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DI Andy Horton #19
The Tipner Lake Murders
Old friends. Dark secrets. Vicious murders. Will this be the case that finally breaks Detective Andy Horton?
Roxanne Keay is found on the shore of Tipner Lake. Her long dark hair plastered over her grey, lifeless face. Her blue coat open to reveal a stab wound to the chest.
At first glance, the case seems straightforward — a tragic, random act of violence. But DI Andy Horton knows better. Roxanne was on the jury of high-profile trial that week. The trial of Justin Haslegrave, a man accused of smuggling illegal goods.
Days later, Justin is murdered under similar circumstances, and the case takes a chilling turn.
Roxanne and Justin knew a deadly secret. One they were willing to take to the grave. And it looks like they weren’t the only ones . . .
As more people connected to the case turn up dead, Horton realises he’s dealing with something — or someone — far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.
Roxanne Keay is found on the shore of Tipner Lake. Her long dark hair plastered over her grey, lifeless face. Her blue coat open to reveal a stab wound to the chest.
At first glance, the case seems straightforward — a tragic, random act of violence. But DI Andy Horton knows better. Roxanne was on the jury of high-profile trial that week. The trial of Justin Haslegrave, a man accused of smuggling illegal goods.
Days later, Justin is murdered under similar circumstances, and the case takes a chilling turn.
Roxanne and Justin knew a deadly secret. One they were willing to take to the grave. And it looks like they weren’t the only ones . . .
As more people connected to the case turn up dead, Horton realises he’s dealing with something — or someone — far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2025
About the author
Pauline Rowson
65 books170 followersPauline 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ | DI Andy Horton is on another case, investigating the brutal murder of a young woman. To make matters worse as Andy deepens the investigation, they realize that it is many more layers as other victims have been discovered. Intriguing slow burn mystery that makes you want to stick it out and truly see who is behind these brutal killings. If you enjoy crime and procedural thrillers the dogs into murder investigations, I would recommend this one & definitely enjoyable to those who have read the preceding books in the series. Thank you to Pauline Rowson and Zooloo's Book Tours for an advanced reader copy!
July 1, 2025
Confusing police procedural.
Pauline Rowson is a prolific author, though I have not come ac4oss any of her books before now. This is the 19th book in her Portsmouth series, and she has a number of other series as well.
Here, a young woman has been brutally murdered. DI Andy Horton is one is quickly on the scene. Almost immediately, there is a dispute as to whether the jurisdiction should be with Horton's CID or with the Major Crimes Unit. He does not get on well with superiors in either unit. The case is further complicated when there are other similar killings.
I found it difficult to keep track of who was who, in a very large cast of characters involved, from both the police sides and the families, friends, and acquaintances of the victims. There are numerous references to incidents in the past of both Horton's career and relating to the victims and others.
F9r me, my confusion due to the number of characters got in the way of my enjoyingment of the underlying story, which is a good one.
Pauline Rowson is a prolific author, though I have not come ac4oss any of her books before now. This is the 19th book in her Portsmouth series, and she has a number of other series as well.
Here, a young woman has been brutally murdered. DI Andy Horton is one is quickly on the scene. Almost immediately, there is a dispute as to whether the jurisdiction should be with Horton's CID or with the Major Crimes Unit. He does not get on well with superiors in either unit. The case is further complicated when there are other similar killings.
I found it difficult to keep track of who was who, in a very large cast of characters involved, from both the police sides and the families, friends, and acquaintances of the victims. There are numerous references to incidents in the past of both Horton's career and relating to the victims and others.
F9r me, my confusion due to the number of characters got in the way of my enjoyingment of the underlying story, which is a good one.
August 17, 2025
Here is my review for The Tipner Lake Murders by Pauline Rowson
I thought this was a brilliantly intricately written police procedural that hooked me as soon as I started reading the story. Roxanne Keay was the first victim found stabbed to death. They found out that she was serving on jury duty trying Justin Haslegrave for a smuggling trial. The police are trying to find a link between the two when only days later Justin is found dead, stabbed the same way as Roxanne! Is this a coincidence or a killer with a reason to kill? This was such a brilliant story and I loved reading it. I thought it was an intriguing plot that had been extremely well thought out by the author. I really liked Detective Inspector Andy Horton and how his character was portrayed in the book. All the characters were well thought out and written with such realization. The story was written in superb descriptive detail and everything was described in great detail. I liked the author’s writing style and I found it really easy to get into. I really liked the synopsis which drew me to read this story and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed by the story as I loved it. This is book nineteen of the series and the first book I have read but I loved everything about it and I would like to read more books in the series.
Blurb :
A BRAND-NEW BRITISH POLICE PROCEDURAL SET IN PORTSMOUTH, FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAULINE ROWSON. OVER 900,000 BOOKS READ!
Old friends. Dark secrets. Vicious murders. Could this be the case that finally breaks Detective Andy Horton?
Roxanne Keay is found on the shore of Tipner Lake. Her long dark hair plastered over her grey, lifeless face. Her blue coat open to reveal a single stab wound to the chest. At first, it looks like a senseless act of violence. But DI Andy Horton isn’t convinced.
Roxanne wasn’t a random victim. She’d been serving on the jury of a high-profile smuggling trial. Justin Haslegrave is the man in the dock. If convicted, he’s facing a long stretch in prison.
But days later, Justin is found dead. Stabbed — just like Roxanne.
Horton soon uncovers a chilling link: Roxanne and Justin shared a dangerous secret — one they took to the grave. But someone else knows the truth . . . Horton’s on the trail of a ruthless killer, one who’s determined to silence anyone who gets in their way.
A tense, atmospheric British police mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of Angela Marsons, Ian Rankin, Elly Griffiths and Bill Kitson will devour this dark and twisted tale.
THE DETECTIVE
DI Andy Horton’s mum walked out on him when he was a child and he grew up in a children’s home. Now he lives on board his yacht in Southsea Marina. He rides a Harley-Davidson and never wears a suit or tie — unless it’s to go to court. He’s an instinctive copper and a man of contrasts, which often lands him in trouble with his bosses. He has a desperate need to belong, and yet is always just on the outside. Self-contained, afraid to show his feelings, but he’s a risk-taker that seeks justice.
THE SETTING
Portsmouth boasts a vibrant waterfront, a diverse multicultural population, an international port, a historic dockyard, and is home of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth Harbour is one of the busiest in the world — and one of the best places to hide a body, it seems. Set against the backdrop of the sea, the Solent area of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight is every detective’s worst nightmare. The sea is ever-changing and often the best clues get swept away by the tide.
I thought this was a brilliantly intricately written police procedural that hooked me as soon as I started reading the story. Roxanne Keay was the first victim found stabbed to death. They found out that she was serving on jury duty trying Justin Haslegrave for a smuggling trial. The police are trying to find a link between the two when only days later Justin is found dead, stabbed the same way as Roxanne! Is this a coincidence or a killer with a reason to kill? This was such a brilliant story and I loved reading it. I thought it was an intriguing plot that had been extremely well thought out by the author. I really liked Detective Inspector Andy Horton and how his character was portrayed in the book. All the characters were well thought out and written with such realization. The story was written in superb descriptive detail and everything was described in great detail. I liked the author’s writing style and I found it really easy to get into. I really liked the synopsis which drew me to read this story and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed by the story as I loved it. This is book nineteen of the series and the first book I have read but I loved everything about it and I would like to read more books in the series.
Blurb :
A BRAND-NEW BRITISH POLICE PROCEDURAL SET IN PORTSMOUTH, FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAULINE ROWSON. OVER 900,000 BOOKS READ!
Old friends. Dark secrets. Vicious murders. Could this be the case that finally breaks Detective Andy Horton?
Roxanne Keay is found on the shore of Tipner Lake. Her long dark hair plastered over her grey, lifeless face. Her blue coat open to reveal a single stab wound to the chest. At first, it looks like a senseless act of violence. But DI Andy Horton isn’t convinced.
Roxanne wasn’t a random victim. She’d been serving on the jury of a high-profile smuggling trial. Justin Haslegrave is the man in the dock. If convicted, he’s facing a long stretch in prison.
But days later, Justin is found dead. Stabbed — just like Roxanne.
Horton soon uncovers a chilling link: Roxanne and Justin shared a dangerous secret — one they took to the grave. But someone else knows the truth . . . Horton’s on the trail of a ruthless killer, one who’s determined to silence anyone who gets in their way.
A tense, atmospheric British police mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of Angela Marsons, Ian Rankin, Elly Griffiths and Bill Kitson will devour this dark and twisted tale.
THE DETECTIVE
DI Andy Horton’s mum walked out on him when he was a child and he grew up in a children’s home. Now he lives on board his yacht in Southsea Marina. He rides a Harley-Davidson and never wears a suit or tie — unless it’s to go to court. He’s an instinctive copper and a man of contrasts, which often lands him in trouble with his bosses. He has a desperate need to belong, and yet is always just on the outside. Self-contained, afraid to show his feelings, but he’s a risk-taker that seeks justice.
THE SETTING
Portsmouth boasts a vibrant waterfront, a diverse multicultural population, an international port, a historic dockyard, and is home of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth Harbour is one of the busiest in the world — and one of the best places to hide a body, it seems. Set against the backdrop of the sea, the Solent area of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight is every detective’s worst nightmare. The sea is ever-changing and often the best clues get swept away by the tide.
November 23, 2025
Thanks to Joffee books and Netgalley for this eARC.
🌊 Review: The Tipner Lake Murders by Pauline Rowson
Pauline Rowson’s The Tipner Lake Murders is a taut and atmospheric crime thriller that plunges readers into the murky waters of Portsmouth’s coastal landscape. Known for her sharp police procedurals, Rowson here delivers a story that balances meticulous investigation with psychological tension, making the novel both gripping and unsettling.
🌒The setting of Tipner Lake is vividly rendered, its tidal rhythms and bleak shoreline amplifying the sense of menace.
Rowson’s prose is crisp and precise, capturing the procedural detail while sustaining a mood of unease.
The tone is suspenseful yet grounded, ensuring the mystery feels authentic rather than sensationalized.
👤The lead detective is portrayed with Rowson’s trademark realism—methodical, flawed, and deeply human.
Supporting officers and suspects are drawn with ambiguity, each carrying motives that keep the investigation layered and unpredictable.
Relationships within the investigative team add depth, showing the strain of balancing professional duty with personal vulnerability.
🔍 This novel interrogates truth, loyalty, and the corrosive effects of hidden pasts.
The lake itself becomes symbolic: a place where secrets surface and disappear with the tide.
Rowson explores how communities conceal and reveal, asking whether justice can ever fully account for human complexity.
🎧 The narrative structure is tight, weaving procedural detail with psychological insight.
Rowson uses shifting perspectives to heighten suspense, ensuring readers are never entirely certain who can be trusted.
Dialogue is sharp and authentic, grounding the investigation in realism while pushing the story forward.
⭐ The Tipner Lake Murders is a compelling addition to Pauline Rowson’s body of work, delivering a crime thriller that is as much about atmosphere and psychology as it is about solving the case. With its vivid setting and layered characters, the novel ensures readers are pulled into the investigation and left reflecting on the shadows beneath the surface.
🌊 Review: The Tipner Lake Murders by Pauline Rowson
Pauline Rowson’s The Tipner Lake Murders is a taut and atmospheric crime thriller that plunges readers into the murky waters of Portsmouth’s coastal landscape. Known for her sharp police procedurals, Rowson here delivers a story that balances meticulous investigation with psychological tension, making the novel both gripping and unsettling.
🌒The setting of Tipner Lake is vividly rendered, its tidal rhythms and bleak shoreline amplifying the sense of menace.
Rowson’s prose is crisp and precise, capturing the procedural detail while sustaining a mood of unease.
The tone is suspenseful yet grounded, ensuring the mystery feels authentic rather than sensationalized.
👤The lead detective is portrayed with Rowson’s trademark realism—methodical, flawed, and deeply human.
Supporting officers and suspects are drawn with ambiguity, each carrying motives that keep the investigation layered and unpredictable.
Relationships within the investigative team add depth, showing the strain of balancing professional duty with personal vulnerability.
🔍 This novel interrogates truth, loyalty, and the corrosive effects of hidden pasts.
The lake itself becomes symbolic: a place where secrets surface and disappear with the tide.
Rowson explores how communities conceal and reveal, asking whether justice can ever fully account for human complexity.
🎧 The narrative structure is tight, weaving procedural detail with psychological insight.
Rowson uses shifting perspectives to heighten suspense, ensuring readers are never entirely certain who can be trusted.
Dialogue is sharp and authentic, grounding the investigation in realism while pushing the story forward.
⭐ The Tipner Lake Murders is a compelling addition to Pauline Rowson’s body of work, delivering a crime thriller that is as much about atmosphere and psychology as it is about solving the case. With its vivid setting and layered characters, the novel ensures readers are pulled into the investigation and left reflecting on the shadows beneath the surface.
August 16, 2025
The Tipner Lake Murders by Pauline Rowson is the 19th book in the DI Andy Horton series and I loved this book. I have enjoyed reading all these books within this series and they have all been a good read.
When a body of a woman is found dead on the shore of Tipner Lake. Her beautiful long dark hair was plastered over the her grey lifeless face. Her blue coat is open to reveal a stab wound to her chest. DI Andy Horton is called to the scene to investigate, it all looks straight forward murder and a random act of violence. But as DI Andy Horton looks closer something is not right.
The dead woman is Roxanne Keay, and she was on the jury of high-profile trial that very week. This was the big trail of Justin Haslegrave,, he was accused of smuggling illegal goods into the country!
A few days later, Justin is murdered and under similar circumstances, this case has now takes a chilling turn.
Do, Roxanne and Justin knew a deadly secret?
One they were willing to take to the grave. Now it looks like they weren’t the only ones . . . . . . .
More people who are connected to the case now are turning up dead, DI Horton realises he’s dealing with something — or someone who is far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.
Will he find the killer before they kill again?
