A more apt title for The Beach Girls (published 1959) would be The Docklands Drama. This little slice of pulp reads more like J.K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy than it does noir/crime fiction.
Each chapter is told from a different POV of one of the main characters, with the author drip feeding elements of corporate conspiracy, adultery, and murder, only for them to not go anywhere.
I enjoy character-centric books, however there needs to be something which ties them all together aside from proximity and gossip. Whilst the dockside living was an interesting place-setting, the criminal components were severely lacking - sure, there's a murder, but that was in the backstory with little violence (aside from a couple of adolescent-like beach brawls) or suspense throughout.
Perhaps this felt underwhelming as I failed to connect with any of the characters. Leo Rice had promise, however the others, (aside from some backstory in their respective chapters) didn't add value or interest to the book nor really contribute in any meaningful way to the wider story arc - they were just there...like furniture.
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