The Dark Below: A Chilling Cornwall Crime Thriller

Malcolm Richards

Nov 2023 · Storm House Books

About this ebook

In the Cornish coastal village of Porthenev, a storm of blood-soaked violence is brewing...

Escalating acts of sabotage are threatening the livelihoods of local fishermen. Desperate to apprehend the culprit, they turn to private investigator Blake Hollow for help.

A seasoned veteran in wrangling dangerous criminals, Blake still grapples with her own ghosts, but views this case as just another routine assignment. Little does she know, the fishermen of Porthenev are harbouring secrets darker than the ocean. And the deadliest of them all is about to resurface.

When one of the men vanishes without a trace, Blake is unnerved by the nightmarish crime scene left behind in his wake. As she delves deeper into the heart of this once tight-knit community, she discovers the price of keeping silent is paid not just in blood but in a chilling conspiracy that threatens to consume everyone involved. 

Now Blake must navigate treacherous waters to solve a mystery unlike any she's encountered before—and stop a sadistic killer with a taste for flesh, who is hellbent on exacting gruesome retribution.

The Dark Below by Malcolm Richards is a gripping and relentless crime thriller that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, craving the next twist in this pulse-pounding tale of suspense and revenge.

Ratings and reviews

Blake Hollow investigates a series of incidents in a fishing village ending with the horrific decapitation of seagulls. Then a mother of two is murdered and her husband goes missing followed by another missing person. Later their mutilated bodies are found. Blake is up against a vicious killer who will not hesitate to kill anyone who comes in the way of his vengeful vendetta. A story which was mind-boggling. The author aptly portrays the psyche of the killer and his victims. I enjoyed the suspense and twists in the book.

Engaging story with believable characters. Plenty of tension, and the author lets you see (after a while) how and why the authorities were sometimes looking in the wrong direction. There are some pretty graphic scenes, so it may not be for everyone. But as a work of fiction, it pulled me right in. Looking forward to the next book already. I did receive an ARC at no cost, but this is my honest opinion.

A superbly gripping novel right from the start. When investigating some mysterious acts of sabotage at the harbour, PI Blake Hollow soon finds herself in the middle of a fast moving series of grisly and hideous events. Will the dark secret she has discovered lead her to the perpetrator? Malcolm Richards is adept at describing both characters and events with clarity and The Dark Below is definitely up there with the best.

About the author

Malcolm Richards crafts stories to keep you guessing from the edge of your seat. He is the author of several crime thrillers and mystery novels, including the PI Blake Hollow series, the award-nominated Devil’s Cove trilogy, and the Emily Swanson series. Many of his books are set in Cornwall, UK, where he was born and raised.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Malcolm worked for many years in the special education sector, teaching and supporting children with complex needs. After living in London for two decades, he has now settled in the Somerset countryside with his partner and their pets.