Nobody ever knew what happened to the Brindleys. One summer they were there - flashy, loud and beautiful - and then they were gone. A mother, father and two children, vanished into the East Anglian night.
Some said the family never made it home from the party; their speeding car thrown off the tracks and the four of them silently buried in the marshes. Others said they had simply moved on. For thirty years, the case remained as cold as the freezing waterways of the Norfolk broads.
Until Cam Killick found the car.
An ex-marine and ex-SBS officer, Cam Killick's PTSD has made the return to civilian life a living nightmare. The only place he can find peace is underwater, where the world is muffled to white noise. As a cold case diver it is his job to scour the waterways of the country for the lost, the submerged, the drowned, laying their stories to rest alongside them.
Except when Cam throws open the doors to the Brindley car, all four bodies are missing. And Cam will soon learn that some secrets, once submerged, are better off staying that way
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The Troubled Deep by Rob Parker is published by Bloomsbury Raven on 16 January 2025 and is the first in the Cam Killick Norfolk Mystery series. My thanks to the author and the publisher who sent my copy for review.
There's nothing better than starting a brand new crime series, especially one by such a talented author as Rob Parker. The anticipation for the new character, and the setting is high, and I was certainly not let down by this one. In fact, I'd say that the novel far exceeded anything that I expected.
Set on the rural Norfolk Broads and featuring ex-SBS diver Cam Killick, accompanied by his faithful dog Nala, this is a unusual premise, but one that I found quite fascinating. Cam is such a flawed character, he struggles with severe PTSD after his time in the military, and apart fron Nala, the only relief that he can get is when he is under water. So much so, that he will often sleep in the bath. His job as a diver who investigates cold cases is perfect for him, allowing him the time to spend on his own, and to immerse himself under water. Often that water is dangerous, cold and full of hidden obstacles, but for Cam, this job is a lifeline.
Many years ago, the Brindleys, a well-known Norfolk family disappeared. They were the sort of family that made headlines; wealthy, important, powerful. Mother, father, son and daughter left a party one night and were never seen again. There have been many theories as to what happened, but they've never been found.
Until now. Cam has studied the local roads and the waterways and is convinced that their car went off the road, into the water. After much searching, he discovers the car, just where he thought it would be. However, when he manages to open the car doors, it is empty. There are no bodies. The whole Brindley family have disappeared.
And so begins an exciting and complex case that Cam works hard on. He is determined to discover just what happened to the family, and this will bring danger to his life. There are so many twists and turns in this plot that you may get a little dizzy at times, but you will be absolutely transfixed as the story progresses. There are characters who are determined to keep the long-hidden secrets under wraps, and would do almost anything to protect themselves. It's a gripping and exciting ride for sure.
Cam Killick is beautifully created, his flaws add so much to his character, allowing the reader to see past the determined case cracker and discover the person below. His relationship with Nala the dog is joyful, and just warms the heart so much.
Parker incorporates the isolation of the Norfolk Broads so well, there's a real sense of atmosphere and place that adds so much depth to the novel.
Bring on book two! Highly recommended by me.
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Original and the first instalment in the Thirty Miles trilogy, as well as eight novels for independent publishers.
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