A very busy dialogue-filled narrative. I got lost and confused many times as to who is saying what and when.
It took me a while to get into this book as I had to re-read passages due to busy language.
However, I enjoyed this story. The Lady of the Lake felt a bit like a never-ending dress up: let's add this sub-plot and add another, and so forth.
The characters of DI Sarah Gilchrist and DS Bellamy Heap are fun and I would like to learn more about their backstory and future adventures. The author gives snippets of exciting back story for Sarah. And their budding friendship with ex-Hollywood star would be interesting to follow.
DI Sarah Gilchrist and DS Bellamy Heap are called in when a body is found floating on the private lake. Then, another body turns up in the run down apartment block and then another... disemboweled by an ostrich, or so it seems. There will be drugs and people trafficking, naked swimmers and botox-infused ex-wives. Add love affairs that went very wrong and a team of bored SAS veterans.
You get the gist. You'd get a bit of everything in The Lady of the Lake.
And the author leaves a cliffhanger at the end... just a tiny one.

"DI Sarah Gilchrist and DS Bellamy Heap are called in when the body of a man is found floating in a lake belonging to a reclusive ex-Hollywood actress.

When Major Richard Rabbitt, owner of a large estate in Sussex, is found floating in a lake belonging to Nimue Grace, a charismatic former Hollywood actress, DI Sarah Gilchrist and DS Bellamy Heap are called in to investigate - and quickly discover Rabbitt was a notoriously difficult man to deal with.

Rabbitt was hated by his estranged wife, had several rivalries with residents of the area, and was involved in a number of deals with other shady businessmen...such as Said Farzi, a 'criminal' according to many, and the corrupt politician William Simpson - the father of Heap's girlfriend.

With numerous suspects and many refusing to cooperate, Gilchrist and Heap must stay on their toes to unravel all the connections. Who stood to gain the most from Rabbitt's demise, and who can be trusted?"

You had me at "large Sussex estate" everything else is just the cherry on top of this sundae.

Richard Rabbitt was a loathsome man so the question is - which of the many people who hated him murdered him? Seriously, there's a long list (perhaps a bit long for this very short book). DI Sarah Gilchrest and DS Bellamy Heap find themselves sorting through it and, honestly, I found myself guessing along with them. Not having read the earlier books, I can't comment on their development, but they're good characters. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. This is a perfect lazy afternoon read for fans of procedurals.

Body Discovered In Lake Owned By Hollywood Actress.....
A Brighton Mystery. When a body is discovered in a lake owned by a Hollywood actress DI Gilchrist and DS Bellamy are soon on the scene. Engaging detective mystery, well developed characters, suspects aplenty, a solid plot and a clever denouement. Entertaining reading.

This is the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
It's an engrossing and entertaining story that flows without any hiccup and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
The cast of characters is well thought and complex and I liked the setting.
Even this is the 7th in a series I had no issues with the plot or the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Brighton based detectives Sarah Gilchrist and Bellamy Heap are on a course in Haywards Heath when a dead body has been found in Plumpton Down, Lewes district. They offer to investigate. The dead man Major Richard Rabbitt has been found in a private lake owned by Movie star Nimue Grace. It is apparent he was murdered. Sarah and Bellamy find Nimue a very private person but helpful. Rabbitt had been a problem for the movie star as he wanted to purchase the lake despite her objections..
Bellamy lives with Sarah's friend Kate Simpson and Sarah is compromised by having had a relationship with Chief Constable Bob Watts, who is now the Police Commissioner. There is also a Moroccan businessman Said Farzi who owns a farm adjacent to Nimue's house.
I've not read any of the author's Brighton mysteries before, this is the seventh. He also has a Nick Madrid series.
I found the book was full of interesting facts and the ending is interesting! My only query is would the Pathologist Frank Bilson have been tasked with dredging the lake?
I would without hesitation recommend this book and I will certainly be catching up on the Brighton mystery series.

When a body is found in a lake belonging to Nimue Grace, a reclusive actress, DI Sarah Gilchrist and her partner DS Bellamy Heap are on the case.

The dead man, Major Rabbitt was not well-liked by any stretch of the imagination. He was a pig. His ex hated him, his business rivals hated him. And no one said it but I'm pretty sure his own kids did not like him.

There was a lot going on here. There were so many suspects I had no idea who the killer was. At one point I thought it was an ostrich. Yes. Or the drug dealer. Or the ex. And on and on!  That gets extra points because I didn't guess right at all!!

Good Job!

NetGalley/March 3rd, 2020 by Severn House Publishers

A body of a man is found floating in a private lake owned by a retired actress. The man who found him was swimming naked, hoping for a glimpse of the actress.

DI Sarah Gilchrist and DS Bellamy Heap are called in to investigate when they identify the victim ... Richard Rabbitt, owner of a large estate.

Who wanted Rabbitt dead? his estranged wife who hated him? Residents in the area who didn't like him at all ? Businessmen he'd had some slimy deals with ? a corrupt politician ... the father of Heap's girlfriend ?

There are multiple suspects .. all with motives ... and most of them refuse to co-operate in any way to find the man's killer. And he's not the only victim they will come across. How to do all these people connect?

This is a well written crime fiction with baffling twists and turns. The characters are finely drawn. I enjoy how Gilchrist and Heap interact with each other with humor ... and loyalty to each other. Suspense starts on the very first page and doesn't stop until the very last page.

Many thanks to the author / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

When a body is found in a Sussex lake, Detective Inspector Sarah Gilchrist and Detective Sergeant Bellamy Heap of the Brighton Division find themselves in charge of the murder investigation, and as they follow leads, they uncover a people and drug smuggling gang. But are they connected? What about a recent escape from a nearby prison, and daring bank heist in a nearby village many years ago? And where does Nimue Grace, actress, semi-retired movie star, and owner of the lake, fit into the pattern?
This is a well-paced and involving police procedural mystery, largely because the main characters are so likeable, the minor characters interesting, and the dialogue witty. Lovers of legend will enjoy the Arthurian allusions, particularly the enchanting Nimue.
Highly recommended.

I had a really difficult time trying to read this book. I couldn’t get into the plot nor connect with the characters. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

This was good, not great. This is from an experienced author who knows his way around a sentence and story. Like all detective duos, their interaction will not appeal to everyone but they're well written characters. The mystery aspect is pretty engaging, and thought the length was appropriate.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!

Fun story, engaging characters, exciting mystery to solve. Enjoyed this one very much and I will be looking for the previous books in the series!

I had a very hard time getting into this book. I found the style the author used a bit too flippant and a distraction from the mystery. I enjoyed the setting and thought the characters were interesting, but I did not engage with DI Gilchrist, or DS Heap, I found their interactions artificial and a bit awkward, especially Heap’s relationship with Gilchrist ‘s close friend. I would have enjoyed the story more if some of the pater between the two would have been edited out., more police procedural, less duo act.
I don’t like leaving a negative review, but this book was not for me.
Thank you netgalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read and review.