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Anglesey #4
The Drowning Isle
Bestselling phenomenon Simon McCleave is back with another gripping, atmospheric new crime thriller series set on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Pre-order now! On a remote island, there’s nowhere to run… Callum and his three best friends are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays with an epic camping trip to the mysterious Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey. Then Callum disappears, and the others return to the mainland in a state of shock. When his body is discovered, DI Laura Hart is brought in to investigate. Is the murder the work of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a dark history who still hold their ceremonies on the island? Or were the boys less tight-knit than they would have Laura believe? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one the island will not give up its secrets easily… A pulse-pounding, atmospheric crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of L.J. Ross , Ann Cleeves , Elly Griffiths and Val McDermid . ‘The fact that I've already pre-ordered the next book in this series says it all really.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you've never read Simon’s books, take the chance and find yourself a new go-to writer.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Good action with unpredictable twists and turns to keep you from putting down the book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Thanks, Simon, for another great book- please keep ‘em coming!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Not enjoyed a book more for years! A real page-turner.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
384 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
April 30, 2025
spontaneous library loan, for Anglesey, Druids, the hope of a Welsh accent... and for an easy read and distraction.
there was a fair bit of Anglesey, no Druids, not alot of Welsh... but it was an easy/undemanding read, tho maybe only mildly distracting.
there was also...
alot of short chapters, which assisted both the reading, and created a fair amount of momentum/pace 👍
alot of repetition - the same word featuring alot in close succession and/or at regular intervals, used in the same way. and kinda weirdly doubled adjectives/descriptions "poignant and moving" "petrified with fear" 🤔
quite alot of false leads and the like, many of which were never tidied up 🙄🙈
alot of description of each female characters eyes and/or hair... 🙄😬
a fair bit of police bungling, including a death in custody noone is too bothered about (turned out he wasn't the killer, but he was a drug dealer so guess that's OK their actions led to his death?) 😬
some unchallenged dodgy police attitudes based on generalisations and some prejudice 😬
so many backstories! especially surrounding the main character, Laura Hart, her family, AND the possibility of police corruption in Manchester 😯🤯
so much trauma! including the previous, and one character losing her brother, mother and father within the book! and then becoming the chief suspect in the death of her brother and mother! 😯
but the killer turned out to be a member of the Anglesey police force! 🤣🤣
this was at least so preposterous that it made me laugh 😉
Elvis the dog suddenly appears in one of the last chapters!?! 😆 not sure where he was for the rest of the book 🐶❓
ends on a cliffhanger! 😆🙄🙈
🌊 🏝 🚓
at the end of the book, the author acknowledges how much he fabricated wrt his depiction of the island of Anglesey, history and myth. I probably should have known 😉😆🙄🙈😬 well, I kinda did from a few things quite early on 😉🙄😆🙈
🌟 🌟
accessed as a library audiobook, read by Alice White.
there was a fair bit of Anglesey, no Druids, not alot of Welsh... but it was an easy/undemanding read, tho maybe only mildly distracting.
there was also...
alot of short chapters, which assisted both the reading, and created a fair amount of momentum/pace 👍
alot of repetition - the same word featuring alot in close succession and/or at regular intervals, used in the same way. and kinda weirdly doubled adjectives/descriptions "poignant and moving" "petrified with fear" 🤔
quite alot of false leads and the like, many of which were never tidied up 🙄🙈
alot of description of each female characters eyes and/or hair... 🙄😬
a fair bit of police bungling, including a death in custody noone is too bothered about (turned out he wasn't the killer, but he was a drug dealer so guess that's OK their actions led to his death?) 😬
some unchallenged dodgy police attitudes based on generalisations and some prejudice 😬
so many backstories! especially surrounding the main character, Laura Hart, her family, AND the possibility of police corruption in Manchester 😯🤯
so much trauma! including the previous, and one character losing her brother, mother and father within the book! and then becoming the chief suspect in the death of her brother and mother! 😯
but the killer turned out to be a member of the Anglesey police force! 🤣🤣
this was at least so preposterous that it made me laugh 😉
Elvis the dog suddenly appears in one of the last chapters!?! 😆 not sure where he was for the rest of the book 🐶❓
ends on a cliffhanger! 😆🙄🙈
🌊 🏝 🚓
at the end of the book, the author acknowledges how much he fabricated wrt his depiction of the island of Anglesey, history and myth. I probably should have known 😉😆🙄🙈😬 well, I kinda did from a few things quite early on 😉🙄😆🙈
🌟 🌟
accessed as a library audiobook, read by Alice White.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2023
Anglesey #4
Callum and his three best friends are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays with an epic trip to the mysterious Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey. Then Callum disappears, and the others return to the mainland in a state of shock. When his body is discovered, DI Laura Hart is brought in to investigate. Is the murder the work of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a dark history who still hold their ceremonies on the island? Or were the boys less tight-knit than they would have Laura believe? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing: the island will not give up it's secrets easily.
Four boys go on a camping trip to the remote island of Llanddwyn, Anglesey, but only three return to the mainland. DI Laura Hart and her partner Laura DCI Gareth Williams are called in to investigate Callum's disappearance. Laura discovers the boys were taking magic mushrooms. Some folk are keeping secrets and telling lies. Laura is still trying to deal with the information she received in the last book about her husband, Sam's death, and the possible corruption in Manchester's Metropolitan Police. This is a well-written police procedural that's quick and easy to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SimonMcCleave for my ARC of #TheDrowningIsle in exchange for an honest review.
Callum and his three best friends are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays with an epic trip to the mysterious Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey. Then Callum disappears, and the others return to the mainland in a state of shock. When his body is discovered, DI Laura Hart is brought in to investigate. Is the murder the work of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a dark history who still hold their ceremonies on the island? Or were the boys less tight-knit than they would have Laura believe? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing: the island will not give up it's secrets easily.
