would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book

a missing bridesmaid
an abusive best man
and a missing boyfriend

on new years eve before the bells toll the new year in... a lake near the wedding venue will be being searched for the missing bridesmaid

the start of a married life and a new year does not bode well for the family attending the wedding as tempers fray and tensions mounts

a slow build up after the initial excitement at the beginning and i felt a bit frustrated key elements i felt were given away to some of the key people being questioned....

but i did want to know who the perp was in the end which was a surprise

The winter killer was my first book from Alex Pine. This is the third book in the DI James Walker series but can be read as a stand alone. When a murder happened at Libby’s wedding I was More then excited to see if I could find out the killer before the end of the book! This was a fast paced book but when I reached half way of the book I found myself getting bored and didn’t wanna go on, but I am glad I did. The writing was great and I do love a who done it mystery! i do recommend this book to other who love a good who done it and a fast plot

Thank you to NetGalley for approved this arc in exchange for a honest review

This is the third book in the DI James Walker series and the second I have read but do not worry, it can be read as a standalone very easily.

It's New Year's Eve and a body is found on a jetty at the prestigious The Fells Hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere where a wedding is taking place but was it an accident or murder? DI James Walker and his team are tasked with finding out and it soon becomes clear that the death is very much suspicious.

This is a proper who-dunnit with plenty of potential suspects and is anything but simple and straightforward particularly when all manner of revelations come to light including members of the victims family and close acquaintances.

With great characters, an intriguing plot and written at a great pace, this is an engaging read. The setting is perfect - well I would say that as it's my neck of the woods - and Mr Pine captures the weather, scenery and location completely.

Overall, a great read and I look forward to the next in the series and my thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Winter Killer.

4.25⭐

The Winter Killer is my first introduction to author Alex Pine. But it won't be my last. As this was such an enjoyable police procedural. That grabbed me from the start and never let go, and honestly, I felt like I was in the middle of a real-life investigation as the pace of it was so relentless.

As DC Abbott is spending a relaxing New Years Eve with her fiancée Sean; attending the wedding of a mutual friend at a posh hotel on the shore of the gorgeous Lake Windermere. When she finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation after the maid of honour disappears during the reception and is later found floating in the lake.

But how did she get there? And was it an accident or murder?

And as DI Walker arrives on the scene and the investigation begins startling revelations come to light. Not only about the victim, but the family too.

But surely one of them couldn't have wanted her dead or had the time to do it.

And with tremendous pacing, appealing characters and lots of detail. This was a really enjoyable read and introduction to the series. Which I'm definitely going to read more from including the two books I've missed out on.

I would also willingly recommend this book to crime fiction fans everywhere.

The wedding of the year is taking place at a beautiful lakeside location. The bride's sister, the maid of honor, is missing with her body later discovered in the lake. Who is the killer? Is it one of the wedding guests or staff? The scene is set with shock, confusion and uncertainty.

Full of twists and turns with everyone a suspect, the story takes an interesting look at family dynamics along with the complexities and intricacies of relationships between friends and lovers. Blame and guilt emerge as key issues in the search for the killer with resentments and distrust at the forefront.

I loved the idea of this story and it had so much potential but ultimately I was disappointed. The writing felt stilted with descriptions overly simplistic. Fear, anticipation and sense of urgency were lacking. And is it still the locked room mystery it's described as if everyone is allowed to go home when the killer still has not been identified or apprehended?

I needed more. The story was often repetitive with the reader constantly reminded of the progression of events. And several of the twists, including the final reveal, were quite predictable. I also didn't see the point of the detective being so uncharacteristically worrying as it served no real purpose in the story. Let this trait hinder or compromise his investigation or, better yet, let it be an asset in solving the case.

I still think this book could be a good choice for readers looking for a light mystery which often has more questions than answers and is set at a captivating location. And it would be a nice way to spend a weekend reading.

** Special thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available October 13, 2022. **

Although this is book number three in the series, you do not have to read the others first to understand and enjoy this one.

This is the second novel by this author (and in this series) that I have read. As before, I would categorize this one as more of a police procedural than a thriller novel as we spend most of the novel investigating leads, and interviewing suspects. The events that I personally would deem thrilling seemed to be very few and far between (although I do see where the author tried to go for a shock value when certain things were revealed, I never really felt shocked).

Because I was familiar with this author's writing style, it was easy to see which characters would eventually be cleared from the suspect list before they were actually cleared. A tactic favored by this author seems to be using one or more red herrings to try to steer your attention to one or two people, in particular, only to have some piece of evidence come to light later on that moves the case in a totally new direction (much as I would assume it is like in real life). However, I will say with this one I was still taken by surprise not only by who the killer was, but by the underlying story that eventually came out as well.

