Four women found in similar circumstances -- naked, raped and dead. "The victims were old, young, tall, short, fat and thin. They were from different backgrounds, and while they were all working class. [sic] The only thing they had in common was their fate."

DC Beth Young and the team from the Force Major Investigation Team (or FMIT) are looking into the deaths caused by a serial rapist/murderer known as the "Lakeland Ripper." Although Beth is the youngest recruit, she's determined to use her "sideways-thinking brain" to solve the puzzle. Along with her boss, DI Zoe O'Dowd and team members DS Thompson and and DC Paul Unthank, they investigate this very complicated case. The last victim is found with items incriminating the local mayor, Derek Forster, a powerful and rich man who just might be the predator they're after. Alas, it also might be a case of someone putting him in the frame. Can Beth solve this one? NO SPOILERS.

The setting is the idyllic region around Lake Ullswater in the Cumbria area. I'm not familiar with the locale and if you're not, don't worry as the author describes it and the surrounding area in great detail. It's hot and the overworked detectives get warmer as the pressure to solve the case and find a suspect mounts. There are some things that are brought over from the first book in the series, but enough is explained that this one could be read as a standalone if you've missed it. Now that I'm seeing more of Beth Young in action, I'm not quite sure what to make of her character. There was quite a bit of repetition as Beth seems to keep focusing on the same tedious issues in her head but there are the usual chase and save scenes to provide some real action.

But here's the main problem. The book is basically a treatise on rape with a main female character but the author is a man. Now, I'm not saying that men don't really "get" the mindset of women on this subject, but yeah. All the right words and feelings and disgust for those who commit the crime are there, but some of the things that Beth says and does don't ring true to me. I may be off the mark with those comments, but it's such a hot button topic right now with the #metoo movement, I just felt that a lot of it was speechifying. Beth is just too-too gung-ho to be real, like overly zealous, and I can't figure out if I like her nor can I relate to her. I'm also sort of tired of her scar and what exactly does she plan to do when she finds the guy who she blames for it? Maybe English law is different and I just don't understand it.

That said, I did enjoy parts of the book but I didn't feel that there was a lot of suspense and certainly the twist was seen coming even though it took a long time to get there. I guess I've just read so many books in the genre that it takes a lot to surprise me as I solve the case along with the detectives. I will probably read the next in this series and hope that Beth calms down, matures a bit, controls her impetuous nature and reins in her temper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the second book in this series and I really enjoyed it.
The book begins with the discovery of the horrific rape and murder of an elderly lady.
The credit card of the Mayor is found next to the body but he is soon cleared of being the murderer.
It soon becomes clear that there have been other victims of this killer so Beth and the team have to piece it all together.
Beth leaves an impression on the Mayor and when she goes to apologise to him, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse.
There are lots of twists, turns and red herrings in the story before we find out who the killer is and the book is cleverly written.
I really like Detective Beth Young as she fights for what she believes in and doesn’t bow down under pressure.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is book #2 in the Detective Beth Young series. It can be read as a standalone, but for continuity I would recommend to read them in order!

Yay, Beth Young is back! I loved Beth in the previous book Death in the Lakes and she continues in this book to be as rugged and determined as she was then. I believe, in my review for Death in the Lakes I likened Beth to a ‘dog with a bone’ due to her keenness to solve cases despite there being a lack of evidence! Thankfully in this book, she is still carrying that bone and refusing to let it go! Beth is a great character and I love her relationship with the rest of the team, particularly with her boss, DI Zoe O’Dowd.

Whilst not as gruesome as the previous book, it still provides a shocking storyline with the book beginning with the discovery of the horrific rape and murder of an elderly cancer victim. I loved the initial twist which pointed to the murderer being the local Mayor, but as this was very early on in the story you just knew the author wasn’t going to give the plot away from the beginning and that there would be a lot more twists, turns and red herrings to come before the big reveal.

Based in the Lake District, the author gives stunning examples of the area’s natural beauty. He also reminds us of how easy it is for a killer to dump several women’s bodies in its wild and desolate landscape and get away with it…..almost! The author also has a definite knack in introducing so many different elements to a storyline but all in perfect proportion! This book was shocking with its different murders, some of them being quite disturbing. The descriptions were graphic (you didn’t really want to read them!) but hypnotic (you just couldn’t tear your eyes away!!) There was plenty of suspense and tension, some romance and even a bit of dark humour! I also have to add, completely off subject that I love Beth’s taste in music and completely agree that Guns ‘n’ Roses are the perfect band to drive to!!

This book was fast paced, gripping and held my interest right to the very last page. There were lots of twists and turns and I wouldn’t have guessed the ending in a million years! Very cleverly written, this series is getting better with each book. I cannot wait for the next one in the series to follow on Beth’s story.

This is book two in the DC Beth Young series. Although I haven't read the first one it didn't take away anything from this book.

There were a few things I didn't like about the book especially the use of the term "kiddie porn". It made my blood run cold. Also we know she was hunting a rapist and murderer. It didn't have to be repeated in nearly every chapter featuring Beth.

On the whole I enjoyed this book and I will look out for the first in the series and any future books.

Thank you Bookouture and Net galley for my ARC in exchange for a truthful review.

This is the sequel to last year’s “The Silent Dead”, again featuring DC Beth Young of the Lake District’s Force Major Incident Team. While I didn’t find it quite as exciting as the first book, this was another great instalment of what I hope will be a long series, as Beth is an engaging heroine - smart and brave but impetuous and passionate about her work.

Called to the scene of a brutal rape and murder of an elderly woman, the FMIT find clues implicating the charismatic local mayor, but when the handsome paramedic suggests she look into similar previous deaths, Beth becomes the first to realise that a serial killer has been stalking the county for years. Under pressure from her seniors and the press to crack the case, and pursued by the predatory mayor with an offer to fund a charity for rape victims, Beth and her grumpy DI, O’Dowd, must track down the vicious attacker before he strikes again, and still find time for dates with a nice man who sees beyond her scar.

Smith has a lovely descriptive writing style and clearly loves the Lake District (but not its roads!) I really like Beth as she’s a proper detective, wily without being manipulative, who has trauma in her past but is psychologically strong.
The plot was not predictable and I very much appreciated the author not taking the cheap route and either implicating the love interest or making him the baddie. This one wasn’t as gory as the first book, sexual abuse is referred to but not described and nothing bad happens to the dog. 4.5 rounded up.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this Advance Review Copy. A Body in the Lakes is published on 15.03.19.

This is the second thriller in the DC Beth Young series. This girl is one tough cookie. Mentally and physically scarred and a mind that likes to devour logic puzzles. Set in the Lake District Beth is a member of FMIT the Force Major Investigation Team as her boss says for her sideways thinking brain.
A woman who is long in age has been found brutally murdered and defiled. Using her extraordinary brain and her famous spread sheets Beth finds three more murders that are almost identical. This book is a real page turner and I devoured it in one sitting. This book is packed to the rafters with tension and suspense, suicides, arson, rape and as for the ending WOW it blew me away. This author knows how to hook you then reel you in leaving you wanting more long after you have finished the last page. This series is an explosive read and fast becoming addictive. I eagerly await the next in the DC Beth Young series. Another must read series to add to my list. So highly recommended and an easy five stars.
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for giving an honest review.

The instant I picked up this book, I was swept away. I love complex storylines, and teases, and this one does not disappoint. I'll be reading this series!

I enjoyed meeting DC Beth Young in her first outing The Silent Dead and so I was definitely up for another trip to the Lakes for her second case. But be prepared for a disturbingly dark and graphic enquiry for our heroine once again, as she searches for an unstoppable serial killer.

I think I said in my review of The Silent Dead that I wanted to see a little bit more of Beth’s personal life in future books and here we are drip fed a few more details when she comes up against a face from her past and also starts a possible relationship! But once again it’s the crimes that takes centre stage in Beth’s world and I don’t think she would have it any other way! The brutal murder of Felicia Evans provides a shocking start to the narrative and one that really did make me gasp in horror. And the harrowing descriptions of the injuries suffered by these murder victims may be too much for some (I have to say I couldn’t read all of them after the first few details but that’s a personal decision and I do understand that this is a realistically portrayed police procedural and these details are needed for authenticity of plotting). But I did really enjoy the storyline here, even more than The Silent Dead. It was compelling reading from start to finish as we watch a killer stalk his next victim whilst wondering just who was writing the intermittent diary entries and how (and why!!) the mayor was connected to this intriguing case.

I still don’t feel I know Beth Young but I’ve come to understand that this is probably deliberate! Beth’s job IS her life after all and that makes this book all about the crimes with the focus on what drives people to commit these horrific acts of violence and how the police work to keep us safe from them. Graham keeps his attention on the facts of the case and writes compelling characters, bringing them together with an ease of experience so that they are believable and relatable, even if they are not always likeable!!

Don’t worry if you haven’t read any of Graham’s books before, The Body In the Lake can be read as a stand-alone and I’m sure you will then become as hooked as I am!

A Body in the Lakes is the second thriller in the DC Beth Young series based in the beautiful, unforgiving Lake District landscape, and I must admit that I found this one a lot more compelling than the first. The contrast between the pristine Cumbrian surroundings and the evil happenings taking place on the shores of Lake Ullswater make this a special series; it's all the more special for me as I know the area very well living a couple of minutes from the Cumbrian border.

Once again we follow the intrepid Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) as they seek to identify and apprehend the perpetrator of a horrendously brutal attack on a lady of a certain age. With quite a specific MO the team also reinvestigate cold cases that match and may well be related to the current case meaning the killer has been on the loose for many years. It's well written, pacy and the characters are incredibly likeable, apart from the sick-minded killer of course. I enjoyed seeing things from the killers perspective as it made the whole story more intriguing and gave me a sense of his warped ideology.

It's an exciting, unpredictable and page-turner of a novel with the multiple plot threads coming together seamlessly to create a superb conclusion. This is a gripping crime thriller that will have you on the edge-of-your-seat for the duration, and it isn't necessary to have read the first novel as this works perfectly as a standalone. A must-read for crime, mystery and thriller aficionados.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

A Body in the Lakes is another gripping crime thriller by Graham Smith set within the surrounding area of the Lake District. DC Beth Young returns in his latest novel, and she is investigating the shocking murder of an elderly woman who has been given weeks to live due to her cancer diagnosis. What is even more shocking to Beth is the lengths the killer has gone to, and she realises that this is the work of a dangerous and callous killer. But as Beth and the rest of her team begin to investigate, they realise that it could be linked to other murders that have taken place, which no one has ever thought of connecting them before.

This is developing into an exciting crime series that I am certainly keen to follow, and it is interesting to see Beth grow. Beth is a character who stands out among her team, she has caught the attention of the press in this latest book, and she seems like a breath of fresh air to the media and the public. She is sharp, intelligent and tenacious. She certainly catches the eye of the mayor who becomes involved in the case when his name crops up as a possible suspect.

We do get to learn a lot more about Beth in this latest instalment and about the events which have scarred her in the past. She does come across as the strongest character in the book, and you can really sense the connection that she feels towards the victims, and she is desperate to make sure that this killer doesn’t strike again. She certainly isn’t afraid of putting herself in danger as she fights for justice, and she isn’t a character who will sit quietly, she wants to make her voice heard in the loudest way possible.

I really liked the way how Graham cleverly mislead me as I thought I could see who the murderer was, but the final chapters took me by surprise. Again I felt nervous for Beth as she grew closer and closer to unravelling what was going on and who was behind the attacks. But I’m not going to go into any more detail here; you’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out what happens. You don’t need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but once you’ve read it, you’ll definitely want to catch up.

If you’re looking for a gripping police procedural, look no further than Graham Smith’s books. A Body in the Lakes is a crime novel that will keep you hooked and on the edge of your seat.

A Body in the Lakes is the second book in the Beth Young series by Graham Smith and like the first one it is another action packed & fast moving police procedural.

The story starts off with the discovery of a body with evidence seemingly linking the victim to a high profile local politician.

DC Young whilst investigating the victim links the crime to other unsolved murders and it looks like there is a serial killer on the loose

As you would expect & hope there are numerous twists and turns and a few dead ends as the author keeps the pace fairly relentless until the dramatic conclusion.

This book can easily be read as a standalone but you will definitely want to get the prequel after you've read this

Thoroughly recommended.

The new book is amazing and I still have a hangover from this book. It is such strong characters and powerful imagery.

I love how the character interact and I just want so much more of these books they always make me smile.

This is the second book in the DC Beth Young series and is a good solid read. Set in the Lake District, with an interesting plot and some good characters. The plot centres around rape and sexual violence so some readers may find this uncomfortable. I didn't like the repetition in the book and Beth was becoming a bit unlikeable as the story progressed. I liked the pace of the book but felt let down by the ending. I hope there is a book 3 as I would definitely read it to see how Beth's character develops. My thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook.

This book has enough padding in it to fill several duvets. As a whodunnit, the premise is not too bad but it would be a better read at half the length. A male author writing about rape in so much detail left me feeling uncomfortable. Some male authors ‘write women’ really well but not in this case. I just can’t imagine a woman reacting and reflecting on the crimes in the way that the lead character in this book does. Also, I didn’t feel it was necessary to keep repeating the details of the crimes in glorious technicolour. Yes, I know it’s a murder story but readers can retain information through a book without having it repeated incessantly.

For those of you with a weak disposition, I’m donning my pedant’s hat. I’ve done a little research on the author (in other words, I googled him) and find he lives in Gretna, just over the border from Cumbria where the action takes place, and yet he gets basic facts wrong. Maybe this annoys me so much because the Lakes is my favourite place in the world.

Examples: i) I was astonished at the statement that one of the murder victims had been walking on her own ‘rather than following the normal protocol of walking in a group’. This is a bizarre statement. For years, I have walked on my own and with my partner in the Lakeland fells (Dear Author, we are FELLwalkers, not HILLwalkers) and so I know from experience that it is very common for walkers to be on their own on the fells. Groups are less common, if anything. ii) On the day one of the victims was abducted, she was ‘tackling the Coledale Horseshoe, one of the toughest walks the Lakes had to offer’. Seriously? It’s a great walk but very far from ‘one of the toughest’. In fact, it’s a popular walk with families. I could go on but why bother.

There are also some serious editorial blunders. Over two pages: ‘All the colour had drained from the mayor’s face.’ Four paragraphs later, ‘The mayor’s face lost some of its colour’. Another three paragraphs later, ‘the last of the colour drained from his face’. Poor editing, poor writing, or both?

I wouldn’t normally take the time to write such a long review of a book I didn’t enjoy but I’m sitting on a plane with nothing better to do! Actually, if I wasn’t on a plane, I probably wouldn’t have finished reading it.

With thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a review copy. I’m sorry my review is so negative but it’s honest.

A woman's body is found strangled and violated and the woman appears to have been sickly in life. Although she wasn't the most friendly character, Detective Beth Young can't imagine who would take what was left of her life away from her in such a brutal manner. Beth finds a possible link to other cold cases and dives into the investigation. Evidence at the scene linking the mayor to the body and then a letter accusing him of involvement in the murder have the Detective on high alert. She needs to find the killer at all costs before another body turns up. She will work hard to either exonerate the mayor or put him behind bars. Ultimately, the evidence will point to the true killer.

I enjoyed this book more than the first book in the series and I look forward to more from this author.

I received this ARC through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to Bookouture, and to Graham Smith for this opportunity.

An excellent thriller, a real page turner, kept me engrossed from start to finish. Didn’t realise this was the second book featuring D C Beth Young, will certainly find the first novel to read

This was a fascinating novel , that literally kept me awake through the night. There were elements of mystery along with some drama thrown in. The main characters struggle with a moral dilemma, but the final reveal is super satisfying.

#AbodyInTheLakes #NetGalley Having absolutely loved the first in this series - The Silent Dead - I was so looking forward to reading this next installment in the life of DC Beth Young. Whilst it was good, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. When the action happened it was well written and compelling and I was eagerly awaiting each twist and turn until the facts emerged. But, for me, there was too much in the descriptive writing that seemed to drag on a little too long before it got back to the action. Still a great plot with lots of drama and sub plots. Would I read the next in this series? Absolutely - especially having been given a little teaser of what has to come!

I went into this book with such high hopes and I really wanted to love it. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. It's a real shame, as I usually particularly enjoy British crime novels and the idea of one set in the lake district really appealed.
Half of my problem with this book was that I just didn't like any of the characters. The main detective, Beth, just hadn't really got anything likeable about her. She also didn't seem very believable as a person. One of my other major issues was that much of the mystery was dealt with by jumping to conclusions from nowhere. More than once someone was arrested on the flimsiest of evidence and everyone spoke as though everything was solved and wrapped up. For example, in the first couple of chapters, a man is arrested and all of the police officers talk as though he is guilty and don't seem to be interested in any other lines of enquiry based on nothing more than a missing credit card and a letter that someone has written to the police accusing them. I don't think so somehow!
The mystery itself was interesting and there was a lot of potential here. For me, though it was just not very well executed, which was a shame. Add to that the really misogynistic attitude to rape from all of the characters and it was the final nail in any chance of enjoyment. I don't know if it was the writer's intention to wheel out all of the cliche's that re-enforce rape culture, but that's certainly what he did.
There seem to be plenty of high scoring reviews for this book, so some people certainly enjoyed it, so perhaps you will too, it just wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In this second outing for detective Beth Young we find her called out to the discovery of the body an elderly lady found on the shores of Lake Ullswater by a walker.
Although the woman is painfully thin and frail the bruises around her neck make this a possible murder enquiry.
The post mortum reveals that the elderly woman had indeed been strangled and her body violated after death.
Who could possibly have done this?
Clues discovered near the body point to the Mayor,however Beths investigation throws this into doubt as all signs point to someone trying to frame him.
She also discovers three other unsolved murder/rapes of young women with a similar MO in the local area that were never solved.
Is there a serial killer on the loose in the lakes?
Beth and the team are determined to find the killer before any more women become his victims.
This is a tense whodunnit that will keep you gripped until the end. An exciting read it certainly kept me guessing.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the oportunity to read this as an ARC I have no hesitation in recommending it.