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Rina Martin #1
A Reason to Kill
After a successful acting career Rina Martin is retired; DI Sebastian McGregor Mac is regaining his nerve after a difficult investigation; George Parker and family are on the run from a violent past. Like Mac and Rina, George thinks he is safe in a seaside town, but then an old lady is murdered and, for all three, everything changes.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
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902 people want to read
About the author
Jane A. Adams
59 books151 followersSome of her early books were published under the name of Jane Adams. This should not be confused with this Jane Adams who is a different author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
April 29, 2015
This was better than I thought it was going to be. It's called a "Rina Martin" Mystery, but that's a bit of a misnomer - she's just one of the many main characters and while she's instrumental in solving the mystery, she's by no means the powerful force that Miss Marple was, or Jessica Fletcher, for that matter.
Actually, MURDER SHE WROTE is an apt comparison - Rina Martin is a 63-year-old retired actress who runs a boarding house inhabited by elderly ex-actors/singers/dancers. She is sharp and no-nonsense. I liked her. She used to star in a TV show which is Adams' version of MURDER SHE WROTE called LYDIA MARCHANT INVESTIGATES. As a result, she knows a bit about law, a bit about weapons, a bit about murder - and a LOT about human nature, and being a nosy old busybody. :)
Mac, or Inspector McGregor, is new to Frantham. He's been sent out to the boonies because a little 6-year-old girl got her throat slit on his watch and he fell into the drink a bit after that. Now he's sober, but the brass decided he'd be better off in a quiet, out-of-the-way area until he reaches retirement. He kind of pissed me off at the end in the way he decided how to handle things. Actually, he started pissing me off right at the beginning when he decides to take the gun away from the old lady. I don't really like him. And I'm supposed to - he's supposed to be the world-worn cop. But no. I don't like him.
We've got: a family (mom, daughter, son) on the run from an abusive psycho of a husband-and-father.
A nosy, very intelligent, old busybody who's determined to 'help' the police any way she can.
A cop who's seen enough of death and evil and is hoping for a quiet little precinct to wait out his retirement.
A college-aged girl who's as hard and tough as they come. She's seen the worst of evil and will stop at nothing to protect her family.
A magician named Tim who just kind of really annoyed me and I didn't see what purpose he served. He hangs around Rina all the time.
The mystery was no mystery at all - you know who did everything and why from the beginning - but Mac doesn't, and you're watching him piece things together and hoping the good guys will be okay and the bad guys will get what's coming to them.
It's British, and that's kind of fun. The British-ness is barely noticeable, so when the book surprises you with a bit of tea-time or oh-yeah-no-one-has-guns you suddenly remember "This is England!" :) LOL I kind of enjoyed the subtlety of this. It wasn't done on purpose, I'm sure, but it's a far cry from those British books that are so packed with British-ness that you need a English-to-English dictionary just to muddle through it.
P.S. I liked that Carol had an eating disorder by the time her husband was through with her - terrified of eating and terrified of getting fat. I also liked how her son, George, age, 14, was gobbling up everything in sight because his abusive father had withheld food from him for years. Nothing like starving for a few years to become unable to say "no" to any type of food available. I've seen this dozens of times - especially with kids brought here from countries that were experiencing food shortages. Logically, they know food is available all the time here, but all the logic in the world won't stop an eating disorder. Fascinating and a good, realistic addition to the novel.
Actually, MURDER SHE WROTE is an apt comparison - Rina Martin is a 63-year-old retired actress who runs a boarding house inhabited by elderly ex-actors/singers/dancers. She is sharp and no-nonsense. I liked her. She used to star in a TV show which is Adams' version of MURDER SHE WROTE called LYDIA MARCHANT INVESTIGATES. As a result, she knows a bit about law, a bit about weapons, a bit about murder - and a LOT about human nature, and being a nosy old busybody. :)
Mac, or Inspector McGregor, is new to Frantham. He's been sent out to the boonies because a little 6-year-old girl got her throat slit on his watch and he fell into the drink a bit after that. Now he's sober, but the brass decided he'd be better off in a quiet, out-of-the-way area until he reaches retirement. He kind of pissed me off at the end in the way he decided how to handle things. Actually, he started pissing me off right at the beginning when he decides to take the gun away from the old lady. I don't really like him. And I'm supposed to - he's supposed to be the world-worn cop. But no. I don't like him.
We've got: a family (mom, daughter, son) on the run from an abusive psycho of a husband-and-father.
A nosy, very intelligent, old busybody who's determined to 'help' the police any way she can.
A cop who's seen enough of death and evil and is hoping for a quiet little precinct to wait out his retirement.
