Metropolitan police detective Eden Driscoll is quite satisfied with his single and childless life, but then the phone call comes. His estranged sister has vanished from her boat, leaving him the responsibility of Finn, a nephew he didn't know he had.
Resettled in the seaside town of Teignmouth, Eden finds adjusting to parenthood to be difficult, but he soldiers on. Problems mount when his sister's body is finally found. Her death is ruled an accident by the local police, but Eden isn't convinced.
Now the only thing he can do is search his sister's life for answers and continue to forge a relationship with a very recalcitrant little boy.
~
Being an unabashed cheerleader for William Shaw's standalone thrillers and his Alexandra Cupidi series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Red Shore, the start to a brand new Devon-set crime series. Wow! When my copy arrived from the UK, I jumped right in and was immediately hooked when I met Finn, a scared little boy alone on a boat at sea.
The Red Shore has an atmospheric setting (par for the course for Shaw) and a
fantastic mystery that kept me turning the pages-- and even thinking about it when I was forced to stop reading, but the characters bring this book to an entirely different level. Eden, seemingly satisfied with his life in London, yet unable to escape his unconventional childhood. Finn, a little boy who's scared to death by his mother's disappearance and wants nothing to do with this uncle he didn't know anything about.
While I was trying to figure out the mystery, I was constantly intrigued by the dynamics between Eden and Finn. I have to admit that I found Finn to be very mouthy and abrasive at first, but his circumstances made his behavior make sense, and I did gradually warm up to the little boy. (Hey, I'm childless, just like Eden.)
The Red Shore is probably the best book I've read in 2025, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Write faster, Mr. Shaw!
The Red Shore by William Shaw
ISBN: 9780008720407
Hemlock Press © 2025
Hardcover, 384 pages
Police Procedural, #1 Eden Driscoll
Rating: A+
Source: Purchased from Amazon UK.
This sounds very appealing - thanks for putting it on my radar!
ReplyDeleteI hope your Christmas week went just as you intended, and included more good books.
My Christmas week was very quiet and full of memories. I hope yours went well.
DeleteWow! The best book you've read in 2025. With that stellar recommendation I'm adding it to my reading list right now!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to read and enjoy it, Dorothy.
DeleteWow. The best book you read this year! And you read some good ones. This goes on my list which grows with every website and "Best of Crime Fiction of 2025" list I read. So glad you got in an excellent read at the end of the year. I'll miss Alexandra Cupidi and her daughter, but it seems as if every book William Shaw writes is a good one. Best wishes for some equally well-written books in 2026. On to a new year of reading!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything about the Cupidi series ending. I hope it doesn't. But... if it does, this new series starts with a bang, and the next one comes out in July in the UK.
DeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this so well, Cathy. It does sound like an atmospheric story with some memorable characters. And I have a soft spot for stories with a strong sense of place, too. Not surprised you loved this. Happy New Year, and may 2026 treat you well.
ReplyDeleteMay 2026 be kind to you as well, Margot.
DeleteRed Shore is in my top reads for 2025. It is hard to find in the U.S. I had to order it from the U.K. I will probably donate it to my library. Hopefully, they will take it in. I asked one time if the library would order some of William Shaw's books and the response was it was a publisher that I guess they aren't familiar with. Only a few of the Shaw books seem to be in the libraries like The Birdwatcher and Salt Lane. Anyway, I heard about William Shaw from you some time ago and he is a top favorite author now. I will order his books from the U.K. if I need to. I will keep trying to donate them to my library.
ReplyDeleteYes, Shaw's books can be hard to find here which is why I order them from the UK. The Cupidi books are published by an imprint of Quercus, which is primarily a UK company. His new publisher for these Eden Driscoll books is an imprint of HarperCollins, so it would be great if they managed to cross the pond.
DeleteCathy, thanks for sharing about your experience with this book! I keep meaning to read the William Shaw books that I have on my Kindle (and there are several). Maybe this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you, dear friend! Wishing you peace and good reading. Take care of yourself and know that we love what you share here.
Thank you, Kay. Happy New Year!
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