Eight stars
Ross Greenwood returns to add to his newly-minted police procedural series set in Norwich. He keeps the writing quality high and. provides the reader with something well worth their while, all as Greenwood meanders through the story and checks the needed boxes for a great thriller. Greenwood paints a picture and lets the reader see how things will progress without getting too wrapped up in the minutiae. Great writing, strong characters, and a decent plot all lead the reader down a specified pathway to the answers that are sought.
The discovery of a body along the Norwich coast sends shivers up the locals' spines and cues the Major Investigation Team to attend. Headed by DS Ashley Knight, MIT officers confirm foul play and begin searching for clues. A second body soon emerges at the local Paradise Caravan Park, which has no definitive connection to the original murder. A scan of the area brings many out to the woodwork with their various stories. While many sound questionable, the alibis prove true, only frustrating DS Knight more as she has nothing to send up the chain of command.
However, things soon begin to fray at the edges and DS Knight follows a lead directly to the middle of the investigation. Someone is trying to cover up not only their guilt, but a larger secret, one that DS Knight is eager to discover. As more members of the caravan park prove to be elusive, DS Knight and her team must suss out the truth before more bodies emerge and their own safety is put in jeopardy. A great mystery by Ross Greenwood that was delightful to discover.
I have enjoyed the writing of Ross Greenwood over the years, never finding him repetitive or lacking in intensity. Strong ideas present well and keep the story moving, as the narrative builds and finds itself wrapped up in a strong theory or two. Greenwood uses this momentum to create dramatic effect and keeps the reader wondering as they push onwards. This is also supported by great characters, many of whom are one-timers, but whose impact is not lost on the attentive reader.
The plot is able to hold the reader's attention, especially when it moves from one perspective towards another seamlessly. Greenwood knows when to add a twist to keep the reader guessing and at which point things need to flow with ease. I can only hope that there will be more mysteries like this in the series, as this novel had all the needed elements to a great story and paved the way to a superior procedural. I await more from Greenwood, in hopes that the adventures can continue unabated.
Kudos, Mr. Greenwood, for keeping the reader locked into the mystery throughout.
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