The Mermaid's Cry

DI Ben Kitto #9

by Kate Rhodes

During 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

_______

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

360 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2026

About the author

Kate 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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Reviews

[Monika Armet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ninth book in the DI Ben Kitto series but it can be read as a standalone.

This book is set in Penzance, Cornwall – not on the Isles of Scilly like the previous ones in the series.

DI Ben Kitto is on a sabbatical leave from work after the tragic death of his wife, Nina. He takes their three-year-old son, Noah, and dog Shadow, and temporarily move to Penzance where he finds work as a carpenter.

One night, he is walking Noah to try and get him to sleep, when he spots someone throwing a baby into the sea. Without thinking, he saves the baby and is labelled a hero by the local press (much to his dismay).

Soon, it appears that no child is safe. The killer starts leaving mermaid figurines and sending letters to parents saying they don’t deserve their child.

Ben also receives such messages… Is Noah safe?

I loved this book from start to finish.

I have a lot of time for Ben as he’s such a great character. He is full of grief, but he still wants to help others. He is also trying his best for his son.

I liked how some chapters were written from the killer’s point of view. We could get a glimpse of their warped way of thinking. I was quite angry on how quickly they made judgements about which child didn’t deserve their parents.

This book raises some difficult themes of children going missing, being kidnapped and killed. It also raises an issue of child neglect.

I found the setting alluring and the storyline extremely captivating.

I cannot wait for the author’s next book.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Mermaid's Cry' by Kate Rhodes

This may be the first book I have read by this absolutely AMAZING AUTHOR but it most certainly will not be my last!! It is also the ninth book in Kate's 'DI Ben Kitto' / 'The Isles Of Scilly Mysteries' series but can be read as a standalone with no problems at all!

WOW!!!! Just flipping WOW!!!! What an absolutely SPECTACULAR page turner!!! Well done Kate!!! HOW on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!!

YOU LADY HAD ME HOOK, LINE AND SINKER FAIRPLAY!!! BOOM!

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE IF YOU LOVE SUSPENSE, THRILLERS OR JUST LOOKING FOR AN UNPUTDOWNABLE PAGE TURNER THEN YOU NEED TO RUN AND GRAB YOUR COPY OF THIS BOOK TODAY!!

