Death on Cromer Beach: Another crime series from bestseller Ross Greenwood for 2023 (The Norfolk Murders Book 1)

Product Information

As ever with Ross’ books I love the deep and intricate characters who are carefully built up with many dimensions and fully rounded backstories and personalities. Ross indicates this is the first of a new series, so it is a good starting point if you are interested. The two dead bodies are a couple of elderly hippy drifters – and those dragged into the case include a local homeless beach drifter, someone recently released from a secure mental institution, with the next dead body discovered (also drowned) a woman – all of whom seem to have been very disturbed and fearful recently.

I like the sensitivity shown regarding mental illness and as a severe ME sufferer, I even liked the fibromyalgia/cf mentioning as that is a first for me! All in all, “The Death on Cromer Beach” was a very enjoyable police procedural and I look forward to further books in this series with enthusiasm. These are all small niggles that did not affect my overall enjoyment of the book, it was a solid four star read for me and I would not hesitate to pick up the next novel in this series or anything else that this author has written. It soon becomes clear that the murders were carefully planned and the finger of suspicion points to an organised crime gang, but as the evidence mounts, a far more sinister theory emerges. The first few chapters are tautly written, juxtaposing the mundane life of a widow and the truly horrifying scene she stumbles across, and rack up a lot of tension and expectation for the following chapters.As the plot unfolds, the intricate relationships them, the town and the past, all becoming central to the mystery, adding layers of complexity that keep readers eagerly turning the pages. There are lengthy conversations, as they explain to one one another what the have done/are about to do. DS Ashley Knight, loner, single, middle-aged, has just been asked to investigate a double death on Cromer beach. This has a slew of crimes and a slew of suspects and complex back stories to be sorted out by the detectives.

A rich cast of characters and an explosive plot kept me turning the pages until the final dramatic twist. As mentioned previously I love the seascape and the backdrop of the events, the addition of folklore and sea shanties associated with the environment also make for a very enjoyable well rounded tale with it’s touch of the mysterious. With his eloquent descriptions, I can almost taste the salt in the air, hear the waves crash, and feel the chill of the English coastal winds.All in all, “ The Death on Cromer Beach” was a very enjoyable police procedural and I look forward to further books in this series with enthusiasm.