The Real Death in Paradise

by Richard Preston

For fans of the hit show, Death in Paradise, comes the real story of a British detective fighting crime and uncovering mysteries in the Caribbean sun...

The Real Death in Paradise recounts the two years ex-DCI Richard Preston spent as one of the twelve young police officers sent to work on the tropical island of the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean.

Who wouldn't love the opportunity to work in a tropical paradise, meet the locals and experience the idyllic local culture, while learning to scuba dive and buy a share in a speedboat? What could possibly go wrong...?

When faced with the reality of life in the Caribbean - including drug raids, kidnappings and mysterious murders - Richard soon found out that the truth was far more interesting than he ever could have imagined.

Follow along in the adventures in this sun-kissed memoir, for fans of the BBC show everywhere!

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, Biography, Audiobook, Memoir, True Crime, Travel

Audible Audio

First published January 16, 2025

Reviews

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is such a big fan of this show that we discovered last year. This was really interesting, and I could see aspects that had been incorporated into the show in Richards' stories. I could also see personality traits from some of the British and island detectives. It's a fun and entertaining read

[Jenny Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read, following the author over 2 years working in the police in the Cayman Islands. I hadn’t realised this actually took place in the 1990’s and I’d love to know more about what he’s been up to since!

[Lesleyts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle read with some great humour and a small insight to the real death in paradise.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read, covering the years Richard Preston spent in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean as a police officer.

I'm a fan of the television show Death in Paradise and this book did remind me of that, with mentions of the tropical environment in contrast to the dreary UK. Some of the events Richard writes about could easily be imagined as part of the tv show.

I especially enjoyed the mentions of the Jeep and Blitz the police dog! The differences between policing in the UK and the Cayman Islands were interesting.

There were times I felt the language used to describe other people was not particularly "politically correct" and some of the humour would probably suit someone of Richard's generation more, but overall this was a fun read and I think would be enjoyed by most fans of the TV show.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of the hot show, Death in Paradise, comes the real story of a British detective fighting crime and uncovering the mysteries in the Caribbean sun....

The Real Death in Paradise recounts the two years Inspector Richard Preston spent as one of twelve young police officers seconded to the seemingly idyllic Cayman Islands. who wouldn't love the opportunity to work in a tropical paradise and immerse yourself in the local culture as you sunbathe on the sandy beaches and swim in crystal clear waters? What could possibly go wrong...?

When faced with the reality of police work in the Caribbean - including smuggling, rescuing turtles and mysterious murders - Richard soon found out that the truth was far more interesting than he ever could have imagined.

*************************

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of both Death in Paradise and non-fiction memoirs, this one was a winner from the start. They always give you a different vantage point from someone else’s lived experiences and they can be both insightful and amusing to read which this one certainly was.

What follows is a series of funny and amusing anecdotes, some serious cases and tales of his wider travels as we follow Richard Preston and his experience of being a U.K. copper in the Caiman Islands. It balances humour and a retelling of his experiences really well.

It was a compelling read and I really enjoyed reading about his time policing abroad.

Thank you to the author and Bonnier Books for this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Beachcomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. The author was a serving police officer in the UK who then applied for an overseas posting - 2 years with the Royal Cayman Islands Police. What follows is an account of his time there, the highs and lows, the every day and special occasions. While it might at first seem like a long jolly in the sun, you see the hard work that went in, especially when he rescues a lady who had been kept hostage by someone, and the several drug offences. It was interesting to see what life was like over there, and how it varies from the UK.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read, this was a different perspective completely. A police story but based in the Caribbean which is not really your normal setting of this kind of story.

This was Richard's story of how he came to go to the Cayman Islands and work as a police officer for 2 years. The stories are quite funny and entertaining and revealing the complete different way of life working in that environment.

It was witty throughout, but really interesting to read those stories of the different crimes he had to deal with, and made an interesting perspective. Very enjoyable read.

[Richard Crawshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's a fine start as his first book and was a fun read. It's also the first time that I have read a book and realised that I knew some of the actual characters by seeing through their nicknames. His Honour Judge Rudyard was a close friend of mine, and I also played and enjoyed many games of tennis with him whilst we also sampled a dram or to of whiskey along the way. He was a great man...RIP. I think Preston did a good job with his descriptions of Cayman and the beauty of the islands, and I was fondly reminded of times of old!

[zoe Hitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Preston is an English policeman seconded to the Cayman Islands, and he states the ups and downs of his life .
The writing is easy to read and the book overall is enjoyable .
It shows the reader the slow pace of island life interspersed with some humour as well as the dark side of living in paradise .
An interesting read which highlights the real life of an English policeman abroad .
Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK.

[Ninaminacat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may not be the most elegantly written or the best organised of memoirs, but Richard Preston certainly knows how to tell an amusing tale! I enjoyed seeing him adapt to policing in the Cayman Islands and loved his stories about his travels in Jamaica, Mexico and Cuba. As for Blitz the police dog - you have to read it to believe it! What an amazing, life-changing experience his two years in the Caribbean must have been.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an enjoyable memoir! Inspector Preston did a fantastic job of making the reader feel completely immersed on the island. I found I was looking up places he visited during his time on Grand Cayman. I didn’t want him to return home. Getting to experience his time on Grand Cayman and other place in the Americas was exciting and joyful. A perfect summer read or one to get you through the grey UK winter.😉

[Kunal Ashar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the Death in Paradise series, so to my slight dismay, I found that the narrative and prose on this book isn't particularly engaging, or even continuous. It isn't quite written to captivate, enthrall or even interest readers - one can almost sense the author trying to make it engaging, and not quite making it. The material itself is excellent - if it had been written well, it could have been a most interesting read.

[Vicky Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely easy read giving a flavour of life in the Caymans as well as life in the police force. Escapism that isn’t frivolous or fantasy, I could have definitely read more. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting nonfiction. I didn't know there was a show, but I can see why there is one.
I hadn't heard of anything like this, so the story, which is true, was unique to me.
7/10 it wasn't the most engaging story, but as a memoir of a certain place and time, it was good.

[Becky Grinter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much like a conversation with my elderly Dad, this is entertaining, interesting and a little bit mixed up! It was hard to stick to the timeline but it was an enjoyable read and I don’t regret persevering with it although I do think it might have benefitted from some editing.

[Glenda Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book loved the insight into policing in Paradise.

[zoe Hayward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy going read was a little gutted when the book ended

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't a bad book or anything and it had really interesting elements for me the pacing was just a little bit too slow, I'd read another book by this author though.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well read.
Quite a story.

[Lady Sen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story had some funny parts to it it but overall alot if his stories dont take off. It was a slow easy read. Where you can put down and pick up at any point.

[Shona · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting if disjointed set of anecdotes from two years policing in the Cayman Islands. Despite the title there are only two murders. This is more of a memoir than a true crime book.

[Chloe Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as a massive fan of the show I enjoyed the insight into it!

[Joanne D'Arcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of Death in Paradise, this gives you an insight into the real world of being a detective in the Caribbean.

Rather than the fictious St Marie, we are in the Cayman Islands and rather than a bumbling detective we have a real life one and whilst the body count is not the same. We get to see what it is really like for a Brit abroad, trying to work out how to maintain law and order in such a vibrant and different place than Britain.

Very much of its time, with the language and behaviours of the police and perhaps the criminals as well. But an enjoyable sojourn into life abroad.