The Portchester Castle Murders - Inspector Andy Horton (6)

The Portchester Castle Murders, DI Andy Horton (6)

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE DETECTIVE SERIES!

Meet DI Andy Horton in this bestselling mystery. The Solent area of Portsmouth might be pretty, but the criminals certainly aren’t.

(Please note this was previously published as Footsteps on the Shore).

It’s Friday the thirteenth and Detective Inspector Andy Horton’s luck is about to run out.

His Harley-Davidson is vandalized, a strange symbol etched into the paintwork. Is it some kind of warning?

To make matters worse, Horton’s nit-picking boss, DCI Lorraine Bliss, has returned early from her secondment to HQ.

And a convicted murderer out on licence has gone missing. Luke Felton. Horton recognizes the name from a case he worked as a sergeant.

Now a decomposing corpse washes up in Portsmouth harbour. The bloated body is found lying in the thick slimy mud.

Before Horton can get a grip on either case, his phone rings. He doesn’t recognise the number. A voice on the other end gives him an address: Willow Bank, Shore Road, Portchester.

Horton knows it. The house belongs to a woman he’d met the day before. And now she’s dead. Her body lies in her windswept garden.

Horton’s got a lot on his plate. Can he connect the dots before anyone else dies?

'I love this series and I hope there's more to come. The characters are all admirably complex, beautifully written.' C. Hall

'Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms.' Booklist

Set against the atmospheric backdrop of the sea in the Solent area of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight on the South Coast of England. Pauline Rowson has been hailed as "redefining the genre of the police drama”. Her cops are tough yet fallible.

PRAISE FOR PAULINE ROWSON:

"A great read for mystery lovers with plenty to keep you guessing until the last moment.” Crime Book Club

"The Harley Davidson-riding, boat-dwelling Horton is a fascinating man to get to know, and his thoughtful approach to detection is a pleasure to read.” Publishers Weekly

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Once you get to know Andy Horton you'll be sure to name him as one of your favourite police characters in crime fiction.” James C.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Couldn't put this book down . . . I thought the story was brilliant and will definitely be reading the next book.” Nikki

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "An enjoyable fast-paced crime novel in an unusual and evocative setting.” Bobby H.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Pauline Rowson’s books are cleverly plotted with lots of twists and turns. Can’t turn the pages fast enough. For anyone who enjoys a gripping crime novel these are a must.” Darren C.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Brilliant read. Love all of Pauline Rowson’s books. If you like a good twist, read this, you won't be able to put it down!” Amazon customer

'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. ’ Booklist,

"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. " Kirkus

'This police procedural reminded 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. A very enjoyable read.' Eurocrime

'A detective novel in the tradition of Rankin and Harvey. Like Rebus, Rowson’s DI Andy Horton, if not a loose cannon, is a detective who does not always work within the rules. As with all Rowson’s novels the ending is dramatic and deeply menacing. If you are a fan of traditional detective fiction in a vivid setting that makes you believe that you are there, you will love this one.' James Morley, Mystery People Magazine.

THE DETECTIVES

DI Andy Horton’s mum walked out on him when he was a child and he grew up in children’s home. Now he lives onboard his yacht in Southsea Marina. He rides a Harley-Davidson and never wears a suit or tie — unless it’s to go to court. He’s an instinctive copper and a man of contrasts, which often lands him in trouble with his bosses. He has a desperate need to belong, and yet is always just on the outside. Self-contained, afraid to show his feelings, but he’s a risk-taker that seeks justice.

DS Barney Cantelli is happily married to Charlotte with five children. Cantelli followed in his maternal grandfather’s footsteps and became a policeman. His brothers and sister took over their father’s ice cream business and cafés in Portsmouth. Cantelli and Horton work well together and Cantelli is, or tries to be, Horton’s steadying influence. Only Cantelli and SP Steve Uckfield know about Horton’s past. But not everything; no one knows that.

THE SETTING

Portsmouth boasts a vibrant waterfront, a diverse multicultural population, an international port, a historic dockyard, and is home of the Royal Navy. Portsmouth Harbour is one of the busiest in the world — and one of the best places to hide a body, it seems. Set against the backdrop of the sea, the Solent area of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight is every detective’s worst nightmare. The sea is ever-changing and often the best clues get swept away by the tide.

ALSO BY PAULINE ROWSON

THE SOLENT MURDER MYSTERIES

Book 1: THE PORTSMOUTH MURDERS

Book 2: THE LANGSTONE HARBOUR MURDERS

Book 3: THE HORSEA MARINA MURDERS

Book 4: THE ROYAL HOTEL MURDERS

Book 5: THE ISLE OF WIGHT MURDERS

Book 6: THE PORTCHESTER CASTLE MURDERS

Book 7: THE CHALE BAY MURDERS

Book 8: THE FARLINGTON MARSH MURDERS

Book 9: THE OYSTER QUAYS MURDERS

Book 10: THE COWES WEEK MURDERS