"When DI Ben Kitto sees a baby thrown into Penzance harbour, he prays it's a trick of the light. But the threat is real. The child survives – barely – and soon a chilling pattern emerges. As the Burning Sky Festival brings dancers, dreamers and stargazers to Cornwall's coast, children begin to vanish. A small mermaid figurine is found beside each scene, echoing the legend of the Mermaid of Zennor, who lured a man to his death beneath the waves. Still reeling from a devastating bereavement and determined to protect his young son, Ben is pulled into a deadly investigation. Then the killer's messages begin arriving at his home. As the summer solstice approaches, Ben must confront the boundaries of love, loss and obsession. In a final, desperate chase along the headland, only his bond with Noah – and the loyalty of his dog, Shadow – can prevent tragedy from repeating itself."
"Winter storms lash the Isles of Scilly when DI Ben Kitto ferries the islands' priest to St Helen's. Father Michael intends to live as a pilgrim in the ruins of an ancient church on the uninhabited island, but an ugly secret is buried among the rocks. Digging frantically in the sand, Ben's dog, Shadow, unearths the emaciated remains of a young woman. The discovery chills Ben to the core. The victim is Vietnamese, with no clear link to the community - and her killer has made sure that no one will find her easily. The storm intensifies as the investigation gathers pace. Soon Scilly is cut off by bad weather, with no help available from the mainland. Ben must look beyond the islands to find a vicious killer. He knows they are waiting to kill again - and at unimaginable cost."
"'Chillingly compelling and expertly assembled. An immersive piece of thriller writing of the sort late-night-reading binges are made of' B. P. WALTER
'Dark, intense, and expertly crafted. Kate Rhodes delivers exactly what I look for in a gripping thriller' RACHEL ABBOTT
She thinks she understand stalkers. Until she becomes a target . . .
Elly is an expert in stalking - an academic at Cambridge University and a popular media pundit. She knows the subject intimately: what motivates a stalker, how they behave, how to rehabilitate them.
But now it's personal. Someone is following her, making silent phone calls and sending her ominous notes. The message is always the same - me or you.
Elly can't trust anyone - not her family, her friends or her colleagues. She knows that her stalker must be someone close to her. And when they suddenly turn violent, she realizes she's running out of time to find out who it is.
Because it looks like only one of them will survive.
A terrifying cat-and-mouse chase, told from the perspective of the stalker and the stalked - a roller-coaster ride with an ending you won't see coming.
'Terrifying and tense, as unpredictable as it is compelling' LESLEY KARA
'A classy, edge-of-the-seat thriller which will keep you guessing throughout!' B.A. PARIS
'Pacy, tense and unsettling . . . Kate keeps you guessing until the end, then hits you with a chapter that will stay with you long after you close the book' MARI HANNAH
'Stylish and atmospheric, with a final page that is sure to chill your bones. Loved it' CAZ FREAR
'The tension never lets up. Just when you think you've unravelled the mystery, Rhodes masterfully delivers a twist that leaves you breathless' JO JAKEMAN
'A bloody good read. Tense and intense' KATE EVANS
'Pacy and chilling. I binged it' EMMA BAMFORD
'Kate Rhodes always delivers an entertaining read but this standalone novel really packs a punch' RUSS THOMAS
'Gripping . . . I just couldn't put this down' SIMON McCLEAVE
'A creepy slow-burn of a thriller - one that will have you looking over your own shoulder as you read late into the night' SARAH PEKKANEN
'Superb plotting. The very best in psychological crime writing' JANE ISAAC
'Tense and terrifying - no one is above suspicion in this masterpiece of literary manipulation' ANNE COATES
'Deliciously addictive' ISABEL ASHDOWN
'Irresistible' CRIME TIME
'Terrifying' CRIME MONTHLY
'Tense and properly chilling' SUN ON SUNDAY, FABULOUS MAGAZINE "
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #7
'An absolute master of pace, plotting and character' ELLY GRIFFITHS
ON A REMOTE ISLAND
When Jez Cardew's boat is found drifting empty on the Atlantic Ocean, DI Ben Kitto and his fellow lifeboat crew members immediately fear the worst. After an extensive search yields no results, the team are forced to retreat to dry land as darkness sets in.
THE OCEAN IS MERCILESS
But Kitto can't let it go. Why would Jez - an experienced sailor - get into difficulty when the sea has been calm for weeks? Unless his disappearance was no accident.
BUT SO ARE THE PEOPLE . . .
The gruesome discovery of a hand washed ashore on the beach confirms his hunch. Because a medal is attached to the index finger, and it can only have been placed there by the killer.
This strange clue is the only lead to an agenda as cold as the ocean itself. Kitto must work fast, before the small, isolated community closes ranks. And it's only a matter of time before the murderer among them strikes again . . .
Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths, this gripping new locked-island mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the bitter end.
'Beautifully written and expertly plotted' GUARDIAN
'Kate Rhodes directs her cast of suspects with consummate skill, keeping us guessing right to the heartbreaking end' LOUISE CANDLISH"
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #6
'An absolute master of pace, plotting and character' ELLY GRIFFITHS
REVENGE
DI Ben Kitto made many enemies in his time working as an undercover officer for the Met police, none more ruthless and calculating than gang leader Craig Travis.
IS WORTH
Travis has longed to make Kitto pay for his role in getting him convicted - and that day has finally arrived. Now, a dark and twisted killer is heading for the Scilly Isles, one who has waited a long time for revenge.
WAITING FOR . . .
With Kitto busy investigating the discovery of a body on the islands and distracted by the imminent arrival of his first child, his defences are down. He has so much to lose.
And Travis will stop at nothing to take it all from him.
PRAISE FOR KATE RHODES:
'Gripping, clever and impossible to put down' ERIN KELLY
'Absorbing and complex, Hell Bay kept me guessing until the final pages' RACHEL ABBOTT
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' SOPHIE HANNAH
'Beautifully written and expertly plotted; this is a masterclass' GUARDIAN
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' METRO
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting' SUNDAY EXPRESS
'The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' MEL MCGRATH
'It is at once a locked-room mystery, a story of the returning hero, and an examination of fear and abuse. It has the air of a twenty-first century Agatha Christie' JULIA CROUCH"
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #5
'An absolute master of pace, plotting and character' ELLY GRIFFITHS
A MISSING CHILD
St Martin's is shrouded in bitterly cold fog when Jade Minear and her twin brother, Ethan, are attacked in a field, late at night. Ethan manages to return home but the shocking events of Jade's disappearance have rendered him mute.
A LONG-HELD GRUDGE
On a small island where there are few places a child can hide, DI Ben Kitto must battle the elements to search for Jade. When his investigation reveals that the Minear family have many enemies on the island, Kitto grows increasingly worried that Jade is in danger.
A KILLER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT . . .
Meanwhile, someone on the island knows exactly where the girl is. Someone with a deep-seated hatred of Jade's family. To find the truth, Kitto must investigate the lives of the people he has known all of his life. Because one of them is lying - and it isn't long until a body is found . . .
PRAISE FOR KATE RHODES:
'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
'Absorbing and complex, Hell Bay kept me guessing until the final pages' RACHEL ABBOTT
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' SOPHIE HANNAH
'Beautifully written and expertly plotted; this is a masterclass' GUARDIAN
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' METRO
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting' Jake Kerridge, SUNDAY EXPRESS
'The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' MEL MCGRATH
'I love reading Kate's books in the way I love reading Sophie Hannah - a poet writing crime fiction is a great thing . . . It is at once a locked-room mystery, a story of the returning hero, and an examination of fear and abuse. It has the air of a twenty-first century Agatha Christie' JULIA CROUCH"
"È primavera inoltrata nelle Isole Scilly e la luce del sole esalta il blu dell’Atlantico e fa brillare la sabbia delle spiagge. Trasferitosi definitivamente in Cornovaglia, il detective Ben Kitto è in attesa di essere confermato nel ruolo di vice capo della polizia, ma proprio nel momento in cui sembra rimpiangere il lavoro frenetico della squadra omicidi di Londra, un orrendo delitto sconvolge la tranquillità del luogo. Il corpo di Jude Trellon, giovane subacquea professionista, viene trovato ancorato alle rocce di una grotta dell’isola di Tresco. Non può trattarsi di un tragico incidente, non ci sono dubbi, e Kitto dovrà mettere in atto tutte le sue abilità investigative per riuscire a rompere il muro di silenzio degli isolani. Anche se vicini alla vittima, infatti, nessuno sembra così disposto a parlare, finché un altro giovane ragazzo non scompare. Un oscuro segreto collega le due vittime ed è chiaro che qualcuno è disposto a uccidere pur di proteggerlo. La verità sembra nascosta in fondo agli abissi dell’oceano, e solo portandola alla luce il detective potrà evitare che altri delitti siano commessi."
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #4
The fourth instalment in a gripping and atmospheric crime series set on a small island where there is no escape . . .
'Gripping, clever and impossible to put down' ERIN KELLY
AN ISLAND ON LOCKDOWN. A KILLER ON THE LOOSE . . .
As the scorching summer sun covers the small Scilly island of St Mary's, DI Ben Kitto and his team are training for the annual Swimathon. But their morning session comes to a climactic end when they discover a body hanging from Pulpit Rock. The victim has been dressed up in a bridal gown, and Ben quickly realises that a dark and sinister killer is at large on the island.
To prevent the killer from escaping, Ben has no choice but to lock down St Mary's, yet in doing so he is unwillingly trapping the killer's next victim. When another woman is attacked, Ben gathers the island's at-risk residents inside the local hotel for safety, but the killer is already watching and remains one step ahead . . .
Everyone is a suspect. No one is safe.
PRAISE FOR KATE RHODES:
'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
'Absorbing and complex, Hell Bay kept me guessing until the final pages' RACHEL ABBOTT
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' SOPHIE HANNAH
'Beautifully written and expertly plotted; this is a masterclass' GUARDIAN
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' METRO
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting' Jake Kerridge, SUNDAY EXPRESS
'The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' MEL MCGRATH
'I love reading Kate's books in the way I love reading Sophie Hannah - a poet writing crime fiction is a great thing . . . It is at once a locked-room mystery, a story of the returning hero, and an examination of fear and abuse. It has the air of a twenty-first century Agatha Christie' JULIA CROUCH"
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #3
The third instalment in a gripping and atmospheric crime series set on a small island where there is no escape . . .
'Gripping, clever and impossible to put down' Erin Kelly
INTRUDERS HERE ARE BOUND TO DIE . . .
As the sun sets on a cold November evening, the tiny community of St Agnes prepares for their annual Fifth-of-November festivities. Moments before the fireworks are scheduled to commence, an islander discovers a charred body left on the bonfire, and quickly it becomes clear that a killer is at large.
Ben Kitto is the Deputy Chief of Police for the Scilly Isles, and with a killer on the loose, he has no choice but to forbid all residents from leaving the island. With a population of just eighty people, everyone is a suspect and no one is safe.
When threats start appearing, written in the old Cornish language, Ben suspects that the killer's motive is to rid the island of the newcomers who threaten their traditions. With time running out, Ben hurries to discover the secrets of the island's peculiar residents, but he knows it's only a matter of time before another fire is started . . .
No place to run.
No place to hide.
PRAISE FOR KATE RHODES:
'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
'Absorbing and complex, Hell Bay kept me guessing until the final pages' Rachel Abbott
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' Sophie Hannah
'Beautifully written and expertly plotted; this is a masterclass' Guardian
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' Metro
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express
'The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' Mel McGrath
'I love reading Kate's books in the way I love reading Sophie Hannah - a poet writing crime fiction is a great thing . . . It is at once a locked-room mystery, a story of the returning hero, and an examination of fear and abuse. It has the air of a twenty-first century Agatha Christie' Julia Crouch"
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #2
The island of Tresco holds a dark secret someone will kill to protect.
Ben Kitto has become Deputy Commander in the Isles of Scilly Police. As the islands' lazy summer takes hold, he finds himself missing the excitement of the murder squad in London. But when the body of professional diver Jude Trellon is discovered, anchored to the rocks of a nearby cave, his investigative skills are once again needed.
At first it appears that the young woman's death was a tragic accident, but when evidence suggests otherwise, the islanders close ranks. With even those closest to the victim refusing to talk, it seems that plenty of islanders had reason to harm her. As the community remains guarded, Ben Kitto discovers that terrible secrets lie beneath the waters around Tresco, and the killer may soon strike again.
Everyone is a suspect.
Nobody is safe.
Praise for Kate Rhodes:
'Kate Rhodes directs her cast of suspects with consummate skill, keeping us guessing right to the heartbreaking end. I'm a fan' Louise Candlish
'Evocative, immersive, twisty' Sarah Vaughan
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' Sophie Hannah, Daily Express
'A pacy psychological thriller' Laura Wilson, Guardian
'Kate writes so beautifully and with such an authentic sense of place. The whole book tingles with tension. I hope it does for the Scilly Isles what Ann Cleeves did for Shetland' Melanie McGrath
'Both the plot and the writing keep one thoroughly engaged throughout' Daily Mail
'One of the most absorbing books I've read in a long time - perfectly thrilling' Mel Sherratt
'Gripping, clever and impossible to put down' Erin Kelly
'Rhodes does a superb job of balancing a portrayal of a tiny community oppressed by secrets with an uplifting evocation of setting' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express
'Expertly weaves a sense of place and character into a tense and intriguing story' Metro
'An enjoyably scary chiller' Sunday Mirror
'The pace never slackens from the first page to the last' Rachel Abbott, author of Only the Innocent
'Fast paced and harrowing, this gripping novel will leave you guessing until the end' Bella
'Great twists, turns and surprises' Sun"
"THE ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES #1
'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
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.
Praise for Kate Rhodes:
'A vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline' Sophie Hannah, Daily Express
'A pacy psychological thriller' Laura Wilson, Guardian
'Both the plot and the writing keep one thoroughly engaged throughout' Daily Mail
'One of the most absorbing books I've read in a long time - perfectly thrilling' Mel Sherratt
'An enjoyably scary chiller' Sunday Mirror
'The pace never slackens from the first page to the last' Rachel Abbott, author of Only the Innocent
'Fast paced and harrowing, this gripping novel will leave you guessing until the end' Bella
'Great twists, turns and surprises' Sun"
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