But the Clock it ticking. . . . . and time is running out for the next victim!!!
WoW this book was so good I ended up reading it all day, which was great as Paulin's books are a very easy read and addictive especially as there are 19 of these within the DI Andy Horton series which is set around my home town Portsmouth and surrounding area's.
When a body of a woman is found dead on the shore of Tipner Lake. Her beautiful long dark hair was plastered over the her grey lifeless face. Her blue coat is open to reveal a stab wound to her chest. DI Andy Horton is called to the scene to investigate, it all looks straight forward murder and a random act of violence. But as DI Andy Horton looks closer something is not right.
The dead woman is Roxanne Keay, and she was on the jury of high-profile trial that very week. This was the big trail of Justin Haslegrave,, he was accused of smuggling illegal goods into the country!
A few days later, Justin is murdered and under similar circumstances, this case has now takes a chilling turn.
Do, Roxanne and Justin knew a deadly secret?
One they were willing to take to the grave. Now it looks like they weren’t the only ones . . . . . . .
More people who are connected to the case now are turning up dead, DI Horton realises he’s dealing with something — or someone who is far more sinister than he could have ever imagined.
Will he find the killer before they kill again?
But the Clock it ticking. . . . . and time is running out for the next victim!!!
WoW this book was so good I ended up reading it all day, which was great as Paulin's books are a very easy read and addictive especially as there are 19 of these within the DI Andy Horton series which is set around my home town Portsmouth and surrounding area's.
March 3, 2026
The last book in the series recaptures the spirit of the first couple, slept with the usual lapses of grammar and vocabulary. The story is good and reasonably well told, with only a small amount of recapping (why on earth do people start reading part-way through a series?), a distinct improvement on previous books in the series. The general format is the same as ever (which is fair eniugh), but we get more of an insight into how Horton and Cantelli feel in this one. Although the last book in the series, to date, the ending is a bit inconclusive. Has Horton got his killer?
I've read the series from start to finish and there is definitely a format, albeit one that changed as the series went on. In the early books, Horton asked an interminable number of questions - pages of them - but in the later books, there are way fewer. In the early books, he would whine on about not seeing his daughter, which then became moaning about, and being obsessed by, his mother's disappearance. After the disappearance was resolved, the books were better. In the early books, he would get beaten up by the crook, towards the end of a book and sometimes in the middle of the story too, but not in the later books. I missed that sometimes ;-)
Anyway, here endeth the series so far and I'll think about whether or not I want to nuy any new books, should the author carry on with the series.
I've read the series from start to finish and there is definitely a format, albeit one that changed as the series went on. In the early books, Horton asked an interminable number of questions - pages of them - but in the later books, there are way fewer. In the early books, he would whine on about not seeing his daughter, which then became moaning about, and being obsessed by, his mother's disappearance. After the disappearance was resolved, the books were better. In the early books, he would get beaten up by the crook, towards the end of a book and sometimes in the middle of the story too, but not in the later books. I missed that sometimes ;-)
Anyway, here endeth the series so far and I'll think about whether or not I want to nuy any new books, should the author carry on with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
Number 19 in the Solent Murder Mysteries that is easily read as a stand-alone.
Detective Inspector Andy Horton latest investigation is to a murdered lady found with stab wounds on the shore of Tipner Lake. The victim is soon identified as Roxanne Keay, a lady with few friends and a quiet temperament. Her husband, the obvious suspect, has the perfect alibi. He worked on a cross-channel ferry and was at sea at the time of the murder. Roxanne and her few friends are all members of a keep fit/swimming group, and Roxanne was last seen leaving the sports centre and walking alone to her car across the dark carpark.
It seems that Roxanne was the victim of a random vicious attack, but DI Horton thinks otherwise and is determined to dig deeper. He soon finds that the victim was a serving on a jury in a smuggling case. A local man is on trial for importing forbidden goods using his boat. Another juror has been injured in a car crash, and it's possible she was killed to nobble the jury.
A few days later, the defendant himself is found murdered and then the body count increases when more bodies turn up. This is obviously not just a case of jury fixing but something far more sinister. A very twisty and dark story guaranteed to keep you enthralled.
Detective Inspector Andy Horton latest investigation is to a murdered lady found with stab wounds on the shore of Tipner Lake. The victim is soon identified as Roxanne Keay, a lady with few friends and a quiet temperament. Her husband, the obvious suspect, has the perfect alibi. He worked on a cross-channel ferry and was at sea at the time of the murder. Roxanne and her few friends are all members of a keep fit/swimming group, and Roxanne was last seen leaving the sports centre and walking alone to her car across the dark carpark.
