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Kate O'Donnell #5
Deep Waters
A past crime causes new murder in the latest intriguing Kate O’Donnell mystery
1964. Detective Sergeant Harry Barnard has been ordered to track down notorious Soho club owner Ray Robertson, who hasn’t been seen for several days. The case takes on a greater urgency when a battered body is discovered at the gym Ray owns. Is Ray the killer … or is he a victim?
Photographer Kate O’Donnell meanwhile is working on a feature about the regeneration of Canvey Island, finally being rebuilt after the devastating East Coast floods of 1953. But as Kate and Harry are about to discover, the Canvey Island floods, the murder and Ray Robertson’s disappearance are connected in more ways than one …
1964. Detective Sergeant Harry Barnard has been ordered to track down notorious Soho club owner Ray Robertson, who hasn’t been seen for several days. The case takes on a greater urgency when a battered body is discovered at the gym Ray owns. Is Ray the killer … or is he a victim?
Photographer Kate O’Donnell meanwhile is working on a feature about the regeneration of Canvey Island, finally being rebuilt after the devastating East Coast floods of 1953. But as Kate and Harry are about to discover, the Canvey Island floods, the murder and Ray Robertson’s disappearance are connected in more ways than one …
- GenresLondonHistorical Mystery
208 pages, Hardcover
Published July 1, 2016
19 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Hall
85 books13 followersPatricia Hall is the pen-name of journalist Maureen O'Connor. She was born and brought up in West Yorkshire, which is where she has chosen to set her acclaimed series of novels featuring reporter Laura Ackroyd and DCI Michael Thackeray. She is married, with two grown-up sons, and now lives in Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 12, 2016
This is a atmospheric and tension filled historical thriller set in London and Canvey Island. This is the first in the series that I have read and it works well as a standalone. It is set in the 1960s and is rich in historical details of the period, like the music and cultural norms. The devastating flooding of Canvey Island in 1953 and its current regeneration is why Kate O'Donnell, photojournalist, goes to gather details, do interviews and take photos. The son of a woman she met there goes missing and Kate tries to help her. The police are not impressed with Kate and tell her to not interfere with their enquiries. Needless to say Kate continues her involvement.
DS Harry Barnard discovers the murdered body of boxing trainer, Rod Miller, in the gym owned by the notorious Ray Robertson. Harry's boss and the police regard Harry with the deepest suspicion because of his history with his childhood friend, Ray. Harry has a troubled time trying to reconcile his conflicting loyalties. A historical heist has repercussions in the present, and the case of the missing child and murder in London turn out to be interconnected. Events put Kate and Harry's relationship under severe strain. A badly injured Kate finds her life in danger amidst the shifting and treacherous sands before the case is resolved.
Patricia Hall has written a fascinating tale that is full of suspense and tension. I would like to read more in this series because the historical descriptions are spot on and the characters are exceedingly well developed. Gripping read! Thanks to Severn House for an ARC via netgalley.
DS Harry Barnard discovers the murdered body of boxing trainer, Rod Miller, in the gym owned by the notorious Ray Robertson. Harry's boss and the police regard Harry with the deepest suspicion because of his history with his childhood friend, Ray. Harry has a troubled time trying to reconcile his conflicting loyalties. A historical heist has repercussions in the present, and the case of the missing child and murder in London turn out to be interconnected. Events put Kate and Harry's relationship under severe strain. A badly injured Kate finds her life in danger amidst the shifting and treacherous sands before the case is resolved.
Patricia Hall has written a fascinating tale that is full of suspense and tension. I would like to read more in this series because the historical descriptions are spot on and the characters are exceedingly well developed. Gripping read! Thanks to Severn House for an ARC via netgalley.
July 3, 2016
I wanted to read this book as the background to the story was the 1953 floods on Canvey Island. I had relatives on Canvey & grew up hearing about the flood so it aroused my interest.
Set some ten years after the flood the story revolves around a robbery at that time & where the money had gone to. Police officer Harry Barnard was doing his National Service and had helped clear up after the flood and had never forgotten the carnage. When Kate, his photo journalist girlfriend, is doing a project on Canvey Island then & now, they both get caught up in a situation they hadn't wanted to be part of.
Harry has other problems. His superiors want to know about his connection with a well known crook who looks as if he is involved in a murder. Harry grew up with Ray and although he know he's a crook Harry does not believe he is a killer.
Patricia Hall captures the atmosphere of the times and created some interesting characters. I really liked Harry & Kate.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.
Set some ten years after the flood the story revolves around a robbery at that time & where the money had gone to. Police officer Harry Barnard was doing his National Service and had helped clear up after the flood and had never forgotten the carnage. When Kate, his photo journalist girlfriend, is doing a project on Canvey Island then & now, they both get caught up in a situation they hadn't wanted to be part of.
Harry has other problems. His superiors want to know about his connection with a well known crook who looks as if he is involved in a murder. Harry grew up with Ray and although he know he's a crook Harry does not believe he is a killer.
Patricia Hall captures the atmosphere of the times and created some interesting characters. I really liked Harry & Kate.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.
July 3, 2016
Not the first book in this series set in UK during the 1960s, but the first I had read.
I enjoyed how the era was brought to life through the work of a police sergeant and a female photographer. From Soho to the East End and out to the Essex mudflats, London and the Thames estuary are presented almost as characters, peopled by very genuine men and women. Sprinklings of pop stars, politicians and court cases of the day enliven the account; while the terrible suffering of Londoners who were bombed out and had to live on an Essex island which was then flooded in the 1950s and destroyed the unsuitable wooden homes, killing residents, is recalled.
I can recommend Deep Waters to anyone interested in realistic crime of the British past and I would read more in this series.
I received an ARC for an unbiased review.
I enjoyed how the era was brought to life through the work of a police sergeant and a female photographer. From Soho to the East End and out to the Essex mudflats, London and the Thames estuary are presented almost as characters, peopled by very genuine men and women. Sprinklings of pop stars, politicians and court cases of the day enliven the account; while the terrible suffering of Londoners who were bombed out and had to live on an Essex island which was then flooded in the 1950s and destroyed the unsuitable wooden homes, killing residents, is recalled.
I can recommend Deep Waters to anyone interested in realistic crime of the British past and I would read more in this series.
I received an ARC for an unbiased review.
July 4, 2016
Suspense, Tension, and 1960’s Realism
Ray Robertson, owner of the Delilah Club in Soho in London’s West End, had been missing for nearly a week. Detective Sergeant Harry Barnard is looking for him. He headed to the gym, another enterprise owned by Ray. He still didn’t find Ray. But, what he did find was the body of Rod Miller lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom near Ray’s office. Rod had been a trainer at the gym. Harry had known Ray since they were children. Even though they went their separate ways and ended up on opposite sides of the law, Harry didn’t think of Ray as a murderer. In fact, Ray’s own life had recently been in jeopardy by his brother, Georgie.
Photographer Kate O’Donnell recently moved in with Harry. He discusses bits of the case with her and she shares pictures and information with Harry about the reconstruction project for Canvey Island. Much of the Canvey Island homes near Essex, England, had been demolished during the East Coast floods of 1953. Harry saw that Kate had captured an image of Loretta, Ray’s ex-wife, in one of her Canvey Island pictures. He knew that Loretta was also looking for Ray. Perhaps she found him … in Canvey Island. By this time, Harry had been dismissed from the case. The bosses thought he was too close. But, he can’t stand by and watch Ray get pulled in for a murder he knew he didn’t commit.
The story is historical suspense set in London in 1964. While most of the story is vastly fictional, it abounds with very real aspects. The Canvey Island flood of 1953 devastated the East Coast causing the deaths of fifty-nine people. Thousands were evacuated from their homes due to high floodwater. Many of the effects were still being felt from WWII. References were made against women entering the workforce. Kate had attended art college with John Lennon. All of this helped to seal the time and place in the readers’ mind. Yet, the plot was a bit complicated and there were many characters. Although the two separate plots eventually intersected, I felt more of the story was about Harry Barnard than our protagonist, Kate O’Donnell.
Fictionzeal
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Ray Robertson, owner of the Delilah Club in Soho in London’s West End, had been missing for nearly a week. Detective Sergeant Harry Barnard is looking for him. He headed to the gym, another enterprise owned by Ray. He still didn’t find Ray. But, what he did find was the body of Rod Miller lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom near Ray’s office. Rod had been a trainer at the gym. Harry had known Ray since they were children. Even though they went their separate ways and ended up on opposite sides of the law, Harry didn’t think of Ray as a murderer. In fact, Ray’s own life had recently been in jeopardy by his brother, Georgie.
Photographer Kate O’Donnell recently moved in with Harry. He discusses bits of the case with her and she shares pictures and information with Harry about the reconstruction project for Canvey Island. Much of the Canvey Island homes near Essex, England, had been demolished during the East Coast floods of 1953. Harry saw that Kate had captured an image of Loretta, Ray’s ex-wife, in one of her Canvey Island pictures. He knew that Loretta was also looking for Ray. Perhaps she found him … in Canvey Island. By this time, Harry had been dismissed from the case. The bosses thought he was too close. But, he can’t stand by and watch Ray get pulled in for a murder he knew he didn’t commit.
The story is historical suspense set in London in 1964. While most of the story is vastly fictional, it abounds with very real aspects. The Canvey Island flood of 1953 devastated the East Coast causing the deaths of fifty-nine people. Thousands were evacuated from their homes due to high floodwater. Many of the effects were still being felt from WWII. References were made against women entering the workforce. Kate had attended art college with John Lennon. All of this helped to seal the time and place in the readers’ mind. Yet, the plot was a bit complicated and there were many characters. Although the two separate plots eventually intersected, I felt more of the story was about Harry Barnard than our protagonist, Kate O’Donnell.
Fictionzeal
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
June 4, 2019
Simply dreadful! Couldn't finish it.
Mediocre writing about brain-dead and annoying characters, brain-dead and one-dimensional cardboard cops and a plot that made me want to put the book down to go and do my dusting.
Mediocre writing about brain-dead and annoying characters, brain-dead and one-dimensional cardboard cops and a plot that made me want to put the book down to go and do my dusting.
February 1, 2017
Excellent mystery, with twists and turns. Kate is not so much acting as a deceive but a determed person wanting to help people in difficult situations. When she does she becomes part of the mystery & by her doggedness solves a mystery. Her behavior gets deeper in trouble with both the police & the murders.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews