The Malice of Waves

By: Mark Douglas-Home

Narrated by: David Monteath

Five years ago, 14-year-old Max Wheeler disappeared from Priest's Island, an isolated but bleakly beautiful place on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. In the close-knit local community, there are no secrets - except what happened to Max. None of the police or private investigations since have shed any light on what happened the night he went missing, presumed dead. But there is one man who is yet to take on the case: The Sea Detective.

Cal McGill is an oceanographer and unique investigator who uses his knowledge of tides, winds and currents to solve mysteries no one else can. However, Cal is an unwelcome stranger who must navigate the tensions between Max's inconsolable father, the broken family he has neglected and the embittered locals, resentful after years of suspicion. As Cal arrives, a violent storm approaches, threatening to completely cut off the island, with a possible murderer at large....

©2016 Mark Douglas-Home (P)2016 Penguin Audio

I’m really impressed with this series

This is my second time listening to them all, and I’m realizing how carefully plotted they are, how well-drawn the characters. There are no loose ends, no questions answered by convenient but unlikely revelations. The answers all grow out of the characters’ stories. And the characters are all very believable; I find myself caring about them.

A Literal and Literate Cliffhanger!

Yet another fantastic book in The Sea Detective series.
Thank you, Mark Douglas-Home! And David Monteath’s narration is brilliant!

4

Good old fashioned detective work on a baffling case ... or is it cases?
The author builds another of his
intricate, many layered mysteries.
This sea detective, the islands and the
people who live there are fascinating.

Good story.

Love the characters. Great descriptions of location, people. Transports me there. Good solid story telling.

Another great story

I find these books very enjoyable. The stories are fresh and the angle different and new. Anyone who likes books about Scotland and the island life will fall in love with them. The performance is absolutely over-the-top perfect. The stories are sort of a mix between standard detective stories and just really good suspense. I highly recommend the whole series.

Great but not nearly as good as first book

Douglas-Horn created such a unique character and mystery in his first book, still one of my favorites. The sea and the protagonist's understanding of tides and currents were central to the mystery and helped with the resolution. In the follow up two books the sea is there as a backdrop but with each book is less central to the mystery. They are good books, well narrated, just not fulfilling the promise of the first book in the series.

Excellent

Well written, original story, excellent narration. It took me a while to get into each of his books, but they all developed into enjoyable stories.

Engaging

I’ve listened to the three Sea Detective books one after the other, and enjoyed and admired all three. The writing and narration are excellent.

But it seemed odd to me that there wasn’t any continuity of characters from the first to the second book. What a waste of good character development. I get that Cal is a loner, but most of us do have contact with people we have met and befriended in the past.

So I was glad to have Helen Jamieson back in the third book. She’s a good character, and I hope their friendship continues to develop.

Apart from a good story well read

As I listened to this story I thought that the events could have happened. There were no great leaps through 'disbelief' or too great a sense of the plot being contrived to keep me guessing. The places, the people, the story itself were kind of reflections. If you have enjoyed Peter May's, 'The Lewis Trilogy' chances are you could enjoy this one. Island communities being tested not only by the weather.
OK it may not be Great Writing...and there may be an eye on market response...and it is a good story well read.

Great Story!

I think this might be his best one yet. I enjoyed the story and the characters and more than anything the setting. I can’t wait for the next one!