To be honest, I find there is more suspense with opening an advent calendar than there was in Pine’s murder mystery. I could not get a sense of danger and the perpetrator was too obvious. 

The remote Cumbrian setting is intended to isolate the village, meaning there is no escape from this silent killer. I loved the excessive snow because it truly is synonymous to a jolly good Christmas! As such, I could vividly picture the silence as the snow falls, blanketing the village. James’s frustration to the weather did make me chuckle; having moved up from London, he struggles to see how life comes to a halt as a result of this extreme weather – such a recognisable quality!

The novel opens with a Prologue to establish what made James and his wife, Annie, move to Cumbria. However, this rapidly becomes a red-herring in the story and does not really feature. Indeed, I suspect this will become the basis of a future story in this series and I am sure the criminal will feature again. 

Running around the village trying to find the killer, I found James’s approach rather slow and dull. His wife, Annie, was particularly grating and I was annoyed by her intrusive approach. She demands to know what is going on with the investigation and I was shocked with how much James shares with her – even down to crucial evidence! I did not find this realistic and it definitely lessened the impact of the story.

It takes a long time for the story to truly get going. It was only until I was 20% in did the first body appear. Consequently, I found the narrative quite mundane up until this point and this was a feeling that never truly disappeared, even as the tension is supposedly rising in the plot. There’s a lot of detail included in the story that I found was unnecessary and really slowed the pace down. I was left feeling bored and frustrated that there was not enough suspense and grit that the blurb appeared to suggest.

Despite my criticisms, this is a good candidate for a Christmas read. Aside from the obvious, it is not too gory or gritty to make you feel uncomfortable at such a festive time of year. Indeed, it almost felt like a cosy mystery because I could not fathom any danger and was not gripped by the plot development. Instead, it was a gentle read that eventually provided dead bodies and, finally, a killer at the end.

I was not blown away by this story. Should I read the next in the series, I am really hoping for something that has far more suspense and intrigue. For me, there was not enough of a thrill factor. I felt I was, like James, trudging through the snow trying to find some excitement.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have had the opportunity to read and review via NetGalley and it has been a most enjoyable experience. I would give this book ‘ The Christmas Killer’ by Alex Pine 4 stars. This is a story full of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the very end. It is a murder mystery with all of the necessary grit to keep you hooked but none of the grim and gruesome details. 
This is the first book in a new British crime thriller series and I am keen to learn more about the characters we have been introduced to, especially the detective James Walker. I want to thank NetGalley, the publishers Avon and the author Alex Pine for allowing me to read and share my own opinion of this book.
#books #reading #bookworm #firstreview #4stars #readersofinstagram #Netgalley #Alexpine #thechristmaskiller

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books Uk for this ARC! 
"Twelve days, twelve murders, twelve victims. And they all deserve what's coming to them"
Merry Christmas Detective Walker, you get to play who's killing all these people for the holiday. 
I give this book a solid 4⭐. It kept my attention and the story was interesting enough. I'm a sucker for a good detective/serial killer thriller.

The Christmas Killer is the first instalment in the Detective Inspector James Walker series and is a book as chaotic as the time of year it evokes. DI Walker has relocated to Cumbria CID, where he and wife, Annie, have moved into Annie’s mothers home bequeathed to her 18 months earlier, believing it'll be a change of pace from his previous police work in London, but little does he know, the serenity of the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey is about to be shattered. One of James’s most high profile and dangerous convictions, Andrew Sullivan, has been released from prison unexpectedly, it having been deemed that he had been wrongly convicted. And on his mind is revenge against those who put him away with James and family being at the top of his list. Soon threats are being made. The decorations are up, the nativity is underway, the villagers are full of festive cheer and a blizzard of snow is predicted to be on its way. As Christmas approaches, James receives a present and card left on his doorstep. A dead partridge accompanied by a note stating that one villager, deserving of death, will be murdered for each of the 12 days of Christmas. As the snow begins to fall, and most are sipping mulled wine by the fireside, the body count begins to climb.

Although this starts out quite slowly, by introducing and building the central characters of James and Annie Walker in the prologue, once the scene is set the pace picks up and it becomes a dark, engaging and atmospheric police procedural. You may ask what could be more unsettling than a vengeful serial killer on the loose during the festive season but add to this a village of snowed-in residents and you have got yourself a Christie-esque ”locked room” thriller which has a mix of cosy elements associated with Christmas, some masterfully-executed twists and some incredibly threatening elements doled out by a killer who doesn't feel he has anything to lose. I didn't really get a good feel for the James and Annie but as it's just the first instalment I'm hoping in upcoming books we will get to learn more and see them develop as people. I also expected it to feel more Christmassy than it did but I'm not complaining about that at all as it's a perhaps a little early for festive-themed reads. There's quite a large suspect pool which keeps things interesting and I definitely felt the tension throughout and the Lake District location was remote and perfect. Many thanks to Avon for an ARC.

