A deserted boat with a puddle of blood. DI Horton believes there has been a murder but, with no body and very little evidence, the case is tricky. An art theft and forgery cause a second case to be launched. But when suspects start to disappear, Horton is concerned that he has two murder investigations to solve.
The South Binness Murders is the 16th book in the Andy Horton Solent murder series. There must have been some significant personal developments for Andy in the last book as he found out the truth about his parents. We are brought up to date so the book works as a stand alone novel.
A crime scene but no body, an art theft with no opportunity. Two completely different crimes that Horton needs to solve. He has to get back in his stride after a sabbatical to deal with his private life. This includes dealing with a boss with unreasonable demands and deflecting comments from his colleagues about his break.
I had little enthusiasm for the boat case as there is so little to go on. The art investigation is more meaty so I found it more interesting, especially when people start to go missing… Horton is a good cop, solid and dependable, thorough and fair. I felt sorry for him dealing with the aftermath of revelations about his parents while also trying to negotiate child custody with his ex wife.
The South Binness Murders is an enjoyable police procedural and I would be interested in catching up on the previous books in the series to see how the lead detective has developed.
THE SOUTH BINNESS MURDERS by Pauline Rowson
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR ANDY HORTON IS BACK IN THIS BRAND-NEW CRIME THRILLER. OVER 100,000 BOOKS SOLD!
An abandoned motor cruiser is found stranded on South Binness Island in Langstone harbour.
There’s a large pool of blood on the deck and heavy crimson spatter up the side of the storage lockers. But no sign of a body on board.
Detective Inspector Andy Horton is on the case. He discovers the boat owner’s identity: Neil Spender, a Portsmouth binman. But he’s nowhere to be found.
It’s not long before Horton’s pulled into another investigation involving an unusual robbery at a local art gallery. Three paintings have been switched for forgeries.
The gallery owner is adamant the originals have been stolen. But there’s no evidence of a break-in.
Now Horton and Cantelli have a murder investigation to solve and a cunning art fraudster to find. Time is ticking for our dogged detectives . . .
An absolutely gripping detective mystery perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Joy Ellis, Rachel McLean, Helen H. Durrant, Angela Marsons, Elly Griffiths, Karin Slaughter, Matt Brolly and Simon McCleave.
PRAISE FOR PAULINE ROWSON:
“A great read for mystery lovers with plenty to keep you guessing until the last moment.” Crime Book Club
“The Harley Davidson-riding, boat-dwelling Horton is a fascinating man to get to know, and his thoughtful approach to detection is a pleasure to read.” Publishers Weekly
“Once you get to know Andy Horton you’ll be sure to name him as one of your favourite police characters in crime fiction.” James C.
“Couldn’t put this book down . . . I thought the story was brilliant and will definitely be reading the next book.” Nikki
“An enjoyable fast-paced crime novel in an unusual and evocative setting.” Bobby H.
“Pauline Rowson’s books are cleverly plotted with lots of twists and turns. Can’t turn the pages fast enough. For anyone who enjoys a gripping crime novel these are a must.” Darren C.
“Brilliant read. Love all of Pauline Rowson’s books. If you like a good twist, read this, you won’t be able to put it down!” Amazon customer
THE DETECTIVE
DI Andy Horton’s mum walked out on him when he was a child and he grew up in children’s home. Now he lives onboard his yacht in Southsea Marina. He rides a Harley-Davidson and never wears a suit or tie — unless it’s to go to court. He’s an instinctive copper and a man of contrasts, which often lands him in trouble with his bosses. He has a desperate need to belong, and yet is always just on the outside. Self-contained, afraid to show his feelings, but he’s a risk-taker that seeks justice.
THE SETTING
Portsmouth boasts a vibrant waterfront, a diverse multicultural population, an international port, a historic dockyard, and is home of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth Harbour is one of the busiest in the world — and one of the best places to hide a body, it seems. Set against the backdrop of the sea, the Solent area of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight is every detective’s worst nightmare. The sea is ever-changing and often the best clues get swept away by the tide.
ALSO BY PAULINE ROWSON
THE SOLENT MURDER MYSTERIES
1: THE PORTSMOUTH MURDERS
2: THE LANGSTONE HARBOUR MURDERS
3: THE HORSEA MARINA MURDERS
4: THE ROYAL HOTEL MURDERS
5: THE ISLE OF WIGHT MURDERS
6: THE PORTCHESTER CASTLE MURDERS
7: THE CHALE BAY MURDERS
8: THE FARLINGTON MARSH MURDERS
9: THE OYSTER QUAYS MURDERS
10: THE COWES WEEK MURDERS
11: THE BOATHOUSE MURDERS
12: THE THORNEY ISLAND MURDERS
13: THE GUERNSEY FERRY MURDERS
14: THE RAT ISLAND MURDERS
15: THE LUCCOMBE BAY MURDERS
16: THE SOUTH BINNESS MURDERS
PAULINE ROWSON
Adventure, mystery and heroes have always fascinated and thrilled Pauline, that and her love of the sea has led her to create her exciting and gripping range of crime novels.
Born and raised in the coastal city of Portsmouth in the UK, Pauline Rowson draws her inspiration for her crime novels from the area. When she isn’t writing (which isn’t often) she can be found walking the coastal paths on the Isle of Wight and around Langstone and Chichester Harbours looking for a good place to put a body!
Pauline is the author of twenty-three crime novels — fifteen featuring the rugged and flawed Portsmouth detective, Inspector Andy Horton; four in the mystery thriller series featuring Art Marvik, the troubled former Royal Marine Commando now an undercover investigator for the UK’s National Intelligence Marine Squad (NIMS); two standalone thrillers, the award-winning In Cold Daylight and In For the Kill, and the 1950 set mystery series featuring Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Alun Ryga, who makes his debut in Death in the Cove with his second investigation Death in the Harbour.
Her crime novels have been highly acclaimed in the UK, USA and Commonwealth and they have been translated into several languages. Multi-layered, fast-paced, and compelling, they are full of twists and turns and are played out against the dramatic and powerfully evocative British marine landscape of the south coast of England.
Pauline is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Authors. Before becoming a full-time writer, she was a renowned marketing and training guru, with a collection of ‘how to’ business books and a successful marketing, media and training career behind her.
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*I received a free copy of this book and will be compensated for my time
Get those brains working with some tricky riddles!
There is plenty of family fun to be had with The Tricky Riddles Book For Smart Kids. It contains over 300 riddles, brain teasers and trick questions to get minds of all ages working hard. Some are classics that I remember from my own childhood but others have a distinctly modern edge.
There are spaces in the book so your child could write in their guess at the answers which are printed at the end of each section. Dotted throughout the book are illustrations to enjoy.
All riddles are suitable for ages 7+ but I think life experience helps in answering lots of the questions so younger children may find it trickier than older ones (even adults may find some hard!) There is a real feeling of pride when you guess one right 🙂
You can receive a certificate from the author, brilliantly adding to your sense of achievement!
The Tricky Riddles Book For Smart Kids has an RRP of £9.99 and is available from book stores online and on the high street, or available through Amazon.
Fiona, Daisy and Sue volunteer in a charity shop together. One of their regular customers is murdered and the police are struggling to find the culprit or even any motive. The three charity shop workers decide to launch their own investigation…
The Charity Shop Detective Agency is a wonderfully warm and amusing cosy murder mystery set on the south coast of England.
Fiona finds a bloody knife amongst the donations left outside the chairty shop. Later she discovers that one of their elderly customers has been stabbed to death. The police are stumped and there seems to be a serial killer on the loose.
The style of writing is full of gentle humour. I loved the animosity between Fiona and the owner of the rival charity shop across the street. The main characters are easy to like, written in an engaging way with their little quirks.
I found the murder mystery intriguing and was led down several dead ends along with the amateur sleuths, convinced I had guessed the killer before being proved wrong.
The Charity Shop Detective Agency is delightful and I look forward to meeting these lovely ladies for their next case.
THE CHARITY SHOP DETECTIVE AGENCY by Peter Boland
PUT THE KETTLE ON AND DISCOVER AN UTTERLY CHARMING NEW COZY MURDER MYSTERY SET IN A SLEEPY SEASIDE TOWN.
A serial killer is stalking the elderly of Southbourne. The only clue left behind is a domino in the hand of each victim — with a name scratched on the back.
Eighty-six-year-old Sarah Brown is found dead in her hallway one morning by her delivery man. She was stabbed in the back.
Fiona, Sue and Daisy, volunteers at the local charity shop, Dogs Need Nice Homes, can’t believe their favourite customer is dead. The ladies vow to bring the killer to justice.
With plenty of tea and cake along the way, and despite squabbles with their rivals, the Cats Alliance across the street, the Charity Shop Detective Agency is born.
Fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Janice Hallett, Simon Brett, Ian Moore and Sarah Yarwood-Lovett will adore this exciting new voice in cozy crime.
THE DETECTIVE
Level-headed Fiona has found a quiet sanctuary volunteering at the local charity shop, Dogs Need Nice Homes. And she’s found firm friendship with the strong-willed Partial Sue (she’s ever so partial to a cup of tea) and the kindly — and surprisingly tech-savvy — Daisy. Together, these ladies, with Simon Le Bon, Fiona’s scruffy haired terrier cross, investigate murders as the utterly charming Charity Shop Detective Agency.
PETER BOLAND
After studying to be an architect, Pete realised he wasn’t very good at it. He liked designing buildings, he just couldn’t make them stand up — a big handicap in an industry that’s partial to keeping things upright. So he became an advertising copywriter, the highlight of which was creating an ad featuring Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. He then tried his hand at writing his own stories and quickly realised there’s no magic formula. You just have to put one word in front of the other (and keep doing that for about six months). It also helps if you can resist the lure of surfing and drinking beer in a garden chair.
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A family are killed around their dining table, their right hands cut off, and the house set alight. The fire service and police are quickly alerted and the scene discovered. As the investigation kicks off, the police find out that the mother felt she was being watched before she died…
Their Burning Graves is the 8th book to feature DC Morgan Brookes alongside her boss and lover Ben Matthews. There are mentions of events from previous books but no detail about the crimes or criminals.