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more books by this extremely talented author!! Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely fantastic page turner!!! Well done Kate!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? You have well and truly absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! I I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible authors' books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by this extremely talented author, just WOW!! WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! I would always recommend reading books in a series in order but if you have decide to read this book before reading the previous books in this series, and nobody would blame you with its absolutely STUNNING and mysterious cover and intriguing synopsis, then have no fear! Not only can this beauty be read as a standalone but there is also a silver lining of reading later books in a series first. That is that after you have finished this brilliant page turner you can go back and read the first eight books in this series while eagerly and impatiently waiting for her to write another one. That is EXACTLY what I will be doing!! I just hope she is busy writing her next one! Considering how quickly I blew through this book it wont be long before I read the previous eight even if they are just half as addictive as this one!! While you are grabbing your copy of this page turner you may as well as just get the whole collection while you are there!! It will save you going back to do it later, which you will after finishing this!! You wont regret it and you can thank me later when you have met and fallen in love with the storylines and characters. I am not going to go into details about the actual storyline as the publishers have done an amazing job of telling you what you need to know in the fantastic synopsis so if you want to more then you will just have to grab your copy of this book today and you will not regret it. You need to seriously clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down! This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. I absolutely loved the unique storyline and I will tell you now you may as well stop wasting your time reading this and grab your copy of this book now! I will not say anything about the storyline as the publisher has done a fantastic job of this in the synopsis and I do not want to run the risk of giving anything away but if you want to know more then grab your copy of this addictive action packed thriller today and I can GUARANTEE you will not regret it!!! With a storyline absolutely RAM PACKED with heartache, family, community, beautiful settings, emotions, betrayal, twists, drama, suspense, festivals, tension, danger, secrets, Cornwall, local legends, atmosphere, multiple layers, intrigue, realistic and complex characters and SO, so so much more. I mean, seriously, What are you waiting for?! I absolutely LOVE Cornwall and books set in Cornwall so much!! We go to Cornwall yearly, St Ives to be specific, for two weeks April/May time and came back this May. While we were there we visited Penzance and I loved it there! I always miss Cornwall before I even leave but Kate's stunning, vivid and emotive descriptions definitely transported me back there. Every year I say I need to visit the Isles Of Scilly but unfortunately the cost to take us over there puts me off but Kate has really made me want to go visit even more when we return next year! Kate's absolutely incredible and masterful evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline, into Penzance and with DI Ben Kitto, his son Noah and his gorgeous wolf dog Shadow at the turn of a page!!! This book really is an absolutely addictive, explosive, page turning, action packed and compelling storyline!! It has so many layers of mysteries and secrets for the reader to be kept guessing throughout. It is absolutely ram packed with twists, turns and red herrings throughout. Kate really had me with the twists! I have read hundreds and hundreds of crime books so it is getting more and more difficult to shock me. I must admit by the time I hit 75% I was actually gutted thinking I had it all worked out from a few chapters in, in regards to who the killer was. I was genuinely gutted thinking I was right as the book was just epic I thought I had been let down by working it out!! Like heck I was!! Kate well and truly hooked and trapped me with THAT SHOCKER!! I would NEVER have worked that out, no where NEAR who I was thinking!! A MASSIVE WELL DONE KATE!! I love being shocked in books and my jaw literally dropped when all was revealed!! I am so sorry for doubting you, you completely fooled me and proved me wrong!! Do NOT tell my partner that as I am NEVER wrong (of course!)!! The storyline is so compelling and immersive it had me hooked throughout so make sure you clear your schedules before stepping into the world of Ben, Penzance and 'The Mermaid's Cry'!! GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! If you want to know more well you will just have to grab your copy of this gripping page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!! Whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I absolutely LOVED this addictive and explosive page turner!!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the start to the end. It was just one heck of an amazing read!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Kate absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! There was no way I could put this book down until I had finished it. I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to the book for a few hours!! I just genuinely love, love, LOVED IT!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!! The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Kate's evocative descriptions really makes them jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. I was completely invested in each and every one of the characters regardless of how I felt about them. Kate does an absolutely wonderful job of weaving the perspectives of multiple protagonists together perfectly to give the reader a bigger picture of the storyline while only drip feeding the readers what she wants them to know. I absolutely loved Ben who my heart went out to and how difficult and different his life has become since becoming a single father and moving away from his home. However, I am a HUGE animal lover and even run my own rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice (you can find me on FB if you wish). Therefore, any animals are a HUMUNGOUS bonus in books for me so I have got to admit my absolute favourite was the gorgeous Shadow!!!! Absolutely LOVE him! Each of the characters all played their own roles perfectly and they all had their own unique and individual personalities with their own flaws, strengths and weaknesses. All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning book exactly how epic it is!!! I just cannot wait to see what characters this amazing author come up with next!!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic her writing skills are as they completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create an absolutely action packed, gripping and addictive page turner!!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up this morning and had completely devoured it in a few hours!!!

Congratulations Kate on an absolutely masterful and unforgettable success. Here's to your next addictive and unique book!!! Welcome to my favourite author club and I can see this becoming a top 5 series for me!!

Overall an absolute MUST READ for all fans of crime, stunning settings and mind blowing twists!

#TheMermaidsCry #DIBenKitto #TheIslesOfScillyMysteries #KateRhodes #OrendaBooks #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours #Cornwall #CrimeFiction #Series
@KateRhodes @KateRhodesWriter @K_RhodesWriter @OrendaBooks @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours

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[Bodies in the Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to pick the proof of The Mermaid’s Cry up at the Orenda Books proof party at Capital Crime.

It was my first novel by Kate Rhodes, who came highly recommended by my friend Penny (whose taste in crime fiction is very similar to my own and so I trust it).

I don’t think it mattered that I haven’t read the earlier books in the Ben Kitto series - he and the other return characters were introduced well and I felt I had a handle on their relationships. I also gathered that Kitto normally works for the police on the Scilly Isles but has taken extended leave after his wife died in a freak accident and has moved across the water to Penzance with his 3-year-old son Noah.

