Over 100,000 copies sold in the series.A skeleton and a missing woman. A doomed romance. A mystery spanning two generations.Liverpool, 1961. A group of young men come together seeking fame and fortune, as the fledgling sounds of the Swinging Sixties take root in the city. Soon, Liverpool becomes synonymous with the music that shapes a generation.Liverpool, 1999. Skeletal remains found in the … generation.
Liverpool, 1999. Skeletal remains found in the docklands lead Detective Inspector Andy Ross and Sergeant Izzie Drake into a journey through time, as the investigation takes them back to early days of the Mersey Beat.
Whose bones laid beneath the mud of the River Mersey for over thirty years, and what links them to a young woman, missing for the entire time?
Praise:
★★★★★ – “Had me hooked from the beginning.”
★★★★★ – “Brilliant plot… mystery writing at its best.”
★★★★★ – “A trip across time… well done, Mr. Porter.”
★★★★★ – “Solid crime series with likable protagonists and a great story.”
more
The plot line had potential, but the story drug on so slowly that it became boring. Yes, there was at least one murder and a missing lover over many years, but the author failed to build much suspense or tension and the potential suspects were so-so. Sorry, can’t recommend this one.
especially interesting if you are interested in the Liverpool/British pop music era of the 60’s with a little religious twist
Interesting juxtaposition between the past rock and roll in England and today crime.
Had a good story, the conversations were a bit too lengthy and there was a lot of unnecessary explaination of things in the paragraphs.however, it was worth reading, and the ending was unexpected.
Slow going at first then it picked up speed around 60% into the story. Really good series characters.
An interesting and thrilling plot.
It actually was very long; BUT I was happy to the story came full circle
From start to finish I was captivated.!well worth the time to read!
I did not see that coming! Loved this book to the line!
Loved this book. Took me back to my youth living in north wales visiting Liverpool. Great read!
I had two reasons for snatching up this murder mystery: I’m a rock ‘n roller who grew up with all the “Mersey Beat” bands, and as a Jack the Ripper buff I’ve devoured all of Brian Porter’s Jack novels. After devouring this one as eagerly, I’m glad I did. I have to say, in its own way, it’s creepier than the Jack books, mainly because this murder took place in my lifetime, and I’ve been to Liverpool, my husband’s home town. So I’m not so far removed from the setting as I am from 1888 Whitechapel. I don’t want to give the plot away, but I’m hoping what I do divulge will be enough to convince readers other than Brian’s many die-hard fans to pick this up and expect to be creeped out for several hours.
In 1999, Liverpool Detectives Sergeant Clarissa, (Izzie) Drake, Detective Inspector Andy Ross and Detective Constable Derek McLennan are observing a skeleton found in the mud at a dockside. The skull is bashed in and the kneecaps are shot off. Flash back to 1962 when Brendan Kane and some friends form a rock band to rival the others zooming up the charts. Despite their efforts, they’re not causing The Beatles to lose any sleep. Brendan wants to go to the USA and try to get discovered there. He convinces his girlfriend Marie to go with him. Do they ever get there?
The story flashes back and forth between those early 60’s days and 1999, with the detectives’ efforts to identify the victim. Their efforts are rewarded twofold—they identify the victim AND the killer, who’s still alive 3 decades later. Then more murders suddenly take place—and that’s all I’m going to say.
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Ross & Drake have to investigate a murder committed in the early sixties, and uncover a tragic love story. Realistic characters, and a good mystery to solve.
This is the first book of the Mersey Murder Mysteries, and I must say it’s a grabber. When a body is found in the Mersey River after over 30 years, the police learn it’s that of a 60’s musician who disappeared with his girlfriend. The two were part of a band that was in the process of breaking up. Was the musician, Brendan, killed because he planned to go to the U.S. in an attempt to hit it big on his own, or did it have anything to do with his secret relationship with the daughter of a staunch Catholic who wouldn’t approve of a Protestant husband for his little girl? Find out in this absorbing read that includes many twists. You won’t be able to put it down. I hope to read the rest in this series soon.