I have read some of the later books in this series and really enjoyed meeting the main characters for the "first" time. Mac and Rina are a good match - a cop with a background and an ex TV detective. The other characters are well drawn and the plot is well paced. I shall have to revisit the later books as some aspects of this story are revisited.

A very satisfying read. This book contained all the right elements - likeable characters apart from the villains, murder, police investigation and a good pace with no boring bits to skip pages.
I found the main characters of Rina and Mac very relatable and hope they appear in future books

Jane Adams, Murder On Sea, Joffe Books 2021 (First published by Severn House Publishers 2007)

This is Book 1 of the Rina Martin Mysteries, and augers well for this ‘new’ (but republished from its earlier iteration in 2007) series written by Jane Adams. As well as Rina Martin, the series introduces Mac, Inspector McGregor, and the location in which the two unlikely collaborators solve crime, Frantham-on-Sea.

Rina is referred to as a Miss Marple character, and she certainly has a nose for crime, based on her understanding of human nature. Her past as television detective Lydia Marchant adds another dimension to this character – not least that her continuing income for the series has made it possible for her to purchase a large house where she boards fellow theatrical people. Their interaction with her often revolves around eating the splendid meals she prepares and understanding and admiring her strength of character. This admiration is not reciprocated by other residents of Frantham-on-Sea, including some of the police force.

Inspector McGregor has a well-respected past. However, his self-confidence has been undermined by the last case he investigated in his previous post. Some of this insecurity impacts on him during the investigation of two murders that arise soon after his move to Frantham-on-Sea. Fellow officers, Chief Inspector Eden, and a local probationer, interact with Mac, suspects and witnesses as the cases are investigated. These interactions draw out the complexities of some of the characters, which are developed well beyond the expectations of a ‘cosy’ mystery.

Another of the strengths of characterisation is that many of the protagonists come from a very different strata of society than that which inhabits the usual ‘cosy’ crime novel. Here, groups of people who are often stereotyped are active participants, with both positive and negative features. There are the theatricals who live with Rina, families on a housing estate, and families who live in the same street, but are differentiated on financial and behavioural grounds, reflected in whether they are at the lower or upper end of the street. The way in which the young people is depicted is masterly, the child from a secure and happy family finding it difficult to cope with a harrowing experience; the boy who has had a traumatic childhood has developed resilience that helps him plan and assist his friend.

This is a detective story in which the mystery is how the characters deal with the impact of murder rather than solving them. The reader knows what has happened and follows the twists and turns as the detectives investigate, make decisions about how to react to events, and deal with their own problems. Jane Adams has written a well plotted narrative, with collaborators, Rina and McGregor, certainly worth meeting again. Frantham-on-Sea is an interesting location, enhanced by the characters Adams draws upon to develop and solve this mystery.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Murder on Sea by Jane Adams in exchange for an honest review. Rina Martin is a retired TV sleuth who lives in Frantham-on-Sea on the Dorset coast. There's been several robberies. One older woman had an old gun she waved around. Then she is beaten to death and her house trashed. DI Sebastian , Mac, McGregor is called to come in. He's only worked in the area a short time. Mac connects with Rina and she helps with her pulse on the town. Working with his team, they try to find out what happened. I liked this book. We can't let the bullies run the schools, towns, world. It helps when good police work with communities to solve the problems.

5 stars

Sebasrian “Mac” MacGregor has been posted to a new village, Frantham-on-Sea. It is a quiet little village. There have been some local burglaries. Mac decides to visit the victims after an interview with Rina. She knows everything that goes on in town. Rina is a retired actress who starred in her own detective television series for ten years.

Mrs. Freer is the latest victim. She is a disabled elderly woman who, when the teenage burglars broke in, aimed her gun at them and they took off. The “burglars” are young teens George and his friend Paul. They chose to scare the elderly lady on a drunken dare. The next night after Mac’s visit, Mrs Freer is beaten to death.

Now the investigation turns very serious. Rina feels that Mac will need help with his search.She and one of her lodgers named Tim start their own investigation.

A subplot that runs throughout the novel is that George, his sister Karen and their mother have fled a very abusive man - their father and husband. George is certain he spotted him outside school. Karen insists that cannot be true (for her own reasons).

Paul and George are terrified by the young man who actually killed Mrs. Freer. They run away.

The investigation moves along swiftly. After a few false starts, the detectives have zeroed in on a suspect. Things keep happening that seem to set the case back. The police are trying to juggle several strings of the investigation at once. Everyone is getting exhausted.

The case trundles to a highly satisfying conclusion.

This is billed as a cozy mystery, although I wouldn’t judge it so. This is a step above your usual cozy. It is fast moving, action filled and maintains tension throughout the novel. There is no side tracking into the usual kind of frittering inanities that so many cozies do. This book is very well written and plotted. Congratulations, Ms. Adams! I can see your writing talents increasing with each new book. This one is simply superb. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

***This book is not yet available on Amazon, BookBub or GoodReads to review. I shall watch it.

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
Terrific, I loved it!
Inspector McGregor (Mac) has been on sick leave and has just started a new job in a small town on the sea. An elderly lady had an unwelcome visit from two teenagers and saw them off with a decommissioned revolver. Shortly thereafter she's brutally beaten to death.
There are a lot of characters ( they're all so very well fleshed out in this story), of which my favorites were Rina, a plucky woman in her sixties and Karen, who has done and will do everything to protect her family. They have been through so much horror, but feel safe at last. There are two boys who are being picked on by a feral young man who heads a gang of teens.
The book is fast moving and very difficult to put down, I was rooting hard for the good guys and thoroughly enjoyed every written word.
Jane Adams always writes an excellent story, she's one of my favorites. I really hope there will be a second book after this, I'd love to go back and find out what's next for Mac. Highly recommended!

Well, I was expecting a cosy mystery and this certainly wasn’t what I’d imagined. Not exactly gritty but not fluffy either. Love the main characters, I could read about Rina and her houseguests without any mystery storyline. Great plot too. Hoping there are more Mrs Martin books coming.

Quite a good police procedural/ cosy set in a village on the Dorset coast. Believable and likable characters with an engaging plot. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more in the series.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

A Gritty Edge…
Cosy crime with a gritty edge in this first of the Rina Martin Mystery series (previously published as ‘A Reason To Kill’). In the supposedly sleepy town of Frantham murder is afoot. Can retiree Rina and DI Sebastian McGregor (Mac) get to the bottom of what on earth is going on? With realistic and well crafted characters and a wholly immersive plot populated with a credible cast this is a compelling read and goes way deeper than the average cosy mystery. Hopefully we will see more on the horizon. An excellent read.

Frantham on Sea. Rina Martin used to be a detective. Well, she played one on TV. Now she has a boarding house for what might loosely be termed showbiz types.

Mac is a real detective, newly transferred with a past he can't shake.

Paul and George are teenagers at the local comprehensive. Mark Dowling is the town thug. And George's sister Karen is looking over her shoulder....

The trouble starts with break-ins, but it doesn't end there.

Mac definitely needs Rina's help to get to the bottom of everything going on

A cozy murder mystery by Jane Adams. Don't take 'cozy' too literally, there's plenty of murder and mayhem going on here. The deaths are mounting up - and one family seem to be connected to them all.

Brilliant book - a real page turner.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.