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DS Alexandra Cupidi #1
Salt Lane
No-one knew their names, the bodies found in the water. There are people here, in plain sight, that no-one ever notices at all.
DS Alexandra Cupidi has done it again. She should have learnt to keep her big mouth shut, after the scandal that sent her packing - resentful teenager in tow - from the London Met to the lonely Kent coastline. Even murder looks different in this landscape of fens, ditches and stark beaches, shadowed by the towers of Dungeness power station. Murder looks a lot less pretty.
The man drowned in the slurry pit had been herded there like an animal. He was North African, like many of the fruit pickers that work the fields. The more Cupidi discovers, the more she wants to ask - but these people are suspicious of questions.
It will take an understanding of this strange place - its old ways and new crimes - to uncover the dark conspiracy behind the murder. Cupidi is not afraid to travel that road. But she should be. She should, by now, have learnt.
Salt Lane is the first in the new DS Alexandra Cupidi series.
DS Alexandra Cupidi has done it again. She should have learnt to keep her big mouth shut, after the scandal that sent her packing - resentful teenager in tow - from the London Met to the lonely Kent coastline. Even murder looks different in this landscape of fens, ditches and stark beaches, shadowed by the towers of Dungeness power station. Murder looks a lot less pretty.
The man drowned in the slurry pit had been herded there like an animal. He was North African, like many of the fruit pickers that work the fields. The more Cupidi discovers, the more she wants to ask - but these people are suspicious of questions.
It will take an understanding of this strange place - its old ways and new crimes - to uncover the dark conspiracy behind the murder. Cupidi is not afraid to travel that road. But she should be. She should, by now, have learnt.
Salt Lane is the first in the new DS Alexandra Cupidi series.
455 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2018
246 people are currently reading
2216 people want to read
About the author
William Shaw
20 books532 followersI'm a crime writer and write the Eden Driscoll series set in South Devon, the Alex Cupidi series set in Dungeness, Kent and the Breen & Tozer series set in London in 1968-9. The Red Shore – first in the Eden Driscoll series – is published on July 3 2025.
My most recent book is The Wild Swimmers,, the fifth in the Alex Cupid series - if you don't count The Birdwatcher .
In July 2025 I'm publishing the first in a new series set in South Devon, The Red Shore.
My non-fiction books include Westsiders , an account of several young would-be rappers struggling to establish themselves against a backdrop of poverty and violence in South Central Los Angeles, Superhero For Hire , a compilation and of the Small Ads columns I wrote for the Observer Magazine, and Spying In Guru Land , in which I joined several British religious cults to write about them.
A Song From Dead Lips was the first in a trilogy of books set in London in 1968, featuring DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. It was followed by A House of Knives and A Book of Scars .
I live in Brighton and play music with Brighton Ceilidh Collective. I also run an online book event called
My most recent book is The Wild Swimmers,, the fifth in the Alex Cupid series - if you don't count The Birdwatcher .
In July 2025 I'm publishing the first in a new series set in South Devon, The Red Shore.
My non-fiction books include Westsiders , an account of several young would-be rappers struggling to establish themselves against a backdrop of poverty and violence in South Central Los Angeles, Superhero For Hire , a compilation and of the Small Ads columns I wrote for the Observer Magazine, and Spying In Guru Land , in which I joined several British religious cults to write about them.
A Song From Dead Lips was the first in a trilogy of books set in London in 1968, featuring DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. It was followed by A House of Knives and A Book of Scars .
I live in Brighton and play music with Brighton Ceilidh Collective. I also run an online book event called
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
April 10, 2018
William Shaw begins this series featuring DS Alex Cupidi after introducing us to her in the excellent The Birdwatcher, set in the remote, atmospheric and isolated Kent coastline with its marshes. The story echoes many current social and political issues in Britain today, the anti-immigrant fervour, the lack of rights and inability to work faced asylum seekers, and the precarious and exploitative world of gangmasters and vulnerable migrant workers desperately needed to pick fruit and vegetables on farms. Alex has settled into her new home after working at the Met in London, but her affair with a married cop which precipitated her move to Kent, comes back to haunt her in the present. Her daughter, Zoe, is a loner, and unlike many young teens, has become a passionate birdwatcher. Alex worries about her as the distance between them grows, and Zoe emanates a deep sadness that she fails to get to the bottom of.
A body of a woman is found in the waters close to Salt Lane. It has been there for some time and the cause of death is hard to determine. The victim is eventually identified as Hilary Keen, and a visit to her son, Julian, to notify him of her death raises a surprising conundrum, Julian had seen Keen the night before, meaning his mother could not be their murder victim. Who is the real Hilary Keen? Another murder victim is discovered by a farmer in his slurry tank, a muslim North African man who had been assaulted prior to being killed. Alex finds herself working with the young, enthusiastic and keen Constable Ferriter, a woman with bags of courage and personality, who is emotionally hard hit by the first murders that she encounters. Alex's boss, DI MacAdam, finds himself having to face the stress and pressures of an IPCC investigation over his decisions that result in a man's death. Progress on the two cases is slow and laboured as questions asked of migrant workers reveal a wall of silence and fear. Cupidi and Ferriter slowly begin to get an inkling of the truth and the connections between the two murders as danger and menace begins to surround them.
William Shaw weaves a great compelling and atmospheric crime story that is politically and socially relevant. Alex is a flawed central character, dogged in her determination to uncover the truth that lie behind the murders. She is neglectful of Zoe, which has her inviting her mother to stay, even though there is a difficult relationship between them. Shaw has done a sterling job in establishing her as a woman cop that commands interest, so much so that I am really looking forward to her next outing! This is an engaging and entertaining crime novel that I loved reading with a fantastic location. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
A body of a woman is found in the waters close to Salt Lane. It has been there for some time and the cause of death is hard to determine. The victim is eventually identified as Hilary Keen, and a visit to her son, Julian, to notify him of her death raises a surprising conundrum, Julian had seen Keen the night before, meaning his mother could not be their murder victim. Who is the real Hilary Keen? Another murder victim is discovered by a farmer in his slurry tank, a muslim North African man who had been assaulted prior to being killed. Alex finds herself working with the young, enthusiastic and keen Constable Ferriter, a woman with bags of courage and personality, who is emotionally hard hit by the first murders that she encounters. Alex's boss, DI MacAdam, finds himself having to face the stress and pressures of an IPCC investigation over his decisions that result in a man's death. Progress on the two cases is slow and laboured as questions asked of migrant workers reveal a wall of silence and fear. Cupidi and Ferriter slowly begin to get an inkling of the truth and the connections between the two murders as danger and menace begins to surround them.
William Shaw weaves a great compelling and atmospheric crime story that is politically and socially relevant. Alex is a flawed central character, dogged in her determination to uncover the truth that lie behind the murders. She is neglectful of Zoe, which has her inviting her mother to stay, even though there is a difficult relationship between them. Shaw has done a sterling job in establishing her as a woman cop that commands interest, so much so that I am really looking forward to her next outing! This is an engaging and entertaining crime novel that I loved reading with a fantastic location. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
July 13, 2018
The world is full of desperation.
Desperation seems to be the driving force that makes one feel the pinpricks of their present existence. It bears no precise name, no precise locality. It visits upon the strong and the weak. It's the causal factor in being misguided, misinformed, and misjudging of the stranger who travels a far different road.
Detective Sergeant Alex Cupidi still feels the uneasiness of her decision to leave the London Met Police and take on a new assignment with the Kent Police. Funny thing. Choosing to become a police nomad came upon her as she desired to leave her past life in the rearview mirror. A questionable relationship with her married senior officer, David Colquhoun, left her no choice but to make tracks in a different direction with her sixteen year old daughter, Zoe.
That same desperation pits mother and daughter in quite the stand-off as each tries to find a new identity and a new existence. Zoe takes to the shore with her love of birdwatching. So much time as a solo figure out in the wind and the rain. Alex faces long hours committed to a profession that doesn't leave her much time to heal old wounds and bandage new ones.
When the body of an older woman is found in the ditch water off Salt Lane, Alex is called to the crime scene. It's not too far from the cabin that Alex shares with Zoe. There is uncertainty of the identity of the female who appears to have been homeless. Even though the identity has been ID'd by a local dentist, Alex is not too sure. Soon another body is found in a tank on Horse Bones Farm. He appears to be an immigrant with no chance of ID. Are these bodies connected in any way?
William Shaw tells a tale like no other. I discovered his stellar writing in The Birdwatcher which is one of my favorites of 2017. It is in The Birdwatcher that we first come across Alex and Zoe. (Salt Lane reads as a complete standalone.) Shaw takes us on a journey of the frailty of human nature and the deeply buried secrets we hover over within our lifetimes. He brings in the timetable of the past awash with the current challenges of today's world. There's an emphasis that nothing exists in pure black and white or solid cut and dry anymore. The world has changed drastically and the puzzle pieces take on the curves and edges of a different hue. A new mindset for a new world.
Salt Lane is wonderfully written with characters that reflect humanity for the good, the bad, and the indifferent. Crime has existed since Cain and Abel. It's never going away any time soon. It is my hope that you also give yourself the opportunity to pick up The Birdwatcher. Both are literary treasures for sure.
I received a copy of Salt Lane through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Mulholland Books (Quercus) and to the talented William Shaw for the opportunity.
Desperation seems to be the driving force that makes one feel the pinpricks of their present existence. It bears no precise name, no precise locality. It visits upon the strong and the weak. It's the causal factor in being misguided, misinformed, and misjudging of the stranger who travels a far different road.
