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DI Andy Horton #10
The Cowes Week Murders
Detective Inspector Andy Horton is on a sailing trip to France when he gets the news: Sergeant Cantelli’s nephew, Johnnie Oslow, is missing.
Johnnie was due to take part in the Cowes Week yacht races on the Isle of Wight, but he never turned up.
Horton’s boss isn’t interested. She thinks Johnnie must have gone off with a woman.
But then the charred remains of a body are discovered in a disused tunnel.
Is it Cantelli’s nephew?
The search for a missing person soon becomes a hunt for a ruthless killer. And this killer is just getting started.
Johnnie was due to take part in the Cowes Week yacht races on the Isle of Wight, but he never turned up.
Horton’s boss isn’t interested. She thinks Johnnie must have gone off with a woman.
But then the charred remains of a body are discovered in a disused tunnel.
Is it Cantelli’s nephew?
The search for a missing person soon becomes a hunt for a ruthless killer. And this killer is just getting started.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
412 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Rowson
61 books157 followersPauline Rowson is the author of thirty- one crime novels - nineteen featuring DI Andy Horton in the Solent Murder Mystery series; five in Art Marvik mystery thrillers series, six in the 1950s set historical mysteries with Scotland Yard's Inspector Ryga, who is sent out to solve baffling coastal crimes and two standalone thrillers. All her crime novels are set against the backdrop of the ever changing sea.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 16, 2022
Really good
Another really good book from Pauline Rowson. I don't believe that police officers would get away with acting like Andy Horton, but it does make excellent reading! He's a likeable man, even though I do sometimes wish to shake him. His self-absorption and self pity are understandable but nonetheless annoying.
Another really good book from Pauline Rowson. I don't believe that police officers would get away with acting like Andy Horton, but it does make excellent reading! He's a likeable man, even though I do sometimes wish to shake him. His self-absorption and self pity are understandable but nonetheless annoying.
December 15, 2023
Pauline Rowson has managed to maintain a long-running storyline as well as providing gripping individual yarns such as this one. The more I read the more I like Andy Horton and look forward to hearing what happens next in his life, both professional and personal. For those who haven't encountered this series, go to no. 1 and enjoy the ride.
Julian Tremayne, Poxklington, East Yorkshire
Julian Tremayne, Poxklington, East Yorkshire
August 5, 2022
Excellent novel
Again another enjoyable book by this brilliant author. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of her work. I shall definitely be recommending series to members of my book club.
Again another enjoyable book by this brilliant author. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of her work. I shall definitely be recommending series to members of my book club.
November 19, 2022
A quiet and interesting story
A good quiet story. Good reading. Well written with a hidden agenda to continuing reading. Good story line. Well done.
A good quiet story. Good reading. Well written with a hidden agenda to continuing reading. Good story line. Well done.
September 23, 2023
Brilliant
Another terrific storey unfolds slowly drawing you in keeping you turning the pages to the very end.fantastic caricatures first-class plot
Another terrific storey unfolds slowly drawing you in keeping you turning the pages to the very end.fantastic caricatures first-class plot
September 18, 2025
As per my review of the previous book in this series, the trend continues onwards and downwards. The continuing saga of the disappearance of Horton's mother (why does he think of her as 'Jennifer', not 'Mum' or similar?) is beyond tedious now. He can't look at the most inoffensive thing without relating it to her leaving. I really hope that this is resolved soon, as I'm getting tired of shoutng at him to 'Give it a rest!'. Then there's the way that he looks at pretty much all females as potential mates, but never actually does anything about it. Oh and hus continual bleating about his daughter and hus ex-wife; no wonder she left him!
The author has some irritating writing habits - she clearly has an aversion to the word 'nor', incorrectly using 'and neither' instead. There is some poor-quality writing too: wrong place name (it should be 'Monckton', not Monkton') and repetition of words, where synonyms are plentiful. Possibly the most annoying thing - after the continual references to his bloody mother's disappearance - is that Horton continually asks himself questions and about every single damned thing.
The final scenes of this book are laughable, as if the author had just given up and tacked together a convenient ending. Well, I say 'as if'...
Over half-way through this series, but I won't be reading any of her other book series; there's bound to be a Hortonesque character in it...
The author has some irritating writing habits - she clearly has an aversion to the word 'nor', incorrectly using 'and neither' instead. There is some poor-quality writing too: wrong place name (it should be 'Monckton', not Monkton') and repetition of words, where synonyms are plentiful. Possibly the most annoying thing - after the continual references to his bloody mother's disappearance - is that Horton continually asks himself questions and about every single damned thing.
The final scenes of this book are laughable, as if the author had just given up and tacked together a convenient ending. Well, I say 'as if'...
Over half-way through this series, but I won't be reading any of her other book series; there's bound to be a Hortonesque character in it...
November 17, 2024
DI Andy Horton #10. 2013 pub. I've read some of this series and have mixed feelings. There's a boring backstory about Horton trying to find his mother, and bumping heads with Lord Eames of British Intelligence. This just never ends, and wastes a huge amount of space in stories which do otherwise have merit.
At this point in the series, Horton is severely troubled. He's persona non grata with most of his senior officers, with zero chance of promotion. His wife has left him and is making it difficult for him to have access to his daughter. He lives on a boat, and people just drop in on him any time they like, and impose their opinions, and indulge in deception and bullying.
Lately he is suffering from pathetic yearnings for any young female who crosses his path. The reader suffers from his thoughts as to why he must not trust them, why he cannot make love to Lord Eames's daughter (which the village idiot could figure out), and on and on.