At Capital Crime, Kate Rhodes said she specifically wanted to write about investigating a crime while in the midst of deep grief, and she certainly succeeded in doing that! Ben had real depth and the other officers around him in Penzance were really interesting. I found it odd that he took so long to accept the invitation to work for the police in Penzance on the investigation. I understand why he has chosen to work for a local carpenter during his planned year out from the Scilly Islands police, but as soon as he realised he was getting involved with the case, I’d have thought he would have accepted the temporary contract in Penzance.

However, maybe this just reflects the sometimes slow and sometimes odd way we all act when we are in deep grief. Maybe to start with he felt more confident in his amateur detective status than he would as SIO.

The case itself is pretty horrible: someone has started throwing small children into the sea / swimming pool in the belief that the Mermaid of Zennor wants them. The Mermaid is a local legend who lured a man to live with her forever. The killer has twisted this somehow to believe that the children they take will be better with the Mermaid.

Thankfully, Ben and his colleagues get to the bottom of it, but at least one little boy is killed by the perpetrator first.

Despite the heinous crimes at its heart, this novel was full of community and family spirit and I definitely want to read the earlier books in the series.

Capital Crime is always brilliant for finding new-to-me crime writers, and I’m glad Kate Rhodes was one this year.

In three words: race against time

[Paterson Loarn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The Mermaid’s Cry is an emotional journey, especially if - like me - you have read other books in the DI Kitto series. I can confirm they work well as stand-alones. In each of them, Ben Kitto’s personal life moves into a new phase after he returns to his birthplace on the Scilly Isles. In the ninth episode, Kitto is a recent widower who lost his wife and unborn child in a freak accident. To escape constant reminders of his loss, he moves from the island of Bryher to Penzance with his three year old son Noah and loyal dog Shadow. Having taken a year’s compassionate leave from policing, Kitto is working as a carpenter to fit in with Noah’s play school routine.
When Kitto takes Noah for a late night walk to soothe him to sleep, he witnesses a baby being stolen from her mother and flung into the sea. Kitto succeeds in rescuing the child, but this turns out to be the first in a series of terrifying attempts to drown small children. Sadly, one little boy dies in hospital after being attacked. Mermaid tokens left at the scene of each crime link them to a troubling Cornish folk tale. Kitto’s own grief becomes a backdrop to the terror of parents trying to protect their infants from a maniac’s obsession. A crisis looms as the summer eclipse approaches, bringing with it the annual Dark Skies festival of folklore.
Kate Rhodes writes poetically, which makes it less painful for the reader to engage with dark topics. As well as being an exciting, twisty crime story, The Mermaid’s Cry shows how individuals in the throes of deep grief can be supported by family, friends and a warm, inclusive community.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think the opening of a book has left me as devastated as The Mermaid’s Cry did when we reconnect once more with Kate Rhodes character, DI Ben Kitto. It is very difficult to talk about this section of the book without giving away spoilers, but I couldn’t not talk about how shocked it left me.

There is a supernatural edge to this book that Kate Rhodes brings to life, particularly through the legend of the mermaid. In the opening, a baby is thrown into the sea, and Ben dives in to rescue the baby. He soon finds himself becoming a major part of the investigation, despite having recently given up his job as a police officer. The crime is horrific, and it definitely gets the local residents talking and demanding action to catch the person who did this. Ben’s actions make him a hero to the locals, even though he certainly doesn’t want any praise or attention. This adds to the already dark tone, and the crime gives the sense that the police are up against someone whose moves could be very unpredictable. The police are definitely in a race against time to stop the crime from happening again. It was really intriguing hearing from the perpetrator’s perspective. Kate Rhodes did a brilliant job of putting a spotlight on their motives and revealing what sort of person they are.

Kate Rhodes continues to develop Ben’s character in this book. I definitely thought, at the end of the last book, that I had a clear idea of where his journey was going to take him next, but now I am not so sure. It certainly does put a fresh spin on this series, but it is one, I think, that will divide long-time fans.

The Mermaid’s Cry has shifted this series in a new direction, and I, for one, am definitely intrigued to find out what becomes of Ben next. It is a haunting, atmospheric read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the DI Ben Kitto, The Isles Of Scilly Mysteries and would read well as a stand-alone. Strangely, saying that, having read the previous book I felt I had missed something from it. I even went back and checked. But don’t let that put you off what is a really good read. Ben is on a sabbatical from the police force and has moved to Penzance with his son Noah and Shadow, their dog. Told from the POVs of Ben and the unnamed perpetrator this is a fast paced and exciting read.

