Undercurrent

DI Andy Horton #9

by Pauline Rowson

Suicide, or murder? When Detective Inspector Horton’s bosses block his investigation, he starts to suspect there’s been a cover-up at the highest level . . .When naval historian Dr Douglas Spalding is found dead in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard, the Major Crime Team is adamant it is suicide. When another body is found in similar circumstances Horton is convinced they’re looking at murder; but not so his bosses. The deaths have all the hallmarks of a cover-up at the highest level, but who is behind it and why? As Horton gets closer to the truth and uncovers a personal twist, someone is determined to stop him from finding the killer . . .

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Pauline Rowson is the author of thirty- one crime novels - nineteen featuring DI Andy Horton in the Solent Murder Mystery series; five in Art Marvik mystery thrillers series, six in the 1950s set historical mysteries with Scotland Yard's Inspector Ryga, who is sent out to solve baffling coastal crimes and two standalone thrillers. All her crime novels are set against the backdrop of the ever changing sea.

Reviews

[yvonne grannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother

I've read all the books,and some were better than others but this was the worse one. Far too much space was taken up with bits and maybes. It was too confusing,and half way through I lost interest. Once again the subject of his mother came up,and once again it was washed over.

[Neville Shone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too complicated.

Far too many characters,extremely convoluted not worth the effort of reading. Will not waste time and effort reading more by this author.

[Carole Gourlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having started at the beginning of this wonderful series, this is book 9, and what a cracker it is.

I, for the life of me can’t understand the negative reviews that some folk have put about these books. There’s an awful lot of hard work and research gone into these down to the smallest detail. Also, having read each one back to back, it’s only a matter of days between each book in the continuing series. I’m on book 10 now and they refer “back to last week” in this one although it was in book 9.

This episode has a lot of twists and turns with people who you wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night, people getting murdered for what they know and might tell. This is at the highest level and without spoiling it, I think you will get the gist.

Andy is still looking as to what happened with his mother, another bone of contention with some reviewers, but after all this time she’s not going to be found in a day!!! Her disappearance also looks like it’s been covered up too by the powers that be, because there are certain people in the know, but no one will say anything. It’s looking like she knew something and was silenced. No doubt we will find out as the series goes on.

As I said above, this is a fabulous series with likeable strong characters and I’ve loved every one of these books.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Andy Horton is investigating the deaths of two men. The only trouble is that his bosses are convinced they died accidentally or by suicide and do not want him to spend any more time investigating. Andy ignores them though and covertly finds out the truth. Little by little he is also getting a little nearer to finding out the truth about his mothers disappearance when he was a child. Another exciting book in the series and I really enjoyed it. I did not want to put it down.

[Tasula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written mystery about a series of deaths that DI Andy Horton believes are connected, and his superiors insist are NOT. As in so many mysteries where relationships between hard working field detectives and arrogant administrative superiors are fraught with conflict, Horton is forced to investigate on the sly.

[Chloe Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book number 9! A good read, I have enjoyed this book series so far, sometimes because I read them in order I find a bit of repeating, but i am backing Andy to solve the mystery of his mum. I also just want DI Horton to find a wifey. And for him to see Emma as being her dad, he should be able to. Onto The Cowes Week Murders

[Michael Cordery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first one of the Andy Horton books I have read. I can't say I found it particularly enjoyable. I am over reading books where the senior ranks of the police force are so useless and self absorbed. As a result Andy is doing all the work 24/7. He has frequent theories that totally consume the book and where it is easy for the reader to lose the thread.

The plot is actually very good indeed and if it could have been managed by competent and likeable police investigators it could have been, at least to to me, a much better book. I was also disappointed by the ending. Left lots of unanswered questions.

I do have the next book in the series so I will plod on in hope that this has some answers.

[Julian Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better. Andy Horton's complicated upbringing seems to be on the verge of being explained - in the next book perhaps! Also, appreciated the dry humour and the relationships with Cantelli, Bliss and Uckfield. If you haven't read any of this series go back to no. 1 - you'll enjoy them.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire

[Mike Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual ridiculous number of rhetorical questions from DI Horton, the usual general plot (although he didn't get beaten up, for the second book in a row 😲), the usual preoccupation with his mother's disappearance (although he makes progress with that, and the usual poor phrasing/incorrect grammar (affect/effect)/ambiguous wording.
I'm taking a rest from this series for a while...

