Cold Blooded Killer Book 6 (DI James Walker series) by Alex Pine @AvonBooksUK @JPCarterAuthor

Snow is falling. Murder is calling.

Book blurb

Journalist Gordon Carver receives news that sends a chill down his spine. Rushing home from the pub, he frantically calls his police contact, DCI James Walker to share his discovery, only to be struck from behind, plunging him into darkness.

James misses the call, and by the time he arrives at the crime scene, Gordon is dead. With his name as the last entry in Gordon’s phone, James is thrust into a chilling investigation. What vital information was Gordon about to reveal, and who silenced him?

With no witnesses and scant evidence, James races against time to uncover the truth. Can he uncover the mystery before the killer slips away?

My thoughts

Continuing my tradition of reading the Christmas book by Alex Pine this is the sixth in the DI James Walker series and the author is keeping up with his high standard of storytelling with Cold Blooded Killer.

James receives a call from a journalist, Gordon Carver, but he is at home bathing and putting Bella his daughter to bed so misses it. When he does see the missed call he rings back but gets no answer. He wonders what Gordon wanted but figures he will ring back if he needs to.

James has been looking forward to finally spending Christmas at home with the family and they have planned a few things to do with the children. So far every year at this time James has been called into work and he has missed having this special time with his family. Sadly, it happens again!

James is called out to a murder scene and he finds out why Gordon didn’t call back – he has been killed! Could James have prevented his death if only he had taken his phone upstairs with him and taken Gordon’s call?

Gordon is found in a copse close to his home having been hit from behind. Who would do such a thing? As James and the team investigate they have to work really hard as there were no witnesses and no clues. It’s dogged police work and maybe a piece of luck that’s needed to catch the killer. Will they chase down every single possibility until they get the killer.

Meanwhile at the Walker home James’ wife has something she needs to tell James but will the time ever be right now he is caught up in solving the case? I do enjoy the way in which family life is so smoothly integrated into the story. Annie is incredibly supportive of James so finds support from a good friend and her sister in law but tell James she must and time is paramount.

James’ team are as always a stalwart group and are essential to the investigation and its success.

Finally, we have the setting in Cumbria along with the awful weather which really sets the story over the Christmas season and as I have often visited Cumbria over the years it always adds a familiarity and depth to my reading experience.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, the story has a good pace to it and you become very invested in it. If you haven’t read any of this series I would really recommend it.

Book: Purchased

Previously read: The Christmas Killer, The Killer in the Snow, The Winter Killer, The Night Before Christmas and The Killer in the Cold

Information

Published: Avon (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.) | 23rd October 2025 | 352 pp | Paperback ISBN-10 : ‎0008706840 eBook ISBN-13 : 978-0008706845

Leading investigative characters

Introducing DCI Walker and his team This is the sixth book in the DCI James Walker series. For those who haven’t read The Christmas Killer, The Killer in the Snow, The Winter Killer, The Night Before Christmas and The Killer in the Cold, here is a brief introduction to the man himself and the key members of his team.

DETECTIVE CHIEF INSPECTOR JAMES WALKER, AGED 44
An officer with the Cumbria Constabulary based in Kendal. He spent twenty years with the Met in London before moving to the quiet village of Kirkby Abbey just over five years ago. He’s married to Annie, aged forty, who was born in the village and worked as a teacher. The couple have a daughter, Bella, aged three, and a son, Theo, who is just over eighteen months old.

SUPERINTENDENT JEFF TANNER, AGED 50
Now based at Cumbria Police HQ in Penrith. James took over from him as DCI. He’s married with a son.

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR PHIL STEVENS, AGED 42
A no-nonsense detective who moved up the ladder to replace James as DI. He’s married with two children.

DETECTIVE SERGEANT JESSICA ABBOTT, AGED 37
A highly respected member of the team and of Irish and East African descent. She’s as sharp as a razor, and not afraid to speak her mind. She, too, was promoted to her current position as part of the department shake up. She’s married to Sean, a paramedic.

DETECTIVE CONSTABLE CAROLINE FOLEY, AGED 31
The youngest member of the team, she lives with her widowed mother in Kendal. Her three-year relationship with another woman broke down a year ago.

Author

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. 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 – providing him with the best of both worlds! This is his sixth novel.

Alex Pine/James Raven website

Books

Coming soon: Blood on the Snow