The Chale Bay Murders

 

The Chale Bay Murders is the 7th Solent murder mystery featuring DI Andy Horton written by Pauline Rowson. Originally released in 2012 as A Killing Coast, this reformat and re-release from Joffe books is 260 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is a well written procedural thriller featuring an intelligent and flawed police detective inspector. Although it's the 7th book in the series, with some overarching plot threads from previous books, the author has included enough background that readers won't likely find themselves frustrated, despite the returning ensemble cast. 

This installment includes a convoluted, multi-thread action driven plot which includes fraud, art and antiques theft, and glimpses into the lives of the super wealthy. Although some of the central plot is quite outrè (and will require a prodigious suspension of disbelief from the reader), it's well written and fast paced.

With 15/16 books extant in the series, and a 17th due out in 4th quarter 2023 from the same publisher, this would be a superlative choice for a very long binge/buddy read. It does work well enough as a standalone, and the books can be read in any order.

The unabridged audiobook version from Saga Egmont has a run time of 8 hours 19 minutes and is beautifully narrated by Colin Mace. He has a gravelly baritone natural voice and does a really remarkable job narrating a large cast of characters of both sexes and across a range of accents, from Pompey to East London and across a variety of social strata, from dockside rough to cut crystal posh. 

Four stars for the book, five for Mr. Mace's virtuoso narration. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.