Well...
What can I say.
Nothing I say will do this book the justice it so rightly deserves. Graham Smith is one hell of a writer. (Have I said that before?)
Dragged into the pages right from the beginning before you are spat out right at the end, wanting more. I love the characters that Mr Smith has created. Not just here in the Detective Beth Young series, but also in other books i've read by this author.
He has a knack for giving you what you want in damn good read.

i'm waffling again. But I just love books by this author. I look forward to each and every new book coming out, and as soon as I receive a copy, I have to start it. It doesn't matter what else i'm reading at the time, that has to stop. Curl up, clear your diary and get set for one hell of a ride.
Back with Detective Beth Young and still getting to know her, but liking her more each time I picked up the book. A tough story line to write, but I feel Mr Smith did it wonderfully. With some amazing twists this book keeps you hooked. Wanting and needing to know what is going to happen. Wanting to know the 'who dun it'
Beth is working for the Major Incident Team in the Lake District. A dedicated individual, who likes to get on with things a bit of a tough cookie and has a wonderful mind for working things out. A true asset to the force. I can see this girl going places, and I'm hoping to be on the long journey with her.
(now there is an idea Mr Smith. Maybe Beth needs a new team mate, a Vicki in her life. lol)
Although it was lovely being back in the Lakes, its such a beautiful place, a beautiful background to a very disturbing case. Faced with the discovery of an elderly lady having been murdered its work caps on and case open. Beth really is work oriented, she lives and breathes the force, giving it everything she has. Thinking they had a lead on who the murderer could be seemed to come to soon, I was thinking what, no way... obviously it was no way, but a great way of getting you hooked. It really got my tiny brain working. Once the team realise what a sick individual they are looking for, some leads take them to looking back over cold cases, could this be a killer that has been out there for a long time.
For me this book had it all, not for the faint hearted, but any crime thriller reader will love this. Treat yourself, you know you want to...

First things first, A Body In The Lakes is not for the faint hearted.The descriptions of the crimes in this novel are particularly graphic and this may not suit some people. Personally, I felt that the explicit nature of Smith's writing helped to paint the Lakeland Killer as the monster he was, thus increasing the tension from the beginning as I was rooting for Beth and her team to find the killer, particularly at times when events appeared to conspire against them.

I enjoyed meeting Detective Constable (DC) Beth Young again,, and in A Body In The Lakes , we learn more about Beth's values and the things that make her tick. There's also more focus on her personal life in this novel and I am crossing my fingers that her relationship with Ethan goes from strength to strength. There is a cliffhanger for Beth at the end of A Body In The Lakes and I can't wait to see how that plays out. Beth is surrounded by a team who also have their fair share of personal issues and it is interesting to see how these develop in this second novel.

There is a slight twist at the end that leads to some tense and dangerous scenes and I was gripped as the novel reached its conclusion

This is my first encounter with the Beth Young series, but it will definitely be one to follow. Beth’ is investigating the murder and sexual assault of an elderly woman, it quickly escalates when she discovers links that have been missed and she’s soon fully immersed in the hunt for a serial killer.
I liked the side plots that went on throughout the book, and also the way the killer wasn’t fully revealed until very near the end of the.book.
I felt the graphic descriptions of the rapes weren’t entirely necessary, but the story itself was a good one.
Look forward to the next book!

So I have a feeling I may not be very popular when I say this but I am not a fan of DC Beth Young. However, I do admire her. I find her attitude with only just passing probation a little “cock-sure” and at times you forget O’Dowd is actually the one in charge. But, she is ‘quirky’, her brain is wired differently and she achieves the results that she and the team need. And I do love her love of spreadsheets. However, part of me does wonder sometimes are we meant to like her at times?

Despite my thoughts on Beth, I loved the story and the police procedural aspect of the book. Beth is the driving force of the team, where it seems the team are all having their personal issues, she pushes the investigation forward and connects the dots way before I could. Just as you think you know where the story is going, Mr Smith is a little bit tricksy and adds something bittersweet to the story.

The opening chapter has your head spinning with shock with the gruesome discovery and from then on it is relentless. There is always something happening, from solving the murder, discovering cold cases, setting up a charity, I mean it left me breathless with so much packed into this book.

In intermitting chapters, you have Beth leading the way, but you have unknown diary entries and the sinister voice of the rapist/murderer and his next potential victim. All adding to the suspense as it left me scratching my head wondering how all three would link together.

I flicked between reading this and listening to the audiobook and the narrator was awesome. I found I was flying through the audiobook a lot quicker than when I was reading it, that is a credit to the narrator as well as the story.

