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DI Peter Shaw & DS George Valentine #7
Death Ship
"Engrossing and wonderfully atmospheric"
Booklist Starred Review
An explosion on a Norfolk beach leads to far-reaching consequences for detectives Shaw and Valentine.
When an explosion rips across Hunstanton Beach on the north Norfolk coast, an abandoned Second World War bomb is assumed to be the cause . . . but is it? Could there be a connection with the new pier being built - and the increasingly bitter campaign to halt its construction?
At the same time, DI Shaw and DS Valentine are on the hunt for an elderly female killer with a uniquely macabre method of despatch. And a 63-year-old Dutch engineer is missing, presumed drowned . . . but where is the body?
All seemingly unrelated investigations - but in each case nothing is as it seems. To find the answers, Shaw must delve into the past, and a mystery that has remained unsolved for more than sixty years.
Booklist Starred Review
An explosion on a Norfolk beach leads to far-reaching consequences for detectives Shaw and Valentine.
When an explosion rips across Hunstanton Beach on the north Norfolk coast, an abandoned Second World War bomb is assumed to be the cause . . . but is it? Could there be a connection with the new pier being built - and the increasingly bitter campaign to halt its construction?
At the same time, DI Shaw and DS Valentine are on the hunt for an elderly female killer with a uniquely macabre method of despatch. And a 63-year-old Dutch engineer is missing, presumed drowned . . . but where is the body?
All seemingly unrelated investigations - but in each case nothing is as it seems. To find the answers, Shaw must delve into the past, and a mystery that has remained unsolved for more than sixty years.
240 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2016
10 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Jim Kelly
31 books133 followersJim Kelly is a journalist and education correspondent for the Financial Times. He lives in Ely with the biographer Midge Gilles and their young daughter. The Water Clock, his first novel, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award for best first crime novel of 2002.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 5, 2016
I absolutely adore Jim Kelly's books and this is another superb addition to the Shaw and Valentine series. It has a wonderful sense of location on the North Norfolk coast and Hunstanton. It is a police procedural and it begins with George Valentine nabbing an elderly woman known as the Sweetie Killer, Esther Keeble, for handing out sweets to people queuing for a bus. Then there is the case of the missing Dutch national, Dirk Hartog, who was asking questions about a ship, the Calabria, that sank in the deadly storm of 1953 with 3 crew members. This is an enthralling story where the past infiltrates the present and wreaks havoc. There are construction details of the building of the new pier in Hunstanton that includes caissons and in depth nautical knowledge which I found fascinating.
A bomb goes off on Hunstanton beach causing terror and mayhem, but thankfully there are no serious injuries. There is speculation that it could be an old bomb from World War Two, until evidence turns up that suggests that it is a modern device. The police look for those who might have a motive for such an act. The council approved the building of a new pier but the current plans for the pier bear no resemblance to what was agreed. A significant number of locals are aghast at the huge undertaking taking place and the impact it will have environmentally and on their lives. Stop the Pier (STP) is a campaign and lobbying group headed by Tom Coram and others like Anna Roos, that has been set up to scupper the construction. Acts of sabotage take place and the police think that extremist members might be behind the bomb. The murdered body of Dirk Hartog is discovered underwater. Shaw and Valentine are working with the military on the bombing. This is a nasty case that leads the police to heinous acts committed in 1953 and attempts to ensure that the truth never sees daylight. The Esther Keeble case turns out to be more complicated than expected and Peter's wife, Lena, discovers family secrets when her mother dies.
Jim Kelly is a talented writer who writes evocative and atmospheric stories. His detailed research gives us a wonderful insight into the commercial construction industry. His knowledge of the area comes across in the book with detailed descriptions. His plotting is impressive as two stories begin to connect beautifully. The character development between Peter and George from the beginning of the series is expert as we can now see them working seamlessly together and supportive of each other. If you have not read Jim Kelly, I would urge you to do so. A brilliant read that I highly recommend. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
A bomb goes off on Hunstanton beach causing terror and mayhem, but thankfully there are no serious injuries. There is speculation that it could be an old bomb from World War Two, until evidence turns up that suggests that it is a modern device. The police look for those who might have a motive for such an act. The council approved the building of a new pier but the current plans for the pier bear no resemblance to what was agreed. A significant number of locals are aghast at the huge undertaking taking place and the impact it will have environmentally and on their lives. Stop the Pier (STP) is a campaign and lobbying group headed by Tom Coram and others like Anna Roos, that has been set up to scupper the construction. Acts of sabotage take place and the police think that extremist members might be behind the bomb. The murdered body of Dirk Hartog is discovered underwater. Shaw and Valentine are working with the military on the bombing. This is a nasty case that leads the police to heinous acts committed in 1953 and attempts to ensure that the truth never sees daylight. The Esther Keeble case turns out to be more complicated than expected and Peter's wife, Lena, discovers family secrets when her mother dies.
