How the Isle of Portland inspired 1950s mystery DEATH IN THE COVE

DEATH IN THE COVE is set in 1950 England, a country still reeling from the aftermath of war with austerity and rationing biting hard. It is the first in the Inspector Ryga historical mystery series of which there are four.  In DEATH IN THE COVE, Inspector Ryga, of Scotland Yard, is on his first solo investigation outside of London, to solve the mystery of why a man in a pin-striped suit is found murdered in an isolated cove on the Island of Portland in Dorset.

I first visited the Island of Portland in Dorset (4 miles long by 1.7 miles wide, jutting out into the English Channel on the South Coast of England) while researching for one of my Art Marvik, mystery thrillers and fell in love with it. It’s stunning and rugged coastal path, its quarry scarred landscape and hidden coves both inspired and captivated me.

I also have a bit of a thing about islands, after all I live on one (Hayling Island) and was born on one (Portsmouth) albeit both with land access. But then Portland connects with the mainland of Weymouth by road and in 1950 also by rail and ferry. The other island I visit regularly, and which is featured in both my Inspector Andy Horton Solent Murder Mysteries and the Art Marvik mystery thrillers, is the Isle of Wight with no road access (or fixed link) as islanders call it. Therefore a ‘real’ island. But to return to Portland.

I thought Portland a good setting for my first 1950 set novel because in the 1950s the famous stone quarries were still operating. The white Portland stone had been used on the construction of many renowned buildings, St Paul’s Cathedral and Buckingham Palace among them, as well as in the building of the large breakwaters arching into the sea protecting Portland Harbour and the naval dockyard, the latter also still in operation in 1950.

There was also a railway line in 1950 on to the island. The station closed to passengers in 1952, although regular freight kept the line in use until 1965. The platforms and canopies survived until the mid-1970s when they were demolished.

Portland also has a remarkable lighthouse out on Portland Bill a rather windswept place, indeed my mother who was stationed on Portland Bill in the ATS during WW2 used to tell me how bleak it was. Portland Bill (the lighthouse) became a popular tourist destination after the first tarred road was laid in 1922 and during the 1930s a car park was also laid, while beach huts and cafes began to appear. Visitors to the lighthouse were welcomed, and in DEATH IN THE COVE Inspector Ryga visits the lighthouse where the head lighthouse keeper takes him up the lantern room.

See where the Inspector Ryga Historical Mysteries are set.