Looking for a slightly different book to read over the Christmas break, I was immediately drawn to The Christmas Killer after reading the blurb.
Sadly this was pretty predictable and it's never a great sign when you've worked out who the killer is well before the last quarter or third of the book. I think it was probably before I'd even gotten to about halfway through when I worked out who it was.
It didn't grip me as I thought it would and it was too slow to get started and not really engaging either.
The concept is definitely one that was much stronger than the execution, which is a shame.
Overall, it was an underwhelming take on one of my favourite genres.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Today's book review is a little different in that, I haven't actually finished the book. *Shock horror!* However, hear me out. It's not because I wasn't enjoying it but because I ran out of time.

Today is 7th January, which means I'm already one day late for the last-chance festive themed reads, what with the sixth being the traditional day to take down the decorations *sob*. So guess who timed their last Christmas read too late (read as: I was watching episodes of Bridgerton when I should have been reading – Shh)?

So this is the book review for THE CHRISTMAS KILLER by Alex Pine – Part One. (To be continued next year!)

I loved the conceit of this novel, when the author draws us in with the hook almost immediately; It's almost Christmas and DI James Walker returns home to an early Christmas present left on his doorstep – a dead partridge and a threatening note: twelve days, twelve murders. And so begins the hunt for a serial killer, but can DI Walker and the team solve the crime before there is another death?

Isn't that just great? What a brilliant idea! And I was totally sold, enjoying the characters and Pine's talent for suspense as I was lured further into the book. However – and perhaps it's the book editor in me beng hyper aware to it – but I was not a fan of the heavy reliance on reported narrative; there were parts where I felt I was being told the story, rather than being fully immersed in it as things happened 'off camera'. This is, of course, a style choice, and it didn't spoil the enjoyment of the story itself, but I did find these sections less engaging than they could have been.

At the halfway point, I can't wait to dive in again next year! Keep your eyes peeled for Part 2!

This was an easy murder mystery to follow but I feel like there were loose ends left perhaps intentionally? I have read my fair share of murder mysteries so the murderer came as no surprise to me. Nevertheless an enjoyable read. Thank you netgalley.

I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would, but it was easy to read on a cold winters night, enough mystery to keep you guessing for a while, but I felt that it was quite rushed in places. Overall not really my cup of tea personally

This was a really great book to read during/around Christmas! I really enjoyed Pine's writing style (very fast-paced) and loved the wintery setting. I'm excited to read more books like these. Definitely recommended if you're feeling like reading something exciting around Christmas!

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't a book that grabbed me and had me unable to put it down. Overall it was a solid read, it was just missing something (and I'm not sure what) for me.

I really enjoyed this, a great Christmas whodunnit.
James and Annie move to Annie’s hometown of Kirkby Abbey in Cumbria following the release of Andrew Sullivan - a murderer who James was instrumental in convicting during his time in the Met.
James receives a package containing a dead partridge and a Christmas card with a chilling message, could Sullivan have found them already?
When local landlord Charlie Jenkins is murdered, swiftly followed by the local headmistress, it seems there is a serial killer in their midst.
I had several suspicions throughout the book as to who the killer was and really enjoyed the twists and turns.
I hope to read more by this author.

The Christmas killer
By Alex pine
Pub date Oct 29 2020
I loved everything about this book it was an excellent read that I enjoyed. The cover beautiful. The writing style is easy two follow. I’ve found it exciting about the different murders you just didn’t know who killed who. Every page was a turn over. This book definitely kept you guessing till the end. The characters were such a joy I connected with them allot full of humour and the story was great and the chemistry between the characters were excellent. I loved the investigation side of the police and the evidence and how they tried two solve each murder was excellent. Overall I gave this a five star for me.

A classic whodunnit that pulls you in from the start.
When DI James Walker relocates to Cumbria, it should be to a quiet role. However a package with an ominous Christmas card signals the start of a murder spree.
Well written with excellent pace and rounded characters. This is the first time that I have read anything by this author and will definitely be checking out more of his work.

2.5 stars

This was enjoyable but predictable
My theories were darker and i would have loved that.

Very Christmas adecuate.

Detective James Walker finally gives in to his wife's pleas to leave London as she was constantly terrified of the violence. He agrees to move to Kirby Abbey in Cumbria where Annie grew up & transfer to that police department. Things are quiet until James finds a bloody parcel on the doorstep. Along with this is a Christmas card featuring the Twelve Days of Christmas & the promise that in the twelve days there will be twelve murders- & the victims deserve it! Sure enough a body is found early one morning. When a blizzard threatens to cut them off James begins to look longingly at the the bad old days of the Met!

