I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Murder by the Broads, the first novel to feature DS Adam Burnt of the Norfolk police.

When the body of a teenager is found stabbed to death and a second crushed by a lorry nearby the crimes have the look of a fight gone wrong but DS Adam Burnt, recently transplanted from the Midlands, thinks there may be more to it.

Murder by the Broads has an interesting, multi-stranded plot but the format makes it a difficult, complicated read and it didn't really hold my interest. It has a constantly changing point of view, often within the same chapter which means re-reading some sentences in order to adapt to the new new voice, and the timeline starts in the present, jumps back two weeks then restarts in the present. I understand why the author has chosen to write this way, his plot has so many strands it's an easy way to cram in all the information but it doesn't make for a particularly satisfying read as the reader is pushed from pillar to post with all the rapid changes of perspective, leaving no meaty chunks to get engrossed in. There is a good, well devised plot in there somewhere but finding it takes a lot of effort.

Adam Burnt is a dedicated, smart detective with one fatal flaw, he is convinced his wife is having an affair. As this seems to be his default position I suspect it will be a recurring theme in future novels and not one I'm keen to explore. I'm of the put up or shut up school of thought so have no patience with the self torture when solutions can be found.

Murder by the Broads is an ok read but the unnecessarily complicated format lets it down.

Murder By The Broads is the authors debut novel and the first book in a new series to feature DS Adam Burnt. Adam is someone that never quite turns off from his work. Even though he is married with a young family, when spending time with them his mind always seems to drift to the case he is currently working on. Then of course there is also the issue with his own marriage and whether he can trust his wife or not. Even though we get to know a bit about Adam, I feel like there is more to come with this character. His personal life, even though we get a few snippets, is more in the background and the author concentrates more on the case. I actually like this as sometimes authors can spend too much time letting the reader get to know the characters at the expense of the story. Well thankfully not in this instance.

The story flicks back and forth from present day to events leading up to the death of two boys of which is where the story starts off. I'm sure attending a murder isn't easy at the best of times but it's even worse when it's someone that whom hasn't fully reached adulthood yet. The fact that it isn't just one death but two had my interest piqued right away. 

The pace of the story is a steady one picking up every now and again in places. It's certainly one you need to keep your wits about you to keep up with the story line so you don't get lost. Not that, that's a bad thing, it's just with the story going back and forth and then flicking between certain characters, it's one that you may need to concentrate on that little bit more. 

Murder By The Broads is a dark and tense read with a few surprises up it's sleeve. It's a strong and solid start by an author who I think is going to go from strength to strength. Will certainly be looking forward to more by him after this commendable debut.

This book had the basis for being an excellent book however there were just too many strands for it all to work.

The book is primarily a police procedural and if the author slims down the number of story strands the next time then I am sure an excellent book will appear

You really will need your wits about you to keep up with the action in this fast-paced story. Dead teenagers, drugs, corruption - it's all there. At times, there's a little too much action - it becomes difficult to keep up. Not one for the easily distracted!!!