I like Pauline Rowson's mysteries and this one didn't disappoint: well plotted, gripping, fast paced.
Had fun and enjoyed it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

DEATH ON BOARD by Pauline Rowson is the fifth book in the Inspector Ryga Mysteries series and its an easy cosy read.

It's 1951, and Inspector Alun Ryga is summoned to Cornwall from Scotland Yard and asked to go and survey the wreckage of the elegant Harley Street drawing room. It's the home of retired dermatologist Sir Bernard Crompton, who's currently sailing his new yacht down the British coast from Scotland - or so he was . . .

Sir Bernard is found dead on board his boat off the coast of Cornwall and the doctor declares he died of natural causes. But why was he wearing a dinner suit with five rocks in his pocket?

WWooooooooo

Inspector Alun Ryga now heads to Cornwall to investigate, but the case takes a deadly turn when another body is found in a nearby cove with a gunshot wound to the face.
This victim is also wearing a dinner suit with rocks in his pocket . . . .

Is there a connection?

My mind boggles.........

Great quick holiday read.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my ARC.

This is the fifth entry in a series of historical police procedurals following the investigations of Inspector Alun Ryga, a one time member of the Merchant Navy and later POW in a German concentration camp, turned police detective after his release and demobilization, through the good services of a fellow prisoner.

Beware: phonetic spelling to indicate accents; PTSD, copaganda; miscarriages; death of an infant; depression; mental health issues; suicide on page; sexual coercion/rape; xenophobia; antisemitism; this is a review of an ARC.

The story takes place over the course of a week in early May, most of it along a small stretch of the Cornwall coastline, in several small harbors and villages, and all of the narrative is from Ryga’s point of view; we spend a fair amount of time exclusively in his head.

Per force, the characterization of the other people in the story is limited to both his interactions with them, and his conclusions about what he learns from those; for most of the book, the reader is privy to Ryga’s every thought and conclusion, and it’s not until the last few chapters that the author withholds some of these; the final climactic revelations thus feel more than a bit Deus Ex Machina.

Shortly after Ryga and a local cop, Detective Sergeant Pascoe, start the investigation of Sir Bernard Crompton’s death, another body is found in a small cover nearby; luckily, this second victim is soon identified as Ralph Ackland, a civil servant with many connections to the area, who resided in London and had had no reason to visit the area since late the previous year.

Ackland, as it turns out, had been despised by virtually everyone who had dealt with him–his late wive’s sister, who lives nearby; the local police sergeant’s wife, whose late father, a boss at the local tin mine, had been subjected to Ackland’s abuse; the current captain at the same mine, who ditto; the county geologist, same; and the owner of the mine, who had spent several years at a POW camp under Japanese control in Singapore, until the end of the war in the Pacific. All of them, one after the other, tell Ryga that the man was a swine who deserved to die, and that they hope his killer will never be caught.

The police in London soon discover that Ackland’s residence has been ransacked in the same manner as Sir Bernard’s, and then the pressure is on to explain the presence of the two victims in the area, as well as the nature of their connection; despite what the local chief constable would like to believe, it would be virtually impossible for them both to be dressed in formal clothes and each with five pieces of the same rock in their pockets, both found dead within hours and in the same general area, if they hadn’t had a connection well beyond a casual acquaintance.

The sense of place and time is truly excellent, and entirely due to the cadence of the narrative and the dialogue; in a few cases, the author uses phonetic spelling to indicate a character’s accent, but generally it’s more down to the phrasing used.

“Sergeant Marrack has a constable who assists him. He lives in lodgings. Not that they have any trouble here. The miners are chapel.” (Sergeant Pascoe to Ryga, about the local cop, chapter 3)

As I mentioned earlier, Ryga had been imprisoned in a German concentration camp for four years; though his PTSD has gotten better since his return to England, in large part because his work for the police has given him something else to focus on for the vast majority of his waking hours, it’s still very close to the surface.

“Ryga was glad they had reached their destination before Pascoe could ask him about his war. He didn’t like to talk about it. Not only because there were things that he’d rather not recall but also because he saw no point in going over it. There was also the fact that when some people learned he’d been a prisoner of war, they were insensitive and stupid enough to say he’s had it easy.” (Chapter 5)

Over the course of the book, events and characters from the previous novels make repeated appearances in Ryga’s internal dialogue; from Eva Paisley, a photographer and Ryga’s apparent love interest, to Detective Superintended George Simmonds, Ryga’s sponsor and former superior in the police force. Our protagonist spends a lot of time musing over his feelings, to the point of becoming somewhat maudlin a time or two.

“He had to stop thinking in stereotypes, Ryga silently scolded himself. He’s always prided himself on keeping an open mind but it was getting decidedly soggy on this investigation” (Chapter 10)

Upon meeting Jory Logan, the mine owner, Ryga is overwhelmed both by marrow-deep sympathy, and by a resurgence of the horrors of captivity. He’s well aware that Logan’s ordeal was likely orders of magnitude harder than his, as the man bears visible physical and psychological scars, and devoutly hopes he’s not the murderer, as “he has suffered enough”.

“You cling on to the life you had before; it’s the one thing that helps to keep you going–the dreams, the wishes, the thoughts that one day it will end and you’ll be back to where you were. But when you return, the world you left behind has changed and so have you.” (Ryga to Logan, on being a POW, chapter 11)

The book is very readable, mostly because of the narrative style, which is reminiscent of other writers of the Golden Age of mystery; I cannot say I’m now as fond of Ryga as I am of Poirot or Miss Marple, however. There is a lot of plodding police work, literally walking to and fro different places, often in the rain, and while there are conversations, there’s also a lot of repetition of what another character just said, and even more moody thinking, accompanies by the occasional cup of tea or pint of bitter.

Then, all of a sudden, Ryga makes some wild reasoning leaps that connect several of the witnesses-cum-suspects and the victims, which is followed by the final contrived revelations to nail both the motive and the mechanics of the crimes.

And while the villains paid, the universe wasn’t quite righted; I did not find the ending satisfying.

Still, if plodding police work described in minute detail is your jam, this is not a bad way to spend a few hours.

Death on Board gets a 7.50 out of 10.

1951 and our Detective Inspector Ryga is looking at a room that has systematically been ransacked. The owner, a well respected Harley St dermatologist, is away to Scotland collecting his newly built boat before taking her down the west coast. The house was closed up, staff left for other jobs and the owner looking forward to retirement. Moving forward a body is found on a boat in Cornwall and, eventually, concluded to be that of the dermatologist. Ryga takes the train to Penzance as he is not convinced about the local idea of death by natural causes. Plenty of action in a slow, 1950s way but felt very much of the time. Rationing still underway, people walk everywhere, no fancy forensics, no DNA just fingerprints and good old observation. Another murder, past deaths, people with secrets, coercive behaviours, bullying, blackmail, mental issues various. In many respects modern subjects but set against a background of Britain coming out of the war and trying to cope with returning to 'normal' which is no longer that. A well-written and researched book. I hadn't realised it was number 5 in a series so will go and get some of the others. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy of “Death on Board.” All opinions and comments are my own.

As Sir Walter Scott so eloquently said, “O What a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” And as “Death on Board,” the latest Inspector Ryga historical mystery by Pauline Rowson demonstrates, deception, murder and, later, revenge go hand in hand, to hide crimes and right grievous wrongs.

What ties the dead doctor found on his boat and the other dead man found soon after? For there are clues there’s a connection. What follows is a complex tale of lies, blackmail, cover-ups, and even earlier deaths.

We also have a seaside setting (Ryga spends time on the dead man’s boat), and this brings on nightmares and flashbacks of his time as a POW during WWII. Readers know this horrific time has never left the inspector, and likely never will. The investigation is really affecting him. Author Pauline Rowson is adept at getting the reader involved in putting the case aside and concentrating on the people on the pages, and especially Ryga; he’s one of those fictional persons you like to read about – and care about, too.

As we near the end, you will want to pay attention, because the plot starts to involving telegrams and dates and telephone calls and…you get the picture. The author has no intention of making it easy for us. And that ending -- there will be justice for some, but not for all. Ryga is never, ever going to be able to tell the whole truth.

“Death on Board” comes complete with a great setting and well-drawn characters. Inspector Alun Ryga, much as he may dislike it at times, knows that he has a job to do. And in “Death on Board,” he gets on with it. A great addition to the series.

I have a little confession to make. Although I have several of Pauline's books on my ever increasing 'to be read' mountain, I haven't read one yet. When I was invited to take part in the blog tour for 'Death On Board', I knew that I wouldn't get a better opportunity to get to know Pauline's work. Now having finished and enjoyed 'Death On Board' as much as I did, I am now rather cross at myself for leaving it this long to discover how flipping great her books are. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death On Board' but more about that in a bit.

Anybody who knows me well, knows that not only am I a book geek but I am also a historical fiction nerd with a particular interest in fiction set in the Twentieth Century. Well you can probably imagine why the synopsis of 'Death On Board' enticed me in. As soon as I started reading the story itself, I quickly realised three things. Firstly that I was reading something special, secondly that I would enjoy the story and thirdly that I would struggle to put the book to one side for any length of time. Guess what? I was spot on with all three predictions. I started reading and became so involved in the story that I was still sat there reading a couple of hours and several chapters later. I warmed to the character of Inspector Ryga and found him to be a very interesting character. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Death On Board'. I found 'Death On Board' to be a gripping and at times rather tense read, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat.

'Death On Board' is extremely well written. Pauline certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story. For me, this was one of those stories that hit the ground running and maintained a fairly brisk pace throughout. Pauline clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Reading 'Death On Board' certainly felt like being on an unpredictable and at times scary rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Pauline makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death On Board' and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will most certainly be reading more of Pauline's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Wow this one really was a tangle to unravel with deception, murder and revenge. There are plenty of people with reason to have committed the crime and all seem connected to each other causing a complex tale for Ryga to make sense of. Lots of provoking facts about soldiers returning from the war with more than just physical wounds as well. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily..

Death on Board is the fifth in the Inspector Ryga series by Pauline Rowson and is the epitome of the perfect Historical Mystery in my view. Not only is there mystery but also coping after World War II which shook the foundations of humanity. The geology and mining connections are riveting as well.

Set in 1951 England, the world is reeling from the post-war's devastating repercussions, including ex-Merchant Navy and POW in Germany, Alun Ryga, who is now a murder inspector. People desperately want to move on but nightmares and grief won't let go. Lives are forever changed and every single character in the novel is affected.

Inspector Ryga travels to Cornwall and teams up with Detective Sergeant Pascoe when Sir Crompton's body is discovered. Significantly, there are five stones in Crompton's pocket. When a second death occurs, the mystery deepens, especially when five stones are found on his person. Ryga questions locals who admit they don't want the murderer discovered. Some people ought to be murdered after all.

I enjoyed the red herrings and local Cornish flavour and hospitality. As I've visited places mentioned in the story it was great fun to visualize the charming villages soaked in atmosphere. The writing is clever, whip smart and poignant with Cornish vernacular and old fashioned values. The era is one of my favourites to read about and police investigation then was much more beguiling than current technology. Inspector Ryga is almost a real person to me, very warm and likeable, introspective and empathetic. Each character is well written, realistically flawed and interesting. Descriptions are lovely and vivid. This novel has soul and substance and gripped my heart tightly. There is something special about this gem of a series. Simply put, I absolutely love it. The evocative writing reminds me of the very best Golden Age authors.

My sincere thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enchanting novel.

Snarled tangle to unravel by the sea🌊🛥

3.5🌟stars
I'll preface my comments by admitting historical mysteries are not one of my go-to genres. I actually liked the post WWII era in Britain when this story unfolds, with continued rationing, economic uncertainty and emotional scars from the war coloring their world.

I just found the story a slow one and complex, with victims that are revealed to be villains and killers that gained more of my sympathy for the cruel treatment they and their loved ones had endured. The overall moodset was gray with the lead detective's own purgatory of wartime memories adding to the somber mood. The lack of modern forensic tools and investigative procedures made the case come together more slowly than the contemporary mysteries I am used to reading. That said, they also meant the police had to be more imaginative and determined to network with the public and turn over every stone to achieve their goals.

Like with many novels that constantly refer to numerous geographic locations a map would have been helpful.

Death on Board definitely had me constantly guessing, especially about the motive and the logistics. I can see its appeal for other readers but I can't really say I ended up a fan or would definitely seek out more stories from the series.

Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

A great read. It's a good old fashioned murder mystery with lots of clues, red herrings and surprises. I loved that it brings back memories of a different era. I thought it enjoyable, entertaining and extremely interesting.

Suspicious Circumstances..
The fifth outing in the Inspector Ryga historical mystery series and Ryga is set to visit Cornwall to investigate the mysterious death of a renowned dermatologist. He is convinced that circumstances are suspicious, despite medical findings, and it’s not long before another death occurs with eerily similar clues. Another accomplished entry to this series with a credible cast, a well imagined setting and a solid mystery at its heart.

This book wasn't my typical genre I read. This mystery was a nice change of pace. It was set after WW2 and an interesting look back at how hard investigations could be without the technology we have today. I did have some issues in the beginning getting into the story. I also had a little trouble believing how the Detective figured out some of the clues. Overall this wasn't a bad story.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I genuinely enjoyed it. Scotland Yard detective Ryga is very likeable. He has an easygoing nature and doesn’t badger or harass other characters into giving hi the information he seeks. He has a slow, methodical way about him that feels very relaxed but not oppressively so. As he slowly unearths who his victims are and kind of people they are, his compassionate nature shows how hard it will be for him to find the truth. We really see some good and ugly characters in this book and we see what great lengths some people will go to to protect others. I’m definitely interested in reading more of this series and learning more about Detective Ryga.

This enjoyable post-WWII police procedural is one I’d recommend to any lover of good British mysteries. Despite being #5 in the series, it does fairly well as a stand-alone if, like me, you hadn’t read the previous books. While Inspector Ryga muses some on past cases and on people in his life, it’s not to the extent that a new reader feels lost. My one criticism would be that at times the pace dragged a bit.

Still dealing with the consequences of his time spent in a German prison camp during the war, Ryga’s mettle is tested in numerous ways when a case takes him from his office at Scotland Yard to coastal Cornwall. Two deaths, one suspicious and the other clearly murder, are tied together in ways Ryga at first cannot seem to link, but when it all begins to unravel he is faced with not only the trauma of his war, but a moral dilemma: is killing ever justified?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"Well, it had become not so much tough - Jory could deal with that - but pointless, which was far worse."

Wow, SO good. I have a few Pauline Rowson books on my Kindle, and I'm so pleased I took my first dip into her catalog with #deathonboard. Inspector Ryga reminded me of so many conflicted sleuths, with his compassion, brilliance and melancholy. Everyone has motive, means and opportunity. By the conclusion, Ryga is even sadder about the human condition.

P.S. thanks to #netgalley and @joffebooks for the ARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Pauline Rowson and would recommend it to anyone liking a good mystery thriller. After Sir Bernard Crompton is found dead aboard his yacht near the coast in Cornwall in 1951, Inspector Alun Ryga is sent to investigate the case and then discovers another dead body in a cove. This book keeps the reader unable to put the book down until the final pages.

This is book five in the Inspector Ryga series, but luckily for me, this works perfectly as a stand alone book.
Policing in 1951, was so very different. When Sir Bernard Compton goes missing and his consulting rooms at Harley Street in London are ransacked, no motive is immediately obvious. The Doctor is retired and has gone to Scotland to pick up his new boat, which he then intends to travel down the West coast, looking for somewhere to retire to.
The titular Inspector and his team have to make enquiries about any possible motive or ill feeling, arrange for crime scene photographs to be taken, and then wait a few days for them to be developed, make house to house enquiries, telephone various Marinas to find out both the name of the new boat and its planned route home. So very labour intensive and wearing on the shoe leather!!
When a body is found on the boat ( not a spoiler, that’s the title ), this starts of a chain reaction of events and deaths that seems almost farcical. There are numerous suspects, rather a lot of delightful skullduggery happens, and one victim appears to have been universally disliked, with the words venomous, cunning, manipulative being the politest of them all. The question is posed, is it ever morally justified to murder a person so deserving of that fate?!!
There are themes of suicide, mental health, drug taking, blackmail, post natal depression and coercive control in this story.
I liked this novel, and have a few books to catch up on. The back story of the Inspector is also intriguing, he appears very tolerant of his fellow man, despite what is hinted at regarding his suffering as a a prisoner of war. A five star read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Joffre books for my advanced copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

historical-places-events, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, 1950s, Cornwall, murders, investigations, police-detectives, procedural, PTSD, conundrum, crime-thriller, extortion, geology, grief, grieving, justice, lies, merchant-mariner, mining, mysteries, rage, secrets, spousal-abuse, suspense, tragedy, unpleasant-victims, unputdownable, consequences*****

The local was in a great hurry to have the first murder declared "natural causes". There was no such nonsense with the second. Veteran of The Great War Inspector Ryga is seconded to Cornwall from Scotland Yard and finds more than anyone expected. Excellent police work in this extremely twisty novel of deviousness.
Nobody has chastised me yet for giving a biased review because I really love this author's work!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This police procedural book provides a fascinating insight into life in the 1950s. The pace of an investigation has to be so much slower than today: waiting days for results, for photos to be developed, for someone to call back if they were out when you called them, using the library to look up train time tables etc. I thought Ryga was an interesting character, and the Cornish coastal setting is very well described. I would have liked the pace of the story to be a bit faster, as it did for the the last 10% of the book, so only 4 stars.

It's 1951, and Inspector Ryga is summoned to Cornwall from Scotland Yard. Sir Bernard Crompton, a dermatologist, has been found dead on his new yacht. The local ME has ruled the death natural, but Ryga has questions. Then when another murder is discovered, Ryga begins to uncover information showing what horrible people these two men were. Is solving the case worth it? Is there a situation where the crimes could even be called justified? This atmospheric historical mystery paints a vivid picture of a postwar British seaside town, and shows how Ryga's own experience as a German POW continues to influence him. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.