Great series, and great writing! Really enjoyable book by Nick Louth who is now a must read author!

I kindly received this book as an ARC, I had no idea this was book 7, so I had to start at the beginning.
This book yet again takes the whole team to the next level, Twists and unexpected turns aplenty.
Take the time to get to know these characters from the beginning.
Yet again found a fab new author due to the ability to use Netgalley

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this latest offering from Nick Louth.
I do love an DCI Gillard novel and this one had most of my favourite components in. Set in the UK, plenty of money, baddies, snow and Christmas. It may be my memory but I felt that the story was familiar, as if I had read something similar before. It could have been that I had actually read this before but I don't think so. A good curl up in front of the fire romp through the rich in the wonderful English countryside.
I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next offering !

A complex and gripping story that kept me hooked and guessing till the end.
It mixes a typical Golden Age trope with contemporary atmosphere and it's well written and fast paced.
Good character and plot development.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

4,5 Stars

Three people murdered in a library, and no one else entered or left the place at the time of the shooting. How is DCI Gillard supposed to solve this riddle? With lots of help from the whole time and a little bit of gut feeling!

Nick Louth constructs a very complex murder case involving a couple of insanely wealthy people, the Russian intelligence service and an intensive backstory surrounding a fossil larger, older and more valuable than I can even imagine it being.

Since no one (neither the reader nor the police) knows which information is crucial in solving the case, you have to keep in mind lots of details, which made it a bit hard to follow for me in the very beginning. But this all also leads to a multi-layered story with several twists and turns - and I only saw very few of them coming!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Canelo for approving me for an ARC of this book. Unfortunately I forgot to download the book before it was archived so I decided to listen to the audio instead.

If you are a regular follower of my blog then you will know that I discovered the DCI Craig Gillard series on NetGalley, we are now seven books into the series and I feel like these are more than just characters in a story. I feel like I am part of the team. I’m in the thick of it trying to solve the latest case, I’m laughing at their jokes and growing frustrated when another theory goes out the window. I should also point out that if you haven’t read any of the previous books in this series then this does work as a standalone.

Whilst I was frustrated with myself for not downloading the ARC in time I’m really pleased I listened to the story. Martson York does a fantastic jobs of bringing unique voices to all the characters and I am in complete admiration of his ability to do a Russian accent! It was like meeting the characters all over again and finally putting voices to the names I’d read so much about.

As I’ve come to expect with Nick Louth he always has a trick up his sleeve. I’ve often given up trying to figure out the who, the why and the how as I am always wrong! He is the master of deception, red herrings and knock out revelations and he did not disappoint with this latest instalment.

I will admit that I did get a little confused with all the Russian character’s names, particularly the Volkov family, as they sounded quite similar and there did seem to be a lot of characters in this story. Of the Russian characters Wolf was my favourite. His love for Only Fools and Horses and his clever wit often made me smile to myself (this probably had something to do with Marston York’s delivery too).

I’m hoping that this series will continue as I’ve got used to having regular cases to work on with Gillard, Hoskins and Rainy. I’d like to see more from Craig’s wife, Sam, especially as she has featured quite heavily in previous books. Only time will tell I guess.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot (there are plenty of reviews like that out there already!)

This is the 7th book in the DCI Gillard series. I have read some - but not all - of the previous novels, but this could be read as a standalone as there is enough background information for readers unfamiliar with the regular characters.

The book has an intriguing opening, with a huge and mysterious object being transported from Kazakstaan to a small village in the UK (I won't reveal what the object was to avoid spoiling the surprise!). The writing manages to capture the essence of the classic English village mystery (by the inclusion of typical village types), as well as the glamour of the uber-rich international jetsetter.

DCI Gillard is called in after a bizarre incident in what is effectively a "locked room" ends in the death of three men. A further twist in the tale leaves two more dead and one seriously injured - are the two incidents linked? (you'll have to read it to find out!)

It was good to catch up with the characters from the previous novels, and there are some well written new characters - my favourite being the unintentionally amusing "Wolf". Some unpleasant characters round off the cast nicely - particularly the sinister "Ghost".

An excellent mystery (rather than a thriller as such). I have to admit that I did not guess how the murders had taken place, nor the identity of the perpetrator(s), so hats off to Nick Louth for an excellent plot. Looking forward to the next in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

It definitely wasn't my favorite of the Gilliard series but I did find it interesting and entertaining. I think I missed the usual interaction between Gilliard and Sam which was extremely limited in this book.

I struggled to get into this book. I get the plot was around wealthy Russians but I guess the scene setting was just too long and felt like it took forever to get into the plot. But then it started moving and it was a decent read with a real twist.

Complex mystery of the locked room variety. How could three people die in a room that was locked? Detective Billiard and his team struggle to solve this mystery,lots of twists.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the electronic copy of this book.

This is the seventh book in the DCI Craig Gillard crime series by Nick Louth - and I just so love them! Always so well-written, with twists and turns that you can't see coming.

It's 1am on Christmas morning and PCs Paul Thorne and Zoe Butterfield arrive at the Surrey mansion of a Russian billionaire because of complaints about noise. Alexander Volkov is hosting a Christmas party with a thousand rich and influential guests. No expense has been spared - the whole area is a fairy tale setting, covered with generated snow, a patio turned into a skating rink and everyone dripping in jewels and expensive gowns. The festivities finish with a massive fireworks display - except at the end there are more cracks to be heard - shots from inside the locked Volkov library. Paul had stayed with the car but Wolf, the head of security, was showing Zoe around when mayhem ensues and Zoe finds herself in charge of a crime scene. Three people are dead. They were in a locked room. There is no sign of a gun nor the assassin. But there is one survivor.

Craig is called to the scene, but not before his boss Alison had warned him that because of the international nature of the scene, he could expect the security services to move in on his investigation - and they do, much to his annoyance. All resources possible are thrown at the investigation but the fact remains - how did the killer get away?
This is complex and intriguing, with lots of surprises and red-herrings as Craig methodically questions the family and staff as well as villagers of Steeple Risby in the Surrey countryside.

Thoroughly enjoyable. There's lots of characters with their own back-stories, and I love the way Craig and his team interact and work together.

This would make a great, atmospheric film.

The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is the seventh instalment in the DCI Craig Gillard series, based in and around Surrey. Westgrave Hall is a huge estate and stately home set against the tranquil backdrop of rural Surrey and owned by the affluent Alexander ”Sasha” Volkov, a prominent Russian oligarch. It's there he decides to throw a sumptuous no expenses spared Christmas Eve party to both celebrate his engagement to an internationally famous television personality and present his latest acquisition to his 1000 invited guests — he had recently the most humongous plesiosaur fossil ever discovered in Kazakhstan imported and shipped to his home where it would hold pride of place in the sprawling library. Many of the locals weren't happy when he purchased the historic property and when he began constructing the library months ago it angered the townsfolk greatly. Fireworks are the perfect way to top off a fantastic, lavish evening but during them, shots can be heard ringing out shattering the nearby library windows and startling the guests. Volkov had been giving a private guided tour of the library when he was shot dead alongside Max Talin, a former rival whom he was now in the process of doing business with and his faithful bodyguard. DCI Gillard is then called in to investigate the bloody crime scene and he discovers that Volkov’s ex-wife Yalena Yalinsky ended up trapped alone in the panic room as the chaos unfolded in front of her. If this is the case then where exactly did the shooter and the gun disappear to?

Hours and hours of CCTV of the residence is carefully combed through yet no one was seen entering or exiting the library. The police have a tough case on their hands with 1000 guests to interviewband over 60 rooms to search. Can they work exactly how this happened and why? This is a riveting, compulsive and exciting police procedural with an interesting and action-crammed plot where police must do a whole load of intensive leg work to discover exactly what is going on. Louth, as always, makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. You quickly begin to realise alongside detectives that the possible motives for the murders are endless with many people who would've liked to see Sasha burn in hell, and although I worked out the perpetrator I was compelled to continue as I had no idea about the motive behind it or even how it was carried out without the killer being seen. Primarily told from Gillard’s perspective but interspersed with the point of view of several others, this allows you to become immersed in the story and makes it a fully rounded experience. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue surrounding the strange deaths. An entertaining and enthralling, clever and engrossing tale and an easy comfort read. Louth and this series are both going from strength to strength; I find his books to be extremely well woven and he always ensures there's never a lull or boring part and crafts it with a whole lot of action, intensity and drama. Roll on book eight. Highly recommended.

Another engaging instalment in this well established series with some really well written characters of the plot is somewhat unbelievable its definitely unexpected!

When Russian Oligarch Sasha Volkov buys Westgrave Hall the local villagers are most displeased. They had hoped that it would be left to the National Trust but instead they now have a very wealthy neighbour who insists on bringing lots of people and noise to the village. The Hall is transformed into a lavish palace with a large security detail guarding Volkov and his family. So how, with such heavy security in place does someone murder not only Sasha Volkov but also one of his guests and his personal bodyguard whilst they are in a locked room? DI Gillard and his team face a seemingly impossible task. An intriguing read.

I’ve read all of the Nick Louth books and enjoyed this one as well. The story features Russian oligarchs, church ladies and a good mystery involving a fossil. Inspector Craig Gillard is on the case which of course involves murder in a small village. The regular cast of characters is back as well.

I finished it in one night and it was a great read! The only disappointing part of the whole book was not seeing much of Craig’s wife Samantha in the story. She’s usually a significant part of any story but this go round she was practically absent from the story.

Other than that, this was another home run for Nick Louth!

