The Night Before Christmas by Alex Pine

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

This Christmas, the hunters become the hunted…

When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall – when the temperature plummets.

After hours of searching, the first body is found… Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered and bearing a the real hunt has begun.

As a snowstorm descends, three lives hang in the balance. But can the killer be caught before the trail goes cold?

My Opinion

One of the first books I ever reviewed was the first book in this series and so this series is something that I am always going to come back to. Of course, it helps that the investigations are gripping. DI James Walker moving to Cumbria, has brought a string of festive murders. Every year I look forward to the latest Christmas release from Alex Pine. This is definitely a series I would recommend if you are looking for a different festive read.

Rating 4/5

I've read all 4 of the DI Walker books but sadly this was my least favourite. The pacing is very slow! The characters were greatly developed over the earlier books but in this one, nothing happens to them. There's no character progression, for the regulars or the new ones.

I liked the idea of the crime/how that came about and the additional complexities that were there.

I went into this a first time reader of this author and series. I enjoyed how there was a brief introduction to the main characters at the start but I think you definitely need to read the rest of the series in order. Not sure the reason but I just could not get into this and skimmed the last half

I really enjoyed this book. I have also read and enjoyed the previous books in this series. This is book 4, but it can be read easily as a standalone book.

The story is set at Christmas time, and it is about DCI James Walker and his team, as well as his beautiful family Annie and Bella. James is investigating a case where four hikers have gone missing in Cumbria during a snowstorm. He finds out that they were fox hunters, and now they are the ones being hunted. Will James be able to solve the mystery and get back to his family on time for Christmas?

This is a great book, which I highly recommend. I also recommend all the other books by Alex Pine, as they are all very good!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

This was the first book I’d read by Alex Pine. I loved the setting as the Lake District is only an hour from where I live. The story of James Walker and his team investigating the disappearance of 4 hunters was interesting, particularly being set at Christmas and plenty of snow to hinder the investigation. Although I enjoyed the book, I felt it was a little drawn out. However, it had a good conclusion, having thrown several possible alternatives our way.

Four trail hunters go missing, it is snowing and the weather is getting so bad that there is a risk to life alert. When a body is discovered, they soon realise that this isn’t a missing persons case but a murder case. It is up to James and his team to figure out who the murderer is while working in treacherous conditions.

Poor James doesn’t have much luck during Christmas time, every year something serious happens and he ends up away from family and working on a huge case.

I have enjoyed this series so much every book has been great, and I am getting to know James as a DI but also as a loving husband and father. I like that every book introduces new things into his life.

I am excited to read the next book and would recommend this series.

It was fun to be back in the familiar setting with familiar characters but this wasn’t my favourite of the series.

I found the slow burn a little too slow and didn’t get the Christmassy vibes as I did from his others.

I absolutely loved the latest instalment of Alex Pine’s winter thrillers. This was fast paced and left me guessing right to the end, an end which I did not see coming! The author also included the highly controversial topic of fox hunting which added to the drama. I would highly recommend this and the previous 3 in the series.

This was my first Alex Pine book and I really enjoyed it. This is book four in the DI James Walker series. You don’t have to read the others to read this one. I have not read the other three and did not feel that I missed out or was confused by anything. The author does a good job recapping and making sure the reader understands the gist of what came before this book and that they reader has a firm grasp of the characters and story.

This book starts off on Christmas Eve when DI Walker gets a call about four missing hunters and here starts a twisty mystery where everyone you meet is a suspect and you don’t know who to believe. DI Walker and his team are trying to unravel this mystery and race the clock on the blizzard weather.

All in all this was a good whodunit with no shortage of suspects and motives. I was fully invested to see which one was going to win out. I did finally figure it out before the big reveal and I was right! The author did do a good job sprinkling in a few clues that you would pick up if you were paying attention to the little minute details.

I did really enjoy this mystery and want to go back and read the first three in the series.

Thank you to the publisher, Alex Pine, and NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This book combined murder and Christmas...talk about a combination! DCI James Walker finds himself dealing with another Christmas murder mystery, and my tension and anxiety was on high alert from page 1. Four missing hunters, a trashed meeting place, and a chilling warning set the stage for a race against time, especially with a snowstorm descending. If you're looking for an heart-pounding, edge of your seat book, this is the one. I highly recommend this read for the Christmas season! #netgalley #thenightbeforechristmas

Rounded up from 4.5

I always look forward to my now annual trip up to Cumbria with a new case for Detective James Walker and The Night Before Christmas was a great addition to the series!