Jim Kelly is a talented writer who writes evocative and atmospheric stories. His detailed research gives us a wonderful insight into the commercial construction industry. His knowledge of the area comes across in the book with detailed descriptions. His plotting is impressive as two stories begin to connect beautifully. The character development between Peter and George from the beginning of the series is expert as we can now see them working seamlessly together and supportive of each other. If you have not read Jim Kelly, I would urge you to do so. A brilliant read that I highly recommend. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
August 31, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House Publishing.
I have read several other books in this series of police procedurals to feature Shaw and Valentine and, as the author points out in the Acknowledgments, "the team is now well-established". I agree because I think this book number seven has these two men more completely comfortable with each other than I've seen them before. The old history between them is not gone, just has the edges smoothed over so that they understand each other and recognize and utilize the strengths each brings to the entire team of investigators. These are now fully formed characters for me and I can focus all my attention on watching them solve their cases.
A European mega-construction company has been given the rights to reconstruct the beloved pier at Hunstanton on the north Norfolk coast. The problems begin to arise when word leaks out that what is actually going to be built is not the same as those plans which were approved, and eagerly awaited, by the residents of this area of the coast. There are huge investments in this project and political "help" succeeds in keeping the project going. Protests begin to emerge, mischief starts up, vandalism moves on to arson and the police become involved in finding out who might be behind the efforts to stop the project. In the meantime a missing person alert has been filed by a guesthouse owner because one of his clients has not returned for several days. Now the attention of the police force is divided in two directions. Before it's all over Shaw and Valentine will solve a case going all the way back to 1953, but which has everything to do with what is happening now.
This is my favorite Jim Kelly novel so far. The plot is well thought out and well written with strands of several different cases moving back and forth within the story, much like the undulating strands of seaweed under the ocean which hides secrets so well. Valentine's wife plays an important role in this book from her position as a Probationary Police Constable. This novel had so many threads of crimes and investigations that it meant less time spent on the personal lives of the main characters. That's the style of mystery novel which suits me best so this book was a tense, gripping, unqualified success from my standpoint.
I have read several other books in this series of police procedurals to feature Shaw and Valentine and, as the author points out in the Acknowledgments, "the team is now well-established". I agree because I think this book number seven has these two men more completely comfortable with each other than I've seen them before. The old history between them is not gone, just has the edges smoothed over so that they understand each other and recognize and utilize the strengths each brings to the entire team of investigators. These are now fully formed characters for me and I can focus all my attention on watching them solve their cases.
A European mega-construction company has been given the rights to reconstruct the beloved pier at Hunstanton on the north Norfolk coast. The problems begin to arise when word leaks out that what is actually going to be built is not the same as those plans which were approved, and eagerly awaited, by the residents of this area of the coast. There are huge investments in this project and political "help" succeeds in keeping the project going. Protests begin to emerge, mischief starts up, vandalism moves on to arson and the police become involved in finding out who might be behind the efforts to stop the project. In the meantime a missing person alert has been filed by a guesthouse owner because one of his clients has not returned for several days. Now the attention of the police force is divided in two directions. Before it's all over Shaw and Valentine will solve a case going all the way back to 1953, but which has everything to do with what is happening now.
This is my favorite Jim Kelly novel so far. The plot is well thought out and well written with strands of several different cases moving back and forth within the story, much like the undulating strands of seaweed under the ocean which hides secrets so well. Valentine's wife plays an important role in this book from her position as a Probationary Police Constable. This novel had so many threads of crimes and investigations that it meant less time spent on the personal lives of the main characters. That's the style of mystery novel which suits me best so this book was a tense, gripping, unqualified success from my standpoint.
October 11, 2016
Detectives DI Peter Shaw & DS George Valentine of the Lynn CID are back in their 7th outing & there’s no shortage of case work to keep them busy.
Down the road in Hunstanton, a Dutch tourist has been reported as missing. Dirk Hartog kept to himself but as they retrace his steps they discover he was interested in an old shipwreck & spent a lot of time on the water. Now he’s gone & so is his diving equipment.