I am curious as to whether this will be the last book in this series (based on some things that happened) or whether the author will use what happened in this book as a jumping-off point to focus more on other members of his team. I would read more from this author simply because, despite the issues I had with this book, it still kept me reading and guessing.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

DI James Walker is looking forward to seeing in the New year with his wife and baby daughter, when he gets a call from DC Jessica Abbott who is attending a wedding at ‘The Fells’ a prestigious Hotel in Cumbria with her fiancé. The owner of the chain of hotels is getting married to Libby Elliot. Her Maid of honour, her sister Rachel has gone missing, when the investigate they find evidence of foul play on the pier. They have a pretty good idea that they will find her body in the Lake. DI Walker heads the investigation to find Rachel’s killer. She was not liked much by others. So, who disliked her that much to killer her and what is the motive for her death?
The Winter Killer is the third in the DI James Walker series from Alex Pine and another excellent episode in the series. I have read the previous two books in the series and really enjoyed then, so I was excited to receive the next instalment and it didn’t disappoint. This is a well-paced whodunnit with full of suspense, that I couldn’t put down. As there was a lot of suspects in Rachel’s murder case, the author does well at keeping you entertained with a lot of red herrings and mis directions. This is another excellent read and looking forward to the next instalment in the series. 5 stars from me.

Book 3 in the DI James Walker series and another great winter time police procedural set in the Lake District. I have read the previous books but if you haven’t don’t worry this works well as a stand-alone. Well written and a well plotted, gripping storyline this was an enjoyable page turner. As an aside I loved the descriptions of an area of England I have long wished to visit.

Briefly, New Years Eve and DC Jessica Abbott is attending a wedding at The Fells Hotel on the edge of Lake Windermere. In the middle of the wedding reception one of the wedding party goes missing. Shortly after a body is found and foul play is suspected. With a huge pool of potential suspects Walker and his team have a real mystery on their hands. Who is telling the truth and who isn’t?

Almost a Christie-esque style story but written in Pine’s easy read style. Fast paced with countless red herrings this is a great read for the sleuths amongst us. The ending was a bit sudden but it was a good ending and until the very last I hadn’t guessed who the killer was. I found this a very enjoyable read and look forward to the next one 4.5⭐️ Rounded up

I really wanted to love this, but I have just found it so slow going. 1/3 of the way through and it still just doesn't feel like anything has happened. A DNF for me.

The Winter Killer is the third book in the DI James Walker Series. I really liked the first two books, so was excited to pick this one up too. To say I was looking forward to another holiday murders seems odd, but if you have read them you know what I mean by that.

This one starts at a wedding on New Year's Eve. Jessica Abbott is attending a wedding with her fiance, when the maid of honor goes missing. Abbott shines in her first time being in charge until her boss arrives.

One of the things i like the most about Pine's writing is that there is always more than one suspect. This keeps you interested and guessing throughout the book. I also like how the story is easy to read, which lets you focus on the mystery and not on long, drawn out sentences.

Another great holiday police procedural/mystery from Alex Pine.

Thanks to netgalley and Avon Books, UK for the arc

This is my first book from Alex Pine and it will not be the last. Indeed, after finishing this book, which is the third in the DI James Walker series, I ordered the first two. Indeed, this is a British Procedural story at it's best with great characters leading the story but also a solid mystery which will let you guess right til the end, all with the backdrop of the wonderful scenery of the Lake District.
This book was a pleasure to read,, a great winter escape.
I look forward to starting the series properly as this author from now on will be one to follow...

The writer killer is the third in the DI James Walker cases. He’s gotten through Christmas OK, but as New Year’s Eve arrives, he’s got another mystery to solve. While family and friends were partying at a loved one’s wedding, set in a very picturesque hotel owned by the groom, the bride’s sister has vanished, leaving the party well before her speech. Sister Libby is furious at her sibling spoiling her big day, but as the evening continues, and there’s no sign of the missing bridesmaid, people begin to get worried. And when signs point to Rachel having taken a dip in the lake – and let’s just say, not a planned one – James and his team have multiple leads to follow and clues to solve to figure out what’s really going on. One of the guests is a killer – but who’s responsible? The book paces along nicely, with ample clues to put the reader on the right track… and just enough red herrings to make you doubt your own armchair deductions.

If cosy-style police procedural crime novels are your style, the third book in the DI James Walker Series won’t disappoint

Read it if: you’ve ever been bored at a wedding and wanted a dramatic escape route to avoid the wedding disco

Don’t read it if: you’re an old-fashioned romantic who gets a kick out of true love prevailing

I would describe The Winter Killer as your classic police procedural. It’s set around one place, a rural hotel on New Year’s Eve where the hotel owner is celebrating his wedding. The Maid of Honour goes missing at the Wedding Breakfast and her disappearance incriminates several guests whose stories are gradually revealed to the reader. The action doesn’t move far from the hotel setting which gives it a typical cosy crime novel feel.

