At Death's Window

A Shaw and Valentine police procedural

by Jim Kelly

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Pub Date 1 Feb 2015 | Archive Date 29 Jan 2015

Severn House

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers

Description

A Shaw & Valentine mystery

When a body is discovered beneath the waves off Scolt Head Island, the contents of the dead man’s pockets lead Detective Inspector Peter Shaw to suspect an outbreak of ‘samphire wars’: a turf battle for control of the prized sea asparagus which sells for a small fortune along the affluent North Norfolk coast. Or does the killer merely want it to look that way?

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant George Valentine is investigating a series of break-ins targeted at wealthy second-home owners. And a lethal strain of adulterated cocaine is flooding the streets of nearby Lynn, leaving devastation in its wake.

Then the second body is found – and the simmering tensions underpinning this remote coastal community come bursting into the open … with devastating consequences.

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Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781780290683
PRICE	$28.95 (USD)

Additional Information

Average rating from 12 members

Featured Reviews

Kelly C, Librarian

Fiction - Crime

Score: 8/10

I have been a big fan of Jim Kelly ever since he debuted with the "Water Clock" and his character Phil Dryden. Now we have the spin off characters, Shaw and Valentine, who are growing well on me too. I like them because they are just two good old English police detectives solving crimes in mostly the good old fashioned way, walking the streets, talking to people and following leads. This storyline was quite different - second homes being vandalised and samphire fishermen turning up murdered - but you know that Shaw and Valentine are up to the task of finding the perpetrators and solving the crime. You are always guaranteed a great read with Kelly and this one did not disappoint.

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Ionia F, Reviewer

This is a good, if rather procedural, crime novel with a lot to offer the mystery/crime lover. First of all, this book does not have the conventional, boring background of a standard crime novel. The author took great care to create a main character that is quirky, has his own life outside of his job and other people he is connected to. I liked that it wasn't all about the job in this book.

The crimes themselves are intriguing and different than I have seen in other books. There is danger, excitement and a good overall cast of characters that bring life to these pages.

I did get lost a few times in the more technical and procedural aspects of this book. The author is very convincing, but there were a few times when I thought it was a bit much description for the average reader.

There is more than one story line going on in this book, so that also made it interesting and they were easy to follow so there was no confusion between the characters or events.

I liked this book. The author has a clear, controlled way of writing that made me keep comfortably turning pages long into the night. Recommended.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.