Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The body on the beach” is the first installment in the Island Mystery series by Anna Johannsen. Fast paced and entertaining police procedural where we get thrown straight into the action from the first page. Although I guessed half the ending halfway through the book that didn’t make it less enjoyable. Glad to see there’s four more books in the series, so hoping they get translated into english soon.

3.5⭐️

The Body on the Beach by Anna Johannsen. When a body is found on the beach of the small island of Arum, the question arises: natural death, suicide, murder?

DI Lena Lorezen is sent to investigate by a boss she doesn't trust. The victim was the head of a children's home, and the investigation leads to links to the past.

Not a bad mystery/police procedural, but the romance of Lena's reconnection with her youthful boyfriend felt like the author was trying to include a romance for a target audience.

Read in July; blog review scheduled for Sept. 2.

NetGalley/Amazon Publishing, UK
Police Procedural. Print length: 240 pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This is the first book in the DI Lena Lorenzen series translated into English from German. I was so looking forward to reading it, as I spent a lot of time in Germany. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed, it was a decent book, but nothing stood out, there was no fresh angle. Instead it seemed like so many other books I've read: stubborn, smart and mouthy policewoman; the subject of child abuse; (which is, to my mind, used all too often lately. Have we gone from serial killers to paedophilia as the 'crime de jour'?) a little romance and a sad childhood. It was an ok read, but nothing special. Sorry!

I really enjoyed this book. Interesting setting and you get to know the character over the course of the story, much like the layers of an onion.
I did feel that the last part was a bit improbable - impersonating others on the DarkWeb and then the story flew to its conclusion.
Still I enjoyed it and look forward to the next instalment

This s an English translation of the first book in a German series by Anna Johannsen (which hopefully means we don't have to wait too long for the next book!). DI Lena Lorenzen is fairly typical of the fictional female murder cop--passionate about justice, bad at relationships, and willing to use any means available to her. The story was engaging, and Lena was an likeable protagonist. If you like the Sandhamm mysteries and Maria Kallio series, you'll probably enjoy the Island mysteries as well.

Good read and a crime story that kept me involved. The heroine was like able but would have enjoyed more back story about the conflict with her Dad. Would enjoy more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Body on the Beach. It was a quick read that kept me guessing and wanting to find out more. The writing is excellent and the story kept a good pace. I would put this book in the category of mystery instead of thriller, it has more of a who dun it feel.

I love that this story didn’t sway back and forth between a ton of characters. It stayed to the point which helped keep me interested. You could tell that Lena and Johann were great partners and work excellent together. I also love that they threw in just a touch of a love story in there. Not enough to steer away from the story. I would have liked just a little more information at the end about the others involved in the crime. Other than that I loved it!

Hopefully the author Anna Johannsen will write more books involving Lena Lorenzo.

The Body on the Beach is a good mystery with interesting characters and storyline. The writing is good and the pace is of the story is steady.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

DI Lena is assigned a case from her home town Amrum when Hein was found dead on the beach. She hasn't been home for fourteen years after her mother death which she blames her father for because he was having an affair and when her mother learn this they had an argument and she storm out and she died. She also dealing with not trusting her boss all the while having relationship trouble as she sort in between her boyfriend Joe who wants more and her having a fling with an old flame why she in town.

She learns that Hein and his wife Sabine runs a children home were there rumors of abuse as she digs deeper with the help of her partner of the moment Johann she learns that there secrets that no-one wants to be known.

This was more of a mystery then a thriller because we learn Hein is not the up standing guy everyone thinks he is I figure out who the murder is but you'll have to read it to find out why they did what they did.

I wouldn't mind reading more about Lena Lorenzo.