THE BRUTAL TIDE (LOCKED-ISLAND MYSTERY #6) by Kate Rhodes @simonschusteruk @simonschusterPR @simonschuster @simonschusterCA @simonschusterAU @simonschusterIN @simonschusterE

Published 27th October 2022

THE PAST CASTS LONG SHADOWS…

Book blurb

REVENGE
DI Ben Kitto made many enemies in his time working as an undercover officer for the Met police, none more ruthless and calculating than gang leader Craig Travis.

IS WORTH
Travis has longed to make Kitto pay for his role in getting him convicted – and that day has finally arrived. Now, a dark and twisted killer is heading for the Scilly Isles, one who has waited a long time for revenge.

WAITING FOR . . .
With Kitto busy investigating the discovery of a body on the islands and distracted by the imminent arrival of his first child, his defences are down. He has so much to lose.

And Travis will stop at nothing to take it all from him.

My thoughts

D I Ben Kitto has a lot on his plate in the latest of the locked island series from author Kate Rhodes. Now living with Nina, who is pregnant and experiencing some issues. Ben is avoiding talking baby about names, so far they haven’t agreed, not to mention the marriage issue!

Then there’s the matter of the new community building which has been given permission to go ahead even though there are still some Bryher residents who are far from happy.

Maeve and Danny Trentwith are gifting the building to Bryher, where they both were born, and have come back to oversee the project. They want Ben to be openly supportive as they believe this will turn around the dissenters opinions.

When remains of a body, a male from around thirty years earlier, are found on the building site it’s soon confirmed that he was murdered.

On top of that Ben gets news from his old boss in London he is on a list of targets, one of whom has already been murdered. Before returning to the Isles of Scilly Ben was with the Met where he successfully went undercover in an operation to catch the head of a criminal gang – Craig Travis. Travis is desperate to seek revenge on the people that put him behind bars.

Danny goes missing, another body is found and bodyguards are sent for Ben’s protection. That’s a whole lot of trouble for Ben! Can he solve two murders – one old and one very recent – keep his promise to Nina and not get killed by an avenging Travis?

We do have a point of view from the killer which is interesting for it shows a mindset which has been long fostered but by being out on their own fulfilling a deadly act of revenge shows what an alternative could look like.

Shadow 🐺 is steadfastly beside Ben and is a, as always, a hero. 🐺 I can say no more!

Kate Rhodes has superbly plotted a wonderful story in The Brutal Tide which will be a treat for followers and newcomers of this exceptional series set on the Isles of Scilly. Bryher and the surrounding sea are as much a part of the story as any character is and beautifully portrayed. This is an excellent murder mystery and investigation storyline which unearths long buried, dark secrets along with the story of revenge by a ruthless and determined killer who is leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

Thanks

To Simon and Schuster for an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion, many, many thanks. I have not received any payment for this review and all thoughts are my own.

Information

Published: Simon and Schuster (Hardback and eBook 27 October 2022)

• Length: 448 pages
• ISBN13: 9781398510319

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Author:

Kate Rhodes was born in Greenwich, 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, libraries and prisons. Kate also contributes regularly to panels at literary festivals.

Simon and Schuster author page | RLF page |@K_RhodesWriter| Kate Rhodes on Facebook

Books

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