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Detective Simon Wayland #1
Murder at Haweswater
Detective Simon Wayland hoped his move to the Lake District would bring a quieter life — fewer late nights and fewer bodies. But when the wreckage of a plane is discovered in Haweswater Reservoir, Wayland immediately recognises the aircraft registration.
It belongs to a plane that vanished fifteen years ago.
As divers search the wreckage, they uncover human remains — including the body of a police detective who disappeared during the original investigation.
A long-forgotten investigation is very much alive again.
Now Wayland and his small Cumbrian team must reopen a case that powerful criminals believed was buried forever.
Because someone went to great lengths to keep the truth at the bottom of Haweswater.
And they may not be finished yet.
___________________________________
MEET DETECTIVE SIMON WAYLAND
A seasoned detective with decades of experience, Detective Inspector Simon Wayland has traded the chaos of city policing for the quieter rhythms of the Lake District. Thoughtful, observant and quietly stubborn, Wayland prefers patience and instinct to flashy police work. He enjoys the simple pleasures of life among the fells — long drives in his beloved vintage MG, a good pint in a village pub and the steady partnership of a small but loyal team. But even in the calmest corners of Cumbria, trouble has a habit of finding him.
THE SETTING
The Lake District is a land of sweeping mountains, quiet villages and deep, shadowed waters. Tourists come for the beauty, but those who live here know the fells can hide more than breathtaking views. In these close-knit communities, where history runs deep and memories are long, old secrets have a way of rising to the surface.
It belongs to a plane that vanished fifteen years ago.
As divers search the wreckage, they uncover human remains — including the body of a police detective who disappeared during the original investigation.
A long-forgotten investigation is very much alive again.
Now Wayland and his small Cumbrian team must reopen a case that powerful criminals believed was buried forever.
Because someone went to great lengths to keep the truth at the bottom of Haweswater.
And they may not be finished yet.
___________________________________
MEET DETECTIVE SIMON WAYLAND
A seasoned detective with decades of experience, Detective Inspector Simon Wayland has traded the chaos of city policing for the quieter rhythms of the Lake District. Thoughtful, observant and quietly stubborn, Wayland prefers patience and instinct to flashy police work. He enjoys the simple pleasures of life among the fells — long drives in his beloved vintage MG, a good pint in a village pub and the steady partnership of a small but loyal team. But even in the calmest corners of Cumbria, trouble has a habit of finding him.
THE SETTING
The Lake District is a land of sweeping mountains, quiet villages and deep, shadowed waters. Tourists come for the beauty, but those who live here know the fells can hide more than breathtaking views. In these close-knit communities, where history runs deep and memories are long, old secrets have a way of rising to the surface.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 30, 2026
Original, Interesting Plot; Unputdownable.
Murder at Haweswater is David M Thorpe’s first book, and I hope he writes many more. We meet Detective Simon Wayland who has taken a demotion and moved to a quiet posting in the Lake District in order to put a failed and personally upsetting investigation behind him and to focus on improving his relationship with his much-loved wife, Katie. The very dry weather causes the water in nearby Haweswater Reservoir to recede enough to expose the wreckage of a plane which Simon immediately recognizes as the cause of all his previous heartache. Human remains are found and he determines to finally solve this case despite the intervention of some powerful criminals who want to bury the truth and anyone associated with bringing justice to light.
David’s excellent writing skills draw the reader into the story, ensure we smoothly get to know and relate to a diverse and interesting cast of characters, and immerses us quickly and completely into the plot. The plot is fast-moving, plausible but unexpected from start to totally surprising finish. I enjoyed reading this “Police Procedural” more than any I have read for a long while and note that this is intended to be the first in a series, so that we can read more about Detective Simon Wayland. I hope that follow-on books are as fresh, fast moving and riveting as this one. I thoroughly recommend reading “Murder at Haweswater” even if you are not normally a fan of this genre, it is a very easy to read, well written and entertaining book.
Murder at Haweswater is David M Thorpe’s first book, and I hope he writes many more. We meet Detective Simon Wayland who has taken a demotion and moved to a quiet posting in the Lake District in order to put a failed and personally upsetting investigation behind him and to focus on improving his relationship with his much-loved wife, Katie. The very dry weather causes the water in nearby Haweswater Reservoir to recede enough to expose the wreckage of a plane which Simon immediately recognizes as the cause of all his previous heartache. Human remains are found and he determines to finally solve this case despite the intervention of some powerful criminals who want to bury the truth and anyone associated with bringing justice to light.
David’s excellent writing skills draw the reader into the story, ensure we smoothly get to know and relate to a diverse and interesting cast of characters, and immerses us quickly and completely into the plot. The plot is fast-moving, plausible but unexpected from start to totally surprising finish. I enjoyed reading this “Police Procedural” more than any I have read for a long while and note that this is intended to be the first in a series, so that we can read more about Detective Simon Wayland. I hope that follow-on books are as fresh, fast moving and riveting as this one. I thoroughly recommend reading “Murder at Haweswater” even if you are not normally a fan of this genre, it is a very easy to read, well written and entertaining book.
March 30, 2026
A gripping debut novel. I Can’t wait for more from David M Thorpe
DCI Simon Wayland was an officer with the Met until an undercover operation goes
wrong and one of his men is presumed dead and the operation was comprimised.
Simon as head of the operation is responsible and takes it bad. After counselling he
tries to save his career by taking a demotion and a quiet job in the Lake District. His wife
Kate is a senior oncologist and manages to get a transfer to Lancaster. All is well and his
recurring nightmares are fading, that is until a long summer drought throughout the UK
causes the waters of Haweswater to give up the wreckage of a light aircraft. The aircraft
registration re-awakens Simons fears as its the plane taken by his missing officer a
decade and a half ago. The investigation and Simons personal trauma are intertwined as
the body count increases in the quiet Cumberland community.
This is an intriguing story with plenty of action and unexpected reveals. The characters
and scenery come to life and for any lovers of the Lakes and its walking routes this is a
must
DCI Simon Wayland was an officer with the Met until an undercover operation goes
wrong and one of his men is presumed dead and the operation was comprimised.
Simon as head of the operation is responsible and takes it bad. After counselling he
tries to save his career by taking a demotion and a quiet job in the Lake District. His wife
Kate is a senior oncologist and manages to get a transfer to Lancaster. All is well and his
recurring nightmares are fading, that is until a long summer drought throughout the UK
causes the waters of Haweswater to give up the wreckage of a light aircraft. The aircraft
registration re-awakens Simons fears as its the plane taken by his missing officer a
decade and a half ago. The investigation and Simons personal trauma are intertwined as
the body count increases in the quiet Cumberland community.
This is an intriguing story with plenty of action and unexpected reveals. The characters
and scenery come to life and for any lovers of the Lakes and its walking routes this is a
must
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5* A moody cover for a dark mystery.
After I became used to the author's style of writing, I didn't want to put the book down – so I didn't!
Following a prolonged drought in the Lake District, water level at Haweswater Reservoir has dropped dramatically revealing the wreck of a light aircraft. Viewing the partially visible plane, Detective Inspector Simon Wayland is shocked to recognise that the registration number identifies it as a plane which disappeared fifteen years ago, along with his close friend, an undercover policeman.
Wayland is determination to solve the mystery of the plane's disappearance, and what happened to the passengers and the valuable cargo.
The writing is excellent, the plot is action packed with twists and turns.
Murder at Haweswater, a recommended read and far better than I expected. This is one of the best police procedurals I've read in a long time, I anticipate that the film rights are being discussed right now.
With thanks to Joffe Books and the author for the eARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
After I became used to the author's style of writing, I didn't want to put the book down – so I didn't!
Following a prolonged drought in the Lake District, water level at Haweswater Reservoir has dropped dramatically revealing the wreck of a light aircraft. Viewing the partially visible plane, Detective Inspector Simon Wayland is shocked to recognise that the registration number identifies it as a plane which disappeared fifteen years ago, along with his close friend, an undercover policeman.
Wayland is determination to solve the mystery of the plane's disappearance, and what happened to the passengers and the valuable cargo.
The writing is excellent, the plot is action packed with twists and turns.
Murder at Haweswater, a recommended read and far better than I expected. This is one of the best police procedurals I've read in a long time, I anticipate that the film rights are being discussed right now.
With thanks to Joffe Books and the author for the eARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
As Det Wayland goes to the reservoir up in the Lake District in search of some misdemeanours, I seemed to remember somewhere like this that I visited as a child, it was all very familiar to me. I remember that a village had been flooded to accommodate this new reservoir because of the population growing around Manchester.
As the story evolves, there’s a lot of hidden secrets and things that have happened in the past that the residents thought would never come to light with the flooding of the village. No secrets stay hidden forever as the villagers were about to find out.
I found myself enveloped in the story and it was such a good tale, I read it in a day. It was throughly absorbing and enjoyable and the surprises throughout I never saw coming.
I’m hoping the author continues with this as a series as the characters develop we may learn more about them.
My thanks to the author and Joffe for the ARC.
As the story evolves, there’s a lot of hidden secrets and things that have happened in the past that the residents thought would never come to light with the flooding of the village. No secrets stay hidden forever as the villagers were about to find out.
I found myself enveloped in the story and it was such a good tale, I read it in a day. It was throughly absorbing and enjoyable and the surprises throughout I never saw coming.