Four boys go on a camping trip to the remote island of Llanddwyn, Anglesey, but only three return to the mainland. DI Laura Hart and her partner Laura DCI Gareth Williams are called in to investigate Callum's disappearance. Laura discovers the boys were taking magic mushrooms. Some folk are keeping secrets and telling lies. Laura is still trying to deal with the information she received in the last book about her husband, Sam's death, and the possible corruption in Manchester's Metropolitan Police. This is a well-written police procedural that's quick and easy to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SimonMcCleave for my ARC of #TheDrowningIsle in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2023
The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave is the latest instalment in the Anglesey series involving DCI Gareth Williams and DI Laura Hart.
Four teenage boys go on a camping trip on the remote island of Llanddwyn of the coast of Anglesey to celebrate one of them having a 18th birthday. It is not a celebration without alcohol. As some suddenly appears and with it some ‘magic mushrooms’ to get the party in full swing. When one of the boys named Callum starts getting hallucinations that some one is chasing him. He runs off to never been seen again. The boys go searching but can’t find him and then Osian calls he is Dad DCI Gareth Williams and the now official search for a missing person starts. But it ends up, not that they were expecting, Callum’s body ends up dead on the beach. At first thought they think Callum got into the water and drowned. But further evidence shown that Callum was murdered. Who killed Callum and why?
This is another really good read from the author. A well plotted and complex police procedural, with a lot of twists and turns. I like the atmospheric descriptions of the locations and we got to know more about the personal lives of the main characters Gareth and Laura. If you a great Police procedural this isa book for you. 4 stars from me.
Four teenage boys go on a camping trip on the remote island of Llanddwyn of the coast of Anglesey to celebrate one of them having a 18th birthday. It is not a celebration without alcohol. As some suddenly appears and with it some ‘magic mushrooms’ to get the party in full swing. When one of the boys named Callum starts getting hallucinations that some one is chasing him. He runs off to never been seen again. The boys go searching but can’t find him and then Osian calls he is Dad DCI Gareth Williams and the now official search for a missing person starts. But it ends up, not that they were expecting, Callum’s body ends up dead on the beach. At first thought they think Callum got into the water and drowned. But further evidence shown that Callum was murdered. Who killed Callum and why?
This is another really good read from the author. A well plotted and complex police procedural, with a lot of twists and turns. I like the atmospheric descriptions of the locations and we got to know more about the personal lives of the main characters Gareth and Laura. If you a great Police procedural this isa book for you. 4 stars from me.
March 9, 2025
☆ 4.75 stars ☆ (rounded up)
This was a banger of a story! I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in this series.
I've definitely grown an attachment to the main players in this series and am now invested in their stories, relationships, and journey's.
This plot had several layers that kept you guessing. There were a couple of times throughout it that I had an inkling of what the potential twist could be. And I was half right. I got one part of the twist right, but the other side to it was not what I guessed.
Ive also found my groove with this authors style of writing, as well as the setting/environment and the different slang and references. In the first couple books, I felt like it took more effort from me to fully understand or pronounce etc, and now I have found I'm immersed init and it's no longer 'odd' to me. That in itself speaks volumes to the author in both his style, as well as his authenticity and ability to get you tucked into the world of this series.
This was a banger of a story! I thoroughly enjoyed this installment in this series.
I've definitely grown an attachment to the main players in this series and am now invested in their stories, relationships, and journey's.
This plot had several layers that kept you guessing. There were a couple of times throughout it that I had an inkling of what the potential twist could be. And I was half right. I got one part of the twist right, but the other side to it was not what I guessed.
Ive also found my groove with this authors style of writing, as well as the setting/environment and the different slang and references. In the first couple books, I felt like it took more effort from me to fully understand or pronounce etc, and now I have found I'm immersed init and it's no longer 'odd' to me. That in itself speaks volumes to the author in both his style, as well as his authenticity and ability to get you tucked into the world of this series.
July 16, 2025
The Drowning Isle is book four in Anglesey series by Simon McCleave and it sure delivers. It's such a well plotted, well paced and well written police procedural. I love how those books flow seamlessly from one to another. Each book brings a different case to the fore and yet we get those little threads from previous stories coming together which is such a strong point in those stories.
But it's not all about the crime and the victims and perpetrators. I like the characters that McCleave created in Laura and Gareth and their families and colleagues. They so well fleshed out and it feels good getting to know them more and more.
Anglesey is a really strong series and I can't wait to read more.
But it's not all about the crime and the victims and perpetrators. I like the characters that McCleave created in Laura and Gareth and their families and colleagues. They so well fleshed out and it feels good getting to know them more and more.
Anglesey is a really strong series and I can't wait to read more.
January 31, 2024
3.8 ⭐️
Simon McCleave pumped out another fine police procedural instalment. An easy read that keeps you on your toes with enough red herrings along the way. About 3/4 through the book I’d started to have my suspicions (which I don’t think is a bad thing) but the story behind the crimes wrapped up in 3 pages at the end, and could’ve been more of an extensive reveal in my opinion. I do enjoy the bigger storyline through this series, one of bent coppers within the force that remind me of the likes of Line of Duty and with that cliffhanger I need the next book asap.
Simon McCleave pumped out another fine police procedural instalment. An easy read that keeps you on your toes with enough red herrings along the way. About 3/4 through the book I’d started to have my suspicions (which I don’t think is a bad thing) but the story behind the crimes wrapped up in 3 pages at the end, and could’ve been more of an extensive reveal in my opinion. I do enjoy the bigger storyline through this series, one of bent coppers within the force that remind me of the likes of Line of Duty and with that cliffhanger I need the next book asap.
March 25, 2025
Loving this series.
January 16, 2024
It's so great to be back with Laura and her family on Anglesey! I've been travelling with them since the beginning and I feel like I know them a bit by now -
While the previous three editions blew me away, I have to admit that I was a bit let down by this fourth volume. Don't get me wrong, I read it in one day, but I found the story to be quite predictable and I had figured out fairly early on what had happened, although I did find the reason for the crime a bit far-fetched and therefore not entirely believable.
The author displays a clear affection for Wales, its history, and language. However, I did not sense the same level of ‘hiraeth’ as in earlier editions, despite the inclusion of some Welsh idioms.
While the author spends a lot of time on some historical context at the start of the book, I would have liked to see more of that woven into the narrative. I also think that the line of the pagan cult should have been more elaborated.
This is, for all, the ancient land of druids and dragons and shapeshifters, where battles and love stories would later form the basis for the Mabinogion and Arthurian legends.
You'll find that it's easy to follow even if you haven't read the previous parts. However, as someone who has read from the beginning, I found the constant references to past events a bit repetitive. It felt like a summary of what had already happened. I do think it's about time the author clarify the issue with Pete and move away from it, I got the feeling that this issue is now being unnecessarily prolonged.
Albeit I find this the least of the series, a quick and enjoyable read for me. 3.5/4 star rating.
Thank you Avon Books for the review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
While the previous three editions blew me away, I have to admit that I was a bit let down by this fourth volume. Don't get me wrong, I read it in one day, but I found the story to be quite predictable and I had figured out fairly early on what had happened, although I did find the reason for the crime a bit far-fetched and therefore not entirely believable.
The author displays a clear affection for Wales, its history, and language. However, I did not sense the same level of ‘hiraeth’ as in earlier editions, despite the inclusion of some Welsh idioms.
While the author spends a lot of time on some historical context at the start of the book, I would have liked to see more of that woven into the narrative. I also think that the line of the pagan cult should have been more elaborated.
This is, for all, the ancient land of druids and dragons and shapeshifters, where battles and love stories would later form the basis for the Mabinogion and Arthurian legends.
You'll find that it's easy to follow even if you haven't read the previous parts. However, as someone who has read from the beginning, I found the constant references to past events a bit repetitive. It felt like a summary of what had already happened. I do think it's about time the author clarify the issue with Pete and move away from it, I got the feeling that this issue is now being unnecessarily prolonged.
Albeit I find this the least of the series, a quick and enjoyable read for me. 3.5/4 star rating.
Thank you Avon Books for the review copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
April 17, 2024
I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the different settings on Anglesey and the police procedural approach, particularly the suspect interviews. However, I found the dialogue stilted and the main plot twist unbelievable. Also, the concluding section of the book was all rather rushed and unconvincing, as was the cliffhanger relating to police corruption.
January 8, 2024
This is the 4th installment of a series set on Anglesey, you can read alone as I did, but ant wait to read the first three books.
Callum and his friends are on a small island camping celebrating their 18th birthdays, fueled with drink and drugs, Callum ends up missing. None of the boys know anything so DI Laura Hart and DI Gareth Williams gets involved.
This is a gripping crime/detective story that had me guessing till the end. I liked all of it, it was an easy read that will keep you guessing. The story is written well and I liked the back story that I think relates back to the previous books in this series. Will be reading them in due course.
Edgy crime reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
Callum and his friends are on a small island camping celebrating their 18th birthdays, fueled with drink and drugs, Callum ends up missing. None of the boys know anything so DI Laura Hart and DI Gareth Williams gets involved.
This is a gripping crime/detective story that had me guessing till the end. I liked all of it, it was an easy read that will keep you guessing. The story is written well and I liked the back story that I think relates back to the previous books in this series. Will be reading them in due course.
Edgy crime reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
December 4, 2024
I know that sometimes people can make mistakes. It’s easy for the truth to be overlooked, for any number of reasons. But I find it hard to believe that two officers who are meant to be as good as these two could make such glaring errors of judgment.
The story about Laura’s ex continues, with things becoming increasingly fraught. Can’t be long until we get some answers.
The main story focuses on the disappearance of a teenage boy while he and his mates are camping on Anglesey. There’s red herrings aplenty, and the actual story is rather incredible.
An entertaining enough read, but there’s a couple of phrases that I’ve noticed crop up repeatedly in the series and which seem a little lazy.
The story about Laura’s ex continues, with things becoming increasingly fraught. Can’t be long until we get some answers.
The main story focuses on the disappearance of a teenage boy while he and his mates are camping on Anglesey. There’s red herrings aplenty, and the actual story is rather incredible.
An entertaining enough read, but there’s a couple of phrases that I’ve noticed crop up repeatedly in the series and which seem a little lazy.
March 17, 2024
A gripping, well plotted, and tightly knitted story that kept me guessing and turning pages.
Great setting, well developed characters, excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Great setting, well developed characters, excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 18, 2024
AMAZING ONCE AGAIN!!!
Simon McCleave's Anglesey Series in outstanding. I i’s an atmospheric, fast paced, police procedural series and it certainly has a hold on me. This is the 4th book and each book has been truly unputdownable.
The series is set in Beaumaris on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales. Simon always manages to add stories, tales and local knowledge to the area that are even new to me, as a local, and I love that. It is certainly a wonderful island to set a series on.
This story starts with a teenage boys camping trip in the beautiful area of Newborough Beach. McCleave builds the tension immediately with of one of the young boys being chased to his death through the forest, and this sets up a great foundation for the book. The book encompasses cults, drug trafficking, OCG's and difficult family relationships. It certainly packs a lot in!
I love the developing relationship between DI Laura Hart and her boss DI Gareth Williams of Beaumaris CID. And the backstory of Laura’s husband’s murder in Manchester a few years earlier is captivating. I love these elements of the book, its brilliantly interwoven and very exciting, I can’t wait to see how events continue to unfold.
Overall, “The Drowning Isle" is a fantastic read, with a very well plotted storyline, that will appeal to fans of suspense thrillers and police procedurals. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, engrossing read by a skilled author.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Simon McCleave for a copy of the book in return for an open and honest review.
Simon McCleave's Anglesey Series in outstanding. I i’s an atmospheric, fast paced, police procedural series and it certainly has a hold on me. This is the 4th book and each book has been truly unputdownable.
The series is set in Beaumaris on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales. Simon always manages to add stories, tales and local knowledge to the area that are even new to me, as a local, and I love that. It is certainly a wonderful island to set a series on.
This story starts with a teenage boys camping trip in the beautiful area of Newborough Beach. McCleave builds the tension immediately with of one of the young boys being chased to his death through the forest, and this sets up a great foundation for the book. The book encompasses cults, drug trafficking, OCG's and difficult family relationships. It certainly packs a lot in!
I love the developing relationship between DI Laura Hart and her boss DI Gareth Williams of Beaumaris CID. And the backstory of Laura’s husband’s murder in Manchester a few years earlier is captivating. I love these elements of the book, its brilliantly interwoven and very exciting, I can’t wait to see how events continue to unfold.
Overall, “The Drowning Isle" is a fantastic read, with a very well plotted storyline, that will appeal to fans of suspense thrillers and police procedurals. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, engrossing read by a skilled author.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Simon McCleave for a copy of the book in return for an open and honest review.
October 25, 2023
A great atmospheric mystery revolving around a camping trip for 3 friends on the cusp of adulthood ending in disaster. DI Laura Hart is brought it to investigate and uncovers ties with drugs, crime and a cult. As she tries to unravel the complicated story she is also dealing with learning new information in regards to the death of her
husband! .
Well plotted, engaging and satisfying for anyone enjoying a procedural. Bonus points for beautiful and isolated scenery and the inclusion of some crime mainstays such as cults and drug trafficking without it seeming forced. #Avon books #TheDrowningIsle #simonmccleave
husband! .
Well plotted, engaging and satisfying for anyone enjoying a procedural. Bonus points for beautiful and isolated scenery and the inclusion of some crime mainstays such as cults and drug trafficking without it seeming forced. #Avon books #TheDrowningIsle #simonmccleave
February 2, 2024
In this next installment of "The Anglesey series", DI Laura Hart and DI Gareth Williams are called in to investigate the disappearance of a teenage boy Callum Newell, when he had gone camping with his friends Osian, Tom and Ethan. This case hits close to home for the entire team as Osian is DS Declan's son and Declan is a close friend of Gareth.
A wide search for Callum yields no results until the next day when his body is found in the beach by a walker. The investigation into his murder leads the team to a religious cult living nearby and to a wad of cash food underneath his bed, with the search leading to a most unexpected suspect.
Meanwhile, Laura is repeatedly contacted by Pete Marsons, her former friend and current suspect in the death of her husband Sam four years ago. Unable to know whom to trust, she decides to contact an investigative journalist with everything she knows, so that the corrupt officers in the whole operation could be identified and brought to justice. Will her intention be fulfilled? The book ends with a wonderful cliffhanger which will keep its readers hooked and anxious for the next book to arrive.
Simon McCleave has written a great follow-up to the previous book, particularly with respect to the ongoing investigation into Laura's husband. The case of the missing boy made for an intense and thrilling read; I was reading with bated breath most of the time and definitely didn't see the final twist coming. I was more emotionally invested as the victims and the suspects are people close to Gareth and Laura.
I also liked the way the overarching story of Laura's husband's murder has been handled till now. McCleave has managed to pull his readers into the paranoia and tension Laura must be going through because of it. And I absolutely love where that part of the narrative has been taken to. This is another brilliant book by the author and I would like to read more to see where the story is going to.
A wide search for Callum yields no results until the next day when his body is found in the beach by a walker. The investigation into his murder leads the team to a religious cult living nearby and to a wad of cash food underneath his bed, with the search leading to a most unexpected suspect.
Meanwhile, Laura is repeatedly contacted by Pete Marsons, her former friend and current suspect in the death of her husband Sam four years ago. Unable to know whom to trust, she decides to contact an investigative journalist with everything she knows, so that the corrupt officers in the whole operation could be identified and brought to justice. Will her intention be fulfilled? The book ends with a wonderful cliffhanger which will keep its readers hooked and anxious for the next book to arrive.
Simon McCleave has written a great follow-up to the previous book, particularly with respect to the ongoing investigation into Laura's husband. The case of the missing boy made for an intense and thrilling read; I was reading with bated breath most of the time and definitely didn't see the final twist coming. I was more emotionally invested as the victims and the suspects are people close to Gareth and Laura.
I also liked the way the overarching story of Laura's husband's murder has been handled till now. McCleave has managed to pull his readers into the paranoia and tension Laura must be going through because of it. And I absolutely love where that part of the narrative has been taken to. This is another brilliant book by the author and I would like to read more to see where the story is going to.
December 10, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of The Drowning Isle, the fourth novel to feature DI Laura Hart of North Wales Police set on Anglesey.
A group of 18 year old boys go camping on an adjoining island and Callum Newell goes missing. DI Gareth Williams immediately launches a full scale search, but there’s no sign of him. Laura does much of the investigating, which leads her to the Fair Men, a group of pagans that Callum was interested in and enough secrets and lies among Callum’s friends and family to make the case difficult.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Drowning Isle which is a strong police procedural mixed with the ongoing thread of Laura’s efforts to get to the bottom of her husband’s death four years ago.
The narrative is split between Gareth and Laura as they tackle the various strands of the investigation. It gives the novel a wider perspective and pushes the plot forward relentlessly, making for a fast moving plot with plenty of developments, reveals and twists. I was glued to the pages as they try to work out who would want to harm a young man of blameless reputation. There are lies and too many no comment interviews to frustrate them, but they do a great job with a few fragmentary clues. The novel also has a few twists and while some are more guessable than others, the perpetrator’s identity remains a mystery until the final showdown.
At the same time as the investigation Laura is still trying to deal with the shocking information she got in the last novel about Sam’s death and the potential high level corruption in the Manchester Metropolitan Police. She makes some decisive moves that end in a cliffhanger, but which give the feel of an approaching endgame. Perhaps she’ll be able to move on with Gareth in peace. I hope so.
The Drowning Isle is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A group of 18 year old boys go camping on an adjoining island and Callum Newell goes missing. DI Gareth Williams immediately launches a full scale search, but there’s no sign of him. Laura does much of the investigating, which leads her to the Fair Men, a group of pagans that Callum was interested in and enough secrets and lies among Callum’s friends and family to make the case difficult.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Drowning Isle which is a strong police procedural mixed with the ongoing thread of Laura’s efforts to get to the bottom of her husband’s death four years ago.
The narrative is split between Gareth and Laura as they tackle the various strands of the investigation. It gives the novel a wider perspective and pushes the plot forward relentlessly, making for a fast moving plot with plenty of developments, reveals and twists. I was glued to the pages as they try to work out who would want to harm a young man of blameless reputation. There are lies and too many no comment interviews to frustrate them, but they do a great job with a few fragmentary clues. The novel also has a few twists and while some are more guessable than others, the perpetrator’s identity remains a mystery until the final showdown.
At the same time as the investigation Laura is still trying to deal with the shocking information she got in the last novel about Sam’s death and the potential high level corruption in the Manchester Metropolitan Police. She makes some decisive moves that end in a cliffhanger, but which give the feel of an approaching endgame. Perhaps she’ll be able to move on with Gareth in peace. I hope so.
The Drowning Isle is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 25, 2023
Four teenagers head out to a mysterious and remote island off the coast of Anglesey to celebrate their 18th birthdays together, in what is effectively a kind of coming of age process. Or is there something more sinister being planned here?
Because when Callum and his three friends go for a celebratory camping trip on Llanddwyn Island, nobody expects one of the boys to end up 6 feet under. But this is a place that holds its secrets close, not least as its location as the site of pagan ceremonies held by a secretive group known as The Fair Men.
After Callum disappears during the trip, his friends show up on the mainland looking disoriented and appearing panicked, and a search is soon underway. After the teenager is discovered to be dead an investigation ensues and DI Laura Hart is brought into find out what actually happened.
Because there are so many questions that remain. Was Callum's death caused by one - or perhaps, more than one - of his friends? Were there undercurrents in the boys' friendship that could explain how something went wrong on the trip?
Or does the explanation lie in an entirely different direction - involving a more straightforward cause such as protecting the secrets of the Fair Men and their lair?
Hart will have to use all of her skills as a detective to find out, because as it turns out, there is nothing straightforward about this case...
McCleave's strengths as a writer are well displayed in this book, and he has delivered a gripping story with some unexpected twists. This novel is for those who enjoy a good police procedural and a gripping story line.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Because when Callum and his three friends go for a celebratory camping trip on Llanddwyn Island, nobody expects one of the boys to end up 6 feet under. But this is a place that holds its secrets close, not least as its location as the site of pagan ceremonies held by a secretive group known as The Fair Men.
After Callum disappears during the trip, his friends show up on the mainland looking disoriented and appearing panicked, and a search is soon underway. After the teenager is discovered to be dead an investigation ensues and DI Laura Hart is brought into find out what actually happened.
Because there are so many questions that remain. Was Callum's death caused by one - or perhaps, more than one - of his friends? Were there undercurrents in the boys' friendship that could explain how something went wrong on the trip?
Or does the explanation lie in an entirely different direction - involving a more straightforward cause such as protecting the secrets of the Fair Men and their lair?
Hart will have to use all of her skills as a detective to find out, because as it turns out, there is nothing straightforward about this case...
McCleave's strengths as a writer are well displayed in this book, and he has delivered a gripping story with some unexpected twists. This novel is for those who enjoy a good police procedural and a gripping story line.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 8, 2023
The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave is the latest instalment in the Anglesey series featuring DI Laura Hart and DCI Gareth Williams. I have to say I love this series, possibly because I live in North Wales myself.
Four teenage boys are on a camping trip on a small island off the coast of Anglesey. They are celebrating being on the cusp of adulthood and an 18th birthday party. One of their number has brought along some magic mushrooms. One of the boys, Callum, starts over-hallucinating and runs off thinking that he is being chased. The other boys search for him, but to no avail, especially as they are all high too, and more than a little fuzzy-headed. Then, tragically, Callum’s dead body is eventually found on the beach. The first thought is that Callum fell into the water and drowned, but bits and pieces of evidence lead to questions. There is a spot of blood on Callum’s trainer, a fraught relationship between him and his father and the mother of one of his friends appears to be very friendly with one of the CID team.
This is another excellent police procedural from Simon McCleave who is a very strong writer indeed. You sometimes find with the more prolific writers that the books turn out a little ‘popcorn’. There is none of that here. The plot and characterisation are to a very high standard. There are twists and turns throughout.
This can be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading the other books in the series. They are quite a quick read, and there is a back story involving the death of Laura Hart’s husband which links throughout.
My thanks to NetGalley, Simon McCleave, and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Four teenage boys are on a camping trip on a small island off the coast of Anglesey. They are celebrating being on the cusp of adulthood and an 18th birthday party. One of their number has brought along some magic mushrooms. One of the boys, Callum, starts over-hallucinating and runs off thinking that he is being chased. The other boys search for him, but to no avail, especially as they are all high too, and more than a little fuzzy-headed. Then, tragically, Callum’s dead body is eventually found on the beach. The first thought is that Callum fell into the water and drowned, but bits and pieces of evidence lead to questions. There is a spot of blood on Callum’s trainer, a fraught relationship between him and his father and the mother of one of his friends appears to be very friendly with one of the CID team.
This is another excellent police procedural from Simon McCleave who is a very strong writer indeed. You sometimes find with the more prolific writers that the books turn out a little ‘popcorn’. There is none of that here. The plot and characterisation are to a very high standard. There are twists and turns throughout.
This can be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading the other books in the series. They are quite a quick read, and there is a back story involving the death of Laura Hart’s husband which links throughout.
My thanks to NetGalley, Simon McCleave, and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
November 28, 2023
Book 4 in The Anglesey Crime thriller Series and the pace continues. As always it helps to have read the series in sequence but it reads well as a stand-alone. In fact it’s another cracking read and one I finished in a day. This time 4 teenagers go camping on Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey, but one of them, Callum, goes missing.
Briefly, DI Laura Hart’s morning routine is a cold water swim at Beaumaris beach no matter the weather. It is only a few weeks since her daughter had been kidnapped and buried alive and the family is still recovering. She is also still shocked about the latest revelations concerning her husbands death. When a body is found Laura is handed the investigation into Callum’s death and it comes to light that he was the son of a colleague of DI Gareth Williams, whose own son was also on the trip. Although there are a number of suspects there is no clear evidence against any of them. Then another body is discovered…
This author writes a great police procedural; I love Laura and her team and it’s great to follow their private lives along with the criminal investigations. Secrets with shocking revelations for both Laura and Williams, and for me! I love a good police procedural and this is better than good - well paced with a brilliant storyline that is both emotional and entertaining. Great read with a cliffhanger that has me champing at the bit for the next book.
Briefly, DI Laura Hart’s morning routine is a cold water swim at Beaumaris beach no matter the weather. It is only a few weeks since her daughter had been kidnapped and buried alive and the family is still recovering. She is also still shocked about the latest revelations concerning her husbands death. When a body is found Laura is handed the investigation into Callum’s death and it comes to light that he was the son of a colleague of DI Gareth Williams, whose own son was also on the trip. Although there are a number of suspects there is no clear evidence against any of them. Then another body is discovered…
This author writes a great police procedural; I love Laura and her team and it’s great to follow their private lives along with the criminal investigations. Secrets with shocking revelations for both Laura and Williams, and for me! I love a good police procedural and this is better than good - well paced with a brilliant storyline that is both emotional and entertaining. Great read with a cliffhanger that has me champing at the bit for the next book.
March 7, 2024
⚠️ CW: drug use, paedophilia, alcoholism, domestic abuse, murder, parental death and suicide ⚠️ If you love crime fiction reads then I highly recommend checking out Simon McCleave! When a teenage boy goes missing on a camping trip with his friends, the close-knit community of Anglesey is shaken. DI Laura Hart is brought in to lead the murder investigation and instantly feels the pressure, not least because her colleague’s son was the last to see the missing boy alive. Laura’s investigations force her to delve into the tangled web of relationships and personal lives of her own neighbours. The trail leads her to uncover a religious cult called The Fair Men, who locals say have a dark history and still hold their ceremonies on the island where the boys were camping. Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing, the island will not give up the truth easily. This was such a great read that had me staying up late just to finish reading because I could not put it down and I was absolutely hooked until the very end when I was hit with the jaw dropping twist and finale. I've loved this series from the beginning and this one definitely didn't disappoint. I love how Simon McCleave weaves the current case of the book with the updates of DI Laura Hart's life and history regarding her deceased husband and past life in Manchester. Overall, I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next one!
November 13, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Drowning Isle", the latest in the Anglesey series featuring DCI Gareth Williams and DI Laura Hart.
At its core this is a murder mystery: when the body of young Callum - out on an eighteenth birthday celebration with his closest friends (and high on mushrooms) - is found on a deserted beach, the clues are few and far between.
All they have to go on are fuzzy recollections from his friends, including the son of one of the investigating officers, who also happens to be very close with the dead boy's mother, a spot of blood on his shoe and some blood on his teeth (did he bite his attacker?)
There's no love lost between the boy and his father, who spends his time drinking in the local pub; he's also been loosely associated with a local pagan group - The Fair Men; and it appears that he might have been involved in selling drugs.... the clues are all there for Gareth and Laura to unravel, but there are layers of secrets and misdirection.
In the meantime, Laura has grown to fear that her co-investigator in her husband's death and the uncovering of corruption in the police force might be deeper involved, and not in a good way; so she goes to an investigative reporter with her fears, as well as her partner and boss, DCI Williams.
The main mystery holds sway throughout the book, with the clues gradually leading to a totally unforeseen conclusion - but there are more deaths along the way! And Laura finds herself in an extremely precarious situation.
Highly recommended. Could be read as a standalone, but there's a lot of history there from the previous three books.
At its core this is a murder mystery: when the body of young Callum - out on an eighteenth birthday celebration with his closest friends (and high on mushrooms) - is found on a deserted beach, the clues are few and far between.
All they have to go on are fuzzy recollections from his friends, including the son of one of the investigating officers, who also happens to be very close with the dead boy's mother, a spot of blood on his shoe and some blood on his teeth (did he bite his attacker?)
There's no love lost between the boy and his father, who spends his time drinking in the local pub; he's also been loosely associated with a local pagan group - The Fair Men; and it appears that he might have been involved in selling drugs.... the clues are all there for Gareth and Laura to unravel, but there are layers of secrets and misdirection.
In the meantime, Laura has grown to fear that her co-investigator in her husband's death and the uncovering of corruption in the police force might be deeper involved, and not in a good way; so she goes to an investigative reporter with her fears, as well as her partner and boss, DCI Williams.
The main mystery holds sway throughout the book, with the clues gradually leading to a totally unforeseen conclusion - but there are more deaths along the way! And Laura finds herself in an extremely precarious situation.
Highly recommended. Could be read as a standalone, but there's a lot of history there from the previous three books.
November 29, 2023
4 Stars from me
I rarely do this but I've jumped into The Anglesey Crime thriller Series at book 4 and while this is often a risk I truly felt that the book reads well as a standalone with no prior knowledge of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I am sure it is better to read from book 1 onwards but it worked just fine on its own. Having said that, I have read a previous book by this author so I knew I was in safe hands.
I'm in awe of the lead detective DI Laura Hart if only for her love of cold water swimming! As refreshing and exhilarating as she made it sound I swear I felt colder each time she did it!
