Hell Bay

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.

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

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.

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 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 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.

Kate Rhodes is a new author to me but I was drawn in by the description and having read the book will certainly look at others she has written.
DI Ben Kitto is on holiday on the island of Bryher, which is one of the smallest islands of the Isles of Scilly. He is normally based in London but following a traumatic event at work which caused him to offer his resignation he was persuaded to go back to his roots to reconsider. Once in Bryher he takes on a murder investigation, when a sixteen year old, Laura Trescothick is found dead. Due to a storm, all ferries to and from the island are suspended meaning the killer is still on the island. DI Ben Kitto questions all the locals in an effort to discover the truth.
Nicely written novel, the author sets the scene well and introduces good strong characters to make this book a very good read. I would like to think that this book is the start of a series.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Simon & Schuster UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The start of a new and very promising series. After reading this book, I immediately wanted to hop on a boat to visit Bryher and the other little island that play such an important role in this story. I was therefore very pleased to see that it is actually possible to have a wonderful holiday on Bryher. Since I take my holiday always on the British islands or Ireland, I hope to read some more of Kate Rhodes and then, book in hand, explore the islands.
This is a review, not a travel guide, but I think the story for an important part revolves on the fact that living on such a tiny island does something with people. Some never want to leave, others cannot leave too soon. For Laura, who hoped to be off the island with her boyfriend before they both even turned eighteen, it is too late. She made all her plans for nothing and ends up dead at the beach.
Ben Kitto made plans too, and he succeeded in finding a place for himself elsewhere in the world. But after the tragedy that now fills his mind day and night, he comes home. Not running, but still, home. Home to a group of people he's known his whole life, among which he now has to find a killer.
I feel for Ben. He is not ready yet to turn a new leaf and go on with his life, but somehow he gets involved in this very tragic story and becomes the only one who can really find the truth.

The book is beautyfully and strongly written; the atmosphere is almost painted, with the broad strokes of an artist who really knows their subject. The is a good story, interesting and likable characters, a lovely dog (and I'm not a dog person...), humor and just the right amount of sadness. It's great, you should read it!

Thank you NetGalley!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Uk Fiction for an advance copy of Hell Bay, the first novel in a new series featuring DI Benesek "Ben" Kitto set on the Scilly Isles.

Ben, a Detective Inspector with the Met, returns home to the Scilly Island of Bryher to recuperate from a serious incident and mull over his future. Bryher is a small community of less than 100 people so it is a terrible shock when teenager Laura Trescothick is found murdered. Due to his local knowledge and experience on the Met's murder squad Ben soon finds himself leading the hunt for Laura's killer.

I enjoyed Hell Bay which is, after a slow start, a compulsive read as Ben gradually uncovers secrets the residents would rather have kept hidden. I particularly enjoyed the ending with its musings on cause and effect but am unable to expand on this without spoilers.

The narrative is linear which I like and mostly told in the first person by Ben, which I'm not so sure of because, while it gives immediacy and intimacy to the investigation, Ben is not an open book and he is a difficult character to identify with. The novel is also intercut with third person narratives, mostly about Rose Austell. These add little to the murder plot line but do underline the unforgiving nature of life on the islands and the challenges it presents. Ms Rhodes does an excellent job of portraying the harshness of island life from the severe weather to the subsistence living of many of the inhabitants, paradise it ain't despite the scenery.

I'm interesting in reading more about Ben Kitto because it seems that there is much more to discover about this self contained man. He is obviously a smart and dedicated detective but his thoughts and emotions are not easily discerned beyond the little he is prepared to give.

Hell Bay is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I have never read anything by Kate Rhodes before, but was tempted by the start of a new series. This features D.I. Ben Kitto, who is on leave from his job in London, where he works on a murder squad, in order to consider his resignation. Haunted by the death of his previous partner, and his feelings of guilt, he has returned to his childhood home on Bryher, the smallest, inhabited island on the Isles of Scilly. With less than a hundred permanent residents, his childhood home seems the perfect place to lick his wounds and decide what the future holds.

For the moment, it consists of hard work at his uncle’s boatyard, considering his future and letting the work take over his mind. However, even before his arrival, a young girl – sixteen year old Laura Trescothick – has gone missing. When her body is found and foul play is suspected, on an island where crime is virtually unknown, Ben offers his services and is given the task of investigating the crime. The suspects though, are people he has known all his lives – friends and neighbours. With a storm having cut the island off, though, the murderer is definitely among those who live there an dit is up to Ben to discover the truth.

Bryher does not sound an idyllic place, despite the obviously beautiful setting. It is a place where locals often only have summer work, when tourists visit, where they have more than one job to survive, and where life is hard and the biggest industries are fishing, boatbuilding and tourism. It is also a place where, behind closed doors, there are unseen problems; from smuggling to domestic violence, infatuation, jealousy and financial worries. As Ben untangles the secrets and lies behind a young girls death, he has to come to terms with his past and decide his future.

I really liked this crime novel. The setting may not be overly original – an island, where you know the suspect is within the closed community – but it works well. Bryher is very much part of the storyline, and atmosphere, alongside the characters. Ben Kitto is a wonderful, brooding character and I am pleased to see from the end of this book that he will be in future books. This has all the ingredients of becoming an excellent series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

I’ve not read any Kate Rhodes before but do know that she is both a celebrated poet and that her five crime novels featuring psychologist Alice Quentin are highly thought of and I get good feedback about her from readers returning library books.
With “Hell Bay” Rhodes is launching a new series featuring Detective Inspector Benesek Kitto and will be setting them in the Scilly Isles. The exact location of “Hell Bay” is Bryher, an island just to the west of the better known Tresco. Bryher is actually the smallest inhabited island with, we are told, 98 permanent residents and measures 1.5 miles with a width of half a mile at its widest point. As someone who lives on a bigger island I know exactly what that means in terms of people knowing everything that is going on and Rhodes is able to put this across brilliantly. I’m not sure how far she is intending to go with this series- the second novel is scheduled for 2019 but plausibly Bryher and the whole of the Scilly Isles are not going to have much mileage as a hot-bed of crime. In this novel alone Kate Rhodes has reduced the number of residents!
Ben Kitto was born and grew up on Bryher and returns as a retreat from difficult situations in London, which has caused him to question his future in the police force. His parents are both dead but family remains with his boat-building Uncle and his godmother who runs the pub. He knows virtually everyone on the island from his formative years there. In fact, the one person he doesn’t know draws him like a magnet.
A time of retreat and reflection with his inherited Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Shadow, (a good canine character) is shattered by the suspicious death of a teenage girl. As Kitto is on the island already he is given the green light to investigate.
The size of the island ensures an intensity of emotions and the decision to stop people leaving without permission whilst the investigation is ongoing turns this who-dunnit into a variation of the classic country-house mystery set-up, substituting the small isolated island for the large, isolated house. This works extremely well, it is always engrossing and builds nicely. I didn’t work out who the killer was (I actually rarely do) so that’s also satisfying. I really enjoyed reading this and it has confirmed what I already suspected that Kate Rhodes is a highly promising crime writer whose back catalogue I really need to discover.

Detective Inspector Ben Kitto takes a leave of absence from the Metropolitan Police Force and returns to his childhood home on Bryher, one of the Scilly Isles. He is hoping to work in his uncle's boatyard, but no sooner has he arrived than a teenage girl is found murdered and the local Detective Chief Inspector asks him to take on the role of investigating officer. Everyone on the island is under suspicion and it doesn't take long for Ben to realise that all have secrets to hide.

I really enjoyed this traditional murder mystery. I loved the character of Ben, who has come to the island hoping to get over a traumatic event in his past, only to be thrust back onto the front line of a murder investigation. I thought the island of Bryher, bleak and desolate out of the holiday season, was a terrific setting, and the eccentric inhabitants (especially Rose) made up a great cast of characters. Shadow the dog was a lovely addition and there was a little bit of a romance too. This is exactly the kind of crime fiction I love to read and I do hope it will be the start of a new series.

The only negative for me was that I did find it slightly unbelievable that an officer on a leave of absence from one police force would be assigned investigating officer with another (and without returning to work first), and that he would be expected to conduct an enquiry with only the help of one constable.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed it!


I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book, which will be published in ebook and hardback on the 25th January 2018, and in paperback on the 3rd May 2018.

Thank you to Kate Rhodes, Simon & Schuster UK, and Netgalley for my copy of this book, which I received in exchange for an honest review.