This is #5 in the DCI James Walker series. It can easily be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the whole series.

DCI James Walker worked for the Met and lived in London with his wife, Annie, but she inherited the family home in the village of Kirkby Abbey so they decided to relocate. They now have a toddler daughter and a baby son.

For the first time since they moved to the village four years ago, James and Annie have managed to have a family Christmas Day, but it’s back to work on Boxing Day when a dog walker finds the body of Santa Claus. The village has a Santa parade on Christmas Eve so it looks as though the body has been there since then. Unfortunately, James and his team discover that the dead man was a retired police officer, known to all of them. The dead man’s wife was also a retired police officer but why hasn’t she reported her husband missing?

A brilliantly written, gripping read with lots of twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

It’s no exaggeration to say I am OBSESSED by this series. Would it even be Christmas without detective Walker shenanigans?
This book, like all the others is part of a series but also works perfectly as a standalone. DCI Walker has managed to spend Christmas with his family (for a change) by then on boxing day a body is found in his village and our journey begins. More bodies turn up, there’s a variety of suspects from the glaringly obvious to the obscure and where we end up is probably not where you’d expect.

The latest book in the detective James Walker Christmas crime series is another absolute cracker. I loved the storyline, the characters and the setting in the county of Cumbria. I read it over two days because I couldn't put it down. And there' a great ending that came as a real shock. Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of The Killer in the Cold.

A big thank you, to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of THE KILLER IN THE COLD in return for an honest review. All following review are my own honest opinions.

Based within a small village in Cumbria Detective Walker is getting ready to enjoy his first Christmas at home with this wife Annie and the couples two children. The first Christmas together without a crime taking place. This is shortly over once James (Detective) is called into work. The rest of the Christmas period has ended before it has even begun and DCI Walker has a double murder case to solve.

I thought this book was incredible, I didn’t realise that The Killer In The Cold is the fifth book in a series however, I have read this as a standalone and I still loved it. You do not have to read the series to understand the Characters as this book has some introductory pages of all the characters at the start of the book which described some of their background and who they were with a visible description - I feel all books in a series should have this! Especially if they could also be read as standalone books too. I for one will now read the rest if this series but I think I will be saving it until the winter!

There is a lot of speech which I usually do not like too much in books if I feel they could have gotten away without it. The Killer In The Cold however has got the perfect amount of speech between characters as it builds and offers a detailed insight into police investigations, the DCI was so incredibly well written especially when it came to his internal dialogue with all the thoughts he had and all the emotions he had whilst dealing with an incredibly stressful case.

If you love Detective & Murder Mysteries along side Crime Fiction then this is certainly a book for you! It is set within the winter at Christmas time with snowy weather. I must admit it did make me laugh when I have read this book in the sun and warmth but it has made me so excited for the winter and dark evenings so that I can catch up with the rest of the series curled in a blanket and join the Cumbria Police on another intense case!

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Having read previous novels by Alex Pine, I was looking forward to reading his new book and the welcome return of DCI James Walker. I enjoyed the character development of DCI Walker and his team’s characters. They feel like old friends. The plot and writing style was satisfying and keeps you reading. The location is Kirkby Abbey and Kendal in Cumbria and the descriptions are atmospheric. I can visualise the locations.

The murders of two retired police officers takes place on Christmas Eve. The victims are both known to DCI Walker and he and his team are determined to find the killer quickly. There are twists and turns throughout the plot. I love the interactions of DCI Walker’s team and their determination and loyalty to find the killer. With twists and turns on each page the story is captivating, enjoyable and I would recommend this novel.

I give a 3 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED READING COPY OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is book four in the series and is just as good as the first, great characters and a strong story, I look forward to the next one.

I was really looking forward to reading this, having previously read 3 of the others in the series.
I was so disappointed.
This read like a cosy murder mystery. The writing was simplistic. Too much information.
Most of the characters were described as being in their fifties. Zelda fell into this category, yet later, she is described as an old lady. Really? Well, for us, that is in this age bracket. Thanks!
Would a detective as SIO really be telling his wife every detail of the investigation, especially as they live in the village. I lost count the number of times each day his wife had phone calls from neighbours and people knocking on the door for information.
I won't go on. I only read to the end to find out who the suspect was.
The location is beautiful, I have visited Cumbria, and I know it has stunning scenery, which, given the amount of snow, must make it picturesque.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

