Tresco – Peter turns the page

Published by Simon & Schuster UK https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/ @simonschusterUK

416 pages ISBN 9781471165467

Publication date 14 June 2018

Ruin Beach is the second book in The Isles of Scilly Mysteries featuring Ben Kitto. Click on the link to read my review of book one in the series Hell Bay.

I reviewed an electronic copy purchased from Amazon. I would like to thank Tracy from Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to take part in the #TEAMSCILLY review project. My review of Burnt Island the third novel in the series will be posted on this blog early in October.

The Cover

Dark, moody and very atmospheric with a hint of danger, I like it.

From the blurb

Ben Kitto has become the Scilly Isles’ Deputy Chief of Police. As the island’s lazy summer takes hold, he finds himself missing the excitement of the murder squad in London. But when the body of professional diver Jude Trellon is discovered, anchored to the rocks of a nearby cave, his investigative skills are once again needed.

At first it appears that the young woman’s death was a tragic accident, but when evidence is found that suggests otherwise, the islanders close ranks. With even those closest to the victim refusing to talk, it seems that plenty of people might have had reason to harm her. As the islanders remain guarded, Ben Kitto suspects a killer is on the loose in Tresco.

My thoughts

Around six months have passed since the events of Hell Bay. Ben Kitto has used up his compassionate leave and has made his decision, to stay put on the Scilly Isles. He has taken the post of Deputy Chief of Police, a popular appointment amongst the locals, but not universally within the service, outside appointments instead of internal promotion never are. He is starting to put the events of the past, the death of his former work partner, behind him but his adopted canine companion Shadow is a constant reminder.

A planned day helping his uncle Ray, his reliable confidant and life mentor, in the boat yard, is interrupted by fisherman Danny Cardew coming into port and reporting seeing a body on the rocks at Piper’s Hole. Duty calls, so Danny takes Ben out to investigate, a tricky and dangerous manoeuvre follows, to get the trawler close enough for Ben to disembark. He identifies the victim as Jude Trellon a local thrill seeker, but this is no accident, she is tethered to the rocks, it is murder.

Being the only officer with experience in leading murder investigations Ben becomes CIO but of course DCI Alan Madron likes to keep his beady eye on him. As he keeps reminding Ben, he is still on a probationary period and will have a final review with him in due course. They are of course like chalk and cheese, Madron is by the book man and always impeccably turned out in his uniform, whereas Ben is not. This friction is a nice counterpoint to the awestruck constable Eddie Nickell who is becoming Ben’s right hand man and developing as a character in his own right.

Greed and what drives people to it are at the heart of the story. It is a precarious existence for the residents of the island, so dependent on the vagaries of the climate and tourism. One bad season can spell financial trouble, a couple can lead to real hardship and worse, possible bankruptcy. A real dilemma for a struggling business to come across a potential windfall, what to do if it is legally not yours. Then there are those who have reputations to uphold, would they turn down a career boosting opportunity if it meant turning a blind eye to illegality.

Ben himself remains enigmatic, but we are seeing more of the man behind the façade and discover about the death of his father, which explains his closeness to Ray. Old friend Zoe is the love potential, but he promised to keep it as friends when they were youngsters. She drops a bombshell of her own. Still frustrated by her music career not taking off and feeling a lack of fulfilment, she has come up with a plan, one that surprises Ben. The easy-going chemistry between the two is such a delight I hope it continues (I’m sure it will.)

The reader only comes across Jude alive in the prologue, which is a bit of a shame as she is quite a captivating character. A former free diver, that insanely dangerous sport of descending the depths on a single breath, she gives it up when she has a child. Then she takes on the hardly less risky job of working for the family diving school and charter business and pushes herself to more and more extreme depths. So, a real adrenaline junky, someone determined to live her life in the now and to the maximum. She doesn’t so much wear her heart on her sleeve as her dives on her body, as she has the significant ones tattooed on her body as a permanent reminder. Attractive, fit and athletic with joie de vivre personality it is easy to see how men fall for her and become obsessed. Refreshing to see a victim given such a rounded portrayal in crime fiction.

The investigation this time centres on the island of Tresco and so the reader is treated to a rich description of the geography of the place as well as the locals. The format of the investigation takes a familiar form to that in Hell Bay, individual questioning of people, holding ‘Town Hall’ meetings with the inhabitants of the island, trying and manhunt searches. This introduces the reader to the people who call Tresco home and gives a sense of the community spirit in a small place where people must rub along together and pitch in and help each other. Think of it more as familiar rather than formulaic, the setting places limits to what is possible, but the novels are quite different. A car chase can hardly be introduced on an island with no vehicles, but the sea and the elements provide plenty of danger. The story moves in tune with life on the island as Ben flounders to come up with a suspect. Later when it becomes clear what has occurred the pace really picks up as danger and jeopardy are introduced.

Ruin Beach captures the suspicion and mistrust on an island with a murderer in its midst.

Ruin Beach can be purchased via the publisher’s website here

The author

Kate Rhodes is an acclaimed crime novelist and an award-winning poet. She lives in Cambridge with her husband, the writer and film-maker Dave Pescod. She visited the Scilly Isles every year as a child which gave her the idea for this series. She is one of the founders of the Killer Women writing group.

Source: Publisher’s website