The Killer in the Snow

In the second of the DI James Walker series, it’s a year after the police officer cracked his biggest case, so with a baby on the way, he’s hoping this Christmas will be merry and bright, and murder free. But he wished too soon for a festive miracle. On Christmas Eve, a farmer discovers footsteps leading to his family’s unused basement… but no steps receding. A few days later, his body, plus that of his wife and twenty-something daughter, are found. There’s precious little evidence to help James and his team and worryingly, the crime scene echoed another similar atrocity committed in the same location two decades previously. With reminisces of Whitehouse Farm, it’s a race against time for the police to solve the case and find out who’s responsible. It’s a clever read; layered and the flashbacks really add to the tension of the two cases, as they gradually draw together.

A great sequel.

I was quite happy with Alex Pine's previous novel and was expecting something similar this time. I was pleasantly surprised that this was better. It was easier to suspend disbelief and the denouement was more satisfying.

Overall, an enjoyable second novel.

An intriguing murder mystery. Full of action and sleuthing, it was entertains from start to finish. So many plot twists had me guessing the ending in so many ways. I was wrong of course. The storylines of past and present blended together in the last few chapters and ended in a bang. Can’t wait for more from Alex Pine.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

DI James Walker returns as a killer is loose again in his sleepy village at Christmas time. A farmer, his wife and grown up daughter are discovered dead in a suspected murder/suicide. However, the more Walker and his team investigate into this family, the more interesting the case becomes. For starters, a similar fate met the previous owners over 20 years earlier. There are unaccounted footprints and a mystery peephole with fresh crumbs nearby. All is not what it seems.
I enjoyed this latest instalment, so many twists and subplots really kept the suspense going. Walker is such a likeable character too. Well done Alex Pine, 5 stars!

I really enjoyed this murder mystery, this book follows on from The Christmas Killer and i must say i found this book really engrossing, it is one of the many books i would class as my favourites from this year. It has the classic who did it feeling and will constantly keep you guessing, the characters are portrayed very well which i did enjoy. Many twists and turns, very riveting and tense which is perfect for this category. It had me gripped from the very start and i would recommend to fellow book readers. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

No Hope For Festive Season…
The second outing for DI James Walker and his hope for the impending festive season to be a quiet and peaceful one are about to be dashed. A crime scene in a local farmhouse is to give him cause for consternation. No witnesses, sparse evidence and echoes of a cold case. A compelling and entertaining read and a worthy follow up to the first in the series, although can happily be read as a standalone.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. James who is a detective returns to work after the Christmas holiday. He visits a murder scene that is very gruesome. Their was a similar murder there twenty years ago. This book kept me interested from the first page.

It snows quite a bit in the Lake District and Detective Inspector James Walker is discovering that if it coincides with a big case it's not at all helpful! After a serial killer stalked the streets of his small Cumbrian village the previous Christmas, James is delighted to spend a quiet, relaxed holiday at home this year with wife Annie and no interruptions. In fact the lack of reported criminal activity lasts until he is back at work and then suddenly everything changes.

Oaktree Farm is remote, run down, and for sale, but it isn’t empty. Death has called over the festive season and it isn't its first visit. When he finds out the farm's terrible history James can't understand why anyone would still want to live there. As his case gathers pace, and various suspects come to light, discoveries are made which begin to link the present crime to one which happened over two decades earlier.

This is the second DI James Walker book and once again it is twisty and complex from the very start. Although I worked out a main thread of the story quite early it was still a very enjoyable read and the various other twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.

There was a continuation of a storyline from book one but it was clearly explained and so both can be read as standalones. As with the first novel this is a high quality Christmas murder mystery which will definitely make you double check your doors are locked and bolted!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an entertaining, realistic police procedural which I enjoyed very much.

I was kindly sent a copy of the next book in the DI James Walker series by @avonbooksuk to read and reveal the cover. This book follows on from The Christmas Killer.

In this book, three dead bodies are discovered and with multiple possible suspects, DI Walker and his team race to find out the truth.

I loved reading this book! If you want a book that keeps you hooked right through to the end and keeps you guessing then this is a book for you!

I haven't read a thriller for a while and I loved everything about it. The characters, the detailed descriptions and the setting of the story.

This book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. Murder and mystery...mayhem...intrigue...haunted house...or is it really? Bloody footprints...past murders...missing child...this book has all the makings of intrigue and mystery...determine the outcome is not easy...that being said, there are so many characters that it is difficult to keep up. A good read...

This is why I love Avon Books UK. They have some amazing authors.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this advanced ebook copy!

The Killer in the Snow by Pine is one of the best reads I've read in months. When I seen this and read the description I had to try and get it.
I have not read the first book to this series The Christmas Killer but its most definitely on my list now.

I thought this book was brilliantly done. With amazing writing and characters that felt real.
There was never a dull moment in this dark and atmospheric story and I was riveted from start to finish. The characters were solidly drawn, lending credibility to the festive mystery/ thriller. I look forward to seeing more of DI Walker in future instalments.
It was very hard to put this book down and I highly recommend it if you like a thriller or a whodunnit!

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this outstanding novel!

Devoured this one in one sitting. In the second of the DI James Walker series, it’s a year after the police officer cracked his biggest case, so with a baby on the way, he’s hoping this Christmas will be merry and bright, and murder free. Hmmm not gonna happen. It was a fast paced book from beginning to end and very intense. The author has a very clever mind. This is the fourth book I have read by this author and will now search out other books!

A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season. But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter. Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier. This is the second in the DI Walker series and an outstanding sequel. Interesting characters and location, a gripping and dark mystery, this book was such a great read. I am really looking forward to the third book in this series. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

This is a Christmas Mystery, and this is the second book in the DI James Walker Series. I did read and review the first book in this series before picking up this book. I did not feel you have to read the first book in this series before reading this one, but there is a lot of things said about the first books case in this book. I have to say I liked this book a lot more then the first book not that I did not enjoyed reading the first book. I found the case that DI James is working on in this book more interesting. I was really pulled into the case, and I found myself wanting to how what happen to the family that was killed. I did find the flash backs in this book to be a little weird at first, and I think they could have been written in a little bit better. The characters in this book are the type of characters that grow on you. I found that I also really did not care about the side storyline that was going on in this book because I guessed what was going on the minute it came up in the story. I am glad it came to a end because I was getting sick of it coming up, and it runs in the first book and this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Avon) or author (Alex Pine) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

I really enjoyed Alex Pine’s first book in this series The Christmas Killer and was excited to have the opportunity to read the
Is as an ARC. The Killer in the Snow is set 12.months after the events of the first book in the sleepy Cumbrian village Kirkby Abbey. DI James walker and his team find themselves faced with another multiple murder to solve. A good romping yarn that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This is the second instalment in the James Walker series. James Walker is a detective, and lives with his wife, Annie, in Kirkby Abbey after moving from The Met in London when his life was threatened from a previous case he had worked on. The first book focused on their arrivals to Cumbria and a serial killer that was on the loose. In this book, Walker is sent to investigate the deaths of a husband, wife, and daughter on their farm over Christmas. We go through the highs and lows with the team to catch the perpetrators. And to top it off, the threat from London on Walker’s life has caught up with him in Cumbria.

Although this is only the second one it is definitely shaping up to be a series I will look forward to and enjoy. The characters are all down to earth and relatable. The stories and emotions all feel authentic. The author uses lots of descriptives to really set the scene to give the book a real feel. It’s extremely well written, and every chapter offers a new element to the story, and I genuinely didn’t guess until the final few chapters. Another excellent read from this author.

What a twisty-turvy mystery “The Killer in the Snow” turned out to be. A Scottish murder neeeds to be solved and who better than Detective James to do the solving. As typical this Scottish detective has moved to this small town after he and his wife were threatened by a criminal, our detective had put in jail. Who exactly was the killer? Many possible suspects were interrogated along this novel’s storyline. Woven into the story seamlessly, these characters had me guessing whodunit with various clues. Would make a good Netflix series!

My thanks to Alex and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Killer in the Snow in advance of the publication date.
Last Christmas, DI James Walker and his team had to investigate a serial killer in the quiet Cumbrian village of Kirkby Abbey. This year, James is enjoying a quiet Christmas with his wife, Annie, as they make plans for the birth of their first child.
On his first day back at work, there is a report that 3 bodies have been found at Oaktree Farm outside Kirkby Abbey. They are identified as the owner, Robert Bateman, his wife, Mary and daughter Charlotte.
As the investigation gets underway, DI Walker discovers that there was friction within the family and there are a number of people who were unhappy with Robert Bateman.
24 years earlier, the then owners of Oaktree Farm, Simon and Amanda Roth were found dead and their 6 week old daughter, Megan, was missing. This raises the question of whether there is a link between the 2 events and is Walker investigating 2 crimes.
Walker also receives a report from his former colleagues in the Met that his nemesis, gang land boss Andrew Sullivan, is wanted for murder and has Walker in his sights.
Pine manages to weave a gruesome tale of murder with the beautiful settings of Cumbria, exposing the secrets of the residents.

The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine

DI James Walker and his pregnant wife are enjoying their second Christmas in Cumbria. They have had a quiet Christmas in comparison to the year before where James was newly in the job and dealing with a highly unusual for the area , a series of murders in a quiet village.
No sooner than being back in the office , and a call comes in from a solicitor who was called to a farm by a farmer who is selling up at the point of bankruptcy. She finds him , his wife and daughter dead.
DI James soon on the scene , finds out the farm was also the spot the previous farmer killed his wife 20 years previously.
What follows is the mystery , suspense and brilliant twists to make this a great read.
Whilst it is the second of a series of Di James Walker and not one I had read previously , it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story and I look forward to the 3rd one.

A page turning delight! I couldnt put this down and when I thought I had it figured out I was wrong. A very enjoyable read

This is the first book I have read by this author & I enjoyed it. Lots of twists & turns to keep me guessing & racing to the end to see how it all finished up.

I had loved the 1st book from this author, so had to read this one. I was certainly not disappointed.

The book was very fast paced and exciting. Twists and turns throughout. Fantastic plot to keep you on the edge of your chair, desperate for more.

Was great to head back to Kirkby Abbey and catch up with those we had heard about in the last book. If you haven’t read either of these books you must. You don’t know what your missing.

The book once again was very well written. Flowed well. Nice cover on the book also.

Can’t wait to find out if there is another book to come

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this tantalizing mystery in return for an honest review. The complicated, but easy-to-follow plot flows well. It will keep readers engaged while they try to untangle the mystery. This is a police procedural that describes how painstaking and detailed their work must be in order to solve the case. There are no graphic sex scenes or vulgar language. Violence was described through flashbacks to the past, or by discovering already murdered victims.

I enjoyed the fact that the lead detective, DI James Walker, seems so well adjusted with a pleasant, comfortable home life, unlike many lead detectives in fiction who have emotional issues in their personal lives that they soothe with alcohol. He also has a cooperative team working together without dissension, and delegates tasks wisely. He is calm, persistent, and patient in his skilled interrogation of suspects. I learned that this is the second book in the DI Walker series, both cases occurring in a quiet village during the Christmas season. This works as a standalone but refers to previous events which raised my interest in reading the first book.

A family of three, an adult daughter and her parents, are found in a bloody scene at an isolated farmhouse. Forensic evidence suggests they were murdered on Christmas eve. DI Walker was hoping to spend the holiday season relaxing at home, but like a year ago this is not to be. To add to the mystery, the team finds a walled-in hidden room containing a peephole, giving an eerie suggestion that the family was being watched. There is shocking proof that an unknown person was secretly observing the murdered family. The farm was deeply in unpaid debt, partly due to the father's gambling addiction. The high-strung mother hated the home, believing it to be haunted. The daughter had anger issues and was rebellious, engaging in drugs with unsavoury friends. The detectives uncover multiple suspects, secrets and intrigue.

More than two decades earlier, the previous owners of the farm were murdered in the basement and their baby daughter vanished. This murder was never solved. The investigators feel there must be a connection between this cold case and the present family murder. With so many possible perpetrators, they must find a motive linking both killings within the same house during the elapsed time period. Can they succeed? In an unrelated thread, there is a gangster that Walker helped imprison while working in London who is bound on revenge.
Recommended for readers those who enjoy a suspenseful, complex, easy-to-follow mystery with engaging and dedicated investigators. I would read Alex Pine's next book in the series.

The first DI Walker book in the series was an amazing debut novel from Alex Pine and I was thrilled to be able to read the second one. However, The Killer in the Snow can easily be read as a standalone.

DI Walker worked for the Met and lived in London with his wife, Annie, but when she inherits the family home in the village of Kirkby Abbey and there’s a dangerous criminal looking for her husband, they move up to the Cumbrian village. They’re only up there for a short time when a killer strikes.

A year later, on Christmas Eve, a family of three are found dead, and the dangerous criminal is still looking for DI Walker.

A brilliant, well-written story with lots of twists and turns that the reader won’t be expecting.

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

A brilliant book loved it, full of action this book has some nice twists that will keep you guessing. It has a great storyline and the characters really blend together.5*

Another amazing and intense book in this series, you really don't have had to read the other book in the series, but it would help. I got so engrossed in the work, private life as well as the threats to the main characters. What a beautiful setting it was so well described that I thought I was there. I just cant wait for instalment three - cant say anything more as don't want to spoil it.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

This is probably one of my favourite books tk review in recent weeks. It has twists, it has turns, it keeps you guessing, it doesn't drag and doesn't go into the realm of being ridiculously unbelievable! It'll definitely keep you reading through the night and no doubt, heading off to download the rest of the authors books as soon as you finish this one

Spooky scary crime book. Absolutely fantastic. Really made me keep the light on and read into the night. Sad I finished reading it as it was so good. Am going to look at the authors other books which hopefully there are lots of!

This is the second book in the DI James Walker series and it is just as enjoyable as the first.

A family is found dead at their farmhouse just after Christmas. Was it murder-suicide or something more sinister? It’s up to DI Walker and his team to discover exactly what happened.

A good story with plenty of twists which was an easy and enjoyable read. I look forward to the next book in this series.

I stayed up past my bedtime to finish this last night.

When three dead bodies turn up in DI James Walker’s village he needs to find out if it’s murder or a murder/suicide. It soon comes to light that the deaths resemble those of 24 years ago in the exact same farmhouse. Are they linked? To make matters worse DI Walker’s old adversary from London is released from prison and looking for revenge.

It’s one I’d definitely recommend if you fancy a Christmas book but prefer crime to rom-com. It’s the second book featuring DI James Walker, the first being “The Christmas Killer” released last year. You don’t need to have read the first book to read this one and if you thought the first one was a bit predictable and you guessed the ending id still recommend checking this one out. I thought I knew what was going on but then there’s clever little twists that make you doubt yourself.

A good thriller that was fast paced with a good amount of twists and turns and unpredictability. I also loved the setting and how it made me feel warm abd cozy as snow and cabins etc al;ways do yet at the same time unsettled and uneasy.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

I found this book highly entertaining and and a very enjoyable read.It is the second book by Alex Pine and has the making of a wonderful series..A good plot line and lots of twists and turns and very likeable characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Avon Books UK, Avon and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This sequel in an established series was as thrilling as the first one. Twists and turns keep your guessing.

First of all, thank you to Avon Books UK for giving me an advanced reader's copy of this book. Here's my review:

This book is all you can ask for when looking for a good thriller. There were a lot of times I thought I really had it in the bag of whodunnit, but, man, was I always wrong after a new twist. And the twists were well-thought-out, too. Most books I've read in the past that had this many twists felt kind of forced, honestly speaking. Plus the ending totally caught me offguard. Brilliantly written! Now I have to read more of Alex Pine's work, and looking forward to it. 🧡

I greatly appreciate the publishers sending me this book in exchange for my honest review. The Killer in the snow it the follow up to the DI James Walker series. I enjoyed the plot as I found it rather easy to follow and that it flows nicely. This book can be read as a stand alone but does reference previous events from the book before. Walker is a great character and one that I find refreshing. I love police procedural book but often times the detective is saddled with mounds of their own issues making them unreliable trying to solve the case. I enjoyed the straight laced mindset of Walker!

This is the second book in this series and though I have read both it is important to know you don't need to read the first to understand and enjoy this book.

DI Walker is back with another murder to solve at Christmas. This time it's a triple murder to investigate of a husband, wife and grown daughter. The farm where the murder occurs is the same place of a double murder/suicide which happened with the previous owners. Are the two incidents related?

I really enjoy this series of books and hope there are more to come as I will enjoy knowing more about Walker and his wife Annie. No, this book isn't a hard hitting gruesome crime thriller, so if that's what you are wanting then this isn't for you. This however is an easy mystery read with a wonderful scenery and enjoyable characters which takes you away from our every day mundane lives.

A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season.

But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.

Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier…

I enjoyed this book, having read The Christmas Killer I was familiar with the characters and am growing to like them, the book I feel was better than the first and gripped you from the first pages, I liked the way in concentrated on the actual murder and not so much on DCI Walkers Home life, I am looking forward to more in this series of books as I already enjoy JP Carter's (Alex Pine) writing style, would recommend reading this

This is the second book of the DI James Walker series, although this is the first time I am reading the series.

In a farm, a father, mother and a daughter were found dead inside the barn. It happened to look like a suicide--daughter was stabbed, the mother was shot and the father shot himself. But when the detectives finds that the father, Robert Bateman is in huge debts and the Bateman seemed to be having enemies, they soon ruled this case as a murder.

The story started out a bit slow but soon towards the middle, it got a bit more interesting as the secrets started revealing about the family and that there was another murder that happened on the very same farm almost twenty four years ago with a baby missing. Soon, this begins a cat and mouse chase game and then there were some twists and turns that it got fast paced until the end.

Overall this thriller is a slow burn book--it wasn't bad but it was good too that will keep you engrossed in the book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my opinion only.

I loved Alex Pine's first book - The Christmas Killer, so I was excited to return to Cumbria for another snowy crime-fest. DI James Walker and his team have another mystery to solve, whilst battling harsh winter weather.
Shortly after Christmas a family are found dead in their remote farmhouse, one stabbed and two shot. Was this a family murder suicide, or is there something more for DI Walker to discover? The plot thickens when a previous incident from over 20 years ago is raised. At the same farmhouse a couple were found dead and their small baby missing.
Are the crimes linked? There are plenty of credible suspects and lots of twists and turns in the investigation. I wasn't quite as gripped as the first one in the series, but still an excellent read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

Another good book by this author. I enjoyed the characters and the plot line was interesting. The only part I didn't like was right at the beginning giving the description of the main character and the back story. It's second in a series so there was no need for it I thought.
Was a great ending!

I keep trying to love police procedurals and I keep not liking them. I did finish this book and will rate it based on the writing alone. The prose was wonderful. I can read Alex Pine all day long. Just not a fan of police side of things.

This story is gripping from the start. It gets into the mystery of the murder quite quickly. The story was easy to follow even though there was a lot happening, which was great. The story also keeps you guessing what actually happened until the ending. Overall it was a super enjoyable murder mystery book!

A entertaining, though rather grim, story. Quite predictable, really, as clues were dropped at various points in the novel. However, I suppose that is part of the satisfaction, working it out for oneself. The characters seemed a little bit wooden to me, although they were interesting, and gave the story its twists and turns. I would certainly read another book by this author. A good read for light entertainment.

The Killer in the Snow is an unputdownable, suspenseful and riveting book, chock full of layered mysteries and tension. I did not realize it is part of a series. Though it stands beautifully on its own, it is so arresting that this series has been added to my list to immerse myself in. That cover, though!

DI James Walker and his wife are living in rural England. And they have a secret. But so do killers. When murder enters the scene, locals are sickened in many ways. Not only were there killings in the area twenty years prior but the similarities between them and the current case are uncanny and disturbing. Walker must contend with fear, mysterious shoe prints and a creepy house, not to mention his past.

I read this book in a small cabin in the woods in the dark of night, deliberately setting the scene for maximum enjoyment of this thriller. The introduction to DI Walker and his colleagues is helpful and I really like the plot building. So well done. Walker's relationship with his wife is refreshingly a loving and caring one.

Suspense and thriller readers, do not miss this perfectly dark (yet not a Horror) story. To me it is the perfect balance of past and present happenings, psychological mind plays and importance of unshakeable relationships.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for introducing me to a new-to-me series and the privilege of reading this suspenseful book. Can't wait to read everything I can get my hands on by this author.

This is an excellent police procedural, set in the beautiful Lake District. It is the second in the series, but I haven’t read the first volume so can testify that it works equally well as a stand alone novel. Investigating 2 apparent murder/suicides, 24 years apart, at a remote farmhouse, with a violent criminal looking for revenge to add extra stress, DI James Walker certainly has his work cut out. Numerous suspects add variety to the tale. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to next next in this series.

What a puzzle! On Christmas Eve, at Oaktree Farm, the owner, his wife and daughter are found murdered. Twenty four years earlier, at Oaktree Farm, the owner and his wife were found murdered. Their infant daughter was never found.

Wondering how these cases could be related, DI James Walker and his team begin to investigate. Robert Bateman, killed on Christmas Eve, had a gambling problem and was about to lose the farm. Threats are found on his phone. His daughter Charlotte is dating a possible drug dealer. And, behind the boarded over cellar door, there’s a peephole where someone has been watching the Batemans. Someone who left bloody shoe prints from the outer cellar door. Prints that don’t match any found near the bodies. As Walker tries to unravel the mystery behind the killings, he faces another threat. Andrew Sullivan, a gang leader, is out of jail and looking for revenge. Walker and his wife are on his list.

Alex Pine seamlessly weaves together two murder cases, decades apart, with a memorable group of suspects and a distracting outside threat in this well written, suspenseful police procedural. The conclusion is a total surprise. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Alex Pine for tis ARC.

A family murder on Oaktree Farm seems to be a simple case of murder suicide but DI James Walker of the Cumbria Constabulary isn't too sure especially when he learns about the sad history of the farm. Will the team be able to find out the truth about the farm and it's secrets? Things can't get any worse for DI Walker as there is a gang boss out there that wants revenge for sending him to prison.
The team is working hard to piece all the clues together and the pool of suspects grows the more they learn about Robert Bateman as he was in a lot of debt and he let some of his friends down but could one of them killed the whole family?
The family has secrets and when the team learn the truth about the family murder all those years ago they are shocked but it answers all the questions about the original murder and the missing baby.
Will Di Walker and his wife be able to enjoy the upcoming birth of their baby without fear?
A good read full of shocking revelations that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books.

This is the 2nd book in the DI James Walker series.

I didn’t realise this was part of a series, it wasn’t clear on NetGalley.

However, I was able to follow it without feeling like i’d missed major details from the first book.

It’s a Christmas crime book - which you could argue it is a bit early for since it’s 3 months away!

I did enjoy this book. It a cosy mystery with plenty of twists to keep you gripped.

Now knowing it’s part of a series, I’m interested enough to want to go back and read the first book.

This is the follow up to The Christmas Killer, with DI James Walker, and his wife Annie, who have moved from London back to her home village in Cumbria, after a crime boss made threats against them. This is a really good follow up to that book; it’s a year on and just as gruesome a crime with - as the author put it - more ups and downs than a Big Dipper. The pace is brisk, as the first hours and days of a murder incident room would be. From no suspects to several, and back again. The victims too aren’t quite as they seem on face value. Added to that a very similar crime took place at the same location over 20 years before. Very well written, especially with the use of flashbacks, and I really like James, Annie and the other characters we met before, they’re developing really nicely. I did guess what the main twist would be but not who actually did it. Although this is definitely a stand alone read, I’m glad I read the The Christmas Killer. I look forward to more in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Killer in the snow by Alex Pine is the second in the D I James Walker series. It is a year since the Christmas killer case and James is thrown into another case during Christmas time. On Christmas eve a farmer comes home to see footsteps in the snow lead to his unused cellar. Days later the farmer and his wife and their grown-up daughter is found brutally murdered at Oaktree farm.
Is this suicide or were the murdered?
As the case is investigated James Walker finds out that the farmer was in a lot of debt. Was this one of the reasons that he and his family are dead? We also learned that 24 years previous that the owners of the farm also ended up the same way and their daughter was missing. Are these deaths connected somehow?
This is another great story from Alex pine that I really enjoyed. It had interesting plot with several points of view that kept you guessing and a few red herrings along the way. The story was also going back and forward in time to find out the similarities between the two murders which gave you the full picture of what and why these deaths occurred that kept me guessing until the end. James walker is such a likeable character I would like to see how this series develops. 5 stars from me.

I enjoyed this second book even better than the 1st. The plot was intriguing and kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed all the characters and learning more about them throughout the book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

I thought this was an okay read, with a great setting. I like the lake District, the characters were well written, and the mystery was interesting. I found the writing style a little stilted and I think it could have been tightened up. I was also very concerned about the lack of nutrition eaten by the main police man, when he came home from a hard day at work trying to solve a messy crime his wife bunged a ready meal in the microwave for him, on another occasion he had a cheese sandwich after a hard day at work. There is obviously a shortage of fruit, veg and salad in the lake district these days, I can't believe how distracted I became by his lack of good food ! Overall this was a reasonable read and its a 4 star read for me.

DI James Walker and his wife Annie moved to Kirkby Abbey, a sleepy Cumbrian village, to escape from London. Last Christmas their plans were ruined when a serial killer roamed the district but they are hoping for a quiet family Christmas this year. A local farmer returns home to find footsteps in the snow leading to a disused cellar and a commotion going on inside the farmhouse. Like a lot of farmers in the area the family are struggling financially and the farm is up for sale but they too are hoping for one last family Christmas in their home. Sadly it is not to be for either household and the unfolding story is brilliantly woven and had me gripped from the first page to the last.

DI James Walker was hoping for a quiet Christmas as last year was stressful hunting down a serial killer. Unfortunately, he’s not that lucky.

Two days after Christmas he is called out to a possible murder/suicide at Oaktree Farm where the owners, the Batemans, have suffered gunshot wounds and their daughter has been stabbed, plus the daughter’s boyfriend has gone missing.

The investigation is just getting underway when DI Walker is made aware of a similar murder/suicide at the farm twenty years ago, one in which the couples baby daughter went missing, presumed dead. Could the cases be linked?

I haven’t read the first book, The Christmas Killer, but as this book worked as a standalone and I was intrigued enough by the plot that I decided to give it a read, though I never felt like I got to know DI James Walker fully or appreciated his character in the way I would have had I read the first book.

The book is set in Cumbria, a place where I’m not sure I want to visit anymore given by how many thriller/detective books are set there!! Joking aside, Cumbria with its vast open spaces, numerous forests and lakes, plus tiny villages make for a great place to set a thriller and I can see why so many authors do.

The plot felt fast and edgy, plus, the investigation had many leads to it, including a few red herrings. Given that I read a lot of thrillers I tend to have a good idea early on what has happened and by 38% of the way through the book I made my prediction which turned out to be near as damn right. This, however, didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book as I then needed to see if I was right or what I had missed.

The Killer in the Snow kept me interested the whole way through. It had plenty of suspense and twists to keep you on your toes. It is dark and foreboding at times and I loved the snippets of info from twenty years ago and the first murder case at the farm and how DI Walker worked on the two cases to close them both.

Wow I loved this……. So much that i’ve downloaded the first book! Was grateful for the overview of the characters at the beginning of the book! Fast paced thriller, believable storyline and interesting characters! Would highly recommend

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The storyline intertwined so well with the previous book and flowed well. Very refreshing that the main character isn't a hard drinking man with a broken marriage behind him living in a crappy flat. I did figure out who dunnit but not until well into the book and it didn't ruin it for me, I wanted to keep reading to see if I was right and how it had all come about. I really hope that there are many more books planned for this detective.

I am new to the murder-mystery genre, but, as they toe the line between thriller and true mystery, I have started to try more and more. Recently, Alex Pine’s James Walker follow-up was available for a look, and I am glad I didn’t pass this up. There is just enough chaos to drive you crazy and more than enough intrigue to keep you asking, “what in the hell is going on?”

Robert Bateman is a troubled farmer with great debt, mainly due to his gambling habits, on the way home to Oaktree Farm. When he returns, his world completely changes. Oaktree Farm has its secrets. More than two decades ago, Simon and Amanda Roth met a grizzly death there that was ruled a murder-suicide. Megan, the Roth’s daughter, disappeared the same night.

Detective James Walker and his partner Detective Jessica Abbott are on the case and endure car chases, shootings, and enough bad guys with secrets to keep you glued to the pages.

Pine’s ability to keep multiple storylines going all at once and keep them separate is phenomenal. The Killer in the Snow is dark, gruesome, and will make you question everything about everyone you have ever known. How dark are their secrets?

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Avon for an advance copy of #TheKillerInTheSnow by #AlexPine
This is the second in the DI James Walker series and once again he finds himself investigating multiple murders at Christmas. When a lawyer goes to call on the clients on Boxing Day she doesn’t expect to find a bloodbath with all three members of the family slain. When it’s discovered that the previous owners were also found murdered 20 years ago James must use all his resolve to solve this baffling murder.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alex Pine's Killer in the Snow is a fast-moving mystery with a complex and intriguing plot. For any mystery reader, its pace, characters, and setting are just the right ingredients for a first-class thriller. Detective Inspector James Walker is not only faced with a complicated mystery that covers 24 years of an unsolved, grisly enigma, but he and his wife live in constant fear of a nefarious and violent criminal unrelated to the mystery at hand. I'm waiting avidly for Pine's next thriller.

