Beachy Head: Detective Rutherford Barnes Mysteries, Book 2

Detective Rutherford Barnes Mysteries #2

by Adam Lyndon

MEET DETECTIVE RUTHERFORD BARNES IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW CRIME SERIES FROM A SERVING POLICE OFFICER.

Discover an absolutely gripping crime thriller with a massive twist.

Just before midnight, Mandy is woken by a frantic knocking at the door. It’s her ex-husband. Drunk. Again. At that moment her new partner James gets home from work. Mandy hears raised voices. Then a dull, smacking sound. Followed by a sickening crunch . . .

DC Barnes is back on the job after an eighteen-month suspension. He’s offered this case no one else wants—and he’s in no position to refuse. A one-punch homicide.

The accused is Mandy’s partner James. An honest, upright citizen and a firefighter. The victim is Mandy’s ex, an aggressive alcoholic.

James’s acquittal is a sure thing. No jury will convict this good man defending his girlfriend.

So why does James suddenly disappear just before the jury reach their verdict?

The following day a body is found at the foot of Beachy Head. The injuries sustained reveal this wasn’t a suicide.

Barnes’s case has now become something deeper and darker than anyone could have imagined.

Perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, Helen H. Durrant, Bill Kitson, Michael Hambling, Peter James, Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean, J.D. Kirk, Rachel Abbott, Elly Griffiths, J.M. Dalgliesh or Patricia Gibney.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Thriller, Procedural, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published September 22, 2022

About the author

Adam was born and raised in Sussex. He has been a police officer for twenty years both in the UK and in New Zealand, working across a range of disciplines including uniformed ops, firearms command and as a detective in CID and specialist investigations.

He went around the world a couple of times, living in New Zealand for a year before realising home was where all the stories were. Adam writes gritty, Eastbourne-based police-procedurals with hard-edged authenticity, forming a daisy chain along the south coast alongside the likes of Graham Hurley and Peter James. He has been married for twenty years and has four children. His ambition, as his children keep reminding him, is to own a dog.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

DS/ADI Rutherford Barnes #2
3.5 rounded up

It’s 2005 and Barnes is back from a long suspension, is promoted to DS then swiftly to acting DI but he’s given a poison chalice of a case with a one punch homicide. Mandy Luiz is woken by her drunk ex-husband Tommy Gayle who is hammering on her door and issuing threats, yet again. Her new partner James Reeves arrives home, attempts to pacify him but Tom is up for a fight. They end up in an alleyway next to Mandy‘s house where James, an upright citizen and a firefighter, throws one punch, Tommy falls to the ground and hits his head on the pavement. He seems okay but suffers a brain haemorrhage and dies in hospital. The CPS decide to prosecute James for manslaughter and let the jury decide if his actions are justified . However, the court case takes a very dramatic turn which stuns all. Of course, it’s never just one case is it? Woven into this increasingly drama fuelled case, there are murders and corruption to say nothing of drugs. It’s certainly action packed.

The novel is a bit slow initially as there are several plot strands and it’s quite detailed. It becomes increasingly complex and convoluted but it’s not difficult to follow. It’s certainly an intriguing case and as it is written by a police officer you know the procedure is accurate although not all of the behaviour is what you’d necessarily expect!

In this second novel you get to know Barnes a lot more than in book one. There’s more in-depth character development perhaps as the author gets to understand his creation better as a consequence so do the readers. He certainly not dull! There are a lot of characters both in several aspects of the law and on the other side of it which does get a bit dazzling and overwhelming at times.

The setting in and around Eastbourne is excellent as it allows the author to utilise locations creatively and dramatically.

Whilst this is the second in the series it can be read as a standalone but it does help you to understand Barnes better if you have read book one.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Joffre Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Ingrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I like this one even more than the first book in the series. The author is a very detailed writer and I had to get used to that, but the story kept my attention throughout.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Detective Rutherford Barnes Mysteries #2

Just before midnight. Mandy is woken by a frantic knocking at the door. It's her ex-husband. drunk. Again. At that moment, James, her new partner returns home from work. Mandy hears raised voices. Then a dull, smacking sound. Followed by a sickening crunch....

DC Barnes is back on the job after an eighteen-month suspension. He's given a case no one else wants - and he's in no position to refuse. A one-punch homicide. The suspect, Mandy's new partner, James, is an honest upright citizen. A firefighter. A pilar of the community. The victim, Mandy's ex, was an aggressive alcoholic.