Briefly, it is the Dark Sky Festival in Cornwall when Ben sees a baby being thrown into the sea and rushes to save it. But that’s not the end as more children go missing and a small mermaid statue is found where they were last seen. Despite his reluctance Ben is drawn into helping the police; then this becomes personal when Ben receives a threat at his home.

I enjoyed reading this new reincarnation of Ben following his recent tragic loss. It’s a very dark and disturbing read with some excellent red herrings that had me fooled. There is a bit of a supernatural element, around the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, but would class this as a psychological thriller/crime drama, and a very good one. Anyone who knows me will have guessed straight away that my favourite character was Shadow, four legs does it for me every time! An entertaining well written read and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

[Fatguyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cornwall is one of my favourite places to visit, after spending msny summer holiday there over the years, so I have lots of good memories of the area, and was able to picture the locations clearly in my head. Particularly the Penzance area which that holds lots of special memories for me.

So I couldn't wait to get into this read, and it certainly lived up to my high expectations.

This is my first read by this author, and the ninth in the
Series, but for me, this works perfectly well as a standalone.

The phrase is used far too often and has become somewhat of a cliché, but this certainly is a page turner.

It's a classic murder mystery, set in an absolutely stunning location, with all the great twists and turns you'd expect and an enthralling storyline that held my attention from start to finish.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this book came as a bit of a surprise. There are several reasons for that, one of which it wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about for fear of spoilers, but it certainly changed the tone of the book compared to its predecessors. Not in a bad way, but perhaps in a way that meant it hit harder emotionally. The other surprise is that the books action takes place not on the various islands that make up Scilly, but rather on the mainland. Penzance to be exact. 

Now, again, careful of spoilers, this is a book which focuses on family, mourning and a more than healthy dose of the kinds of folklore which is rife down in Cornwall. In this case it is the local legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, on whom the evil doer in this case is completely fixated. They are certain that the Mermaid is calling them, asking for a sacrifice. They are certain price to be paid - the life of a young child. Unsurprisingly this causes great concern amongst the local population, especially when it seems that the Mermaid might be set to get her wish.

I did like what Kate Rhodes has done with this story. Yes, the tone and feel of the book is different, and it did take a while to settle into the flow of the narrative as not only is Ben taken out of his natural home, but also the very essence of who he is, having taken a sabbatical from the Police. Of course, a sabbatical for Ben Kitto means only that he doesn’t carry a badge with him everywhere he goes, and it is not long before he is caught in the midst of the case, hunting down the mystery assailant who seems hellbent on taking a child. The author plays with Ben’s emotions here, his concern for all the children he sees around him heightened by his own fears for the potential risk to his son, Noah. The amplification of emotions driven but his, and other elements of the story, were explored carefully and give a really authentic feel to the story.

The use of Cornish folklore, and the impending Dark Skies festival really add to the tension and atmosphere of the novel. There are many familiar faces in the mix who move in and out of Ben’s story quite naturally, as well as a whole host of new faces who I found it easy to both like, and in some cases, hate. With regard to the potential suspects in the case, there are many, Kate Rhodes switching our attention and thoughts from one to the other with ease. Ben being out of Scilly means that his knowledge of the locals is limited, and it feels as though everyone, even his temporary bosses, face suspicion at some point.

This is a very different book, and yet strangely familiar. If you have read any of the previous books in the series, then the opening chapters may confuse you, but if you say with the story, all will become a lot clearer. I do think Kate Rhodes is brave taking this path and it will inevitably change any story that may follow, but this is inherently a Ben Kitto story with all the passion, compassion and action you might expect, and a strong does of emotion too.

[Davinia Hinde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply superb. I've never read one of Kate's books before but I need to read them all now this book was so good.

I absolutely loved Ben Kitto as the main detective and loved seeing the insight of his personal life alongside his professional especially with his son Noah,

The book had an absolutely excellent plot and is a great combination of police procedural and thriller. The chapters from the killers point of view are absolutely fantastic.

It's such an addictive book, you won't be able to put it down (I certainly couldn't ) and read it in a day. I loved all the suspense and twists especially the end one.

An absolutely brilliant read and very highly recommended.

[Judefire33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so very much enjoyed this read, the blurb was good the book was even better.
Full of suspense and fast paced action, a race against time ending, oh yes I was all in and couldn’t put it down.
Great characters and a community feel amongst them, plus there is Shadow, this is book 9 in the series but my first one and I will definitely be getting the rest on my kindle to catch up with Ben Kitto’s story.

[Georgina Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve not read any of this series before, but that doesn’t take anything away from the story. Everything you need to know is given, background on the main character, Ben, and his friends & family.

Ben has moved to Penzance after losing his wife and is hoping for a quiet year to grieve, taking time away from his job with the police. Unfortunately, this doesn’t quite go to plan when he ends up being the hero rescuing a baby that some lunatic has thrown into the sea! Not what you expect when taking a late cooling walk hoping to get your own child to sleep.

The story moves at an alarming pace after this, we have chapters in between Ben’s recollections from the perpetrator, someone I changed my mind about 4 times during the book. There are so many red herrings (well played Kate) that you can’t help but keep switching who you think it is. I’m not sure if I actually suspected the person it was, I could have but now I’m not sure!

I think I may add the rest of the series to my tbr, well written and some great characters. I have a feeling there will be more favourites back in Ben’s hometown.

[Elisabeth Kuperus · Rating 3 out of 5]

What have you done to Ben? He was never mr happy, but something happened to him between books and it is a trope I detest in books and films used to either motivate or beat the main character.

3 stars because the case is still interesting and moving to the mainland for a bit was a nice change.

[Lena Akerblom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Ben and his people and their story just as much as in the earlier books. But I did not enjoy the crime story, it was far fetched and a bit silly. Though well executed.

[Jo Swords · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the other books but this was a no from me, though.

Why the hell was Nina killed off? It was just depressing 😔

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Rhodes’ award-winning Isles of Scilly series returns with another gripping instalment, picking up after a heartbreaking tragedy in DI Ben Kitto’s personal life. I’ve always loved how real and well-drawn the characters feel and that really shines through here alongside a believable and compelling crime. The Cornish setting is brought to life so vividly, with its rich history, folklore and stunning coastal landscape adding the classic atmospheric ambience the author is so well known for. It’s all tied together with real emotional depth and thoughtful psychological insight, compassionately handled given the tragic theme of the case. This makes the story even more engaging and it’s easy to see why this series is now being brought to the screen.

This time, we have a deviation from the usual style of the series. “The Mermaid’s Cry” is set inland in Penzance, rather than the traditional Isles of Scilly setting. Ben Kitto and his son, Noah, are now living there following a change in lifestyle and environment. Although he is still prominently involved in the case he becomes embroiled in, it’s no longer in a professional capacity but more as a consultant. Shadow, Ben’s loving and devoted dog is, as always, a key presence and I’m pleased to see he’s still doing his protective job over Noah.

I have read every one of the books in the Isles of Scilly Mysteries series and although I would recommend reading them all in order for character development and continuity, each one can still be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

My only small criticism is that, as a seasoned reader and huge fan of the series, there seemed to be a sudden jump between books. A major event between the two novels significantly changes Ben’s personal life and considering how closely we’ve followed his relationship struggles from the beginning, I was a little disappointed not to experience this as it happened. However, it still plays a huge part in the story, more ‘after the fact’ and clearly impacts Ben’s reluctance to become professionally involved in the case.

#TheMermaidsCry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. It’s the second boom in the Ben Kitto series that I have read, the first one being the book before this one. I did however, feel like I had missed something from it?! But the book was still an enjoyable read.

We see Ben away from his home after something has happened, having a break from the police and doing woodwork which seems to soothe and relax him whilst he’s looking after his son Noah. But of course things are not that simple, after Ben reacts when something happens he ends up right in the middle of something which involves the local mermaid legend and it’s an interesting story with twists and turns.

I liked the characters, we had some of the same ones from the previous book and some new ones but my favourite is Shadow and he is such a brilliant sidekick to Ben! I also liked reading about Ben’s relationship with his uncle. I thought it was brilliantly written and it flowed well.