It’s an entertaining read that explore the dynamics of a family when tragedy strikes. It’s easy to follow and I found the twist/reveal enjoyable and surprising. The action is quick and satisfying, so I read it pretty quickly. I don’t feel like the story will stay with me but I would recommend it to someone who might have fallen out of love with reading and needs something gentle to ease them back.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book slow going and the writing a bit overly descriptive which made some of the chapters drag. There also wasn't a lot going on and I wasn't a massive fan of the main character which meant I wasn't as engaged. That being said it is an easy read for police procedural fans.

The third installment of Alex Pines gripping detective series, The Winter Killer is superbly written, with twists and turns that you really will not expect. It really is a page-turner.

I unfortunately missed the second book in the series but there is nothing in this book that spoils the ones before. A few references here and there to the cases in the previous two books but nothing that will take away the enjoyment of reading them if you have read out of order. So I'll be on the hunt for book number two now.

I couldn't put The Christmas Killer down and it was the same with The Winter Killer.

A strongly developed thriller with an interesting case, The Winter Killer is a hard-to-predict investigation with a wedding-clad party full of guests to suspect.

I always find Pine's writing so easy to follow, making his thrillers quick-paced and his characters easy to engage with. DI James Walker is very to-the-point, meaning that his investigations progress quickly, and there are plenty of lies to uncover to keep you guessing.

Although the third book in the series, the book can easily be read as a standalone and there's even a character list at the start of the book to introduce you to who's who which I always find very useful.

But while The Winter Killer is a highly enjoyable book, what's let me down is the title, as it always annoys me when a thriller is promoted as being more sinister than it actually is. Because for me, there definitely wasn't enough winter or killing.

When a killer is given a nickname by the media, you expect more of a high-profile case. While the detectives had no clue who committed this crime and this is what was most striking about the case, there is only one body and there are no shocking events surrounding the case to really make the killer deserving of such a name.

I certainly couldn't predict who the killer was and I enjoyed how the story concluded, but I was just expecting more blood and more snow, so it just wasn't as exciting as the previous two instalments in the series.

I would definitely still recommend this book, especially if you want an easy thriller to read over the colder months. But if Pine intends to write a fourth book, I just hope he gets a little more daring.

Let's also make Annie a more prominent character again, as I hated to see her portrayed as the new mum, waiting for her husband to come home. She had lots more depth in the first two books but her character had absolutely no dimension this time around which was really disappointing to see.

This is the 3rd book in the DI James Walker series but this is the first one I have read and it was great as standalone, I cannot wait to read the first two!

DI Walker is called onto a case on New Years Eve, the sister of a bride has gone missing from the wedding! When they find her beaten at the bottom of the lake everyone turns into a suspect but who is the one who murdered poor Rachel?

A wedding is taking place on New Year's Eve at a luxury hotel in Cumbria, when the maid-of-honour suddenly disappears. Guests become increasingly concerned and the police are called in to search the lake for a body. DI James Walker is tasked with finding out which guest is the killer.

This is a fast-paced book that will have you hooked from the start. I enjoyed the mix of characters and how it seemed that many of them had secrets to hide. There was a great insight into DI James Walker's ideas and opinions, really demonstrating the detail of the investigation.

Is there any better setting for a mystery than a grand hotel? This was the perfect backdrop for a festive story in the depths of winter.

I guarantee you will be racing through this page-turner.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Very gripping and had me on the edge of my seat I loved reading this book and will read it again it was so good.I can also highly recommend this book to readers.5*

The Winter Killer Alex Pine


5 stars

This is the third in the series featuring DI James Walker. I have not read the other two but this book was fine as a stand-alone.

DI James Walker is hoping to spend a quiet New Year with his wife Annie and baby daughter Bella but he is on call and when his phone rings concerning a missing person at a wedding he knows he has to go to The Fells Hotel immediately.

Gregg Murphy, the owner of the hotel has just married Libby but her sister Rachel Elliot, the maid of honour has disappeared. DC Jessica Abbott and her fiancé Sean who is a member in the same golf club as the groom are guests at the wedding, Jessica had seen a bearded Italian man leaving Rachel’s room followed by Rachel, obviously upset, trying to follow him. Rachel’s body is then found in the lake with blows to the head, she has obviously been murdered.

When the Italian, Carlo Salvi is nowhere to be found it is assumed that he is fleeing the country and therefore is obviously the killer. However as DI Walker starts to question all the guests too many suspects make the case almost unsolvable. The parents and sister of the bride had not wanted Libby to marry Gregg. The best man, Mark Slade, has a criminal record for assaulting females. Rachel's’ ex- fiancé, Douglas Hannigan, has sent her a threatening letter. The son of the sister’s nanny, Ethan Prescott, has had relationships with both Rachel and Libby.

Suffice it to say that DI Walker and his team eventually solve the mystery but there are many twists and turns before the murderer is finally revealed.

I enjoyed the story, set in the beautiful Lake District, and the style of writing was easy to read. I am now going to read the first two books in the series.

Karen Deborah