This was a detective mystery with dark overtones. When a group of friends visits a Goth weekend, there is a tragic murder but the obvious explanation does not ring true with one of the friends and her detective father. A lot of this surrounds ideas from Dracula and while it had a satisfying ending, it was a bit slow moving at times.

really really enjoyed . Always love this author and in particular I loved the setting of this book. Already looking for the next one to keep me up late .

"The Whitby Murders" by J.R. Ellis is a gripping crime novel that unfolds against the atmospheric backdrop of Whitby during Halloween. DCI Jim Oldroyd's daughter, Louise, becomes an unintentional witness to a brutal murder, sparking an investigation that becomes increasingly complex and personal. Ellis weaves a tale of murder, deception, and the urgency to stop a violent killer.

The novel starts with a bang, introducing readers to a goth festival gone awry in an escape room, resulting in a bloody crime. The atmospheric setting of Whitby during Halloween adds an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. The author's vivid descriptions bring the town to life, creating a sense of place that enhances the overall reading experience.

The character of DCI Jim Oldroyd is a compelling protagonist, and the personal stakes involved in solving the case add depth to the story. The inclusion of his daughter, Louise, in the investigation adds a unique dynamic, and Ellis skillfully navigates the complexities of their relationship. The collaborative effort between Oldroyd and DS Carter, along with Louise's involvement, creates a well-rounded investigative team that keeps readers engaged.

The plot unfolds with a series of twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing as the investigators dig deeper into the layers of deceit surrounding the crime. Ellis successfully builds suspense and tension, maintaining a brisk pace that propels the narrative forward. The complexity of the case and the web of lies add an element of unpredictability to the story.

The author's attention to detail and the skillful development of characters contribute to the overall authenticity of the novel. The dialogue is sharp, and the interactions between characters feel genuine, enhancing the reader's immersion in the investigation.

While "The Whitby Murders" is a highly enjoyable crime novel, some readers may find certain plot elements slightly formulaic for the genre. Additionally, a few characters could have been further developed to add more depth to the overall narrative.

In conclusion, J.R. Ellis delivers a four-star crime novel with "The Whitby Murders," offering a compelling story, well-drawn characters, and a captivating setting. Fans of atmospheric crime fiction with a personal touch will find this book to be an engaging and satisfying read. Ellis skillfully combines suspense and familial dynamics to create a crime novel that stands out in the genre.

A stabbing in an escape room during a goth festival has the daughter of a detective involved in the investigation where her friends are suspects.

Entertaining and easy read. Viewed this as a Cozy mystery. Surrounded by Halloween themed atmosphere.

Escape room night out, ends in murder, twisting into a web of deceit.

Book six of in a series that you will most definitely enjoy.

I can’t say I’m a fan of vanpire books as a rule but this really isn’t a vampire book is it? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to everyone who loves a good British mystery! Thank you J.R.Ellis for writing such a great book!

Coincidentally, I finished this book late October with the neighbours displaying witches and spiders webs. This seemed to help with the murder mystery set in Whitby with the town's Dracula connection!

The setting and murder taking place in and around an escape room was another bonus and this I enjoyed.

I found the writing slightly awkward and would have thought the narratives would contain more ''basic'' language, possibly with a swear word in it?.

One of a small gang of friends is found killed and another member of the party, Loiuse brings her dad to help solve the crime - he is after all a DCI (Jim Oldroyd).

A few twists and a satisfactory end but not as exciting as I hoped.

Thanks to Net Galley and Amazon Books Publishing for the chance to read and review.

I was looking forward to this one as I love a good British mystery. Becoming acquainted with the dialects and villages is especially fun. Sorry to say but learning about Whitby and its connection to Bram Stoker's Dracula was the only redemption for slogging through this one. The characters had very little personality. Everyone seemed to speak with the same voice and repeat themselves endlessly. The whodunnit was immediately obvious. Every emotion was flat, stereotypical, and/or unbelievable. I'll be skipping the rest of the mysteries in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ebook in exchange for a frank review.

I didn't realize that this book was number six of the series. I am going to go back and read the first five books then pick this book up again.

This is book 6 in this series and I dont think I will be going back and checking out the previous ones. I chose this book as I am a fan of visiting Whitby but other than the location I dont think much else appealed to me. I found it a bit repetative and disappointing.

Just meh for me. A group of friends decide to spend a weekend in a little town in Yorkshire, famous for its goth festival. One of the attractions is an escape room, featuring, you guessed it, a Dracula theme. While there, Dominic stabs his girlfriend, Andrea. Or does he really stab her? We get the who right away, we just don't know why. And the why is where the story plods along. Louise was part of the group in the escape room. Her father is the well-known DI Oldroyd. He is able to leave his usual post and go hang out in Whitby with one of his assistants, as they try to solve the case. The story moves in a lot of different directions and loses some of its focus, at least for me.

I enjoyed returning to Yorkshire for another DCI Oldroyd case! This time Jim’s daughter is involved and the personal connection raises the stakes.

Louise is in town with friends for a goth festival. But their visit to an escape room ends in bloody murder when one of the group stabs his girlfriend and flees the scene. It’s a crime with three witnesses—but Louise refuses to take what she saw at face value.