This was an interesting premise. The characters were a fun mix, (although I began to want to slap James for the amount of times he calls Annie 'Hon'!!!) It wasn't the most complex plot- which meant I actually guessed 'Whodunnit'!! However it was a fun easy read & I look forward to reading more in the series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I really struggled with this book. It was painfully slow with the first murder happening a fair chunk into the book. I wasn't really pulled in to the investigation aspect, the lack of consistency and overlooking of clues combined with the painfully slow process left me annoyed and the book seemed to focus on this mainly. The killings seemed to be mundane with the lack of suspense offered. The character development was limited so I never felt a connection to the book. Overall brilliant idea but slightly let down by the execution

I mostly enjoyed this moody, foreboding mystery, but there were a few things that really bothered me. When Annie's Uncle Bill arrives and says he's booked a room for twelve nights, does Annie not find that suspicious, given the threatening 12 Days of Christmas cards? But she never mentions it to anyone, even though she brings him up as a possible suspect. And the strange chapters that switch from third-person pov focused on Annie and James to first-person pov from each murder victim as he/she is murdered? Bizarre, and doesn't add anything to the story. "My legs give way and my eyes lose focus. But then I'm stabbed again, this time in the stomach, and I drop onto the snow like a sack of cement." These chapters interrupt the flow, take me totally out of the story to ponder the unlikelihood of someone narrating their own murder, and just really annoy me. And finally, DI Walker seems to mostly stumble upon the killer, not really solve the case. The micro-level writing is good. But the plotting and overall structure could be a lot better to me.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a really great book that was to read! It really kept you hanging on trying to work out who was responsible. However it was the ending that somewhat spoilt the book for me - too rushed for my liking.

D.I. James Walker moves to a Cumbrian village of Kirkby Abbey after someone he put away is released and say's he'll get his own back.
The village is where his wife Annie grew up.
One day near Christmas a parcel is left on the doorstep of the detective with a gruesome find inside and a card with twelve days and twelve murders.
it isn't long before the first body turns up.
And there are more to follow.
There are plenty of people who could be the killer
A good read
thanks NetGalley

I initially read a sampler of this book in the Summer and only read the full version this month.

This is a police procedural with a festive setting. James, a detective inspector in the Met moves to Cumbria when the threat of vengeance from a gangland boss looms. The village in Cumbria, the childhood home of his wife Annie has its share of deceit, hate and secrets but is someone willing to kill?

James is a likeable protagonist, straightforward and dedicated. Annie's past in the village is chequered. Has her moving back started something dreadful?

The author sets the scene well, introducing suspects and creating a claustrophobic setting.There are no murders, only menace and threats in the early part of the book. Suspense builds and the reader realises that this is going to be a Christmas the villagers' don't forget.

The murders are suspenseful but not overly graphic. The police investigation is realistic and the conflict and crossover of personal and professional for Detective, James relatable.

Whilst I worked out the murderer, this added to the reading experience making the story authentic and immersive. There is little character development for the investigation team, but hopefully more will be revealed as th series progresses?

This is a good holiday read for crime fiction readers.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I picked this book after hearing so much about it from others.
It was enjoyable with a good story. I didn't know who had done it. But just before half way I had figured it out and this for me let it down a bit.
I liles the short sharp chapters of this book it kept the story flowing with lots of cliff hangers

I love a good crime/thriller book but this one just fell flat for me. It took me so long to get through as it just didn’t grip me. I found the story quite tedious and got extremely frustrated at Annie, the main detectives wife. I found her a bit of a busy body and she knew things that I don’t think a police officer should be revealing to his partner.
This book could have given so much more, but I felt it was just too drawn out and dull.

DI James Walker and his wife Annie have moved away from London and to a small English village, in an attempt to get away from a terrible criminal who still haunts them. But murder finds them anyway, when Walker starts receiving The Twelve Days of Christmas cards promising that twelve villagers will die in the next twelve days.

Pine does a good job of building suspense. The setting is a perfect choice, with the village becoming completely isolated by a massive snowstorm. And in a small village everyone thinks they know everything about everyone else, but the murderer knows a lot of secret sins that they are using to determine who dies.

Annie's character was not my favorite. I didn't feel she added a lot to the book, and even became a little irritating to me at times. I also didn't feel the first person chapters that came whenever someone was about to be murdered were necessary. But the ending was a great twist, and very scary and suspenseful. I'm curious to see where this series goes, as this is the first entry.

Wow, what a great read! I was fully engrossed in the plot, the characters were believable and fitted well into the story. it was a proper who did it! I did how ever guess who the Christmas killer was but this was only about 3/4 of the way through the book and it was just one line/gesture that lead me to think it was this person though I'm sure I missed other clues. It was an enjoyable read and I would happily recommend it to fellow readers and even buy it as a gift.