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Murder in the Dunes #1
Deep Waters
A body in the waves. A town full of secrets. A detective duo like no other.What should have been a routine lifeguard exercise turns deadly when Inspector Enna Koopmann stumbles upon a chilling discovery—a man floating in the North Sea, the victim of a suspicious drowning. With no obvious motive and a million euros mysteriously wiped from his debts before his death, Enna and her meticulous new partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof, have their work cut out for them.
As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a web of secrets lurking beneath this quiet coastal town. But every lead seems to raise more questions than answers. Who would want the victim dead? Where did his sudden fortune come from? And how far will someone go to keep the truth buried?
With sharp twists, quirky characters, and a touch of humor, Deep Waters is a suspenseful cozy police procedural mystery perfect for fans of clever whodunits and small-town crime fiction.
Readers are RAVING about Deep Waters! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A real page-turner with a clever mystery!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Twists, humor, and a detective duo you’ll love!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Atmospheric, suspenseful, and full of surprises!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Quirky yet gripping—a must-read cozy crime novel!"
📖 Start reading Deep Waters today and uncover the truth beneath the waves!
As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover a web of secrets lurking beneath this quiet coastal town. But every lead seems to raise more questions than answers. Who would want the victim dead? Where did his sudden fortune come from? And how far will someone go to keep the truth buried?
With sharp twists, quirky characters, and a touch of humor, Deep Waters is a suspenseful cozy police procedural mystery perfect for fans of clever whodunits and small-town crime fiction.
Readers are RAVING about Deep Waters! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A real page-turner with a clever mystery!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Twists, humor, and a detective duo you’ll love!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Atmospheric, suspenseful, and full of surprises!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Quirky yet gripping—a must-read cozy crime novel!"
📖 Start reading Deep Waters today and uncover the truth beneath the waves!
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 27, 2024
Northern Shores Cozy Mystery book #1
(Murder in the Dunes)
The story in a few words:
Germany North Sea
During a routine rescue dive, Inspector Enna Koopmann stumbles on a dead man drifting in the waves. It is evident the man did not die of natural causes. So, Enna and her extremely meticulous partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof need to find a motive and the culprit…. launching an investigation.
My thoughts:
The author lays the groundwork for her trilogy while in the background the investigation moves along at a very snail pace. It dilly-dallies quite a bit so much so that at times my mind was someplace else and I had to reread some passages. Having said this, the book is a police procedural first then a people behavior study. I particularly love how the author depicts Pavel’s odd behavior and how Enna manages to deal with him. This is well done. This cozy mystery gives us some humour along the way and in general also well plotted. Enna is an original she wears shorts and very colourful socks, not the usual attire for a policewoman but hey she made me smile or maybe giggle a little bit.
Set in Germany the author tried too much to please the North American audience in doing so tripped by using Fahrenheit instead of Celsius and FBI instead of BND or some other agencies. I may be picky but although fiction I prefer reading something closer to reality for those little details.
Definitely this book was not one of my preferred I found it somewhat boring but again this is me. I said it before this is my opinion judge for yourself you may love it.
Thank you, Book Whisperer, and Netgalley
(Murder in the Dunes)
The story in a few words:
Germany North Sea
During a routine rescue dive, Inspector Enna Koopmann stumbles on a dead man drifting in the waves. It is evident the man did not die of natural causes. So, Enna and her extremely meticulous partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof need to find a motive and the culprit…. launching an investigation.
My thoughts:
The author lays the groundwork for her trilogy while in the background the investigation moves along at a very snail pace. It dilly-dallies quite a bit so much so that at times my mind was someplace else and I had to reread some passages. Having said this, the book is a police procedural first then a people behavior study. I particularly love how the author depicts Pavel’s odd behavior and how Enna manages to deal with him. This is well done. This cozy mystery gives us some humour along the way and in general also well plotted. Enna is an original she wears shorts and very colourful socks, not the usual attire for a policewoman but hey she made me smile or maybe giggle a little bit.
Set in Germany the author tried too much to please the North American audience in doing so tripped by using Fahrenheit instead of Celsius and FBI instead of BND or some other agencies. I may be picky but although fiction I prefer reading something closer to reality for those little details.
Definitely this book was not one of my preferred I found it somewhat boring but again this is me. I said it before this is my opinion judge for yourself you may love it.
Thank you, Book Whisperer, and Netgalley
April 19, 2026
My sister Julia bought this for me for my 46th birthday. One great legacy our parents gave us is a love of books. We sisters have a book club and always give book related gifts for all gifts (and puzzles)!
November 25, 2024
This is the first book that I have read by Heidi Hinrich and I must admit that it took me a little while to warm to the two main characters but as I progressed through the book I got to like them immensely, two more diverse people you couldn't imagine in a partnership but somehow they work.
Police Inspector Enna Koopman was out in the cold North Sea off Fleelstedt, the coastal town that was her home, she was taking part in a particularly arduous training session with her trainer Lars, Enna combined being a member the German Lifeguard Association with her work in the police force. Her training session was ending when Emma spotted a body in the water, she immediately swam out, and with Lars help, pulled it onto the beach, the body was lifeless, the body was that of Toni Sattlemacher, Toni Sattlemacher who Enna had known since childhood.
Enna was quickly in police mode, she was a bit nervous because it would be the first time working with her new boss, Chief Inspector Pavel Neurof. These two characters couldn't be more different, the happy go lucky Enna who's dress code was shorts and brightly coloured socks and the very serious Pavel, a man who was possibly on the autistic spectrum, very precise, showed little emotion and as Enna was about to find out, was extremely analytical.
The suspects were many, there was property involved, there was money involved, there was jealousy involved but why was Toni's body in the North Sea and who put him there ?
A great story with great characters, I look forward to seeing how they evolve.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary.
Police Inspector Enna Koopman was out in the cold North Sea off Fleelstedt, the coastal town that was her home, she was taking part in a particularly arduous training session with her trainer Lars, Enna combined being a member the German Lifeguard Association with her work in the police force. Her training session was ending when Emma spotted a body in the water, she immediately swam out, and with Lars help, pulled it onto the beach, the body was lifeless, the body was that of Toni Sattlemacher, Toni Sattlemacher who Enna had known since childhood.
Enna was quickly in police mode, she was a bit nervous because it would be the first time working with her new boss, Chief Inspector Pavel Neurof. These two characters couldn't be more different, the happy go lucky Enna who's dress code was shorts and brightly coloured socks and the very serious Pavel, a man who was possibly on the autistic spectrum, very precise, showed little emotion and as Enna was about to find out, was extremely analytical.
The suspects were many, there was property involved, there was money involved, there was jealousy involved but why was Toni's body in the North Sea and who put him there ?
A great story with great characters, I look forward to seeing how they evolve.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary.
November 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
Inspector Enna Koopman is on vacation from the police, but is conducting a rescue training exercise for her other job as a lifeguard in the tumultuous North Sea off the coast of Germany. She rescues her partner, but then spots a body drifting offshore. The man is either asleep or dead, but it is not easy to reach him and finally bring him ashore, where it is obvious he is dead. But how did he die? When it becomes clear he did not die of natural causes, Enna meets her new partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof and they start putting the pieces together. But it is a puzzling case and no one seems to have a motive to murder Toni Sattelmacher. He had recently sold his parents' house for a large amount of money and relocated them to a retirement village, where they seem content. His brother did not receive anything from the sale, but there had been a settlement years ago and he didn't expect anything. Tracking down his girlfriend seems tricky, but when finally reached, she has no motive and in fact they were planning to marry soon.
But Enna and Pavel keep digging and finally figure out what happened, after following many winding roads.
This is a first novel for the author and I think there will be something worth following, but I would love to see it as TV series, where it would be easier to keep track of all the foreign names.
Inspector Enna Koopman is on vacation from the police, but is conducting a rescue training exercise for her other job as a lifeguard in the tumultuous North Sea off the coast of Germany. She rescues her partner, but then spots a body drifting offshore. The man is either asleep or dead, but it is not easy to reach him and finally bring him ashore, where it is obvious he is dead. But how did he die? When it becomes clear he did not die of natural causes, Enna meets her new partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof and they start putting the pieces together. But it is a puzzling case and no one seems to have a motive to murder Toni Sattelmacher. He had recently sold his parents' house for a large amount of money and relocated them to a retirement village, where they seem content. His brother did not receive anything from the sale, but there had been a settlement years ago and he didn't expect anything. Tracking down his girlfriend seems tricky, but when finally reached, she has no motive and in fact they were planning to marry soon.
But Enna and Pavel keep digging and finally figure out what happened, after following many winding roads.
This is a first novel for the author and I think there will be something worth following, but I would love to see it as TV series, where it would be easier to keep track of all the foreign names.
October 19, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“Deep Waters” is a “cozy mystery” by Heidi Hinrichs. This book takes place in Germany, but was written for a US audience (temperatures are in Fahrenheit, for instance).This book is a police procedure/investigation one, so the main characters are police people. Luckily these police people are pretty dang smart, so that was a good thing to read (sorry, I’ve read too many where the cops are inept lately). I cannot say that I found this book a fantastic read - the pacing is a bit slow - but I did like the insight into one of the characters, who is most likely on the spectrum. There were some odd things where I think a conversion of some sort happened (a height is described very precisely - like 8.9 feet, opposed to “about 9 feet”; ditto for a weight - something like 248.6 pounds opposed to “about 250 pounds”). I did find myself engaged with the mystery - and getting to know the two police characters better, but I need to be in the mood for a cozy mystery. I think if you are a reader who likes both police procedural mysteries along with cozy mysteries, this book may be one you’d like. This book is the first in a series, so there will be more opportunities to know more about this police duo.
“Deep Waters” is a “cozy mystery” by Heidi Hinrichs. This book takes place in Germany, but was written for a US audience (temperatures are in Fahrenheit, for instance).This book is a police procedure/investigation one, so the main characters are police people. Luckily these police people are pretty dang smart, so that was a good thing to read (sorry, I’ve read too many where the cops are inept lately). I cannot say that I found this book a fantastic read - the pacing is a bit slow - but I did like the insight into one of the characters, who is most likely on the spectrum. There were some odd things where I think a conversion of some sort happened (a height is described very precisely - like 8.9 feet, opposed to “about 9 feet”; ditto for a weight - something like 248.6 pounds opposed to “about 250 pounds”). I did find myself engaged with the mystery - and getting to know the two police characters better, but I need to be in the mood for a cozy mystery. I think if you are a reader who likes both police procedural mysteries along with cozy mysteries, this book may be one you’d like. This book is the first in a series, so there will be more opportunities to know more about this police duo.
October 19, 2024
On her day off, Police Inspector Enna Koopmann (of the colourful socks) was practicing with the German Lifeguard Assn when it got too real. Someone she used to know was dead in the North Sea and she had to bring in the body and start the investigation.
Her new, extremely meticulous partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof, is today transferred to lower Saxony in from CID, is rather OCD and somewhat neurodivergent, has some odd behaviors, and is decidedly too literal. This is their first case together and it is as strange as the pair of detectives. Sometimes this is a real gigglesnort (I love it!), but the investigation is spot on.
I requested and received a temporary advance review copy from Book Whisperer via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail now
#DeepWaters #NetGalley Book 1 of #MurderInTheDunesBk1 by Heidi Hinrichs #Germany #NorthSea
#ANorthernShoresCozyMystery
Her new, extremely meticulous partner, Detective Chief Inspector Pavel Neuhof, is today transferred to lower Saxony in from CID, is rather OCD and somewhat neurodivergent, has some odd behaviors, and is decidedly too literal. This is their first case together and it is as strange as the pair of detectives. Sometimes this is a real gigglesnort (I love it!), but the investigation is spot on.
I requested and received a temporary advance review copy from Book Whisperer via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail now
#DeepWaters #NetGalley Book 1 of #MurderInTheDunesBk1 by Heidi Hinrichs #Germany #NorthSea
#ANorthernShoresCozyMystery
October 22, 2024
A cross genre that includes elements of police proceddurals, cozy mystery and a little humor. It's a much better read than the description led me to believe. A training exercise is interupted by the discovery of a dead body. Luckily the exercise is being conducted as a police training, so there's plenty of police response immediately available. Luckily if you're the police, not the body!!!
This is the first book in a series. The next two books in the series are to be released before the end of 2024, so you'll not have to wait long to see where this duo of seemingly unmatched investigators will take us. The story is well plotted, with the characters earnest in their efforts and endearing in their differences. I'd recommend to cozy mystery lovers but it will also be an excellent read for someone bored with their usual mysteries.
This is the first book in a series. The next two books in the series are to be released before the end of 2024, so you'll not have to wait long to see where this duo of seemingly unmatched investigators will take us. The story is well plotted, with the characters earnest in their efforts and endearing in their differences. I'd recommend to cozy mystery lovers but it will also be an excellent read for someone bored with their usual mysteries.
December 9, 2024
Deep Waters by Heidi Hinrichs is a police procedural cozy mystery that will keep you guessing "whodunit" until the very end. I received an advance copy of this boo through NetGalley and Book Whisperer. It took me a little while to get into the book probably because it is set in Germany and most of the names are foreign to me in the United States. I found the plot and characters to be well developed and I enjoyed the quirkiness of the two main ones. Enna Koopmann is meeting her boss and partner, Pavel Neuhof for the first time as they try to solve a murder. Pavel is autistic and is trying to function in a non-autistic world. Enna tends to dress in her own style, which is not the usual uniform for a detective. I found them both entertaining and I enjoyed reading this story. I recommend this book as worthwhile reading.
October 26, 2024
This is the first in a new cozy mystery series. In her spare time Enna is a life guard and on a training session finds the body of Toni Sattelmacher. Her old boss has just retired and is replaced with Pavel Neuhof. Pavel is kind of quirky, probably on the spectrum, but as the two learn each others ways of handling a case they work pretty well together. I have to admit I was a little confused about all the money floating around but, in all fairness, I probably should have paid more attention. Since this is the first of a series I find that the author is usually laying the groundwork for future books and I look forward to reading more in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and BookWhisperer for providing me with a digital copy.
Thank you to Netgalley and BookWhisperer for providing me with a digital copy.
November 14, 2024
A cosy murder set on the northern coast of Germany. Enna is training with her fellow lifeguards when she sees a body floating in the sea, handy that Enna is also a police officer so is able to start dealing with her find straight away.
Enna and her new boss Pavel, start to investigate the death already identified as a local man. The story takes a few twists as they interview and dismiss various people from their suspect list.
A quirky story but an interesting read, although there are a few things that obviously don’t translate properly, the use of 50mph, which surely should be 50kph as it is set in Germany, also a reference to bringing in the FBI.
That aside, I enjoyed the book.
Enna and her new boss Pavel, start to investigate the death already identified as a local man. The story takes a few twists as they interview and dismiss various people from their suspect list.
A quirky story but an interesting read, although there are a few things that obviously don’t translate properly, the use of 50mph, which surely should be 50kph as it is set in Germany, also a reference to bringing in the FBI.
That aside, I enjoyed the book.
January 5, 2025
This was a good read that I enjoyed. The dynamic between the two investigators was an interesting one, and I think they’ll be great together as the series continues.
I don’t think it was quite short enough to be a cozy mystery—though it ticked many of the boxes. It felt like either a true mystery/suspense with under-developed red herrings and a plot line that needed a little more detail, or a cozy that lacked the picturesque setting and quirky investigative team.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this and thought it would be a good fall read for others. A nice light mystery, if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
I don’t think it was quite short enough to be a cozy mystery—though it ticked many of the boxes. It felt like either a true mystery/suspense with under-developed red herrings and a plot line that needed a little more detail, or a cozy that lacked the picturesque setting and quirky investigative team.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this and thought it would be a good fall read for others. A nice light mystery, if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
November 23, 2024
Deep Waters by Heidi Hinrichs
How much did I love this book? So much that when the library said it was my turn for a much-awaited best seller, I let it wait and kept reading DEEP WATERS. I loved quirky Enna and Pavel and their respect for others’ differences. They are a good team. I loved the setting and the details in the descriptions. The mystery was compelling, and the building of relationships even more so.
There’s a hint of future books, and I’m ready!
How much did I love this book? So much that when the library said it was my turn for a much-awaited best seller, I let it wait and kept reading DEEP WATERS. I loved quirky Enna and Pavel and their respect for others’ differences. They are a good team. I loved the setting and the details in the descriptions. The mystery was compelling, and the building of relationships even more so.
There’s a hint of future books, and I’m ready!
January 31, 2025
This story involves a mystery to be solved and new partners to figure each other out. We meet Enna first and then Pavel. Pavel is her new boss/partner. We learn that he renamed himself- the Pavel from Star Trek. He is definitely quirky. The story involves nearly as much about their relationship as solving the case. It is an enjoyable read. I received an Advance Reader Copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
November 7, 2024
Enna is an inspector in a relatively quiet town. She also helps in water recuses. As she is out on the water she runs into a body floating. Thus the case is opened on who and why. Enna has a new boss so he wants to be involved every step of the way. The story follows the case and the results. So sad what family does to each other.
February 7, 2025
A suspenseful, thrilling and captivating story full of tension and sprinkled with humor throughout! Great multi-faceted, realistic characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid description. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
February 2, 2026
Fun mystery
I really enjoyed this mystery by this new author. It was well written and very well edited. Hope you enjoy it too!
I really enjoyed this mystery by this new author. It was well written and very well edited. Hope you enjoy it too!
November 26, 2024
I was given the opportunity to read this as a ARC from Book Whisperer.
Enna tries to imagine what her new boss will be like. The one scenario she doesn’t anticipate is that he’d start opening her closed cases.
Tracking him down to confront him she also doesn’t anticipate finding him reenacting the final moments of her latest case.
The author in her end notes attributes Pavels character to matching her own husbands neurospiciness.
Can one outgoing, vibrant sock loving, lifeguard/cop meld well with a reserved, tell it like it is, watch out for germs, details only authority?
I enjoyed the pairing and hope to read more about their adventures. The way their odd personalities played against and with each other was refreshing from the normal 2 partners spatting that are in many of the other cop/mystery titles I’ve read.
Placement is really the only thing that I found bothersome. The story line makes it sound like the beach’s of the North Sea are right in their backyard yet a google map search puts it almost 3 hours away from Fleestedt & unless county lines have been renegotiated for this precinct, it lies above the Lower Saxony line.
Enna tries to imagine what her new boss will be like. The one scenario she doesn’t anticipate is that he’d start opening her closed cases.
Tracking him down to confront him she also doesn’t anticipate finding him reenacting the final moments of her latest case.
The author in her end notes attributes Pavels character to matching her own husbands neurospiciness.
Can one outgoing, vibrant sock loving, lifeguard/cop meld well with a reserved, tell it like it is, watch out for germs, details only authority?
I enjoyed the pairing and hope to read more about their adventures. The way their odd personalities played against and with each other was refreshing from the normal 2 partners spatting that are in many of the other cop/mystery titles I’ve read.
Placement is really the only thing that I found bothersome. The story line makes it sound like the beach’s of the North Sea are right in their backyard yet a google map search puts it almost 3 hours away from Fleestedt & unless county lines have been renegotiated for this precinct, it lies above the Lower Saxony line.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews