes does just that and delivers an interesting, mystery-packed tale, but it might not be your cup of tea if you're looking for something different. If you enjoy the most popular authors in the genre then by all means, give it a try!
This was a very entertaining book, expertly narrated (Stephen Perring is a gem). It did take me some time to finish due to the format (still not used to audiobooks) but had a blast all through it. The story mainly reminds me of Henning Mankell's Wallander series, as it does revisit a bunch of tropes common in the genre: a middle-aged detective experiences a traumatic event & tries to move forward by moving to a remote and/or isolated location, where a murder happens. The detective will cooperate or lead the investigation because of their talent, everyone is a suspect, etc.
This **does not mean** I did not like it: tropes are tropes for a reason and I have no problem with them if used well. Kate Rhodes does just that and delivers an interesting, mystery-packed tale, but it might not be your cup of tea if you're looking for something different. If you enjoy the most popular authors in the genre then by all means, give it a try!
sandraleivesley's review against another edition
5.0
I've always fancied living on an island and so love books set in isolated locations. This first in a series is set on the small Scilly island of Bryher, where the protagonist, DI Ben Kitto, was born and returns while taking a break after a traumatic event while serving in the Murder Squad in London. He soon finds himself helping the local force to investigate a murder.
Bryher is a beautiful location and Ms Rhodes paints an atmospheric picture of the small island. Although it flourishes in summer with income from tourism, the locals struggle in winter. With a population of less than 100 everyone knows everyone else, and one of them is a murderer!
The book hooked me with its title and is well written with a strong plot and is perfectly paced with a few surprising twists. Ben Kitto is a very likeable character and I feel that we only got to scratch the surface in this book, and look forward to finding out more about him in future books.
And if that isn't enough there's a wonderful doggy character called Shadow!
I enjoyed the narration by Stephen Perring.
Bryher is a beautiful location and Ms Rhodes paints an atmospheric picture of the small island. Although it flourishes in summer with income from tourism, the locals struggle in winter. With a population of less than 100 everyone knows everyone else, and one of them is a murderer!
The book hooked me with its title and is well written with a strong plot and is perfectly paced with a few surprising twists. Ben Kitto is a very likeable character and I feel that we only got to scratch the surface in this book, and look forward to finding out more about him in future books.
And if that isn't enough there's a wonderful doggy character called Shadow!
I enjoyed the narration by Stephen Perring.