It seems that Roxanne was the victim of a random vicious attack, but DI Horton thinks otherwise and is determined to dig deeper. He soon finds that the victim was a serving on a jury in a smuggling case. A local man is on trial for importing forbidden goods using his boat. Another juror has been injured in a car crash, and it's possible she was killed to nobble the jury.
A few days later, the defendant himself is found murdered and then the body count increases when more bodies turn up. This is obviously not just a case of jury fixing but something far more sinister. A very twisty and dark story guaranteed to keep you enthralled.
August 15, 2025
I am dipping my toe into the Solent Murder Mystery Series featuring DI Andy Horton, a set of atmospheric police procedural crime thrillers set against the Portsmouth coastline.
The Tipner Lake Murders sees Horton called to the shore of Tipner Lake, where Roxanne Keay’s body is found. She appears to be a quiet lady who keeps to herself. Having recently been a somewhat nervous and reluctant member of the jury of a smuggling trial... which immediately rings alarm bells.
Horton’s investigation takes him into a dark web of secrets, and the story evolves - slowly - into a layering of twists without over complicating the narrative.
DI Andy Horton was a great and engaging lead. Typically flawed, non-conformist and battling a troubled past gives him depth and added interest, alongside the investigation.
The Portsmouth setting, the docks, the sea, the harbour all create an atmospheric and brooding background to whole thing - I can see why the author chose this location for her series.
I enjoyed my first foray into the books of Pauline Rowson! Recommended for fans of British coastal crime fiction with a classically flawed lead detective.
My thanks to Zooloos Book Tours, the author and Joffe Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.
The Tipner Lake Murders sees Horton called to the shore of Tipner Lake, where Roxanne Keay’s body is found. She appears to be a quiet lady who keeps to herself. Having recently been a somewhat nervous and reluctant member of the jury of a smuggling trial... which immediately rings alarm bells.
Horton’s investigation takes him into a dark web of secrets, and the story evolves - slowly - into a layering of twists without over complicating the narrative.
DI Andy Horton was a great and engaging lead. Typically flawed, non-conformist and battling a troubled past gives him depth and added interest, alongside the investigation.
The Portsmouth setting, the docks, the sea, the harbour all create an atmospheric and brooding background to whole thing - I can see why the author chose this location for her series.
I enjoyed my first foray into the books of Pauline Rowson! Recommended for fans of British coastal crime fiction with a classically flawed lead detective.
My thanks to Zooloos Book Tours, the author and Joffe Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.
August 10, 2025
One of the best murder mystery/police procedurals I've read, though in the case of D I Andy Horton procedures are unimportant he follows his own path ,much to the consternation of his Senior Officers .
His instincts and methods however always seem to achieve the successful outcome they're looking for.
A friendless , quiet and well thought of woman is found dead having been stabbed and thrown down steps to a local beach. As she was a juror in a smuggling case ,the accused is the obvious suspect. When he too is stabbed to death Andy starts to focus on the schoolmates of the 1st victim, sudden death & disappearance of 2 of them get him looking at the rest of the 5 friends plus the husbands and an old sailing friend of his who is also found dead , suicide apparently but there is no such thing in a detectives vocabulary. The twists and turns of the plot and the characters moving through it kept me up until the early hours .
I have already downloaded book 1 as I want to know more about Andy Horton and events in his past mentioned in the book.
Thanks Joffes Books for introducing me to a new author & her team of detectives.
His instincts and methods however always seem to achieve the successful outcome they're looking for.
A friendless , quiet and well thought of woman is found dead having been stabbed and thrown down steps to a local beach. As she was a juror in a smuggling case ,the accused is the obvious suspect. When he too is stabbed to death Andy starts to focus on the schoolmates of the 1st victim, sudden death & disappearance of 2 of them get him looking at the rest of the 5 friends plus the husbands and an old sailing friend of his who is also found dead , suicide apparently but there is no such thing in a detectives vocabulary. The twists and turns of the plot and the characters moving through it kept me up until the early hours .
I have already downloaded book 1 as I want to know more about Andy Horton and events in his past mentioned in the book.
Thanks Joffes Books for introducing me to a new author & her team of detectives.
August 14, 2025
Having read a lot of the other Di Horton stories I was pleased to be asked to review his one by the publishers.. it was an interesting read which could be read as a standalone if you hadn’t read the other books! A women’s body is found and the mystery of who killed her begins. As the story unfolds it soon becomes clear it’s not an isolated incident… I found it an enjoyable read I figured out the ending but there were still some twists thrown in which I liked!
