Thanks to #Netgalley and the publishers #Avon Books Uk and the author #Alex Pine for providing me with a copy of #The Christmas Killer in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. It is fast paced and full of suspense. I am so thrilled that it is part of a series and I will certainly be buying more of this series.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review this book.

DI James Walker and his wife Annie have to move from London to her old hometown when a convicted criminal is released from jail and seeks revenge. Little do they know that there would be a serial killer planning to kill 12 people on the days leading up to Christmas. DI Walker and his team are stumped, as they try to find the killer before he/she completes the murder spree.

The author keeps the level of suspense quite high, when there are no clues but several possible suspects. The added complexity of the winter weather makes it difficult to save the village from a disastrous Christmas.

I was excited about a thriller that is Christmas centered, but overall I thought it was just okay. There is not as much character development as I would want and I had trouble keeping my attention centered on the book and the plot.

Thanks to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

DI James Walker is persuaded by his wife Annie, to move back to the small Cumbrian village she was brought up in when things start going badly for them in London. On arrival he finds work very slow after working for the Met police, but soon ends up, literally, in the middle of a possible serial killing spree. With the snow falling and roads being closed, he finds himself cut off in the village trying to find the killer before more lives are lost.

This was an interesting take on the usual murder mystery, with the action taking place in a small rural village and focusing on basic policing rather than just hi-tech. James is torn between trying to protect his wife, and finding the killer, with few clues to the killers identity. Well written and plotted, this pulls you in from the start, although I didn’t warm to Annie. It also shows that small village life isn’t all cosy and idyllic. A good read, I did guess who the murderer was, but that didn’t spoil this satisfying who-dunnit. I look forward to reading more by this author,

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book, as it sounded like it'd be right up my alley, but I did not enjoy reading it. The writing is simplistic and the author repeats the same type of descriptors frequently. The main character often tells his wife confidential information and he'd be fired for doing so in the real world. I had to stop rolling my eyes every time there was a chapter in the wife's pov. She's described as being so desperate to have baby that she cries when she sees children and she's practically hysterical throughout the book. Personally, I'm tired of this type of character, as it's so unrealistic and overdone. It's pretty easy to figure out who the killer is, as well.

Occupying a real specific niche for me in particular, this had such promise. While strong in its setup, Pine's holiday murder mystery rather falls short in the second half for me.

The description sounded right up my street so I was keen to read it. A Christmas mystery with lots of snow and festive atmosphere, The characters are fairly stereotypical- a DI, his wife, a publican, an old duffer, a priest etc and the scene is set with snow storms, being cut off from civilisation.
The plot has been done before- xmas cards, all the same type are sent to various people and include malicious messages. The people killed are deemed to have deserved their fate.
If you want something light to read by the fire drinking a glass of mulled wine this would fit the bill.
The killer is as plain as pikestaff from quite early on- I won't say why because that would mean giving spoilers.
Other downsides - DI Walker calling his wife "hon" every 5 minutes! The overuse (ye gods I lost count) of the number of times stomachs were knotted/twisted/churning and the amount of times hearts pulsated/pounded against chests/pulses raced- It's a wonder the cardiac team weren't called! (Or gastro)
DI Walker is very unprofessional in telling his wife (why would you when she is an angst ridden highly strung individual who gives him no help whatsoever all the details surrounding the case Do the police really tell their loved ones so much? Needless to say she was not my favourite character- very irritating.
I did notice that male characters descriptions were- grey hair, short/tall/brown eyes but female characters were described as having good cleavage, looking better for a few pounds on, looking good in a tight sweater-I mean really? in 2020?
The killer is caught more by luck than judgement- but hey- they got a new carpet out of it 2.5/5 stars
There are typos that need addressing and doubtless will be including a name change- Drake to Blake

I really enjoyed this book, read it in two days. The setting was rural, a village which sounded picturesque, at Christmas time but with a serial killer on the loose. The plot is what drew me in and kept me reading for the first half of the book. With a book like this, most of the characters feel like extras/fillers, we don't get to know them in depth because their role is that of suspect or future victim so we only have the main characters but I didn't feel attached to them at first. The main characters are a detective and his wife, who I found likeable but I didn't know enough about them. I feel like the author barely scratched the surface with these two. I'm hoping that's because they're planning on using them again. By the end of the book I was hooked, I want to know what will happen next in their lives. I would love a book explaining their history with an enemy who's briefly touched upon in this book. I honestly wish the book had gone on a bit longer, I felt the ending came around a bit too quick. I would have liked more of a build up. I didn't want it to end. I didn't guess the culprit which is great. This is the first book I've read by this author but I enjoyed it that much, I Googled and discovered they've written previous books in other names so I intend to read more by them. I only gave four stars because I would have liked to know more about the main characters personalities but I'm hoping there's a good reason for this. Otherwise it's a great read.

