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The Mermaid's Cry
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jul 26During Cornwall's Dark Sky Festival, children begin to disappear, with mermaid charms left behind. Grieving DI Ben Kitto desperately races to stop a killer before his own young son is next. The bestselling, critically acclaimed Isle of Scilly series continues…
'A classy, edge-of-the-seat thriller which will keep you guessing throughout!' B.A. PARIS
'An absolute master of pace, plotting and character' ELLY GRIFFITHS
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets' Sunday Express
'No one produces more elegantly written work than Rhodes' Financial Times
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DI BEN KITTO RETURNS…
A COAST IN CELEBRATION
When DI Ben Kitto sees a baby thrown into Penzance harbour, he prays it's a trick of the light. But the threat is real. The child survives – barely – and soon a chilling pattern emerges. As the Dark Sky Festival brings dancers, dreamers and stargazers to Cornwall's coast, children begin to vanish.
A KILLER IN THE CROWD
A small mermaid figurine is found beside each scene, echoing the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, who lured a man to his death beneath the waves. Still reeling from a devastating bereavement and determined to protect his young son, Ben is pulled back into the field and into a deadly investigation. When the killer's messages begin arriving at his home, the threat becomes terrifyingly personal.
A FINAL RECKONING
Suspicions fall on familiar faces. When the summer solstice approaches, Ben must confront the boundaries of love, loss and obsession. In a final, desperate chase along the headland, only his bond with Noah – and the loyalty of his dog, Shadow – can prevent tragedy from repeating itself.
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Praise for Kate Rhodes
'Dark, intense, and expertly crafted' RACHEL ABBOTT
'An atmospheric and moving depiction of a tightly knit community in a rugged and often dangerous landscape … tense and deftly plotted' Guardian
'[A] superb series' Daily Mail
'A truly absorbing, chilling story' People's Friend
'Kate Rhodes directs her cast of suspects with consummate skill, keeping us guessing right to the heartbreaking end' LOUISE CANDLISH
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' SOPHIE HANNAH
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' METRO
'The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' MEL MCGRATH
'Evocative, immersive, twisty' SARAH VAUGHAN
'Gripping, clever and impossible to put down' ERIN KELLY
'A classy, edge-of-the-seat thriller which will keep you guessing throughout!' B.A. PARIS
'An absolute master of pace, plotting and character' ELLY GRIFFITHS
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets' Sunday Express
'No one produces more elegantly written work than Rhodes' Financial Times
_______
DI BEN KITTO RETURNS…
A COAST IN CELEBRATION
When DI Ben Kitto sees a baby thrown into Penzance harbour, he prays it's a trick of the light. But the threat is real. The child survives – barely – and soon a chilling pattern emerges. As the Dark Sky Festival brings dancers, dreamers and stargazers to Cornwall's coast, children begin to vanish.
A KILLER IN THE CROWD
A small mermaid figurine is found beside each scene, echoing the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, who lured a man to his death beneath the waves. Still reeling from a devastating bereavement and determined to protect his young son, Ben is pulled back into the field and into a deadly investigation. When the killer's messages begin arriving at his home, the threat becomes terrifyingly personal.
A FINAL RECKONING
Suspicions fall on familiar faces. When the summer solstice approaches, Ben must confront the boundaries of love, loss and obsession. In a final, desperate chase along the headland, only his bond with Noah – and the loyalty of his dog, Shadow – can prevent tragedy from repeating itself.
––––––––––––––––––
Praise for Kate Rhodes
'Dark, intense, and expertly crafted' RACHEL ABBOTT
'An atmospheric and moving depiction of a tightly knit community in a rugged and often dangerous landscape … tense and deftly plotted' Guardian
'[A] superb series' Daily Mail
'A truly absorbing, chilling story' People's Friend
'Kate Rhodes directs her cast of suspects with consummate skill, keeping us guessing right to the heartbreaking end' LOUISE CANDLISH
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' SOPHIE HANNAH
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' METRO
'The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' MEL MCGRATH
'Evocative, immersive, twisty' SARAH VAUGHAN
'Gripping, clever and impossible to put down' ERIN KELLY
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 16, 2026
About the author
Kate Rhodes
40 books361 followersKate Rhodes is a bestselling UK crime writer. Her latest books are the acclaimed ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES, which have been optioned for TV. Kate has been nominated for the Crime Novel of the Year award and a Library Dagger.
Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ive enjoyed the Ben Kitto series immensely but The Mermaids Cry made me think id missed something in the previous book?? I cant give any spoilers but let's just say it was a weird storyline involving Ben!
The setting as always was written with attention to detail , the cast of chrachters some new some old were well written and warming especially Shadow who I love as Ben's sidekick! The plots was twisty and kept me guessing til the end.
A good read but I just felt like id missed something with the back story! Because of that 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read only.
The setting as always was written with attention to detail , the cast of chrachters some new some old were well written and warming especially Shadow who I love as Ben's sidekick! The plots was twisty and kept me guessing til the end.
A good read but I just felt like id missed something with the back story! Because of that 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read only.
Displaying 1 of 1 review