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Everything to Hide
A seasoned police detective and a dog with a nose for crime. One dead body. Twelve suspects.
Sydney, Australia, 1933 : Wealthy impresario and amateur Egyptologist Roland Cuthbert Barry is murdered on his 60th birthday, and everyone attending the evening’s celebrations is a suspect.
Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield of Sydney Central Police has been sent by Chief Inspector Ron Thompson to Barry Island on the Hawkesbury River and the rambling sandstone house of the wealthy Barry family. Thompson is a longtime friend of Roland Barry, who has confided in him about threatening notes he has received, suggesting he will be held to account for past actions.
Harold Chesterfield discovers a curious cast of characters at Barry a long-suffering wife and an ambitious young mistress; a Russian ballet dancer who isn’t what he seems; Roland’s daughter and her lover, an Egyptian woman; the family doctor with a secret past; Roland’s two troubled sons; and the evening’s entertainment, a psychic medium, who, from the moment she steps foot on Barry Island, declares something terrible will happen.
With Harold is Ben, an English Pointer with a nose for crime; together, Harold and Ben will face their most challenging case.
Australia is in the grip of the Great Depression, and Harold is surrounded by tuxedos, sequined dresses, and sumptuous food. But when a severe storm hits and the electricity and telephone are cut off, Harold and the guests find that Roland Barry’s vast wealth cannot protect him, and Harold must uncover secrets, discover motives and find the killer.
Who knows more than they’re telling? Who has everything to hide?
Sydney, Australia, 1933 : Wealthy impresario and amateur Egyptologist Roland Cuthbert Barry is murdered on his 60th birthday, and everyone attending the evening’s celebrations is a suspect.
Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield of Sydney Central Police has been sent by Chief Inspector Ron Thompson to Barry Island on the Hawkesbury River and the rambling sandstone house of the wealthy Barry family. Thompson is a longtime friend of Roland Barry, who has confided in him about threatening notes he has received, suggesting he will be held to account for past actions.
Harold Chesterfield discovers a curious cast of characters at Barry a long-suffering wife and an ambitious young mistress; a Russian ballet dancer who isn’t what he seems; Roland’s daughter and her lover, an Egyptian woman; the family doctor with a secret past; Roland’s two troubled sons; and the evening’s entertainment, a psychic medium, who, from the moment she steps foot on Barry Island, declares something terrible will happen.
With Harold is Ben, an English Pointer with a nose for crime; together, Harold and Ben will face their most challenging case.
Australia is in the grip of the Great Depression, and Harold is surrounded by tuxedos, sequined dresses, and sumptuous food. But when a severe storm hits and the electricity and telephone are cut off, Harold and the guests find that Roland Barry’s vast wealth cannot protect him, and Harold must uncover secrets, discover motives and find the killer.
Who knows more than they’re telling? Who has everything to hide?
302 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2023
15 people want to read
About the author
K.V. Martins
7 books7 followersBased in the lush Far North of New Zealand, K.V. Martins writes accompanied by the song of a family of boisterous tūī birds outside her window. She writes historical fiction, ghost and gothic fiction, as well as poetry.
K.V. Martins writes for an online history encyclopedia. She has a B.A. (Hons) in History and also studied archaeology and Egyptology.
She writes in between taking her crazy smooth fox terrier for long walks.
K.V. Martins writes for an online history encyclopedia. She has a B.A. (Hons) in History and also studied archaeology and Egyptology.
She writes in between taking her crazy smooth fox terrier for long walks.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 8, 2023
It's going to come as no surprise to any readers of EVERYTHING TO HIDE, that author K.V. Martins is a fan of historical crime fiction, in particular, the work of Dame Agatha Christie. It should also come as no surprise that she has a background in history and archaeology.
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August 25, 2023I loved this book. The characterization was great, and I liked the 'old English' style. I actually read this book to the end, and I must say - watch out Agatha Christie, here comes Kim Martins ...