There’s also rising tension about the new pier that’s being built. It’s going to be a huge tourist draw with games, rides & shops. Not only will this take from local businesses but the design is not what they agreed to. Eco-types (or as George calls them, “lentil freaks”) have joined unhappy residents & peaceful protests are starting to give way to more aggressive acts of sabotage.
But the weirdest investigation involves the search for a little old lady who is handing out candy laced with rat poison in the queue at a bus stop.
As usual with this series, you’re going to need a thinking cap with a snug fit. As the story lines progress, the author provides a slow drip of clues that you rearrange like puzzle pieces as each twist is revealed. George & Peter have to dig deep when it becomes clear a couple of the investigations have strong ties to a decades old maritime disaster but those old enough to remember aren’t talking.
The setting is on the Norfolk coast & that’s important as it informs how many of the characters think & live. The book has such a strong sense of place that at times I swear you can hear the waves & smell the salty air.
The procedural aspect of the book is well paced & plot lines are woven together seamlessly by the end. The narrative is definitely character driven. There’s a large cast from all walks of life & each feels authentic as they add something to the story. And for fans, it’s a pleasure to catch up with the MC’s personal lives. In this outing Peter’s wife learns a stunning family secret & George is under pressure from his new wife to pack up & move to the seashore.
In the end it’s about secrets, greed & family ties. It’s a smart & atmospheric read you’ll want to carry around so you can sneak in a few more pages when you get the chance.
Down the road in Hunstanton, a Dutch tourist has been reported as missing. Dirk Hartog kept to himself but as they retrace his steps they discover he was interested in an old shipwreck & spent a lot of time on the water. Now he’s gone & so is his diving equipment.
There’s also rising tension about the new pier that’s being built. It’s going to be a huge tourist draw with games, rides & shops. Not only will this take from local businesses but the design is not what they agreed to. Eco-types (or as George calls them, “lentil freaks”) have joined unhappy residents & peaceful protests are starting to give way to more aggressive acts of sabotage.
But the weirdest investigation involves the search for a little old lady who is handing out candy laced with rat poison in the queue at a bus stop.
As usual with this series, you’re going to need a thinking cap with a snug fit. As the story lines progress, the author provides a slow drip of clues that you rearrange like puzzle pieces as each twist is revealed. George & Peter have to dig deep when it becomes clear a couple of the investigations have strong ties to a decades old maritime disaster but those old enough to remember aren’t talking.
The setting is on the Norfolk coast & that’s important as it informs how many of the characters think & live. The book has such a strong sense of place that at times I swear you can hear the waves & smell the salty air.
The procedural aspect of the book is well paced & plot lines are woven together seamlessly by the end. The narrative is definitely character driven. There’s a large cast from all walks of life & each feels authentic as they add something to the story. And for fans, it’s a pleasure to catch up with the MC’s personal lives. In this outing Peter’s wife learns a stunning family secret & George is under pressure from his new wife to pack up & move to the seashore.
In the end it’s about secrets, greed & family ties. It’s a smart & atmospheric read you’ll want to carry around so you can sneak in a few more pages when you get the chance.
November 11, 2016
Entertaining Norfolk set police procedural
I’m new to the Shaw and Valentine books, but found the characters easy to get in to and a compelling duo that can be read as a standalone.
Set around Hunstanton with pensioner poisoners, environmental protestors and bomb explosions creating some apparently diverse threads that come together in an unexpected denouement.
The author captures the atmosphere of the North Norfolk coast well and this entertaining read will definitely bring me back to read more about this crime fighting duo.
I’m new to the Shaw and Valentine books, but found the characters easy to get in to and a compelling duo that can be read as a standalone.
Set around Hunstanton with pensioner poisoners, environmental protestors and bomb explosions creating some apparently diverse threads that come together in an unexpected denouement.
The author captures the atmosphere of the North Norfolk coast well and this entertaining read will definitely bring me back to read more about this crime fighting duo.
August 27, 2016
Galley provided by publisher
Death Ship is the first Jim Kelly book that I've read, and it's a well-constructed, compelling mystery story. On occasion it felt a little slow, and overdone on the description, and once or twice it veered into purple prose territory, but on the whole it was well-written and held my attention easily.
The book is very detailed, and it's clear the author has done copious research, but sometimes it felt over-detailed, more like an information dump than a story. Those parts were few enough and far enough between that the story didn't drag overly. That being said, I'm not entirely sure that those chapters about the dogfish in the wreckage of the boat were entirely necessary, and I did mostly skim read them.
I had another couple of irritations with the book. For one, they didn't seem to do all that much police work. They interviewed several people, and in doing that seemed able to piece together all that had happened, but there seemed scarcely any work like investigating crime scenes or watching autopsies. But then again, I suppose in the context of the mystery, there was little opportunity for that.
