The story behind Inspector Andy Horton Solent Murder Mystery - THE FARLINGTON MARSH MURDERS

Like most of my novels, THE FARLINGTON MARSH MURDERs ( no. 8 in the DI Andy Horton Solent Murder Mystery Series) is inspired by locations in the area where I live and where the novels are set, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. It is also inspired by topical crimes.  In this case, metal thefts, fraud, boat salvage operations and more.

In addition in it my troubled detective, Andy Horton, discover a lead in the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his mother when he was ten, which sets him off on a journey to find the truth about what really happened to her after she walked out of their council flat in a tower block in inner city Portsmouth one foggy November day in 1978 never to be seen again.

But back to locations…

 

 

There were two areas that helped inspire me for the setting of THE FARLINGTON MARSH MURDERS (previously published as Death Lies Beneath) one was the marshes on the northern boundary of the city of Portsmouth facing on to Langstone Harbour, Farlington Marshes. 

The other was the area of Tipner, or more specifically the sea bordering this north western boundary of Portsmouth, which filters into Portsmouth Harbour, Tipner Lake.

The former, Farlington Marshes, part of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, is a coastal grazing marsh and lagoon which has several pools, and a broad stream providing feeding and roosting sites for waders and wildfowl.

The latter Tipner Lake in the Portsmouth Harbour is a special protection area. Moves to reclaim the land to provide extra space for the expansion of Portsmouth were rejected in the early 1990s on environmental grounds. But the area around the Tipner quayside has been cleared in preparation for expansion and a proposed new marina, which at the time of writing has not happened.

So what links the two?


Well ex con Daryl Woodley is found dead on Farlington Marshes and the body of a woman dressed in black is found during a boat salvage operation to clear a World War II munitions barge from the seabed off Tipner. 

Horton is tasked to investigate both murders and it’s believed there could be a link between them in the form of a big time crook, currently serving time in prison, Marty Stapleton. 

Horton is thrown into another complex investigation, and, as tensions rise, Horton receives a chilling message. It looks like time is running out for our bold detective . .


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I love this series and I hope there's more to come. The characters are all admirably complex, beautifully written.' C. Hall
 

The Farlington Marsh Murders by Pauline Rowson, a DI Andy Horton Mysterywson

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A brilliant book with more twists and turns than a corkscrew. A wide range of believable characters and an ending which means book 9 will have to be written." Kindle Customer


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Great series of books.... They all leave you guessing till the end. Looking forward to the next book." Amazon Customer
 

 Buy THE FARLINGTON MARSH MURDERS BY PAULINE ROWSON

 



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