Pauline Rowson

suspense, thriller, investigations, computer-programmer, computer-science, local-law-enforcement, Norwich, cultural-differences, singer, false-identities, false-information, due-diligence, crime-fiction, criminal-acts, procedural, unpleasant-suspect, unpleasant-victims, unputdownable, riveting, friends, friendship, family-drama, family-history, grieving, staged-discovery, England*****

The story is new this year but it is the current end to a long line of books centered on DI Andy Horton / Solent Murder Mystery Books. I have read a small assortment of the earlier books and thought they were great. But I am not one to get hung up on the backstories of the continuing characters. They add to the investigative aspects and provide a common thread in a series, but I come for the investigations an unraveling of the whole mess. And what a mess this turns out to be! The first body is that of a renowned celebrant. A what? Evidently it is common in this area for families to have a coordinator (akin to a wedding planner) or celebrant in charge of everything related to the funeral (for a hefty fee). That death turns out to be much more complicated than it seems, as do the next few. They appear unrelated at first but due diligence proves otherwise. What a Gordian Knot! Ingenious fact-finding, plot twists that totally blindsided me, and backed up by mystifying red herrings. Fantastic!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (more)

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I genuinely enjoyed it. Scotland Yard detective Ryga is very likeable. He has an easygoing nature and doesn’t badger or harass other characters into giving hi the information he seeks. He has a slow, methodical way about him that feels very relaxed but not oppressively so. As he slowly unearths who his victims are and kind of people they are, his compassionate nature shows how hard it will be for him to find the truth. We really see some good and ugly characters in this book and we see what great lengths some people will go to to protect others. I’m definitely interested in reading more of this series and learning more about Detective Ryga.
*I received a free ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.*… (more)

historical-places-events, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, 1950s, Cornwall, murders, investigations, police-detectives, procedural, PTSD, conundrum, crime-thriller, extortion, geology, grief, grieving, justice, lies, merchant-mariner, mining, mysteries, rage, secrets, spousal-abuse, suspense, tragedy, unpleasant-victims, unputdownable, consequences*****

The local was in a great hurry to have the first murder declared "natural causes". There was no such nonsense with the second. Veteran of The Great War Inspector Ryga is seconded to Cornwall from Scotland Yard and finds more than anyone expected. Excellent police work in this extremely twisty novel of deviousness.
Nobody has chastised me yet for giving a biased review because I really love this author's work!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (more)