Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A cracking read, well paced with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. Will be reading more of Anna Johannsen’s books after this.

Well!! I love a good detective mystery, and this one gripped me right away!
I really enjoyed the personal life of Lena as well as her working life.
And the ending was a lot more than I anticipated, it certainly made me feel emotional!

I would totally recommend this book if you love a good detective story :D

Something a little different. Set on an island off the coast of Germany, I ended up on Google maps to get a clearer idea of where it actually is.
Someone is dead....who is the culprit?Death but without out lots of blood and gore.

Really enjoyed this, so much so I have read another of her books since which was also excellent. Just need the rest to be translated now

I love reading stories that take place in different countries as it is fascinating to get a glimpse of how other people live. This one was especially enjoyable as it takes place in a part of the world that I'm not familiar with. I love mysteries and I love the water. This book offers both of these in spades.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Thank you Amazon Publishing and Net Galley for this book.
This was my first book by Anna Johannsen and won't be my last, but I did find it slow at times.
A slow burner which I nearly gave up with but glad I persevered.

I read 33% of the book and then gave up, I tried to give it a chance but couldn’t last any longer unfortunately. It wasn’t gripping or thrilling or pulling me in at all! Sorry.

Really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. There were lots of interesting twists and turns to keep you guessing. I would definitely recommend.

This was a good police procedural, but did not have much tension. I was interested in the story, but not on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

I really enjoyed this book as the first in a series. The characters were likable and fun to compare and contrast. This had plenty of action to keep me reading not knowing what to expect next!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This took me a little while to get into.

I felt there were a few too many cliches and at times the writing felt forced however overall the book was a quick, fast paced read (after the initial lull).

Unfortunately the book didnt add anything different to books I have previously read and whilst it is described as the first in the series I dont think I'll be reading more.

Thank you for proving me with an arc.

Now this one was an excellent read. It honestly surprised me a lot! I’m glad I was able to read it and recommend it to others!

Quick read, was a little slow and predictable for me. Couldn't connect to the characters and felt the romance was thrown in just to fit the demographic of the readers.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. #TheBodyOnTheBeach

So happy to have found a new crime thriller series.

The bonus is the setting in North Friesland and the islands off the coast. This is a great location and it is to the Island of Amrum that DSI Lena Lorenzen is sent. The investigation is not straight forward. She feels her boss isn’t being completely honest with her; there is more to the case than the suspicious death of the head of a children’s home and it is trickier still for Lena as this is the island she grew up on herself.

This is a clever police procedural where Lena has a number of additional resources to call upon. However, while we do not know why she was chosen to led up this politically sensitive “murder” enquiry we quickly learn she is tenacious, determined and a seeker of justice. The windswept island and the connections to her past and first love give an extra dimension to his story.

I like the novel throughout. Great credit should go to the translator as it was easy to read and flowed naturally. The investigation is difficult but working with a young male officer seconded to her team the facts are presented clearly and unfold logically. It isn’t so much an whodunnit as to the background to the case and why she was sent in the first place. This slightly off centre approach made for an interesting read and the whole plot seemed fresher for the angle the narrative was revealed.

The author has written further books in this series and I shall look forward to their release into English.

Whilst this was a solid read, nothing about it screamed particularly original to me.
I loved the setting of North Germany, as I have read very few books set there so this was a nice change. Unfortunately, I did manage to figure out the whole premise and the murderer at the 40% mark, which was disappointing, but I still enjoyed the remainder of the book.
It's definitely a slow-burner and not one for those who prefer fast-paced action-filled mysteries.

Overall it was okay, but nothing very special. I don't know whether I'll be picking up the next book in the series yet, but I did particularly enjoy the German setting.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the story, and hearing about the area of Germany when the story was set. I found the story a bit stilted at times, and it didn't flow as well as I would have liked. That said, the story was a good one, and I would probably read the next in the series.

This was a very good police procedural set in Germany. There are many questions to answer in this investigation and Lena is busy searching for those answers. Great series.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first police procedural novel about , DI Lena Lorenzen. The novel is set on a North Fresian Island called Amrum where the body of Hein Bohlen is discovered on the beach. The small island was DI Lena Lorenzen’s home and she is selected to return and discover if the death was a murder or just natural circumstances. Hein and his wife run a children’s home and right from the start there are hints at the tale that will unfold.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the characters were well portrayed and believable. I enjoyed looking up the local refrences to traditional homes and discovering what a ‘beach chair’ looked like. I look forward to reading more in this series.

The Body on the Beach is the first in Anna Johannsen’s translated “Island series,” but if you are looking for warm tropical sun and those drinks with the little umbrellas in it, you’re thinking the wrong kind of island. Set on one of the North Frisian Islands on the German North Sea coast, this solid police procedural provided me with a glimpse into an area of the world with which I wasn’t familiar ---something I always enjoy. I also enjoyed the strong female protagonist, DI Lena Lorenzen, who I thought was authentic and multi-layered. The prologue at the beginning sets such a creepy and ominous tone, the author had me hooked from the start.