25.8.16

BOOK REVIEW: The Killing of Polly Carter by Robert Thorogood

Supermodel Polly Carter was famed for her looks and party-girl lifestyle. Now she's dead, lying at the foot of a cliff, but those who knew her say Polly would never have killed herself. DI Richard Poole is inclined to agree there is more to Polly's death than meets the eye.
Already fighting  a losing battle against the intense Caribbean heat, Richard now faces fresh adversaries: a stream of alibis; a host of conflicting motives; and, worst of all, a visit from his mother.
As his team closes in on Polly's household, Richard is certain that the model's death was an inside job  and the murderer is still on Saint Marie. He is determined to prove who planned the killing of Polly Carter and why...

Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 333

The Killing of Polly Carter is a Death in Paradise mystery, I haven't actually watched any of the popular TV show but I think I will have to catch up with it as I really enjoyed this book from Robert Thorogood.
DI Richard Poole is still on the Caribbean Island of Saint Marie, his day has not started well and his mother is arriving on the island that very afternoon. He could do with a nice, quiet day but then one of his colleagues arrives to tell him that a body has been found at the bottom of some cliffs. The body turns out to be supermodel, Polly Carter. Her wheel-chair bound twin sister, Claire says that Polly threatened to kill herself and then proceeded to jump from the cliff. At first it appears like a straightforward suicide but closer inspection of the body shows that Polly did not kill herself, she was murdered.
So the whodunnit begins and there are plenty of people who had reason to murder Polly. Richard and his team must discover the truth and find out exactly how Polly ended up at the bottom of the cliffs.
Richard Poole is a well created character; he is quite eccentric with a few insecurities but his heart is in the right place. It is very entertaining and amusing watching him look for clues, At times he seems out of his depth but at others he seems the only one in control.
The arrival of Richard's mother Jennifer is also causing him extra stress, He has no idea why she has chosen to be away from his father for two weeks and why did she come to Saint Marie when she doesn't seem too bothered about spending any time with him?
The Killing of Polly Carter is well-written and highly entertaining. I loved the mystery at the heart of the book but there is so much to enjoy surrounding that too. I highly recommend this book, even if you haven't watched the show.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The tv series is fun. Thought I actually prefer the laters ones with DI Goodman. Great escapism.

I have read the two books that they have done so far, looking forward to book three.

Dot said...

Think I will definitely need to catch up with the TV series, heard lots of good things!

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