Sign-In
Cart
Death on the Pier: a captivating historical mystery
Paperback
Series: Inspector Ryga Historical Mysteries, Book 6
ISBN13: 9781805737674
Publisher: Joffe Books Ltd
Published: Sep 10 2026
Pages: 288
Weight: 0.57
Height: 0.72 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
DISCOVER A SERIES OF CAPTIVATING HISTORICAL MYSTERIES FILLED WITH TWISTS FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAULINE ROWSON.
Meet Inspector Alun Ryga of Scotland Yard's Murder Squad. Having survived WW2 in a prisoner of war camp, he's vowed to get justice for those who need it.
1951, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.
One scorching summer evening, Commander Clive Cottinglea is returning home from the yacht club when he stumbles across a body at the bottom of the cliff lift.
By the time he fetches the beat constable, not only has the corpse vanished - but there's no trace it was ever there. No blood. No broken twigs. No trampled flowers.
The local Southend police are baffled. How can they investigate a murder without evidence or a body?
The worried chief constable calls in a favour from Detective Superintendent Street at Scotland Yard - who knows just the man for the job.
Inspector Alun Ryga is dispatched undercover to the Essex coast to conduct a discreet investigation. He soon discovers unsettling contradictions in the retired commander's story.
But the peculiar case then takes a deadly turn when another body is discovered on a deckchair on the pier . . .
Fans of Elly Griffiths, Laura Wilson, Anthony Horowitz, Robert Harris, Philip Kerr, Frederick Forsyth and Keith Finney will devour this series of enthralling historical crime mysteries set in 1950s England - a time of rationing and recovery from the struggles of the Second World War.
READERS LOVE INSPECTOR RYGA:
'The story is well plotted . . . Pauline Rowson captures the period perfectly.' Mystery People
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow, SO good.' Kathy H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This atmospheric historical mystery paints a vivid picture of a post-war British seaside town.' L. Tilden
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Excellent police work in this extremely twisty novel.' Jan T.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Attention to detail and location is top rate. If you are interested in this period before CCTV, instant communication and computers took over our lives, completely changing police work, then you will enjoy this book.' Paul S.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This enjoyable post-WWII police procedural is one I'd recommend to any lover of good British mysteries.' Abby G.
MEET INSPECTOR ALUN RYGA
Alun Ryga is ex-Merchant Navy and a former prisoner of war. His experience has made him observant, analytical and reflective. It has also given him insights into his fellow man. He's witnessed compassion, cruelty, cowardice, heroism, mental breakdown and despair. He's made a promise to himself that whatever happens after the war he'll keep an open mind and never judge. His experiences have made him unique in his approach to solving coastal-based crimes - of which there are many!
THE SETTING
The south coast of England has over 400 miles of stunning coastline. From chalky white cliffs and sandy beaches to shingle bays and national parks, the beauty is endless. But there's a darker side to post-war Britain. Housing shortages and rationed goods mean many people are still living rough, and some turn to crime to survive . . .
Also in
Mystery & Thriller
Coffin Road: An Utterly Gripping Crime Thriller from the Author of the China Thrillers
May, Peter
Paperback
Sabine's Notebook: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Continues
Bantock, Nick
Hardcover
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Movie Tie-In Edition): Book 1 of the Millennium Trilogy
Larsson, Stieg
Paperback
The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes
Bantock, Nick
Hardcover
Big Little Truths: Reese's Book Club: A Novel: The Sequel to Big Little Lies
Moriarty, Liane
Hardcover
The Pirate Queen: A Novel from the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Frozen River
Lawhon, Ariel
Hardcover
The Altar of Pergamon: The Mystery of the Dark Angel and the Future of the World
Cahn, Jonathan
Hardcover