Mr Smith has that knack of drawing you into Beth’s world and fully devouring you whole. Then when he ends the book, he leaves with you a kicker, so much so I didn’t realise at first it was the end of the book!!

I am looking forward to the next book because I am interested to see how Beth grows within the team and what happens next and what closure/outcome is to come following the ending!!

This police procedural is very well written, with a great plot and an interesting main character. Unfortunately, there are quite a few unnecessary sidetracks.

If you enjoy thrillers, especially ones with a serial killer on the loose, then you can expect some graphic description. In this case though, it is a sexual attack on an old woman which shocks the reader to the core. I haven't read the first book, but this book read well as a standalone. The twists and turns are gripping and the ending both horrifying and satisfying. I loved the red herrings almost as much as the breathtaking scenery but for me, this book was just a bit too gruesome at times and I found myself reading those parts very quickly! Overall, an enjoyable read with a great ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this arc.

I've got another series to follow! Thank goodness this was only the 2nd one in. That gives me time to catch up!

This was a great read. Fast paced, twisty plot lines, lots of dead-ends and blind allies, a plethora of possibilities and some great characters! I found Beth to a very complex character - for all her dependence on her spreadsheet, she seemed to act on instinct as much as intellect, unafraid to open her mouth to her superiors, and yet savvy enough so as not to permanently alienate others.... hard to believe she's as young as she is.

Now I need to catch up with book #1.

An elderly woman is found in the woods. She has been sexually attacked & strangled. Close by are things that point directly yo the charismatic ambitious local mayor.

At first this seems cut & dried but it all seems a little too easy. Beth Young, with her talent for thinking outside the box connects this death to similar cold cases. Is time running out for another woman out there? The ending really took me by surprise.

Beth is an interesting & likeable character. I really enjoyed the first book in the series and this book was just as good. Looking forward to Number 3!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This is a really good thriller. There is plenty of action the whole way through. A lot has been packed into this gritty read. This is definitely a page turner. Beth is a likeable character who I want to find out more about. Her story is interesting and I hope there are more books to come.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A Body in the Lakes is book two in the Detective Beth Young series and in a way I do think it works as a standalone. However it might help to read book one just to get a full character background. Beth is an intriguing character and a very important part of the team as she has quite a different way of looking at things. This on occasion highlights details that may have been missed previously. I do think that as a character we get to know Beth a little better in this book but I’m sure there is still more to come as the series progresses. What does shine through though is her determination!

The setting is one of the wonderful things about this story as Graham Smith easily sets the scene and describes a beautiful place but then adds in a heavy sense of darkness by having a body discovered. The story moves pretty smoothly but very quickly becomes quite a frustrating case for Beth and her colleagues. I think that the short and snappy chapters really helped to keep the momentum going. You also get a little insight into the killer as you hear from their perspective on occasion. Which easily helps to give a chilling edge to the story as you wonder what they will do next! With a few twists and turns to keep things interesting it all combines to make A Body in the Lakes both dark and unsettling.

Wow, what a read. This is a dark ,gritty intense second installment of a series I started a few months ago.
It is thought provoking and engaging, no mind numbing material here. It have me second guessing and reevaluate everything and everyone.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

#netgalley
#abodyinthelakes

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going! The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

The second book of the series and I was really looking forward to meet up with Beth Young and her collegues. 

She certainly is a special kind of lady. She is fierce and feisty and the way her mind works is simply brilliant. She is like a mastermind meets Wonderwoman but she is so lovable that you easily forgive the sometimes maybe a bit over the top actions. I for sure am a big fan of hers and I would like to thank the author for creating her.

What can I say more? It was a very good story and the writer shows the ability to keep the reader in the dark until the end. The book can be read as a stand alone because the details you need to know about Beth's private life are repeated so you do not miss out on anything should you start with this book. On the other hand, he keeps it brief so the loyal fan will not be bored at all by it.

I have a very good feeling that Beth will become even more intresting in the next part. I can't wait so see how she will deal with it. I could feel the suspense building up. It makes it a lot more difficult to wait patiently for the sequel. 5 stars.

Thank you, Graham Smith, Bookouture and Netgalley.

When the body of a naked, old lady turns, who appears to have been sexually assaulted, is found by a lake, DC Beth Young is one of the first on the scene.

Evidence found at the scene seems to point towards a local politician and the investigation has to take on a sensitive approach.

When a letter appears at Police HQ also incriminating the politician then his guilt becomes almost impossible to ignore.

But Beth Young has spotted some other crimes which appear to be linked to the murder of the old lady, and somethings about the old lady case are not right.

Beth can’t ignore the evidence pointing towards the politician but is it all a little bit to convenient.

Whilst the rest of the team concentrate on building a case against the man Beth begins to see a different time of him.

Is she being hood winked, and has she become too target focused on trying to find another killer.

There are not many crime, or Police Procedural, books where the main character is a Detective Constable.

It’s even more rare for the main character to be a young and enthusiastic cop.

Thankfully this series has DC Beth Young as the main cop.

There is none of the hatred for the “job” that we see in the older hands. Beth joined the job she wanted to join and is enjoying every minute of it.

She also has a knack for lateral thinking and seeing things differently to other officers. As irritating as this is to her boss, DI Zoe O’Dowd, she also relies on Beth and her tenacity to find the clues that will solve the crimes by finding links in her endless spread-sheets.

But can a crime be solved just using spread-sheets, not without the data to fill them and that requires Beth doing some old fashioned police work. She’s also pretty good at that.

A nice little cliff hanger at the end sets the way for another book in the series, and I can’t wait to read it and find out what happens with Beth next.

Pages: 340

A Body in the Lakes is the second book in the Detective Beth Young series by Graham Smith Beth is the newest member of the Force Major Investigation Team and once again she is a force to be reckoned with and this second installment to the series shows why she is such a great asset to the team.

When a naked elderly woman is found dumped in the lake Ullswater area, it is up to Beth and the team to find the killer responsible, but when Beth makes the connection to three other women killed in much the same way, the investigation takes a sinister turn. When two pieces of evidence implicates the mayor of Carlisle, Beth is determined to nail him to the wall. Is the mayor guilty or is their another killer in their midst with another woman already in his sights?

Beth is such an interesting character. We already know she has a past and she is looking for the man responsible for the scar on her face while simultaneously searching for a killer. While in the first book in the series, The Silent Dead, I found Beth held herself back quite often with the other officers in the FMIT, but in A Body in the Lakes, I feel she finally found her voice and was not afraid to voice her opinions regardless fi anyone liked them or not. Beth is a go getter and a problem solver. She is very analytical often creating spreadsheets of all the facts in order to find a common denominator. I also find that Beth is accepted more as a team member this time around as well and shares more of a comradery with the others in her team. While they might not be total friends, there is definitely a level of respect shown to Beth.

The story starts out with a body found at the lake and quickly picks up speed right from the start. There are a couple of plots playing out at once that really tie in nicely together. What I like most about Graham Smith is he is not afraid to take risks and always adds some element to his stories that are so original and out of the box. Smith also throws you off the scent as to who the killer might be and throws in a lot of “maybes” into the mix making the determination of the real killer so much harder to guess. To be honest, I found the story really disturbing especially with the unique twist Smith throws in. A Body in the Lakes can be read as a standalone, so if you missed the first book you can definitely pick up right here although I would suggest starting from the beginning so you can get the background of Beth right from the beginning.

Another great disturbing read by Graham Smith. I can not wait for the next installment in the Beth Young series.

Some people never cease to amaze you. Graham Smith is one of them. When I saw the second book in the DC Beth Young series available to read, I just HAD to jump on it. Why? Because there is nothing better than putting your hours and your life in the hands of an author who knows what he is doing.

Welcome to my review of A Body in the Lakes.

Beth Young is an exceptional cop. When we meet her for the second time, a body is waiting for the police near a lake. Right away, Beth’s eyes and mind are on high alert. This doesn’t mean she is omniscient. It is her attention to detail and the way her brain works that make her stand out. But she never shows off, and she welcomes the help and opinions of others, from her boss, DI O’Dowd, to the professional pathologists taking care of the victims. I love this side of Beth. She knows her talent with riddles and puzzles allows her to perceive patterns invisible to regular people. Never ever does Graham Smith pushes the limits to come up with far-fetched theories and ideas to make her protagonist look smarter than her colleagues. I don’t know how he does it, but Beth remains a fabulous team member while forging her own path.

After digging up cold cases, Beth finds herself in a dark and muddled maze. Juggling from their first case, the ‘new’ ones, and a big political figure who could make some waves, everyone’s hands are full. You might think that too much going on might slow down the pace of the plot and take away some of the interest in subplots, but that would be not counting on Graham Smith! He weaves a dirty, bloody web of suspicions I simply adored (does that make me sound weird???? I couldn’t care less!!) Good days and bad days go by and the reader is led into private and professional lives. What a pleasure not to be plunged into a CSI episode but be faced with real legwork, tough suspects to crack, and emotions taking over. Police officers are human beings, and I think Beth is one of the best examples of authenticity we can find these days in crime fiction.

A Body in the Lakes is a compelling read, a lift from hell going up and down until it makes your head spin! I couldn’t stop reading!!! Neither could I stop my emotions from flooding the atmosphere around me. The events unfolding in front of my eyes kept me wondering who was behind it all. Was the mayor like all politicians, sick and dark? Don’t we all suspect politicians? I mean, unless it’s Barack Obama, all suits guys are guilty of something in my eyes!!! Who could assault women the way the victims had been? I was horrified by the fate they had met, yet, the reality of it brought to life by acute descriptions only made me want to fight harder for the truth!

A Body In The Lakes is like a poker game. You are dealt cards and you must play and be the best to unmask the predator hiding among the numbers.

Graham Smith is a wonderfully brilliant mastermind who has created one of the best female characters in crime fiction, building a stunningly normal and gloomy world for Beth to grow. Her personal vendetta is the fragile thread underneath Beth’s drive for justice, and I can’t wait to know what’s next in store for us, lucky readers! What a thrilling thriller!!!

I think I have really missed out as I haven’t read the first book in this series featuring Detective Beth Young, but that didn’t stop me from devouring this book. I was drawn in from the first chapter and found it a superb read and loved the description of the Lake District and especially Ullswater, a place we frequently stay. A naked body of an elderly woman is found there and when Beth is sent to investigate she finds clues left there linking the death to the local mayor of Carlisle. She is then given information from a paramedic at the scene and on investigation she finds there has been three similar deaths in the area that the police have failed to connect. Beth realises then that her and her team must solve all the past and present puzzles to apprehend the killer before he strikes again. There are multiple storylines going on, some disturbing and gruesome, leading to a dramatic conclusion. I will definitely be reading more of Graham Smith’s books. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Boom!!!! DC Beth Young is back after an explosive debut outing in Death In The Lakes. And Graham Smith does not disappoint with this second in the series featuring this tenacious spunky young detective!

Having read all of Mr Smith’s previous crime thrillers, I started A Body In The Lakes with great anticipation. The crimes have been getting more heinous and I read with bated breathe to see what twisted way the victims are being terrorised to death. Yet again, I squirmed as Young Beth was told by Dr Hewson the extent of the demise of this poor lady. Is the charming (aka slightly sleazy) mayor really guilty of this horrible crime?

Sporadically placed through the police investigation are diary entry chapters. The diarist seems close to the mayor – are these personal entries clues to the mayor’s guilt? These random chapters really piqued my interest. Who was this person??!

This case really kept me guessing. Who was the sick and twisted killer? Would Beth be able to work out who it was before another body was found? Will she fall for the mayor’s charms? So many questions and the only way to answer them was to devour this crime thriller!

I for one can not wait to see what happens next for Beth, both professionally and personally. She’s had two very challenging cases in the team, what will Graham Smith throw at her next?! And as for the non-work stuff, I won’t say too much but I can feel it in my bones, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for our Beth!

This is book 2 in the series and although i did enjoy it i found the first book to be a lot more compelling. This was a decent police procedural but I didn't feel as gripped by it as I did the first. I felt it dragged a little. I would still like to read more in the series because I feel it has a lot of potential.

Happy Publication day to A Body In The Lakes by Graham Smith
Genre: mystery/thriller
Publication date: march 15th 2019



A Body in the Lakes is the second book in the detective Beth Young series by Graham Smith. It wasn't a stand out book for me.  It was much like any other detective book.  Beth the main detective gets a case and tries to solve it. I would give the book 2.5🌟 rounding up to a 3🌟review. I found the book to be rather blah until the last 15% of the book when i thought how could this possibly continue but then it took a turn i wasn't expecting that added the first bit of suspense to the book for me



🍀Possible spoilers ahead🍀


A fourth body has been discovered, all 4 are females, all strangled, raped and found naked.  Detective Beth Young finds it strange that the one was a much older women who only had a short time left,  as she was dying of cancer.   Beth takes the clues left by the body and sets out to investigate, her first suspect the mayor. Shortly after a 5th girl is found to be missing.  Has the dubed lakeland ripper killer at it again? As Beth delves deeper into the investigation they are able to locate the missing 5th girl and apprehend the "lakeland ripper" which is where i thought oh end of the story. But no there  is more Beth being the amazing detective she is discovers that there is another murderer one who framed the mayor. That's why the dying cancer hadn't fit the first murderer's MO. Beth then starts to uncover the mystery behind this and that's where the book got juicy to me.  Just unfortunate that it took the book that long to really grab my attention.



I would like to thank @netgalley and @bookouture for a free copy of a body in the Lakes in exchange for an honest review.