A tightly written murder mystery. Good characters and a steady plot. I really enjoyed JR Ellis’ writing style as well. The dialogue was well done and the characters were like regular neighbors. The descriptions of the land were good enough that I didn’t need to google, though I did. An excellent read that I definitely recommend.

This was a long, lonely slog through the heavily described Yorkshire dales area. There is a murder to be solved and it could have been done in half the number of pages if the author was an adept editor. Too many clichés, too much clutter, too much extraneous language and dialog. I was bored. I can’t remember the last time I fell asleep reading a book but The Nidderdale Murders put me to sleep each and every night I tried to finish it. Obviously not the book for me but apparently it hit the mark for many others.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Nidderdale-Murders-Yorkshire-Murder-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0847NMGY9
This is my first book by this author. My father in law is a big fan so I thought maybe this would be something interesting to read. This book takes place on the high fells above Nidderdale, one of the Yorkshire dales. We begin the book with four men dressed in expensive weatherproof jackets shooting at birds. These men are avid shooters and end up attending a party where they will be eating what they kill. This is high pressure for the chefs, as the kill as to be rushed back and prepared and roasted prior to the men returning. After a lot of jovial enjoying of the meal, the men liquored up retire to their rooms. The staff stayed in small apartments that overlooked the front of the Inn. Kirsty, the bartender and chambermaid and Harry , the chef were in a secret relationship and he had snuck into her room, but was snoring and hogging the tiny bed, so Kirsty was laying awake, but got up because she heard something. She witnessed Alan Green shoot Mr. Fraser. The Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd and his partner, Deborah were called into action due to such a high profile murder. Mr. Alexander Fraser is a local landowner and former Judge. They drop what they are doing and head to the crime scene. We are taken on the in-depth investigation along with more murders. This book was very interesting!

Move over Agatha Christie, there’s a new author in town! J R Ellis’ Nidderdale Murders is a refreshing who dunnit that keeps you turning the page in anticipation of case. Each character leaves you guessing whom could be the murderer while keeping you rooting for the DCI in charge to solve the case. This book is entertaining from start to finish and leaves you wanting for another.

A fairly well written mystery with plenty of twists to keep in interesting. I liked the plot and the slower paced fleshing out of it but didn't really care for the characters. None of them seemed to have anything really redeemable about them and their crude language was annoying at times. So while it was a good read, it's not one I would recommend given the content that many would find objectionable. I think the author should have focused more on the murder side of things rather than trying to add in enough shocking behavior and language to pad his story that didn't need those inclusions to be good.

I received a temporary complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

When after a hunting party at Judge "Sandy" Fraser's Yorkshire manor house and then a supper at the local hotel, Fraser was shot and there was a witness who saw who shot him. Since it was an important personage, Detective Chief Inspector James Oldroyd and his team was brought into the case.
As they began to gather information from all the locals in this small town, they can't find the alleged shooter but they do find that Fraser was in financial difficulties and there were also activists, sabotaging hunts.
As different theories are brought up and then discarded, another murder occurs in similar fashion. Oldroyd then begins to get a glimmer of the who and the why of these murders.
A quick and interesting British police procedural with likable characters and descriptive locales.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for this e-copy of "The Nidderdale Murders".

I was really impressed with this one! At first I wasn’t sure if it was going to be up my alley but I am so glad I kept on reading ! Really great storyline and the characters came to life!

Didn't realize this was a series when I requested...so am jumping in mid series. However does work as a standalone. An enjoyable read with an interesting twist....keeps you guessing. Thank you netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A local landowner is murdered and as he's unpopular there are no end of suspects. When a shopkeeper is killed things become more complicated and there's a twist at the end of the book.

The characters are likeable and the descriptions of Yorkshire are evocative. A good police procedural.

A little slow at first, but captivating through the rest. The turns and twists in this novel kept me guessing until the last second. I loved that the author included characters that are native and inviting.
The fifth installation in the series is by far the best one yet.

This is the fifth in a Yorkshire Murder Mystery series by noted British writer J.R. Ellis, all of which are largely stand-alone novels, all adept at portraying the gorgeous landscape features and weather anomalies, something the author has a great feel for. So, if you enjoy rolling heather covered hillocks, rumbling ocean shores, and glowering wet weather, get your Wemblies on and give it a go.

A couple of seemingly senseless murders at which the assailant was seen and identified with unfailing description, has the countryside in turmoil. One victim was a judge, seemingly liked by all and the other was a selfish wealthy landowner who sponsored yearly grouse hunts that were extravagant self-serving events, not enjoyed by everyone but that were lucrative to the natives even though the lovely birds were missed as their numbers rapidly diminished under the greedy shotguns of the killing advocates. Reliable witnesses that viewed the murders, were able to provide clear descriptions of the murderer, different for each of the victims, but DCI Oldroyd wasn’t able to get a hook in the killer who disappeared after each killing. There were motives galore for nearly everyone in the village, but none fit the descriptions given by the witnesses.

