Cover Image: Death by the Sea

Death by the Sea

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Intelligent, thought-provoking and always, always interesting…..
Grab yourself a copy!
Well worth it…..
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I read in this series and it can be read as a stand alone even if it's not the first in this series.
It's a well written, entertaining, and tightly knitted mystery that kept me guessing and turning pages.
I loved the well developed characters and the storytelling.
I will surely read the previous books as I want to learn more about the character's stories.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Was this review helpful?

This title is the sixth in a series. I have not read the others but think that I will so that I get more of the characters’ backstories. That said, this can be read as a standalone.

It is clear from reading this title that the Anglian Detective Team has worked together over time. Their group consists of an ex police officer (Frank) and an ex teacher (Laurel), along with two others.

One thread of the plot centers on a case of a judge who many have been wronged or who may have unsavory connections. When he fails to show up for a meeting with the team, the course of the novel is set. A visit is made to the judge’s home where an unsavory discovery is made.

The team is also working on a case that involves missing plants. Are the two investigations separate or will they come together?

This police procedural is set in the 1970s. It offers a good read with interesting characters and a terrific setting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book from this author. Although it is 6th in a series, it can be easily read as a standalone book.
It is a crime series set in the 1970s in the Suffolk coast.
Although I don't usually tend to read historical police procedurals, I was pleasantly surprised with that book.
I actually really like when there is a romantic interest in the backdrop as it softens a crime story nicely.
So all in all, really good police procedural and would recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

This is police procedural with an odd killer.
Headline Accent and Net Galley let me read this book for review. It will be published October 27th.

First a Judge dies. He was at the bottom of stairs but it was still murder. He was going to reveal the killer.

Then a young tennis champ is found in the sea. Who is killing them?

The Anglian Detective Agency is hired to ferret the truth and find the killer. It takes a lot of questions and searching before they have a suspect.

The killer has made up pipe bombs and is going to use them for revenge.

Will they figure it out before the killer's plan succeeds?

Was this review helpful?

I had never heard of this series before but as I live in Suffolk I thought I would give it a go. I am glad I did very enjoyable book with just enough to keep you totally interested throughout. I loved knowing some of the place names too.Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy.

Was this review helpful?

Former judge Neville Hanmer is looking for a quiet life on the Suffolk coast, having been exiled from London. But when a face from the past unexpectedly turns up, he seeks the help of the team at the Anglian Detective Agency.

The gang already have a strange case on their hands - the theft of rare plants from Yoxford Hall gardens. But when the judge doesn't turn up for his appointment, and the team go looking....

A very complex case which puts the team in danger - again.

An excellent addition to the series

Was this review helpful?

I had not heard of either this historical crime series set in 1970s on the Suffolk coast or the author, Vera Morris, before, but I thought I would give it a try. The Anglian Detective Agency, comprising primarily of ex-police officer Frank Diamond, ex-teacher Laurel Bowman, Stuart Elderkin and administrator Dorothy Piff, find themselves involved in 2 mysteries in 1973. Judge Neville Hanmer has had to give up his beloved legal career as a judge when it emerges he has unsavoury connections, despite there being no evidence of him being involved in any sordid criminal activity. He has moved from London to his holiday home by the sea in Thorpeness, but he is far from a happy man, his disquiet is increased when he happens to come across a face that he recognises from his past. His worries lead him to contact the detective agency and arrange an appointment to meet with them.

However, as Frank and his team wait for him, the judge fails to turn up, necessitating a visit to his home to discover what has happened. They find his dead body at his home at the foot of the stairs, suggesting this might just be a straightforward accident, but it soon becomes clear that it is a case of murder, the police investigation led by DI Nick Revie, a friend of the agency. When an unavoidable arrest has to be made by Revie, that of the troubled 17 year old David Pemberton, still recovering from a horrifying nightmare that continues to traumatise and haunt him, the agency become more closely involved. David is unable to talk and explain the circumstances in which he finds himself, and the only person who finally makes inroads and secure his confidence is Laurel. The other case has Frank, engaged by Pamela Gage, infiltrating Yoxford Manor Gardens as a consultant to uncover a rare plant thief, likely to be either staff or one of a number of volunteers that work there.

This is engaging historical crime fiction with a wonderful coastal location, there are plenty of murders and a host of suspects for the Anglian Detective Agency to look into, both are dangerous cases. I was particularly engaged with the killing of the judge, a tortuous, and twisted inquiry that ends up moving in a surprising direction with a unhinged killer who threatens the lives of many others, as well as Frank and Laurel. The only thing I was less than enamoured by was the romantic entanglement between Frank and Laurel, otherwise this is dark, intense and captivating historical crime fiction. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Evocative Mystery…
The sixth in the Anglian Detective Agency series of mysteries finds the agency busy juggling cases when Judge Hanmer turns to them for help. When Hanmer fails to turn up for a pre-arranged meeting, a dark and mysterious turn of events is about to begin. Evocative of both time and place, with a cast of credible and well drawn characters and a plot peppered with twists and turns aplenty. Another worthy addition to this enjoyable and immersive series.

Was this review helpful?