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Hell Bay

The Isles of Scilly Mysteries, Book 1

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 THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #1

‘Gripping, clever and impossible to put down. I’ve been a Kate Rhodes fan for years and in Ben Kitto she has created a detective who is just as complex and compelling as Kate’s elegant plotting and stunning prose. The claustrophobia and paranoia of the island are so brilliant evoked, I could almost feel the tide encroaching as time ran out to find the killer' Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said

DI Ben Kitto needs a second chance. After ten years working for the murder squad in London, a traumatic event has left him grief-stricken. He’s tried to resign from his job, but his boss has persuaded him to take three months to reconsider.

Ben plans to work in his uncle Ray’s boatyard, on the tiny Scilly island of Bryher where he was born, hoping to mend his shattered nerves. His plans go awry when the body of sixteen year old Laura Trescothick is found on the beach at Hell Bay. Her attacker must still be on the island because no ferries have sailed during a two-day storm.

Everyone on the island is under suspicion. Dark secrets are about to resurface. And the murderer could strike again at any time.

Praise for Kate Rhodes:
‘A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline’ Sophie Hannah, Daily Express
‘A pacy psychological thriller’ Laura Wilson, Guardian
‘Both the plot and the writing keep one thoroughly engaged throughout’ Daily Mail
‘One of the most absorbing books I've read in a long time - perfectly thrilling’ Mel Sherratt
‘An enjoyably scary chiller’ Sunday Mirror
‘The pace never slackens from the first page to the last’ Rachel Abbott, author of Only the Innocent
‘Fast paced and harrowing, this gripping novel will leave you guessing until the end’ Bella
‘Great twists, turns and surprises’ Sun©2018 Kate Rhodes. All rights reserved (P)2018 Oakhill Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Crime Suspense Thriller & Suspense Murder Fiction Mystery Exciting

Critic reviews

‘Gripping, clever and impossible to put down. I’ve been a Kate Rhodes fan for years and in Ben Kitto she has created a detective who is just as complex and compelling as Kate’s elegant plotting and stunning prose. The claustrophobia and paranoia of the island are so brilliant evoked, I could almost feel the tide encroaching as time ran out to find the killer' Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said
All stars
Most relevant
The emotions that run through the story are brilliant. The confusion of the Inspector keeps you 2nd guessing who it it. The twists and turns keep you interested. Well worth a read or listen.

Brilliantly read really good story

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Nicely paced and well written. Initially promising new character but the typically morose protagonist is not really likeable. Aloof and imperious. Negligent and indifferent towards his dog. Non-consensual advances towards a woman. Enjoyment of the book will depend on how important it is to relate to the main character.

Well written

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I listened to this on Audible and it's a good story- set on the scilly isles we have a very small island community. The story starts as DI Ben Kitto is returning home as a result of taking a break from the undercover murder squad in London fo,lowing the death of his partner. Ben's plans for a bit of rest and relaxation go awry almost straight away when a teenager is murdered. Given his experience hes asked to head up the investigation but this is proving a tough time to crack and when another murder takes place, things get even more complicated!

I really like books like this - it's set in a small community, lots of different personalities but the reader knows the culprit is one of those characters and we have the same opportunity to solve the crime as the Police. It's not too heavy on forensics. There us a really good understanding of the complexities of island life, rural communities and the personalities that come with it! Although there is a lot going on in this small community, it all felt very realistic.

It's a good solid 4 stars - it's not the most gripping or exciting but it's a good mystery that kept me guessing... it was frustratingly slow going in terms of finding the murderer... but I guess that's reality! The Audible version was quite good too... an easy listen.

a good solid 4 stars

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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.

Fabulous, atmospheric first in a series

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I really enjoyed this. The setting on the Scilly Isles is new to me. Now I want to visit. The atmosphere of a small isle community where everyone knows everyone, but people can still hide their secrets is very well captured. The hero is well written.
There are lots of red herrings, and I didn't guess the solution to the murders.
I would really recommend this. I'm off to get the second book.

Really Enjoyed this

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