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DI Andy Horton #6
The Portchester Castle Murders
It’s Friday the thirteenth and Detective Inspector Andy Horton’s luck is about to run out.
His Harley-Davidson is vandalized, a strange symbol etched into the paintwork. Is it some kind of warning?
To make matters worse, Horton’s nit-picking boss, DCI Lorraine Bliss, has returned early from her secondment to HQ.
And a convicted murderer out on licence has gone missing. Luke Felton. Horton recognizes the name from a case he worked as a sergeant.
Now a decomposing corpse washes up in Portsmouth harbour. The bloated body is found lying in the thick slimy mud.
Before Horton can get a grip on either case, his phone rings. He doesn’t recognize the number. A voice on the other end gives him an address: Willow Bank, Shore Road, Portchester.
Horton knows it. The house belongs to a woman he’d met the day before. And now she’s dead. Her body lies in her windswept garden.
Horton’s got a lot on his plate. Can he connect the dots before anyone else dies?
His Harley-Davidson is vandalized, a strange symbol etched into the paintwork. Is it some kind of warning?
To make matters worse, Horton’s nit-picking boss, DCI Lorraine Bliss, has returned early from her secondment to HQ.
And a convicted murderer out on licence has gone missing. Luke Felton. Horton recognizes the name from a case he worked as a sergeant.
Now a decomposing corpse washes up in Portsmouth harbour. The bloated body is found lying in the thick slimy mud.
Before Horton can get a grip on either case, his phone rings. He doesn’t recognize the number. A voice on the other end gives him an address: Willow Bank, Shore Road, Portchester.
Horton knows it. The house belongs to a woman he’d met the day before. And now she’s dead. Her body lies in her windswept garden.
Horton’s got a lot on his plate. Can he connect the dots before anyone else dies?
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2022
420 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Rowson
61 books153 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 20, 2022
Pauline Rowson is one hell of a storyteller. This is the best crime series I have read in years and at age 77 I have read a few.
The main combatants are vibrant, believable and we learn more of their characters as the series develops.
The 'hero' is Detective Inspector Andy Horton an unorthodox but highly effective case solver. Unfortunately, he had been falsely accused of a serious sexual assault which despite his protestations of innocence lead to him being ostracised by his wife and abandoned by the upper echelons of the Police Force. When he was able to prove his innocence his wife had moved on and was making it increasingly difficult to see the most important person in his life, his 8 year old daughter, Emma and the whiff of scandal had stalled his police career.
Each book has a stand alone main plot and these are exciting, intricate, multi-layered and thought provoking. Although these books can be read as one offs I would not recommend it as the way the main characters are developed would be missed but crucially the 2 sub-plots would not be properly appreciated. The first is the continuing battle with his wife and her family to prevent him having regular access to his daughter and his concern over his daughter's exposure to her mother's lovers. The second concerns the disappearance of his mother when he was 10 years old and the anger he has felt for years over this abandonment. Slowly but surely he learns that this was not the case and she may have been murdered and he is driven to find out what really happened. It is with considerable skill that Pauline Rowson keeps these subsidiary storylines going throughout the series. I now understand there are a total of 15 Andy Horton books and a further one in production. I for one cannot wait.
The main combatants are vibrant, believable and we learn more of their characters as the series develops.
The 'hero' is Detective Inspector Andy Horton an unorthodox but highly effective case solver. Unfortunately, he had been falsely accused of a serious sexual assault which despite his protestations of innocence lead to him being ostracised by his wife and abandoned by the upper echelons of the Police Force. When he was able to prove his innocence his wife had moved on and was making it increasingly difficult to see the most important person in his life, his 8 year old daughter, Emma and the whiff of scandal had stalled his police career.
Each book has a stand alone main plot and these are exciting, intricate, multi-layered and thought provoking. Although these books can be read as one offs I would not recommend it as the way the main characters are developed would be missed but crucially the 2 sub-plots would not be properly appreciated. The first is the continuing battle with his wife and her family to prevent him having regular access to his daughter and his concern over his daughter's exposure to her mother's lovers. The second concerns the disappearance of his mother when he was 10 years old and the anger he has felt for years over this abandonment. Slowly but surely he learns that this was not the case and she may have been murdered and he is driven to find out what really happened. It is with considerable skill that Pauline Rowson keeps these subsidiary storylines going throughout the series. I now understand there are a total of 15 Andy Horton books and a further one in production. I for one cannot wait.
April 16, 2022
super read
Love this series even though each ending leaves you wondering Duh! It’s over
This is the sixth Andy Horton I’ve read, I keep hoping Horton will finally get promoted be able to see his daughter and find his mother and move on from Catherine alas he’s too busy being a top detective solving puzzling murders
I will admit his constantly being a victim is frustrating
How is it so many of his surrounding cast has it in for him including his estranged wife,his DCI his supposed good friend who Andy has helped solve numerous crimes are such twits
Let’s hope number 7 will bring him some joy in life
Love this series even though each ending leaves you wondering Duh! It’s over
This is the sixth Andy Horton I’ve read, I keep hoping Horton will finally get promoted be able to see his daughter and find his mother and move on from Catherine alas he’s too busy being a top detective solving puzzling murders
I will admit his constantly being a victim is frustrating
How is it so many of his surrounding cast has it in for him including his estranged wife,his DCI his supposed good friend who Andy has helped solve numerous crimes are such twits
Let’s hope number 7 will bring him some joy in life
May 31, 2022
I am really enjoying these books featuring DI Andy Horton. His personal life is a bit of a mess but it does not interfere with his job but trouble seems to follow him every where. Having viewed a boat to live on, he goes back to arrange to buy it only to find the owner dead on her front lawn. A convicted murderer recently released from prison on licence has gone missing and Andy wonders if the two cases could be connected. I enjoyed the fact that Portchester Castle featured a lot as I could imagine the scene. It is worth reading the whole series but I think you could soon catch up if you have missed any. A good read.
November 6, 2022
This story involves two separate storylines that join up- always a favourite device of mine. The main story is that of an old murder case that has been badly investigated and Any Horton has to go back to it and find out how it links to a new case. Andy is having problems on all fronts with his superior officers, his home life and even with living on a yacht as he does now.
I love the locations as well, as I know Portsmouth well and it's great fun recongnising all the places in the book.
I love the locations as well, as I know Portsmouth well and it's great fun recongnising all the places in the book.
June 4, 2022
Not the best in my view
This was slightly too convoluted for me with too much going on. With strange foreigners, lying witnesses and bent coppers, it really was too much all in one case.
This was slightly too convoluted for me with too much going on. With strange foreigners, lying witnesses and bent coppers, it really was too much all in one case.
July 27, 2022
Another twisting tale.
Andy gets his man in the end as usual. He’s badgered at every turn by DCI Bliss, but wins out in the end. She needs to realise that he’s a better copper than her.
Andy gets his man in the end as usual. He’s badgered at every turn by DCI Bliss, but wins out in the end. She needs to realise that he’s a better copper than her.
June 11, 2023
The Porchester Castle Murders (Solent Murder Mystery Book 6)
I am really enjoying Pauline Robson’s writing. It is full of surprises, well written and full of explanation. If you love mysteries and murder to unravel these are the books for you.
I am really enjoying Pauline Robson’s writing. It is full of surprises, well written and full of explanation. If you love mysteries and murder to unravel these are the books for you.
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November 9, 2024DI Horton #6. Could not get past the first 30 or so pages. This "hero" has too much going on. The dynamics with his boss and his wife put me off. I won't be picking up any more in this series.
DNF so no rating. I'm trying to be a better person by getting the DNFs back to the library more quickly.
DNF so no rating. I'm trying to be a better person by getting the DNFs back to the library more quickly.
July 11, 2025
Another OK book in this ever-expanding series (Book 19 is out next month). As per my previous reviews, the story is fine, but irs SO formulaic and the outcome so predictable. I'll flog on though the rest of the series, but hopefully, there will be some variation in the plots of future books.
April 18, 2022
Read this
Horton is a character you have to like. He doesn't give up. His private life is troubled, but it doesn't get in his way to solving crimes. A brilliant read.
Horton is a character you have to like. He doesn't give up. His private life is troubled, but it doesn't get in his way to solving crimes. A brilliant read.
April 25, 2022
Brilliant series enjoying them all
May 16, 2022
tangled web
So many different branches of the story. Mixed with emotions of anger jealousy. Life’s a journey that often is unfair, but somehow it is untangled.
So many different branches of the story. Mixed with emotions of anger jealousy. Life’s a journey that often is unfair, but somehow it is untangled.
December 7, 2022
I like Ms. Rowson’s writing and her manner of storytelling but I felt a cloud of negativity hanging over me throughout the book. I couldn’t even feel good for Horton at the end.
August 28, 2023
⭐️ 3.5/4 stars ⭐️
March 30, 2024
Good story
I am enjoying this series. The plot was intricate and the characters are very carefully crafted. Looking forward to escaping into the next book in the series.
I am enjoying this series. The plot was intricate and the characters are very carefully crafted. Looking forward to escaping into the next book in the series.
June 24, 2024
(2012) Not a good day for Horton, his bike is vandalised, a convicted murderer has disappeared, and now a body has been discovered in Portsmouth Harbour. Soon there will be another death.
An entertaining modern mystery
An entertaining modern mystery
December 19, 2024
The Portchester Castle Murders
© Pauline Rowson 2023
Luisterboek/ audiobook Storytel
Narrated by Colin Mace
Verschenen: 29 jun 2023
Uitgever: SAGA Egmont
© Pauline Rowson 2023
Luisterboek/ audiobook Storytel
Narrated by Colin Mace
Verschenen: 29 jun 2023
Uitgever: SAGA Egmont
August 30, 2011
A fairly predictable British police procedural. One of the problems I had with this book is that the type is very close together and there's not much white space on the page, which made the story more difficult to read and therefore less enjoyable.
February 4, 2012
unhappy, unpleasant, unsympathetic main character
January 3, 2015
As good a read as ever the Andy Horton series is very enjoyable
October 29, 2013
Enjoyable story with a tense ending!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews