This author and this series were new to me. I believe the novel would be more interesting if read in sequence. This author is an excellent at creating believable and sympathetic characters. The plot is complex with several plot lines intersecting as the story progresses.

There are three different events happening in The Norfolk Beach Murders and they link perfectly towards the end.

Detective Sara Hirst was called to the discovery of a body on the beach at Winterton-on-Sea, a body that had been battered on the rocks. Discovering his identity was proving to be a problem until they found another body hidden on an abandoned craft which was being tossed around in the stormy weather. When the Coast Guard brought the boat back to dock, that was when Sara knew it was murder.

Mu and the elderly, loyal Roger were homeless and had moved back to where she'd lived as a child in Norfolk after a brutal attack in London. Struggling to find a roof over their heads and food for both herself and the dog, Mu witnessed something she wished she hadn't. Being homeless and destitute was a lonely life, but also a dangerous one.

Lisa London was a drug runner and people smuggler boss, with her loyal bodyguard, Striker, and her assistant, Danni, always by her side. The Met in London were after her, but she knew they wouldn't find her now she was operating in a different area. But things can go wrong for criminals as well...

The Norfolk Beach Murders is the 5th in the Detective Sara Hirst series by Judi Daykin and it was brilliant! I've thoroughly enjoyed the previous 4 in this series, and this was no different. Set in Norfolk in mid to late December, with a violent storm readying itself to hit, and freezing cold, it was well written, had great characters (even the bad guys) and had a spectacular, convoluted plot! I loved it. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

The Norfolk Beach Murders by Judi Daykin

An enjoyable mystery. I thank both Netgalley https://www.netgalley.com and Joffe books https://joffebooks.com/ for the chance to read this before publication. The book is “The Norfolk Beach Murders” and it comes out on May 11.

First, we meet Mu and Roger, a homeless young woman and her dog. Next comes the murder that they witness. And then we meet Detective Sara Hirst, who had been with the Metropolitan Police in London but inherited and moved to her father’s cottage in a coastal village. More murders.

We slowly learn how these murders fit into the larger picture and along the way meet a number of other characters. The story is well-written and told via several points-of-view. I found this to be a wonderful mystery and crime thriller.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Book 5 in the series, this book grabs your attention from the very first chapter, and keeps you hooked as multiple cases evolve, and Sara realizes they might be part of the same larger one. Then when an incident with a homeless woman escalates, she has more than just an unsolved murder. As the bodies keep turning up, they realize their small division is dealling with big city problems, and with help from outside officers, a roller coaster conclusion is at hand. A quick read, I love this series for it's strong lead character, and you will too!

It’s the week before Christmas and DS Sara Hirst and her colleagues are preparing for a nice, quiet holiday. Time off has been approved, Christmas turkeys have been ordered, and Christmas cakes have been baked. And then a body washes ashore on the Norfolk beach. What seems like a cut and dry case soon leads to a more complex situation featuring the re-emergence of an old foe.

This is book five in the DS Sara Hirst series and while it is perfectly acceptable to read this as a stand-alone, I feel the tension between DS Hirst and Mead and nemesis Lisa London would have benefitted more if I had read the previous books in the series. Something I plan on rectifying very soon.

This is a great example of a police procedural, but it is an even better example of humanity and what motivates individuals at their core. Judi Daykin expertly crafts her characters into real people with complex emotions, perfectly balancing the dynamics of what makes someone a “good” person compared to the inverse. You will undeniably want to reach into this book and give Mu and Roger the biggest hug or get rowdy with the rugby boys while also sympathizing with Danni’s loyalties to Lisa London.

This was a great read and I am looking forward to spending more time with DS Hirst. Thank you to Joffe Books and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dubious Dealings..
The fifth in the Detective Sara Hirst series and a body on the beach finds Sara rushing off to the scene amidst a blustery December. It appears to have been an accident, perhaps a man overboard, but when another body is found there is no doubt that murder has taken place. What dubious dealings are taking place along that beautiful Norfolk coastline? Another gripping and well written instalment with a well crafted and credible cast, a solid plot and a firm sense of place.

This is an excellent fast paced crime story set mainly on the Norfolk coast with great attention to geographical details. The story is told through the experiences of three key female characters; a homeless young woman, a conscientious police woman and an ambitious aide to a female head of a drugs gang. Their individual stories unfold with common interlacing threads. Tension is created through the anticipation of their worlds colliding which they do in a violent storm on the coast.

The characters, both good and bad, are well developed and the ending concludes pleasingly with opportunities for future stories. I really hope that there will be more in this series. This is the 5th book in this series and I will definitely read the earlier ones.

This is the fifth in the series and this is the absolute best so far!! Love the Detective Sara mysteries and this one had me hooked til the end!
I just reviewed THE NORFOLK BEACH MURDERS by Judi Daykin. #THENORFOLKBEACHMURDERS #NetGalley
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DS Sara Hirst has to have given up on the idea of a quiet life in Norfolk. This time her case involves dead bodies washed ashore and people trafficking not to mention the odd massive cannabis farm. Mu and Roger may be side characters but feel very real and hopefully things will improve for them. In the meantime the Norfolk cliffs keep crashing into the sea...... Well written and well characterised people. Another good one in the series although this is easily read as a standalone. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Absolutely thrilling and kept me turning the page and on the edge of my seat. I loved it and will highly recommend to others.

The Norfolk Beach Murders by Judi Daykin is a gripping crime thriller novel. The cover reminds me of Santa Cruz, California.

This is book 5 in the DS Sara Hirst series. This is the first book I've read by this author, though I didn't feel I missed out on too much by not reading the other books.

I felt the story was developed well, and I enjoyed the story and the author's writing style. I liked Mu and Roger. I would read more from this author and this series.

#THENORFOLKBEACHMURDERS #NetGalley @joffebooks

fantastic crime thriller on the costal village of Happisburgh in Norfolk DS Sara Hirst, this is one amazing series that I eagerly love reading this is book five.
Gripping amazing chapter to be loved.
The Norfolk force wanting to know about the Winterton seals, as a body has been spotted they had to act fast as the tide could take it away.
The book also to takes us to London as we find out more about the characters involved.
And what does homeless young girl Mu and her dog Roger know what is the connection to this gruesome murder with more to follow.
Following this book chapter after chapter there are lots of twists that you just don't want to finish.
I loved it.

procedural, gangsters, undercover, past-abuse, crime-thriller, British-detective, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, suspense, unputdownable, drug-trafficking, illegal-trafficking, smuggling, Jamaican, urban-explorers, seal-colonies*****

Told from three perspectives, but it really works and drew me in.
DS Sara has relocated from London and joined a new detail oriented team in Norfolk near the seal colonies guarded by the RSPCA and the local coast Guard.
Danni who works for a nasty woman in the criminal world who all come to Norfolk.
Mu(riel) and her loving old dog Roger who have been living on the streets for too many years for her young years and they seem to be quietly caught near the center.
Just before Christmas it all goes messy with a couple of murders near the derelict WW2 gun emplacements at the water's edge.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

An exciting story. An Italian crime boss in London discovers that one of their underlings has been breaking the terms of their contract. Now there are bodies washing up on the Norfolk coast - accident or murder - and on a pleasure cruiser - definitely murder. What about the young homeless girl who is living in a broken down office - until she's forced out of it - why? DS Sara Hirst is one of the team sent to sort it all out. Watch out for the mama seals and their babies Sara.

Loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books, the publisher, I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

I thought this an interesting, enjoyable thriller set in Norfolk, where upon a body is found on the beach amongst the seals. It's not a complicated plot, but there is plenty of intrigue and build up of suspense.
DS Sara Hirst's criminal investigation takes her into the murky criminal world of drugs, illegal immigrants and people smugglers. I liked how the author contrasts this with the plight of the seals, the falling cliffs and homeless Mu and her dog Roger.
This is book 5 in the series, but can be read as a stand alone. One not to be missed.

This is the first book in this series I have read and I will definitely read more (and go back to read the previous 4). Although it still works as a standalone.
The story is told through 3 different POV’s which moves it along well.
A body is washed up just before Christmas and if it can be quickly identified and shown not to be foul play the team can enjoy their Christmas leave. It looks like this is going to be the case until another body is found and all hell breaks loose. Can the team solve the case and enjoy Christmas?
Thanks to netgalley for the copy to read.

A good book, it kept me interested, I thought it was good but not my usual type of book but I’m glad I read it

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Mystery and mayhem are at the base of this novel. Murder and intrigue add to the story. The main character is in the law enforcement business and works diligently to discover the clues to this mystery. Enjoy.

A truly fascinating read. Will not be my last judi daykin that I read. It kept me hooked all of the way through until the last page

This features a strong female detective, who is both interesting and entertaining to read about. I think the overall story with the murder mystery element is a bit predictable, though I tend to figure out most plot twists in such books before I get to the end. I really enjoyed the author's descriptions and prose, and felt that the characters were well fleshed-out. The only drawback for me was the predictability of the story, which is why I give it 3.5 stars. I think this is a great fictional crime story that will be liked by anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery!