The Killing of Polly Carter – book review

When I received my last book Pretty Baby from the Mumsnet Book Club to review, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the publisher Harlequin had included an extra free book for me. This was The Killing of Polly Carter by Robert Thorogood.

The author Robert Thorogood is the creator and writer of the hit BBC One TV crime drama series, Death in Paradise, featuring on-screen favourite detective, DI Richard Poole.

This is what it says on the back cover.

Supermodel Polly Carter was famed for her looks and party-girl lifestyle. Now she’s dead, apparently having thrown herself from the clifftop near her home on the island of Saint-Marie. Those who knew her say Polly would never have killed herself…and when he is called in to investigate, DI Richard Poole is inclined to agree there is more to Polly’s death than meets the eye.

Already fighting a losing battle against the intense summer heat of the Caribbean, Richard now faces fresh adversaries: a stream of alibis; a host of conflicting motives; and, worst of all, a visit from his mother. A frenzy which would surely allow a murderer to slip away unnoticed…yet Richard is certain that the guilty party is still on the island.

As his team closes in on Polly’s household, Richard becomes convinced that the model’s death was an inside job. And he’s determined to prove who planned the killing of Polly Carter, and why…

I loved this book. It reminds me of the Agatha Christie genre which I used to devour back in my teens, my first introduction to adult reading rather than childrens’ fiction. Even down to the detective Richard wearing his suit and tie in the Caribbean heat. Always smartly dressed like Hercule Poirot. And the diligent way he investigates including reconstructions and eliminations and assembling supsects for the big reveal. However he had more sidekicks than Christie’s heroes – a team of three including Camille, whom I sensed might be attracted to Richard. Although I don’t think Richard would realise in a million years.

There was also another strand running through the book, that of his mother’s visit to the island. He worries that she is acting very out of character and it turns out she has a trial separation from Richard’s father,

I haven’t seen any Death in Paradise previously but I’ll definitely be watching when it returns for a 5th series next month. And Robert Thorogood’s first novel A Meditation on Murder is going on my wishlist.

The Killing of Polly Carter is the second novel by Robert Thorogood and is published by Harlequin MIRA, a division of Harper Collins. I was sent a paperback edition, but according to Amazon, the paperback is on pre-order for next June. However the hardback edition is currently on sale on Amazon for £4.99 compared to an RRP of £12.99. It is also available in kindle format. I highly recommend this book.

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Disclosure.  This post is a review of a book I was sent for free.  All opinions are my own.