Detective Sergeant Alex Cupidi still feels the uneasiness of her decision to leave the London Met Police and take on a new assignment with the Kent Police. Funny thing. Choosing to become a police nomad came upon her as she desired to leave her past life in the rearview mirror. A questionable relationship with her married senior officer, David Colquhoun, left her no choice but to make tracks in a different direction with her sixteen year old daughter, Zoe.
That same desperation pits mother and daughter in quite the stand-off as each tries to find a new identity and a new existence. Zoe takes to the shore with her love of birdwatching. So much time as a solo figure out in the wind and the rain. Alex faces long hours committed to a profession that doesn't leave her much time to heal old wounds and bandage new ones.
When the body of an older woman is found in the ditch water off Salt Lane, Alex is called to the crime scene. It's not too far from the cabin that Alex shares with Zoe. There is uncertainty of the identity of the female who appears to have been homeless. Even though the identity has been ID'd by a local dentist, Alex is not too sure. Soon another body is found in a tank on Horse Bones Farm. He appears to be an immigrant with no chance of ID. Are these bodies connected in any way?
William Shaw tells a tale like no other. I discovered his stellar writing in The Birdwatcher which is one of my favorites of 2017. It is in The Birdwatcher that we first come across Alex and Zoe. (Salt Lane reads as a complete standalone.) Shaw takes us on a journey of the frailty of human nature and the deeply buried secrets we hover over within our lifetimes. He brings in the timetable of the past awash with the current challenges of today's world. There's an emphasis that nothing exists in pure black and white or solid cut and dry anymore. The world has changed drastically and the puzzle pieces take on the curves and edges of a different hue. A new mindset for a new world.
Salt Lane is wonderfully written with characters that reflect humanity for the good, the bad, and the indifferent. Crime has existed since Cain and Abel. It's never going away any time soon. It is my hope that you also give yourself the opportunity to pick up The Birdwatcher. Both are literary treasures for sure.
I received a copy of Salt Lane through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Mulholland Books (Quercus) and to the talented William Shaw for the opportunity.
April 29, 2018
3.5 stars
One of my favourite books of last year was The Birdwatcher. The MC was William South, a cop with a dodgy past who runs up against a new colleague named DS Alexandra Cupidi. In this outing she takes over the lead as a member of the Serious Crime team with Kent police.
Alexandra arrived in the area as a transfer from the Met. After an affair with a colleague in London was discovered, she packed up teenage daughter Zoë & moved to Dungeness. It hasn’t been an easy transition for either one of them.
I won’t go into the plot too much, the book blurb gives a good recap. Initially there are 2 puzzling cases on Alexandra’s plate: a dead woman who seems to be in 2 places at the same time & the body of a migrant found in a farm slurry. There are multiple twists to each tale that keep you guessing & Alex seems to have a talent for getting into sticky situations.
I must confess it took me along time to warm up to the MC. Understandably, she feels like a fish out of water in her new home & her involvement with the William South case didn’t exactly endear her to colleagues. Their relationships aren’t helped by her prickly personality but she does form an odd bond with Constable Jill Ferrier, her polar opposite. Her work ethic results in her being a largely absent parent & as Zoë becomes increasingly isolated & withdrawn, there were times I wanted to reach through the pages & give Alexandra a good shake. I was also a little confused about the sudden appearance of a former colleague from the Met. His short inclusion didn’t really add anything to the story & it slowed the pace around the much more intriguing murder investigations.
It’s also a story about fitting in. Doesn’t matter if you’re an African migrant or cop from London. You’re clearly from away & don’t know the people, their past & customs. You have to learn the rhythm of local life which can be as difficult as navigating the fens.
So while I initially found it hard to connect with Alexandra as I did with William South, she started to grow on me. Life in the fens weaves its spell & she goes from feeling like an outsider to thinking maybe, just maybe, she’s found a place she & Zoë belong. The author has a writing style that is eminently readable. That plus the intricate plot will keep you turning the pages to see how it all shakes out.
One of my favourite books of last year was The Birdwatcher. The MC was William South, a cop with a dodgy past who runs up against a new colleague named DS Alexandra Cupidi. In this outing she takes over the lead as a member of the Serious Crime team with Kent police.
Alexandra arrived in the area as a transfer from the Met. After an affair with a colleague in London was discovered, she packed up teenage daughter Zoë & moved to Dungeness. It hasn’t been an easy transition for either one of them.
I won’t go into the plot too much, the book blurb gives a good recap. Initially there are 2 puzzling cases on Alexandra’s plate: a dead woman who seems to be in 2 places at the same time & the body of a migrant found in a farm slurry. There are multiple twists to each tale that keep you guessing & Alex seems to have a talent for getting into sticky situations.
I must confess it took me along time to warm up to the MC. Understandably, she feels like a fish out of water in her new home & her involvement with the William South case didn’t exactly endear her to colleagues. Their relationships aren’t helped by her prickly personality but she does form an odd bond with Constable Jill Ferrier, her polar opposite. Her work ethic results in her being a largely absent parent & as Zoë becomes increasingly isolated & withdrawn, there were times I wanted to reach through the pages & give Alexandra a good shake. I was also a little confused about the sudden appearance of a former colleague from the Met. His short inclusion didn’t really add anything to the story & it slowed the pace around the much more intriguing murder investigations.
It’s also a story about fitting in. Doesn’t matter if you’re an African migrant or cop from London. You’re clearly from away & don’t know the people, their past & customs. You have to learn the rhythm of local life which can be as difficult as navigating the fens.
So while I initially found it hard to connect with Alexandra as I did with William South, she started to grow on me. Life in the fens weaves its spell & she goes from feeling like an outsider to thinking maybe, just maybe, she’s found a place she & Zoë belong. The author has a writing style that is eminently readable. That plus the intricate plot will keep you turning the pages to see how it all shakes out.
July 2, 2018
The protagonist in this book is DS Alexandra Cupidi, who was a prickly, though secondary, character in The Birdwatcher. In that book, she was newly assigned to the Kent police. In Salt Lane, she and her daughter Zoë have now lived in the Dungeness area for a year. William Shaw's description of the area had me Googling for pictures. It is a flat, bleak, desolate area, and I found it fascinating.
Cupidi was not taking motherhood as seriously as she should, frequently working long hours, and leaving Zoë to fend for herself. I thought it was no wonder Zoë was feeling sad and alone and seeking solace in birds and nature. After Cupidi invited her mother to come stay with them, the history of this family was slowly revealed. Shaw did a wonderful job portraying the relationships between the three generations.
Cupidi often speaks and acts without thinking, which gets her into awkward situations. She’s a dedicated cop, and her boss is happy to have her on the team. Cupidi's partner, Constable Jill Ferriter, is eager and friendly which counters Cupidi perfectly. There was some understated humor between the two which made them more interesting.
Both of the cases that were being investigated were interesting, and I never favored one over the other. One murder required digging into a woman's past. The other was contemporary involving the death of a migrant worker. Both were intricately plotted and held some surprises. Shaw's writing style makes for easy reading, and I hated to put the book down.
Cupidi is a really interesting character, but I’d like her to be a more engaged mother. I hope it’s not too late. I think she learned some lessons about family and friendship in this book. I’m curious to see what Shaw has in store for her, both personally and professionally, in future books.
I thank Little, Brown and Company for offering this complimentary book to me.
Cupidi was not taking motherhood as seriously as she should, frequently working long hours, and leaving Zoë to fend for herself. I thought it was no wonder Zoë was feeling sad and alone and seeking solace in birds and nature. After Cupidi invited her mother to come stay with them, the history of this family was slowly revealed. Shaw did a wonderful job portraying the relationships between the three generations.
Cupidi often speaks and acts without thinking, which gets her into awkward situations. She’s a dedicated cop, and her boss is happy to have her on the team. Cupidi's partner, Constable Jill Ferriter, is eager and friendly which counters Cupidi perfectly. There was some understated humor between the two which made them more interesting.
Both of the cases that were being investigated were interesting, and I never favored one over the other. One murder required digging into a woman's past. The other was contemporary involving the death of a migrant worker. Both were intricately plotted and held some surprises. Shaw's writing style makes for easy reading, and I hated to put the book down.
Cupidi is a really interesting character, but I’d like her to be a more engaged mother. I hope it’s not too late. I think she learned some lessons about family and friendship in this book. I’m curious to see what Shaw has in store for her, both personally and professionally, in future books.
I thank Little, Brown and Company for offering this complimentary book to me.
Read
December 18, 2024A very atmospheric crime novel set on Romney Marsh. Great sense of place. The DS here is the usual basket case (hard drinking, says the wrong thing, bad reputation) but female, and the author takes an intelligent look at what that means. (eg her rep is because of an affair with a married fellow officer, and he's gone on to promoption while she's been exiled to Kent.) Interesting twisty mystery too.
August 23, 2020
I liked The birdwatcher slightly better. I thought a few events a bit unlikely, but I still enjoyed the ride.
July 27, 2018
The best mystery novels stay with you in a melancholy haze long after you close the cover for the last time. Why is this? The mystery is solved and the criminals are usually dealt with. It may be because the best mysteries, the ones that really matter, shine a light on the dark circumstances and desperations that cause folks to hurt one another. Conditions so harsh that their only choice is to break the law… even kill. These stories illuminate the ills of society brighter than the glare of a detective’s flashlight as they investigate the halls of a spooky Dartmoor estate. They enlarge the inequalities and hardships of certain lives clearer than a clue caught in Sherlock Holmes’s magnifying glass. They scream for the reader’s attention louder than the howls of a perp being roughly interrogated by a cop with a telephone book in the back of a dark alley.
William Shaw’s excellent new mystery, Salt Lane is just such a book. Days, weeks, months and even decades after you finish this beauty the story will follow you around like a needy beagle pup just adopted from the shelter. It will remain with you like that super large bowl of spicy tom yum goong soup you had for lunch that is causing the enzymes and bicarbonate in your small intestines to form a breakdancing crew specializing in wild air flares, erratic head spins, and turbulent windmills. It will permeate your very existence like the offensive spray spritzed from the anus of an angry skunk onto that aforementioned puppy that was just trying to make a new friend. And it will endure, not unlike that full back tattoo of metal band Iron Maiden’s skeleton-monster mascot, Eddie you got back in the early ‘90’s because you thought it made you look “edgy”.
Detective Sgt. Alexandra Cupidi, from Shaw’s previous book (the likewise stellar The Birdwatcher) is still living on the coastal wetlands of Kent. Cupidi clashes with her teenage daughter, she is estranged from her mother, and she struggles to connect with her new partner, the exasperatingly chipper Constable Jill Ferriter. Her life is a complicated jumble of personal fires and she seems to never have enough flame squelching chemicals in her personal extinguisher to put them out for more than a quick moment. But at work she shines. And that’s a good thing as the nearly naked body of a dead woman is fished out of a drainage ditch. Soon another body is found in a local farmstead’s manure pit. The story weaves in immigrant workers, a tragic fire from the past, and bygone regrets into a touching story that would make even the frozen face of a highly botoxed supermodel quiver and contort with emotion.
This is a good one folks. Shaw’s procedural will keep mystery lovers guessing whodunit. It will make lovers of fine writing seize and convulse in pleasure with such orgasmic aplomb that many parents will feel forced to call the police just to protect the innocence of their lovely children. And it will make librarians give anyone checking it out the ol’ stink-eye because they know with a book this good it is not going to be returned on time. Salt Lane is highly recommended!
William Shaw’s excellent new mystery, Salt Lane is just such a book. Days, weeks, months and even decades after you finish this beauty the story will follow you around like a needy beagle pup just adopted from the shelter. It will remain with you like that super large bowl of spicy tom yum goong soup you had for lunch that is causing the enzymes and bicarbonate in your small intestines to form a breakdancing crew specializing in wild air flares, erratic head spins, and turbulent windmills. It will permeate your very existence like the offensive spray spritzed from the anus of an angry skunk onto that aforementioned puppy that was just trying to make a new friend. And it will endure, not unlike that full back tattoo of metal band Iron Maiden’s skeleton-monster mascot, Eddie you got back in the early ‘90’s because you thought it made you look “edgy”.
Detective Sgt. Alexandra Cupidi, from Shaw’s previous book (the likewise stellar The Birdwatcher) is still living on the coastal wetlands of Kent. Cupidi clashes with her teenage daughter, she is estranged from her mother, and she struggles to connect with her new partner, the exasperatingly chipper Constable Jill Ferriter. Her life is a complicated jumble of personal fires and she seems to never have enough flame squelching chemicals in her personal extinguisher to put them out for more than a quick moment. But at work she shines. And that’s a good thing as the nearly naked body of a dead woman is fished out of a drainage ditch. Soon another body is found in a local farmstead’s manure pit. The story weaves in immigrant workers, a tragic fire from the past, and bygone regrets into a touching story that would make even the frozen face of a highly botoxed supermodel quiver and contort with emotion.
This is a good one folks. Shaw’s procedural will keep mystery lovers guessing whodunit. It will make lovers of fine writing seize and convulse in pleasure with such orgasmic aplomb that many parents will feel forced to call the police just to protect the innocence of their lovely children. And it will make librarians give anyone checking it out the ol’ stink-eye because they know with a book this good it is not going to be returned on time. Salt Lane is highly recommended!
November 26, 2017
Wonderful. Great writing, great location, great protagonist, brilliant characters and a socially relevant and emotionally resonant plot. All the ticks in all the boxes. Loved it.
Full review to follow nearer publication.
Full review to follow nearer publication.
April 13, 2018
Having really enjoyed, “The Birdwatcher,” I was delighted to see D S Alexander Cupidi come centre stage in the first of a new series. Cupidi left London for Kent, after having an affair with a married colleague, and relocated with her daughter, Zoe. Zoe is a troubled teenager, who has taken to birdwatching, after tagging along with William South, in the prequel novel. Unhappy at school, she spends her time on the Kent marshes and seems to have no friends of her own age. Alex is aware of her isolation, unhappiness and the fact that she is not spending enough time with her daughter, but she is also very career driven and apt to get caught up in the cases she is working on. In this novel, we get to know a little more about her, as we learn more about the affair which caused her to leave London and of the difficult relationship she has with her own mother.
In this book, Cupidi is dealing with two cases. One, the body of a woman found in Salt Lane, whose identity is not as clear cut as it first appears. Secondly, the body of a migrant worker, whose battered body is also discovered in the Kent countryside. For many of us, crime appears to be a city problem, but William Shaw has intelligently unearthed some of the problems faced by more rural areas; including the use of illegal immigrants in seasonal work and the secrecy among migrant workers, living undercover.
Working alongside Cupidi is the young, enthusiastic Constable Ferriter. She is full of ideas, and courage, but is also quite vulnerable and touched by the people she comes into contact with. Indeed, vulnerability is the theme of this crime novel, which is more literary, than fast paced. William Shaw always writes strong characters, as well as involved, intricate plots, and he deftly weaves a world where you see that the police are very much involved with, and touched by, the most vulnerable members of society. Indeed, for some of the characters of this book, they are outside society – marginalised by everything from immigration papers to lifestyle choices.
I have enjoyed William Shaw’s novels since his very first, Breen and Tozer book. Although I do really love that series, I also really loved this clever, contemporary crime novel. Unlike, “The Birdwatcher,” which also had a historical aspect, being partly set in Northern Ireland, during the Troubles, this is very much a modern crime novel, with relevant, contemporary issues. I look forward to reading anything else that William Shaw writes – he is one of my very favourite crime writers and never disappoints.
In this book, Cupidi is dealing with two cases. One, the body of a woman found in Salt Lane, whose identity is not as clear cut as it first appears. Secondly, the body of a migrant worker, whose battered body is also discovered in the Kent countryside. For many of us, crime appears to be a city problem, but William Shaw has intelligently unearthed some of the problems faced by more rural areas; including the use of illegal immigrants in seasonal work and the secrecy among migrant workers, living undercover.
Working alongside Cupidi is the young, enthusiastic Constable Ferriter. She is full of ideas, and courage, but is also quite vulnerable and touched by the people she comes into contact with. Indeed, vulnerability is the theme of this crime novel, which is more literary, than fast paced. William Shaw always writes strong characters, as well as involved, intricate plots, and he deftly weaves a world where you see that the police are very much involved with, and touched by, the most vulnerable members of society. Indeed, for some of the characters of this book, they are outside society – marginalised by everything from immigration papers to lifestyle choices.
I have enjoyed William Shaw’s novels since his very first, Breen and Tozer book. Although I do really love that series, I also really loved this clever, contemporary crime novel. Unlike, “The Birdwatcher,” which also had a historical aspect, being partly set in Northern Ireland, during the Troubles, this is very much a modern crime novel, with relevant, contemporary issues. I look forward to reading anything else that William Shaw writes – he is one of my very favourite crime writers and never disappoints.
June 27, 2018
SALT LANE is the first book in the Alexandra Cupidi series. However, Alexandra first showed up in the book THE BIRDWATCHER, which I haven't read (yet). I read a lot of crime novels and I was curious to see if this one would be to my taste. I'm glad to say that I liked this book and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
March 15, 2018
3.5 stars
After a slightly slow start, this picks up and develops into an engrossing plot - before slowing down again into a melodramatic finish with a left-field and unconvincing 'villain'. At 450 pages, the story stalls in places and could have been tightened up by losing 50-100 pages of padding.
DS Alex Cupidi (is that a real name?), first introduced in The Birdwatcher, now takes centre stage and, personally I could have done without the soap-opera elements of her vexed relationships with teenage daughter and mother, plus the insertion of a former married lover. More realistic and interesting is the development of her relationship with her subordinate/partner. The police procedural elements of the story are handled well, along with the internal politics of policing.
The plot of illegal migrants and asylum seekers has become the go-to for any commercial crime writer wanting to flag their social commentary skills, and such is the case here. It's handled fairly but predictably. And I guess that's my overall verdict: this hovers somewhere above the trashy end of the crime genre and below the more literary end. I liked it, didn't love it, and there's a kind of lack of personality and competent blandness that prevents it standing out in a very crowded marketplace: 3.5 stars for being readable but forgettable.
After a slightly slow start, this picks up and develops into an engrossing plot - before slowing down again into a melodramatic finish with a left-field and unconvincing 'villain'. At 450 pages, the story stalls in places and could have been tightened up by losing 50-100 pages of padding.
DS Alex Cupidi (is that a real name?), first introduced in The Birdwatcher, now takes centre stage and, personally I could have done without the soap-opera elements of her vexed relationships with teenage daughter and mother, plus the insertion of a former married lover. More realistic and interesting is the development of her relationship with her subordinate/partner. The police procedural elements of the story are handled well, along with the internal politics of policing.
The plot of illegal migrants and asylum seekers has become the go-to for any commercial crime writer wanting to flag their social commentary skills, and such is the case here. It's handled fairly but predictably. And I guess that's my overall verdict: this hovers somewhere above the trashy end of the crime genre and below the more literary end. I liked it, didn't love it, and there's a kind of lack of personality and competent blandness that prevents it standing out in a very crowded marketplace: 3.5 stars for being readable but forgettable.
February 2, 2019
I loved this author's "The Birdwatcher" so much that I just had to read this title which features Detective Sergeant Cupidi of the Serious Crimes Directorate in Kent.
Alexandra Cupidi has moved to Kent from London where she worked for the Metropolitan Police. After a dead-end affair with a married colleague, she 'up-sticks' with her teenage daughter and moved to Dungeness. She is a workaholic and devoted to her job. As a result her teenage daughter Zoë is often left to her own devices. Zoë harbours a lot of anger at her mother for taking her out of South London and away from all of her friends. Much to everyone's surprise Zoë has taken an eager interest in birdwatching, after being introduced to the pursuit by the protagonist of "The Birdwatcher". As a result, the local 'birders' often double as child-minders for DS Cupidi.
"The sheer scale of nature here was awesome; disturbing."
Things are busy in the Kent Police. They are short-staffed and now there has been two gruesome murders which took place about five miles apart from each other. Are they linked? But how?
A middle-aged woman is found in a drain culvert. She was dead before being put in the culvert but the pathologists cannot determine what killed her. Cupidi and her team discover where the woman was living, in a caravan behind a house in a nearby town. They discover a photograph of another caravan with two small boys in front...
A man's body is discovered immersed in a farmer's slurry pit. There is evidence that he was in hiding and the police presume he was an illegal immigrant.
What could possibly connect these two murders?
And... the dead woman was not who she claimed to be. How could two women share the same identity? The past holds all the secrets.
Impulsive and driven, Alex Cupidi puts herself in mortal danger to determine the truth.
MY THOUGHTS
Touted as the first novel in the D.S. Alex Cupidi series, I can only say that I will be eager to read every one of the future novels. Although technically a police procedural, this title was more about the crimes and the protagonists than police procedure per se. Although Alex Cupidi was introduced in the novel "The Birdwatcher", it is not at all necessary to read that one first - though I personally enjoyed this book's veiled references to the earlier book. I truly hope that William South, the protagonist of "The Birdwatcher" might make a future appearance in one of the Cupidi novels.
I relished the references to Cupidi's personal life. Her relationship with her daughter and her mother especially, but also her growing rapport with her female constable, Jill Ferriter, and her superior, DI McAdam.
"the world was full of desperation"
The crime was well researched and was very relevant to current social problems. The prevalence of 'gangmasters', illegal immigrants and illegal workers is one which is mentioned every day on the news. The author has shed some light on the issue, causing the reader to feel more of a connection to those directly affected. The author reveals humanity in all its guises, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The writing was superb and the plot moved along at a quick pace. The setting was atmospheric. The resolution was believable and realistic. Well done William Shaw! Highly recommended!
I purchased this novel in Kindle format. It is published by Quercus.
To read more of my reviews, visit: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/
Alexandra Cupidi has moved to Kent from London where she worked for the Metropolitan Police. After a dead-end affair with a married colleague, she 'up-sticks' with her teenage daughter and moved to Dungeness. She is a workaholic and devoted to her job. As a result her teenage daughter Zoë is often left to her own devices. Zoë harbours a lot of anger at her mother for taking her out of South London and away from all of her friends. Much to everyone's surprise Zoë has taken an eager interest in birdwatching, after being introduced to the pursuit by the protagonist of "The Birdwatcher". As a result, the local 'birders' often double as child-minders for DS Cupidi.
"The sheer scale of nature here was awesome; disturbing."
Things are busy in the Kent Police. They are short-staffed and now there has been two gruesome murders which took place about five miles apart from each other. Are they linked? But how?
A middle-aged woman is found in a drain culvert. She was dead before being put in the culvert but the pathologists cannot determine what killed her. Cupidi and her team discover where the woman was living, in a caravan behind a house in a nearby town. They discover a photograph of another caravan with two small boys in front...
A man's body is discovered immersed in a farmer's slurry pit. There is evidence that he was in hiding and the police presume he was an illegal immigrant.
What could possibly connect these two murders?
And... the dead woman was not who she claimed to be. How could two women share the same identity? The past holds all the secrets.
Impulsive and driven, Alex Cupidi puts herself in mortal danger to determine the truth.
MY THOUGHTS
Touted as the first novel in the D.S. Alex Cupidi series, I can only say that I will be eager to read every one of the future novels. Although technically a police procedural, this title was more about the crimes and the protagonists than police procedure per se. Although Alex Cupidi was introduced in the novel "The Birdwatcher", it is not at all necessary to read that one first - though I personally enjoyed this book's veiled references to the earlier book. I truly hope that William South, the protagonist of "The Birdwatcher" might make a future appearance in one of the Cupidi novels.
I relished the references to Cupidi's personal life. Her relationship with her daughter and her mother especially, but also her growing rapport with her female constable, Jill Ferriter, and her superior, DI McAdam.
"the world was full of desperation"
The crime was well researched and was very relevant to current social problems. The prevalence of 'gangmasters', illegal immigrants and illegal workers is one which is mentioned every day on the news. The author has shed some light on the issue, causing the reader to feel more of a connection to those directly affected. The author reveals humanity in all its guises, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The writing was superb and the plot moved along at a quick pace. The setting was atmospheric. The resolution was believable and realistic. Well done William Shaw! Highly recommended!
I purchased this novel in Kindle format. It is published by Quercus.
To read more of my reviews, visit: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/
January 30, 2020
A accomplished author who has created a new police series set around Dungeness. In DS Cupidi he has created a wonderful detective instinctive and headstrong. Often guilty of saying too much too quickly and speaking her mind without thinking.
Her move out from London is due to her relationship with another police officer and she is conscious of this history, mistakes made delaying her career and the pressure this has brought on her daughter.
The themes that link this novel are many and complex. On the face of it these include relationships, mainly as a Mother; Alex Cupidi with her daughter Zoe and Helen her own Mother.
In addition forgotten hidden societies whether New Age travellers, homeless and modern day issues with migrant workers and failed asylum seekers.
Finally the role of the police is looked at indirectly in how they can exasperate situations and turn issues into criminal activities and serious incidents.
Perhaps not learning from her default position of working on instincts and feeling safer than in the demanding streets of London. Maybe it is just her approach to policing but on a number of occasions Alex’s drive and pursuit of criminals leave her vulnerable. But perhaps she thinks a heavy response cannot be made silently and people can scatter and evidence lost.
Shaw examines this very well without coming down on one side or critiquing his protagonist. A thrilling climax makes use of this but allows for a brilliant ending and room to question the realities of immigration not as exploitation but in human terms.
I love this author’s writing, his humility and creativity. I hope with this novel his popularity will increase and his head will swell slightly to see and receive the acclaim he richly deserves.
A pleasure to read and review. Out May 3rd - Happy Publication day!
Her move out from London is due to her relationship with another police officer and she is conscious of this history, mistakes made delaying her career and the pressure this has brought on her daughter.
The themes that link this novel are many and complex. On the face of it these include relationships, mainly as a Mother; Alex Cupidi with her daughter Zoe and Helen her own Mother.
In addition forgotten hidden societies whether New Age travellers, homeless and modern day issues with migrant workers and failed asylum seekers.
Finally the role of the police is looked at indirectly in how they can exasperate situations and turn issues into criminal activities and serious incidents.
Perhaps not learning from her default position of working on instincts and feeling safer than in the demanding streets of London. Maybe it is just her approach to policing but on a number of occasions Alex’s drive and pursuit of criminals leave her vulnerable. But perhaps she thinks a heavy response cannot be made silently and people can scatter and evidence lost.
Shaw examines this very well without coming down on one side or critiquing his protagonist. A thrilling climax makes use of this but allows for a brilliant ending and room to question the realities of immigration not as exploitation but in human terms.
I love this author’s writing, his humility and creativity. I hope with this novel his popularity will increase and his head will swell slightly to see and receive the acclaim he richly deserves.
A pleasure to read and review. Out May 3rd - Happy Publication day!
October 13, 2021
It's hard to rate this book really...
As in the prequel once again I liked another character more than the main character Alexandra Cupidi!
If viewed as a crime novel for me it wasn't satisfying but if viewed as a drama with extension to social and communal problems it's good enough!
The mystery part gets lost mostly between Cupidi's flawed relationships with her daughter and her mother but also when her ex lover appears and causes more problems!
Also in great detail are described the hardships migrants face when refused asylum and what they have to do in order to survive!
It was easy from one point on to tell who was behind the murders but got the motive wrong!
I missed William South in this story and I wonder what happened to him and if he appears in the next stories! I must confess I would prefer him as the protagonist!
In this installment the person that won my sympathy was Jill Ferriter!
Another minus is that the editor did a poorly job since many things were left incorrect like double words, missing words and the wrong name in some sentences that made me double read to understand which person was actually meant!
As in the prequel once again I liked another character more than the main character Alexandra Cupidi!
If viewed as a crime novel for me it wasn't satisfying but if viewed as a drama with extension to social and communal problems it's good enough!
The mystery part gets lost mostly between Cupidi's flawed relationships with her daughter and her mother but also when her ex lover appears and causes more problems!
Also in great detail are described the hardships migrants face when refused asylum and what they have to do in order to survive!
It was easy from one point on to tell who was behind the murders but got the motive wrong!
I missed William South in this story and I wonder what happened to him and if he appears in the next stories! I must confess I would prefer him as the protagonist!
In this installment the person that won my sympathy was Jill Ferriter!
Another minus is that the editor did a poorly job since many things were left incorrect like double words, missing words and the wrong name in some sentences that made me double read to understand which person was actually meant!
September 23, 2019
I started off thinking that this was maybe a bit lightweight despite liking the opening idea of the story. However this did grow on me steadily. It moved from an ok 3 star to a decent 4 star by the end. The story lines woven in were very good. If I have a reservation it would be that I thought the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. However I bought book 2 while reading this so that definitely says something! Dark and gritty at times and those aspects I really liked.
May 13, 2023
This is the first novel I read by author William Shaw; it definitely won’t be the last. I loved it. Finally a new author (to me) who can write—great dialogue, interesting realistic characters, a twisty plot and, most important, “shows” rather than “tells” the story.
My U.K. friends read this one years ago, but it was only recently published for North American audiences, and so I’ll give a brief recap. It begins with a visit to a man in London by his mother, who abandoned him as a child. Then it switches to the discovery of a decayed body in a remote area in southeast England, a woman who is eventually identified as the one who supposedly recently visited her son. Another murder victim is discovered in a farmer’s slurry hole, this time the body belongs to Muslim North African man, a migrant worker. Trying to make sense of apparently unconnected events is DS Alex Cupidi, who appeared in an earlier novel—The Birdwatcher—one I didn’t read before starting SALT LANE. Apparently there are three more books available in the U.K. that come after the events described in SALT LANE, but these have not been released yet in North America.
I adored following the thread of clues along with DS Cupidi, the twists and turns. I very much enjoyed the insights provided into the lives of migrant farm workers who are brought into England specifically to do the backbreaking labour that locals will no longer perform.
Initially, I felt that Alex Cupidi was rather unlikeable, because in a traditional sense, she is. But then I realized my negative reaction to her conveyed a sexist attitude. I would find her brusque manner acceptable if she were male, or physically unattractive (like Ann Cleeves’ “Vera”). For some reason, we expect that women who meet acceptable standards in terms of their looks (but are not fabulously attractive) will also have a softly, pleasing nature, something that isn’t true in the real world.
On the other hand, I did have some problems understanding Zoe, her daughter. Possibly reading “The Birdwatcher” might make me more sympathetic towards Zoe. But reading SALT LANE as a standalone did not engender any warmth towards a 16-year-old girl who constantly explodes angrily, without explaining why.
4.5 stars overall, raised to 5.
After reading SALT LANE, and then enjoying another William Shaw novel, I looked up the author’s background. He began his writing career as a journalist and initially published nonfiction books. He has an acute eye for detail. Plus his thorough research into the issues around which he builds his stories is outstanding.
My U.K. friends read this one years ago, but it was only recently published for North American audiences, and so I’ll give a brief recap. It begins with a visit to a man in London by his mother, who abandoned him as a child. Then it switches to the discovery of a decayed body in a remote area in southeast England, a woman who is eventually identified as the one who supposedly recently visited her son. Another murder victim is discovered in a farmer’s slurry hole, this time the body belongs to Muslim North African man, a migrant worker. Trying to make sense of apparently unconnected events is DS Alex Cupidi, who appeared in an earlier novel—The Birdwatcher—one I didn’t read before starting SALT LANE. Apparently there are three more books available in the U.K. that come after the events described in SALT LANE, but these have not been released yet in North America.
I adored following the thread of clues along with DS Cupidi, the twists and turns. I very much enjoyed the insights provided into the lives of migrant farm workers who are brought into England specifically to do the backbreaking labour that locals will no longer perform.
Initially, I felt that Alex Cupidi was rather unlikeable, because in a traditional sense, she is. But then I realized my negative reaction to her conveyed a sexist attitude. I would find her brusque manner acceptable if she were male, or physically unattractive (like Ann Cleeves’ “Vera”). For some reason, we expect that women who meet acceptable standards in terms of their looks (but are not fabulously attractive) will also have a softly, pleasing nature, something that isn’t true in the real world.
On the other hand, I did have some problems understanding Zoe, her daughter. Possibly reading “The Birdwatcher” might make me more sympathetic towards Zoe. But reading SALT LANE as a standalone did not engender any warmth towards a 16-year-old girl who constantly explodes angrily, without explaining why.
4.5 stars overall, raised to 5.
After reading SALT LANE, and then enjoying another William Shaw novel, I looked up the author’s background. He began his writing career as a journalist and initially published nonfiction books. He has an acute eye for detail. Plus his thorough research into the issues around which he builds his stories is outstanding.
July 18, 2018
4 stars
Salt Lane is book #1 in the DS Alexandra Cupidi series. “The Birdwatcher” introduced DS Cupidi but she was not the main character and the book is considered to be a prequel for this new series, so if a reader wanted to start with this book, by all means go ahead.
DS Alexandra Cupidi is currently with the Kent police force after leaving the London police. She needed a break from a disastrous relationship in London so her and her daughter, Zoe have moved into a small cottage on a rocky beach in Dungeness. As any mother of a teenager, DS Cupidi is always worried about having Zoe on her own during the summers. A case develops involving the discovery of an older woman’s body in a drainage ditch after some heavy rains and flooding. The woman has no identification and is believed to be a homeless/rough sleeper. Soon, another body is discovered on farm land near the drainage ditch and again there is not identification of the man. He is a younger black male believed to be an immigrant working for the farms and therefore should have papers. DS Cupidi and her partner DC Ferriter are out to investigate who this man was and where did he come from? And, with the cases located so close together, is there a link? DS Cupidi and DC Ferriter will find it near impossible to investigate immigrants who want to avoid the police and immigration at all costs.
Very well written book and I found it to be quite timely. This takes place in England but can be said to be relevant in multiple countries that have taken an influx of immigrants. Migrant workers are needed in countries to work however, not everyone working is a legal migrant worker. Many employers who cannot hire residents or legal workers will turn a blind eye and hire the migrants. Since everyone involved wants to keep this quiet, many abuses can take place. Author William Shaw has done an excellent job of highlighting this plight. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company publishing and Ira for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Salt Lane is book #1 in the DS Alexandra Cupidi series. “The Birdwatcher” introduced DS Cupidi but she was not the main character and the book is considered to be a prequel for this new series, so if a reader wanted to start with this book, by all means go ahead.
DS Alexandra Cupidi is currently with the Kent police force after leaving the London police. She needed a break from a disastrous relationship in London so her and her daughter, Zoe have moved into a small cottage on a rocky beach in Dungeness. As any mother of a teenager, DS Cupidi is always worried about having Zoe on her own during the summers. A case develops involving the discovery of an older woman’s body in a drainage ditch after some heavy rains and flooding. The woman has no identification and is believed to be a homeless/rough sleeper. Soon, another body is discovered on farm land near the drainage ditch and again there is not identification of the man. He is a younger black male believed to be an immigrant working for the farms and therefore should have papers. DS Cupidi and her partner DC Ferriter are out to investigate who this man was and where did he come from? And, with the cases located so close together, is there a link? DS Cupidi and DC Ferriter will find it near impossible to investigate immigrants who want to avoid the police and immigration at all costs.
Very well written book and I found it to be quite timely. This takes place in England but can be said to be relevant in multiple countries that have taken an influx of immigrants. Migrant workers are needed in countries to work however, not everyone working is a legal migrant worker. Many employers who cannot hire residents or legal workers will turn a blind eye and hire the migrants. Since everyone involved wants to keep this quiet, many abuses can take place. Author William Shaw has done an excellent job of highlighting this plight. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company publishing and Ira for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2020
Salt Lane follows on from William’s previous novel The Birdwatcher but this can clearly be read as a stand-alone. Salt Lane continues in the same remote landscapes near Dungeness along the Kent coast. Many characters return from The Birdwatcher to play vital parts in Salt Lane. William’s writing style continues in this new story where bodies are found in very unexpected places. Follow Detective Sergeant Alexandra Cupidi of the Kent Police as she solves these murders and so much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Salt Lane. I found the characters great and very easy to relate to. I loved the rural settings and the descriptions of living in a remote area. I liked how the characters had colourful and very interesting pasts. I liked how William described lifestyles that were outside the public eye, playing in the background yet hidden in plain sight. It was nice to read how some characters had moved on from the peace convoy/new age traveller scene of the 1980’s to a whole range of different lifestyles.
I thought the plot was great and loved all the extra details and attitudes thrown into the story. I liked how Salt Lane was not just a police procedural but also focused on the family life of DS Alexandra Cupidi, her daughter Zoe and her mother Helen. I also liked her relationships with other police officers and the banter they shared between them.
I found Salt Lane to be a great reading experience and a great story to run with, day after day. The pace was good and steady, with no boring bits to wade through. I can find nothing wrong with this book, so it gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Salt Lane. I found the characters great and very easy to relate to. I loved the rural settings and the descriptions of living in a remote area. I liked how the characters had colourful and very interesting pasts. I liked how William described lifestyles that were outside the public eye, playing in the background yet hidden in plain sight. It was nice to read how some characters had moved on from the peace convoy/new age traveller scene of the 1980’s to a whole range of different lifestyles.
I thought the plot was great and loved all the extra details and attitudes thrown into the story. I liked how Salt Lane was not just a police procedural but also focused on the family life of DS Alexandra Cupidi, her daughter Zoe and her mother Helen. I also liked her relationships with other police officers and the banter they shared between them.
I found Salt Lane to be a great reading experience and a great story to run with, day after day. The pace was good and steady, with no boring bits to wade through. I can find nothing wrong with this book, so it gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
October 28, 2024
The first novel in this highly original series sees Detective Sergeant Alexandra Cupidi still finding her feet at her new posting in south Kent. To make matters worse, she is continually concerned about her brilliant but troubled daughter Zoe.
Dead bodies are turning up in drainage ditches in the Romney Marshes. First that of an unidentified migrant worker, then that of a woman whose son claims she’d visited him the day before at his London home. Most of the case seems to revolve the tragedies afflicting cheap foreign labour but one of the deaths could be linked to the murder of two children in a caravan back in 1995.
This is a brilliantly constructed thriller which tackles important contemporary issues with intelligence and empathy. The continuing themes of motherhood and paying for previous mistakes play an important role. The central characters are extremely well-rounded, individual and highly memorable.
Dead bodies are turning up in drainage ditches in the Romney Marshes. First that of an unidentified migrant worker, then that of a woman whose son claims she’d visited him the day before at his London home. Most of the case seems to revolve the tragedies afflicting cheap foreign labour but one of the deaths could be linked to the murder of two children in a caravan back in 1995.
This is a brilliantly constructed thriller which tackles important contemporary issues with intelligence and empathy. The continuing themes of motherhood and paying for previous mistakes play an important role. The central characters are extremely well-rounded, individual and highly memorable.
July 23, 2018
I am very angry at this book for somehow sneaking under the radar. I was a big fan of Shaw's last book, THE BIRDWATCHER, and this follow up (which appears to be the start of a new series) is a worthy successor, I'm just mad it took me so long to find out about it. (wyd Mulholland Books??? we just want to love you???)
I love a procedural. I also nitpick procedurals to death and can rarely find ones that measure up to my standards. While SALT LANE follows a pretty traditional formula (procedural that ends up intertwining with the detective's personal life, subplot of detective's conflict with co-workers and department, slow building feeling that a set of crimes are all connected, detective putting themselves in peril due to their stubborn devotion to their case, ripped from the headlines current events as central theme, etc etc) and even though I felt it hitting these familiar beats, I also felt it pushing back against them. In the midst of the policing and detecting and violence, Alex goes to a book club and eats dinner with her daughter and teases her partner about the guy who likes her and brings a grounded center to the story that makes it much easier to keep your balance when the wheels start turning faster and faster. (Sorry, that's like 3 mixed metaphors.)
Alex feels like a real person, which is crucial. But more than that, the policing stuff felt pretty real, too. Often the detective who insists a set of crimes must be connected based solely on a hunch is a huge eye roll from me. But here, Alex has more than a hunch and following her as she tries to find the connecting threads between two crimes feels like real detecting and not just filler until a great epiphany. Alex finds real things, bit by bit, and just like her, you as the reader see that there's something there but it isn't clear what. It's rare that I actually agree with a detective's evaluation of the case, but here I was right with her. When Alex needs to ask her mother about something for a major plot point, it doesn't feel ridiculously coincidental, it feels natural, like the rest of the book. And, even better, when it all does come together it feels earned. And it feels like you should have put it all together ages ago. Surprise and inevitability mixed together make the best kinds of endings.
I do have a few nits to pick, but they mostly came after I'd finished the book and not while I was racing through it. The migrant worker subplot mostly worked for me, though it created a few moments where I was nervous it would really screw it up. And while it opens up this secret world, it only takes the smallest peek at it instead of really diving in. Is this what would really happen? Most likely. Cupidi is a realist and so is this book.
Solid, quick read, looking forward to the series.
I love a procedural. I also nitpick procedurals to death and can rarely find ones that measure up to my standards. While SALT LANE follows a pretty traditional formula (procedural that ends up intertwining with the detective's personal life, subplot of detective's conflict with co-workers and department, slow building feeling that a set of crimes are all connected, detective putting themselves in peril due to their stubborn devotion to their case, ripped from the headlines current events as central theme, etc etc) and even though I felt it hitting these familiar beats, I also felt it pushing back against them. In the midst of the policing and detecting and violence, Alex goes to a book club and eats dinner with her daughter and teases her partner about the guy who likes her and brings a grounded center to the story that makes it much easier to keep your balance when the wheels start turning faster and faster. (Sorry, that's like 3 mixed metaphors.)
Alex feels like a real person, which is crucial. But more than that, the policing stuff felt pretty real, too. Often the detective who insists a set of crimes must be connected based solely on a hunch is a huge eye roll from me. But here, Alex has more than a hunch and following her as she tries to find the connecting threads between two crimes feels like real detecting and not just filler until a great epiphany. Alex finds real things, bit by bit, and just like her, you as the reader see that there's something there but it isn't clear what. It's rare that I actually agree with a detective's evaluation of the case, but here I was right with her. When Alex needs to ask her mother about something for a major plot point, it doesn't feel ridiculously coincidental, it feels natural, like the rest of the book. And, even better, when it all does come together it feels earned. And it feels like you should have put it all together ages ago. Surprise and inevitability mixed together make the best kinds of endings.
I do have a few nits to pick, but they mostly came after I'd finished the book and not while I was racing through it. The migrant worker subplot mostly worked for me, though it created a few moments where I was nervous it would really screw it up. And while it opens up this secret world, it only takes the smallest peek at it instead of really diving in. Is this what would really happen? Most likely. Cupidi is a realist and so is this book.
Solid, quick read, looking forward to the series.
April 29, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel here
A very fine read. Social commentary mixed with the evocation of a landscape which seeps into the story so that it becomes the story. Great characters too with backstories I can' wait to find out more about. There's something very eerie and ethereal about the marshes and this book brings them out and shines a light on them. An immersive way of writing and keen observations complete with killer dialogue makes this a real reading treat.
The land is inhospitable in places and this is reflected on the poor illegal immigrants forced to work for peanuts in back breacking work on farms and marshland. The story built slowly but each piece fell into place and created a jigsaw of emotions. Romney Marsh holds many secrets it would seem and the story revealed them one by one.
This novel really shone for me as it weaves social commentary, great writing and unique observation of landscape into one neatly tied package. It’s grim in parts but there’s a raw quality in its brutal honesty and I found myself slowing down to appreciate it even more.
A great first in a series. I’m definitely on board for book two although I will have to stop thinking that the main character is called Cupid.
Next book now Mr Shaw please!
August 14, 2019
If you read The Birdwatcher you’ll be familiar with DS Alexandra Cupidi, who moved from the Met in London to Kent Serious Crime Directorate. She and her teenage daughter, Zoë live in Dungeness where once again the stark but atmospheric location is a stand out feature. Zoë is having trouble adjusting to the move, uncommunicative and prone to disappearing to the fens without warning. She and her mother don’t have the best of relationships and often clash, a bit like Alex and her mother. A case of like mother like daughter perhaps. Alex isn’t popular with many of her colleagues due to events that played out in The Birdwatcher. (I’m still hoping William South will feature further down the line)
The body of a woman has been found trapped in a culvert near Salt Lane. It had been there a while and with no obvious cause of death and no-one matching her description listed as missing, it was dental records and a GP that confirmed the victim’s identity as Hilary Keen. Yet someone who said she was Hilary Keen visited her son Julian, the previous evening. So which woman is actually Hilary Keen?
Then another body is discovered in a slurry tank. The man was thought to have been hiding at the farm, and could possibly be a migrant worker.
I wasn’t too sure about Alex Cupidi when first introduced to her but she’s grown on me in this excellent character driven police procedural. She and Zoë are fully developed, complex characters, as are the supporting cast. The interaction between them is true to life, and the policing seems realistic. I was particularly impressed with William Shaw’s awareness and handling of the slowly revealed, and often repressed, feelings between Alex, her mother and Zoë as they try to unravel their complicated relationships.
The well crafted plot gradually becomes quite involved with several interconnecting subplots and the inclusion of disturbing, but sensitively addressed, societal issues concerning the treatment of migrant workers and illegal immigrants running alongside the investigation, which turns out to be anything but straightforward. William Shaw is a wonderful storyteller.
The body of a woman has been found trapped in a culvert near Salt Lane. It had been there a while and with no obvious cause of death and no-one matching her description listed as missing, it was dental records and a GP that confirmed the victim’s identity as Hilary Keen. Yet someone who said she was Hilary Keen visited her son Julian, the previous evening. So which woman is actually Hilary Keen?
Then another body is discovered in a slurry tank. The man was thought to have been hiding at the farm, and could possibly be a migrant worker.
I wasn’t too sure about Alex Cupidi when first introduced to her but she’s grown on me in this excellent character driven police procedural. She and Zoë are fully developed, complex characters, as are the supporting cast. The interaction between them is true to life, and the policing seems realistic. I was particularly impressed with William Shaw’s awareness and handling of the slowly revealed, and often repressed, feelings between Alex, her mother and Zoë as they try to unravel their complicated relationships.
The well crafted plot gradually becomes quite involved with several interconnecting subplots and the inclusion of disturbing, but sensitively addressed, societal issues concerning the treatment of migrant workers and illegal immigrants running alongside the investigation, which turns out to be anything but straightforward. William Shaw is a wonderful storyteller.
April 30, 2019
This is best appreciated after reading the first Cupidi book, The Birdwatcher. There are people being killed in the Kentish countryside, showing up in drainage ditches and farm waste disposal (slurry) pits. Plenty of work for Kent PD.
Cupidi and her daughter Zoe have moved into a house in Dungeness. "In the light of a summer evening, there was something lunar about Dungeness. It lay on the tip of a vast flat stony landscape that jutted into the Straits of Dover; banks of shingle built over centuries by the churn of tides."
After the first body appeared in a drainage ditch Cupidi made a media appeal to identify the victim. "Any murder was disturbing, but this one had spooked Cupidi. No one knew who the dead woman was, nobody had missed her, or come forward to weep over her." Complicating this investigation is a perverse identity theft of heroine addict/long-lost mother.
A clue after the second body appeared, discovering it was a farm worker who had a Koran, leads the investigation to focus on illegal migrant workers. Considerable effort is exerted toward communicating with some of these vulnerable workers who have little English.
There is a bit too much in this book to review succinctly, so I will just list a few I cared about.
Zoe continues her birdwatching that she enjoyed with William and still does not like her new home.
Cupidi mends fences with her mother and succeeds in getting her to come out from London to help with Zoe.
Cupidi is caretaker of William's house while he is gone and allows it to be put to use now and then as temporary shelter.
Cupidi does not execute her investigations with caution - Resulting in one man she tries to interview burning his house down, her own peril in a barn where she is locked in to be killed when not reporting where she was...Just to name two instances, but there were several unwise moves.
3.5 stars for me on this one - and the book is big and heavy! Not perfect, but I guess I care about her daughter's fate.
Cupidi and her daughter Zoe have moved into a house in Dungeness. "In the light of a summer evening, there was something lunar about Dungeness. It lay on the tip of a vast flat stony landscape that jutted into the Straits of Dover; banks of shingle built over centuries by the churn of tides."
After the first body appeared in a drainage ditch Cupidi made a media appeal to identify the victim. "Any murder was disturbing, but this one had spooked Cupidi. No one knew who the dead woman was, nobody had missed her, or come forward to weep over her." Complicating this investigation is a perverse identity theft of heroine addict/long-lost mother.
A clue after the second body appeared, discovering it was a farm worker who had a Koran, leads the investigation to focus on illegal migrant workers. Considerable effort is exerted toward communicating with some of these vulnerable workers who have little English.
There is a bit too much in this book to review succinctly, so I will just list a few I cared about.
Zoe continues her birdwatching that she enjoyed with William and still does not like her new home.
Cupidi mends fences with her mother and succeeds in getting her to come out from London to help with Zoe.
Cupidi is caretaker of William's house while he is gone and allows it to be put to use now and then as temporary shelter.
Cupidi does not execute her investigations with caution - Resulting in one man she tries to interview burning his house down, her own peril in a barn where she is locked in to be killed when not reporting where she was...Just to name two instances, but there were several unwise moves.
3.5 stars for me on this one - and the book is big and heavy! Not perfect, but I guess I care about her daughter's fate.
June 19, 2018
Having made the acquaintance of DS Alexandra Cupidi some time ago in The Birdwatcher , a wonderfully atmospheric thriller set against the backdrop of the bleak coastline of Dungeness, prepare to be completely absorbed as she makes her return in Salt Lane. Not only is this a well plotted and compelling police procedural, once again using this particular landscape to its full brooding and slightly sinister effect, but Salt Lane reveals itself to be so much more.
When you cast your eye over the backlist of William Shaw, comprising of his evocative 60s series, and the aforementioned The Birdwatcher, one cannot help but be struck by the skill of his storytelling, and the strength of his characterisation. As well as unfailingly producing absorbing, moving and carefully constructed police procedurals, Shaw also uses either the zeitgeist of the period, or the locations to envelop the reader completely in the atmosphere he seeks to produce. In Salt Lane the desolate, but rawly beautiful, locale of Dungeness once again reveals itself as a centrifugal force in the book, being either a place of safety or danger in equal measure, but also effectively acting as a prism for the emotional state of both Cupidi and her troubled teenage daughter, Zoe. As Zoe seeks to deal with her emotional pain and seeks solace from the landscape, also unwittingly leading herself into the heart of her mother’s investigation, Cupidi herself finds herself at times waging an emotional and physical battle with the unique geography of the area, and the murders that occur within its boundaries.
Taking a backward step for a second, I can’t emphasise enough the weight of emotion, and more importantly the completely plausible emotion that Shaw injects into his trinity of female characters, Cupidi, Zoe and Cupidi’s mother Helen, who will be recognisable to some readers from Shaw’s previous books. I was absolutely blown away by how succinctly and honestly Shaw captured the internal and external emotional lives of these women, as they navigate their differences and similarities in the course of the book. The tension and moments of conflict are balanced beautifully with moments of epiphany in their personal relationship with each other, and the scenes featuring these three exceptional characters are a joy to read, feeling raw, true and suffused with realism. I must confess that I don’t read much ‘women’s fiction’ as that which I have encountered always has a slightly mawkish feel in its depiction of ‘women’s experience’, but I was held spellbound by the resonance of these characters in my interpretation of how women truly are, and how that which separates them, can be seen to actually bind them together more than they initially feel.
As for the plot itself, Shaw is given free reign to expose the worst ills of a Britain caught in a monstrous wave of nationalism and post-Brexit turmoil. Against the Kent location of the book, Shaw weaves a disturbing police investigation into an unflinching and, most importantly, objective appraisal of immigration and exploitation, that boils the blood, and tugs at the heartstrings in equal measure, depending on your political viewpoint. Without resorting to soapbox declarations on the state of Britain, Shaw holds a mirror up to the conflicting sides of the immigration issue, whilst keeping the book solidly on track as a crime thriller. Consequently, Salt Lane is never less than a wonderfully multi-layered contemporary thriller, replete with the highest calibre characterisation, and a looming feel of unease. Highly recommended.
When you cast your eye over the backlist of William Shaw, comprising of his evocative 60s series, and the aforementioned The Birdwatcher, one cannot help but be struck by the skill of his storytelling, and the strength of his characterisation. As well as unfailingly producing absorbing, moving and carefully constructed police procedurals, Shaw also uses either the zeitgeist of the period, or the locations to envelop the reader completely in the atmosphere he seeks to produce. In Salt Lane the desolate, but rawly beautiful, locale of Dungeness once again reveals itself as a centrifugal force in the book, being either a place of safety or danger in equal measure, but also effectively acting as a prism for the emotional state of both Cupidi and her troubled teenage daughter, Zoe. As Zoe seeks to deal with her emotional pain and seeks solace from the landscape, also unwittingly leading herself into the heart of her mother’s investigation, Cupidi herself finds herself at times waging an emotional and physical battle with the unique geography of the area, and the murders that occur within its boundaries.
Taking a backward step for a second, I can’t emphasise enough the weight of emotion, and more importantly the completely plausible emotion that Shaw injects into his trinity of female characters, Cupidi, Zoe and Cupidi’s mother Helen, who will be recognisable to some readers from Shaw’s previous books. I was absolutely blown away by how succinctly and honestly Shaw captured the internal and external emotional lives of these women, as they navigate their differences and similarities in the course of the book. The tension and moments of conflict are balanced beautifully with moments of epiphany in their personal relationship with each other, and the scenes featuring these three exceptional characters are a joy to read, feeling raw, true and suffused with realism. I must confess that I don’t read much ‘women’s fiction’ as that which I have encountered always has a slightly mawkish feel in its depiction of ‘women’s experience’, but I was held spellbound by the resonance of these characters in my interpretation of how women truly are, and how that which separates them, can be seen to actually bind them together more than they initially feel.
As for the plot itself, Shaw is given free reign to expose the worst ills of a Britain caught in a monstrous wave of nationalism and post-Brexit turmoil. Against the Kent location of the book, Shaw weaves a disturbing police investigation into an unflinching and, most importantly, objective appraisal of immigration and exploitation, that boils the blood, and tugs at the heartstrings in equal measure, depending on your political viewpoint. Without resorting to soapbox declarations on the state of Britain, Shaw holds a mirror up to the conflicting sides of the immigration issue, whilst keeping the book solidly on track as a crime thriller. Consequently, Salt Lane is never less than a wonderfully multi-layered contemporary thriller, replete with the highest calibre characterisation, and a looming feel of unease. Highly recommended.
April 19, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy of Salt Lane, the first novel to feature DS Alex Cupidi of Kent police.
Alex has recently transferred from the Met to Dungeness and is still feeling her way when she is called out to a dead body found in a ditch in Salt Lane. They are still trying to identify the woman and her cause of death when another body is found in the slurry pit of a local farm. This one they believe to be an illegal immigrant and in the course of trying to identify him they uncover a hidden underbelly to the rural Kent countryside.
I thoroughly enjoyed Salt Lane which, apart from being an exciting, absorbing read, is very informative on the plight of illegal immigrants and the sharp practice surrounding them. The novel is told from Alex's point of view so the reader knows only what she discovers (a lot). This makes for a great read as the reader tries to work out what is going on and beat her to the punch! I guessed some of it in advance of her but there are a few twists, especially, unconventionally, at the beginning, which threw me off completely. Nevertheless the novel held my attention from start to finish and I read it in one sitting as it is well paced with both reveals and action appearing steadily to maintain the flow.
Alex Cupidi is an interesting character. She is brusque, to the point of rudeness sometimes, and doesn't do small talk and yet her brutal honesty makes people talk to her and trust her although this doesn't seem to extend to her mother and daughter with both of whom she has troubled relationships. I found myself liking her from the start.
Salt Lane is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Alex has recently transferred from the Met to Dungeness and is still feeling her way when she is called out to a dead body found in a ditch in Salt Lane. They are still trying to identify the woman and her cause of death when another body is found in the slurry pit of a local farm. This one they believe to be an illegal immigrant and in the course of trying to identify him they uncover a hidden underbelly to the rural Kent countryside.
I thoroughly enjoyed Salt Lane which, apart from being an exciting, absorbing read, is very informative on the plight of illegal immigrants and the sharp practice surrounding them. The novel is told from Alex's point of view so the reader knows only what she discovers (a lot). This makes for a great read as the reader tries to work out what is going on and beat her to the punch! I guessed some of it in advance of her but there are a few twists, especially, unconventionally, at the beginning, which threw me off completely. Nevertheless the novel held my attention from start to finish and I read it in one sitting as it is well paced with both reveals and action appearing steadily to maintain the flow.
Alex Cupidi is an interesting character. She is brusque, to the point of rudeness sometimes, and doesn't do small talk and yet her brutal honesty makes people talk to her and trust her although this doesn't seem to extend to her mother and daughter with both of whom she has troubled relationships. I found myself liking her from the start.
Salt Lane is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 8, 2018
In the minority on William Shaw’s latest book Salt Marsh with a 2.5 star rating. Found the storyline interesting... but, seems like everyone is writing about the refugee problem and this author does not contribute anything original. The protagonist is completely unlikeable and fails time and again to follow standard police procedures. The flawed, complex, unhappy, maverick FEMALE detective has been done and done again. This author’s protagonist with the ridiculous surname Cupidi is a rehash and uninspired. The protagonist’s teenage birdwatching daughter was the only highlight. Protagonist’s mother was a bit interesting. Protagonist’s partner was much more authentic than the protagonist. Disappointing.
January 21, 2019
4.5* Really enjoyed Salt Lane, great writing, interesting characters, a topical murder mystery, a real sense of place in the Kent marshes and coastline depicting a bleak landscape and I love the inclusion, still, of the bird watching element on the nature reserve. I will definitely be reading the next in the series.
May 3, 2018
This is the second novel of William Shaw’s that I’ve read and while it’s the start of a new series, it follows on somewhat from the previous novel of his that I read, The Birdwatcher. In that novel DS Alexander Cupidi was a secondary character, but here she steps centre stage. When the body of a woman is found in a body of water in the titular marshland of Salt Lane, the Kent police are somewhat stumped. She doesn’t appear to have drowned and nor does the body have any obvious injuries that might account for her death. When a second body, that of an illegal immigrant is found in a cesspit, they are at first unsure whether the cases are linked. Cupidi and her team investigate and are soon drawn into the twilight world of illegal immigration, gangmasters, and exploitation.
Salt Lane is both a police procedural and a slice of social commentary. The procedural element works well, the author avoiding the mistake of some writers who have their protagonist do all the work and solve the crime alone. Murder investigations, in the UK at any rate, are team efforts and this is depicted well. While DS Cupidi has a touch of that well-trodden trope – the maverick who finds it hard to play by the rules – this isn’t overly done. Rather she’s a believable character, likeable and committed.
The police procedure element of the novel is also handled adeptly; it didn’t surprise me to learn when reading the acknowledgments at the back that the author consulted Graham Bartlett in the course of researching the novel, Bartlett being a former police officer in Brighton who has long advised the author Peter James. This then made it all the more galling when in the narrative a female officer is referred to as a WPC. The use of the term WPC (Woman Police Constable) is archaic and has long been consigned to the dustbin. All officers are now just PCs (unless they’re in the detective branch of course, when the P is swapped for a D for detective). While this only occurs twice and on the same page, the use of such an antiquated term, especially when the novel has been so thoroughly researched, did stick in my craw somewhat.
As mentioned, Salt Lane has a strong element of social commentary. Once again, the author has researched this thoroughly, as I can attest to from my career researching current affairs documentaries for Channel 4. Many a film I worked on looked at immigration and the twilight world of illegal immigrants who prop up the economy, often doing the hard, hazardous and underpaid work that other workers balk at. Salt Lane depicts this world powerfully. Whole swathes of the UK’s agricultural sector operate on the sweat of these workers and it is doubtful we would enjoy the cheap food that stocks our supermarket shelves without them.
Salt Lane is an excellent start to a new series. This is a long novel, running at 464 pages, which allows Shaw to weave through various sub-plots and flesh out Cupidi’s complicated family life, which I’m sure will develop further in future outings. While I enjoyed the novel, I have to confess to be a little jaded by police procedurals and preferring something a little more to the noir end of crime fiction. That said, this is an enjoyable novel and I will certainly read the next volume in the series when it hits the bookshelves.
Salt Lane is both a police procedural and a slice of social commentary. The procedural element works well, the author avoiding the mistake of some writers who have their protagonist do all the work and solve the crime alone. Murder investigations, in the UK at any rate, are team efforts and this is depicted well. While DS Cupidi has a touch of that well-trodden trope – the maverick who finds it hard to play by the rules – this isn’t overly done. Rather she’s a believable character, likeable and committed.
The police procedure element of the novel is also handled adeptly; it didn’t surprise me to learn when reading the acknowledgments at the back that the author consulted Graham Bartlett in the course of researching the novel, Bartlett being a former police officer in Brighton who has long advised the author Peter James. This then made it all the more galling when in the narrative a female officer is referred to as a WPC. The use of the term WPC (Woman Police Constable) is archaic and has long been consigned to the dustbin. All officers are now just PCs (unless they’re in the detective branch of course, when the P is swapped for a D for detective). While this only occurs twice and on the same page, the use of such an antiquated term, especially when the novel has been so thoroughly researched, did stick in my craw somewhat.
As mentioned, Salt Lane has a strong element of social commentary. Once again, the author has researched this thoroughly, as I can attest to from my career researching current affairs documentaries for Channel 4. Many a film I worked on looked at immigration and the twilight world of illegal immigrants who prop up the economy, often doing the hard, hazardous and underpaid work that other workers balk at. Salt Lane depicts this world powerfully. Whole swathes of the UK’s agricultural sector operate on the sweat of these workers and it is doubtful we would enjoy the cheap food that stocks our supermarket shelves without them.
Salt Lane is an excellent start to a new series. This is a long novel, running at 464 pages, which allows Shaw to weave through various sub-plots and flesh out Cupidi’s complicated family life, which I’m sure will develop further in future outings. While I enjoyed the novel, I have to confess to be a little jaded by police procedurals and preferring something a little more to the noir end of crime fiction. That said, this is an enjoyable novel and I will certainly read the next volume in the series when it hits the bookshelves.
June 30, 2018
William Shaw is the author of the excellent Breen and Tozer series 2017’s The Birdwatcher. Although Salt Lane is called #1 in the Alexandra Cupidi series, in a sense it’s #2, because Cupidi is a featured character in The Birdwatcher.
One of the cases in Salt Lane is the death of an identified woman. This turns into quite a mystery, as it appears that the victim and a homeless person who turns up in London share a name, and one may be impersonating the other. The other case is the murder of an unidentified man, who appears to be an undocumented immigrant. Trying to find out that victim’s identity leads Cupidi and her new DC, the young and outspoken Jill Ferriter, into the world of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, who live in a shadow world of illegal labor and exploitation.
DS Cupidi is a London transplant to the coastal town of Dungeness in Kent. She left London because she wanted to break off a relationship with a married colleague. She brought along her teenage daughter, Zoë, who is a troubled young woman. In this book, we also learn more about Cupidi’s personal life. Her mother, a retired police officer, comes to Dungeness (reluctantly), and we learn why the relationship between Cupidi and her mother has always been problematic. Cupidi’s past affair also rears its ugly head. In fact, it’s almost nothing but trouble for Cupidi, who is a talented detective, but not so great at personal relationships.
This new character, Jill Ferriter, brings some welcome lightness to the story. She’s like a puppy, she just keeps bouncing back with questions and remarks, no matter how much Cupidi may try to keep her quiet and under control. Jill’s character also shows how someone can have an attitude toward immigrants that is changed when she meets then and learns their stories and current circumstances.
Like all of William Shaw’s books, this is a well-written and plotted police procedural that makes us care about its characters without becoming too domestic. His descriptions of the wild and often lonely Dungeness is vivid, too.
One of the cases in Salt Lane is the death of an identified woman. This turns into quite a mystery, as it appears that the victim and a homeless person who turns up in London share a name, and one may be impersonating the other. The other case is the murder of an unidentified man, who appears to be an undocumented immigrant. Trying to find out that victim’s identity leads Cupidi and her new DC, the young and outspoken Jill Ferriter, into the world of asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, who live in a shadow world of illegal labor and exploitation.
DS Cupidi is a London transplant to the coastal town of Dungeness in Kent. She left London because she wanted to break off a relationship with a married colleague. She brought along her teenage daughter, Zoë, who is a troubled young woman. In this book, we also learn more about Cupidi’s personal life. Her mother, a retired police officer, comes to Dungeness (reluctantly), and we learn why the relationship between Cupidi and her mother has always been problematic. Cupidi’s past affair also rears its ugly head. In fact, it’s almost nothing but trouble for Cupidi, who is a talented detective, but not so great at personal relationships.
This new character, Jill Ferriter, brings some welcome lightness to the story. She’s like a puppy, she just keeps bouncing back with questions and remarks, no matter how much Cupidi may try to keep her quiet and under control. Jill’s character also shows how someone can have an attitude toward immigrants that is changed when she meets then and learns their stories and current circumstances.
Like all of William Shaw’s books, this is a well-written and plotted police procedural that makes us care about its characters without becoming too domestic. His descriptions of the wild and often lonely Dungeness is vivid, too.
October 22, 2019
I enjoyed The Birdwatcher very much but I have to say I found Salt Lane to be totally enthralling and I enjoyed it even more! The author did a brilliant job depicting Cupidi’s relationships with her daughter and her mother. I loved the interaction between Cupidi and her new, young and inexperienced partner, too. The sensitive issues contained in this book were treated with objectivity, which I appreciated. And there were a lot of issues: Drug addiction, mental illness, immigration, and homelessness.
The victims of the murders Cupidi is investigating are migrant workers. (Some legal and some not.) The author captured the frustration and hopelessness felt by people on both sides of the debate, mirroring the conflicts many countries are now facing. Salt Lane contained a fascinating combination of great characters and a gripping plot! I definitely recommend it.
The victims of the murders Cupidi is investigating are migrant workers. (Some legal and some not.) The author captured the frustration and hopelessness felt by people on both sides of the debate, mirroring the conflicts many countries are now facing. Salt Lane contained a fascinating combination of great characters and a gripping plot! I definitely recommend it.
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