Local residents are not happy when Russian oligarch, Alexander Volkov, buys the historic Westgrave Hall, but are intrigued enough to visit when he throws a party for 1000 guests. While giving a private tour of the library, however, Volkov is shot dead, along with two other men. Knowing that he doesn’t have long before the local police are ousted by the security services, DCI Craig Gillard, is struggling to find evidence to show what actually happened. CCTV shows no one entering or leaving the library, everyone appears to have an alibi and the murder weapon is nowhere in sight. Is this a professional hit or the result of a love triangle? With the security services breathing down his neck, Gillard finds himself involved in his most prolific case to date.


I love a good ‘locked room’ mystery and in The Bodies at Westgrave Hall, Nick Louth has brought this genre bang up to date with a crime that is definitely of its time while still keeping you perplexed as to how the murders could have happened. In recent times, we have seen poisoning cases involving the likes of the Skripals and Alexei Navalny becoming worldwide news so the deaths of Russian oligarchs, albeit by a different method, is very topical. We are left, initially, to wonder whether politics are at play in the deaths or whether it is simply a case of old enemies finally calling time on their differences. I had my theories throughout, but found myself blindsided at the end, angry with myself for disregarding a piece of information that I had originally felt would prove to be important!


The plot is a complex one, showing how difficult it is for the police to mount an operation when there are other agencies involved, in this case the security services. The sheer size of the house also made it difficult for the police, meaning that they had to prioritise evidence, potentially missing clues which may prove to be useful. Although it was complex, I found the plot easy to follow, and felt it definitely had a ‘real time’ feel to it, as we saw the investigation unfold over the Christmas period.


As well as the characters we have got to know in previous books, Nick Louth has created a superb supporting cast in The Bodies at Westgrave Hall, some definitely more likeable than others. My favourite character had to be the man with a name that was so unpronounceable, he was known as Wolf. I once knew someone who learned English from watching episodes of Scooby Doo so I found Wolf’s Only Fools and Horses take on the English language hysterical. “Lovely bubbly!” as Wolf (not Del Boy) would say!


I’ve loved all of the Craig Gillard series, but I think I can safely say that this is one of my favourites to date. An engaging plot, superb characterisation and a mystery that keeps you guessing right until the end… hopefully it won’t be too long before we see what happens next to the Chief Inspector.

This is book 7 in the DCI Craig Gillard Series, I’ve only read one other book in the series but this still held up well as a standalone.

In this book we have a locked room mystery where two Russian billionaires are shot and killed, and the woman with them (the ex-wife of one and the future wife of the other) survives. The crime seems impossible and Craig Gillard and his team have to try and work out what happened.

This book was quite unique and different as a detective book and felt much more like a thriller. It is quite a big and comprehensive book, as the team try to identify who can have murdered them, and how. Some good characters as potential suspects in the book, and some not so nice characters! A very intriguing solution to the locked room mystery, plenty of twists along the way,.

Overall it was a very enjoyable book but I would have liked a bit of a pacier plot line at times and to have learnt more about the detectives in the book. Happy to recommend the book and would give it four stars overall. I look forward to reading more in the series. I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this book to me for an open and honest review.

In the heart of the Surrey countryside, you dont expect to find a construction like Westgrave Hall. It sounds like a country manor and that was what it originally was. Now owned by a Russian oligarch it is hosting a party for a thousand people, the likes of which this quiet village has not seen.

Fortunately for all, the police were always in attendance when complaints started pouring in regarding the noise, the blocked street and when the shooting started, amidst the fireworks, three of the principal people were left dead with no trace of how the murderer got in or got out. Trying to work their way through a thousand reluctant guests, the Russians trying to outwit and hide all information possible, the hierarchy in the British intelligence not wanting to start a war and hindering the local bobbies from doing their work, was never going to get the job done of finding our murderer.

Shades of humour in plenty, lots to ogle at of how the other half lives, and a clever, scheming murderer who almost got away.

A murder story involving Russian Oligarchs set in a stately home in Surrey. The plot is quite complicated , difficult to read as an e-book, where rereading parts of th book is not as easy as a hard copy. The first couple of chapters are about setting the scene, so the actual crimes do not happen straight away. There is quite a lot of detail about forensics and the cases are quite well thought out though you sometimes get the impression that in the absence of evidence that conclusions were drawn quickly.
I liked the descriptions on the whole, some of the characters were a bit too much of a caricature (the son of the victim for example) to be taken seriously . On the whole a good read .
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Alexander Volkov hasn’t made many friends among the villagers who live near his new home Westgrave Hall. He has spent a long time and a lot of money restoring the hall and building an extension to house his latest purchase. The noise and mess has had the villagers up in arms but it’s finally over and Alexander has moved in. Holding a sumptuous extravagant New Years party is only to be expected but when he and his ex-wife’s partner are murdered leaving her distraught no one can work out how the killer got in. They were in the highly secure Library at the time and no one else went in or out.
DCI Craig Gillard tries to make sense of what happened but is struggling to work out how they were killed when CCTV shows no one else was there. Everyone at the party seems to have an alibi and although there is no doubt Volkov had a lot of enemies they can’t place anyone at the scene.
I loved everything about this, the story, the characters, the setting.