For Death Comes Softly

by Hilary Bonner

The fourth and most compelling novel from one of the most exciting new crime writers to emerge in recent years, Fanatical love, dangerous obsession and a terrible deadly secret...Detective Chief Inspector Rose Piper flees to a remote island off the North Devon coast for a much-needed break, her marriage over. Unexplained events on the island put Rose's life in danger - but throw her into the path of Robin Davey, charismatic owner of the island. When further tragedy pushes Robin and Rose together, Rose succumbs to an obsessive love affair. But she begins to fear that her preoccupation with her personal life is affecting the case she is working on. And what are the sinister secrets about the island and about the man she is involved with?

Genres: Fiction

356 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 1999

About the author

Hilary Bonner is an English crime novelist, best known for her psychological thrillers.

Almost all Bonner’s novels are inspired by real life events, often drawing on her journalistic past with The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, and Daily Mirror. The Times described her as ‘keeping on the public agenda the stories our masters would prefer buried.’

She shares her life with her partner, the actress Amanda Barrie, and, with their dog Coco. She divides her time between her house in rural Somerset and her flat at the heart of Covent Garden.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given it 2.5 if I’d been able. It was a bit like a detective novel crossed with a romance novel, a la mills & boon. It wasn’t bad but it’s not going to win any prizes either. It felt like it was written by a man but I don’t think it was, in the way that the man was the epitome of everything men think women want in a man. The sex scenes were also a little bit amateurish; the main female character just climaxing all over the place. I mean good for her but it seemed way too easy! I neither recommend nor warn away from.

[Kate Parr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to dismiss an author solely on one novel but this really was terrible. The three plots sort of danced around each other, never really becoming one thing or another: not enough detail or focus on the abuse crime for a procedural, and the descriptions and even allusions to sex were just unpleasant. The main antagonist seems to be Rose's libido and anyone who didn't think X was the guilty party from the beginning was not paying attention.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 4 from Hilary Bonner. Characters are interesting and twists and turns. Did not enjoy this as much as others. Would recommend to read as part of series.

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little disappointed by this book, it’s the first one I’ve read by this author and I found it very predictable.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never fall for a man with an Island.

[Candy Lovegrove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. I am fairly sure I read this book about twenty years ago as I remembered the big tragedy (wrongly, as it turns out) but usually when I reread a book, I know within minutes and there are lots of bits I have no memory of. Either I didn't read the whole book before or I was in a complete haze when I read it!

[Des Hunt]

Quite a lot that I skim read. However she does get you involved with the story to the extent that you want to finish. Indeed that encourages the skim reading

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up from a charity shop, didn't realise it was the fourth in the series when I read it. If you are wanting gore and violence this is not the book for you but for a light mystery with a romance thrown in it is a pleasant read which I enjoyed. I will keep an eye open for the earlier books in the series.

[Susanne Clower · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a really bad romance masquerading as a mystery. Neither mystery nor romance readers will find it satisfying. The descriptions are repetitive, the characters are flat, the plot is almost non-existent. Just avoid this book altogether.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the characters of low-maintenance career policewoman, Rose, and suave island-owner, Robin, I found their romance absurdly implausible. But nevertheless enjoyed the mystery revolving around a private island off the coast of Cornwall.