That said, she made for a great character to follow and the police team in general felt very well rounded and clearly defined.
The main story focuses on a missing teenager and has some nice touches in relation to the difficulties of navigating life with teenagers - especially in a close knit community.
There were other story threads woven throughout the main tale which the author juggled well without too and kept interesting without detracting from the investigation into the missing boy and all the the revelations that unfold them.
Overall, this is a great police procedural with some cleverly placed plot twists and a few loose ends ready for the next book in the series.
I rarely do this but I've jumped into The Anglesey Crime thriller Series at book 4 and while this is often a risk I truly felt that the book reads well as a standalone with no prior knowledge of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I am sure it is better to read from book 1 onwards but it worked just fine on its own. Having said that, I have read a previous book by this author so I knew I was in safe hands.
I'm in awe of the lead detective DI Laura Hart if only for her love of cold water swimming! As refreshing and exhilarating as she made it sound I swear I felt colder each time she did it!
That said, she made for a great character to follow and the police team in general felt very well rounded and clearly defined.
The main story focuses on a missing teenager and has some nice touches in relation to the difficulties of navigating life with teenagers - especially in a close knit community.
There were other story threads woven throughout the main tale which the author juggled well without too and kept interesting without detracting from the investigation into the missing boy and all the the revelations that unfold them.
Overall, this is a great police procedural with some cleverly placed plot twists and a few loose ends ready for the next book in the series.
December 31, 2023
Four friends decide to head across to the remote Llanddwyn Island just offf the coast of Anglesey for a weekends camping to celebrate their eighteenth birthdays.
Along with the usual alcohol one of the boys has brought some magic mushrooms.
Callum has a bad reaction ans over-hallucinates and believing someone is actually chasing him he runs off. The other boys search for him the best they can but without any luck. The fact they too are high doesn`t help and in the end they give up and return to the mainland.
When his body is found, Di Laura Hart and Di Gareth Williams launch a full scale investigation as its soon clear he has not just fallen in the water and drowned.
There is blood on his trainer.
A difficult relationship with his father and his interest in a local pagan group , The Fair Men., the fact that no-one seems to be being totally honest with Laura and Gareth means they have their hands full sifting through all the evidence to discover the truth and who was responsible for Callums death.
A riveting read that moves at a pace, throwing up red herrings and twists and a cliffhanger ending that has left me hoping its not too long to wait for the next installment in what has become one of my favourite series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for sending me this as an ARC.
Along with the usual alcohol one of the boys has brought some magic mushrooms.
Callum has a bad reaction ans over-hallucinates and believing someone is actually chasing him he runs off. The other boys search for him the best they can but without any luck. The fact they too are high doesn`t help and in the end they give up and return to the mainland.
When his body is found, Di Laura Hart and Di Gareth Williams launch a full scale investigation as its soon clear he has not just fallen in the water and drowned.
There is blood on his trainer.
A difficult relationship with his father and his interest in a local pagan group , The Fair Men., the fact that no-one seems to be being totally honest with Laura and Gareth means they have their hands full sifting through all the evidence to discover the truth and who was responsible for Callums death.
A riveting read that moves at a pace, throwing up red herrings and twists and a cliffhanger ending that has left me hoping its not too long to wait for the next installment in what has become one of my favourite series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for sending me this as an ARC.
June 25, 2024
When a teenage boy goes missing after a night spent with friends on the remote Llanddwyn Island, DI Laura Hart and the investigative team, based in Beaumaris, have a difficult job on their hands especially as the search soon becomes a murder investigation. The search for the killer is wide open and with few clues to go on, and with a mysterious pagan cult being centre stage, it soon becomes apparent that there is far more to this investigation than could ever have been imagined.
This is now the fourth book in the Anglesey series of crime novels featuring DI Laura Hart and DCI Gareth Williams and with each successive story we get to know more about these complex characters, the way their personal lives impact on the job, and the way in which they seek out the perpetrators of crime. The pace runs really well and with several twists and turns the police procedural aspects feel authentic. The various the locations around the island are so well described that the place and the people come alive and having now spent time in Beaumaris, I can well imagine the tiny streets and feel the atmosphere which the author recreates so thoughtfully.
This complex mystery ends on a whooping big cliffhanger so I am delighted to have on my tbr the next book in the series, Dead in the Water which was just published by Avon on the 20th June 2024. Watch this space
This is now the fourth book in the Anglesey series of crime novels featuring DI Laura Hart and DCI Gareth Williams and with each successive story we get to know more about these complex characters, the way their personal lives impact on the job, and the way in which they seek out the perpetrators of crime. The pace runs really well and with several twists and turns the police procedural aspects feel authentic. The various the locations around the island are so well described that the place and the people come alive and having now spent time in Beaumaris, I can well imagine the tiny streets and feel the atmosphere which the author recreates so thoughtfully.
This complex mystery ends on a whooping big cliffhanger so I am delighted to have on my tbr the next book in the series, Dead in the Water which was just published by Avon on the 20th June 2024. Watch this space
November 11, 2024
Another excellent tale from Simon. This is book 4 of his Laura Hart series set on Anglesey. Laura is not just a DI, she is also a hostage negotiator. Previously from Manchester she lost her husband Ben in a shooting when he was lured into a warehouse with his partner another Police officer who were working to end an organized crime gang's reign of terror. His partner, a female officer came out of it alive, Ben was'nt so lucky. Laura moved to Anglesey to get away from serious crime on the mean streets of Manchester for a more gentle pace in sleepy Wales. She soon finds out that crime is just as rife there, if not worse. I won't tell you what happens, you need to read and find out for yourselves as there is so much to take in. If you have'nt come across the series start with book one and get to know the back story and how she built her life back together after his death. Start with The Dark Tide, then on to In Too Deep and Blood On The Shore before arriving to this one. I don't like giving spoilers as it ruins it for the reader, prefer to let you discover yourselves what the story is about. Tip, Put your self into the lead characters shoes and see it through their eyes as the events infold. I find that better for me and I can invest in the characters better once I have got to know them. Same with his DI Ruth Hunter series.
November 19, 2023
384 pages
4 stars
This book runs the gamut of emotions in the reader. We have everything here. There are drugs, murders, domestic abusers, thieves, “story” tellers, corrupt cops, a local cult and a little romance.
The plot is somewhat complicated in the number of suspects when eighteen-year old Callum goes missing. Days after the police investigation starts, Callum’s body is found. He has been murdered. Now the real search begins for the killer.
There are connections between the police officers and Callum’s parents. Friends since childhood. This muddies the water somewhat.
The cops go from suspect to suspect and feel they finally have their killer. But, do they?
This book is a great read. It follows the investigation closely and at every turn. If you like police procedurals, this book may well be for you. It is well written and plotted. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. I felt like I was traversing along with the police as they investigated.
I want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK/Avon for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book so that I may read, enjoy and review it. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
4 stars
This book runs the gamut of emotions in the reader. We have everything here. There are drugs, murders, domestic abusers, thieves, “story” tellers, corrupt cops, a local cult and a little romance.
The plot is somewhat complicated in the number of suspects when eighteen-year old Callum goes missing. Days after the police investigation starts, Callum’s body is found. He has been murdered. Now the real search begins for the killer.
There are connections between the police officers and Callum’s parents. Friends since childhood. This muddies the water somewhat.
The cops go from suspect to suspect and feel they finally have their killer. But, do they?
This book is a great read. It follows the investigation closely and at every turn. If you like police procedurals, this book may well be for you. It is well written and plotted. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. I felt like I was traversing along with the police as they investigated.
I want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK/Avon for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book so that I may read, enjoy and review it. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
January 15, 2024
The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave is the fourth in The Anglesey Series. This time, four male friends in their teens go camping at Anglesey in Wales to celebrate an eighteenth birthday with alcohol and magic mushroom experimentation. Callum goes off but doesn't return. We are privy to last moments of his terrified life before his body shows up on the beach. DI Laura Hart and DI Gareth Williams have problems of their own but are now faced with discovering what happened to Callum and why. It was interesting to learn more about the detectives' pasts and what makes them tick in the present. Police corruption, dark angst and cults add intrique to the multi-layered story.
Though secrets, reveals and twists keep coming from all sides and the ending is smashing, this installment didn't reel me in as the others have. Excessive alcohol and other drug use in books aren't my wheelhouse. Police procedurals are less and less my thing, too. However, I will continue the series as the writing is clever and magnificent. Perhaps it's an, "it's not you, it's me" situation.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.
Though secrets, reveals and twists keep coming from all sides and the ending is smashing, this installment didn't reel me in as the others have. Excessive alcohol and other drug use in books aren't my wheelhouse. Police procedurals are less and less my thing, too. However, I will continue the series as the writing is clever and magnificent. Perhaps it's an, "it's not you, it's me" situation.
My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.
October 31, 2023
Four teenage boys go camping to celebrate their graduation. Only three will return. There is evidence that Callum, the missing boy, has been kidnapped so DI Laura Hart and the Beaumaris force carry out a thorough search. The boy’s body is found washed ashore. He had been strangled. Why? His family is dysfunctional, his father an alcoholic and his mother and sister hiding secrets of their own. Callum has often taken refuge with The Fair Men, a local pagan group. While Callum’s friends grieve and Laura and her fiancé DI Gareth Williams search for clues, there is another death that turns the investigation in a new direction.
The Drowning Isle is set in atmospheric Northwest Wales with many references to Welsh history and legend. The talented Simon McCleave delivers police procedural at its best! The plot is compelling and suspenseful with an ending that leaves you breathless and ready to order the next in this series. Don’t miss this thriller! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Simon McCleave for this ARC.
The Drowning Isle is set in atmospheric Northwest Wales with many references to Welsh history and legend. The talented Simon McCleave delivers police procedural at its best! The plot is compelling and suspenseful with an ending that leaves you breathless and ready to order the next in this series. Don’t miss this thriller! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Simon McCleave for this ARC.
December 13, 2023
Another exciting instalment in the Laura Hart series set on the Welsh island of Anglesey. Whilst this is the fourth in this series it could be read as a standalone. One piece of advice for those weird people who read the last page before they should - DON'T. There is a massive plot point there which you don't want to spoil but it is certain to make you feel the need to read the next book - it is the equivalent of the 'doof doof' moment in Eastenders.
The narrative moves very quickly and the final solution is unexpected, good characters set against an atmospheric background. The book navigates the secrets and mysteries between the character and weaves a great story. I am pleased that I discovered this author, who is a natural storyteller, and I also find the newsletter's from him to be interesting too by signing up at his website.
This is a series and a book I would have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys police procedurals in a believable setting with engaging people and a relatable lead character
The narrative moves very quickly and the final solution is unexpected, good characters set against an atmospheric background. The book navigates the secrets and mysteries between the character and weaves a great story. I am pleased that I discovered this author, who is a natural storyteller, and I also find the newsletter's from him to be interesting too by signing up at his website.
This is a series and a book I would have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys police procedurals in a believable setting with engaging people and a relatable lead character
January 4, 2024
On a remote island, there’s nowhere to run… Callum and his three best friends are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays with an epic camping trip to the mysterious Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey. Then Callum disappears, and the others return to the mainland in a state of shock. When his body is discovered, DI Laura Hart is brought in to investigate. Is the murder the work of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a dark history who still hold their ceremonies on the island? Or were the boys less tight-knit than they would have Laura believe? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing: the island will not give up its secrets easily… This is an atmospheric mystery with DI Laura Hart uncovers ties with drugs snd crime. It is well-plotted and satisfying. The twists and turns kept me reading until the very end. If you like police procedurals then you will love this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
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