Published 26 January 2012 and in the USA 1 May 2012

 

'Deserves mention in the same breath as American procedurals (those by Ed McBain or Joseph Wambaugh for example) and their British counterparts... Peter Robinson and John Harvey.' Booklist starred review

 

When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.

 

 

"Footsteps on the Shore deserves mention in the same breath as works in the upper echelon of American procedurals (those by Ed McBain or Joseph Wambaugh for example) and their British counterparts, including the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey.

"Andy Horton is an especially good series hero, a likeable fellow with plenty of street smarts and the requisite personal baggage – an abrasive supervisor and an antagonistic soon-to-be ex-wife. Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms." Booklist Starred Review

 

"Horton presses on to clear up a skein of crime as tangled as one of the harbor’s ancient fishing nets. Rowson’s latest should please both Andy Horton fans and puzzle aficionados. " Footsteps on the Shore Kirkus

 

"This police procedural eminded me in one aspect, of the mysteries by R.D. Wingfield, creator of Jack Frost... a very interesting read, with all the interaction between the different detectives. The tight plotting was impressive and makes me want to look out for the further books by this author. A very enjoyable read." Eurocrime ( Footsteps on the Shore)

 

 

"This is another solid entry in a consistently well written series. Like Ed McBain, Rowson works many subtle variations on the procedural formula (including very interesting relationships between Andy and a couple of his superiors). A definite winner in the crowded field of British procedurals."
(Blood on the Sand) Booklist

 

"Rowson turns out an exemplary procedural with the requisite plot twists, double-crosses and all loose ends tied up neatly in a sailor’s knot." (Dead Man's Wharf) Starred Review Kirkus

"Strong plots, nice characterisation and dialogue. Rowson is clearly a crime writer to watch." Amazon.com  (Tide of Death)

"Rowson adds an appealing hero to the British procedural ranks." (Deadly Waters).

"A nicely complex plot." (The Suffocating Sea). Kirkus Reviews.

"An entertaining procedural." (Deadly Waters.)

"A gripping suspense filled murder case, an entertaining read in an engaging series." (The Suffocating Sea). Booklist