I know some other reviewers said there were too many characters and they got a bit confused/lost with the story line but I think that might be if they are reading this as a standalone as there are obviously bits that link this story to previous ones which might confuse if not aware but I found it to be a good read and I look forward to the next instalment for Di Horton
I know some other reviewers said there were too many characters and they got a bit confused/lost with the story line but I think that might be if they are reading this as a standalone as there are obviously bits that link this story to previous ones which might confuse if not aware but I found it to be a good read and I look forward to the next instalment for Di Horton
August 19, 2025
The latest in the DI Andy Horton series and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Andy is typically flawed and non-conformist, much to the annoyance of his senior officers and the Major Crimes Unit. Portsmouth, its coastlines, docks and harbours for yachts and pleasure boats etc make for great storylines. What started as a simple minor smuggling case moves onto 3 murders and Horton digs deep to find what started this sequence of crimes. The high school of many of its main characters. It is a stand alone book if you wish to be and a strong police procedural.
As usual Horton jumps the hurdles put up by his self absorbed and flawed senior officers who stumble blindly causing one cockup after another. One with tragic results. Horton is a likeable character and a very good policeman. He always gets a result which sadly is never acknowledged by those officers.
As usual Horton jumps the hurdles put up by his self absorbed and flawed senior officers who stumble blindly causing one cockup after another. One with tragic results. Horton is a likeable character and a very good policeman. He always gets a result which sadly is never acknowledged by those officers.
September 25, 2025
A good mix of characters that made you question a lot as the plot continues. What was the link, what cause them to be there at specific times, did they know anyone else, you constantly have lots of questions throughout and get caught off guard several times too.
The author did a good job in raising the voice of the victim and making sure they were heard through the plot.
This was a slow paced book that reveals the plot in drips and this is what I enjoyed about it. Because I could absorb and understand the characters and details, it allowed me to take time to what was happening. This is needed in some book.
The author simultaneously did a good job to keep it relevant and engaging so you didn't put the book down and not pick it up again.
A rollercoaster of a read and I would recommend!
The author did a good job in raising the voice of the victim and making sure they were heard through the plot.
This was a slow paced book that reveals the plot in drips and this is what I enjoyed about it. Because I could absorb and understand the characters and details, it allowed me to take time to what was happening. This is needed in some book.
The author simultaneously did a good job to keep it relevant and engaging so you didn't put the book down and not pick it up again.
A rollercoaster of a read and I would recommend!
June 23, 2025
Another episode in the Solent Murder Mysteries featuring DI Andy Horton.
The body of a young woman is found beside Tipner Lake and she has clearly been murdered. DI Horton and his team get involved, and find that the woman, Roxanne Keays, was on the jury of a high-profile smuggling case. She also worked at the marina so may well have known the person on trial, Justin Haslegrave.
Before they get much further, Justin’s body is found in similar circumstances. Could there be a link to teenage bullying some years ago? A tricky case for the team to put together, and a great read with plenty of twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
The body of a young woman is found beside Tipner Lake and she has clearly been murdered. DI Horton and his team get involved, and find that the woman, Roxanne Keays, was on the jury of a high-profile smuggling case. She also worked at the marina so may well have known the person on trial, Justin Haslegrave.
Before they get much further, Justin’s body is found in similar circumstances. Could there be a link to teenage bullying some years ago? A tricky case for the team to put together, and a great read with plenty of twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
July 31, 2025
This was a really enjoyable story. The body of a woman is found, having been murdered. She was a juror on a local case and when the case against the accused is dropped and he is subsequently murdered, Andy and the others suspect the case has to be a vital connection between the two events. Links to another death where the victim was in school with our other female victim adds more confusion to the mix.
I loved in this story how Andy is determined to do his own investigation despite the higher ups making different decisions. The first victim's sadness seems to seep into Andy's pores and I liked how it made him more affected overall adding to his determination to get justice for her. Highly recommended.
I loved in this story how Andy is determined to do his own investigation despite the higher ups making different decisions. The first victim's sadness seems to seep into Andy's pores and I liked how it made him more affected overall adding to his determination to get justice for her. Highly recommended.
August 7, 2025
A beautiful woman was stabbed and left to die on the Portsmouth waterfront. She was on the jury of high-profile trial that week, the trial of Justin Haslegrave, a man accused of smuggling illegal goods. Detective Inspector Andy Horton feels that there is more to this case than meets the eye. Then the accused smuggler is found dead on his boat - killed in a similar manner to the original victim. Can Andy solve the case and catch the killer before anyone else gets killed? If you are a fan of fast paced police procedurals, this book is for you. Although it is number nineteen of the Solent Murder Mystery series, it is easily read as a standalone, although it is so good, it may make you want to read the previous eighteen, if you haven’t already.
July 3, 2025
The first body was in Portsmouth harbor but there was a lot more to investigate, more bodies to find, and what was everyone afraid of. DI Andy Horton and team feel underwater themselves because of all the fear, secrets, and lies they uncover. Pleased that the series has not ended yet.
Pub Date Aug 14, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley.
