Jayne and Rajiv's newly formed partnership of Keeney and Patel, private investigators, is severely tested when they agree to investigate the suspicious death of their tour guide. Jayne is really too used to making decisions without reference to others. Rajiv on the other hand believes Jayne is far too impulsive and doesn't take into account the costs of the time she spends investigating. Jayne is only too willing to admit that she has made almost no profit as a private investigator so far.

The novel is set against economic and social issues besetting modern Thailand, particularly foreign and Thai businessmen trying to make quick profits without due consideration of the environmental impacts of their schemes. Villagers too are losing traditional rights when incomers seize on land that appears to belong to no-one. Others are worried by Thai locals becoming so heavily reliant on tourist income, and by the almost automatic degradation of the local way of life.

I was impressed in this novel by the author's empathetic depiction of village life and of Thai customs, of the responsibility felt by village elders, as well as the detailed explanation of the social and economic issues surrounding the murders. Angela Savage takes us a little away from the beaten track, out of Bangkok, to areas that have tourist potential, but where change/modernisation will come at a price. ( )

Third novel in the Jayne Keeney PI series by Angela Savage. Set in Thailand, the Jayne and her partner investigate the death of a young tour guide and become embroiled in conflict over economic development versus environmental protection. An entertaining and well-written page-turner. For my full-review, please see Whispering Gums: http://whisperinggums.com/2014/03/06/angela-savage-the-dying-beach-review/ ( )

We are not, I know meant to judge a book by its cover but even if I had known nothing about this novel I think I’d still have been just a little bit more…interested…in Angela Savage’s THE DYING BEACH than in most of the other books adorning my shelves. Eschewing the tired tropes of modern crime novel covers – the anonymous dark alley, the running man in silhouette, the half-face of a beautiful woman – its bright solid colour and unusual images suggest the possibility of something more exotic than the usual fare.

The content of the novel more than lives up to the expectation set by its engaging cover. It is set in Thailand in the mid 1990′s where Jayne Keeney, an ex-pat Australian, has been living for five years. She stumbled into a career as a private investigator but is now operating a successful business with Her business partner and lover Rajiv. The couple are on holiday in the resort town of Krabi as the book opens but their trip takes on a sour note when they learn that Miss Pla, the tour guide who they’d enjoyed so much a couple of days earlier, has been found dead. Although considered an accidental drowning Jayne can’t imagine the woman she met, an accomplished swimmer and diver, dying in that way and so can’t resist looking into the case which puts Jayne and Rajiv on a collision course with some very unsavoury characters.

There’s not much official interest in Pla’s death, or those which follow it, until Jayne and Rajiv make some startling connections to her past. Their presence in Krabi and interest in the death is a catalyst for one particularly unhinged character to take a series of bizarre actions which I’d almost suggest added an element of comic farce to events but for the fact they’re so alarmingly grim. The more traditional private eye element of the story sees the pair uncover some dirty secrets about some local development and its environmental impacts. There’s really not much let up in tension or suspense right from the outset but still Savage manages to weave in lots of fascinating details about life in Thailand. The fact that both Jayne and Rajiv (who is an Indian ex pat) are outsiders in the culture allows this to happen seamlessly so you don’t quite realise until the end that you’ve learned lots as well as been thoroughly entertained. I particularly liked the fact that the serious environmental issues the story raises are not depicted simplistically or with the patronising superiority that such stories are often guilty of when told by outsiders.

Again bucking a modern trend in crime fiction THE DYING BEACH manages to tell a complicated and at times very dark story through the eyes of two reasonably well-adjusted investigators. Of course they have their personality flaws but there is no sign of the loner alcoholic sporting a bitter ex-wife and/or estranged children here and it is refreshing. They make a good team, each bringing different skills to their professional pursuits and are likeable both as individuals and as a couple. Jayne is used to being on her own and struggles at times to remember that she must now consider Rajiv’s opinions and ideas in both her personal and professional decision making. At the same time Rajiv occasionally lacks confidence that Jayne is really committed to him, especially when the case brings them into contact with an Australian man who clearly is attracted to her. Watching the pair work out the complexities of their new relationship added an extra layer of enjoyment to the book for me.

THE DYING BEACH has it all: an exotic, evocative setting; terrifically drawn characters including good guys you can’t help but like and a story that manages to be thought-provoking and an edge-of-your-seat ride at the same time. Highly recommended.

The Dying Beach is the third Jayne Keeney book from Angela Savage, following on closely from Behind the Night Bazaar and The Half-Child. The series is set in various parts of Thailand, a country Private Investigator Keeney, originally from Melbourne, loves and feels a strong affinity for. Review at http://newtownreviewofbooks.com/2013/08/08/crime-scene-angela-savage-the-dying-b... ( )

The Dying Beach is the third crime fiction novel by Angela Savage to feature PI Jayne Keeney. I haven't read the first two, something I am now planning to rectify as I was really impressed with this novel.

Thirty something year old Jayne is an Australian expat who has been living in Thailand for some time. Her career as an unofficial private investigator began when she did a favour for one of her students and discovered it was far more exciting and lucrative than teaching English to middle class Thai children. Word of mouth and Jayne's ability to speak fluent Thai, French and English has seen her business thrive, and now in partnership with Rajiv Patel, she is on the brink of formalising the agency.

As a farang (foreigner) Jayne enjoys the freedom of not having to fit in. She cares little for what people think of her but respects the culture of the Thai people. She drinks, smokes and is outspoken. She doesn't mind bending a few rules and though at times she is impulsive, her heart is always in the right place. Jayne can't let injustice slide.

The intrigue in Dying Beach is prompted by the death of a young tour guide, Pla, while Jayne and Rajiv are holidaying in Krabi on the Thai coast. To Jayne the circumstances seem extraordinary and she is determined to do a some digging despite Rajiv's reluctance. It seems Jayne's suspicions are founded when first Pla's roommate is brutally slain and then an Australian tourist resembling Jayne is also murdered. Jayne discovers Pla was involved in some local environmental projects and the killer seems intent on retrieving the Thai girl's notebook, which Jayne is now in possession of. The story is well paced, with steady tension and bursts of action. There are also some clever twists to the case.

I know very little about Thailand so for me the setting was particularly exotic. A prevalent theme in the story is the environment and, in particular, the damage being caused to Thailand's coast and mangroves due to commercial shrimping operations.
I also really liked the way Savage illustrates the Thai culture, both the good and the bad, without stepping outside of the story.

I really enjoyed The Dying Beach, it is a stylish, intriguing and entertaining novel featuring an appealing protagonist and makes the most of its exotic setting. I'd happily recommend The Dying Beach, which works well as a standalone. I am not only looking forward to the next book but I intend to hunt down and read the first two books in the series. ( )