Loved this! So good, so exciting, so gripping and great story. Can't wait to read more by this author - absolutely brilliant.

A gripping novel. Had me hooked from the very start. I would definately read another novel by Alex Pine again.

i love this book its definitely griping and keeps you reading and wanting to know more, i would recommend this book it keeps you reading very hard to put down

Well this doesn't sound like your 'typical' festive book and that's why I really enjoyed it - it was nice to read something which wasn't all about Christmas carols and cosy nights in. Instead this book was really creepy and tense.

In a small village in Cumbria, there appears to be a targeted murder spree taking place. Trying to work out WHY specific villagers are being killed is difficult, but maybe finding out how they are all linked will help to identify who the killer is... but who?

Whilst reading the story I think I suspected nearly every single character and couldn't guess at all what the outcome would be.

It felt like the crimes were getting closer and closer to the main characters and it really was very tense in places!

I found it enjoyable and I couldn't guess 'who dun it' but I think it could have had a little more tact with some of the situations and not just gone on quite so quickly from one drama to the next, it would have been better to have a bit more of a reaction from the characters to really help us get under their skin and feel the fear.

A gripping story that I couldn't put down. It's complex, full of twists and turns, and highly entertaining.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Unlike many murder mysteries the reader doesn’t encounter a murder from the outset. However Pine does create an atmosphere of tension and very heavily hints that things are just not going to go well.
This was one of those detective murder mysteries that kept me reading and it became stronger as it progressed. The suggestion that the killer could strike 12 times is, of course, a carrot that dangles quite tantalisingly. The reader does experience the murders first-hand but is not regaled with copious amounts of details and horror. Instead this thoroughly readable modern detective mystery poses the questions and leads the reader through the clues.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Avon (Harper Collins) for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to get an opportunity to read this book. I am always looking for thrillers and mystery books to read at Christmas/winter time as I am not really into the happy ever after Christmas books. This book was perfect for me. I really enjoyed trying to work out who was the killer and the claustrophobic feel to the story.

And just like that it’s gone. Can’t remember if I left feedback for this, it’s not a true review as I don’t have it anymore and it disappeared when I started it.

For some reason I just could not get into this novel. I was all set to enjoy it - tried to read it three times before Christmas, but just couldn't get into it. Unsure if it was Covid, the characters or just me. But I was unable to finish it.

After reading the sampler of this book, I had been eagerly awaiting the full book...and honestly, it was more than worth it!
The characters were brilliant and had layers to their personalities, the storyline was well structured and had a good pace throughout.

This was a wonderful book.

I started early with Christmas books this year. I'm desperate for some festive vibes to pull me out from the grumpy, murky everyday life filled with a statistic about the death toll and newly infected.

Here we go!

DI James Walker is loving his job at London police. A bit more than a year ago he put behind bars Andrew Sullivan after spending several years trying to disrupt his illicit activities. And this put a target on his back. Now, out of the blue, Sullivan case has been reopened and he has been found not guilty and released. This, of course, makes James and his wife Annie feel quite nervous. Receiving a 'message' tied to a brick and thrown through their window was a crucial moment in which they agreed that they have to move out of London

That's what they did. They moved to the quiet, rural town of Kirkby Abbey - Annie home town. He started work at the local police station, while Annie started working in the local school. So far, they are settling fine and prepare themselves for nice and quiet Christmas.

Until the day James received an early Christmas present. A present that brings no joy to his holiday plans. Inside - a partridge and a Christmas card promising that 12 murders will set place in this quiet Cumbrian village as an interpretation of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Unfortunately, soon after a body is found and this is just the beginning.

I was looking forward to reading this book. The premise it gives brought me creeps. Plus, I'm collecting snow globes from the places I visit and I couldn't pass by a book with a snow globe on its cover.

The book hooked me on and kept my interest till the end but something bothered me all the time. The writing style is kind of odd. Sounds somehow matter-of-factly. Strange short sentences, bizarre conversations, the story felt 'dry' or at least this is the first association that comes to my mind when I'm thinking of the book. The characters are flat. They do show some emotions but they look overplayed and unrealistic.

So yeah, not impressed. It's an easy book, but if you are reading lots of mystery/thriller books, this one will bore you pretty early. That's because of the lack of suspense and nothing to keep you at the edge. It's just police officers talking to one person, then to others, then back to the first one and keep going in a circle, asking the same people, same questions.

However, if you are up for a quick, easy read to chill out with - this is your book!

(3.5 stars)

A potentially good idea with, potentially a good plot. Unfortunately the promise was not met, I found the writing poor, formulaic and predictable. The use of media style language (eg.guv within police circles) and the continued formal address (Mr., DC, DS etc.) rather than familiar or diminutive forms made the book wooden to read. Not great, not even good and most definitely not recommended.
One star but only because there is no zero.

Unfortunately I did not find this book as thrilling as I thought it would be. It was easy to find the murderer, the story was ok but nothing special.

This book kept me gripped! Loved getting caught up in the 'who done it' part of the book and the short chapters made it super easy to pick up the book whenever I wanted! Was a super fast paced book from all the characters POV's which again makes the book interesting and enjoyable to read!

Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a whodunit story which promises twelve murders during The Twelve Days of Christmas. It involves a vigilante serial killer who feels the victims deserve to die. My favorite part of the book is how the chapters where the murders take place are written through the unnamed victim's point of view. So you are left guessing who has been murdered until the body is found, which I think is a fun way to build up the suspense.

I'm normally not a big fan of detective thrillers and I especially don't like books with religious undertones, but putting those two things aside, I did enjoy this fast paced read.

Wow, thanks so much for letting me review this book, a great read for the Xmas period.

Perfect wintery setting a great plot, twist and turns what more could you ask for snuggling up with this over those cold nights was a perfect way to end 2020.

The story was easy to follow a great Murder mystery highly recommended.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This one grabbed me from page one and kept me tuning pages late into the night. Full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. Definitely recommend.

DI James Walker moves to the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey, he is all set for a quiet Christmas but a serial killer has different plans!
When DI James opens an early Christmas present left on his doorstep, he soon realizes that it’s sinister calling card left by the killer – there’s a horrible surprise and a promise as well – 12 days there will be 12 murders! When the 1st body is found the police does not know whether to relate the killing to the letter, slowly the body count rises and the police is forced to learn that there’s a connection but they are unable to figure what the connection is!
It’s all on DI James to figure out what is happening and put a stop to it!
This was a slow book, but the excitement kept building up making me want to know what was going on – with a bit of editing work the length could be reduced

#netgalley #thechristmaskiller

This was an entertaining Christmas mystery with a wintery setting and a tense plot line. However, I did guess who the killer was quite early on, which relieved some of the grip of the novel for me. An interesting, festive diversion of a book, and I would not be averse to reading more from this author or featuring these characters.

. I really enjoyed the mystery and it was able to catch my strength from the beginning and hold it to the end even with everything that was going on, it was a quick read that isn't b your typical holiday read, but more my style for my mystery, thriller loving self.

DI James Walker and his wife Annie have moved to a new town to start a new life. James is welcomed by a Christmas card that states that there will be 12 murders leading up to Christmas. Murders start to occur and the small quiet town is put on edge as the decetive tries to figure out who is behind the killings.