I’m hoping the author continues with this as a series as the characters develop we may learn more about them.
My thanks to the author and Joffe for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A new series, a new author and it's off to a good start. Simon has moved looking for a less stressful way of life but the discovery of a plane wreckage brings back memories of an old case where he lost an undercover police officer. It is clear that people are still interested in what was on that plane years ago and are looking for a way to stop it.
I liked the Lake District setting and Simon is an interesting character. I found the story riveting and there are several twists throughout, and one near the end that totally caught me by surprise. This series is off to a good start and I look forward to reading more.
I liked the Lake District setting and Simon is an interesting character. I found the story riveting and there are several twists throughout, and one near the end that totally caught me by surprise. This series is off to a good start and I look forward to reading more.
March 30, 2026
Inspector Simon Wayland has been haunted for 7 years by an undercover operation that went wrong, causing the death of an undercover detective who was his best friend. Just as his personal life and well-being are getting back on track the airplane involved resurfaces in a drought-stricken lake. Instead of helping to ease Simon’s guilt the investigation he heads stirs everything up again and sets him on a difficult path that he might not survive a second time. The atmospheric Lake District setting plays a large part in the story and the insular communities it can foster are pivotal to the story. I'm looking forward to the next in this new series.
April 1, 2026
Really great start to a new series. I was actually a little disappointed when I got to the end that there wasn’t more!
I did find the prologue a little stiff and overly detailed at the start but once you got past that (and some of it will be very relevant!) the rest draws you in.
There’s some wonderful red herrings and not so red ones too that give this debut novel some great plot threads that are well drawn together. I’m hoping we’ll see some of the side characters a bit more (like the history buff) in future books.
And there’s plenty of Lake District views described perfectly just to add to an all round great read.
I did find the prologue a little stiff and overly detailed at the start but once you got past that (and some of it will be very relevant!) the rest draws you in.
There’s some wonderful red herrings and not so red ones too that give this debut novel some great plot threads that are well drawn together. I’m hoping we’ll see some of the side characters a bit more (like the history buff) in future books.
And there’s plenty of Lake District views described perfectly just to add to an all round great read.
March 30, 2026
What an excellent debut novel and interesting new characters we have with this read. DCI Wayland is married to an oncologist and they are based in the Lake District. I really liked the plotting and the writing style as well as the twists, not to mention the ending. The setting and descriptions were perfect and I am really looking forward to the next in the series. A very good read which i highly recommend to lovers of crime thrillers.
April 11, 2026
Very good
Against my expectations, I really enjoyed this. I found myself really caught up in the mystery, even though I had guessed quite a few things. And yet it seems there is still one secret left. How long before that one sees the light of day I wonder?
Against my expectations, I really enjoyed this. I found myself really caught up in the mystery, even though I had guessed quite a few things. And yet it seems there is still one secret left. How long before that one sees the light of day I wonder?
April 28, 2026
A very convoluted plot. a few typos a DC becomes a DI in the next sentence fortunately I don't think that she was mentioned again. I am nit picking, I enjoyed the book although one or two things were obvious from about half way.
May 13, 2026
Well researched & good local knowledge
Obviously know the area well Good constructed plotline. Only criticism is why use.the Americanism ,"gotten" instead of the English "got " ?
Obviously know the area well Good constructed plotline. Only criticism is why use.the Americanism ,"gotten" instead of the English "got " ?
April 16, 2026
Very complex plot and we'll written
The author created a well thought out plot that was complex, yet understandable and exciting for the reader. I really enjoyed it.
The author created a well thought out plot that was complex, yet understandable and exciting for the reader. I really enjoyed it.
April 24, 2026
Really enjoyed this one . Hopefully there will be more in the series soon
April 30, 2026
From the good reviews for this book, I expected to like it, as I do enjoy cold case mysteries. However, the writing style with overly detailed descriptions of everything is just not for me. DNF
May 11, 2026
Really enjoyed this a lot of places are not far from me.
Hope he writes another
Hope he writes another
May 11, 2026
As a resident of Cumbria this took my eye.
Understand it's a first book, enjoyed it both because of the plot and local interest.
Looking forward to the follow up.
Understand it's a first book, enjoyed it both because of the plot and local interest.
Looking forward to the follow up.
May 16, 2026
Great read
Throughly enjoyed this book twist and turns everywhere highly recommend this Authors books.
I can't wait for the next book to read
Throughly enjoyed this book twist and turns everywhere highly recommend this Authors books.
I can't wait for the next book to read
May 26, 2026
The Best
The best book I have read for a while. Very different from others. I really enjoyed it. Stayed reading when I should have be doing something else.
The best book I have read for a while. Very different from others. I really enjoyed it. Stayed reading when I should have be doing something else.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews