The seventh earl of Lowesdale was found hanging in his study by his teenage grandson, Zachary. Initially everyone assumed that the nonagenarian, hard-partying aristocrat had finally realised that the glories of his youth were long past and had decided to take the quick way out. When forensics discovered signs of foul play DI Kelly Porter was called in. It's not the only problem she has though: two young hikers have gone missing on the fells near Ullswater and she is in charge of the search. When they're not found within a couple of days her team uncover links to two other unsolved disappearances - and the girls all look startlingly similar.

I don't normally like joining a series when there are already a few books under its belt, but in this case the fact that I had nothing to read, it was raining like it was going out of fashion and we were only onto book three of a police procedural series set in the lake district convinced me that I needn't be quite so choosy and I'm glad that I wasn't. I warmed to Kelly Porter straight away: she was born in the lake district, spent some time in London and then came 'home'. Only it doesn't feel like home. She doesn't feel that she belongs and some of her family and an old school friend are prepared to confirm her suspicions. There's a thought-provoking theme of 'family' running through the story, which ties it altogether very neatly.

Porter's fortunate in her boyfriend: he's a bit of an outsider too, despite being in mountain rescue and his skills are to the fore in the search for the missing girls. This part of the story really brought the area alive for me: it's a very realistic mix of the tourist locations and the parts the locals know about. So - engaging characters and well-evoked location, but you want to know about the plot, don't you? It's good, if not great. I decided on who the perpetrator was pretty early on in the book and I was right, but there were enough red herrings to make me doubt my judgement. Even when I was proved right it didn't spoil my enjoyment: it was a good story, well told. It's certainly a series I'll be happy to follow.

This was the first Rachel Lynch book I had read and I was not disappointed! Immediately I was hooked. The characters were all interesting and it kept you guessing with a few clues and red herrings along the way. It was a great read and I thoroughly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for my copy! i will be looking out for more from Rachel now.

Another excellent procedural set in the Lake District and following neatly on from previous instalments. Great characters although an unlikely twist in the backstory which seemed a tad too convenient for it to be totally satisfactory or believable, given the prior characterisation.

I really enjoyed this Brilliant read! The atmosphere was beautifully created within the Lake District as the backdrop for DI Kelly Porter's crime-solving adventures, and they were many - really well interwoven from seemingly disparate parts to the conclusion of a whole story; very satisfying for this reader. The writing, giving some pace throughout, was in my view, excellent. There was just enough commentary to explain background and intent through both the police-procedurals and her personal life, without detraction from the crimes and their solution (or perhaps not?). I was totally immersed the whole way through, couldn't put it down. Looking forward to acquainting myself with more work by this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Another fantastic read!!

Kelly Porter is back and she's more determined than ever to solve a case when it turns from missing persons to a murder investigation.

I read the first book in the series a while ago and absolutely loved, I wasn't aware there had been another until I stumbled across Dead End on Netgalley which is actually the third book in the series.

Having missed the second book I wondered if I'd struggle to understand this novel but luckily for me it can easily be read as a stand alone.

Fast paced with clever twists, I changed my mind constantly about who the culprits could be. With Kelly's own home life story running secondary to the case I found myself completely immersed in the pages.

The only negative, I didn't want it to end so quickly.

Hopefully there will be more books to come in this series!

Another great book from Rachel Lynch and her main heroine DI Kelly Porter who along with her team manage to come to a relatively successful and happy end to this case.

I never read the first two of her books but this did not detract from this novel. I enjoyed reading this book from the characters and backstories , it kept me enthralled and interested from the getgo until the end. I would definitely read her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I would like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dead End’, third in the DI Kelly Porter series written by Rachel Lynch, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Two women, Sophie Daker and Hannah Lawson, go missing whilst walking on the Fells and when DI Kelly Porter is called in to investigate she realises their looks are similar to Freya Hamilton who disappeared in similar circumstances four months earlier. Meanwhile, the hard-living Earl of Lowesdale is found hanging in his room and suicide is suspected, but is it?
‘Dead End’ is an exciting police thriller where the beauty of the Lake District’s Fells comes through in the descriptions. I very much liked Rachel Lynch’s style of writing which made for captivating reading. I enjoyed finding out more of the growing relationship between Kelly and Johnny and also her family which added another dimension to her identity. The characters were interesting, the plot is fast-paced and gripping, with a number of possible suspects to keep me guessing, and although there were some parts of the story that were fairly predictable and maybe it didn’t have an ending that made me gasp in surprise, it was still pretty good all the same. I hope there’s going to be another in the series which I’ll look forward to.

This is the third in the Lake District set series featuring DI Kelly Porter, who has returned to the area after spending numerous years in London. I read the first book which I really enjoyed but somehow missed the second. Nevertheless, this is mostly fine to read as a standalone. In the atmospheric Dead End, Kelly has two seemingly disparate investigations that are slowly revealed to have connections with each other. The hard living and ageing seventh Earl of Lowesdale, named Xavier-Paulus II, is found hanging by the rafters in his bedroom by Zachary, his grandson. Is it suicide or is there more to it? Two young women hikers, Hannah and Sophie, have gone missing from their camp and it turns out they are not the only women to have disappeared in the area.

Kelly harbours few ambitions as she is reluctant to scale the career ladder, she has little wish to be removed from the front of end of policing which is what she enjoys. Her family life has it struggles, as with her mother and sister. As she digs deeper into her cases, Kelly uncovers the secrets and lies behind the facade of the well heeled estate of a local aristocrat. Lynch has written a well researched and well plotted storyline with plenty of twists, suspense and tension. It is the creation of the determined DI Kelly Porter and her development which holds the readers attention with ease. This is turning out to be a great series, with all the requisite parts of what makes a gripping read, a wide cast of compelling characters and an added bonus with the wonderful location. Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.

The third in the Kelly Porter series of books but I hadn’t read the first two and I didn’t feel I’d missed out on anything. Well apart from wanting to read them now that I’ve read this one!

Oh I did like being in the LAke District. Ullswater to be precise and the fictional but highly compelling Wasdale Hall, home of the Earl of Lowesdale, Xavier-Paulus II. He’s been found hanging in his bedroom, by his grandson Zachary. That’s not the only case for DS Kelly, She’s investigating the case of two missing women. In these rural parts, there’s few witnesses and it’s hard to find people who are lost in the moors.

It was refreshing to find this female police officer with a nice family home life! She didn’t have issues, anger management problems or a drink problem which was nice! Other characters were also very strong and well developed. Brian the gardener on the estate in particular and his family were interesting to get to know. I now want to live at Wasdale Hall but well, in nicer circumstances.

On a totally separate note, Lynch is a good author name for a crime fiction author! Definately will be reading more from her!

Dead End by Rachel Lynch

The third in the Kelly Porter series of books and is set in Ullswater, the Lake District. While it’s the third in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone, as I haven’t read either of the others yet, but it didn’t feel disjointed in any way.

At Wasdale Hall, the Earl of Lowesdale, Xavier-Paulus II, is found hanging in his bedroom, by his grandson Zachary. Suicide?

2 young women, Hannah and Sophie are missing after leaving a campsite for a hike in the hills. They have been missing for a few days and concern grows for their safety.....

DS Kelly Porter is investigating both cases and wonders if there’s a link to Freya Hamilton who had been missing for a few months.

Rachel Lynch has created an original character in Kelly, she doesn’t have the usual ‘tough female cop, with a temper’ persona as is found in many novels in this genre. She has a healthy, happy relationship with Johnny, a family with the usual dramas (a couple not so usual though and a little link to Wasdale Hall), which just adds to Kelly’s character and is not the main point at all. She’s just a regular human being. The description of the area is detailed and atmospheric and Rachel Lynch clearly knows the area and breathes life into it.

Brian, is the gardener come handyman on the Wasdale estate and his partner, Linda, has been the housekeeper for the Earl for many years and has seen Zac grow up. She also has a son a little older than Zac, Dominic.

There are other characters which play a large part in the story and the suspects add up, each one is credible and it keeps you guessing to the end. Just when you think, ahhhhh it’s him, it isn’t!!!!!!

This is a book that will make you lose time.....as it’s a ‘just one more chapter’ read. I can thoroughly recommend it.


I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Really enjoyed this book. .... Twist and turns abound...More murders and mystery.... Great addition to The Kelly Porter series.

I just finished reading Dead End by Rachel Lynch. This is the third book in the series and I was fortunate enough to have already read the first two which I loved. So it doesn’t come as any surprise that I am just as crazy about the last book as the first. The book reads very quickly which is of course good and bad because you don’t want it to end. I will absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery and I thank NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy. I unreservedly give it 5 stars and am looking forward to the next one. Absolutely love Rachel Lynch!

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this arc.
I had seen good/great reviews of the previous Kelly Porter stories but have not read either of them and I felt I was a little behind the eight ball starting with this 3rd story as a "stand alone". I wasn't so confused that I quit reading, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it more if I has started with book one and then book two. Kelly's back story and her relationship histories (with Johnny, her family, co-workers, etc.) were certainly a part of who she is in this 3rd book. Overall, I think these books should be read in their proper order.

I'm not all that proper, nor that orderly.... I kept reading book three. It was a very good story, fast paced with multiple crimes and criminals. A nice big nasty knot to unravel. While I had some trouble fully engaging with the characters initially because I should have started with the earlier books, by the half way point in the book, my "brain fog" had cleared up enough that the last half of the story just flew by.

I've really got to get my hands on the earlier books! A solid four stars without them and likely to go higher after I've caught up!

This is the 3rd in the DI Kelly Porter series, the books get better as the characters develop. It starts with two missing girls from a campsite and as investigations show these are not the first to disappear. Juggling her personal relationships with boyfriend and family as well as professional work as a Detective Inspector running a team Kelly has much to think about. making this quite a page turner.
The series gets better and I look forward to the next in the series.

This is the third novel in the Kelly Porter series and it was just as good as the first two. A very fast paced action filled storyline with plenty of twists and turns. Just as you think you know who the culprit is a spanner is thrown in the works and it turned out to be someone unsuspected. It is also good to get some background on Kelly and her own family life which you can then understand some of the issues she has with feeling like she doesn’t belong and finding it hard to trust people. Even though it is book 3 in a series it can just as easily be read as a stand-alone.

I loved this book it was fantastic, I cannot think of one negative thing to say. It was thrilling, fast paced, full of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me reading late into the night. I really like the characters in this series they feel real, their emotions are raw and relationships strained. This is such a well written book that kept me engaged and excited all the way through, it was an excellent read and I don’t hesitate in giving it 5 stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Dead End (from NetGalley). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one NEEDS to be a movie!!! (I NEVER say that, and I usually hate movies made from books that I love...however, this one is an exception!!!). There was so much action and build-up...twists abound!!! Suspicious deaths? Check. Missing girls? Check. Several monster suspects living in plain sight? Check. Family skeletons? Check. I just LOVED this book. I think it is one that would appeal to more than avid readers. (Unfortunately however, they will not take the opportunity unless it is presented in a 2 hour chunk of non-interactive entertainment.) I must admit it was a little dry until around chapter 16,(which could be done more quickly through film) when the connections between characters began to unfold, but I am so glad that I stuck with it. After that, I had a very difficult time putting this novel down! The characters felt real. Their situations seemed authentic. I am still thinking about this book a day after I finished it. The family secrets in this novel alone keep you reading! A big thanks to NetGalley and Rachel Lynch for allowing me to read and review this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book
I loved this British police procedural.
I found the main character believable and the plot good

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and provide a honest review.

DI Kelly Porter is investigating the disappearance of two local girls, whilst at the same time managing the relationship between her mother and her sister. She's pulled between the two competing priorities and the frustrations that come with dealing with her family.

Family is also the theme of the disappearances in the area, with a local elderly Earl being found dead in his property by suicide, with some suspicious about if that was actually the case.

It's a lot of ground to cover adequately and sometimes the sheer enormity of the world that Lynch has sought to create overwhelms her writing. You can't really pull off the two threads of narrative in such a short amount of time so the missing girls and her family troubles both suffer in the competition to cover both.

It's a passable thriller, but not groundbreaking or immensely interesting.