A college-aged girl who's as hard and tough as they come. She's seen the worst of evil and will stop at nothing to protect her family.
A magician named Tim who just kind of really annoyed me and I didn't see what purpose he served. He hangs around Rina all the time.
The mystery was no mystery at all - you know who did everything and why from the beginning - but Mac doesn't, and you're watching him piece things together and hoping the good guys will be okay and the bad guys will get what's coming to them.
It's British, and that's kind of fun. The British-ness is barely noticeable, so when the book surprises you with a bit of tea-time or oh-yeah-no-one-has-guns you suddenly remember "This is England!" :) LOL I kind of enjoyed the subtlety of this. It wasn't done on purpose, I'm sure, but it's a far cry from those British books that are so packed with British-ness that you need a English-to-English dictionary just to muddle through it.
P.S. I liked that Carol had an eating disorder by the time her husband was through with her - terrified of eating and terrified of getting fat. I also liked how her son, George, age, 14, was gobbling up everything in sight because his abusive father had withheld food from him for years. Nothing like starving for a few years to become unable to say "no" to any type of food available. I've seen this dozens of times - especially with kids brought here from countries that were experiencing food shortages. Logically, they know food is available all the time here, but all the logic in the world won't stop an eating disorder. Fascinating and a good, realistic addition to the novel.
November 11, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 1
Originally published as A Reason To Kill.
Rina Martin is a retired actress who played a TV sleuth for years. Now living in Frantham-on-Sea, she has put all that behind her. She now runs a guest house. But when a brutal killer arrives in the sleepy town, and old Mrs Freer is murdered, Rina can't help herself from being drawn into the investigation.
DI Sebastian McGregor (Mac) is called in to investigate the brutal murder of Mrs Freer. He's just back at work after being off sick with stress. This is a multi-Layered mystery. It's a mixture of Miss Marple meets Jessica Fletcher feel to it. Some dangerous secrets are revealed. This is a cosy police procedural with likeable main characters. The pace is steady. I did feel the ending was a bit of a let down but I still enjoyed the book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #JaneAdams for my ARC of #MurderOnSea in exchange for an honest review.
Rina Martin Murder Mystery Book 1
Originally published as A Reason To Kill.
Rina Martin is a retired actress who played a TV sleuth for years. Now living in Frantham-on-Sea, she has put all that behind her. She now runs a guest house. But when a brutal killer arrives in the sleepy town, and old Mrs Freer is murdered, Rina can't help herself from being drawn into the investigation.
DI Sebastian McGregor (Mac) is called in to investigate the brutal murder of Mrs Freer. He's just back at work after being off sick with stress. This is a multi-Layered mystery. It's a mixture of Miss Marple meets Jessica Fletcher feel to it. Some dangerous secrets are revealed. This is a cosy police procedural with likeable main characters. The pace is steady. I did feel the ending was a bit of a let down but I still enjoyed the book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #JaneAdams for my ARC of #MurderOnSea in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2022
Not as I thought.
When the reviews all said Rina Martin was a Jessica Fletcher type character I decided to read with expectations of a busybody type character. To my surprise, and relief, the book almost centers on DI McGregor. A police detective relocated to the sleepy town of Frantham on the sea after a traumatic case left him a shadow of his former self.
This case though could undo his progress, and with Rina Martin's help a serial abuser is made to answer for his past crimes.
This book is a slightly different take on the traditional murder mystery. It's almost as if there are 3 different story lines to consider yet as the book evolves it's apparent that all threads are joined together.
What I really enjoyed was the way the characters were presented. It didn't take me long to have a true picture of the characters and the surrounding area.
I read the entire book in one day. Couldn't put it down. When a book says it's full of twists this one does not disappoint.
When the reviews all said Rina Martin was a Jessica Fletcher type character I decided to read with expectations of a busybody type character. To my surprise, and relief, the book almost centers on DI McGregor. A police detective relocated to the sleepy town of Frantham on the sea after a traumatic case left him a shadow of his former self.
This case though could undo his progress, and with Rina Martin's help a serial abuser is made to answer for his past crimes.
This book is a slightly different take on the traditional murder mystery. It's almost as if there are 3 different story lines to consider yet as the book evolves it's apparent that all threads are joined together.
What I really enjoyed was the way the characters were presented. It didn't take me long to have a true picture of the characters and the surrounding area.
I read the entire book in one day. Couldn't put it down. When a book says it's full of twists this one does not disappoint.
March 30, 2024
Mac is the new policeman in the small British seaside town who is investigating a series of break-ins. When things escalate and an elderly woman is murdered, Mac, with the help of Rina who runs a quirky local boarding house, finds out that some local schoolboys have been up to no good. How much do they know ? Could they possibly be murderers?
