Devil’s Table by Kate Rhodes @simonandschusterUK #20booksofsummer22 @k_rhodeswriter Out in Paperback 23 June

A MISSING CHILD… A LONG-HELD GRUDGE… A KILLER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT…

Book blurb

St Martin’s is shrouded in bitterly cold fog when Jade Minear and her twin brother, Ethan, are attacked in a field, late at night. Ethan manages to return home but the shocking events of Jade’s disappearance have rendered him mute.

On a small island where there are few places a child can hide, DI Ben Kitto must battle the elements to search for Jade. When his investigation reveals that the Minear family have many enemies on the island, Kitto grows increasingly worried that Jade is in danger.

Meanwhile, someone on the island knows exactly where the girl is. Someone with a deep-seated hatred of Jade’s family. To find the truth, Kitto must investigate the lives of the people he has known all of his life. Because one of them is lying – and it isn’t long until a body is found . . .

My thoughts

Ethan and his sister Jade sneak out one night when she disappears. Ethan has difficulty communicating and Jade has been his voice and best friend. Now she is gone and so has Ethan’s voice. He refuses, is unable to speak.

Ben Kitto is called in and organises searches as he investigates with his team. Has Jade run off, had an accident or been kidnapped? If it’s one of the first two surely she would return or be found by the search teams? Ben thinks Ethan knows something but he isn’t able to speak. And what is the significance of the ships in bottles?

Ethan and Jades father is a tyrant and their mother drinks. Through his investigation Ben finds out that there are several people who may hold a grudge against them. Has someone taken revenge in a most appalling way? Is it possible that Jade is being held or worse?

Then there’s a murder! What is going on?

Follow Ben in another wonderful island mystery. Will he find Jade, will she be alive? Can he find the murderer? Will he do it before anything else happens?

Ben brings in his girlfriend to help with Ethan maybe she can find out what he knows. Yes, of course, we’re going to find out what is happening in Ben’s life and relationships and it wouldn’t be the same without the faithful Shadow but Kate Rhodes never lets the main story of Jade and the murder be overtaken. She delivers, as ever, a beautifully written book which totally transports the reader right onto the Isles of Scilly with all that it promises – a great sense of place, great characters and most definitely a wonderfully told story of mystery and murder.

This is yet another great book in the Hell Bay Series and one that followers of the series and newcomers both will absolutely love. The fifth in the series which, if possible and it obviously is, just gets better and better.

Oh, yes there are maps! Always so good to see how the islands fit together but there’s more than one which I know will please many readers.

I give no apologies for once again letting everyone kind enough to visit my blog and read what I thought of the Devil’s Table and, indeed, this whole series – that this is one of the best series you can read and Devil’s Table is no exception. It is a wonderful book and a great series which I absolutely love and highly recommend.

Event check below for a link to the paperback book launch tickets. Lucky folks who are in, near or able to visit Cambridge for what will, no doubt, be a terrific evening.

Previous books

I own and have read all the books of the Hell Bay series and have all of the Alice Quentin series in ebook. The latest Hell Bay series book Devil’s Table is out in in eBook and hardback and the paperback is out on 23 June from Simon and Schuster. I have, of course, got it on order to go with my collection. Still it’s a series I so enjoy and of course like to read earlier when possible so I bought an eCopy too.

Here are my thoughts on those I have reviewed: Hell Bay | Ruin Beach | Burnt Island | Pulpit Rock

Cross Bones Yard (Dr Alice Quentin #1) | The Killing of Angels (Dr Alice Quentin #2) |Winter Foundlings (Dr Alice Quentin, #3) |Fatal Harmony (Dr Alice Quentin, #6)

#20booksofsummer22 challenge

Devil’s Table by Kate Rhodes is the 3rd #20booksofsummer22 read from my list. Check out Cathy’s blog for details.

Information

Event: Devil’s Table Kate Rhodes in conversation with Barry Forshaw

Following on from Hell Bay, Ruin Beach, Burnt Island and Pulpit Rock, Devil’s Table is the fifth book in Kate Rhodes’ addictive series of books set on the windswept Scilly Isles – and you’re invited to join her at Heffers on publication day to celebrate its release.

Published: Simon and Schuster- 23 June 2022 in paperback

Buy: Simon & Schuster | Your favourite bookseller

Author: Kate Rhodes was born in Greenwich, in South London, but now lives in Cambridge. She is a member of the crime writing group Killer Women and an award-winning writer of crime fiction and poetry. She began her writing career as a poet, winning a Bridport Prize, and twice being shortlisted for the Forward Prize. In 2014 she won the Ruth Rendell Short Story prize. She has written 6 crime novels in the acclaimed Alice Quentin series, set in London. Her Hell Bay series is set on the Isles of Scilly and has been optioned for TV.

She visited the Scilly Isles every year as a child which gave her the idea for this new series.

Kate worked in a wide variety of jobs before becoming a writer. Her first job was as an usherette at Greenwich Theatre, followed by years as a sales assistant in a record shop, waitressing, then finally going to university. Kate completed a PhD, then spent two years travelling and teaching in Florida and Texas, before returning to the UK, where she has taught in sixth form colleges and universities.

She often gives creative writing workshops in schools, colleges and prisons. Kate also contributes regularly to panels at literary festivals.

@K_RhodesWriter |Kate Rhodes Website | Kate Rhodes on Facebook

Books

Poetry

Reversal – Enitharmon Press (2 Mar. 2005) | The Alice Trap – Enitharmon Press (15 Sept. 2008)

Dr Alice Quentin Series

Hell Bay Series