I haven't read anything by this author before but will certainly be looking for more and can't wait for the second book in this series to be released.
A small Island community has a murderer in their midst and troubled detective Ben Kitto, on leave to his Island home finds himself drafted in to solve the crime.
An atmospheric, well plotted book with a cast of wonderfully engaging characters. A perfect read to snuggle up with and loose yourself in.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Simon & Schuster UK and Kate Rhodes for the opportunity to read this novel in return for my honest review.

This is the first time I have read this author and found it thoroughly enjoyable. I was engrossed from the first chapter.

The backdrop of the Island of Bryer, one of the Isles of Scilly, with the main character, Ben Kitto, originating from there, but having spent time in London as a murder detective brings an original aspect to the book. The disturbed reason for leaving London and returning to his routes adds to the intrigue, as does the fact he doesn't know who he trusts anymore.

Although not fast-paced the story is cleverly plotted with unusual characters and a classic murder mystery in the sense that there are a limited number of possible killers. There is nothing obvious about who the killer is.

Loved shadow.

Excellent read, recommended.

I have to admit to not having come across this author before. I was instantly intrigued though by the title and that eye catching cover for this book, and was not disappointed after reading.

DI Ben Kitto is currently back where he grew up in Bryher. He’s spent the past 10 years in London, working for the Metropolitan Police force, as part of the undercover murder squad. After a work tragedy involving his partner he’s trying to get his head clear and decide if he wants to continue with his job there. Instead of helping out in his uncle’s boat yard as planned to do, he finds himself quickly being reeled back in to helping the local police force after a young girl is reported missing, and found washed up on the shore, murdered.

Who and for what reason would someone murder a young girl on this tiny little island? Bryher is a small, close knit community, there’s less than a hundred people living here, it’s the kind of place where everybody knows everyone and people feel safe leaving their doors unlocked. Ben knows someone on this remote island must of done it, though, as no boats left the island the day before due to the severe storms which is where Hell Bay gets its name. He struggles with this though, as these people are mostly his friends and family, teachers, friends of his parents – people he’s known and trusted throughout his life, but he has to put this aside and suspect everybody until they can be ruled out. Until then, nobody is to leave the island.

Ben is a great character and I have to admit to developing a wee little crush on him. He’s clever, charming and straight to the point – the little love interest developing in the background to this story made him feel very human and real.

The setting comes alive in this book with the wonderful descriptions of the Isles of Scilly and it’s landscape – I certainly found myself googling once or twice. There was a real atmospheric setting created with the remoteness, darkness and the threatening sea/waves throughout this story – I was reading it whilst we had gale force winds and rain and I felt like I was actually near the sea myself living through it.

This isn’t a fast paced murder mystery, but as secrets of the local residents keep being revealed, and the eeriness sets in of someone being a killer on this tiny island and watching everyone – it’s hard not to get sucked in and be constantly guessing who it could be. I thought I knew who it was from fairly early on, well I was between 2 characters, but I was proved totally wrong!

I was extremely happy to see when I got to the end of the book that we’ll be getting more from Ben Kitto in the future, I certainly think there’s a lot more to find out about him and I can’t wait to discover it.

Hell Bay Kate Rhodes

The phrase saves the best till last springs to mind when I start this review. This year I have read some great books; but as its December I can safely say that one of the best has been one of the last of the year.

“Hell Bay” by Kate Rhodes is a cracking read. The story is set on Bryher, one of the smallest of the Scilly Isles, just of the Cornish coast and only accessible by boat.

The stories main protagonist is DI Kitto Benesek, a Met undercover detective from the Murder Investigation Team, he is returning to his home island to get himself together following the death of his partner. The last thing he needs is a murder amongst the closely-knit residents of the island. An island with only 98 residents, nearly all of who he knows.

But that is what he gets when on the night he returns a young girl goes missing. Drafted in by the local Police Kitto heads an investigation into her disappearance.

From the start the reader knows she has been killed but by who. The characters on the island are rich and colourful, and not one of them seems to have a reason to kill her.

There are two added twists to the plot that might relate to the murder. One of the residents is trying to buy out the poorer residents to develop the island, he is making no friends with his strong-arm tactics but would he stretch to murder. Then there is the modern-day smuggling ring that is dropping drugs onto the beaches to be picked up and distributed on the mainland; did she stumble across one of the transactions, or could she be part of the smuggling ring.

The book uses the isolation of the island to build the tension. The characters are typical of a small English town, but are hemmed in buy the Atlantic.

Kitto has been away from the island for a long time only returning for his parent’s funerals. His friends have grown, new relationships have been formed but basically not much has changed.

Kitto is used to the violence of the capital but dealing with it on his own island amongst his friends and family is hard. How can he not have preconceptions.

This book longer than most books being published at the moment but every chapter had me reading the next in quick succession. I can’t say I read it in one sitting, but I read it at every opportunity, and hated having to put it down when work intervened.

Thankfully the last few pages are a preview of the next book in the series so I know there’s another coming. Now I just have to sit and wait.

Pages: 432
Publishers: Simon & Schuiter
Publishing date: 25th January 2017.
Available to pre-order on Amazon

Highly recommend this book. It has a solid plot with strong characters. Really enjoyed it and I will now read more by this author.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kate Rhodes for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I’ve been a fan of Kate Rhodes for a while now, such brilliantly atmospheric novels with entirely engaging characters – Hell Bay continues and indeed exceeds that expectation, with a beautifully plotted, well layered story that is absolutely gripping, within a beautifully described island setting.

Ben Kitto has come home after a tragedy, but soon gets pulled into a mystery that will send shock waves through this small tight knit community and pull him back towards the police work he is considering leaving behind. With a claustrophobic and fully charged narrative, Kate Rhodes dissects this community and it’s secrets, keeping you hooked right up to the last page.

I loved it – I fell for Ben so am pleased we will see him again, LOVED the setting that came alive on the page, I want to describe this story as “Broadchurch on an island” taking as it does the main theme of family and community affected by tragedy.

Vivid and immersive, Hell Bay is the perfect start for a new series I’m sure to travel along with. Because it was truly excellent. Plus Shadow….

Highly Recommended.