Book 2 in the DI James Walker series and a well written and enjoyable read which can easily be read as a stand-alone. Walker is a well written and well adjusted character with a happy family life, unusually so for a fictional detective.

Briefly, when a family of three are found dead at a local farm Walker and his team are on the case. By a strange coincidence the farm had seen a similar occurrence more than 20 years earlier when the then owners were found dead and their baby missing. Are the two events connected? Walker is convinced that both cases need solving. Unrelated to these cases Walker and his wife are living in Cumbria having left London following threats from a psychotic gangster. He has escaped prison and has vowed revenge on Walker.

A good easy read and I would definitely read the next in the series. In the spirit of disclosure I did pretty much guess the plot-line regarding the historical murders but I was way off on the current case. All in all a good police procedural ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Killer in the Snow is a perfect suspenseful mystery. I had a hard time putting it down. The chapters were short (my favourite), the story moved quickly, there were twists and turns and a satisfying end.

When a family is found dead in their remote farmhouse on Boxing Day, DI James Walker has to unwind a tangled web of clues, including ones that connect to a 24 year old cold case. Set in the Lake District of England the descriptions of the setting were just perfect for a fall read.

While this is the second book in a series you really don’t need to have read the first to enjoy this one, I haven’t and am now going to go back to read the first. If you’re looking for a quick, exciting mystery definitely check out The Killer in the Snow.

This was a page turner set in the most chilling of atmospheres (pun not intended!). It's a riveting book, that has you on the edge of your seat. And though I hadn't read the first one, it didn't impact my enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts a year on from the previous book "The Christmas Killer". James and Annie have settled down and Annie is now pregnant. James is called out to a remote farmhouse where a family of three have been killed. As this is investigated, parallels are drawn to another killing that occurred there over twenty years before and where the baby daughter of that family is still missing. In-between times James is contacted by the Met Police to tell him that his nemesis from the previous book is one the run and he needs to be careful as the Met have lost track of him.
I enjoyed this as I read it back to back with The Christmas Killer and enjoyed the continuity of reading it this way.
I would say that it can be read as a standalone as there is a synopsis of characters at the beginning of the book to explain who is who.

A gripping story, likeable characters and well paced.

I loved the ending and will definitely aim to read others by this author and the previous book in the series.

This book was right up my street!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Alex Pine for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book follows DI James Walker who has moved to Cumbria with his pregnant wife. This book is the second in the series and directly follows on from the first. There has been a murder at a Farm barn, the same barn where an unsolved murder happened twenty years ago.

I loved this book! It is dark, gritty and thrilling. I haven't read the first in the series but it doesn't overly matter. It is fast-paced and has you hooked from the first few pages. I devoured this book in two sittings. The characters are likeable and plot is enjoyable.

I can't wait to read more by Alex.

Di James Walker once again finds himself racing to find a villain during the holiday season, The murder of a family- parents and an adult daughter- at a farm that was the scene of an unsolved murder 20 years before raises questions about what really happened that time- because a child went missing then. It's a nicely twisty procedural with a good character in Walker, who, unlike so many in this genre, seems to be a steady person. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This is the second book in the detective James Walker series but this book could be read as a stand alone thriller for those who haven’t read the first book which I found to be just as good as this one. So for anyone who’s looking for a couple of good Christmas murders the DI James Walker books are certainly for you!

What can I say about the killer in the snow except for WOW! This book had me hooked from the first page, I didn’t want to put it down and this was one of the twistiest and most complicated murder cases I’ve ever read about.

After a quiet Christmas DI James Walker is called to a murder at a local farm house it soon becomes clear that the bodies all belong to the family that are currently living there. James has a long list of suspects however none of them quite fit they all have allies and James cannot help but think he is missing a key piece of information in order to solve this case.

Then comes along another twist. The same crime was committed 24 years ago at the very same farm house the only difference is that in this case the daughter Charlotte has been murder; however in the first case the baby Megan her body was never found. Is it coincidence that the same crime has been committed or are they in some way linked. Whatever the answer James is determined to get to the bottom of it.

I loved this book and enjoyed every minute of it. There were so many twists, turns and surprises on just about every page every time I though this book couldn’t get any better or more surprising it did. I also really enjoyed the end, I had many ideas in my mind of how this book my conclude but the ending that happened I hadn’t pictured and I think it was really cleverly done, very well thought out and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the way!

This is the second in the DI James Walker series and the first that I’ve read but I found it was completely standalone, although I will be going back to read the first in the series.

This was a solid police procedural thriller that is perfect for fans of Cara Hunter. The entire book was focused purely on the case with an extra side story which involved DI James Walker, however I’m glad that this was just in the background as I was there to solve this crime and only that!

It’s a real page turner and with each chapter another piece of the case is revealed as we get closer to the truth of what happened that fateful night. I especially warmed to DI James Walker who I thought was a great character and someone who I cared about what happened to them.

Overall if you’re a fan of police procedural and crime thrillers then I highly recommend giving this a read – I’m off to read the first in the series.

DI James Walker is hoping for a quiet Christmas in Kirkby Abbey this year after the horrific events of the previous one. After a peaceful couple of days he returns to work to the news that 3 bodies have been found at a remote farmhouse in what looks like a murder, suicide.
However the scene throws up too many questions for the case to be solved so easily and it quickly becomes clear that the 3 people were murdered.
As the investigation progresses James finds that he has more suspects than evidence to link any of them to the crime. He also discovers an eerily similar event took place at the farm 24 years ago. Could the past and present crimes be somehow linked.
I loved this book. How things were exposed layer upon layer and you just didn't know what would be unearthed next. DI Walker is rare in that he has a happy settled home life and he's not constantly in conflict with his bosses and I really like that.

I read The Christmas Killer last Christmas and am always on the lookout for a thriller set during the festive season, so I was excited to pick up the second book in the series, The Killer in the Snow.

While I enjoyed the first book, I did find it a little slow at the beginning, although I was still excited to see more from the characters. And this second instalment definitely picks up the pace. There’s a lot of action throughout, the pace is quick, and it’s an exciting case to follow.

Pine starts off by summarising the events of the first book without giving any spoilers, so this can easily be read as a standalone. I also love that he provides a set of character profiles at the start for any new readers, making sure that everybody starts off in a knowledgeable place.

The case is a really interesting one to follow and will feel similar to certain true-crime documentaries that have been popular this year, with a desolate farm being the setting for a crime in both the present and past.

Although the case is complex with two stories coming together, it’s easy to follow and constantly intriguing. I did guess the twist early on after making a wild prediction, but I was still excited to see if I was right and how the answers would be revealed.

A definite improvement on the first book, I look forward to seeing what DI James Walker is faced with next and whether he can get through a Christmas without a murder happening on his doorstep.

I was so pleased to get this book after reading The Christmas Killer which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Personally I felt this one was even better, a great story line that kept me involved from the beginning to the end. All the characters were interesting and I particularly enjoyed how the two cases in this book came together and I just love the Lake District so I was familiar with the areas in the book.

I think D.I. James Walker is fast becoming a favourite of mine along with Alex Pine being one of my top authors.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book, five plus stars from me and I look forward to number 3.

A digital copy of this book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When the gruesome deaths of Robert and Mary Bateman and their 24-year old daughter, Charlotte are discovered at Oaktree Farm the scene is eerily similar to a murder suicide of the previous owners of the same farm. DI Walker and his team start to gather clues and multiple suspects come to light. The investigation leads to them searching for the answers to the first crime committed 24 years ago. To top that off, his former nemesis Sullivan has escaped the Met's radar. I really enjoy this series. So far both books have taken place over the Christmas holidays. This is an easy read.

Thank you NetGalley, Alex Pine and Avon Books UK

My full review of The Killer in the Snow can be found on the My Weekly website in a short while.

The Killer in the Snow is a fast paced narrative with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing from start to finish as DI James Walker find himself under pressure personally and professionally. Perfect for Christmas reading, this isn't a cosy crime!

Psychological thrillers and crime stories with more twists and turns than a maze are great but sometimes you just want to read a good solid police procedural. In that case you will really enjoy this book, the second in the series. I loved that the main character is happily married and has a good relationship with both his superiors and those officers under his command. This may be book 2 but it can easily be read as a stand alone. In fact the author manages to reference the previous case just enough to whet your appetite without giving anything away.

A very interesting read. You hear about these types of crimes on real crime shows. Things seem very coincidental, but they really aren’t. There were a few points where I could guess what was going to happen next, but there was enough of a storyline to keep the reader interested.
I liked the characters and felt the story was believable. I’m not sure I’ll be popping up there any time soon.

The Killer in the Snow will keep you turning the pages to solve this murder. Not only a family that turns up murdered but also a cold case with similar details. Add into this a criminal that wants revenge. Lots of irons in the fire, plus a lack of witinesses.

DI James Walker Series #2

A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he's hoping for peace and quiet this festive season. But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement - and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside his wife and daughter.

DI James Walker is investigating what looks like a murder/suicide of a farmer. his wife and daughter. But the more James Walker and his team investigate into the family, the more intriguing the case becomes. Over twenty years ago, the previous owners met a similar fate. There's also a dangerous London gangster who's went that's vowed vengeance on James Walker.

The pace is fast in this twist filled read. There's also plenty of suspects to choose from. This is quite a good series so far. The books can be read as standalones.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #AlexPine for my ARC of #TheKillerInTheSnow in exchange for an honest review.

DI James Walker returns to investigate an apparent murder suicide, but is all as it first appears?
There are many twists and turns in this story and it makes for an intriguing, enjoyable read.
The characters have depth and are personable in their nature , the writing is of a decent pace not too fast or slow. There are enough threads in the book to keep the readers interest , and kept me guessing until near to the end.
An enjoyable read , sit back with a mug of hot chocolate and spend the time wallowing in the snowy depths of Cumbria, you’ll not regret it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book.
On a remote farm, the bodies of 3 family members are found and DI James Walker is going to try and find out who did it. It's not going to be easy because there are plenty of suspects.

Apparently this is the second instalment in the Detective James Walker series who lives with his pregnant wife, Annie, in Kirkby Abbey, Cumbria after moving from London when his life was threatened. I had not read the first book in the series but it mattered not..

This murder mystery book revolves around the bloody deaths of a husband, wife, and daughter on their remote Cumbrian farm over Christmas. DI Walker sets about unravelling the case with many twists all written in, what I call, an uncomplicated way. A really satisfying read with many characters/red herrings.

I would have liked a little more personal background on James and his wife, and a little humour (gallows?) would have been welcome but overall these did not reduce the stars from five.

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read and review.

Robert Bateman has a quick drink in the pub on Christmas Eve, buys a couple of bottles of wine and heads home to celebrate the last Christmas at the farm where he lives with his wife. His daughter and her partner will be joining them. However on his return home he sees footprints leading to the cellar and hears glass smashing in the kitchen.
A couple of days later after spending a peaceful Christmas DI Walker is contacted with news of three deaths at the farm. His detective work links this case with a previous case of a suspected murder/suicide at the farm 24 years previous. He and his team have to pick through all the evidence to come to a shocking conclusion. And at the same time he's faced with the discovery that the mob killer Sullivan is still on his tail.
A refreshing detective series in that the main protagonist is a happily married man with good work/play ethics which seem to be lacking in a lot of detective series. This book is a standalone from the first novel The Christmas Killer but just as enjoyable
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Small town murder mystery where nothing is what it seems! This book was really intriguing and such a page turner as we tried to figure out what happened most recently and all those years ago.

In a small town on Christmas Eve, Robert comes home and sees footsteps leading into the cellar outside, but none leading away. As he's about to go investigate, he hears screaming inside the house and runs in. Days later, Robert, his wife and daughter are found murdered and the investigation of a generation commences. The plot twist - an eerily similar crime happened in that very house 20-something years earlier. Are the cases related? it's hard to ignore the similarities, both in how the crimes were committed, the families, and the location.

Alex Pine has a gripping read as we try and figure out who the killer in the snow is and one thing is clear: no one and nothing is what it seems.

Thank you Net Galley and Avon books for the early look at this book!

Although the second in the series, you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this - I haven't and although some back-story has been missed, I didn't think it detracted from the overall story at all.

A triple murder has occurred in an isolated farm on the outskirts of the fictional village of Kirkby Abbey in Cumbria. Initially, it looks like a clear case of murder-suicide however, on further inspection, things just don't add up. In addition, there are similarities to a murder-suicide at the same house some 20 years earlier.

Are the two connected?

This is a well written murder mystery with a great plot and excellent characters. Alex Pine really captures the location and puts you in the heart of the Cumbrian countryside - I should know, it's in my neck of the woods! I love reading books that are set in and around my home/work area; it really adds a sense of realism and authenticity as I can actually vividly put myself in the scenery, on the roads and in the houses.

The pace is steady and whilst I anticipated the twist, it didn't take away from the journey to get there.

Once again, another series to look out for in the future and thank you must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

The is the second book in Alex pine's DI James Walker series. The first book being the Christmas Killer.
I preferred the Killer in the snow to the Christmas killer as it wasn't as repetitive. This book is such an easy read and is light relief from heavy and complicated thrillers. I did guess what happend to the Roths and baby Megan but I didn't guess the plot twist towards the end. Overall a really enjoyable read and I am looking forward to more murders in Kirkby Abbey

This is the second book in the DI James Walker series. I was looking forward to this one as I really liked the first book in the series.

In this installment, DI Walker is hoping for a quiet holiday season after last years Christmas murder. Unfortunately he doesn't get his wish. Two days after Christmas he is called to a crime scene of a triple murder scene involving an entire family. As they work the crime, they get more questions and more suspects instead of answers.

I enjoy a book that has more than one suspect. I like to be kept guessing instead of knowing who the murderer is right from the start. This one has several suspects and lots of mystery surrounding the farm it takes place on.

It is a slow burner for sure. It takes a long time to get the answers but is worth the wait. I was already familiar with most of the characters from reading the last book so it took no time to get into this one.

Many thanks to netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc

Another fantastic book from Alex Pine! This was equally as suspenseful and full of action as the first. What I really loved about this was that alongside the modern day murder case there was also a link to a historical case at the same farm. There were a number of twists and turns, one that I physically gasped out loud at and was like ‘of course!’ It was just amazing and full of clues to keep you on your toes to the very end 🔪

Thank you NetGally, Avon Books Uk and to the author for my copy of this book in return for a review

It's Christmas time and DI James Walker has another killer loose in his sleepy village. A triple murder at a local farm, it is soon be comes to light that twenty years ago another murder was committed at the same farm. If this wasn't enough a dangerous London gangster is missing and has vowed vengeance after crossing paths with Walker.
Nothing is what it seems in this book, plenty of misdirection and packed to the rafters with tension and suspense. I was constantly changing my mind about the killer and yes I still got it wrong. A really clever whodunnit which kept me reading late into the night. This is the second book to feature DI Walker and I loved the first book The Christmas Killer, a fantastic five star read. With his latest book you get more of the same and so much more and I can't wait to read more of another gripping and addictive series. Loved it!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review

Talk about a great thriller! I wish I would have saved this for closer to winter/ Christmas time to really set the mood but it definitely fit into my spooky season reads. I was entertained the entire time and it had plot twists I didn't see coming. When I received this book, I didn't know it was part of a series but now I am anxious to read the first and I hope he continues with the books.

When a family of 3 is murdered in their farmhouse, DI Walker is the lead investigator. At first, it looks like a straightforward case but as the investigation moves forward, it becomes a bit more complicated. I really enjoyed the plot with it's many twists in this well written police procedural. Full of suspense with believable characters, it kept me interested until the end. Another good read from Alex Pine, which I would recommend to lovers of the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the second in the series of books by Alex Pine.

DI James Walker is hoping for a quieter life up in Cumbria but is having anything but after leaving London.

This Christmas he is solving the investigation where 3 bodies are found in farmhouse. Will they be able to solve the case?

Enjoyed reading this and the twists in the case.

After catching a serial killer the year before at Christmas DI James Walker is looking forward to a quiet Christmas this year. When the bodies of a family of 3 are discovered in their farmhouse it looks like Walker will be busy trying to figure out who would want this family dead. While investigating this case he discovers that 20 years ago another family was found dead and their 3 week old baby missing in this very house.
The story flows along with suspects and secrets being revealed. I enjoyed the book and will definitely be looking for more from this author. It's a surprise right up to the very end

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Detective Inspector James Walker series. I did not read the first book, so came in late. However, this is a stand alone book that can be read without having seen the initial book.

James has moved to the country with his wife to escape a Mob killer who he "put away" some years previously. It is Christmas time and James and his wife who are now expecting their first baby have had a couple of days off until the dreaded phone call. Three bodies have been discovered in a farm house and DI Walker is in charge. There is very little evidence and it first appears as a murder/suicide. However James is a bit skeptical and investigates further.

During his investigation it turns out that 24 years ago a similar incident occurred. Was this related or not?

Not only is there this triple murder and the previous murder/suicide to investigate but also the Mob Killer is on the loose and James Walker is the last person on his list to eliminate prior to disappearing overseas.

It is a very good read and I hope to go back to the start of the series and read the first novel.

I have given this a 4 star rating, but it could quite easily be a 5 star. If you get an opportunity to read this book, do so.