Cold-Blooded Murder is Just the Beginning

Book blurb

Chilling truths are buried in this snow… When a body dressed in a Santa Claus suit appears in the snow just outside a small village in Cumbria, DCI James Walker is the first to appear on the scene.

Almost a year has passed since something so tragic has happened in the close-knit community, and James is hopeful that it’s just an accidental death. But when he uncovers the body, he discovers something that chills him to the bone.

The man, a former police officer, was murdered. And it’s not long before another body appears. Time is ticking as James races to uncover the killer’s next victim, before they strike again.

But can James find them before the snow washes away the evidence? From the master of wintery crime, comes a thriller that will chill you to the bone… 

My thoughts

‘Santa’ is found dead on Christmas Eve after the annual Kirkby Abbey Santa event and when the police go to inform his wife they find that she, too, has been killed. The couple, ex police, are well known and liked in the village.

DCI James Walker is on leave looking forward to being with his wife and two young children over the festive season but he is called in and an investigation begins. After a few twists and turns, honing in on a suspect who turns out to have an alibi then another lead goes nowhere Walker is stressed out and wondering if they will ever get a real breakthrough.

Along the way a number of break ins have happened and a gang crime boss raises questions as does a letter that is brought to James’ attention and could turn the investigation on its head!
We do, of course, find out what happened, why and who ‘dunnit’ and along the way we are treated to another terrific crime fiction read for Christmas-time. The setting and characters in this seasonal police procedural/mystery are well written and you quickly become invested in their lives and the story.

It’s become a favourite series to pick up at this time of year and it didn’t disappoint.

Book: Purchased

Information

Published: HarperCollins | Imprint: Avon | November 7, 2024 | ISBN: 9780008706814 | ISBN 10: 0008706816 | 384 pages

Buy: HarperCollins | AmazonSmileUK (currently 99p ebook) | Hive UK (currently 99p ebook) | Bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Your local bookshop | Your local library

Author: Alex Pine is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written books under the names Jaime Raven, James Raven and JP Carter. Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. He then became a television producer and for a number of years was director of a major UK news division and co-owned a TV production company. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District.

He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast splitting his time between homes in Hampshire and Spain with his wife – providing him with the best of both worlds!

Alex Pine/James Raven website