Some confusion was present in the story because of similar names and the large number of potential perpetrators so it would be a good idea to slow down the reading pace and get into the story that is really quite intriguing. There was also quite a bit of anti-hunting sentiment expressed that might also dull the enjoyment for some readers, but I confess to getting a good bit of enjoyment from the story. The ending is somewhat contrived and even a little hokey, but fiction writers can employ whatever technique he or she considers appropriate to their invention. Don’t let that keep you from reading a good, enjoyable who-dunnit.

Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES

Within the first few pages, I knew who was going to be murdered (since the author set up motives for several people), but that was pretty much the last time I could anticipate what was going to happen in this book. Although explained, it seemed odd that the police did not take the easy path (there was a witness who told them whodunit), but it soon became apparent that they had good reason to suspect a more complicated solution to the crime. Evocative descriptions of the natural beauty of the Yorkshire countryside counterbalance the darkness of murder as DCI Jim Oldroyd and his team try to solve the puzzle. The characters are well-developed, and I liked how Ellis explored the "behind-the-scenes" reactions of different individuals as events unfold.

A retired judge is shot dead outside the Dog and Gun inn in a remote Yorkshire village. The gunman’s on the run; there’s a witness who saw everything! Open-and-shut case for DCI Jim Oldroyd right? WRONG!

When investigated further it is discovered that Fraser wasn’t without enemies. As a wealthy property owner, he’d clashed with farmers, hunters, debtors, and blackmailers. But when a local shopkeeper is gunned down in a similar attack, it’s clear that these are no random crimes.

Surrounded by the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, Inv Oldroyd faces a race against time to connect the crimes and find out who wants these villagers dead.

I was happy to see that even though it was part of a series I could read it as a stand-alone book.

NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK, thank you for giving me an advance copy of this book.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer Publishing for providing this ARC for my honest review.
This is #5 of the Yorkshire Dale Series. I have not read the first four and was okay though it did reference the actions in these kooks but did a good job of giving you a small understanding what happened. This is a murder mystery in the village of Neddergill which is Very small and a close community. Most of the people have lived there all their lives but a few new ones move in and out. DCI Jim Oldroyd has to get his team together to solve a very confusing murder.
The plot was very simple but had quite a few unexpected twists that kept you.interested. It’s a very quick read and was extremely enjoyable to read.
#Netgalley #TheNedderdaleMurders #Thomas&Mercer

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon UK Publishers for allowing me to preview this book.

A good old-fashioned murder mystery solved by a dogged detective and his two officers. The DCI, Jim Oldwyn is called in to solve a murder of retired judge/grouse hunting landowner who no one likes very much, with the exception of his wife. An eye witness identifies the murderer, and no one can believe who it is - a familiar
guy at the local pub who does odd jobs in the area - but a person no one knows really much about, including where he lives...The murderer disappears and massive searches turn up nothing - he's vanished into thin air. Then a second murder happens - to a well liked town grocer. Again there's an eyewitness to the murder and the murderer is once again able to vanish into thin air.....

The theme of this book is nothing is what it seems...and the detectives thoroughly investigate all the townspeople and their backgrounds - meticulously documenting all their findings and facts.....my kind of mystery!

Although this book is part of a series, it's not necessary to have read the previous books. But now that I've enjoyed this one so much, I will definitely go back and read more books by the author - J.R. Ellis!

I have already read one book in this series and I really enjoyed it. However, this book doesn’t live up to the previous book.
I am not going to spoil it for any future readers but I thought it totally unbelievable and the ending completely destroyed what would otherwise have been a great read.
I received my advance copy from NetGalley.

Set in England, this poor American had no idea about many of the names and places in this story. However, there is certainly a good storyline with creative twists.
As two men meet their deaths at the end of a shotgun, their killers, who have clearly been identified by an eyewitness, disappear.
At times the story feels like it is dragging, but honestly, that is also due to a realistic picture of how cops can hit a brick wall and only with time will clues reveal themselves.
The Who did it will keep you guessing until the end.

Another highly entertaining mystery by this author. It kept me guessing and I liked the plot and the great cast of characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Retired judge, Sandy Fraser is shot dead outside the Dog and Gun with a single close up shotgun blast to the chest. As DCI Jim Oldroyd, investigates the case there appears that there were a lot of people who did not like the judge for various reasons but not enough to have murdered him. While the case is going nowhere and DCI Oldroyd and his team becoming even more and more frustrated, a second murder occurs with the same MO. Now the race is on to try and find out who committed the murders before someone else is possibly hurt. Through every part of the investigation it seems that Oldroyd and his team cannot catch a break because there appears to be no connection between the two victims and no motive for the murders. Then they finally catch a break. But can they catch the killer before the one other person on his list is murdered. This book presented lots of suspects but no real reason behind the murders until the very end of it. I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries. I received an e-book copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

An unusual murder mystery with interesting characters which are well written and believable. Oldroyd is an inspector who investigates a seemingly easy murder since there is a
Witness to the murder. However when they can’t find the perpetrator, nor any information about him Oldroyd feels there is something that he is missing. When a second murder happens, also with a witness, is similar to the first he needs to rethink their hypothesis. The story is about how the police investigate both murders and eventually how Oldroyd solves the case. The antagonist comes as a complete surprise. The suspense is held throughout the novel. Crime novels are not my preferred genre but I throughly enjoyed this novel.