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stineym's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
suegat's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
manorclassics's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A very good police procedural murder mystery thriller with a great main character. Although this is billed as book 1, I recommend starting with The Birdwatcher, which takes place earlier and, although told mainly from the perspective of another police officer, introduces the characters of this series and sets them up. I think you miss something if you skip over that book.
larryleex's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Salt Lane by William Shaw
No-one knew their names, the bodies found in the water. There are people here, in plain sight, that no-one ever notices at all.
DS Alexandra Cupidi has done it again. She should have learnt to keep her big mouth shut, after the scandal that sent her packing - resentful teenager in tow - from the London Met to the lonely Kent coastline. Even murder looks different in this landscape of fens, ditches and stark beaches, shadowed by the towers of Dungeness power station. Murder looks a lot less pretty.
I listened to this as an audiobook - it gets off to a slow start but swiftly turns into a gripping plot. I thought that this was a well-written book that left me wanting more. Whilst I enjoyed the main plot surrounding the murders of multiple victims, I found myself wanting to know more about Alex and the relationship she had with both her mother and her daughter.
Rating 4/5
No-one knew their names, the bodies found in the water. There are people here, in plain sight, that no-one ever notices at all.
DS Alexandra Cupidi has done it again. She should have learnt to keep her big mouth shut, after the scandal that sent her packing - resentful teenager in tow - from the London Met to the lonely Kent coastline. Even murder looks different in this landscape of fens, ditches and stark beaches, shadowed by the towers of Dungeness power station. Murder looks a lot less pretty.
I listened to this as an audiobook - it gets off to a slow start but swiftly turns into a gripping plot. I thought that this was a well-written book that left me wanting more. Whilst I enjoyed the main plot surrounding the murders of multiple victims, I found myself wanting to know more about Alex and the relationship she had with both her mother and her daughter.
Rating 4/5
kccool12255's review
I’m sorry, I’m so bored. I don’t think I’ve ever been this bored reading a book, especially a MURDER MYSTERY, which is supposed to keep you entertained. All of the characters are boring, the plot is so dry and confusing, and I just can’t do it anymore. I was trying my best to cram in some books before the end of the year so I could complete my challenge, but I just have too much going on that I can’t do it. Oh well, I tried my best. I hope I can do better next year.
robert_vardill's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
booklady100's review
Love this author - I just discoverd his work due to a recent #bookriot post and am looking forward to more. These all take place on the southern coast of England near the town of Dungeness. Very atmospheric and I require well-written, complex characters in my mysteries and Shaw delivers.
kelbi's review
3.0
I enjoyed this. Kept my attention throughout and am going to look for more by this author
strawberrymivvy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I do love a flawed female detective (hence my current obsession with Jane Casey's books) and I could grow to love Alex Cupidi. Alex has moved to a small town in Kent, she's a single Mum with a difficult relationship with both her slightly odd teenage daughter and her own Mum. A prickly character, she wants to be likes but seems to often say the wrong thing.
A long-lost mother turns up in London, then vanishes just as quickly. The next day her body is found in the marshes of Kent - though she seems to have been there for days. What's going on? The body count rises and Alex and her team get drawn into the underside of UK life.
A few surprises but for me the main draw is the characters, rather than the mystery itself. Not as enjoyable as Maeve Kerrigan for me just yet, but I will try the next in the series
A long-lost mother turns up in London, then vanishes just as quickly. The next day her body is found in the marshes of Kent - though she seems to have been there for days. What's going on? The body count rises and Alex and her team get drawn into the underside of UK life.
A few surprises but for me the main draw is the characters, rather than the mystery itself. Not as enjoyable as Maeve Kerrigan for me just yet, but I will try the next in the series