I am obsessed with police procedural books especially those set in the UK! This book was a thrilling wild ride and I am here for it. DI James Walker is amazing and I can't wait for more!

Thank you so much to the publishers for my arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed The Christmas Killer. DCI James Walker and his wife Annie leave London for idyllic Cumbria where Annie is originally from. James is worried he is going to struggle with the quiet villages and small crimes but when murder occurs he knows its going to be anything but boring.
I loved the characters, I loved the setting and there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing. I cannot wait to read more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I didn't really care for this book. It had a good story line but I didn't like the characters. The plot seemed to drag out and it was easy to figure out who the killer was.

I really enjoyed this first book in a new police procedural series. DI James Walker and his wife move from London to Cumbria where his wife has inherited a home. As he was being threatened by a career criminal just released from prison, he hoped this would be a quieter and safer home. And then the murders started. James and his wife Annie are written as a very believable couple, and James as a very believable, human police detective. Willing to admit when he’s running low on ideas, accepting suggestions from other officers, it’s a nice change from this type of book that feature God like detectives who know all. The ending was well done, and has left the door open for a thread of this book to be continued. I’ve added the author to my watch list so I’ll get a notification when the next book comes out.
I read an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

In a small village, several residents are murdered, with Christmas cards claiming there will be 12 victims for 12 days of Christmas. DI James Walker, who recently moved to the village, investigates. This was okay, but I guessed halfway through who the murderer was and it was not anything special. I might read a second book in the series if it sounded good. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

The Christmas Killer was a nice surprise. When starting the book I was not sure I would like it. As I got into the story I found I could not put it down. Anne Walker and her husband James are the main characters in this story. The supporting characters fit perfectly with the story.. Anne and James move to the house she inherited in Cumbria's Kirby Abbey.. James is the detective inspector who put Andrew Sullivan in prison. He is let out of prison and James is concerned for his wife safety so he takes up a position at the Cumbria's police Department. It is just before Christmas when James receives a package on his door step with a dead bird inside along with a note stating that there will be 12 different murders. This is where the story takes off. I loved the lead up to each murder with the person who will be murder is talking. There is a snow blizzard that also adds to the story. There are 3 victims; Charlie Jenkins the owner of the White Hart Pub, Lorna Manning, headmistress of the primary school and Daniel Curtis. James and his other officers try to keep the town safe as well as who is doing the murders. The ending and climax to the story was a complete surprise.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers, Ltd. for this ARC.

DI James Walker and his wife Annie move to Annie's home town, the village of Kirkby Abbey. Soon James receives a dead partridge on his doorstep with a note promising 12 deaths in the next 12 days. Is it the criminal that James put away in London, who was recently released? Or is it a villager, someone who Annie has known almost her whole life?
This is not a cozy, this is a police procedural. I liked the mystery, the main characters were a little flat, but the interactions between James and Annie and the people of the village seem real enough. I enjoyed the descriptions of the village, they were wonderful. But except for the fact it was set just before Christmas it lacked any real feeling of Christmas in a village. Overall, I found the book lacking the depth, the suspense, that would draw me into the book and not let me put it down.

What a fascinating police procedural ! I was interested in the story right away. Mr. Pine is certainly a talented author. It kept me guessing throughout the story as to the killer's identity. Who the killer was came as a surprise to me. I look forward to reading more DCI James Walker mysteries, and I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Detective James Walker and his wife reside in a small town in England. James receives a package where the sender indicates 12 people will be killed. This book kept me on edge from the start.

Flat as a roadkill pancake.

Lacking of provocation and stimulation.

The summary intrigued me. This is why I requested and was highly anticipating this book. An ominous Christmas card sent with a dead pigeon, to a police detective. Claiming there will be twelve days of death for Christmas this year and all of them are well deserving of their 'death sentence'.

Overall, it felt a bit elementary, and certainly far from anything R rated. The main character's often had long paragraphs devoted to their internal thoughts. Dialogue between character's was minimal in comparison. The lack of the latter, also contributed to the dullness of the read. Those interactions are needed to stimulate emotions and moods, which evokes the drama.

Murder and mystery, while yes, included in the plot, the suspense and drama was not. An unfortunate dull PG delivery.

*Thank you to Harper 360 of HarperCollins’ global publishing initiative via NetGalley for providing the digital reader copy.

I was interested in this book because I am a huge fan of thriller/mysteries and also love holiday reads. I enjoyed the book and I was surprised by the ending. Although, I didn’t find the characters to be very interesting or likable. I would definitely read more books by this author.

The Christmas Killer was a quick read for me. I love thrillers and the holidays, so I was excited for this one! I enjoyed the premise of the book. I personally didn’t guess correctly who the killer was.

Although, I was not a fan of the writing, as it felt a bit drawn out and dull. I didn’t feel any connection with the characters and they all seemed one dimensional. It left me wanting more from a book in this genre.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins360 for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* okay first off i have to say, i really hate the whole " woman had abortion, it will come back to get her" BS. not a horrible book but that was a pretty annoying thing that kept popping up and i found it distracting compared to others "sins", not a bad read tho.

I liked the story, it was definitely an easy read. Different kind of book for sure. I'd read more from this author.

DI James Walker is ready for a quiet family Christmas in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey.
But when he opens an early Christmas present left on his doorstep, he soon realises it is no gift. Inside is a gruesome surprise, and a promise – twelve days, twelve murders. Not long after, the first body is found, half frozen in the snow. This is the first in a new series but I certainly hope it won't be the last. It's dark....very dark for the holidays but so well-written and full of suspense. The characters are all interesting and well developed and the end was a surprise. I am really looking forward to more adventures of DI Walker. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

I received an advance copy of, The Christmas Killer, by Alex Pine. 12 days, 12 murders. This is a good thriller. Will they catch the killer, before he kills again? A great story to read by the fire.