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series by Pauline Rowson especially the main character Andy Horton. Sometimes I find there are too many involved & after returning to the story need to go back over to sort out who's who. Over all they are a great read & I can't wait for the next one.

[Peter AvillEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This enjoyable book continuing the story of Horton and his search for the truth about his mother. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very and will be recommending this author to members of my book club.

[Lynn Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy at his best.

Another puzzle for Andy to solve with his doggedness. He’s usual side kicks help him and he’s getting nearer to find out what has happened to his mother. Great story as usual.

[James Dobbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel about the exploits of detective Horton

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The saga of Horton and his boss, Uckfeld, continues with a very complex murder mystery. The twists and turns will keep you captured until the very end.

[valerie gosling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Another fantastic story unfolds slowly drawing you in keeping you turning the pages.good plot developing slowly drawing you in and keeping you turning the pages to the very end

[Rookster59 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read as always, love Andy Horton & his never give up attitude. Really hope he gets the answers to all his family questions. Great series of books so far, on to the next one.

[Gill Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Thriller

Another great book by this author
Very clever storyline and well written
The series is compelling reading
A must for lovers of mysteries

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

2014 In Number One Dock the body of Dr Douglas Spalding is discovered soon after giving a lecture. It is deemed not suspicious except to DI Horton, then another 'non suspicious' death occurs.
An entertaining modern mystery

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories have so many twists and turns, hard to keep them all straight, but still wanting more.

[Mrs Lorraine A Puttock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twists and turns

Great character - it's easy to empathise with Andy particularly in his quest to find out what happened to his mum - this back story though now needs to be resolved
I love the way he doesn't let anything stand in his way to solve a crime even his superiors although I'm not totally convinced any police officer would get away with that sort of maverick behaviour,

[Liz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really liked all the previous Andy Horton books, but this one had way too many characters and it all got very confusing because I couldn’t remember who was who and who did what. However, that being said I am looking forward to the next one.

The story of Andy and Cantelli and Uckfield etc follows on from book to book. I suppose it wouldn’t be interesting if all of Andy's problems were sorted out. Sometimes the stories that connect his mother with people who just happen to come along are a big contrived and rather unlikely. But I guess it all adds to the story and perhaps it doesn’t matter that a story is not a bit like real life.

The next book in the Andy Horton series comes out on Kindle later this year. I hope the story is not nearly as full of characters and as confusing as Undercurrent was. As I said, the earlier ones were very enjoyable if a little predictable but that’s what I, personally, look for in a novel. A little light reading. No horribly descriptive blood thirsty scenes and no swearing.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Harley riding detective. Fairly standard disinterested and incompetent superiors. The tale leads us through the deaths of a lecturer and two others that attends his presentation in Portsmouth dockyard. The plot revolves around the lecturers research into aspects of the Royal Navy and homosexuality during the 1960's and possible leaks during the cold war. Intelligence sources attempt to block the investigation with the help of the police higher ranks. This falls apart when DCI Horton stumbles on a further death and uncovers the villains. There is the undercurrent of his recent divorce and the disappearance of his mother when he was a boy. A good tale. Worth reading. Find it at the library.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery was an OK read, if not a great one. DI Andy Horton is a man with many problems; he's trying to figure out his mother's disappearance on the side, but his main problem is investigating various murders that only he sees as murders. Rowson tends to draw her characters very flat; Horton's immediate boss is a histrionic bureaucratic female without a single redeeming feature; no redeeming features for the overall boss either. Oddly enough for a female author, pretty much all the females are pathetic and/or evil. And it was kind of annoying that the main character is the only one who seems capable of original thought.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the plot very confusing as each piece of evidence was slowly revealed and the number of characters were just too many to keep straight. The dialogue was good but the tension within the Major Crime Team was based on career politics and fighting for what you believe in spite of what your boss says.

[Anne Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read all the DI Horton books so far I have become increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of him solving the mystery of his mother's disappearance. I don't believe that in the interest of sequels the plot should be so drawn across so many books. He has just become a rather irritating character.

[Suzanne]

Tantalising! Is he closer or not?

No -Bliss should not be happy!

Is Eames in on it, or just her father?

So, so many more questions, so I'd better start the next book

[Douglas Osler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this fairly short book a bit slow. The storyline is not gripping and trudges along a bit.

[David S Stofa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It just didn’t hold my attention. 😕