September 9, 2025
3.5- Not a bad start, but with it being called Rina Martin series I expected her to play more of a central role .. Maybe More in book #2
December 8, 2022
This isn’t your grandmother’s cozy mystery; there’s some darkness and flawed people. But the characters are interesting and a good plot. This is Book #1 in a series that could turn out to be pretty good. I’ll be moving on to Book #2 in the new year. If you want cozy but not precious, I recommend giving this first book a try.
December 21, 2021
3.5 stars.
When the author tells the reader whodunnit early on in a story, the tension in a mystery story is more from watching all the other characters get close to the answers, and possibly also into danger. Which is the situation here, when Jane Adams starts the story with a series of burglaries, followed by murders and revelations of spousal and child abuse. Her first main character is a police officer, DI “Mac” McGregor, new to the Frantham-on-Sea force, and to the neighbourhood, with its families, nosy neighbours, and well-known criminals.
One particular neighbour and the other main character, Rina Martin, is a former actor and now owner of a guest house/home for other former performers and her friends.
Rina kicks off the action when she strides into the police station to complain about the lack of action on the burglaries, and gradually gets pulled into the other situations because she’s observant, intelligent, curious and concerned, and begins poking her nose into things.
Rina and Mac make an interesting pair, with Rina’s forthrightness and Mac recovering from the trauma of a previous case.
I saw others draw parallels between Rina and Mrs. Marple, and I wouldn’t quite agree, other than Rina’s in her early sixties and knows the people in her neighbourhood, and human behaviour, well. Rina’s far more active and involved than Marple was, and for all her storming into the police station at the beginning of this book, I see Rina as kinder than the Victorian-minded Marple.
Would I read more stories with Rina and Mac? Yes, I probably would.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Joffe Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When the author tells the reader whodunnit early on in a story, the tension in a mystery story is more from watching all the other characters get close to the answers, and possibly also into danger. Which is the situation here, when Jane Adams starts the story with a series of burglaries, followed by murders and revelations of spousal and child abuse. Her first main character is a police officer, DI “Mac” McGregor, new to the Frantham-on-Sea force, and to the neighbourhood, with its families, nosy neighbours, and well-known criminals.
One particular neighbour and the other main character, Rina Martin, is a former actor and now owner of a guest house/home for other former performers and her friends.
Rina kicks off the action when she strides into the police station to complain about the lack of action on the burglaries, and gradually gets pulled into the other situations because she’s observant, intelligent, curious and concerned, and begins poking her nose into things.
Rina and Mac make an interesting pair, with Rina’s forthrightness and Mac recovering from the trauma of a previous case.
I saw others draw parallels between Rina and Mrs. Marple, and I wouldn’t quite agree, other than Rina’s in her early sixties and knows the people in her neighbourhood, and human behaviour, well. Rina’s far more active and involved than Marple was, and for all her storming into the police station at the beginning of this book, I see Rina as kinder than the Victorian-minded Marple.
Would I read more stories with Rina and Mac? Yes, I probably would.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Joffe Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 14, 2021
This book was originally published as A Reason to Kill.
Rina Martin is a retired actress who played a TV sleuth for years. She put all that behind her when she moved to the sleepy town of Frantham-on-Sea. Here on the Dorset coast, she runs her own pin-neat guest house and life is blissfully quiet. Then a brutal killer comes to town. A few doors down, harmless old Mrs Freer is bludgeoned to death, and Rina can’t help but be drawn into the mystery.
The house had been ransacked, but this was no ordinary burglary. Who knew the old lady kept a gun stashed under her pillow? Detective Inspector Sebastian McGregor aka Mac has recently moved to the area to start a new job after long term sick leave & needs all the help he can get to solve this baffling case.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the characters who were well portrayed, I loved how Rina & Mac interacted & look forward to reading more in the series. I found the start a bit slow but that often happens with the scene setting of a new series. The pace did pick up & I read the book in two sittings. I enjoyed the mystery even though the culprit was obvious almot from the word go but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I also the humour & also some sadness. A very good series starter
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Rina Martin is a retired actress who played a TV sleuth for years. She put all that behind her when she moved to the sleepy town of Frantham-on-Sea. Here on the Dorset coast, she runs her own pin-neat guest house and life is blissfully quiet. Then a brutal killer comes to town. A few doors down, harmless old Mrs Freer is bludgeoned to death, and Rina can’t help but be drawn into the mystery.
