Book Review: Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood 

I’m pleased to be welcoming Ross Greenwood back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour of his latest novel, Death at Horsey Mere.

When a teenage couple go missing, the police aren’t too concerned. Young lovers often make bad choices.

Then a body is found near a Suffolk lighthouse, and shortly after, two girls seem to vanish into thin air. Freshly promoted DI Ashley Knight knows she has a battle on her hands to keep the public safe, and she’s going to need expert help.

Ashley turns to her old protégé, Hector Fade, seconded from The Met to analyse an avalanche of data. But neither Hector nor Ashley are prepared for the chilling connection his work uncovers to the body by the lighthouse.

Ashley, Hector and the team must break down a fiendishly complicated network of people smugglers, but another victim is found at Horsey Mere and their worst suspicions are realised. A member of the gang has gone rogue and is taking lives for fun. When Hector uncovers a pattern in the choice of victim, time is against the detectives to stop the murderer killing again.

Ross Greenwood is back with a brand new, heart-pounding case for DI Ashley Knight, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Ian Rankin and Peter James.

*****

This is the first book I have read from this author and I must confess it has made a fan out of me. It’s the fourth book in the series but you definelty don’t lose anything by starting here. Within the first couple of pages I was hooked. I grabbed the audiobook and before I knew what was happening I was 12 hours in and all the housework was done!

The author has found a really good balance between keeping you guessing and giving you enough info to figure out major twists – two or three times, I thought I had it figured out but the author manages to leave just enough uncertainty that you can’t be sure.

It’s been a while since I read a crime thriller; I usually read historical fiction, fantasy and sci-fi, but this was like a cleansing tonic for my mind. The book is really well written, the characters come alive and are relatable.

The highest praise I can give it is that having finished it I have sought out the first three volumes and I am now working my way through them. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to get to grips with the back catalogue and then any future work by this author.

About Ross Greenwood –

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King’s School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I’m still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

My first book Chancer was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

It’s surprising for me to realise I’ve written sixteen books now. There are three strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind.

I’ve also written four detective books in a Norfolk series now, starting with Death on Cromer Beach. There are two more planned.

My publishers kindly told me I had reached over half a million sales with them in five years in July 2024

I hope you enjoy reading what I’ve written.

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Death at Horsey Mere is book four in the Norfolk Murders series and was released by Boldwood Books on 1st March 2025. Click here to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Chris Parish