In the end he has to have a fight with the psychopathic murderer (thriller stuff) and save Sgt. Cantanelli's nephew whose disappearance started the saga.
Next instalment - more shit about finding what happened to his mother.
Rating 2.7.
At this point in the series, Horton is severely troubled. He's persona non grata with most of his senior officers, with zero chance of promotion. His wife has left him and is making it difficult for him to have access to his daughter. He lives on a boat, and people just drop in on him any time they like, and impose their opinions, and indulge in deception and bullying.
Lately he is suffering from pathetic yearnings for any young female who crosses his path. The reader suffers from his thoughts as to why he must not trust them, why he cannot make love to Lord Eames's daughter (which the village idiot could figure out), and on and on.
In the end he has to have a fight with the psychopathic murderer (thriller stuff) and save Sgt. Cantanelli's nephew whose disappearance started the saga.
Next instalment - more shit about finding what happened to his mother.
Rating 2.7.
September 2, 2023
3 stars is probably a bit generous but I did enjoy this book more than the previous one. The plot is fine but the characters are annoying to say the least. As with the previous book(s) the senior officers are portrayed very poorly, more interested in promotion than justice so our hero who lives on a boat and rides a Harley is spending countless hours talking to himself constantly with various theories. Suddenly towards the very end he has a lightbulb moment, identifies the murderer from left field and saves the day for a colleague's nephew.
I have one book in the series to read. I will In the hope our man gets promotion, his bosses get the flick and the good guys win. I won't hold my breath.
I have one book in the series to read. I will In the hope our man gets promotion, his bosses get the flick and the good guys win. I won't hold my breath.
May 29, 2024
Solid - Not Exactly Gripping
Another installment of the self-tortured Andy Horton. I like this series. The plots are well thought out and the protagonist is an interesting mix of stereotypical detective characteristics. He's not full of him self so he's more sympathetic than insufferable. I just wish the author could design her plots with less ancillary characters. It can be annoying when all these minor characters continue to sprout up and it's a bit confusing to keep track of who is who and where they fit in. Aside from that, a solid British Crime series. I recommend the series. I'll be reading the rest of the books.
Another installment of the self-tortured Andy Horton. I like this series. The plots are well thought out and the protagonist is an interesting mix of stereotypical detective characteristics. He's not full of him self so he's more sympathetic than insufferable. I just wish the author could design her plots with less ancillary characters. It can be annoying when all these minor characters continue to sprout up and it's a bit confusing to keep track of who is who and where they fit in. Aside from that, a solid British Crime series. I recommend the series. I'll be reading the rest of the books.
April 23, 2023
Missing nephew, 3 bodies, are they connected?
Channel's nephew is missing. The 3 mates he committed arson with begin to turn up dead. One after the other.
Campbell and Norton are trying to find the neohew. But they are also wrapped up in international jewellery thefts, which take place during the yacht races.
Again the nephew may be involved. He was racing in the areas of each robbery, or is his disappearance because he had information in the perpetrators.
Lots of twists and turns. With Norton's Mum's disappearance always in the background.
Channel's nephew is missing. The 3 mates he committed arson with begin to turn up dead. One after the other.
Campbell and Norton are trying to find the neohew. But they are also wrapped up in international jewellery thefts, which take place during the yacht races.
Again the nephew may be involved. He was racing in the areas of each robbery, or is his disappearance because he had information in the perpetrators.
Lots of twists and turns. With Norton's Mum's disappearance always in the background.
May 20, 2018
Getting closer, but it's not at all easy!
June 29, 2018
enjoyed it but found it a bit heavy going and dry
July 16, 2019
A bit dull and slow moving with a series back story that is even slower.
July 22, 2024
(2015) DS Cantelli's nephew, Jonnie Oslow, has gone missing after arriving In Portsmouth from Sardinia. Then a body is found at the Hilsea Lines.
An entertaining modern mystery
(though Horton's search for information about the disappearance of his mother is becoming tedious)
An entertaining modern mystery
(though Horton's search for information about the disappearance of his mother is becoming tedious)
August 21, 2023
Lots of twists in this one . A great read.
December 26, 2013
I found this a difficult book to rate. In the end I have decided on 4 stars as it merits more than 3. DI Andy Horton the main character in this Portsmouth based police detective story, has a background which is not fully explained as this is the most recent in a series of mysteries by Pauline Rowson. The story line is based round the sailing fraternity on the south coast and how sailing is a major part of their lives, and are willing to kill for it. One of Andy Horton's colleagues nephew goes missing and starts an investigation that has a growing body count.
Overall this is a good story but is slow to gather pace with the detectives guessing rather than working with solid clues. It does speed up concluding well. Lingering in the background however is the thread from the series which is not answered or even makes much progress, this could have been handled better. Otherwise a good book.
Overall this is a good story but is slow to gather pace with the detectives guessing rather than working with solid clues. It does speed up concluding well. Lingering in the background however is the thread from the series which is not answered or even makes much progress, this could have been handled better. Otherwise a good book.
February 6, 2014
Very briefly-- I am not going to summarize this book. Suffice it to say, that I did not think it was up to the quality of the others I have read. I found it hard going. It took a long time for the author to get to the real mystery with interactions of the main character with the other police on the case.
March 17, 2014
Just the facts, that's the rule when it comes to this British police procedural. It's dry and slow going with very little personal detail. I found it difficult to care much for the main character as he goes about trying to find a friend's missing nephew.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2013
This is an excellent example of a police procedural with thrillerish elements which features a pleasingly devious plot.
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June 26, 2014
Engaging plot & likable characters...
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews