Murder at High Tide (The Ralph Chalmers Mysteries Book 4)

Thurbin does not disappoint in this, his fourth book in the Ralph Chalmers mystery series. When Ralph finds himself the beneficiary of a rather sizeable inheritance from his Uncle Harry, he decides to throw his usual caution to the wind and uses it to buy a yacht and a cottage on the North Devon coast. The discovery of an abandoned fishing trawler in a rocky cove soon sets the scene for his involvement in gang warfare, smuggling and possibly murder. Not surprisingly, the feisty Katie Eggerton, his friend and assistant, joins him in applying his sleuthing skills to investigate a series of mysterious happenings near the sleepy seaside village of Clovelly. Katie indulges her passion for horse riding on the moors while Ralph takes time from his work to join a watercolour painting workshop. Their summer idyll is shattered when it becomes clear that the death of an Olympic Show jumper from what was thought to be a riding accident has more sinister implications.
The Devon police and Europol investigate an International smuggling operation linked to Al Qaeda and grudgingly accept help from Ralph and Katie. A pair of eccentric antiques dealers, a flamboyant restaurant owner, a wealthy retired industrialist and the stressed out local doctor are just some of the many characters that our adventurous pair get to know at the Vicar’s garden party.
The story culminates with our intrepid duo setting a trap for the mastermind behind an international smuggling gang and as usual adding an exciting twist that will engross and delight the reader.
Thurbin’s characters are, as always, engaging, and his research impeccable. This book is a must for the reader who likes to unravel a mystery and at the same time be transported into the classic English countryside and a local culture that has hardly changed over the past 100 years. You can almost smell the salt breeze and hear the seagulls wheeling overhead as Thurbin’s stalwart hero does his part to keep the wheels of justice turning. A must for current Ralph Chalmers fans and for mystery enthusiasts searching for a thoroughly enjoyable read.