The Hidden Island
- Jan 26, 2017
- 3 min read
This is what the blurb says:
Sex. Drugs. Murder.
Hidden behind the crystal seas and beautiful beaches of a Greek Island dark and dangerous secrets lurk. Beckett has had his fill of adrenaline fuelled criminal investigation and with a broken body and damaged career goes to the Greek Island of Farou to head up the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Serious crime is rare, the weather is great and the beer is cold but his ‘retirement’ is cut short when a pagan cult resurrects and bodies start showing up.
With doubts about his mental and physical ability to do the job, a British police detective is sent to help with the investigation. DI Lee Harper is everything Beckett is not - young, ambitious and by the book.
As well as tackling the new case Beckett must over come the demons from his past.
Family loyalty, power and money are at the source of the investigation where appearance is everything and nothing is what is seems.
Can Beckett and Harper work together to find justice for the victims?
Will the idyllic island ever be the same again?
Sometimes paradise can be hell.
Here are my thoughts:
The novel takes place on the atmospheric Greek island of Farou. A beautiful place normally associated with sun, sea and laughter.
What Angela gave us was the darker, seedier side of this picturesque holiday destination, and showed us that, no matter where you are, there's always more going on than you realise.
Inspector Beckett Kyriakoulis. A half Greek, half English police officer, who has been in semi-retirement on the island since catching Chrystos Spyros a.k.a. The Fiend, a number of years previously. A popular police officer who is loved by the locals and accepted by them, is perhaps hoping for a slower pace of life than he was living in the U.K.
His hopes of this are shattered when a british tourist, the bride of a wedding party, is reported missing.
The following day, the body of a woman is found on a secluded beach. At first glance, seemingly washed ashore.
Enter Detective Inspector Lee Harper. A British detective in the met, brought in by the british government to help with the case.Harper is on a high after solving a high profile case in the U.K. and looking to further his chance of promotion.
The two characters meet, and lets say, its not love at first sight. Beckett is a very sober person, with an interesting past. One that will not let go and is still shaping his present and future. A very closed personality but with hidden depths, that come out as the story progresses. (Personally, i like him.)
Harper arrives from the U.K. tired and weary from his flight. His first meeting with Beckett is a surprise and a shock to the system. These two are complete opposites who compliment each other perfectly.Both with a sense of humour, albeit a dry one. They bounce off each other well enough that at times, it does bring a smile to the readers faces.( I think that both characters are actually loners and lonely)
The setting is stunning. And thanks to the talent of the author, with her descriptive prowess, it draws you in and puts you there with them. On the beach with the sand grainy between your toes, the warm water of the sea lapping at your feet, the gentle breeze and the fresh sea-salt smell that comes with it. It was brilliant and reminded of my first ever holiday abroad.
A great storyline with well rounded characters. I'd personally like to see a bit more detail about Becketts past. We were given teasers about what it is thats shaped him into the man we see, but i'd like more.
Harper is a young man with a life to live and lots to learn. I hope that we are given the chance to go on the journey with him in future stories.
A mystery novel full of suspense that will keep you guessing from start to finish. The pace picked up in the second half of the book, and when it did it was relentless.
For me though, i was left a bit stumped by the way the story ended. After such a good pace throughout, it seemed to be a bit rushed. Almost like you are jogging along and hit a stop sign. You almost feel dazed by it.
I wouldn't say it detracted too much from the novel and my enjoyment of it. There's no denying it's a great book. A well thought out, well paced book.
I do hope there is more to come from this pair and the ebullient island of Farou. Finishing the book has left me with a sense of anticipation and expectation.
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