Death Ship

By Jim Kelly

“Engrossing and wonderfully atmospheric”
Booklist Starred Review

An explosion on a Norfolk beach leads to far-reaching consequences for detectives Shaw and Valentine.

When an explosion rips across Hunstanton Beach on the north Norfolk coast, an abandoned Second World War bomb is assumed to be the cause . . . but is it? Could there be a connection with the new pier being built – and the increasingly bitter campaign to halt its construction?
At the same time, DI Shaw and DS Valentine are on the hunt for an elderly female killer with a uniquely macabre method of despatch. And a 63-year-old Dutch engineer is missing, presumed drowned . . . but where is the body?
All seemingly unrelated investigations – but in each case nothing is as it seems. To find the answers, Shaw must delve into the past, and a mystery that has remained unsolved for more than sixty years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Severn House
• Release date: Dec 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781780108186

Jim Kelly

A previous Dagger in the Library winner, Jim Kelly is the author of the Philip Dryden mysteries and Shaw & Valentine police procedurals. He lives in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Reviews for Death Ship

[danhammang · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jim Kelly is a remarkable writer and this book is a standout even in his rich body of work. His prose is always taut with moment after moment of shining clarity. The beauty of the flat, elongated land and sea scapes lays in the background sometimes propelling the plot forward as gently as sthe small wavelets of ebb tide and at others with the cracking violence of a sea storm.it's a most enjoyable read.

[rowingrabbit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Detectives DI Peter Shaw & DS George Valentine of the Lynn CID are back in their 7th outing & there’s no shortage of case work to keep them busy.Down the road in Hunstanton, a Dutch tourist has been reported as missing. Dirk Hartog kept to himself but as they retrace his steps they discover he was interested in an old shipwreck & spent a lot of time on the water. Now he’s gone & so is his diving equipment. There’s also rising tension about the new pier that’s being built. It’s going to be a huge tourist draw with games, rides & shops. Not only will this take from local businesses but the design is not what they agreed to. Eco-types (or as George calls them, “lentil freaks”) have joined unhappy residents & peaceful protests are starting to give way to more aggressive acts of sabotage. But the weirdest investigation involves the search for a little old lady who is handing out candy laced with rat poison in the queue at a bus stop. As usual with this series, you’re going to need a thinking cap with a snug fit. As the story lines progress, the author provides a slow drip of clues that you rearrange like puzzle pieces as each twist is revealed. George & Peter have to dig deep when it becomes clear a couple of the investigations have strong ties to a decades old maritime disaster but those old enough to remember aren’t talking. The setting is on the Norfolk coast & that’s important as it informs how many of the characters think & live.There’s such a strong sense of place here that at times I swear you can hear the waves & smell the salty air. The procedural aspect of the book is well paced & plot lines are woven together seamlessly by the end. The narrative is definitely character driven. There’s a large cast from all walks of life & each feels authentic as they add something to the story. And for fans, it’s a pleasure to catch up with the MC’s personal lives. In this outing Peter’s wife learns a stunning family secret & George is under pressure from his new wife to pack up & move to the seashore. In the end it’s about secrets, greed & family ties. It’s a smart & atmospheric read you’ll want to carry around so you can sneak in a few more pages when you get the chance.

[brianewilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first of this series that I have read. It's a solid police procedural -- good story and interesting characters. Valentine did not play much of a role here, but Shaw more than made up for it. The storyline about the poisoned chocolates added nothing -- it was an unnecessary diversion from the main storyline.

[jeanbmac · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book I've read by Jim Kelly, so he's a new author for me. I liked the style of writing and the story line, but found the small print and crammed pages a detriment. I'm all for saving paper and preventing waste but not when it comes to my reading enjoyment. Waste-wise author.

[John bushe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sorry, but disappointed. I've read several of this authors books ,mostly about a journalist called Philip Dryden and enjoyed them This book to me was too convoluted and there was a lot I never understood .Sorry J B