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Hell Bay
- The Isles of Scilly Mysteries
- Narrated by: Stephen Perring
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
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Hell Bay
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Summary
THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #1
DI Ben Kitto needs a second chance. After ten years working for the murder squad in London, a traumatic event has left him grief-stricken. He’s tried to resign from his job, but his boss has persuaded him to take three months to reconsider.
Ben plans to work in his uncle Ray’s boatyard, on the tiny Scilly island of Bryher where he was born, hoping to mend his shattered nerves. His plans go awry when the body of sixteen year old Laura Trescothick is found on the beach at Hell Bay. Her attacker must still be on the island because no ferries have sailed during a two-day storm.
Everyone on the island is under suspicion. Dark secrets are about to resurface. And the murderer could strike again at any time.
Critic reviews
‘Gripping, clever and impossible to put down. I’ve been a Kate Rhodes fan for years and in Ben Kitto she has created a detective who is just as complex and compelling as Kate’s elegant plotting and stunning prose. The claustrophobia and paranoia of the island are so brilliant evoked, I could almost feel the tide encroaching as time ran out to find the killer' Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said
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What listeners say about Hell Bay
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- AB
- 18-05-18
An enjoyable murder/mystery...
Firstly, I want to make clear I enjoyed this murder/mystery, and would recommend it.
However, I thought it could have been better in many ways. I notice other reviews have referenced Peter May's Hebridean trilogy as a comparison, so I will too - and i'd agree they're similar in many ways, however I think putting them on the same level would be wrong.
I feel Hell Bay lacks the depth and feeling that is apparent in May's books. The characters lack the personalities apparent in the Hebridean trilogy, and the story isn't quite as compelling. That said, the lead character (Ben Kitto) is quite a complex individual, and is similar in many ways to Finn Mcleod.
Listeners won't be left disappointed, but those (like me) that found Peter May's work truly exceptional will feel that Hell Bay lacks that special spark that would bring it to parity.
Similarly, I thought Stephen Perring performed well, but lacked that feeling and intensity that would have brought something special to the finished product. I think of Peter Forbes reading May's work, or Anton Lesser reading Phil Pullman and this doesn't reach that sort of level.
This review is probably overly critical, but when comparing to similar stories then it just doesn't quite get there...
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44 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dee
- 02-03-20
Loved it.
I really enjoyed listening to this story.
The narrator is brilliant. Will be buying more.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs. Amanda Hann
- 30-06-20
Hell Bay
A very good listen and a good plot with twists and turns red herrings abound. Hopefully there are more like it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jack S G Ashton
- 16-03-23
Great story lovely setting
I really enjoyed this story. Great character development and a good twist the setting is so well done and evocative. A closed set murder on a romantic, rugged and harsh island. Love it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Spikyjules
- 31-07-19
Really good story and narration
This is the first book I have read by Kate Rhodes and I can't wait to read another (will be downloading next book in series in next 5 minutes). Convincing characters and lots of twist and turns and never guessed who the murderer was until it was revealed at the end. Plenty of emotion and variation in Stephen Perring's narration.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dee Watcher
- 10-03-19
Really Enjoyed this
I really enjoyed this. The setting on the Scilly Isles is new to me. Now I want to visit. The atmosphere of a small isle community where everyone knows everyone, but people can still hide their secrets is very well captured. The hero is well written.
There are lots of red herrings, and I didn't guess the solution to the murders.
I would really recommend this. I'm off to get the second book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anita Keogh
- 18-06-20
Brilliant story with a good insight into Bryher
Have stayed on the island of Bryher at the Hell Bay hotel, so it made it all the more exciting to have a well read and suspenseful detective story. Thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait for more from this author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Margret
- 30-05-21
Great first book of a Scilly Islands trilogy
Kate Rhodes is an excellent writer and I enjoyed Steven Perring's performance as a reader, too.
I don't see a compelling need to compare Kate Rhodes to Peter May, just because we have twice islands and twice a trilogy. I read all of Peter May's books, he's a great author and unique, a master of his kind and I am a huge fan. It doesn't seem right to me to compare the two authors. But if you like Peter May's books, you will enjoy Kate Rhodes, too, even if she didn't write as many bestsellers as Peter May. Yet. I couldn't stop listening to this gripping story and already purchased the second and third book of the trilogy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Nikkilp
- 01-05-20
perfect reader
a good story with twists and turns and do well read the characters seem so real
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- michelle l.
- 31-03-21
i can almost taste the brine
awesome book couldnt put this down , the descriptions of the sea and the land were just so perfect ! and what a great story !!! shadow is my hero
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