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DI Andy Horton #14
Dead Passage
Inspector Andy Horton receives a mysterious telephone call from Adele Goldsby, the daughter of a dead Portsmouth politician, with an urgent request to meet him on the Isle of Wight ferry because she has something to reveal about her father’s death twelve years ago. When she doesn’t show, Horton is at first inclined to think it was a hoax until more information comes to light.
As he unofficially looks into the circumstances surrounding the politician’s death he becomes more convinced that the initial investigation was cursory to say the least, a fact that is borne out by Sergeant Cantelli who was on the case. With increasing concerns over the continued silence from Adele Goldsby and as new evidence is unearthed connected to a long ago killing with the remains of a body being found in Portsmouth Harbour, Horton believes the politician was murdered.
Now all he has to do is convince his bosses.
As he unofficially looks into the circumstances surrounding the politician’s death he becomes more convinced that the initial investigation was cursory to say the least, a fact that is borne out by Sergeant Cantelli who was on the case. With increasing concerns over the continued silence from Adele Goldsby and as new evidence is unearthed connected to a long ago killing with the remains of a body being found in Portsmouth Harbour, Horton believes the politician was murdered.
Now all he has to do is convince his bosses.
254 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 18, 2018
390 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Rowson
61 books157 followersPauline Rowson is the author of thirty- one crime novels - nineteen featuring DI Andy Horton in the Solent Murder Mystery series; five in Art Marvik mystery thrillers series, six in the 1950s set historical mysteries with Scotland Yard's Inspector Ryga, who is sent out to solve baffling coastal crimes and two standalone thrillers. All her crime novels are set against the backdrop of the ever changing sea.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 31, 2018
Avenging
Dead Passage is a police procedural crime story where evidence is building that a previous investigation 12 years ago ruled the death of a politician, Dudley Goldsby, as suicide. Now it appears that he may have been murdered, at least in the eyes of DI Andy Horton. Other colleagues, however, seem to have reasons for the case not to reopen. The daughter, Adele Goldsby, makes contact with DI Andy Horton and requests he meets her on the Isle of Wight ferry at a set time. While on the ferry, Adele is nowhere to be seen but he does meet an ex-colleague, Mike Danby, now in private security. Is this just a coincidence or a set-up, considering Danby was a leading DI on the original Dudley Goldsby investigation?
Five skeletons are found on Rat Island, one of them, more recent than the others, and a second murder occurs to none other than the person who discovered them. The connections are mounting and Rowson does a great job of building the plot and how the connections interrelate. Numerous characters seem to have hidden agendas and appear to be hiding information. The motivations of multiple suspects are well presented leaving us with a web of suspicion and a puzzle that Horton must solve.
I read this book at a request, as I wouldn’t by choice read book 14 of a series as my introduction to a new author. The story plot was stand-alone but there were numerous references to background, events and characters in previous books. That’s not a problem and I did expect a certain amount of it, although in some places it works and others completely irrelevant or tiresome. I was confused around Horton’s mother’s disappearance in 1967, as this thread is given life but taken nowhere. I understand this is a thread running through the series but it is irrelevant and uninteresting in this story. I felt it made the book structure very manufactured, where a series thread is provided (tick) and may be used to try and show some depth to the main character (tick), none of which added any value.
There is a massive intent to portray a well-discussed analysis of the crime scenarios between the investigating police officers, but this tended to become so detailed and extensive that it felt unnecessarily complex and I lost focus on the storyline. During the brainstorming dialogue, I was amazed when they didn’t suggest other obvious alternatives which I felt left holes in the plot.
I feel it’s a little bit unbelievable when a character devotes their life to seeking revenge for the wrongs done to a family member by sacrificing their own career, relationships and happiness to get close to the culprit and make taking revenge so abstruse. Do the obvious thing and kill them yourself.
If you enjoy the series and the character, then this is another episode in the Andy Horton collection that I’m sure you will enjoy. I wish to thank Pauline Rowson for providing me with a copy of her book in return for an honest review. A true rating would be 3.5 but I'm finding it hard to round up.
Dead Passage is a police procedural crime story where evidence is building that a previous investigation 12 years ago ruled the death of a politician, Dudley Goldsby, as suicide. Now it appears that he may have been murdered, at least in the eyes of DI Andy Horton. Other colleagues, however, seem to have reasons for the case not to reopen. The daughter, Adele Goldsby, makes contact with DI Andy Horton and requests he meets her on the Isle of Wight ferry at a set time. While on the ferry, Adele is nowhere to be seen but he does meet an ex-colleague, Mike Danby, now in private security. Is this just a coincidence or a set-up, considering Danby was a leading DI on the original Dudley Goldsby investigation?
Five skeletons are found on Rat Island, one of them, more recent than the others, and a second murder occurs to none other than the person who discovered them. The connections are mounting and Rowson does a great job of building the plot and how the connections interrelate. Numerous characters seem to have hidden agendas and appear to be hiding information. The motivations of multiple suspects are well presented leaving us with a web of suspicion and a puzzle that Horton must solve.
I read this book at a request, as I wouldn’t by choice read book 14 of a series as my introduction to a new author. The story plot was stand-alone but there were numerous references to background, events and characters in previous books. That’s not a problem and I did expect a certain amount of it, although in some places it works and others completely irrelevant or tiresome. I was confused around Horton’s mother’s disappearance in 1967, as this thread is given life but taken nowhere. I understand this is a thread running through the series but it is irrelevant and uninteresting in this story. I felt it made the book structure very manufactured, where a series thread is provided (tick) and may be used to try and show some depth to the main character (tick), none of which added any value.
There is a massive intent to portray a well-discussed analysis of the crime scenarios between the investigating police officers, but this tended to become so detailed and extensive that it felt unnecessarily complex and I lost focus on the storyline. During the brainstorming dialogue, I was amazed when they didn’t suggest other obvious alternatives which I felt left holes in the plot.
I feel it’s a little bit unbelievable when a character devotes their life to seeking revenge for the wrongs done to a family member by sacrificing their own career, relationships and happiness to get close to the culprit and make taking revenge so abstruse. Do the obvious thing and kill them yourself.
If you enjoy the series and the character, then this is another episode in the Andy Horton collection that I’m sure you will enjoy. I wish to thank Pauline Rowson for providing me with a copy of her book in return for an honest review. A true rating would be 3.5 but I'm finding it hard to round up.
November 19, 2022
The Rat Island Murders is book fourteen in the Solent Murder Mystery series by Pauline Rowson. One working day for DI Andy Horton started with a call from Adele Goldsby, the daughter of a Portsmouth politician who died in suspicious circumstances. Then DI Any Horton became involved in an investigation of a woman murdered in the 1980s dubbed "Quintessa", found on isolated Rat Island. The readers of The Rat Island will continue to follow DI Andy Horton to discover what happens.
The Rat Island Murders is the first book I read by Pauline Rowson. It took me a while to engage with the plot of this book. However, when I did, it was an enjoyable book to read. I love Pauline Rowson's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. The Rat Island Murders is well-written and researched by Pauline Rowson. I like Pauline Rowson's description of the settings of The Rat Island Murders, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of The Rat Island will learn how to determine a skeleton's height and age. Also, the readers of The Rat Island will understand the issues facing families after a family member goes missing.
I recommend this book.
The Rat Island Murders is the first book I read by Pauline Rowson. It took me a while to engage with the plot of this book. However, when I did, it was an enjoyable book to read. I love Pauline Rowson's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. The Rat Island Murders is well-written and researched by Pauline Rowson. I like Pauline Rowson's description of the settings of The Rat Island Murders, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of The Rat Island will learn how to determine a skeleton's height and age. Also, the readers of The Rat Island will understand the issues facing families after a family member goes missing.
I recommend this book.
January 20, 2023
Disappointing
After reading the previous 13 books in this series, The Rat Island Murders was a disappipointment. Most of this book rehashes everything we know about Andy Horton. Over, and over, and over. He asks himself the same questions he has done for several books now. Will he ever have another date with Gayle? Will he ever make any progress in finding what happened to his mother? I am not if I care anymore! This book is just filler.
After reading the previous 13 books in this series, The Rat Island Murders was a disappipointment. Most of this book rehashes everything we know about Andy Horton. Over, and over, and over. He asks himself the same questions he has done for several books now. Will he ever have another date with Gayle? Will he ever make any progress in finding what happened to his mother? I am not if I care anymore! This book is just filler.
November 20, 2025
I find it incredible that, at the time of writing, over 50% of the reviews here gave this book 5 stars. Have these people never read a really good book, or even a really good detective book (e.g. Morse, Rebus, Mankell)?
This is standard Horton fare - not brilliant, not awful - convoluted, with barely believable coincidences and lucky breaks solving the case. He's still agonising over his mother's disappearance, still failing to go on a date with Gaye, still thinking that every woman that he talks to fancies him, still hung up over his daughter and his cowbag ex-wife, still working 24/7, still coming up with fanciful theories and asking himself pages of questions (this paragraph would've been phrased as questions in the book).
For me, as per previous books, the writing lets the book down. There are odd phrases (someone 'tossing' someone else a question, 'He thought that perhaps not', '... as alive as them all around the table', 'Ripley tossed them a smile', etc.), there are any number of times where commas and hyphens are missing and the occasional use of the wrong word.
I'll carry on to the bitter end of the series, as I've bought all 19, but it's definitely a question of ticking these off, rather than them being a great experience.
This is standard Horton fare - not brilliant, not awful - convoluted, with barely believable coincidences and lucky breaks solving the case. He's still agonising over his mother's disappearance, still failing to go on a date with Gaye, still thinking that every woman that he talks to fancies him, still hung up over his daughter and his cowbag ex-wife, still working 24/7, still coming up with fanciful theories and asking himself pages of questions (this paragraph would've been phrased as questions in the book).
For me, as per previous books, the writing lets the book down. There are odd phrases (someone 'tossing' someone else a question, 'He thought that perhaps not', '... as alive as them all around the table', 'Ripley tossed them a smile', etc.), there are any number of times where commas and hyphens are missing and the occasional use of the wrong word.
I'll carry on to the bitter end of the series, as I've bought all 19, but it's definitely a question of ticking these off, rather than them being a great experience.
January 27, 2023
Love it hate him, he wants to lock up the bad guys
I don't usually dislike the main character but, find him whining, needy and ready to blame everyone, without the necessary details, just because he dislikes them.
Yeah he had A few times after his Mum disappeared but many kids had it much worse. The constant groping is gearing on the nerves, I just scroll past those parts.
He never gave his Mum much thought til recently and not through his endeavours. If he wants to find out about her get on with it.
He moans about not seeing his daughter. Reading through the books, his marriage was in the rocks well before he was charged with rape. Again, he procrastinates about getting to spend more time with her and blames the ex. He didn't spend much time with either of them as he is work driven. It means more to him than family.
He needs professional help, but is to upgraded to admit it.
You want a murderer caught he is your man. But keeping a date isn't high on his list. Always work to interfere, or rather that is his excuse.
I don't usually dislike the main character but, find him whining, needy and ready to blame everyone, without the necessary details, just because he dislikes them.
Yeah he had A few times after his Mum disappeared but many kids had it much worse. The constant groping is gearing on the nerves, I just scroll past those parts.
He never gave his Mum much thought til recently and not through his endeavours. If he wants to find out about her get on with it.
He moans about not seeing his daughter. Reading through the books, his marriage was in the rocks well before he was charged with rape. Again, he procrastinates about getting to spend more time with her and blames the ex. He didn't spend much time with either of them as he is work driven. It means more to him than family.
He needs professional help, but is to upgraded to admit it.
You want a murderer caught he is your man. But keeping a date isn't high on his list. Always work to interfere, or rather that is his excuse.
June 29, 2023
The Rat Island Murders is book 14 in The Solent Murder series. Now, I have found the whole series a little similar in that there are too many characters, and too many coincidences that seem to fall into Hortons lap, and also that the author tries to be too clever with weaving storylines together that end up in a slightly complex mess. I find them a little hard to follow due to all of this.
Saying that, I have read 14 of them and will probably continue the series (this might be a flaw in me though that I don’t like to give up on something once I’ve invested time!) There are some interesting storylines around the main character that follow throughout the whole series and this is part of my reasoning for continuing with them as I want to see how the unfold.
I’ve rated 3 stars due to all of this and think my overriding advice would be worth a read if you’re part way through the series, but if you’re looking for a new crime series to start, there are better out there
Saying that, I have read 14 of them and will probably continue the series (this might be a flaw in me though that I don’t like to give up on something once I’ve invested time!) There are some interesting storylines around the main character that follow throughout the whole series and this is part of my reasoning for continuing with them as I want to see how the unfold.
I’ve rated 3 stars due to all of this and think my overriding advice would be worth a read if you’re part way through the series, but if you’re looking for a new crime series to start, there are better out there
September 29, 2022
A Good Series
Book 14 in the series and I am still enjoying it. DI Andy Horton always goes the extra mile in his work much to his superiors frustration, but he usually turns out to be right. When a body is found on an uninhabited island owned by the Ministry of Defence, it starts a chain of events which links to the death of a politician some years ago. It was thought he killed himself but not everyone was convinced and although the case will not be reopened, Andy investigates at the same time as he investigates the the death of the unknown victim recently found. There were plenty of twists and turns and some surprises. I do wish though that he would stand up more to his ex wife and fight for more access to his daughter.
Book 14 in the series and I am still enjoying it. DI Andy Horton always goes the extra mile in his work much to his superiors frustration, but he usually turns out to be right. When a body is found on an uninhabited island owned by the Ministry of Defence, it starts a chain of events which links to the death of a politician some years ago. It was thought he killed himself but not everyone was convinced and although the case will not be reopened, Andy investigates at the same time as he investigates the the death of the unknown victim recently found. There were plenty of twists and turns and some surprises. I do wish though that he would stand up more to his ex wife and fight for more access to his daughter.
October 18, 2022
Brilliant!
These books by Pauline Rowson are so well written that I feel I am actually there, riding, walking etc. along with Horton, Cantelli and other members of Portsmouth CID. Sometimes I want to shake Andy Horton out of his self-pity, though some of it is understandable. But I love the fact that he doesn't do things by the book and always gets his man or woman.
These books by Pauline Rowson are so well written that I feel I am actually there, riding, walking etc. along with Horton, Cantelli and other members of Portsmouth CID. Sometimes I want to shake Andy Horton out of his self-pity, though some of it is understandable. But I love the fact that he doesn't do things by the book and always gets his man or woman.
January 26, 2024
This mystery is a complex and highly detailed story. I enjoyed the book and it was very well written, however, I was not able to read the book consistently. I usually read for a short while at night so it was very difficult for me to keep up with the story. If you are a casual reader just be aware of this.
August 13, 2024
Best One So Far
Intricate plot and a very good read. I gobbled this one up. If you like British Crime this is an outstanding series. Although zI do recommend reading them in order. The Author does a good job recapping personal ssues Horton is dealing with, it' easier for me to read this chronologically. Great, engaging story and a tasty quick read.
Intricate plot and a very good read. I gobbled this one up. If you like British Crime this is an outstanding series. Although zI do recommend reading them in order. The Author does a good job recapping personal ssues Horton is dealing with, it' easier for me to read this chronologically. Great, engaging story and a tasty quick read.
December 31, 2022
Gripping tale
Andy comes a little closer to his mother, but also far away. His ex-wife is still taunting him and he’s too fixated on her new boyfriend but he gets to the conclusion of the 1980’s murder and that of the local MP in 2005.
Andy comes a little closer to his mother, but also far away. His ex-wife is still taunting him and he’s too fixated on her new boyfriend but he gets to the conclusion of the 1980’s murder and that of the local MP in 2005.
Currently reading
September 24, 2022Joffe 99
September 27, 2022
Great
Spot on again. brilliant Horton book always good to read a story set where you live and has so much history
Spot on again. brilliant Horton book always good to read a story set where you live and has so much history
Read
February 9, 2023I liked this book. However I am getting tired with the personal
issues book after book. Please resolve the mystery of his mother and settle the custody issues already.
issues book after book. Please resolve the mystery of his mother and settle the custody issues already.
October 7, 2023
Brilliant
Another cracking story unfolds slowly drawing you in keeping you guessing and turning the pages to the very end thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
Another cracking story unfolds slowly drawing you in keeping you guessing and turning the pages to the very end thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
August 19, 2024
2018. Five skeletons have been discovered on 'Rat' island in Portsmouth Harbour, discovered by retired Neil Brandon, one of which prves to be a recent death. Back in 2005 local MP Dudley Goldsby was found dead, why is his daughter contacting various people including Horton. Then there is a death.
An entertaining modern mystery
An entertaining modern mystery
November 18, 2018
This is such a great series. This one was a bit of plod. I actually thought Horton had found his mother. The setting is lovely. Portsmouth is a lovely place with lots of interesting history. The characters are well drawn but the search for missing mother of the main character is becoming a bit annoying as the series draws out. It is a distraction from the solving of the crime which was the main story in this one. Time to bring the search to an end. The plot was mixture of a cold case which became a fairly complicated crime to solve in the end. Not sure how the murderer will be brought to justice given the unorthodox methods Horton used to solve the crime. Lots of action and suspense in these books.
November 11, 2018
Another Andy Horton tale - still unfinished business!
November 28, 2018
Great book with lots of twists, you will never work out who did it. Flawed hero inspector Andy Horton is on the case again.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews