‘Terror From the Sea’ by Dan Latus

Published by Joffe Books,
22 July 2021.
ISBN: 978-1-78931902-6 (PB)

PI Frank Doy lives at Risky Point, set on the Cleveland Coast. On a hot summer night he receives a call from a person  he doesn’t immediately recognise. But the name Jean Miller clicked from many years ago. She says she is desperate and her husband and his associates are trying to kill her. He tells her she should go to the police, but she says she can’t and then she hangs up.

Frank spends the next two months upgrading the security of a small factory that is rapidly losing money from break-ins and pilfering. The owner Fred Smythe is shocked to discover that it is people he employees and trusts that are doing the stealing. But Frank’s top level of security soon puts a stop to that. 

Frank is looking to take a rest, when old friend Jac Picknett drops in to visit him. She asks him if he remembers Jean Miller. Suddenly Frank recalls the phone call and realises that he had been subconsciously dreading to hear something bad these past couple of months.  But Jac just said that she had seen her on Holy Island – Lindisfarne, set off the Northumberland coast. But was surprised when Jean looked through her and wouldn’t make eye contact with her. Which Jac said was very strange. 

And so Frank sets off for Lindisfarne.  It takes him a few days to locate Jean. But during those days he is becomes aware that Jean is never alone but always followed by a minder. 

Although Frank is the main narrator, we are privy to the evil actions of Ariza, initially the partner in drug smuggling and various other illegal activities with Jean’s husband Gonzalez.  But initially what was a partnership has now changed and Ariza has made it clear that he is in charge. And that is all bad!

This is a terrific read. The action is fast moving. The plot constantly twisting. A cracking good adventure story, with a likeable hero. Interesting characters, and of course an unexpected twist at the end. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Dan Latus is the pseudonym of Ian Bullock. He grew up in Teesside. His novels are inspired by the places he knows best. And Then You're Dead, like Run for Home before it, is set partly in Northumberland and partly in Central Europe, a region he frequently visits and one where he has lived and worked.Of his other novels, Out of the Night, A Death at South Gare and Living Dangerously are all set in Cleveland and Teesside, where he grew up and lived until he moved for a time to Canada. Now, though, he lives in Northumberland with his wife.

http://danlatus.co.uk/