**I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley. The opinions in this review are solely my own.**


Death Ship is the 7th installment in the Shaw & Valentine mystery series.

The action starts immediately and continues non-stop for the entire book! DI Peter Shaw and DS George Valentine are investigating an explosion at Hunstanton Beach, protesters sabotaging a local pier building project, new evidence in a cold case from 1953, and a missing Dutch national. Past and present meld into a riveting, action-filled police procedural!

Death ship is perfectly paced, exciting and well-written.The plot is multi-faceted, combining threads from several cases into a suspenseful revelation of hidden, dangerous secrets.

This is the first book in this series I have read. I could tell the main characters have some issues from prior books, and I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series to find out the whole story. The books don't have to be read in order. I was able to follow the story and enjoy the characters, plot and suspense without knowing what occurred in prior books. But, to totally understand Shaw and Valentine, I'm going to go back and read the prior stories and then read this book a second time.

This was a riveting, suspenseful police procedural. Any reader who enjoys thrillers, procedurals or mystery novels would love this book!

Jim Kelly also writes the Phillip Dryden series. Find out more about the author on his website: www.jim-kelly.co.uk

Death Ship will be released by Severn House December 1st. ( )

Jim Kelly is a remarkable writer and this book is a standout even in his rich body of work. His prose is always taut with moment after moment of shining clarity. The beauty of the flat, elongated land and sea scapes lays in the background sometimes propelling the plot forward as gently as sthe small wavelets of ebb tide and at others with the cracking violence of a sea storm.it's a most enjoyable read. ( )

This is the first book I've read by Jim Kelly, so he's a new author for me. I liked the style of writing and the story line, but found the small print and crammed pages a detriment. I'm all for saving paper and preventing waste but not when it comes to my reading enjoyment. Waste-wise author. ( )

This is the first of this series that I have read. It's a solid police procedural -- good story and interesting characters. Valentine did not play much of a role here, but Shaw more than made up for it.
The storyline about the poisoned chocolates added nothing -- it was an unnecessary diversion from the main storyline. ( )

Detectives DI Peter Shaw & DS George Valentine of the Lynn CID are back in their 7th outing & there’s no shortage of case work to keep them busy.

Down the road in Hunstanton, a Dutch tourist has been reported as missing. Dirk Hartog kept to himself but as they retrace his steps they discover he was interested in an old shipwreck & spent a lot of time on the water. Now he’s gone & so is his diving equipment.
There’s also rising tension about the new pier that’s being built. It’s going to be a huge tourist draw with games, rides & shops. Not only will this take from local businesses but the design is not what they agreed to. Eco-types (or as George calls them, “lentil freaks”) have joined unhappy residents & peaceful protests are starting to give way to more aggressive acts of sabotage.
But the weirdest investigation involves the search for a little old lady who is handing out candy laced with rat poison in the queue at a bus stop.

As usual with this series, you’re going to need a thinking cap with a snug fit. As the story lines progress, the author provides a slow drip of clues that you rearrange like puzzle pieces as each twist is revealed. George & Peter have to dig deep when it becomes clear a couple of the investigations have strong ties to a decades old maritime disaster but those old enough to remember aren’t talking.
The setting is on the Norfolk coast & that’s important as it informs how many of the characters think & live.There’s such a strong sense of place here that at times I swear you can hear the waves & smell the salty air.

The procedural aspect of the book is well paced & plot lines are woven together seamlessly by the end. The narrative is definitely character driven. There’s a large cast from all walks of life & each feels authentic as they add something to the story. And for fans, it’s a pleasure to catch up with the MC’s personal lives. In this outing Peter’s wife learns a stunning family secret & George is under pressure from his new wife to pack up & move to the seashore.

In the end it’s about secrets, greed & family ties. It’s a smart & atmospheric read you’ll want to carry around so you can sneak in a few more pages when you get the chance. ( )