Fresh Catch: A Thomas Reeve mystery by David Haviland

There’s something entertaining about a private detective who can face down dangerous criminals while remaining concerned about the quality of his coffee!

In Fresh Catch, Thomas Reeve is hired to investigate the disappearance of £150,000 worth of seafood. What begins as a straightforward fraud case soon leads him into the murky world of local gangsters, hired thugs, and suspicious businessmen. But appearances can be deceptive, and Reeve discovers that the obvious villains aren’t necessarily the whole story. The investigation builds towards an epic chase, where survival may depend on making a deal with the devil you know rather than the one you don’t.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Haviland’s eye for human absurdity and Reeve’s wonderfully dry humour make for entertaining reading.

Beneath it, however, there is a well-constructed investigation. Reeve makes intelligent, sometimes difficult choices, and is faced with the uncomfortable compromises that real life occasionally demands.

Fresh Catch is a quick, fun read. For a novella, it has a satisfying story with a genuine start, middle, and finish, memorable characters, and an ending that gives the reader plenty to think about.

Thanks to Loudhailer Books and the author for the ARC copy (posted on Goodreads).