Step into the spotlight Sergeant Barney Cantelli

The DI Andy Horton Solent Murder Mysteries (19) are seen through Andy Horton’s eyes.  It is the Harley-Davidson riding, sailing detective that readers follow throughout all the investigations. However it wouldn’t be the same without the faithful, witty Detective Sergeant Barney Cantelli.  

Cantelli is older than Horton and the closest thing to a brother Horton has ever had.  Cantelli and his wife, Charlotte (a nurse) were the only ones who stood by Horton on that false rape allegation when he was undercover that stalled his career and wrecked his marriage.  They believed unswervingly in his innocence while Catherine, Horton’s wife, did not and even Steve Uckfield, head of the Major Crime Team, Horton’s best man at his wedding, chose to distance himself. Promotion and career meant more to Uckfield than friendship. A fact that causes some friction between Horton and Uckfield in the series.

But to get back to Cantelli. He’s laid back, chews gum and sticks a stubby pencil behind his ear in readiness to take notes when interviewing witnesses and suspects.  He drives an ancient, battered Ford that doesn’t have satnav. drinks tea and loves watching old black and white movies when he gets the chance at home, which is rare with his five children keeping him busy.  He has four girls and one boy, Joe, who is twin to Molly.  He loves his wife and his kids, is a devoted family man and a good Catholic.

Raised by an Italian father and a British mother he has two sisters and an older brother, Toni, who runs the family ice cream business, while Isabella runs the cafes, one of which is on Portsmouth’s seafront.  Maria, his other sister is a school teacher.

When Cantelli’s father, old Toni Cantelli dies (THE HORSEA MARINA MURDERS (3)) he is devastated. Horton helps him to cope with his bereavement. Andy is always there for Barney and vice versa. They’ve got into some dangerous situations together in the series, coming up against the most determined, cold-blooded killers.

Cantelli is the only person Horton completely trusts, and is the only one who knows how tough his upbringing was when his mother abandoned him at the age of ten.  He is also the only person who knows about Horton’s quest to discover the truth behind her disappearance.

While I do not describe Andy Horton’s physical appearance in the Solent Murder Mysteries, save that he is fit and can take care of himself, I do describe Cantelli.  He has lots of black curly hair, is slight and wiry with a pleasant smiling countenance most often. He has bushy eyebrows and deep set dark eyes.

Cantelli is old school, he deals in certainties not like Horton’s blue grey areas and leaps of faith and impulsive actions. But he’s no plodder and he does have a deep understanding of people and heaps of empathy.

Horton secretly craves the warmth and noise of his friend’s home life and yet knows it will never be his.

THE TIPNER LAKE MURDERS (19) is published by Joffe Books on 14 August 2025 and on pre-order from 19 June 2025

Available on Amazon Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and Paperback.