The Red Shore

Eden Driscoll Book 1

Met detective Eden Driscoll never wanted a child, but when his estranged sister vanishes from her sailboat, he is asked to look after her son Finn – the nephew he hadn’t even known existed.

Resettled in the seaside town of Teignmouth, Eden adjusts to his newfound parenthood. Then Finn disappears from school, and Eden knows something is dreadfully wrong.

When Eden’s sister’s body is finally found, floating in the sea, local police rule her death an accident, but Eden isn’t convinced. She was an experienced sailor and would never sail without a life jacket. Eden starts searching his sister’s life for answers, and what he discovers changes everything.

The Red Shore is the first in a new series featuring DS Eden Driscoll, set on the estuary that William Shaw grew up on.

Reviews

“Shaw was always a fine writer, but this is his best yet. It’s my finest crime novel of the year – so far.” Geoffrey Wansell, The Daily Mail.

‘The Red Shore is the action-packed start of a new series that promises to be every bit as good as William Shaw’s previous series featuring DS Breen (in 1960s London) and DS Cupidi (in contemporary Kent). In particular, the tentative and tempestuous relationship between the singleton Driscoll and the nine-year-old Finn is beautifully observed.” Mark Sanderson, The Times.

“William Shaw’s writing gets better and better. The characters are credible and sympathetic, the plot is great and the action is fast-moving.” Natasha Cooper, Literary Review

Deadly Pleasures magazine, Best Books of 2025

“William is such an accomplished crime writer. It’s just a brilliant crime book.’ Philippa Hall, Quick Book Reviews’ Picks of 2025

“Among writers who comfortably fit into the literary end of the spectrum, William Shaw never fails to deliver impeccable exercises in psychological acuity.” Barry Forshaw, best of Summer Crime for the Financial Times.

“Classic crime. Fantastic location. Characters to root for.” P.D. Viner, Shots Magazine