The house had been ransacked, but this was no ordinary burglary. Who knew the old lady kept a gun stashed under her pillow? Detective Inspector Sebastian McGregor aka Mac has recently moved to the area to start a new job after long term sick leave & needs all the help he can get to solve this baffling case.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the characters who were well portrayed, I loved how Rina & Mac interacted & look forward to reading more in the series. I found the start a bit slow but that often happens with the scene setting of a new series. The pace did pick up & I read the book in two sittings. I enjoyed the mystery even though the culprit was obvious almot from the word go but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I also the humour & also some sadness. A very good series starter
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
December 28, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The killing and killer took me by surprise. The characters were interesting and varied. I would
Like to know what happens to George and I definitely would read more about Mac and Rina.
It was a fairly short book that went very quickly.
Like to know what happens to George and I definitely would read more about Mac and Rina.
It was a fairly short book that went very quickly.
January 2, 2022
Very entertaining read. The main character is supposed to be a retired actress in her 60's who's as sharp as a tack and a no nonsense woman. Helped by the new local police inspector Mac and her household of weird and wonderful characters, they get the job done.
George the young 13 year old, is also a main character in the book and appears in the next ones too.
Very enjoyable read.
George the young 13 year old, is also a main character in the book and appears in the next ones too.
Very enjoyable read.
September 15, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to a new series. The characters were intriguing, believable, if not all likeable. I liked the way the characters were gradually developing and the eccentricity of the lodgers. Rina and Mac were particularly likeable.
The story was also a sad reflection on human behaviour and the violence therein. There were moral dilemmas where choices had to be made...all making for a compelling read.
Well-written and fast-faced and engaging from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
The story was also a sad reflection on human behaviour and the violence therein. There were moral dilemmas where choices had to be made...all making for a compelling read.
Well-written and fast-faced and engaging from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
July 20, 2022
Frantham-on-Sea. DI Sebastian McGregor has returned to duty but to a new district. To ease him in he investigates a series of robberies. But soon one of the victims is killed. He and his team investigate will a little help from Rina Martin, a retired actress.
An entertaining modern mystery.
An entertaining modern mystery.
October 4, 2023
This was our initial exposure to author Adams and her Rina Martin series. While she billed this as a cozy mystery, we suspect she undersold her tale a little. We expected a fairly light plot with character developments perhaps a tad more important than the action per se. But while maybe the first of three deaths was "solved" fairly quickly and straightforwardly, yet another was puzzling enough that even at the very end, we weren't 100% sure which of two characters was the real killer -- actually a rather dazzling dessert to a good enough meal to encourage an encore. And while the Rina character got top billing, at least one of the cops that turned out to be a buddy was an equally appealing protagonist who might have deserved tribute on the marquis. Well done!
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June 21, 2016
Three Cheers for Jane A. Adams. This was the first book I read that she's written and it just happened to be the first book of a Rina Martin Series. The new and better Ms Marple with a menagerie of off-beat characters who live with her, a near "has been" recovering DI named Mac, and a young adolescent named George (and his older sister Karen) with a violent and mysterious past. Rina Martin used to have a successful acting career until she retired. Her home in this quiet little sea-side town has become a home of sorts for similar wanna be's. She's intelligent, observant and becomes a most welcomed asset to this DI when the murder of a nice old lady happens. You'll fall in love with the characters. It reads like a good movie. The plot and clever twists. I heartily give this a big thumbs up.
August 22, 2010
So I'm looking for a new mystery book series and I ran across this one. This is the first book which refers to it as a Rina Martin series. I had a little trouble getting started with this book but then it took off. Rina is a retired actress who played a detective in one of her shows. She has a bunch of retired people who also were in different types of entertainment fields. Also DI Sebastian McGregor (Mac) who came to this seaside town to get away from a bad case where a child had been killed. There is also a mother, daughter and son who are on the run because of an abusive father/husband. Once the story took off it was great and jumped right into book 2. I'm glad I started this series now. She has also written another series and I might try that one also.
July 20, 2011
A tough, no-nonsense older woman with a rooming house and a policeman recovering from a breakdown are the detectives in this very interesting mystery that takes place on the coast of England.
January 6, 2013
First in a series and it's a good one. Looking forward to getting to know this new author.
December 1, 2025
It's a bit sort of cozy crime this book isn't it, more Jessica Fletcher than Miss Marple, well I think so, I've only seen 2 episodes of Jessica Fletcher and well I've not been in a hurry to watch any more!
Rina Martin is a widowed retired actress and played the part of a sort of Jessica Fletcher character onscreen for 10yrs, so knows a bit about murders, and lives in the quiet town of Frantham-on-sea, am not sure this exists, which is in Dorset, no, relatives in Dorset tell me it doesn't, and DI Sebastion McGregor is newly posted to there after his last case caused a few problems in the place where he formerly worked. He is called Mac throughout the book. I quite like the pairing of Rina and Mac actually.
The story is long and involves a pair of boys who see and do something which they shouldn't, a rather obnoxious teenager who bullies them, a magician who isn't a good magician, a thoroughly equally obnoxious disreputable father, a landlady who opens her house for guests to live in and a young police officer who didn't do well in his last case. Well I think he did but then... So Mac is called to the body of an elderly lady he spoke to only the day before, who had been burgled and now the next day bludgeoned and dead on the floor.
There is a lot going on in this non-existent sleepy little place isn't there! All of which make quite a good story, I like virtually all of the characters, the story is intriguing and actually holds my attention, the characters are well rounded and interesting to boot and I quite liked the humour which comes out in the story. So I think I may well buy some more in this series, hopefully it's a series? Must check that. And I think I can see where Mac may well end up living in the next book! (If there is one that is..).
Rina Martin is a widowed retired actress and played the part of a sort of Jessica Fletcher character onscreen for 10yrs, so knows a bit about murders, and lives in the quiet town of Frantham-on-sea, am not sure this exists, which is in Dorset, no, relatives in Dorset tell me it doesn't, and DI Sebastion McGregor is newly posted to there after his last case caused a few problems in the place where he formerly worked. He is called Mac throughout the book. I quite like the pairing of Rina and Mac actually.
The story is long and involves a pair of boys who see and do something which they shouldn't, a rather obnoxious teenager who bullies them, a magician who isn't a good magician, a thoroughly equally obnoxious disreputable father, a landlady who opens her house for guests to live in and a young police officer who didn't do well in his last case. Well I think he did but then... So Mac is called to the body of an elderly lady he spoke to only the day before, who had been burgled and now the next day bludgeoned and dead on the floor.
There is a lot going on in this non-existent sleepy little place isn't there! All of which make quite a good story, I like virtually all of the characters, the story is intriguing and actually holds my attention, the characters are well rounded and interesting to boot and I quite liked the humour which comes out in the story. So I think I may well buy some more in this series, hopefully it's a series? Must check that. And I think I can see where Mac may well end up living in the next book! (If there is one that is..).
October 2, 2022
I struggled with rating this book. I don’t like mysteries where I already know who dunnit. Not, I’ve already made a guess and my guess turns out to be right, but, I’m there with the person in the act and only myself and them know they are the guilty party. I prefer books where I figure things out then it all comes together. This also doesn’t seem like a Rina Martin mystery, she’s a main character who helps the inspector but I feel we spend WAY more time with Mac, the inspector so it should be named after him but, I wouldn’t downgrade the book for that. Ultimately, I gave 3 vs. 4 stars because it’s not really a mystery for me but I do get to learn more about the main characters as they learn each other and work together to solve the mystery. It is a scooch more psychological drama than mystery to me.
That said, it WAS engaging and well-written. I cared about the characters. I also found it interesting the info about one character who’d lived a life of abuse and neglect and his relationship with food. This is actually quite common in these situations and I wondered if the author had put in work to research it. I was thinking this is the only book in the series I’ll read but the next book doesn’t seem to be a stand-alone mystery within a series and it seems somewhat connected and a clear continuation in time and events so I’m interested in what happened to the characters, curious if we’ll learn more about what hall with the victims and murderer, and hopeful this new mystery will unfold in my preferred way.
That said, it WAS engaging and well-written. I cared about the characters. I also found it interesting the info about one character who’d lived a life of abuse and neglect and his relationship with food. This is actually quite common in these situations and I wondered if the author had put in work to research it. I was thinking this is the only book in the series I’ll read but the next book doesn’t seem to be a stand-alone mystery within a series and it seems somewhat connected and a clear continuation in time and events so I’m interested in what happened to the characters, curious if we’ll learn more about what hall with the victims and murderer, and hopeful this new mystery will unfold in my preferred way.
December 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it had me page turning all the way to find out what happened next. It is described as a Rina Martin Murder Mystery however if I am honest, it feels as if Rina is only a secondary character with the main one being DI Sebastian McGregor or Mac as he is referred to throughout.
Mac has only just transferred to the seaside town of Frantham and as the new kid on the block is given the task of speaking with Mrs Freer who is the most recent victim of a spate of burglaries, however the day after she is found bludgeoned to death and Mac is determined to find out why and by whom?
We are then introduced to a whole delightful cast of warm loveable characters, there is Rina Martin, the retired actress who played a TV detective and Tim the magician/mentalist depending on his audience. There are the two young boys, George and Paul who have never really fitted in at school and in trying to change that suffer the drastic consequences.
The whole story has many themes, domestic violence, peer pressure, bullying as well as lighter themes such as friendship, family and loyalty. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout and I found this to be a really enjoyable read. I think though I would have liked more to have been done with Rina as I feel she could have played a much bigger part. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series.
Mac has only just transferred to the seaside town of Frantham and as the new kid on the block is given the task of speaking with Mrs Freer who is the most recent victim of a spate of burglaries, however the day after she is found bludgeoned to death and Mac is determined to find out why and by whom?
We are then introduced to a whole delightful cast of warm loveable characters, there is Rina Martin, the retired actress who played a TV detective and Tim the magician/mentalist depending on his audience. There are the two young boys, George and Paul who have never really fitted in at school and in trying to change that suffer the drastic consequences.
The whole story has many themes, domestic violence, peer pressure, bullying as well as lighter themes such as friendship, family and loyalty. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout and I found this to be a really enjoyable read. I think though I would have liked more to have been done with Rina as I feel she could have played a much bigger part. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series.
June 8, 2022
This is one of the best novels I’ve read for some time. I loved its caring, sympathetic characters brought to life by the author’s deft writing. While it’s essentially a police procedural, led by DI McGregor, Rina Martin, a former actress who played a TV sleuth, had quite a role to play. She runs a quiet guest house on the coast of Dorset, where nothing much happens.
Then an elderly lady is bludgeoned to death in her home. From here, the story opens out, drawing in George and Paul, two boys with very different reasons to be frightened. Having broken into the lady’s house the previous evening, one of them witnesses her murder. The other has more personal reasons to be scared when he believes he’s spotted the abusive father who his family ran away from.
From here the story moves away from the traditional murder mystery, but still packs a poignant punch at its climax. I really felt for McGregor, who has to wrestle with his principles as he tries to deal with the aftermath.
The story’s intriguing, engaging and beautifully crafted. It’s driven by realistic characters caught up in the unreal world of murder. There’s humour within the darkness and hope for a brighter future. All this means this is one of the best cosy mysteries I’ve read for a long time.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Then an elderly lady is bludgeoned to death in her home. From here, the story opens out, drawing in George and Paul, two boys with very different reasons to be frightened. Having broken into the lady’s house the previous evening, one of them witnesses her murder. The other has more personal reasons to be scared when he believes he’s spotted the abusive father who his family ran away from.
From here the story moves away from the traditional murder mystery, but still packs a poignant punch at its climax. I really felt for McGregor, who has to wrestle with his principles as he tries to deal with the aftermath.
The story’s intriguing, engaging and beautifully crafted. It’s driven by realistic characters caught up in the unreal world of murder. There’s humour within the darkness and hope for a brighter future. All this means this is one of the best cosy mysteries I’ve read for a long time.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
April 2, 2019
Hmm, this is called a “mystery” but there’s no mystery about whodunnit - we find out very quickly who carried out the initial burglary and subsequent murder and then we are direct witnesses to the second murder and the accidental death near the end.
The mystery is how long it will take for the police to catch up.
The book is very morally ambiguous: The first murder (of a frail old lady) is carried out by a nasty piece of work and so, of course, the reader is rooting for him to get his comeuppance. But he is then beaten to death by a character who is supposed to be on the side of the angels and who really suffers no qualms of conscience about her actions (and who also escapes any repercussions by the end of the book).
She is also responsible for putting the means of death in the hands of her suicidal mother. I think the author expects her to be seen as a sympathetic character, given her background of exposure to domestic violence, but she is really very cold-blooded in her single-minded devotion to protecting her younger brother. I found her both disturbing - and unrealistic.
Don’t think I’ll read more in the series.
The mystery is how long it will take for the police to catch up.
The book is very morally ambiguous: The first murder (of a frail old lady) is carried out by a nasty piece of work and so, of course, the reader is rooting for him to get his comeuppance. But he is then beaten to death by a character who is supposed to be on the side of the angels and who really suffers no qualms of conscience about her actions (and who also escapes any repercussions by the end of the book).
She is also responsible for putting the means of death in the hands of her suicidal mother. I think the author expects her to be seen as a sympathetic character, given her background of exposure to domestic violence, but she is really very cold-blooded in her single-minded devotion to protecting her younger brother. I found her both disturbing - and unrealistic.
Don’t think I’ll read more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
Although I gave the story 4 stars for the story itself, I debated going only three for the deceptive title.
The title is a bit confusing.
I was expecting this story to be set on a ship of some kind.
The only thing the sea actually has to do with the story is a low tide in one scene and the name of the town - Frantham-on-Sea. Which is where Detective Sebastian McGregor has moved to for a quieter assignment after having to take time off from an extremely difficult case.
As far as Rina Martin goes?
I’m 70% in, and the only thing that Rina has investigated was things to sage her own curiosity and to be kept in the loop of the DI’s investigation, that for some really odd reason, he’s become comfortable using Rina as a sounding board for his ideas.
Rina is a retired actress and runs a type of guest house for other active and retired entertainment people.
But, her and her companion's unconventional thinking does help and actually solve parts of the mystery.
This being said, I found the story to be well written, and even though the killer was identified early in the story, it was fun learning the process of him being outed, and the following consequences that happened afterward.
The title is a bit confusing.
I was expecting this story to be set on a ship of some kind.
The only thing the sea actually has to do with the story is a low tide in one scene and the name of the town - Frantham-on-Sea. Which is where Detective Sebastian McGregor has moved to for a quieter assignment after having to take time off from an extremely difficult case.
As far as Rina Martin goes?
I’m 70% in, and the only thing that Rina has investigated was things to sage her own curiosity and to be kept in the loop of the DI’s investigation, that for some really odd reason, he’s become comfortable using Rina as a sounding board for his ideas.
Rina is a retired actress and runs a type of guest house for other active and retired entertainment people.
But, her and her companion's unconventional thinking does help and actually solve parts of the mystery.
This being said, I found the story to be well written, and even though the killer was identified early in the story, it was fun learning the process of him being outed, and the following consequences that happened afterward.
December 6, 2023
At first I thought the Rina Martin mystery wasn’t an appropriate title as she’s barely in this first story. It’s more like Mac McGregor’s story as he returns to work after a unfortunate and deeply painful incident which caused the death of a child. Mac was unable to forgive himself even though he was cleared from any wrongdoing.
Now he’s been reassigned to a remote seaside town where he will have additional time to recover while solving minor crimes and murder is relatively unknown. However in just a couple of weeks two murders occur one in which was particularly brutal. The beating to death of an elderly woman. The second death is one that no one except for victim’s family mourns. He was a vicious psychopath who preyed upon the defenseless both young and elderly.
Rina Martin prides herself on knowing everything that goes on in the village stays in the background while trying to solve mysteries and protect the innocent. She is described as a younger smarter Miss Marple. I wouldn’t go that far. After all, there’s only one Miss Marple but Mrs. Martin could be a close second.
Now he’s been reassigned to a remote seaside town where he will have additional time to recover while solving minor crimes and murder is relatively unknown. However in just a couple of weeks two murders occur one in which was particularly brutal. The beating to death of an elderly woman. The second death is one that no one except for victim’s family mourns. He was a vicious psychopath who preyed upon the defenseless both young and elderly.
Rina Martin prides herself on knowing everything that goes on in the village stays in the background while trying to solve mysteries and protect the innocent. She is described as a younger smarter Miss Marple. I wouldn’t go that far. After all, there’s only one Miss Marple but Mrs. Martin could be a close second.
April 5, 2024
My wife enjoyed this very much
This book was bought for my wife. She says it flowed wonderfully, kept a reasonable amount of tension going and took her along with it. Couldn't put it down at the end till she had finished reading it. She enjoyed it considerably even though there was no guessing about who was behind the murders. Somehow that didn't matter. The story was very well thought out and made for an enjoyable read. It all meshed together so well that it became more of a how-is-this-going-to-end-happily-for-everyone rather than a who-dun-it. It wasn't a completely happy ending but close enough given the circumstances. As it wouldn't be fair to give the storyline away, my wife will only say that she wishes the "justice" for a couple of the characters was a good deal more in line with what their wickedness deserved but it probably wouldn't have worked with the story to do this. Exceptionally well written and entertaining. Very smooth and reasonably well rounded. My wife is forward to reading many more books by this writer.
This book was bought for my wife. She says it flowed wonderfully, kept a reasonable amount of tension going and took her along with it. Couldn't put it down at the end till she had finished reading it. She enjoyed it considerably even though there was no guessing about who was behind the murders. Somehow that didn't matter. The story was very well thought out and made for an enjoyable read. It all meshed together so well that it became more of a how-is-this-going-to-end-happily-for-everyone rather than a who-dun-it. It wasn't a completely happy ending but close enough given the circumstances. As it wouldn't be fair to give the storyline away, my wife will only say that she wishes the "justice" for a couple of the characters was a good deal more in line with what their wickedness deserved but it probably wouldn't have worked with the story to do this. Exceptionally well written and entertaining. Very smooth and reasonably well rounded. My wife is forward to reading many more books by this writer.
February 25, 2023
This is a an enjoyable start to a series. The main characters are Mac, who is in his new posting, and still suffering from events in his previous role, a family on the run from an abusive husband and father, a local thug called Mark and Rina, a local busybody who thinks she is Miss Marple as she did a lot of research in a previous acting role.
It begins with a neighbour of Rina's being burgled and this is the third in recent times. Suddenly the neighbour is then murdered a while later bringing Mac into more frequent contact with Rina. I found this a bit slow to begin with and didn't take to Rina initially but I soon found myself invested in the story especially with the characters of Paul, George and his sister. Although you know who committed the murder early on, I enjoyed watching how Mac pieced things together and his quandary about justice or revenge. It did enough to make me want to read further in the series.
It begins with a neighbour of Rina's being burgled and this is the third in recent times. Suddenly the neighbour is then murdered a while later bringing Mac into more frequent contact with Rina. I found this a bit slow to begin with and didn't take to Rina initially but I soon found myself invested in the story especially with the characters of Paul, George and his sister. Although you know who committed the murder early on, I enjoyed watching how Mac pieced things together and his quandary about justice or revenge. It did enough to make me want to read further in the series.
August 22, 2023
This book was a surprise gift to me from my daughter. I enjoy British cozy mysteries and this one was set in the small, sleepy town of Frantham-on-Sea. Interesting name for a town, isn't it? But, the town is not a sleepy and peaceful as the name implies. The story revolves around a traumatized detective, Sebastian McGregor, and a retired old TV actress, Rina Martin, team up to solve the very strange murder of an old woman down the street. Rina has limitless energy and cares greatly about her neighbors' safety. This is not a straightforward who-dun-it. The author wove in some unexpected events and plot details that fooled me. When I thought I had it figured out, she threw in another plot twist with a very surprising ending.
I have never read this author's works before. I enjoyed this book. Very well written. You can help but like Rina and one of her house guests named, Tim, AKA the Great Marvello.
I have never read this author's works before. I enjoyed this book. Very well written. You can help but like Rina and one of her house guests named, Tim, AKA the Great Marvello.
September 29, 2023
Detective Sebastian (Mac) McGregor is battling PTSD after working an especially difficult case in which a child was killed and the murderer escaped into the night. He's been sent to the small English town of Frantham on the Sea where crime is typically not a problem. But shortly after his arrival, the home of an elderly widow is broken into. She chases the young punks away by brandishing a gun. A couple days later her badly beaten body is discovered. She was not safe in her own home. Mac gets to work searching for clues. Rina Martin, a nearby neighbor, decides to help. She retired from playing the part of a Miss Marple-type character on a television show for 14 seasons. Rina currently runs a guest house in Frantham with five interesting lodgers who she has adopted as family members.
This is the first book in a series. I really like the characters and setting. I will definitely continue reading more of these.
This is the first book in a series. I really like the characters and setting. I will definitely continue reading more of these.
November 13, 2021
It was the title ‘Murder at Sea’ which made me request this one. Set in Dorset (reading books set in the UK helps my homesickness!) with the main character a tea drinking, crime solving, garden tending retired actress. Perfect! However, that description was rather misleading.
That cringey phrase ‘cozy crime’ should be ditched for a start. There was nothing ‘cozy’ about a violent murder of an elderly disabled lady or of the descriptions of domestic abuse. And was it people smuggling? It was actually quite bleak!
Rina, the tweed skirt wearing, retired actress was actually a secondary character as troubled policeman Mac was the real star. Rina is the landlady of a house filled with what seemed to be music hall, end of the pier type performers. That just seemed so dated and unlikely. The story seemed modern yet there were a few details, such as the boarding house residents, using a landline and the names of some of the characters, that made me query when exactly it was set. I then saw it had first been published in 2008 under a different name but Rina’s sections seemed old-fashioned and almost like a separate gentle short story woven into another far harsher modern one.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, cared for the characters and look forward to reading more by Jane Adams. Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley.
That cringey phrase ‘cozy crime’ should be ditched for a start. There was nothing ‘cozy’ about a violent murder of an elderly disabled lady or of the descriptions of domestic abuse. And was it people smuggling? It was actually quite bleak!
Rina, the tweed skirt wearing, retired actress was actually a secondary character as troubled policeman Mac was the real star. Rina is the landlady of a house filled with what seemed to be music hall, end of the pier type performers. That just seemed so dated and unlikely. The story seemed modern yet there were a few details, such as the boarding house residents, using a landline and the names of some of the characters, that made me query when exactly it was set. I then saw it had first been published in 2008 under a different name but Rina’s sections seemed old-fashioned and almost like a separate gentle short story woven into another far harsher modern one.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, cared for the characters and look forward to reading more by Jane Adams. Thank you Joffe Books and NetGalley.
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