Newly promoted DCI James Walker is in for another tough case for Christmas when four men disappear while out hunting for foxes. Poor weather conditions mean it's impossible for them to launch a search. It's assumed that they got trapped by the bad weather, but soon things take a deadly turn when a picture showing one man brutally murdered is sent to the media. It's a race against time for James and his time to find the other three men.

What a wonderfully twisty thriller The Night Before Christmas was! I think this is my favourite of the series so far.

There were plenty of clues and red herrings along the way. The controversial topic of fox hunting featured heavily in the story, showing the extremism on both sides of the argument, giving the story that extra bit of realism.

There were a couple of things in James' personal life which I can't wait to see how they play out in the next book.

A definite must if you love murder and mayhem at Christmas rather than the usual heartwarming stuff.

Book Review: The Night Before Christmas by Alex Pine

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars

On Christmas Eve, four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria, setting off a frantic search to locate them before nightfall and the plummeting temperatures. However, the search takes a sinister turn when the first body is discovered, shockingly murdered and marked with a chilling message. As a snowstorm descends upon the landscape, three lives hang in the balance, and the race against time intensifies. Will the killer be apprehended before the trail goes cold?

The Night Before Christmas is part of a series that effortlessly captivates readers from beginning to end. Pine has crafted a suspenseful narrative that hooks you right from the first page. This book, like others in the series, provides a quick and engaging read that keeps you eagerly turning the pages.

What sets this novel apart is the author's ability to create a palpable sense of tension and unease throughout the story. The picturesque fells of Cumbria, usually a tranquil setting, become an eerie and foreboding backdrop for the unfolding events. Pine skillfully uses the snowstorm to heighten the stakes, effectively trapping both the characters and readers in an atmosphere of claustrophobic suspense.

The characters in The Night Before Christmas are well-developed and relatable, adding depth to the story. Their individual personalities and motivations contribute to the overall sense of danger and urgency. As readers, we become emotionally invested in their fate, anxiously hoping for their survival.

Pine's writing style is concise and fluid, allowing for a fast-paced reading experience. The author expertly weaves together multiple plot threads and keeps readers guessing until the very end. The twists and turns in the story are unexpected and satisfying, leaving you wanting more.

In conclusion, The Night Before Christmas is a must-read for fans of thrilling mysteries. Alex Pine has once again delivered an enthralling novel that combines holiday cheer with heart-pounding suspense. This book is perfect for those looking for an engrossing read during the festive season. So grab a cozy blanket, curl up by the fire, and prepare to be captivated by this gripping tale of survival, intrigue, and murder.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I've read the first 3 in the series so this was a must for me and it didn't disappoint. On his 4th Christmas in Cumbria, DCI James Walker is faced with his most challenging case yet. The story is fast paced and is based around the pro/anti hunt debate. It takes place over a week and I don't think James has more than a few hours sleep in the whole thing!
Definitely one to read while you're cosy at home as it's set in freezing wintry weather on the fells in Cumbria. It had me gripped and I never saw the ending coming!

Back in the lakes and once again the team have a festive murder to solve. Will James manage to solve it? Who is hiding things from him? Perfect detective festive read . Book 4 didn’t disappoint.

The Night Before Christmas by Alex Pine is crime thriller that takes place at Christmas time. It is told from the perspective of Detective James Walker. Four men have gone missing on Christmas Eve. They were headed out to go hunting and no one has heard from them since. The house that they were to leave from has been vandalized. Then a photo of one of the men is sent to the press and the pressure to find them is increased. I personally didn’t find this book very interesting. It wasn’t suspenseful or engaging. I decided early on who had committed the crime. The amount of information on fox hunting and the ethics of it is excessive. This is the 4th book in a series and I haven’t read any of the others. Maybe I would have liked this more if I had read the previous ones and was more invested in these characters. The investigation seemed like it was moving at a snail pace. I couldn’t really get into this. 1/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date October 26th, 2023. This review will be found on Instagram and Goodreads indefinitely.
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This was such a good festive read to help get me into the holiday spirit! I loved the small town feel and the crime that went along with it. Not something I usually put with Christmas, but it worked!!

A great festive mystery read! The suspense was well paced and it was made all the better by me reading this in a secluded spot in the Lake District!

This is the 4th book in the DI James Walker series and I have been lucky enough to read them all, but I think it could also be read as a stand alone book.
Alex Pine does not disappoint with this book which starts with 4 people lost in a snow storm and the search for them. The book is full of twists and turns and really is a page turner, I could not put it down.

This is a good crime book which is set during the festive season, which gives it a little book of sparkle. Very engrossing, which I found hard to put down.

This book was really difficult to get into. I usually enjoy an Alex pine who done it but this one left me a little disappointed. Honestly predictable and hard to get through. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.