Publication: 16th July 2026 – Hemlock Press
A SCORCHING SUMMER
Down in the seaside town of Teignmouth, ex-Met detective Eden Driscoll is growing restless after a long summer caring for his nine-year-old nephew.
A DESPERATE MAN’S PLEA
When a man knocks at Eden’s door for help, claiming someone is trying to kill him, Eden jumps at the chance to solve a mystery. But before he can ask more questions, the stranger disappears.
A DEADLY FIRE
That same night a house along the coast is burnt to the ground and human remains are discovered amongst the ashes. In the days after, Eden’s curiosity only grows. He soon finds himself investigating, and begins to uncover a web of deception, jealousy and corruption.
Having enjoyed The Red Shore last year, I was looking forward to its sequel, The Burning Tide, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Following the events of the previous book, former Met detective Eden has left his single life back in London and moved to Devon to take care of his orphaned nine-year-old nephew, Finn. And as they are both adapting to this new life together, a new mystery lands at their feet when a man knocks on his door claiming that someone wants to kill him and asking for his help. And when the man’s house burns to the ground, Eden has no choice but to get involved in the investigation, especially when the lead detective in the case asks for his help.
This was such an intriguing and complex mystery, with quite a few twists and turns, and the perfect setting and landscape of Devon make it even more interesting. However, I must admit that what I enjoyed most of this novel is Eden and Finn’s relationship as they learn to navigate their new life together. Eden misses his single life in London and the freedom he had. He is suddenly a parent to a child who barely knows him and that brings back memories of a childhood he had tried to forget. I loved how they both try to work together to become a family and to trust each other.
The Burning Tide is an immersive novel, with a cast of engaging characters, a well-developed mystery, and a final twist at the end that I saw coming and it makes me look forward to reading the next book!
A huge thank you to Hemlock Press and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this thrilling novel.
William Shaw has been a journalist, writing for the Observer, New York Times and Wired, among others. He has written over 10 crime novels and has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and nominated for a Barry Award. His new series features DI Eden Driscoll, and is set in Devon.
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