September 8, 2023
The night was dark and stormy …
The year was 1933. Guests had assembled in Roland Cuthbert Barry’s mansion on his private island in the Hawkesbury River for his sixtieth-birthday dinner. On the outside, back in the real world, Australia’s ordinary citizens were struggling to survive the Great Depression while the Barry family lived on their island like kings and Roland, impresario, entrepreneur and amateur Egyptologist was free to indulge his passion for the study of mummification.
Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield was attending the party incognito to investigate the source of a series of death threats which Roland Barry had received.
Everything to Hide is a hugely entertaining novel. K V Martins has created a suitably eerie atmosphere: heavy rain and lightning strikes cutting off electric power to the island, and the Hawkesbury River flooding, preventing guests from getting back to the mainland. The guests are all beautifully illustrated, in several cases by comparing their likenesses to film stars of the day. DS Chesterfield narrates the story and, to my delight, he shares his thoughts on the proceedings with Ben, an English Pointer whose spotty coat makes him look like a Dalmatian, and whom he is minding while Ben’s owner is overseas.
A crime is committed and the detective interviews each suspect separately. The interviews are all enlightening and I very much enjoyed getting to each one, although the endless cups of tea were making me feel waterlogged. Ben the dog sleeping by the fire through all the interviews added a cosy touch to an otherwise bleak day. Fortunately, the mansion had a large stock of candles, awaiting the restoration of electric power.
Congratulations on a terrific read, K V Martins! I’ll have to go back now and try to find Detective Chesterfield’s earlier adventures.
Published by Aroona Group Press.
The year was 1933. Guests had assembled in Roland Cuthbert Barry’s mansion on his private island in the Hawkesbury River for his sixtieth-birthday dinner. On the outside, back in the real world, Australia’s ordinary citizens were struggling to survive the Great Depression while the Barry family lived on their island like kings and Roland, impresario, entrepreneur and amateur Egyptologist was free to indulge his passion for the study of mummification.
Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield was attending the party incognito to investigate the source of a series of death threats which Roland Barry had received.
Everything to Hide is a hugely entertaining novel. K V Martins has created a suitably eerie atmosphere: heavy rain and lightning strikes cutting off electric power to the island, and the Hawkesbury River flooding, preventing guests from getting back to the mainland. The guests are all beautifully illustrated, in several cases by comparing their likenesses to film stars of the day. DS Chesterfield narrates the story and, to my delight, he shares his thoughts on the proceedings with Ben, an English Pointer whose spotty coat makes him look like a Dalmatian, and whom he is minding while Ben’s owner is overseas.
A crime is committed and the detective interviews each suspect separately. The interviews are all enlightening and I very much enjoyed getting to each one, although the endless cups of tea were making me feel waterlogged. Ben the dog sleeping by the fire through all the interviews added a cosy touch to an otherwise bleak day. Fortunately, the mansion had a large stock of candles, awaiting the restoration of electric power.
Congratulations on a terrific read, K V Martins! I’ll have to go back now and try to find Detective Chesterfield’s earlier adventures.
Published by Aroona Group Press.
March 11, 2024
Everything To Hide is set in Australia in the 1930’s. While the country is going through The Great Depression, Roland Cuthbert Barry, a wealthy impresario and amateur Egyptologist is at first glance a person with great privilege and a lavish life style. But not everything is as it seems.
Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield is called in to investigate as Roland Barry receives a series of threatening letters. At short notice, Harold Chesterfield and Ben, an English Pointer, a dog that the Detective is looking after for a friend, must attend the sixtieth-birthday party of the wealthy Mr Barry.
An eclectic list of guests and family are invited to the wealthy man’s mansion on a private island, which becomes the ultimate setting for the perfect crime.
The author builds the suspense skilfully, by incrementally revealing each guest’s motivation, and possible motive for the crime committed. Cleverly adding to this dark atmospheric country weekend, is the heavy rain and lightning, the somewhat creepy house filled with Egyptian artefacts and indigenous local folklore of Kadaitcha Man which evokes conversations and fear of a curse, and ultimately revenge.
When the island is cut off by flooding, the gathered guest’s true colours are revealed.
Everything To Hide is a cleverly written true Agatha Christie style mystery, where the author’s love for history, Egyptian artefacts and detail comes through. The novel is superbly well written with excellent characterisation, and I loved Detective Chesterfield and of course his four legged partner in crime, Ben.
