On a remote island, there’s nowhere to run… Callum and his three best friends are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays with an epic camping trip to the mysterious Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey. Then Callum disappears, and the others return to the mainland in a state of shock. When his body is discovered, DI Laura Hart is brought in to investigate. Is the murder the work of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a dark history who still hold their ceremonies on the island? Or were the boys less tight-knit than they would have Laura believe? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing: the island will not give up its secrets easily… This is an atmospheric mystery with DI Laura Hart uncovers ties with drugs snd crime. It is well-plotted and satisfying. The twists and turns kept me reading until the very end. If you like police procedurals then you will love this book. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

The Drowning Isle is the latest in the Anglesey crime series by Simon McCleave and is a return to form with a great main story line and some significant progress with the underlying series arc.

The main investigation has a number of twists and turns that keep the pages turning whilst not becoming too confusing!!!

Definitely recommended for crime readers.

Di Laura Hart is back again with another crime to solve, when teenager Callum goes missing on a camping trip to a remote Anglesey Island. Laura and her team face a race against time (and the elements) to find Callum before it is too late.

However, when his body is found, the plot begins to thicken as blood is found on his trainer. It's not just a case of an accidental drowning after all. The action really kicks off from this point, with a rollercoaster of family drama and outsider intervention.

Alongside this, the narrative concerning the death of Laura's husband Sam, and potential police corruption continues. Following the cliff hanger ending of the previous novel, Laura is really not sure who she can trust anymore, and how to get to the truth.

I loved this next installment in the Anglesey series; it really moves the underlying story on whilst giving us a cracking whodunnit, that will keep you guessing til the end!

The fourth in the author’s Anglesey series and for me the best yet.
An absorbing brilliantly structured man plot, with real relatable characters, all set on Anglesey.
Four friends go on a camping trip to celebrate their 18th birthdays but when one disappears Laura and Co. are called in to investigate and so begins a rollercoaster of a ride. Lots of twists and turns and complicated family dynamics result in an excellent read that keeps you turning the pages. You think it’s all over but then a totally shocking twist that I definitely didn’t see coming, rounds off this great tale.
Meanwhile the subplot thickens and develops with heart stopping consequences and wow the cliff hanging ending!
This series gets better and better with each instalment. While this book works perfectly as a standalone I urge you to read the first two and I envy you the binge read

Four friends decide to head across to the remote Llanddwyn Island just offf the coast of Anglesey for a weekends camping to celebrate their eighteenth birthdays.
Along with the usual alcohol one of the boys has brought some magic mushrooms.
Callum has a bad reaction and over-hallucinates and believing someone is actually chasing him he runs off. The other boys search for him the best they can but without any luck. The fact they too are high doesn`t help and in the end they give up and return to the mainland.
When his body is found, Di Laura Hart and Di Gareth Williams launch a full scale investigation as its soon clear he has not just fallen in the water and drowned.
There is blood on his trainer.
A difficult relationship with his father and his interest in a local pagan group , The Fair Men., the fact that no-one seems to be being totally honest with Laura and Gareth means they have their hands full sifting through all the evidence to discover the truth and who was responsible for Callums death.
A riveting read that moves at a pace, throwing up red herrings and twists and a cliffhanger ending that has left me hoping its not too long to wait for the next installment in what has become one of my favourite series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for sending me this as an ARC.

"The Drowning Isle" by Simon McCleave, the fourth installment in the Anglesey series, unfolds a chilling mystery on the remote Llanddwyn Island. Callum and his three friends embark on an adventurous camping trip to celebrate their eighteenth birthdays, but the joy turns to shock when Callum disappears. DI Laura Hart takes charge of the investigation, facing the enigma of the island's secrets.

As Laura delves into the case, she confronts the possibility of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a sinister history, being involved. The narrative weaves a complex web of mysteries, questioning the strength of the boys' friendship and exposing lies hidden in the shadows. McCleave skillfully explores the tensions between truth and deception, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

Set against the backdrop of Anglesey's atmospheric landscapes, the novel maintains a quick pace, offering a compelling police procedural. Laura's personal struggles, stemming from revelations in the previous book, add depth to the storyline. "The Drowning Isle" captivates with its well-crafted suspense, ensuring that the island's secrets remain elusive until the very end.

Another riveting read in this series, with a great plot and lots of twists. The cliffhanger ending was shocking – I can’t wait to find out what happens next! Anyone who enjoys a good police procedural with a gripping story line will love this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

Anglesey #4

Callum and his three best friends are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays with an epic trip to the mysterious Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey. Then Callum disappears, and the others return to the mainland in a state of shock. When his body is discovered, DI Laura Hart is brought in to investigate. Is the murder the work of the Fair Men, a pagan group with a dark history who still hold their ceremonies on the island? Or were the boys less tight-knit than they would have Laura believe? Amongst all the mysteries and lies, Laura is sure about one thing: the island will not give up its secrets easily.

Four boys go on a camping trip to the remote island of LLanddwyn, Anglesey, but only three return to the mainland. DI Laura Hart and her partner DCI Gareth Williams are called in to investigate Callum's disappearance. Laura discovers the boys were taking magic mushrooms. Some folk are keeping secrets and telling lies. Laura is still trying to deal with the information she received in the last book about her husband, Sam's death, and the possible corruption in Manchester's Metropolitan Police. This is a well-written police procedural that's quick and easy to read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SimonMcCleave for my ARC of #TheDrowningIsle in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave
I love this series, it’s got everything, great police procedural plus intrigue with just enough romance.
DI Laura Hart moved back to Anglesea from Manchester after the death of her husband in a police operation gone wrong, and has been secretly looking into what happened.
But on Anglesea a young man has gone missing while on a weekend camping trip.
Could it be linked to a mysterious group that Callum had recently been involved with The Fair Men or is the answer closer to home.
This book could be read as a stand alone but to get the full story it’s better to read in order.
I highly recommend these books.

Another exciting instalment in the Laura Hart series set on the Welsh island of Anglesey. Whilst this is the fourth in this series it could be read as a standalone. One piece of advice for those weird people who read the last page before they should - DON'T. There is a massive plot point there which you don't want to spoil but it is certain to make you feel the need to read the next book - it is the equivalent of the 'doof doof' moment in Eastenders.

The narrative moves very quickly and the final solution is unexpected, good characters set against an atmospheric background. The book navigates the secrets and mysteries between the character and weaves a great story. I am pleased that I discovered this author, who is a natural storyteller, and I also find the newsletter's from him to be interesting too by signing up at his website.

This is a series and a book I would have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys police procedurals in a believable setting with engaging people and a relatable lead character

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

Great concept and execution.

The stories that are woven through the main story could have been easily distracting, but McCleave did a great job of keeping everything straight and keeping the main story moving.

If you like the TV series Broadchurch, I think you'll like this book.

This is an excellent addition to the Anglesey series, book 4, and it's another brilliant read by the author! A teenage boy goes missing and Laura is investigating, putting aside her personal issues with Pete, her husband's best friend. This is well written and plotted, with some twists I never expected and everything you could want in a police procedural/thriller. Fast paced, a few red herrings and a cliffhanger ending which left me desperate for one more chapter! Please don't keep me waiting too long for the next book, my nerves won't stand it! I highly recommend the series, an easy 5* from me. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of The Drowning Isle, the fourth novel to feature DI Laura Hart of North Wales Police set on Anglesey.

A group of 18 year old boys go camping on an adjoining island and Callum Newell goes missing. DI Gareth Williams immediately launches a full scale search, but there’s no sign of him. Laura does much of the investigating, which leads her to the Fair Men, a group of pagans that Callum was interested in and enough secrets and lies among Callum’s friends and family to make the case difficult.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Drowning Isle which is a strong police procedural mixed with the ongoing thread of Laura’s efforts to get to the bottom of her husband’s death four years ago.

The narrative is split between Gareth and Laura as they tackle the various strands of the investigation. It gives the novel a wider perspective and pushes the plot forward relentlessly, making for a fast moving plot with plenty of developments, reveals and twists. I was glued to the pages as they try to work out who would want to harm a young man of blameless reputation. There are lies and too many no comment interviews to frustrate them, but they do a great job with a few fragmentary clues. The novel also has a few twists and while some are more guessable than others, the perpetrator’s identity remains a mystery until the final showdown.

At the same time as the investigation Laura is still trying to deal with the shocking information she got in the last novel about Sam’s death and the potential high level corruption in the Manchester Metropolitan Police. She makes some decisive moves that end in a cliffhanger, but which give the feel of an approaching endgame. Perhaps she’ll be able to move on with Gareth in peace. I hope so.

The Drowning Isle is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave is the latest instalment in the Anglesey series featuring DI Laura Hart and DCI Gareth Williams. I have to say I love this series, possibly because I live in North Wales myself.
Four teenage boys are on a camping trip on a small island off the coast of Anglesey. They are celebrating being on the cusp of adulthood and an 18th birthday party. One of their number has brought along some magic mushrooms. One of the boys, Callum, starts over-hallucinating and runs off thinking that he is being chased. The other boys search for him, but to no avail, especially as they are all high too, and more than a little fuzzy-headed. Then, tragically, Callum’s dead body is eventually found on the beach. The first thought is that Callum fell into the water and drowned, but bits and pieces of evidence lead to questions. There is a spot of blood on Callum’s trainer, a fraught relationship between him and his father and the mother of one of his friends appears to be very friendly with one of the CID team.

This is another excellent police procedural from Simon McCleave who is a very strong writer indeed. You sometimes find with the more prolific writers that the books turn out a little ‘popcorn’. There is none of that here. The plot and characterisation are to a very high standard. There are twists and turns throughout.
This can be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading the other books in the series. They are quite a quick read, and there is a back story involving the death of Laura Hart’s husband which links throughout.
My thanks to NetGalley, Simon McCleave, and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Boys go camping, one does not make it out alive. Is everything as it should be with the group of boys, and are they telling the truth? How about the local pagan group that seems to be alive and kicking, and many powerful people are involved. What really happened, and whom can you trust?

This is a bit of a different case for Laura and the team. It is very complex, and it does not really help that one of the campers is the son of the DCI. The book is filled with twists and turns. Great book if you like police procedural. The reader gets to learn more about the main characters, which is great.

The Drowning Isle by Simon McCleave is the latest instalment in the Anglesey series involving DCI Gareth Williams and DI Laura Hart.
Four teenage boys go on a camping trip on the remote island of Llanddwyn of the coast of Anglesey to celebrate one of them having a 18th birthday. It is not a celebration without alcohol. As some suddenly appears and with it some ‘magic mushrooms’ to get the party in full swing. When one of the boys named Callum starts getting hallucinations that some one is chasing him. He runs off to never been seen again. The boys go searching but can’t find him and then Osian calls he is Dad DCI Gareth Williams and the now official search for a missing person starts. But it ends up, not that they were expecting, Callum’s body ends up dead on the beach. At first thought they think Callum got into the water and drowned. But further evidence shown that Callum was murdered. Who killed Callum and why?
This is another really good read from the author. A well plotted and complex police procedural, with a lot of twists and turns. I like the atmospheric descriptions of the locations and we got to know more about the personal lives of the main characters Gareth and Laura. If you a great Police procedural this isa book for you. 4 stars from me.

This series is going from strength to strength. Laura and Gareth are great lead characters and the plot is fast paced throughout. The North Wales setting, complete with background legends, is a strong part of the book. And the cliff hanger ending!! I can’t wait for the next book! I highly recommend this.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, murder, revenge, a great who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle!! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Another Anglesey crime thriller featuring DI Laura Hart still harbouring suspicions about her husband’s death in previous episodes is a background feature of the investigation into the disappearance and murder of a young island resident. With lots of suspects and twists and turns on virtually every page the tragic events multiply towards the finale but the seeming resolution is a mere smokescreen for the shocking truth. And just to top it all off there’s an ending with a massive what happens next moment! Hope the next one is soon.

4 Stars from me

I rarely do this but I've jumped into The Anglesey Crime thriller Series at book 4 and while this is often a risk I truly felt that the book reads well as a standalone with no prior knowledge of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I am sure it is better to read from book 1 onwards but it worked just fine on its own. Having said that, I have read a previous book by this author so I knew I was in safe hands.

I'm in awe of the lead detective DI Laura Hart if only for her love of cold water swimming! As refreshing and exhilarating as she made it sound I swear I felt colder each time she did it!

That said, she made for a great character to follow and the police team in general felt very well rounded and clearly defined.

The main story focuses on a missing teenager and has some nice touches in relation to the difficulties of navigating life with teenagers - especially in a close knit community.

There were other story threads woven throughout the main tale which the author juggled well without too and kept interesting without detracting from the investigation into the missing boy and all the the revelations that unfold them.

Overall, this is a great police procedural with some cleverly placed plot twists and a few loose ends ready for the next book in the series.