The next instalment in this series is just as good as the previous books. This time James, Annie and their family have managed to have a Christmas Day all to themselves, with no murder to drag James back to work. Just as they were getting used to the time off, Santa is found murdered in the snow,
The beautiful Cumbrian countryside is described so beautifully that even when reading this book in the sun, you still feel the atmosphere, imagine the snow flakes and feel the tension in the village when a double murder stuns them all. A really good police procedural, realistic feeling investigation and an unexpected ending. My only downside is trying to imagine where this series can go next. I look forward to whatever this author writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the fifth DI James Walker series and he should have known that getting through part of Christmas meant he’d be rewarded for another festive murder case. In this instance, a killer has ended the lives of two well-liked locals, leaving a distraught family and community terrified at the thought of it happening again. Christmas deaths aren’t a new thing for James, though it does mean leaving his wife and two young children – again – while he and the team question suspects and answer to increasingly irate villagers. Will he be able to find the culprit before another body is located? If you’ve loved Alex’s other reads, you won’t be disappointed.

You know Christmas is around the corner when the new Alex Pine Christmas book is published. I've loved this series from the beginning, so I couldn't wait to jump in.

The murder of Santa and his wife (no names so no spoilers) sends shock waves around the village. I just loved everything about this book. I didn’t guess the killer.

The only downside is I now have a year to wait ....

My thanks to Alex and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Killer in the Cold in advance of the publication date.
This is the 5th book in the series but it can be read as a standalone book. It is an easy and enjoyable read as the reader is transported to the beauty of snow covered Cumbria.
For the first time in 5 years, DCI James Walker is looking forward to spending the festive season with his family.
However it is not to be when a dog walker reports finding a dead body in the snow….not just any dead body, but Santa.
Walker’s team set up a command centre in the village hall. As the body count rises and with many suspects but no evidence, it doesn’t take long for the neighbours to become confrontational.
The author has managed to weave current real life policing issues into the fictional story.

The Killer in the cold is part of a series by Alex Pine. This is the first book that I have read by the author and completely works as a stand alone read.

Another excellent book in the James Walker series although you can easily read it as a standalone. Good to see the main characters back and the ones for this book were enjoyable to read too. A great storyline that has you glued to the book until its finished - my sign of a good book! Highly recommended.

Season of Goodwill..?..
The fifth outing in the DI James Walker series, once again set against a wintry festive season. Despite the apparent season of goodwill, a killer lurks in a small village - they’ve struck once but can Walker prevent them from striking again? Another pacy and enjoyable murder mystery with a well developed cast of characters populating a fast moving and intriguing plot. The backdrop, as ever, is well done and bubbling with atmosphere.

Series
DI James Walker
1. The Christmas Killer (2020)
2. The Killer in the Snow (2021)
3. The Winter Killer (2022)
4. The Night Before Christmas (2023)
5. The Killer in the Cold (2024)

A great addition to the series. I have managed somehow to read book 1, book 2 and jump to book 5. It hasn't really taken anything away from the series for me. I still really enjoyed the books. I will however have to satisfy my curiosity and read books 3 and 4.
I'm loving how these books are all set around Christmas. It felt odd reading about the cold weather while sat in the sun.
There is a great intro to the characters at the start of this book, I love how this has been done and would be great if all seires of books had something like this, a great refresher when you've had gaps between the books you've read. Although it wasn't really an issue for me as I read book 1 2 and 5 back to back.

This really is a superb series, the writing, the storytelling is superb. It feels fresh and an exciting read. It's Christmas time again and Di James Walker and his team - based in Kendal are going to have a busy yule tide.
Another gripping winter crime thriller.

You know Christmas is on its way when Alex Pine’s latest book is ready. I absolutely love these books and the characters are brilliant and like friends now there is several books about them. I raced through this book as the twists and turns developed, it is an absolute belter of a read.

This Winter, a brutal killer strikes again in a small village. DCI James Walker is on the case. But will he find the killer before they strike again?! Great read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had great suspense, intriguing, action, murder, mystery, fantastic characters, great who done it, and few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The quiet village of Kirkby Abbey has seen more than its fair share of murder. Only four years ago, the village was the setting for the atrocities of a serial killer, and now it seems murder has once again reared its ugly head.

This is the fifth book in the DCI James Walker series and really is as good as a standalone as it is a continuation. I hadn’t read any of the previous books, but really enjoyed this one. Great characters and setting, with an engaging plot. The introduction to the team at the start of the book is a real help in working out who’s who and was very welcome.

I will definitely be getting up to speed with the previous books, and look forward to many more to come.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books Uk.