With Louise’s help, Oldroyd and DS Carter work to solve the case, encountering a tangle of lies and deceit along the way.

How well do you really know your friends? Are they really as well intentioned as they appear? These are the questions that Louise Oldroyd faces after she is witnesses one of her friends murdered by another friend. The couple has a history of arguing but this is beyond any fears the group of friends had for them which causes Louise to question if she really saw what she thinks she did. Fortunately for her, her father is a deeply respected detective DCI Jim Oldroyd, Oldroyd knows the local authorities in Whitby and very slowly, the detective team starts chipping away at the details of the lives of these young people. Secrets are revealed about the friends and Louise learns friendships can be deadly.

Solid read though a little slow to build. If you are a fan of this series, you will want to read this book.

A big thank you to the author J.R. Ellis the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

This is a typical British whodunit book with an interesting premise. A group of friends travel to a city to enjoy the Goth/Horror weekend complete with costumes and characters all over the place. They have plans to go to a Dracula themed Escape Room. While in the escape room, one of the group is stabbed to death by her boyfriend----right in front of them all. And yet, even though it has been recorded on CCTV, one friend just does not feel that it is so simple. And so she brings in her father, a Yorkshire Detective, who assists in the investigation.

The premise was good and interesting, there were clues and red herrings, and a unique ending. However, the writing at times seemed simplistic and stilted. Further, once the reveal was done, the book kept going on and on......it detailed exactly how the murder was done in minute detail, and then the detective revealed in minute detail exactly how he had solved it. And then it still went on. Stop the madness. Solve the mystery. Finish the book.

I received a free electronic copy of this ARC from Netgalley, J.R. Ellis, and the publisher, Amazon UK. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am addicted to the British police procedural, and this is a good one. J. R. Ellis has a prolific back stock of stories to get us through this cold winter.

I loved that the chapters began with a stanza from the Lyke Wake Dirge from Mina Harker's Journal in Dracula. It sets a find tone for the tale to follow. We are with North York Moors Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd and Inspector Alice Granger as they work from the headquarters of the Harrogate Division of West Riding Police over the Harrogate Stray. Whew. The story itself is not nearly so complex as the locale.

Bram Stoker published his Dracula novels from Whitby beginning in the 1890s. This novel starts with Whitby's annual pre-Halloween nod to the steampunk/goth and Dracula influence among, for the most part, teens and twenty-somethings. Kids who rally to any occasion that allows them to dress-up and play-pretend. High-schoolers, college kids, and young adults show up from all over England, and the Whitby locals do their best to bring back the world of Dracula for an evening of fun. And it is all fun, until the bodies begin to drop.

I have never found J.R. Ellis to be an exciting author but this #6 Yorkshire Murder Mysters is more plodding than most. Murder is obvious, motive unlikely. I didn't care for it.

This was an excellent poice procedural which touches the soul.

What a charming and refreshing police procedural mystery this was. I was captivated by the Whitby setting, famous for its Bram Stoker, "Dracula" connection. The story is set in mid October during a Goth-themed weekend. There's a group of friends which engage in a goth-themed escape room event. Unfortunately, not everyone makes it out of the room alive. The murder looks rather cut and dry at first blush but is it? One of the group members thinks there's something a bit odd about the goings on and contacts her dad, DCI James Oldroyd, requesting that he review the case for himself. Oldroyd is highly respected and admired by his colleagues for his amazing ability to resolve the most difficult of cases. He is thoroughly committed to his job and can never seem to turn off his analytic brain when it comes to solving a mystery. That's great for the police department but a bit rough on his loved ones. There's a tremendous depth to his character. On one side, he's incredibly good at his police work without any display of arrogance. He is a leader by example. Yet, there is also a touch of humility and introspection to his character.

The writing is solid and well based in historical facts related to the region in which the story takes place. There are touches of poetry throughout the book and at times the dialogue is a touch philosophic. The cast of characters is tremendous and well developed. The pace is steady up until the last quarter of the book at which point the urgency accelerates and one's heartbeat rises, with the story resolving into a satisfactory conclusion when all is said and done.

This is the sixth book of the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series, It can, however, stand well enough on its own and not leave the reader lost in missing details fleshed out in previous installments. I have read three of the series' books and will eventually get caught up on the others as the series is quite good.

I am grateful to publisher Thomas & Mercer for having provided a complimentary electronic copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: ‎ Thomas & Mercer
Publication date: ‎ May 27, 2021
No. of pages: 283
ISBN: 9781542017466

I loved the setting of this book: a Goth weekend in the village of Whitby (where Bram Stoker had Dracula first land upon arrival to England), and a murder in a Dracula-themed escape room. Great atmosphere was built up and the mystery was intriguing. However, my problem was that the author started overexplaining everything as we go towards the end. At first I appreciated him reminding us who characters were when they came up in the story, but by the end it was too much. I felt that he thought we were children who needed every single bit explained to us. I also had a problem with some of the solution and motivations ascribed to the murderer. So it started off promisingly enough, but at the end was spoiled by too much explanation. We get it, all right! Trust the reader a bit more.

Great book. Highly recommend and will most defiantly read more by this author and suggest to others!

I really enjoy J.R. Ellis novels and this was no exception. Lots of twists and turns, leaving you guessing throughout. The plot was complex until the end. Great read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance read copy!