A popular member of the lifeboat team is missing. His boat has been found abandoned close to the shipping lanes and the crew fear for his life.
His hand washes up first, followed by the rest of his body and it becomes clear that he was murdered.
He shared a house with his landlord and his best friend, Sam, who returned to the Islands after serving prison time for drugs. He has been clean since his return but struggles to be accepted and several of the team think that he is the perpetrator.
Ben Kitto needs to find the real culprit before any more people are killed. He thinks it is linked to bravery as Jez has a bravery medal attached to his finger.
In an increasing frantic search, surprising secrets are unearthed and several people could have carried out the crime.
There are plenty of red herrings and the reader is given a real sense of urgency and the dangers of the sea as the action ramps up.

There’s always two narratives in this series – I was a bit disappointed with the second voice in The Brutal Tide as the two stories were almost completely distinct. Here, we follow an ex-con volunteer who is determined to find the truth about what happened to his friend while dealing with the fact that most people consider an ex-con is the most likely murderer.
Kitto’s life takes an additional step forward here (and it’s good to see his family aren’t in danger this time), and there’s plenty of room for his dog too. As I’ve mentioned before, Kitto isn’t that much of a detective, so while this is a whodunnit, it’s structured more as a thriller. Not for the first time in the series, Kitto kind of stumbles across the killer in the act rather than actually solving anything. Not that that’s a criticism, just a statement of the kind of mystery that this is. And it’s a very good example of that kind of mystery.
So strong characters, evocative atmosphere and an fascinating tale. Definitely a modern series to take a look at.

This was my first book by Kate Rhodes, and I thouroughly enjoyed it.
A great story with interesting characters, and I was stumped as to who dun it!
I will be on the look out for more by this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster IK for a review copy of Hangman Island, the seventh novel to feature DI Ben Kitto set on the Isles of Scilly.

Jez Cardew’s boat has been found floating in the ocean, but there’s no sign of Jez. Ben and the rest of the lifeboat crew are not hopeful, so when a hand with a medal attached washes ashore Ben feels he’s right to suspect foul play. Will Jez be the only victim?

I thoroughly enjoyed Hangman Island, which has a great mystery set in a beautiful location. The novel is told from various points of view, chiefly Ben in the first person and other characters as and when required in the third. It works well with the reader getting close to Ben’s thoughts and actions while the other voices supply detail at a slight distance.

I admit that I am not comfortable in water, baths excluded, so I have no concept of the Scillonians live their lives. It feels exotic to me as they use boats rather than cars and live in tight knit communities. I think that the author paints a vivid but realistic portrait of the way of life that comes to life throughout the novel. The ocean plays an integral part in the with a focus on the work of the volunteer lifeboat crews.

I was impressed with the plot. There is no hint of the perpetrator’s identity or motive until the action packed final showdown (on the water of course). As a result I was glued to the pages from start to finish. There are plenty of suspects with varying motives but not many twists, instead there is a series of inexplicable events and the uncovering of secrets. All this happens in the week before Ben’s wedding so there is added pressure on the home front.

Hangman Island is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I’ve read all the Ben Kitto mysteries, set on the Scilly Isles and I really feel like the characters are old friends, even Ben’s dog has a place in my heart.
In this book, someone seems to be targeting members of the lifeboat crew from the island which impacts Ben as he is now a part of the team. When Jez goes missing it is first thought that he has got lost at sea but it soon becomes apparent there is more to it than the sea claiming another victim.
This is close to home for Ben as his father was lost at sea when he was growing up, probably one of the reasons he has decided to join the crew as well as being a policeman.
As others disappear the tension mounts- will Ben catch the perpetrator before more people are hurt?
I really liked the character of Sam Austell, a member of the crew and Jez’s best friend. Recently out of jail after following the wrong path he is now desperate to do the right thing and is devastated when his friend goes missing. He resolves to undertake his own investigation despite the possible danger.
There are a number of suspects who all seemed credible but I must admit I didn’t manage to work out whodunnit?
As ever Kate Rhodes has really done her research- she knows the islands extremely well and the information about the lifeboat service is very interesting. How brave these people are, risking their lives to save others.
As a Londoner I can’t imagine living somewhere where everyone gets around by sailing their boats but Kate certainly transports me to such a place.
All in all a great read which held my attention from the very first page and I’m now looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

This started off a bit slow but picked up about halfway and things started coming together. I've read others in this series that I preferred but it was still good. The setting is great and there's some interesting characters. I know this is preview but I found that two characters names changed, one on the same page and one for a whole chapter then it went back to before, which was quite confusing.

I absolutely adore this series and am ever so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this one.

The main cast are starting to feel like old friends now, and I know when I start one of these books that I'm really going to enjoy it. I love how the author brings the location to life, and it all feels so very realistic.

I loved the character of Sam Austell, I hope we get to see him again in future instalments. The mystery itself in this book really had me hooked - I had a shortlist of suspects, but it really could have been anyone and it was exciting to follow the investigation.

I think it is probably just because this was an early version, but there is a whole chapter near the end where 'Damian Cosgrove' is repeatedly called 'Gareth', so that will need fixing before publication.

Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the series and I'm hoping for more.

I've read this whole series and can't recommend it enough. The characters are well written and the settings described to help you picture what's happening. In my opinion each book can be read as a standalone book. Some of the characters are the same in each, but the cases are completely different in each book. It was sad at times and I just couldn't decide who I suspected (I was wrong) so I didn't see that part coming. A great book to read!!

Rounding up to three 🌟

This one was a bit hit and miss for me.
I felt overwhelmed with remembering characters in the first part of the book, so many of them.
The crime itself was interesting, and the location, and how it is part of the story was good.
The ending really picked up pace and tension, but I wasn't sold on the who, or why.
Just OK from me I'm afraid.