There was also the part where a child aged somewhere between 7 and 10 (I'm not entirely sure), gives a measurement in feet. I know this is being somewhat picky, but I know at that age I wouldn't have been able to give an estimated distance in feet. Maybe metres, but not feet. No one even teaches feet, or feet-to-metres conversion, any more.
Then there was a point where Shaw says something to Jan about her "old man's manor" which immediately makes me think he's referring to her father. But then he goes on to say "he's the father of your children". At which point it occurred to me that he was talking about her ex (?) husband. I would have said "old man" refers to your father, not your husband, but I guess it could sometimes be used in that context.
Overall, this was a solid mystery story, with all loose ends being tied up, villains getting their comeuppance (looking at you Tana French) and with a generally satisfactory ending. Basically all I need.
Death Ship is the first Jim Kelly book that I've read, and it's a well-constructed, compelling mystery story. On occasion it felt a little slow, and overdone on the description, and once or twice it veered into purple prose territory, but on the whole it was well-written and held my attention easily.
The book is very detailed, and it's clear the author has done copious research, but sometimes it felt over-detailed, more like an information dump than a story. Those parts were few enough and far enough between that the story didn't drag overly. That being said, I'm not entirely sure that those chapters about the dogfish in the wreckage of the boat were entirely necessary, and I did mostly skim read them.
I had another couple of irritations with the book. For one, they didn't seem to do all that much police work. They interviewed several people, and in doing that seemed able to piece together all that had happened, but there seemed scarcely any work like investigating crime scenes or watching autopsies. But then again, I suppose in the context of the mystery, there was little opportunity for that.
There was also the part where a child aged somewhere between 7 and 10 (I'm not entirely sure), gives a measurement in feet. I know this is being somewhat picky, but I know at that age I wouldn't have been able to give an estimated distance in feet. Maybe metres, but not feet. No one even teaches feet, or feet-to-metres conversion, any more.
Then there was a point where Shaw says something to Jan about her "old man's manor" which immediately makes me think he's referring to her father. But then he goes on to say "he's the father of your children". At which point it occurred to me that he was talking about her ex (?) husband. I would have said "old man" refers to your father, not your husband, but I guess it could sometimes be used in that context.
Overall, this was a solid mystery story, with all loose ends being tied up, villains getting their comeuppance (looking at you Tana French) and with a generally satisfactory ending. Basically all I need.
September 1, 2016
This is an atmospheric and compelling mystery set on the North Norfolk coast. Shaw and Valentine are faced with a bomb explosion on Hunstanton beach, a missing Dutch engineer and a woman who seems to be killing at random in a very strange way.
Shaw and Valentine must delve deep into the past to try and solve the modern crimes and they come up against a very nasty protest movement against the rebuilding of the Hunstanton pier. Could the bomb be part of their protests? Or does it belong to World War II? What about the sabotage on the rig where the work on the new pier is being carried out?
I loved the way the author wove the various strands together and created a novel which kept me up long past my usual bedtime because I just had to find out what happened and who was responsible. I love the background to this well written crime series, partly because I am familiar with the Norfolk coast. The author really does bring the area to life in his evocative descriptions which give the mystery itself an extra dimension.
The book is part of a series but it can be read as a standalone novel. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
Shaw and Valentine must delve deep into the past to try and solve the modern crimes and they come up against a very nasty protest movement against the rebuilding of the Hunstanton pier. Could the bomb be part of their protests? Or does it belong to World War II? What about the sabotage on the rig where the work on the new pier is being carried out?
I loved the way the author wove the various strands together and created a novel which kept me up long past my usual bedtime because I just had to find out what happened and who was responsible. I love the background to this well written crime series, partly because I am familiar with the Norfolk coast. The author really does bring the area to life in his evocative descriptions which give the mystery itself an extra dimension.
The book is part of a series but it can be read as a standalone novel. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
August 31, 2016
This is the only book in the Shaw/Valentine series I've read, but it certainly won't be the last.
A very tense book full of interesting facts: how tunnels are built under water (something that always mystified and scared me!), the 'tunnel tigers' that work in the caissons and how they get in and out of the water; the great storm, an epic tempest that killed thousands of people, mainly in Holland and England - and of course, what is a caisson? You'll have to read the book and enjoy the claustrophobia from the safety of your chair!
There are 2 mysteries the detectives have to solve: why is an elderly lady handing out poisoned candy at the bus stop and who planted the exploded bomb on the beach?
Hunstanton Beach on the north Norfolk beach has a proposed pier in the works, but there are people determined to sabotage the project and will stop at nothing. The whys and wherefores are a superb read; I really loved this book and am glad to have a new author with a whole series of books to read.
Thank you Netgalley, Severn Books and Jim Kelly for the ARC.
A very tense book full of interesting facts: how tunnels are built under water (something that always mystified and scared me!), the 'tunnel tigers' that work in the caissons and how they get in and out of the water; the great storm, an epic tempest that killed thousands of people, mainly in Holland and England - and of course, what is a caisson? You'll have to read the book and enjoy the claustrophobia from the safety of your chair!
There are 2 mysteries the detectives have to solve: why is an elderly lady handing out poisoned candy at the bus stop and who planted the exploded bomb on the beach?
Hunstanton Beach on the north Norfolk beach has a proposed pier in the works, but there are people determined to sabotage the project and will stop at nothing. The whys and wherefores are a superb read; I really loved this book and am glad to have a new author with a whole series of books to read.
Thank you Netgalley, Severn Books and Jim Kelly for the ARC.
November 10, 2022
I really struggled with this book, but persevered because of the local setting. There was a lot of detail which went over my head, but I was able to skim over that and finish the book.
December 29, 2019
The book held an intriguing mystery story line. However there seemed to be a new character introduced every chapter and there were a lot of chapters > 54 of them. There was one character (Lau) mentioned in two chapters that didn't seem to have anything to do with the plot. Some chapters started out with descriptions of settings making me wonder what has this got to do with anything before a character was named. The lead characters were not that interesting: DS and DI which I think stood for Detective Sargeant and Detective Inspector which is a guess as it was not explained. There were other acronyms that were also puzzling such as CCTV. I suppose if you were British you would know these things.
Part of the plot centered around the 1953, one in a thousand year, storm, which was a true event (that isn't attributed to climate change).
Part of the plot centered around the 1953, one in a thousand year, storm, which was a true event (that isn't attributed to climate change).
October 16, 2016
**I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley. The opinions in this review are solely my own.**
Death Ship is the 7th installment in the Shaw & Valentine mystery series.
The action starts immediately and continues non-stop for the entire book! DI Peter Shaw and DS George Valentine are investigating an explosion at Hunstanton Beach, protesters sabotaging a local pier building project, new evidence in a cold case from 1953, and a missing Dutch national. Past and present meld into a riveting, action-filled police procedural!
Death ship is perfectly paced, exciting and well-written.The plot is multi-faceted, combining threads from several cases into a suspenseful revelation of hidden, dangerous secrets.
This is the first book in this series I have read. I could tell the main characters have some issues from prior books, and I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series to find out the whole story. The books don't have to be read in order. I was able to follow the story and enjoy the characters, plot and suspense without knowing what occurred in prior books. But, to totally understand Shaw and Valentine, I'm going to go back and read the prior stories and then read this book a second time.
This was a riveting, suspenseful police procedural. Any reader who enjoys thrillers, procedurals or mystery novels would love this book!
Jim Kelly also writes the Phillip Dryden series. Find out more about the author on his website: www.jim-kelly.co.uk
Death Ship will be released by Severn House December 1st.
Death Ship is the 7th installment in the Shaw & Valentine mystery series.
The action starts immediately and continues non-stop for the entire book! DI Peter Shaw and DS George Valentine are investigating an explosion at Hunstanton Beach, protesters sabotaging a local pier building project, new evidence in a cold case from 1953, and a missing Dutch national. Past and present meld into a riveting, action-filled police procedural!
Death ship is perfectly paced, exciting and well-written.The plot is multi-faceted, combining threads from several cases into a suspenseful revelation of hidden, dangerous secrets.
This is the first book in this series I have read. I could tell the main characters have some issues from prior books, and I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series to find out the whole story. The books don't have to be read in order. I was able to follow the story and enjoy the characters, plot and suspense without knowing what occurred in prior books. But, to totally understand Shaw and Valentine, I'm going to go back and read the prior stories and then read this book a second time.
This was a riveting, suspenseful police procedural. Any reader who enjoys thrillers, procedurals or mystery novels would love this book!
Jim Kelly also writes the Phillip Dryden series. Find out more about the author on his website: www.jim-kelly.co.uk
Death Ship will be released by Severn House December 1st.
January 15, 2017
Another blinding novel by Jim Kelly featuring the highly enjoyable characters of Peter Shaw and George Valentine. This novel finds them in Sunny Hunny on the North Norfolk coast, of all places. Two stories intertwine and in his usual manner, are slowly unraveled and explained bringing it all to a satisfying conclusion. Long life to Jim Kelly! Keep 'em coming!
December 28, 2019
I will rate this at a very weak 4 stars. The author does an excellent job of capturing the setting (primarily in this case the coast on the eastern side of the Wash) but has overlaid it with a quite a few fictional elements. The writing is good, but the plot (while it has a few moments) isn't that strong or interesting.
April 26, 2018
This is the first book I've read by Jim Kelly, so he's a new author for me. I liked the style of writing and the story line, but found the small print and crammed pages a detriment. I'm all for saving paper and preventing waste but not when it comes to my reading enjoyment. Waste-wise author.
June 25, 2017
I find these books slow moving but i still enjoy reading them. I thought this topic was a bit different and so more interesting.
September 21, 2017
couldn't get into this book. Stopped at the 3rd chapter
January 11, 2018
Weak story with endless details and descriptions with many factual errors.
May 30, 2019
Five word review: Standard procedural set in Norfolk
December 26, 2018
I picked up this book when the mobile library came to work and I wandered over randomly to look at what they had. The title caught my eye first and the cover made me look further. The blurb was intriguing enough to make me decide to give it a go even if it isn't the first book in the Shaw & Valentine series.
It was a good read and I quite enjoyed it.
Unlike the last serial crime novel I read, this one did a brilliant job allowing a new reader to jump into the series. Everything was explained without confusion or lingering storylines from before. At the same time, the book jumped straight into one of the cases being handled in such a way as to draw the reader right into the story.
Many of the twists were well handled and not immediately visible, though there were some exceptions, mostly given away due to poor handling (see below). The various aspects the police are dealing with is far more believable than the one case so often dealt with in crime novels. It also allowed for things to come together from seemingly disparate sources, which felt far more natural than can often happen.
I also like the wide range of points of view we had in the novel, from the two main characters to various supporting characters and even a shark. It gave differing ways of looking at it and shows how things can come together far better than the main characters later being 'told' how others discovered things.
My only 2 complaints were that the title of the book, while being very intriguing, gave away far too much too soon. The connection to a ship comes in much later and with the title being what it was, gave away this angle long before the story got there. So while a great title, it was a bad idea to give it to this novel as it is a massive spoiler given far too soon. The second issue I had is that the point of view shifts abruptly at times. Each chapter is supposed to be from one character's pov but, when convenient, we suddenly jump into someone else's pov for a line or two so the author can work something in which he needs to. This is sloppy and, once again, gives away important details by drawing attention to them in such as way as to mark them with a glaring neon light rather than having them pass beneath notice until later when they are more important.
It was a good read and I quite enjoyed it.
Unlike the last serial crime novel I read, this one did a brilliant job allowing a new reader to jump into the series. Everything was explained without confusion or lingering storylines from before. At the same time, the book jumped straight into one of the cases being handled in such a way as to draw the reader right into the story.
Many of the twists were well handled and not immediately visible, though there were some exceptions, mostly given away due to poor handling (see below). The various aspects the police are dealing with is far more believable than the one case so often dealt with in crime novels. It also allowed for things to come together from seemingly disparate sources, which felt far more natural than can often happen.
I also like the wide range of points of view we had in the novel, from the two main characters to various supporting characters and even a shark. It gave differing ways of looking at it and shows how things can come together far better than the main characters later being 'told' how others discovered things.
My only 2 complaints were that the title of the book, while being very intriguing, gave away far too much too soon. The connection to a ship comes in much later and with the title being what it was, gave away this angle long before the story got there. So while a great title, it was a bad idea to give it to this novel as it is a massive spoiler given far too soon. The second issue I had is that the point of view shifts abruptly at times. Each chapter is supposed to be from one character's pov but, when convenient, we suddenly jump into someone else's pov for a line or two so the author can work something in which he needs to. This is sloppy and, once again, gives away important details by drawing attention to them in such as way as to mark them with a glaring neon light rather than having them pass beneath notice until later when they are more important.
November 2, 2020
Detective Inspector Peter Shaw and his sergeant George Valentine live and work in the beach resort town of Hunstanton near Norfolk, England. Shaw is also a member of the local life boat crew and a diver, while Valentine hates the water.
A family at the beach digs a deep hole in the sand and exposes something that suddenly explodes. Is it a leftover WWII bomb? If so for which side? And are there more?
An elderly woman is giving out lethal candies at the bus stop. Why?
A Dutch tourist goes missing, presumed drowned. But there's no body.
A new pier is being built to replace a long-vanished one, but bigger and uglier. There's a protest group. Are some of them violent enough to set off the explosion?
Now and then there's a brief mention of a long-sunken ship. With skeletons. How does this work in with the other goings-on.
Interesting characters.
Published in 2016, this is the last of these books so far. I'd like to see more of them and what comes next.
A family at the beach digs a deep hole in the sand and exposes something that suddenly explodes. Is it a leftover WWII bomb? If so for which side? And are there more?
An elderly woman is giving out lethal candies at the bus stop. Why?
A Dutch tourist goes missing, presumed drowned. But there's no body.
A new pier is being built to replace a long-vanished one, but bigger and uglier. There's a protest group. Are some of them violent enough to set off the explosion?
Now and then there's a brief mention of a long-sunken ship. With skeletons. How does this work in with the other goings-on.
Interesting characters.
Published in 2016, this is the last of these books so far. I'd like to see more of them and what comes next.
May 8, 2025
Death Ship – A Shaw and Valentine Mystery – Published 2016 - ***1/2 – An elderly lady killing with chocolate candy and a bomb on the beach start the ball rolling for this mystery. The back and forth between Shaw and Valentine is weak in this book reducing its charm. The book is 229 pages which should fly by but for some reason was slow and at times a tedious read. The police procedural was okay but the pace felt lacking in tension – too measured not enough pressure. For Goodreads the three and a half stars will be rounded up to four stars. Still a worth while read, just not up to the level of some other Kelly books.
February 13, 2019
Great plot with surprising twists and turns. The setting is beautifully described and well researched. Although I don't know the area well, by the time I'd finished the book it felt familiar. Some stunning descriptions of sea and coastlines.
The characters are all convincing and the link with an actual event (the floods of 1953) was completely plausible.
I'll definitely read another.
The characters are all convincing and the link with an actual event (the floods of 1953) was completely plausible.
I'll definitely read another.
June 3, 2017
Another excellent entry in the Shaw and Valentine series. I was mystified until the end, which is something I always want from a mystery. This one involves three seemingly disparate cases which in the end are strangely connected. Read this book, you won't be sorry!
December 31, 2020
I've always liked Mr. Kelly's books and this one was no exception. The three cases involved here are fascinating and show how busy things can be even in policing a mostly rural area. Most crime books focus on one team dealing with one case whereas this one probably tells it more like it really is.
May 24, 2017
This book, like most every entry in this series, was interesting and kept me reading after lights out.
May 12, 2021
Excellent clue by clue detective work
March 29, 2022
The plot dragged a little and some of the suspects didn't have enough
personality for me to care much what happened.
personality for me to care much what happened.
March 19, 2017
I very much enjoyed this book. As a US reader, I found myself wanting to look up occasional police terms, and idioms unique to the UK; but I could have followed the story without so doing. This is a great story for mystery lovers, police procedurals, and stories set on the coast and involving the sea.
I also loved a twist ending
I also loved a twist ending
January 22, 2017
In this seventh book in the Shaw & Valentine series, the tiny North Sea resort town of Hunstanton again plays a major role. The pair are investigating the disappearance of a Dutch tourist, apparently missing in a diving mishap, and the case of an old woman who handed out candies at the local bus stop with a lethal result. And there is ongoing tension with protestors demonstrating and taking action against the construction of a huge gaudy new pier to replace the Victorian one destroyed by time, flood and fire. Then there is an explosion at the beach – was it unexploded ordnance from WWII, an act of violent protest against the pier, or some other crime altogether.
The plot skillfully weaves together current economic and social concerns about the pier and the long history of crimes and disasters on this sparsely inhabited stretch of coast. There are tie ins with the deadly flood of January 1953, and with a long-forgotten WWI zeppelin raid.
The characters of Shaw and Valentine are continuing to work out their relationship – Valentine was Shaw’s father partner when Shaw was a boy, now he reports to him. There is greater understanding, ease and trust between them now. Their family lives are also evolving – Valentine’s recent remarriage, Shaw’s wife on a trip to Jamaica to discover her roots. Even the minor characters are fleshed out and three dimensional – the three boys who find the bomb on the beach, the old woman with the poison candy, the workers on the rig who are building the pier.
There is a lot of fascinating site specific information woven throughout the story - the lives of the “tunnel tigers”, brave and highly skilled workers who spend their lives underwater constantly at risk for death by drowning or decompression, and the lifeboat and hovercraft crews who are always on call to rescue or recover the victims of water accidents. The description of life and near death inside the caisson is unforgettable, as is the whole business about the cause and effects of the bends. There are odd water sports like wild swimming and static apnea.
Among the chief attractions of Kelly’s writing are the evocative descriptions of the area – the red and white striped cliffs, the hundred-mile beach with its salt flats and tide pools, the differences between high tide and low tide ecosystems, the wealth of wildlife, the incredible tidal rush which can cover a half a mile in less than a minute, and all the ways people live with and in spite of the water.
The series is exceptionally well written and consistently engaging.
The plot skillfully weaves together current economic and social concerns about the pier and the long history of crimes and disasters on this sparsely inhabited stretch of coast. There are tie ins with the deadly flood of January 1953, and with a long-forgotten WWI zeppelin raid.
The characters of Shaw and Valentine are continuing to work out their relationship – Valentine was Shaw’s father partner when Shaw was a boy, now he reports to him. There is greater understanding, ease and trust between them now. Their family lives are also evolving – Valentine’s recent remarriage, Shaw’s wife on a trip to Jamaica to discover her roots. Even the minor characters are fleshed out and three dimensional – the three boys who find the bomb on the beach, the old woman with the poison candy, the workers on the rig who are building the pier.
There is a lot of fascinating site specific information woven throughout the story - the lives of the “tunnel tigers”, brave and highly skilled workers who spend their lives underwater constantly at risk for death by drowning or decompression, and the lifeboat and hovercraft crews who are always on call to rescue or recover the victims of water accidents. The description of life and near death inside the caisson is unforgettable, as is the whole business about the cause and effects of the bends. There are odd water sports like wild swimming and static apnea.
Among the chief attractions of Kelly’s writing are the evocative descriptions of the area – the red and white striped cliffs, the hundred-mile beach with its salt flats and tide pools, the differences between high tide and low tide ecosystems, the wealth of wildlife, the incredible tidal rush which can cover a half a mile in less than a minute, and all the ways people live with and in spite of the water.
The series is exceptionally well written and consistently engaging.
February 26, 2017
The story was good but there were so many references to British places,slng terms etc., I didn't know what the references meant. Did not really like this book.
October 7, 2016
Another solid achievement
I reviewed Death on Demand last year and Death Ship is the latest in the DI Shaw and DS Valentine series and it’s another excellent read which will be thoroughly enjoyed by lovers of the crime/detective genre. Jim Kelly is certainly a master of his craft.
The novel is again set on the Norfolk coast which the author clearly knows well as the flavour of that region comes through in spades and the sea can almost be tasted. There are several story lines which intermingle well through the plot as the leads which are discovered are followed up by various members of the team.
An elderly woman randomly poisons strangers. A Dutch diver goes missing. Local feelings are running high against the development of a new pier. It’s all good stuff and the author leads to reader through the maze of evidence to a dramatic conclusion. It’s so well put together that it is difficult to criticise any aspect of its construction or plot detail.
However, on reflection DI Peter Shaw is just too good to be true and that irritates me. I am not sure we would get on as he is Mr Perfection (yes - with a capital P). He frictionlessly manages his team while effortlessly carrying out his other duties; he is a scuba diver; he drives a Porsche and even has an ethnic, long term girlfriend. Oh boy, would I hate him in real life. For that reason and for that reason only it’s 4 stars not 5 but it really is a cracking read and not one to be missed.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
I reviewed Death on Demand last year and Death Ship is the latest in the DI Shaw and DS Valentine series and it’s another excellent read which will be thoroughly enjoyed by lovers of the crime/detective genre. Jim Kelly is certainly a master of his craft.
The novel is again set on the Norfolk coast which the author clearly knows well as the flavour of that region comes through in spades and the sea can almost be tasted. There are several story lines which intermingle well through the plot as the leads which are discovered are followed up by various members of the team.
An elderly woman randomly poisons strangers. A Dutch diver goes missing. Local feelings are running high against the development of a new pier. It’s all good stuff and the author leads to reader through the maze of evidence to a dramatic conclusion. It’s so well put together that it is difficult to criticise any aspect of its construction or plot detail.
However, on reflection DI Peter Shaw is just too good to be true and that irritates me. I am not sure we would get on as he is Mr Perfection (yes - with a capital P). He frictionlessly manages his team while effortlessly carrying out his other duties; he is a scuba diver; he drives a Porsche and even has an ethnic, long term girlfriend. Oh boy, would I hate him in real life. For that reason and for that reason only it’s 4 stars not 5 but it really is a cracking read and not one to be missed.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
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