The Swansea Marina Murders: A gripping crime thriller full of twists

Detective Inspector Caren Waits #3

by Stephen Puleston

When each secret could be deadly and no one is truly safe...

A brutal murder disrupts the serene waters of Swansea Marina. The discovery of university student Emily Hughes' lifeless body shatters the illusion of coastal tranquillity.

Detective Inspector Caren Waits is thrust into a treacherous investigation filled with deceit. As she navigates the tangled lives of a tormented ex-boyfriend, a predatory lecturer, and a friend entwined in the local drug scene, she must also confront the shadows of her late husband’s secret life.

As the body count rises, so do the stakes. With time running out and danger lurking in every corner, Caren must unravel the chilling conspiracy before it's too late. Can she expose the truth or will the depths of the marina consume her?

If you love fast-paced crime thrillers with a determined female detective, The Swansea Marina Murders will keep you hooked until the final page.

This is the second novel in the DI Caren Waits series. Perfect for fans of Simon McCleave, Rhys Dylan and Rachel McLean.

Pick up your copy today by clicking the BUY NOW button at the top of this page!

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2025

About the author

I write mysteries and thrillers.

I have published the first novel in a series featuring Inspector Drake based in North Wales and also the first in a series with Inspector John Marco based in Cardiff. The first Drake mystery is called BRASS IN POCKET and the second WORSE THAN DEAD. The third, AGAINST THE TIDE.

My second detective is Inspector Marco who comes from an Italian/Welsh background and he lives in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The first Inspector Marco novel SPEECHLESS has been published on Amazon and the second and third in the series will be published in 2015.

Before turning to crime fiction I had written three other unpublished novels and you can read about my writing and about Wales, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, on my website http://www.stephenpuleston.co.uk/

I was brought up on the Isle of Anglesey, off the North Wales coast and went to school in Holyhead. After a degree in Theology from London University I decided to train as a lawyer and returned to work in the practice run by my father on Anglesey. For many years I worked as a lawyer in a small practice representing clients in the criminal courts and doing divorce work all of which has given me valuable raw material for my novels.

I still live and work in North Wales where the Inspector Drake novels are set.
You can contact me on twitter @stephenpuleston or @inspector_marco
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17G6iIA

Reviews

[Kimberley Lewis · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the book I would recommend to someone if I wanted to convince them that reading is a terrible pastime.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5✨ just not for me but did read it very quickly

[Holly Meredith]

Painful to read.

Overly descriptive in areas which need 0 description. Tried my best but could not finish.

[Ffion Griffith · Rating 2 out of 5]

book club - 04/26 - 1.5 stars.

Such a painful read - far too descriptive in all the wrong places, more focus on sat nav timings than the actual story which then felt crammed into the last 25%.

[Susan Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating addition to a new series with DI Caren Waits. Caren is still getting to know her team and the area. Her team does an excellent job helping to investigate the murders. This was a very involved investigation with a surprising ending. I've read every one of the author's books and can't wait for the next one in the series. I received this book as an ARC from the author and am voluntarily giving my review.

[Carol Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in Caren Wait's series, a new series from Stephen Puleston, and this one gets off to a good start with the murder of a young girl, a student in fact, a young girl with her whole life ahead of her cut short. Caren has to dig deep into this young girl's life. Was she targeted? Is there an ulterior motive? Digging deep can be upsetting for those families left behind, but it must be done to uncover the whys and wherewithal.
While Caren is investigating, she learns a lot not only of Emily Hughes' life but also its like someone with a double life and low and behold another murder, again another young life, college kids and all these kids never make it to adulthood to give their parents grand children and all for what, Caren certainly has her job cut out for her, but she does have a team and they are beginning to come together nicely, as she did have her job cut out for her with her predecessor that no one wants to talk about.
As with Stephen's novels, they are set in Wales, and he describes Wales beautifully. And I have been there a couple of times, and it is indeed a beautiful country, a great addition to Great Britain.
Stephen can spin a good yarn, and again, his writing is superb, well worth a treat.
I was given an ARC, but it has not swayed my take of this novel.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Detective Caren Waits series finds Caren a few months into her new job, at last things are starting to calm down. Her son has settled into his new school and made friends. The inquest into her husbands death has finally taken place and Caren can put their smallholding on the market. Though there is still the matter of a claim against her deceased husband estate by a woman, unknown to Caren, who claims to have had his child, things are moving in the right direction.
Caren`s team are now working well together, which is just as well when they are called in to deal with a new case.
An interesting case involving the discovery of a university students body, the investigation throws up multiple suspects from the troubled ex-boyfriend, the predatory university lecturer and the friend who is involved in the drugs scene.
The body count rises as the team race to discover the truth.
The tension mounts as the inquiry develops, there are twists and tuns to keep you guessing, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Detective Caren Waits is fast becoming one of my favourites. I`m looking forward to her next case !

