Death at Horsey Mere featuring DI Ashley Knight is the fourth instalment in Ross Greenwood’s Norfolk Murders series set around the Norfolk Broads.
The Synopsis of Death at Horsey Mere
When a teenage couple go missing, the police aren’t too concerned. Young lovers often make bad choices.
Then, a body is found near a Suffolk lighthouse, and shortly after, two girls seem to vanish into thin air. Freshly promoted DI Ashley Knight knows she has a battle on her hands to keep the public safe, and she’s going to need expert help.
Ashley turns to her old protégé, Hector Fade, seconded from The Met to analyse an avalanche of data. But neither Hector nor Ashley are prepared for the chilling connection his work uncovers to the body by the lighthouse.
Ashley, Hector and the team must break down a fiendishly complicated network of people smugglers, but another victim is found at Horsey Mere and their worst suspicions are realised. A member of the gang has gone rogue and is taking lives for fun. When Hector uncovers a pattern in the choice of victim, time is against the detectives to stop the murderer killing again.
Ross Greenwood is back with a brand new, heart-pounding case for DI Ashley Knight, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Ian Rankin and Peter James.
More about Death at Horsey Mere
It starts with the disappearance of two teenage girls, snatched right outside one of their houses. This follows another disappearance, this time a young couple, but on this occasion, it was initially dismissed as a typical case of young lovers eloping. That is until the young man is discovered.
However, it is the discovery of a body near a Suffolk lighthouse that prompts DI Knight and her team to intensify their investigation. As they delve deeper, they uncover connections to a sophisticated network of people smugglers operating under the moniker “the Vampires,” a gang with roots in Eastern Europe and a group of individuals following Typhon.
The investigation becomes a race against time as the team strives to dismantle the trafficking ring and prevent further kidnappings and loss of innocent lives. With the support of Hector, Sebastian, a very persistent journalist and an undercover cop who later poses as a criminal inside a prison where some of the arrested traffickers are being held, they eventually find the evidence they need to put those responsible behind bars; now they just need to find them.
My Thoughts on Death at Horsey Mere
Newly promoted DI Ashley Knight is a compelling and tenacious protagonist who is trying to solve a horrendous crime while also learning how to lead a team she was once a member of. She comes across as both intelligent and resilient, making you believe in her and hoping that she succeeds.
It’s this combination, along with the fast-paced narrative, that compels you to continue reading; you want to know how it will end. However, the themes are dark and therefore, while the storyline is handled with sensitivity it is distressing to read in places, with threads weaved in around forced prostitution, abduction, and human trafficking.
Each character is well thought out and help to enhance the narrative. At the same time, the evocative portrayal of Norfolk adds to the story’s authenticity with the descriptions of windmills and landscapes.
Death at Horsey Mere is a gripping story to add to the Norfolk Murders series, with its intricate plot and character development. While the topics are certainly not light-hearted, anyone who enjoys a gritty crime read will be hooked from the start.
Ross Greenwood
About Ross Greenwood
His first book, Chancer, was written after he became a prison officer. Since then, he has written sixteen books, including three strands, and one concerning lives affected by prison.
His first DI Barton book, The Snow Killer, hit number-one on Audible, plus his novels frequently feature on Amazon’s best sellers lists (including the hard-boiled crime section). There are now four detective books in his newer Norfolk series, starting with Death on Cromer Beach and two more are planned.
You can find out more via his Facebook, Instagram or Twitter Social Media Links. You can also sign up to find out the latest via his newsletter.
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