I’ve really enjoyed KV Martins previous novels, and this one did not disappoint !!
Well done on a wonderful story!! I highly recommend!!
Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield is called in to investigate as Roland Barry receives a series of threatening letters. At short notice, Harold Chesterfield and Ben, an English Pointer, a dog that the Detective is looking after for a friend, must attend the sixtieth-birthday party of the wealthy Mr Barry.
An eclectic list of guests and family are invited to the wealthy man’s mansion on a private island, which becomes the ultimate setting for the perfect crime.
The author builds the suspense skilfully, by incrementally revealing each guest’s motivation, and possible motive for the crime committed. Cleverly adding to this dark atmospheric country weekend, is the heavy rain and lightning, the somewhat creepy house filled with Egyptian artefacts and indigenous local folklore of Kadaitcha Man which evokes conversations and fear of a curse, and ultimately revenge.
When the island is cut off by flooding, the gathered guest’s true colours are revealed.
Everything To Hide is a cleverly written true Agatha Christie style mystery, where the author’s love for history, Egyptian artefacts and detail comes through. The novel is superbly well written with excellent characterisation, and I loved Detective Chesterfield and of course his four legged partner in crime, Ben.
I’ve really enjoyed KV Martins previous novels, and this one did not disappoint !!
Well done on a wonderful story!! I highly recommend!!
October 6, 2025
Decided to read this book after hearing the author speak about it at a local writers festival. It is her homage to Agatha Christie, of whom I am a huge fan. The author captures the spirit of the great writer and includes many of her expert and favourite subjects; Egyptology and dogs.
I liked the structure of the narrative. Set in 1930s Sydney, the first part of the book is a first person narrative, told from the point of view of Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield. He has been sent undercover to the private island home of the wealthy impresario Roland Barry, to investigate a series of sinister letters received by Barry. As in true Christie style, the reader is introduced to a cast of interesting characters (suspects) and the realization that Barry’s attitude, behavior and abuse of his wealth has created a number of enemies.
The second part of the book takes place after the main dinner party and before the murder is revealed. The narrative turns to third-person, with a chapter devoted to each character/suspect as they ponder their relationship to Barry and how they could solve their current problems with him. It is in these chapters that the reader learns more about each of the characters; their histories and motivations.
The third and final part of the book (after the murder and the subsequent investigation) switches back to the detective’s point of view, as he interviews each suspect. It is an interesting device that the detective’s constant companion is an English Pointer dog, who is used as a sounding board as the investigation progresses.
Well done Kim Martins, it was a pleasure to read this and to meet you at the WRAP Festival.
I liked the structure of the narrative. Set in 1930s Sydney, the first part of the book is a first person narrative, told from the point of view of Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield. He has been sent undercover to the private island home of the wealthy impresario Roland Barry, to investigate a series of sinister letters received by Barry. As in true Christie style, the reader is introduced to a cast of interesting characters (suspects) and the realization that Barry’s attitude, behavior and abuse of his wealth has created a number of enemies.
The second part of the book takes place after the main dinner party and before the murder is revealed. The narrative turns to third-person, with a chapter devoted to each character/suspect as they ponder their relationship to Barry and how they could solve their current problems with him. It is in these chapters that the reader learns more about each of the characters; their histories and motivations.
The third and final part of the book (after the murder and the subsequent investigation) switches back to the detective’s point of view, as he interviews each suspect. It is an interesting device that the detective’s constant companion is an English Pointer dog, who is used as a sounding board as the investigation progresses.
Well done Kim Martins, it was a pleasure to read this and to meet you at the WRAP Festival.
February 9, 2024
A classic closed door whodunnit narrated by the investigating detective, Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield. Set in 1930s Australia.
Wealthy theatrical impresario and Egyptologist Roland Cuthbert Barry is celebrating his 60th birthday with a select group of friends and family at his island home in the middle of the Hawkesbury River. The detective is there undercover, alerted by a series of anonymous and threatening notes. The guests are cut off by a violent storm and everyone is in the house the night when Barry is murdered. The deeper we look the more it turns out that every single person has a good reason to want Barry dead.
How will Chesterfield sift out the real murderer from those that just say they want the victim dead? Barry had multiple business enemies, ex and current mistresses, and some dark secrets in his past.
We interview the suspects and listen to their plausible, and implausible, stories.
Passable detective thriller, but Agatha Christie is always going to have done it better.
Wealthy theatrical impresario and Egyptologist Roland Cuthbert Barry is celebrating his 60th birthday with a select group of friends and family at his island home in the middle of the Hawkesbury River. The detective is there undercover, alerted by a series of anonymous and threatening notes. The guests are cut off by a violent storm and everyone is in the house the night when Barry is murdered. The deeper we look the more it turns out that every single person has a good reason to want Barry dead.
How will Chesterfield sift out the real murderer from those that just say they want the victim dead? Barry had multiple business enemies, ex and current mistresses, and some dark secrets in his past.
We interview the suspects and listen to their plausible, and implausible, stories.
Passable detective thriller, but Agatha Christie is always going to have done it better.
November 2, 2024
I found this book in my local Paper Plus and bought it because I loved the cover. That was no mistake. I've loved Agatha Christie for years (well, who doesn't?) and this proved to be an excellent addition to any Christie reader's shelf.
Set in 1933, Australia, it begins when Detective Harold Chesterfield is sent to the private island of Egyptologist, Roland Barry to find the perpetrator behind a series of threatening letters. Barry is swimming in money at a time when the country is reeling from the depression and it's the perfect time to celebrate his 60th birthday with all his family around him. Right from the start, you discover everyone has a grudge against Barry, and when he's murdered, there is no shortage of suspects.
This is the perfect locked-room mystery Christie was famous for, and this tale follows the formula to a tee. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a good murder mystery...and let's face it, who doesn't?
Set in 1933, Australia, it begins when Detective Harold Chesterfield is sent to the private island of Egyptologist, Roland Barry to find the perpetrator behind a series of threatening letters. Barry is swimming in money at a time when the country is reeling from the depression and it's the perfect time to celebrate his 60th birthday with all his family around him. Right from the start, you discover everyone has a grudge against Barry, and when he's murdered, there is no shortage of suspects.
This is the perfect locked-room mystery Christie was famous for, and this tale follows the formula to a tee. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a good murder mystery...and let's face it, who doesn't?
July 11, 2023
This is a gripping mystery novel packed with intrigue and deception, definitely one for Agatha Christie fans. The story follows a police detective investigating the murder of the wealthy and nasty man, Roland Cuthbert Barry. The police detective, Harold, is one of those experienced, decent men and I really warmed to him and his dog, Ben. With twelve suspects, the author, Martins, does an excellent job of keeping each character distinct and sharing their inner secrets for wanting him dead, including the wife, the sons, the ferryman, the mistress, the Russian gigolo, the housekeeper and more. Set against the background of Sydney in the Great Depression and weaving in Egyptian artefacts and myths, this is a novel that I could not put down.
December 5, 2023
A crime mystery whodunnit set in the 1930’s Australia.
Think The Great Gatsby x Cluedo’s Professor Plum in the ballroom with the candle stick holder x Indiana Jones Archeology ambitions.
Stranded at a beautiful mansion with all access cut off, Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield and his trusty sidekick, German Shorthaired Pointer Ben, are faced with solving the murder of the wealthy host, a wannabe Egyptologist.
All the guests seem to have a motive and Chesterfield is tasked with unravelling the intricate puzzle of lies and deception.
A great read with twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
Think The Great Gatsby x Cluedo’s Professor Plum in the ballroom with the candle stick holder x Indiana Jones Archeology ambitions.
Stranded at a beautiful mansion with all access cut off, Detective Senior Sergeant Harold Chesterfield and his trusty sidekick, German Shorthaired Pointer Ben, are faced with solving the murder of the wealthy host, a wannabe Egyptologist.
All the guests seem to have a motive and Chesterfield is tasked with unravelling the intricate puzzle of lies and deception.
A great read with twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews