Like many people at the moment I have been enjoying the latest series of Death in Paradise, the gentle crime drama of seemingly impossible murders taking place on the beautiful island of Saint Marie, and featuring scenes of white sany beaches, winter sun and the most beautiful blue sea.

Read all about my Holiday reads

At the time of reading, the ongoing drama is seeing Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in danger of being 'slimmed down' by the ubiquitous cuts and efficiency savings plaguing many a life at the moment. How can they justify this? Saint Marie is as deadly as it is beaurtiful with a death rate to rival that of Midsomer Murders. I'm telling you all this because Robert Thorogood, today's author is the creator of Death in Paradise.

The Plot (from the inner cover)

Verity Beresford is worried about her husband. Oliver didn;t come home last night so of course Verity goes straight to Judith Potts, Marlow's resident amateur sleuth, for help. Oliver, founder of the Marlow Amateur Dramatic Society had hired The Marlow Belle, a private pleasure cruiser, for an exclusive cruise with the MADS Committee, but no-one remembers seeing him disembark. And then Oliver's body washes up on the Thames with two bullet holes in him p it's time for the Marlow Murder Club to leap into action.

My Thoughts

This is the 4th in the Marlow Murder Club. It can be read as a standalone novel, but if you can, I would recommend reading them in order. Previous incidents are touched upon in this novel and you don't want spoilers!

Read my Review of the Marlow Murder Club

The crime, and I would expect no less from Robert Thorogood, is seemingly impossible. During a celebration on the Marlow Belle, all the guests retreat to their cabins following a note from an ex-MADS alumni and now Hollywood star, Lizzie Jenkins. The Captain is in his boat house piloting the Belle and no-one sees anything. There are no motives and no-one realised Oliver was missing. He never got off the boat and no person got on the boat.

Enter the Marlow Murder Club - Judith, Suze and Becks each bringing something special to the club. Judith - her ingenuity, Suze - her toughness and Becks - her empathy. As they tenaciously set about quizzing the guests, finding the links and uncovering dodgy backgrounds and motives, the threads are gently pulled.

I didn't solve this and went in a completely different direction altogether, to be fair, I had just watched Murder on the Orient Express!

This is a welcome addition to the Marlow Murder Club, perfect for fans of Death in Paradise.