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Hughes a student the local university has finished a shift at a pub at the marina when she is grabbed and garotted and left to bleed out in the water. She is found the next day floating in the harbour by a pedestrian walking his dog. DI Caren Waits and her team are called out and then begins the tracing of her family, friends and how come she has thousands of pounds of cash hidden in her bedroom at her digs when her only job as a student was working part time at a bar in the marina?

The plot gets complicated between her boyfriend and the set of people with whom she is mixing. As usual I've read the books out of order and am cross with myself for not checking before I began, never mind I'll read book 2 later and all will be revealed about the difference in her home life!

This was a very good storyline and one which changes all the while as new information comes to Caren's attention, just wished I had read book 2 before this!!!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex murder mystery in Western Wales⛵

This police procedural murder mystery has good bones with a sympathetic female lead detective inspector, a solid team under her direction, plenty of questions as to motive and a good set of cagey characters to muddy the waters of the investigation.

DI Caren Waits is a widowed single mother of a small son and she's a bit conflicted about the long days she works on murder inquiries. This theme and her childcare arrangements when she can't be there for her son are detailed in the story. Understood, but it does read as quite repetitive. Young Rhys from a farming family is my favorite of her little detective team.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third installment in Puleston’s latest series featuring DI Caren Waits. She and her team are continuing to get to know one another and working well as a team. It opens with the murder of a college student who has an ex-boyfriend, known to be violent; having an affair with one of her professors, who is married. Attacks on women, burglaries in the marina, drugs. Quite a few persons of interest with sketchy backgrounds make this a quick and interesting read. Who did it and why?

On the personal side, she is finalizing her deceased husband’s estate and the issue that he had an extramarital affair resulting in the birth of a child who may have a claim to his estate.

This can be read as a stand alone police procedural mystery.

Thank you to Stephen Puleston for an advanced copy of this e-book.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the new Caren Waits series. She is more settled in her new job and community. With two new nursery, the inquest into her husband’s death, selling their small holding and dealing with a claim against his estate Caren is very busy.
This case involves burglaries, mobsters and two young women. Caren’s team r finally working well together. There r plenty of suspects and very little motive. The teams works on tirelessly to solve the murders before any more occur. I love her relationship with her team and her new friends. I’ve really enjoyed this new series! I look forward to reading more from this series!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third Caren Waits book and another great engaging read. This time the action is centred in Swansea Marina where the bludgeoned body of a young girl is found. The suspects mount up as do the twists, and the pace keeps you turning the pages.
The subplot bubbles along nicely in the background this time, with more conclusions than shocks, but there is still a lot there we've yet to discover to provide much interest going forward. This series gets better and better with each instalment. An interesting new character in a great new series

[Catherine Stratman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series!

DI Caren Waits is back. This time the murder of a college student at a marine keep Waits and her team busy. Between the violent ex-boyfriend, the college professor with the sketchy past, and the local drug scene there are plenty of suspects but can the team sort thru the clues to solve the case? Another body makes the water even murkier. We learn more about Waits private life and a little more about her team as well. Plenty going on to keep the reader interested until the very end.

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swansea Marina Murders - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

DI Caren Waits and her team are catapulted into a murder investigation, with dangerous suspects and links to organised crime, when a young female student's body is washed ashore in the eponymous Marina.
Fascinating characters, twists, turns and a shoal of red herrings, proliferate freely  throughout this fast-paced police procedural.

Grab a copy of Stephen Puleston's The Swansea Marina Murders today, to join in the action and see if you guessed the killer's identity ahead of the reveal!

[S McK · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Caren Waits and her eclectic team of detectives are back, with a story of betrayal, deception, drugs, sex and greed - what a thrilling combination!

Stephen has managed, over 3 books, to develop each character into people that I look forward to reading about, as well as enjoying the cases they investigate.

I'm unsure about one character, on the periphery, who keeps popping up but I might be being overly sceptical about them - time will tell...

Great book, great series, great author!
I highly recommend them all.

[Jim Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent investigative crime thriller with a well written plat and a strong female detective character. DI Caren Waits has to balance her detective job with the needs of her family. Contains plenty of action, suspense, and some romance. A page turning read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. Bring on more adventures to this excellent series.

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is tangled and goes off in many different directions, making the book more interesting. The writing style is easy to read and the pages flew by. This series should be read in order and good books to binge read as they don't take long to finish. This is the first experience I have had with this author and have been pleased with the whole series so far.

[Viragored · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Stephen Puleston story I enjoyed. This is a good, solid police procedural with the lead character Caren now getting her feet firmly under the table. There's plenty of action in the story, some blind alleys and a satisfying ending.
Roll on the next one in the series

[Melvyn Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swansea Marina Murders. Third in the Caren Waits series. A body is found in the local marina. Accident or random or targeted murder! Caren and the team follow the clues until the killer is unmasked in the final twist. Another great read from Stephen.

[Linda Woodley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second story and I am enjoying them, you get to know the characters
She is trying to solve crimes and bring her son up alone after her husband died and finding out he wS having an affair
Excellent

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A University student is murdered, and Inspector Caren Waits is assigned the case. A fast-moving page turner and more murders. A number of twists and a surprise conclusion.

[Richard JF Gallick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd in the series, like fine wine they just keep getting better. An excellent and interesting read from a good writer.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not bad. quite good. But can we be spared the lectures on the climate scam? How about sympathy for the people who can't pay their power bill?

[Clive Willcocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the third in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Well worth a read. Highly recommended.

[Samantha Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, the 3rd in the series. There was a couple of little mistakes but still enjoyable.

[Anwen Marshall · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

[Barry Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several typos - no big deal, but spoils things a little!

[judy rumford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good enthralling read having read the previous books in this series it's great to follow Caren on her next investigation.

[J Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from Stephen Puleston.
This is the third book in his new series set in West Wales that features newly promoted DI Caren Waits. Shad a baptism of fire with her first few weeks in her new job that are vividly described in the first two books. Now, a couple of months later, things are more settled, with her juggling her time as a widowed working mother and caring for her young son, albeit with help from her her parents. She also has to deal with complications over the estate of her late husband.
There is a grizzly murder and Caren and her team are thrust into another major investigation. There follows a second murder, and there are links to other criminal activities, burglary and drugs.
This is an extremely fast-moving story with tension high throughout. Even simple car journeys are hectic. As is to be expected from this author, it is very well written, a real page turner that is not without some twists and turns. He has here a main character that is easy to relate to, and it's good to see that she is managing, despite her busy schedule, to begin to find time for a private life.
I enjoyed this book very much, and I'm looking forward to another in the series.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The third book in the Caren Waits series is my favorite to date so far. Caren is getting more comfortable in her role as a detective inspector and is also making strides in her personal life. The case she and her team work on is more interesting than the one in the previous book. One slight letdown: Towards the end of this book Caren and her colleague Huw interview a suspect and, although the result of the interview is mentioned, the interview was not described. Still, this has been an enjoyable and interesting series and I hope it continues. I received an advance review copy from author Stephen Puleston and am leaving this review voluntarily.