The Dark Tide: The most exciting new pulse-pounding crime thriller for 2022 from bestselling sensation Simon McCleave (The Anglesey Series, Book 1)

I really like the Ruth Hunter series. This book was fine, but it feels like a spin-off. I understand they both take place in North Wales, but it feels like a Snowdonia book that failed to have Ruth, Nick, etc in it. I was honestly a little surprised that none of the Snowdonia characters made a cameo. To me, Laura is reminiscent of Ruth, and Gareth of Nick. If you haven't read the Ruth series, I'm sure you will very much enjoy it. I will probably hold off on more of this series, at least until the Ruth Hunter series concludes. I'll also admit that I'm siding with the people who find the dead husband making appearances distracting and weird.

I have to say this is Simon McCleave's best book to date! The characters all clicked from the get go, it didn't need any build up. (Or 2nd book). I could visualize the Wales coast in my mind, and I'm already emotionally vested in them. He was always one of my favorite Brittish authors, but he just moved up a notch or two!

This book has everything, suspense with plenty intriguing situations and mystery that will satisfy mystery readers with some love story included.A great lead in to the sequel.

I'm always a bit skeptical of a new set of characters.No need to worry. This one had my heart racing. Can't wait for the next one in this series!

Some of us readers have been following DI Ruth Hunter through several books and I was a bit reluctant when mr. McCleave wanted to introduce a whole new set of characters. But I had no reason to be nervous. This novel is just as exciting and gripping as all the other McCleave books. In fact this is amongst the best of his novels. Can’t wait to read the next books in this series.

This new book introduces another interesting set of characters. His descriptions of the countryside make you want to travel there and it's fun to Google photos of the landmarks and historical churches of the towns and villages he describes and he has a great newsletter where he interacts with his readers. I am a fan of Elizabeth George and Debra Crombie and others who write about countries in the United Kingdom. I'm glad I found him.

First, a cop's husband is taken hostage and they let her not only be there, but she's the hostage negotiator. Really???? Then she not only talks to her dead husband, but she sees him. Later, after she has retired from the police her son's class is taken by only one adult (really???) on a boat trip and guess what, is taken hostage by drug runners. Not only is she allowed to be there, but they want her to be the hostage negotiator. Really???? And while her son is being held hostage by drug runners, she keeps fantasizing about another cop being in the shower and being so sexy. Are you kidding me??? On what planet??? Meanwhile, she keeps seeing and talking to her dead husband while she and the sexy cop tear off by themselves to follow the hostage takers. Really??? She's not a cop anymore!!!! Now I like the Ruth Hunter series and that's the only reason I kept reading this far, but come on, this plot is ludicrous. You can do so much better, Mr. McCleave.

Exciting, and talking to her dead husband was great. Yes, there were a few mis steps, like why didn’t they just open the door to find the elderly store owner, they went away then came back, lost time. Still want to know what happens next, loved it.

Like another reviewer who highlighted some factual errors, I found others and emailed the author. I was somewhat disgusted to receive an extremely rude reply. I would suggest that he does a lot more research for his future books as he lost all credibility for me.I was amused to see that Simon "loves to hear from readers". Clearly he only does if they don't point out errors!

I must have read a different book to everyone else! Started badly by the author telling us that someone was wild swimming, in the dark at 04.45 at the end of June. Summer solstice it is daylight at 3am.....Then a solitary teacher takes a party of 20 primary school children on a day trip. H&S would not allow that at all. Minimum of four. All the back story was just padding to me...I have never speed read a book as fast. I quite enjoyed the Ruth Hunter series, this has started really badly, doubt i will carry on.

This is a new, interesting take on a crime thriller, one of the protagonists being a police negotiator. I enjoyed it, but couldn't give 5 stars because I couldn't quite believe that the mother of a child hostage seemed to spend most of her time thinking erotic thoughts about the male D. I. she was working with. As a mum, there'd be no room in my mind for fantasising about anyone, I'd be too scared and focused on the safety of my child. I found myself thinking *typical, you can tell it's written by a man", and then feeling annoyed about the distraction. Reading, for me, is about being totally immersed in a story. I did enjoy the snippets of Welsh history, and as I lived in Wales for 25 years, with my job taking me up to Bangor University, it was lovely recapturing the sights and sounds of the region. I did settle in to the story, and feel sure that the main characters will become more "fleshed out" as the author has written some great thrillers, and I love the other series set in North Wales. The ending of this, the first in a new series, cleverly leaves you with some tantalising clues about the direction we're being led along, so I'm excited and looking forward to the journey.

Laura left the Police Force, following the violent death of her Police Officer husband. She also left Manchester and moved back to Anglesey, with her two children. She’s a trained Negotiator and runs a business training others. A hostage situation forces her to put her skills into practice and work with the local Detective Inspector. In the meantime, she’s still trying to work out how her husband was placed in the situation in which he died. Without giving away any spoilers, the answer to that question could be found in the next book in the series.

Fabulous book. The characters are likeable & believable and I'm looking forward to seeing how things turn out with Laura and Gareth. Brilliant story together, with the story running alongside the main one makes me keen to know more about Pete and what really happened that day in 2018. Only downside is the next book isn't due out until January next year.