*5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

A great read with terrific characters. It was absolutely terrible how Pieter treated Caro and her mother and the way Caro turned out was unbelievable. Aaron, Asha and the team worked tirelessly to track down the person who was responsible for the horrific murders that were occuring. I liked the ending but there were things I also would've liked answers to. Would love to read the next book. Would recommend.

It was a very easy and fun read. All the characters were thoughtfully written and had distinctive voices. I appreciated how much audience inclusion there was.

Gripping thriller set in Belfast & Dublin. Newly promoted detective sergeant Aaron Birch is shocked when his first case on promotion is a dismembered body. The body of Rob Harris discovered in his remote house by his best friend and even more shocking when the autopsy reveals human teeth marks have torn the flesh. The investigation and search for the killer takes Birch and his partner Asha Harvey across the world as it is revealed the victim served in the African Army. Good story and characters, plus lots of twists and turns.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Kerry Buchanan’s The Darkening Hills is a gripping crime thriller that transports readers to the hauntingly beautiful yet perilous hills of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This fourth installment in the Harvey and Birch series is a testament to Buchanan’s skill in crafting intricate plots and compelling characters.

The novel begins with Gerren Penrose discovering the gruesome remains of his friend, Rob Harris, in a secluded cottage. This shocking discovery sets off a chilling investigation led by Detectives Asha Harvey and Aaron Birch. 

Detectives Harvey and Birch are a dynamic duo whose contrasting personalities and investigative styles add depth to the narrative. Asha Harvey’s strong sense of justice and empathetic nature make her a relatable and engaging protagonist. Aaron Birch’s methodical approach and sharp instincts complement Harvey’s character, creating a balanced and effective partnership. 

The Darkening Hills explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the dark secrets that people hide. Buchanan delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lengths individuals will go to protect their secrets. 

Buchanan’s writing is both evocative and precise, capturing the eerie beauty of the Northern Irish landscape while maintaining a tight, suspenseful plot. Her ability to create vivid, multi-dimensional characters and weave intricate storylines keeps readers hooked.

The Darkening Hills is a standout in the crime thriller genre, offering a richly textured narrative that combines suspense, emotion, and a deep sense of place. Buchanan’s masterful storytelling and keen understanding of human nature make this novel a must-read for fans of atmospheric thrillers and character-driven mysteries. Whether you’re a long-time follower of the Harvey and Birch series or a newcomer, The Darkening Hills promises a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

Love a good crime thriller. thos was a good quick read. Very enjoyable

Thank you for the opportunity to review

The Darkening Hills is the fourth book in the crime thriller series 'Detectives Harvey and Birch murder mystery.'
It's fast paced and action packed right from the beginning, and full of twists and turns, making it very hard to put down.
This is the first book that I've read from this author, and can't wait to read more.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

So many twists!

I must admit to being seduced into reading this title by the Publisher’s Blurb, “an electrifying crime thriller full of breathtaking twists, set amid the lonely hills of County Antrim, Northern Ireland.”
I full heartedly agree. This had it all, a heart stopping criminal investigation which leads into unexpected and personal places. A frenzied and horrific killing of an old man, Rob Harris, in a lonely cottage “far from the maddening crowd,” opens up so many avenues of inquiry, but all appear to be tied up in red tape!
Detective Sergeant Aaron Birch is the main character. He’s been sent to this part of the world as a relief placement. Detective Inspector Asha Harris is monitoring the situation.
His team is varied, unexpected and often surprising.
Intriguing main and secondary characters that I’m hoping we’ll see more of.
A great read!

A Joffe Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

An old man, living alone on a nearly unreachable farm, is brutally murdered by a frenzied killer. The next night, a man is stabbed to death in his village home. The cases seem unrelated but a link is found. Detective Aaron Birch and his team work to find the person they believe may be a serial killer but they are soon mired in the past, in African history and in a hidden world of abuse. While they try to unravel this complicated case, the killer is moving closer, closer to them.

The Darkening Hills is my first in this excellent Irish police procedural series but it won’t be my last! The characters are well described, especially Asha, Aidan and Nik, the location is atmospheric and the plot is complex. I cant wait to see what comes next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Kerry Buchanan for this ARC.

A sense of Joy Ellis here with this excellent police procedural set in an evocative Irish town with all the intrigue and local politics that come with such a context. Don’t be put off by the fact that this is part of a series as this author has mastered the balance of informing new readers without boring returning readers - an under-appreciated skill indeed! The author has also got an amazing knack for dialogue and I felt truly drawn in to every conversation, enabling me to really get to know the characters and what drove them.

A murder of a reclusive man in county Antrim. Detectives Harvey and Birch investigates and try to uncover secrets from the past. Full of twists and turns, and good characters especially the two Detectives. Although a part of a series it can be read as a stand alone, though I will be reading the back catalogue. Thanks to Joffe Books and Netgalley for this review ARC

Wow! Yet another winner from @joffebooks, I really enjoyed #thedarkeninghills by Kerry Buchanan. They do a great job of giving you the backstory on these recurring characters without bogging down the story. And it's a great story. A whiplash kind of story, with a couple of incredible twists at the end.
Highly recommend.

P.S. Thanks to @joffebooks, #netgalley and Joffe's ARC program for the advance copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books allowing me to read this Irish police procedural I now some more great reading to look forward to as I read the earlier books in this series. When I requested it I hadn’t realized it was part of a series, but it’s easily read as a stand alone. Set in County Antrim, a stunningly beautiful rural part of Ireland’s north coast, Detective Aaron Birch finds himself in charge of solving the especially grisly murder of a man with out much of a past when he’s filling in for the local officer on maternity leave. The killer reveals their identity to us early on, but their motive and history are given out in bits and pieces as Birch and his old friend Asha Harvey race to stop more killings. The characters, their interactions and the story line are well written, the two plot lines were woven together in a way that had me on the edge of my seat,
Highly recommended for fans of Irish and British police procedurals with officers who are team players, and those who like a story with a well defined location that lends a presence to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffee books for my copy of The Darkening Hills by Kerry Buchanan

Rob Harris lived alone and he died alone. When the police are called to investigate his murder, it's hard to know where to start. He didn't know any one, didn't even go into the small village below, It's as if he was hiding. But from who?
Detective Aaron Birch is handed this case, his first case where he is investigating officer. Can he crack it?
Good Characterization and a fast moving plot.
Although this is the 4th book in the series it is the first one I have read. It works well as a standalone with enough backstory to fill the gaps, without it feeling like it is all a rehash.

This is my first book by the author. I was pleasantly surprised by the character development and storyline. It caught my interest from the start and I love the Irish setting. There were twists and expected outcomes. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC.

I didn’t realise it was part of a series but it was fine as a stand-alone. Great characters and storyline. Plenty of suspense to keep me enthralled. Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I didn't realize when I requested this book that it was part of a series. I haven't read the other books, but I was able to follow everything clearly. I really enjoyed this book and liked that I, the reader, got to know all the characters and see into their thoughts and understand their feelings. I even sympathized with the killer. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series.

That being said, there were a few areas where the story seemed to drag and a few too many coincidences to overlook. Such as Peter and what Gerren found in his own home. Nic also came off strangely because she seemed to know everything just because of her "intuition". She took leaps in logic that turned out to be right, which the reader knew, but it didn't make sense for her to come to some of those conclusions. She came across as a bit of a Mary Sue.

Also the ending was very abrupt. It felt like the story was nearing this epic climax and then just fizzled instead. Everything was wrapped up neatly in regards to the fate of the killer, but so many of the plot points introduced with them were left unresolved and unlikely to be addressed in upcoming books. It left me feeling like the story was unfinished.

Gerren Penrose has waited too long to call on his friend, recluse Rob Harris. He takes the twisty road to Rob's secluded cottage, steps inside.... To be hit by the stench of death. Gerren follows a trail of dismembered pieces, to what remains of his friend. The grisly sight sends him running from the cottage - the howls of Rob's beloved collie ringing in his ears. He thinks the horror is behind him. That he's alone out in the darkening hills. But he is wrong. Not far away, a woman hides in the shadows, watching silently. She and the dead man were close like you wouldn't believe. But she's not sorry he's gone. She's smiling.

Detectives Aaron Birch and Asha Harvey have been called out to a rural cottage to investigate the horrific death of Rob Harris, whose body had been dismembered. This is Aaron's first case as SIO. This twisted tale is tense and descriptive. Aaron and his team work well together. The characters are well-developed. Although this is book four in the series, it does read well as a standalone.

Published 26th September 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #KerryBuchanan for my ARC of #TheDarkeningHills in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed thus Irish police procedural. The main detective, Aaron Birch was likeable from the beginning, and I appreciated how he worked with other officers. This is a part of a series, but I never really felt out of the loop, so it was well done as a standalone read. The Irish mannerisms and speak was a bit unusual to me at first, but it added to the charm!

I really enjoyed the dramatic opening. I found the plot compelling and interesting though it's sad. The reader is aware of the killer's identity and thus is given valuable insight into the killer's actions. Thought provoking, it's a five star read.