#TheTipnerLakeMurders by @paulinerowson #SolentMurderMysteriesBk19 @joffebooks #NetGalley
#suspense #murderinvestigations #DIHorton #falseidentities #duediligence #crimefiction #secrets #unputdownable #smuggling #crimefiction #mysterybooks #procedural #Britishpolicemystery #lies
Pub Date Aug 14, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley.
#TheTipnerLakeMurders by @paulinerowson #SolentMurderMysteriesBk19 @joffebooks #NetGalley
#suspense #murderinvestigations #DIHorton #falseidentities #duediligence #crimefiction #secrets #unputdownable #smuggling #crimefiction #mysterybooks #procedural #Britishpolicemystery #lies
July 21, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Joffe Books, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of ‘The Tipner Lake Murders’, by Pauline Rowson.
This book has all of the hallmarks of a British procedural; suspicious death, a detective at odds with his bosses, a quaint setting, and suspects/witnesses that never tell the police the whole/correct story. DI Andy Horton, living on a yacht and riding a Harley-Davidson, has to wade through the facts, dive deeper into past events, and keep his bosses at bay, while trying to solve a murder (which will of course have additional victims).
The story was well-thought out and engaging while keeping the reader guessing as to who is the killer.
This book has all of the hallmarks of a British procedural; suspicious death, a detective at odds with his bosses, a quaint setting, and suspects/witnesses that never tell the police the whole/correct story. DI Andy Horton, living on a yacht and riding a Harley-Davidson, has to wade through the facts, dive deeper into past events, and keep his bosses at bay, while trying to solve a murder (which will of course have additional victims).
The story was well-thought out and engaging while keeping the reader guessing as to who is the killer.
June 21, 2025
DI Andy Horton is called to a scene of a young woman's murder. She had been selected for a jury trying a man for smuggling. Did she know the defendant? She worked at a marina, and perhaps she knew something? Then there are several more murders and Andy is convinced that they are all related. Could the root of the problem go back to school days, when a group of young women were bullied by a sociopathic student? Despite his superiors being fairly clueless, Andy is determined to get justice for the victims. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
June 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I foolishly thought "a brand new police procedural" meant the first of a series, not the 19th in the series!
Luckily, I didn't feel I'd missed out, there were enough hints at previous storyline to get you interested, but not enough to confuse.
That's quite a skill.
Enjoyable characters, decent pacing and good storyline, that I had no idea of the who's and whys often.
Pleasantly surprised by how stand alone this was, and I might be looking for previous books IF I ever read all my books 😁
I foolishly thought "a brand new police procedural" meant the first of a series, not the 19th in the series!
Luckily, I didn't feel I'd missed out, there were enough hints at previous storyline to get you interested, but not enough to confuse.
That's quite a skill.
Enjoyable characters, decent pacing and good storyline, that I had no idea of the who's and whys often.
Pleasantly surprised by how stand alone this was, and I might be looking for previous books IF I ever read all my books 😁
July 16, 2025
This novel is a police procedural which features Detective Inspector Andy Horton.
It is the 19th in a series but can be read as a stand alone story.
A young woman is found dead and Andy and others investigate her death and the background and events leading up to it and the reasons underlying the murder.
It is quite a complex narrative and well plotted with interesting characters and twists and turns.
Well paced and an engrossing book with Andy as the central character and his thoughts and feelings explored.
It is the 19th in a series but can be read as a stand alone story.
A young woman is found dead and Andy and others investigate her death and the background and events leading up to it and the reasons underlying the murder.
It is quite a complex narrative and well plotted with interesting characters and twists and turns.
Well paced and an engrossing book with Andy as the central character and his thoughts and feelings explored.
August 7, 2025
Keeping track of police staff and the people being investigated made the story tough to follow at times, especially because I hadn't read the earlier books. Once I got into the story, I enjoyed the subplots and the tiny details about the personal lives of the people. The author has the ability to make the characters come to life - highlighting their foibles and flaws, and how their circumstances make them what are. Loved the main character, Horton, and will definitely go back and check out his previous cases!
August 7, 2025
I Didn't See The End Coming
A young woman, Roxanne, is found murdered and DI Andy Horton cannot find anything in her background to tell them why apart from the fact she was a juror in the trial of Justin Haslegrave accused of bringing in illegal and prohibited goods. While they are still investigating, Justin himself is murdered and the team start looking into their past to see if they knew each other apart from the trial. I have enjoyed this whole series and really think this might be the best one yet (until the next book of course).
A young woman, Roxanne, is found murdered and DI Andy Horton cannot find anything in her background to tell them why apart from the fact she was a juror in the trial of Justin Haslegrave accused of bringing in illegal and prohibited goods. While they are still investigating, Justin himself is murdered and the team start looking into their past to see if they knew each other apart from the trial. I have enjoyed this whole series and really think this might be the best one yet (until the next book of course).
August 7, 2025
Another episode in the Solent series. As with the others this is stand alone police procedural but, if you have read any of the others, it is good to see development in the personal stories. The victim herself has such a background tale that you can’t help feeling sorry for her, a type many in society would judge, but actually a lifelong victim, so tragic. I don’t understand why this series hasn’t been snapped up on the tailcoats of the success of Grace, there are many similarities. Great read and I definitely look forward to the next one!
August 8, 2025
This is a fabulous addition to a wonderful series. The tone of the book is set by the scene on the very first pages. DI Andy Horton is one of my favorite book characters. He is smart, has great instincts and is determined to solve every case no matter how complicated. This case was one of his most challenging. The cold dreary days, the politics of the office and his own personal life add to the challenges of solving the case. Although this book is part of series, it can easily be read as a stand alone.
August 10, 2025
o much happening, I could hardly keep up.
Andy Horton is called out to a body on the shore, a young woman has been murdered and he is haunted by her eyes. It seems that Roxanne lived a very quiet life, not on social media, little family and no friends. They can’t work out why she was killed nor who did it. She was currently a juror on a trial and they wonder if that has some connection to her death.
A very good read, full of twists and turns, and although it is one of a series reads well as a standalone.
Andy Horton is called out to a body on the shore, a young woman has been murdered and he is haunted by her eyes. It seems that Roxanne lived a very quiet life, not on social media, little family and no friends. They can’t work out why she was killed nor who did it. She was currently a juror on a trial and they wonder if that has some connection to her death.
A very good read, full of twists and turns, and although it is one of a series reads well as a standalone.
August 16, 2025
Although this is book 19 in the Solent Murder Mysteries featuring DI Andy Horton, this book can easily be read as a standalone.
This is a very enjoyable, well written storyline and plot, which keeps you guessing and has many a twist and some surprising revelations.
I love, like many, to try my detective skills at working out who. I did guess right and then dismissed the thought.
A book well worth reading.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
This is a very enjoyable, well written storyline and plot, which keeps you guessing and has many a twist and some surprising revelations.
I love, like many, to try my detective skills at working out who. I did guess right and then dismissed the thought.
A book well worth reading.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
September 23, 2025
DI Horton has just been handed what is assumed to be a simple case.
Roxanne Keay's body is found on the shore of Tipner lake.
She has been stabbed.
But there is more to this murder and Horton knows it, she is a juror on a high profile court case of smuggling goods.
Just days later the accused is also found murdered in a similar way.
Both knew something, something someone didn't want coming to light.
But who?
So many suspects but so few leads.
Can Horton crack it before the body count rises?
An exciting, twisting, turning crime thriller.
Roxanne Keay's body is found on the shore of Tipner lake.
She has been stabbed.
But there is more to this murder and Horton knows it, she is a juror on a high profile court case of smuggling goods.
Just days later the accused is also found murdered in a similar way.
Both knew something, something someone didn't want coming to light.
But who?
So many suspects but so few leads.
Can Horton crack it before the body count rises?
An exciting, twisting, turning crime thriller.
November 6, 2025
The Tipner Lake Murders is a very convoluted whodunit. The reader would be wise to keep a list of the characters and their interactions. The author switches between first and last names, which can get confusing as she juggles the protagonists and a host of assorted miscreants in this otherwise captivating novel. The good guys are persistent. I dare say the average detective wouldn't be as tenacious. One pervasive question I want to ask after reading many similar tomes: Why are the upper echelons of UK law enforcement such jerks to their underlings?
July 26, 2025
I was given an advance copy for review purposes.
The book reads more like an account of a murder investigation rather than a story.
Although I had read the previous book, I still don’t feel I have gotten to know the characters or have any affinity with them. If you love the series then you will enjoy this as the storyline is good and there is a lot to keep you guessing, but it is not my style of writing.
The book reads more like an account of a murder investigation rather than a story.
Although I had read the previous book, I still don’t feel I have gotten to know the characters or have any affinity with them. If you love the series then you will enjoy this as the storyline is good and there is a lot to keep you guessing, but it is not my style of writing.
August 17, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was gritty and a real page turner. The concept was strong.
The cover is good. It's what you would expect from a crime thriller. It was so designed well.
The setting was good and I enjoyed all the locations that we visited. They were described really well.
The characters were strong and fit in perfectly. I loved Andy. He was a great detective and I love how he goes about investigating the crimes in the book.
I definitely recommend this to you all!
The cover is good. It's what you would expect from a crime thriller. It was so designed well.
The setting was good and I enjoyed all the locations that we visited. They were described really well.
The characters were strong and fit in perfectly. I loved Andy. He was a great detective and I love how he goes about investigating the crimes in the book.
I definitely recommend this to you all!
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