This is a fast paced twisty read that's been descriptively written. The characters are well developed and realistic. I liked DC Barnes, he's the kind of policeman I would like to have on my side if ever I was in need of one. The plotline is easy to follow even though solving the case won't be easy. This book can easily be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #AdamLyndon for my ARC of #BeachyHead in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far more than I expected.

Great character development from Book One. Barnes is my kind of policeman, even if some of his actions/decisions are unexpected. The author does a great job of creating sympathy in the right places for the victims in this situation.

The plot seemed complicated with multiple strands initially but it was easy to read and I found the resolution satisfying.

Well worth the time.

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex, fast paced!

Police procedural criminal mystery that kept me glued. If you thought Detective Sergeant Rutherford Barnes was having a hard time keeping all his ducks in a row, spare a thought for me, the reader. After an eighteen month suspension Barnes is back, and tasked with investigating a death no one else wants. A drunken, abusive ex-husband has been accidentally killed by the ex-wife’s partner—an upstanding firefighter. The death must be investigated, but on the surface it’s a pretty open and shut case of manslaughter.
Suddenly this simple case of homicide turns into a jailbreak, leapfrogged over by a murder, corralled by another death in custody, and the list continues. Three major events interrupted by associated threads of the continuity of order, or linked? Only Barnes is making connections.
What it means is there’s dirty cops along the feeding line, and how far out and up does it go?
Corruption often starts with baby steps, and then!
Well paced, almost too fast for me, but really enjoyable.

A Joffe ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just before midnight. Mandy is woken by a frantic knocking at the door. It’s her drunken ex-husband. At that moment, James Reeve, her new partner returns home from work. Mandy hears raised voices. Then a dull, smacking sound. Followed by a sickening crunch. DC Rutherford Barnes is back on the job after an eighteen-month suspension. He’s offered a case no one else wants and he’s in no position to refuse. A one-punch homicide. The suspect, Mandy’s new partner James, is an honest firefighter & upright citizen. James’s acquittal is a sure thing. No jury will convict him. So why does James suddenly abscond from court before the jury reach their verdict?
The following day a body is found at the foot of Beachy Head. The injuries sustained reveal this was no suicide.
Barnes is back & demoted but he quickly rises in the ranks & is given a temporary promotion, but he needs to solve this case. A gripping read, things aren’t all they seem & this is a complex case, which I found hard to put down. There are plenty of twists & turns involving murder, corruption & drugs. I’m loving this series & look forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

2005 Brighton and Hove. What starts as a relatively straightforward manslaughter case escalates as DI Rutherford Barnes and his team investigate. But the case keeps getting more complicated.
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery. A good addition to this series with its cast of likeable but varied characters.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Hpnyknits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very complicated story.
Perhaps too many players.
Bottom line- everyone is correct.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Beachy Head, the second novel to feature ADI Rutherford Barnes of Sussex Police.

James Reeve is on trial for the one punch manslaughter of his girlfriend Mandy’s abusive ex-husband. Nobody thinks he will be found guilty and most wonder why he was put on trial, so why would he punch a security guard and escape? It’s a question Acting DI Barnes has to answer to help in finding the escapee. Then a body is found murdered in the sea off Beachy Head.

I enjoyed Beachy Head to a point as it is a tense, multi stranded read, but it is long and has a host of characters to keep up with. I felt that I did ok trying to place who fitted where, but that went out the window with the final explanations of who did what. Firstly I will say that the author pulls off a massive twist at the start of these explanations that took me by complete surprise, but it’s all downhill from there. I got totally lost in who did what and why and my main takeaway was a lot of effort for almost no return, especially when one of my favourite characters doesn’t make it. I was very disappointed by the ending.

The journey to this ending, however, is worth making as it is action packed, tense, exciting and fast moving. It held my attention, even if I didn’t see how all the strands would come together, as there is always something going on. It is told from the investigative point of view with several voices contributing, which is good as it keeps the reader guessing.

I have come to the conclusion after two novels that I don’t particularly like Rutherford Barnes. I don’t get the impression that he is particularly organised and there are enough loose threads to think that he doesn’t have all the bases covered. I fully understand that this reflects the realities of modern day policing with budget cuts, staff shortages and pressure to do the same job for less, but I want more from my fictional detectives and expect them to be close to superheroes. 3.5*

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last a book I can give more than 1 star after all the 1 star books I've just read in a row! This was a brilliant book! I absolutely loved it. It had believable likeable characters, it had so many subplots that I struggled to keep up with all of them, but I never gave up. I really really liked Detective Sergeant Barnes who has just come back to work after being suspended. There is a shortage of Inspectors and he was promoted the minute he sat down with his superior officer. He shortly discovers he has been given the short straw. There a myriad of cases in his inbox all demanding his attention.

Barnes (his first name is Rutherford) is called out to a domestic and finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation instead. A young woman has called the police because her ex-partner Tommy is outside the house and trying to break the door down, her new partner is a firefighter called James and he arrives home, gets out of the car and tries to persuade Tommy to go away, they move out of sight and James throws a punch to Tommy's head and he goes down badly injured. In hospital he has swelling on his brain and dies. James is arrested for manslaughter.

On the day of his trial and when they all expect James, a hardworking respected firefighter who's patience has yet again been tried by Tommy and who acted out of defence, to be given perhaps a suspended sentence or to not be given one at all. However in the dock he jumps over it and makes a run for it and gets away from the court. Barnes has officers searching for him immediately and a young custody guy is discovered to have a large amount of money in an elastic band in his locker. He is arrested for aiding a prisoner to escape. But did he?

This is just the beginning of Barnes's nightmares. It just so involved from here on and it is sometimes hard to remember where you are and where this is going!! But stick with it and you will surprisingly find yourself really running along with it!

A very very good book. I do want to read more about this rather lovely caring conscientious Inspector and am off to find out what other books there are as this must be a series!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

had the pleasure of reading and reviewing the first book in the series called 'Devil's Chimney', which introduced the character of Detective Constable Rutherford Barnes. I loved 'Devil's Chimney' and so when I heard that Adam was due to release the second book in the series, I just knew that I had to grab a copy at the earliest opportunity. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because the second book in the DC Barnes series is called 'Beachy Head' and it was released on 22nd September 2022. It's another cracker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.

As soon as I read the synopsis of 'Beachy Head', that was it for me. Plans for the rest of the day were forgotten as I simply couldn't put the book down. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. The more of the story that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Beachy Head' and I had to say goodbye to Barnes and the rest of the characters. I found 'Beachy Head' to be a gripping and tense read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

'Beachy Head' is extremely well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a read and then some. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading 'Beachy Head' felt like being on an at times rather scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. The fact that the author is a serving police officer himself makes the story seem that bit more authentic. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Beachy Head' and I would recommend it to other readers. I look forward to reading much more of Adam's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Barnes’ return to work after an 18-month suspension involves a one-punch homicide between the partner of an “upstanding” firefighter and her aggressive alcoholic ex-husband. The firefighter’s acquittal is almost a sure thing, but on the eve of the verdict, he breaks out of the courthouse and disappears. The next day, a body is found at Beachy Head with injuries not typical for a suicide. Could the two events be connected? Barnes thinks so, but selling that to his superiors may take some work. Things get even more complicated when Barnes gets rocketed into a promotion as Acting DI, well above the Sargeant’s slot he tested for prior to his suspension. He’s a little paranoid about the promotion because thinking maybe someone’s out to get him, and he could be right.

This was an excellent read – the plot was full of twists and turns, the characters well-developed, the dialog snappy, the settings well-described. Some parts were hard to read (situations Barnes encounters as he investigates), but they just made the book seem more real. The author is (or was, at the time the book was written), a sitting police officer and I’m pretty sure the things in this book are things he saw/experienced on the job. The story just made the time on the treadmill and elliptical fly by. Barnes has quickly become a favorite character – he’s flawed, but ultimately does the right thing because he’s a man of honor. He’s also a little unpredictable, which I like.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I bought book 3 as soon as I finished book 2 and it was just as good. The author does do a good job of filling in the backstory of the previous book, but I’m still reading them in order because I feel more connected to the characters that way. I highly recommend Lydon’s work and I’m glad there are more in the series for me to read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, second in the Rutherford Barnes, series was a complex read but at the same time it was thrilling and exciting. Barnes returns to duty after an eighteen-month suspension and realises that his career is still in significant decline, apart from the fact that he is still due for a promotion to DS, having sat and passed his exam before his suspension. On top of this, a case that has been passed around and no-one appears to want to take, lands on his desk and he realises that he is in no position to refuse it. To top everything, following the sickness of the team DI, Barnes finds himself promoted once more to Acting DI. The case that he is now following up seems to have many threads to it and there is a huge involvement from local thugs. As things start to gather speed, things begin to get messy and extremely complicated. Barnes knows that he has to solve all the pieces in order to find out what is going on. It’s a long story and gradually, as the threads all start to intertwine everything begins to make sense. The final mad dash to the end brings what appears to be tragedy but at the same time a satisfying conclusion. The final twist is a real jerker that leaves Barnes totally stunned and, naturally, leads me to want to read the next in the series – which I have now pre-ordered because I absolutely love this series.

The author, being a serving police officer, clearly knows his stuff and the reader really feels involved in the drama. The books are carefully and intricately written and provide the reader with a thrilling and satisfying read.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series and author for me, Beachy Head is the second book in the Detective Rutherford Barnes series. Starting from the second book I hoped I would be able to enjoy this without losing myself because I hadn't read the first. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be having to read the first book when I can.

Set in 2005, East Sussex, Barnes has come back to work from his suspension and realises he has to prove himself, yet again. He is handed a case of a man being charged with one punch manslaughter. Seems clear cut but Barnes has a gut feeling. A missing juror is among several bodies that are found at the bottom of Beach Head and Barnes feels like he can't trust anyone.

I found this a complex, multi layered plot that did require a certain amount of concentration. It certainly paid of though, a gripping, page turner that has plenty of vivid characters. I love this setting, East Sussex is one of my favourite places and Adam Lyndon did describe it well enough to see it in my minds eye.

At times a dark story that engrossed me with the several story threads that interweaved throughout. The twists and turns kept me me guessing all the way and then the ending! I couldn't have guessed it!

A great new series that I recommend if you love a complex, multi layered and twisty story.
Thanks to Jill Burkinshaw and Joffe Books for the ARC.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

One bonus in this book is a glossary (of British terms used in his books). Unfortunately, it is at the end of the book, and I didn't know it was there until I finished the novel.

The first book in this series was a bit unrealistic, but the characters were engaging, and the plot was gritty. I found that the author is a working policeman who happens to write fiction. I decided to go to the next book in this series of four. It is now eighteen months after Barnes' suspension. He continued his testing for higher rank during his time off, and (oddly enough) he's been promoted.

The first case he's given is one no one wants: a fireman hit another man (with severe provocation). The police interfere and take the struck man to the hospital. While laughing, the struck man suddenly dies. The fireman is accused of manslaughter, and no one wants to touch the case. The community thinks the fireman did the town a favor by accidentally killing the drunk who was repeatedly threatening his ex-wife. Strangely, while at court, James escapes. This is strange because he has no priors, and most people think he will not be convicted. So, why did he run?

Detective Rutherford Barnes Mystery
1. Devil's Chimney (2022)
** 2. Beachy Head (2022)
3. Burnt Out Secrets (2023)
4. The Chalk Man (2024)

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following his return to work after a long suspension Detective Rutherford Barnes finds himself quickly promoted to DS and then DI when he is given a case no-one else would want.
What may have started as a domestic between Mandy Luiz and Tommy Gayle, her drunken ex-husband, suddenly turns into one of manslaughter.
Mandy`s partner James Reeves arrived home and tried to pacify Tommy. Tommy is so drunk he wants to fight it out .
They end up in a back alley, James throws a single punch.
Tommy falls to the ground hitting his head on the pavement.
Although he seemed alright he dies later at the hospital from a brain hemorrhage.
The CPS decide to prosecute and James finds himself in front of judge and jury.
Surely James will be acquitted, you`d think ?
For some reason James decides to take matters into his own hands, whacks the security guard , leaps over the screens on the way up to the dock and makes a run for it.
Now Barnes and his team find themselves thrown into a complicated plot involving murder,drugs and corruption.
Interesting characters, lots of unexpected twists and a cliffhanger ending. Whats not to like ?

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Rutherford Barnes is back in this gripping addition to the series. Barnes has just returned to work and is on a rocky path with his superiors. However, it seems his job is safe for now as he is given temporary promotion and handed the case that nobody wants. Seems he is caught between a rock and a hard place failure will mean the end of his career.

This is a very intriguing and complex story that I found difficult to follow in places. So much going on corrupt police officers, cover ups, drugs and gangs are just part of it. Barnes has to work through the spaghetti of lies and secrets to try to work out who is who which is far from easy. A young police officer gets caught up in the middle along with others. Officers who appear to be clean and dedicated turn out to be anything but and when the bodies start stacking up it becomes clear someone is covering up but who is it and what are they trying to hide?

Absolutely gripping with more twists and turns than a roller coaster the book kept me guessing all the way to the total shocker of an ending.

A great read. Thank you to Joffe Books for the advance copy, this is my unbiased review.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #2 in the Detective Rutherford Barnes series but can easily be read as a standalone.

Mandy’s violent ex turns up outside her house late one night, clearly spoiling for a fight. Fortunately, Mandy’s new partner, retained firefighter James Reeve, arrives home just in time and Mandy hears a single thud. James has punched the ex who then fell and banged his head. He’s carted off to hospital where he then suffers a complication and dies.

The case comes to court but surely James is bound to be acquitted under the circumstances? We’ll never know because he suddenly whacks the security guard, vaults the screens and makes a run for it.

Then the twists and turns start, and the case is far more complicated than anyone could’ve imagined. I followed the complex plot but did get a bit confused by all the background characters, although that could just be me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Dead John Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bog standard police procedural that feels like it was written in the 1990s or even worse in the 1980s.

The same flawed, leading male character but, without the wit and panache of those from earlier times, leading an investigation that is doomed from the start, you know the drill. Whilst I would say, it was a good read, there was nothing outstanding about it, it could've been written by an AI program just for the sheer lack of imaginatiorl

It ticks all the boxes, but didn't tick mine.

I normally only give 5 star reviews because I dump books that simply not worth reading (IMHO).

In this case I was mislead by the reviews given in the Guardian. To see if I was possibly mistaken about the quality of this book ( I have been before) I read the first couple of chapters of his next book, Devil's Chimney. In that time I worked out who the killer was and was disappointed with the continued dirge of the detectives life. Don't bother.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book initially because it was written by a working police officer, and because I like police procedurals. Barnes is not getting along with his wife , but then she's killed in a traffic accident. He is temporarily promoted to DI, and there are so many cases that need his attention. A man on trial for manslaughter skips out before the end of the trial--was someone on the inside helping him? Are the cops, as they say, bent? A woman is murdered while the police look on. Someone gets past hospital security, injures a nurse and an officer, and kills a murderer. This is a very dark book, and it does make me wonder how much of the novel is drawn from personal experience. Three and a half stars, rounded down from four because it had a cliffhanger ending, which I dislike. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

DC Barnes is back after his suspension and there is a surprise or two of the promotion kind for him, much to his amazement. Could this be a poison chalice? He is given a case where a man was hit, went to hospital seemingly ok and then died. Was it manslaughter? In another case where he is to appear at court there is a breakout which is odd as the defendant had a high chance of being acquitted. Why would he break out and did he have help?
These are enjoyable, steady reads where Barnes is a slightly larger than life character and we get much insight into his thought processes. He’s a likeable guy and one you would want on your side and gives the reader the occasional smile. The plot is easy to follow and takes the inevitable twists and turns which kept me between the pages. Its an in depth police procedural which is a wonderful easy read. Highly recommended

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this second in the series, Barnes is back and in a DS role and suddenly finds himself promoted to acting DI. The story begins with the trial of a man for the manslaughter of a guy who dies after hitting his head on the ground following a punch. Then follows several connected deaths and we find ourselves in a whole world of related but unbelievably complicated set of events.

I did enjoy this book but there are a lot of characters and I found myself a bit lost at times as there was so much going on and I wasn't always sure what was what. I don't particularly like Barnes and he is incredibly naive and it beggars belief that he ends up in an acting DCI role. I also didn't like the ending but despite this, I was still gripped throughout trying to make sense of things.

My thanks to Joffe Books for an advance copy of this and this is my honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Detective Rutherford Barnes Series and this was a real page-turner set in East Sussex in 2005. Barnes has returned from suspension and is going to have to prove himself again. This is a complex plot with a number of threads and after a slow start it was an engrossing read, full of twists and turns.

Briefly, a man is charged with one punch manslaughter and despite many misgivings is sent to court for trial. Barnes is handed the case. It seems open and shut but Barnes isn’t sure. Then bodies are found at the bottom of Beachy Head, one of whom was a missing juror. Barnes finds himself unable to trust anyone feeling that everything he does is being manipulated.

A police procedural that at times is quite dark it is filled with numerous surprises all the way through with a starting climax. The settings are excellent and I found this an enjoyable read.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being suspended Rutherford Barnes to work. The department is short staffed so he finds himself promoted! At a court case the defendant, accused of manslaughter after killing his partner's abusive ex with a single punch manages to escape, Barnes is bemused as it was highly likely he would be acquitted. But it seems that this almost cold case has warmed up! The a body turns up at the base of Beachy Head- supposedly a suicide but the post mortem does not agree.

This is the second book in the series. I missed the first one & maybe that would have made me more invested in the main character but I found it quite hard to to get invested in the character. It was quite an enjoyable police procedural. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded down to 3. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Convoluted and Confusing But Good

It is difficult to review this one. Overall it was good. Things I didn't like...too many acronyms and too much police jargon I had to guess the meaning of; bits that didn't fit like the naked toddler in the filthy house; too many good guys who were really bent and vice versa: uneven plot line that was hard to follow at times. And yet, you could not stop reading. It is an interesting follow on to the first book which one needs to read prior to this one to fully appreciate what is going on and Barnes' personal agony. He is a strong character...complex, multi-faceted and supremely disciplined. Also brilliant at thinking outside the box and seeing beyond the obvious. I hope there will be more in the series, as the set up is there for the next one.

[Aileen (Ailz) Grist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very complicated story - is Rutherford Barnes being set up for a fall. He was suspended over four hundred and seventy days and when he turns suddenly he's promoted to Detective Sergeant and given a 'poisoned chalice' case which just gets murkier and murkier. Also I read it while the 2022 Eastbourne airshow was on - which features in the book and being a recent addition to Eastbourne it was nice to recognise some of the area described.

A very good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent thriller, well worked with attention to details of police procedure and location. The first novel whetted my appetite and this second did not disappoint. Barnes the protagonist was on the cusp of a fresh start with his wife in book 1. In this book the storyline blows all our expectations out of the water and cleverly bookends the story with details of his personal life. I highlighted ten spots with imagery that was new and enhanced the writing. The characters in the story are realistic and well rounded. My favourite reads this year. Thanks Joffe Books for the chance to read this for an honest review it was a privilege.

[Janet Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new author to me. The title interested me as fairly local and, of course, Beachy Head has its own reputation.
Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. I found it hard to get through the beginning of the book, which felt quite slow. I read to the end and enjoyed the plot. However, I wasn't really drawn in by the characters, who didnt feel particularly well defined as there seemed to be a lot of different police officers mentioned and didn't like so much use of jargon, especially as the acronyms weren't always obvious. This felt more like the idea for a TV drama than a novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it. Pleasant enough but didn't leave me wanting more.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEACHY HEAD by Adam Lyndon.
Just before midnight. Mandy is woken by a frantic knocking at the door. It’s her ex-husband. Drunk. Again. At that moment, James, her new partner returns home from work. Mandy hears raised voices. Then a dull, smacking sound. Followed by a sickening crunch . . .
DC Barnes is back on the job after an eighteen-month suspension. He’s offered a case no one else wants — and he’s in no position to refuse. A one-punch homicide. The suspect, Mandy’s new partner James, is an honest, upright citizen. A firefighter. A pillar of the community. The victim, Mandy’s ex, was an aggressive alcoholic.
A really good read. Twisty and tense. Couldn't put it down. 5*

[Charles Browne W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the previous volume in this series but I found this volume was more like an American gangster novel than a 'police procedural' set in a sleepy, genteel, seaside town.
Having grown up, and worked, in this place I could hardly recognise the location!
There are a number of UK authors that write similar crime novels, set in similar UK locations, but seem to keep a greater sense of 'place'.
No doubt, authors do not want to be too constrained by readers' views, and avoid plagiarism, so writing a story that will pull readers in by familiarity, yet at the same time creating a very different plot is part of the job!
It will be interesting to see what comes next in the series!