I always love reading new authors to me, but even more so new authors completely and a new series to boot! Alex Pine sets a good plot in the Christmas Killer. The police officer Walker relocates to the north after fearing for his family in London, and escapes up north for the quiet life. Well sadly the quiet life isn’t going to happen. Suddenly Christmas cards start to land with sinister messages planning to kill 12 people before Christmas. It’s up to Walker to solve the mystery before more lives are lost. I did really enjoy the book and pace of it, I felt it moved along quite nicely. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, well it may have been a small thing for others but for me, it annoyed me. The lead character Walker continually throughout the whole investigation tells his wife every day what is happening and all the details. Now I’m not a police officer but I know some and that rarely happens and they don’t bring their work home with them, even if they partners are interested. It was a small thing but an annoying one for me. Sorry that aside it was a good read! Thank you @netgalley for the ARC in return for this review. #BookReview

Absolutely loved this book. Had been given a teaser but hadn’t noticed it wasn’t the full book until the end of it and was so disappointed. So when I got the chance to read the full book I jumped at it. What a great book. I loved it from start until finish. It had me hooked from the off. I couldn’t put it down , interesting range of characters. Great plot to get your mind racing. It was fast paced and very well written. I didn’t want it to end. Was so disappointed when it can’t to an end . Will definitely be looking out for the author again

One thing they described Robs house as a bungalow. But said the police came back downstairs. This needs editing

27/7/20 updated review based on full copy of book!
DI James Walker and his wife, Annie, have moved from London to A small village in Cumbria. A different pace of life for James and the threat of an old case is hanging over him. Just before Christmas a package arrives that could spell the end of the peace and festive season. Someone is going to kill everyday over the advent period and it’s James’s job to find out who is doing this and why?
The characters are great. James and Annie are likeable and there is a massive opening for a sequel but this has the bones to be a great series and I look forward to reading more. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book grips you from the begining with plenty of twists you will not want to put this book down.It has great characters that make this story.Well done to Alex Pine.5*

This book starts off with married couple Annie and James having a brick thrown through their window following the release of a convicted criminal. Annie and James move da to Cumbria to the house Annie’s mother left them, hoping for a fresh start. Soon unpleasant gifts begin to arrive for them and others promising more deaths and they wonder if they are being targeted by a certain someone. Fast paced and easy reading. Well worth a read

The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine. A police procedural with an intriguing mystery occuring during the holiday season. Really wouldn't want to receive one of the 12 Days of Christmas cards. Solid crime solving in the first of a new series featuring DI James Waller.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

After reading and reviewing the teaser courtesy of the publishers and netgalley I was excited and eager to read and review the whole book.
DI James Walker and his wife Annie have relocated to a small village in Cumbria from London with the threat if an old case hanging over him.
The Christmas theme is played out through a series of threatening Christmas cards being sent by a serial killer who is planning to kill 12 people over the 12 days of Christmas. The Christmas theme continued with a snowy backdrop.
I loved this book but if you are a fan of brutal grisly and detailed murders this may not be for you as it focuses mire on the 'whodunit part than the grisly details.
I look forward to reading more if the series in due course

The Christmas Killer - Alex Pine
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I received this book from NetGalley and the publishers and as a lover of everything Christmas related I was excited to try a Christmas thriller and wow I was not disappointed!

If you are wanting a cosy, hot chocolate in front of the fire, listening to carols kind of vibe this is not for you!! Instead there is plenty of snow in the Cumbrian village of Kirkby Abbey and the Christmas theme is played out through a series of threatening Christmas cards sent by a mysterious would be serial killer, planning to kill 12 people over the 12 days of Christmas. DI James Walker has the task of discovering who is sending the cards before the body count starts racking up.

I loved this book! I have never read a thriller set around Christmas and I thought it worked perfectly. The book was fast paced and kept me guessing right till the end. I couldn’t put it down and am so glad to hear that it is the start of a series - I will definitely be looking out for the next one!

#TheChristmasKiller #NetGalley
Suspenseful. Definitely recommend.
The story starts with Annie Walker who heard her husband car's home. They have a home in Tottenham.. She's freaking because fifty eight years old Andrew Sullivan is free from jail. The one who was behind the bars because of James. She thinks that he will definitely take revenge from them.
Sullivan served thirteen months of a life sentence in jail for the murder of a nightclub owner, Brendon Fox. Although he's denying of it.
Now one by one the bodies are turning up.
Twelve Days, Twelve Bodies. Who's doing it? What's their motive?
I adored this thriller. I loved its characters and narration. Give it a go.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advance copy of this awesome suspense thriller.

An enjoyable book in many ways but not as tight as I would have liked it to be. Good concept and many winding paths to follow. a killer on the loose at Christmas starting with a partridge in a box.

This is another cookie cutter mystery novel featuring Christmas and snow. The dialogue is stilted. There is nothing new in the plot. Everything is repeated through the book.

The same ensemble of characters that are regularly seen. A police, his wife, the priest, the village store manager, ex- convict, village pariah, the old man with all the gossip. All those characters are added to the stew with nothing new.

Christmas themed murders? Sign me up. I was initially attracted to this book because the premise sounded so promising and fun. The story itself was a bit light and not as exciting as I would have hoped. The main plot revolves around a detective who has to move away to his wife's hometown after one of his criminals is released from prison. What was meant to be a nice holiday in a small town turns upside down once he receives a dead bird and a 12 days of Christmas themed card in which the writer promises to kill 12 people. Sounds interesting right? Welp for some reason I found myself lagging and not fully invested in the characters or the murders. Usually I am on board and interested, but this killings and the procedure just was so mundane compared to what I was expecting. The overall plot was all right and the characters were okay, I guessed the killer halfway into the book and was was right. It wraps up fine and this makes a fine Christmas themed mystery thriller.