The deaths at the start are quite shocking. The scene was so well written that I could imagine the panic and horror vividly. Ben is upset when he realises he knew the mother and he is determined to find justice. Once again though, it is Morgan who pushes the limits of the law as well as placing herself in danger in order to catch the killer.
The plot twists come thick and fast. I was swept up in the story thanks to the natural style of writing. The majority of the book is written to show the police perspective but there are also chapters showing the victims and potential victim as well as the killer. This increases the tension as we await the next attack.
There was obviously a major plot development for the police team in the last book (which I somehow missed, grrr!) This gives an emotional element to Morgan and Ben as they struggle to balance their professional investigation with their personal feelings. I felt that the ending was a little abrupt and wanted to check in on one character and her dog as I genuinely cared about them!
Their Burning Graves is a tense detective thriller and I love the relationship between the main pair.
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Book: THEIR BURNING GRAVES
Author: Helen Phifer
Pub Day: DECEMBER 19TH 2022
Buy Link(s):
About the Book:
They are picture perfect. A young, happy family sat around the kitchen table. But no one moves as wisps of smoke filter into the room and the house becomes a burning grave around them…
When reports come in of a family trapped in a burning house, Detective Morgan Brookes rushes to the scene. But as soon as she enters the ruined home, she is devastated by what she finds. Tied to the kitchen table, Sally and David Lawson, and their young son, had no chance of escaping the flames and the smoke…
Neighbours all agree the Lawsons were the perfect family, and CCTV shows nothing suspicious. Morgan’s only clue is the silver crucifix necklace around Sally’s neck. Because according to friends, she wasn’t religious. Was someone passing divine judgement on this mother and her family?
Focusing on Sally’s last steps, Morgan gets the breakthrough she needs – just days ago Sally had confided in a friend that she felt someone was watching her. And when Morgan finds photos of Sally on her neighbour Luke’s phone, all the pieces slot together.
Only then another local woman reports feeling watched. Nothing seems to link her to Luke, but Morgan can’t ignore it. Could the killer still be out there? Going deeper into Sally’s past and uncovering the killer’s motivations is her only chance to save more innocent lives, but can she solve the twisted puzzle in time?
A completely addictive and gripping crime thriller! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio
Helen Phifer is the Bestselling writer of the hugely popular Annie Graham, Lucy Harwin, Beth Adams and her current series featuring Detective Constable Morgan Brooks published by the fabulous Bookouture.
She lives in the busy town of Barrow-in-Furness surrounded by miles of coastline and a short drive from the glorious English Lake District.
Helen loves reading books that scare the heck out of her and is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years. Unable to find enough scary stories she decided to write her own and her debut novel The Ghost House released in October 2013 became a #1 Global Bestseller.
She has written over twenty books in various genres and you can follow her over on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/helenphifer/
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Lady Beatrice has a new refurbishment project but is also trying to support her celebrity chef boyfriend’s food festival. Events take a sinister turn when another chef collapses on stage at the festival, dying a few hours later from deadly mushroom poisoning…
Not Mushroom For Death is the third book in a wonderful cosy murder mystery series featuring Lady Bea, a member of the royal family, alongside her business partner Perry Juke.
The death of Luca Mazza is not declared a murder until halfway through the book. At first it appears he must have ingested the poisonous mushrooms by accident or by his own intent. One person thinks it is murder from the start: Fitzwilliam, the police officer who is the bane of Bea’s life.
Fitzwilliam suspects Bea’s boyfriend of the crime but has no evidence. Bea is determined to prove Seb’s innocence to spite her nemesis but she gradually sees a different side to Seb. Of utmost importance is his awful attitude to her beloved dog Daisy!
There are plenty of suspects and suspicious behaviour for Bea and Perry to investigate. The motive isn’t revealed until the end but several people had the opportunity and knowledge of murderous mushrooms to have committed the crime. I loved the animosity and simmering attraction between Bea and Fitzwilliam as they lock horns frequently thoughout the book.
Not Mushroom For Death is a great addition to the series and I loved the mix of the personal relationships alongside the murder mystery.
Not Mushroom For Death
TV Chef Luca Mazza Dies After Collapse at Food Show on the King’s Private Estate
Luca Mazza (38), who was taken ill during a food demonstration at the Fenn House Food and Wine Festival two days ago, is now known to have ingested poison. Lady Beatrice (36), the king’s niece, who is working on a refurbishment project at Fenn House with her business partner Perry Juke (34), is believed to be comforting Luca’s boss and close friend Sebastiano Marchetti (38), who she began dating last month.
Is he crazy? Why else would Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam suggest that Sebastiano poisoned Luca without any evidence? So now, with the help of her little dog Daisy and her best friends Perry and Simon, Lady Beatrice will have to prove to Mr Know-it-all Fitzwilliam that Seb is innocent. But with so many people having access to the food preparation area at the show how will she find out who did murder Luca before Fitzwilliam lets his personal dislike get the better of him and arrests Seb?
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Author Bio –
Hello. I’m Helen Golden and I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes
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