Twelve days, twelve murders is the promised threat DI James Walker receives at his doorstep in the small town of Kirkby Abbey. Him and his wife, Annie, thought they were out of the crosshairs moving from London back to Annie's hometown, but the first body is found and that seems like it's only the beginning. Can DI Walker find the killer before he strikes again? 

I was surprised when I looked down and saw I was halfway through the book before the actual murder action starting going and then felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Alex Pine wrote multiple suspects to try to throw you off the real killer's scent which I thought was done well, but it wasn't much for character development. All in all, a quick and easy read and perfect to take you from spooky season into the holiday season. I could definitely see this as a good Christmas gift to a murder mystery fan. 

Thank you Netgalley, Alex Pine and Avon Books for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was compelled to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. I love a good seasonal crime thriller and nothing better than a Christmas one! 

I really enjoyed the premise and how it was written. It took me a while to get into it but once the investigation started I really enjoyed it. 

Although I found that some parts were predictable I still enjoyed to find out that my guesses were right. I enjoyed DI James character and would definitely like to see more from him but I didn’t really relate to Annie as a character.

Overall, although it can be slow at times and there are some predictability, I still enjoyed the plot and found the book well written and I would recommend it to crime fiction fans. 

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

This is a great read and an original concept for a crime thriller. 
James and Annie move up to a village in Cumbria after some trouble in London. 
All seems ok but James is a bit bored with the small amount of crime in the village. That soon changes when he receives a sinister gift along with a card that explains 12 murders will be carried on in the lead up to Christmas. 
The first victim is soon found and James is unsure if it’s just a coincidence with the message he received. 
When another body is found and a note saying she deserved it, he takes the cards seriously. 
It’s a small village where everyone thinks they know each other but it appears some residents have been keeping secrets and the killer is punishing them. 
This is a gripping crime thriller that had me hooked throughout the book. 
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I really enjoyed this Christmas set thriller. I don’t tend to read that many thrillers- preferring my crime to be on the cozy side, but this wasn’t too psychologically challenging and I feel it had more of a Midsummer Murders feel to it.
I also have to pat myself on the back as I had guessed who the murderer was by the second death, but that didn’t spoil it for me- it was fun seeing if my suspicions were correct.
There were a few points which didn’t sit right with me but I did enjoy the character forming and felt the plot moved along at the right pace. Would definitely recommend and will most likely continue with the series.

3-3.5* After moving from North London to Cumbria DI James Walker is settling in to what he feels will be a safer and quieter pace of life. Just what he and his wife need after crossing paths with a rather nasty criminal who made it clear he had unfinished business with James.

He is settling into his new posting in Kendal and their new home in Kirkby Abbey. It is the house, the family home his wife, Annie, had inherited from her mother. James’ family are coming up for Christmas and Annie’s uncle is also joining them. Annie is a little apprehensive as she and her uncle had not parted on very good terms at her mother’s funeral.

Still, she and James are looking forward to Christmas and family. Preparations are in full flow when her uncle turns up early and rather than staying with Annie and James he has booked himself into a local pub. Still, perhaps a good thing to reconnect with him and clear the air before the festivities begin.

James is settling into his new posting and trying to smooth some ruffled feathers his appointment has made. All in all it seems like it’s been a good move. Although he does miss the job in London it’s seems all is for the best in this move. That is until he returns home one evening to find an parcel addressed to him on the doorstep. Once inside he opens it only to find a bloody bird and a Christmas card inside. The message sends chills through James – 12 days, 12 murders!

It’s not long before a body turns up. Another card is received – this time by the local priest. Whilst wondering if it may be his old adversary from London he begins his investigation. Then another body and another card appear – this time by a local journalist. Not only that but the weather is getting worse and the forecast is not good. The village is accessed by one road it’s the only way in or out. So, unless the killer has gone without completing their mission which seems highly unlikely, James and his small team are set to be trapped in with the residents of Kirkby Abbey!

This is in the main a police procedural with an interesting variation on the ‘locked room’ or Agatha Christie style mystery as the reader gets drawn into working out ‘whodunnit’. We follow James as he is investigating in very difficult conditions – both geographically with part of the team back in Kendal and weather-wise – and as each of his suspects are ruled out will he be able to get the killer before anyone else is killed?

We also have an anonymous voice who surely is the killer which adds an interesting insight to what is happening – although I’m not sure it’ll help you work out who they are!

With plenty of red herrings, a wonderful December snow storm and some crazy killings and threats that get closer and closer to home for James this book combines two of my favourite things – crime fiction and snow! What can I say? It’s a terrific read and I certainly enjoyed it.

Book: Purchased (on order) | Invite from Publisher

Thanks to Ellie at Avon for the invite to read and providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in return for an honest opinion, all thoughts are my own.

A very good whodunit which kept me guessing right to the end and I didn't guess right! In the early stages it was a bit pedestrian and very much in the vein of Midsomer Murders but then as the plot progressed it was very gripping. I would definitely recommend it if you like your thrillers more gentle than gory.

My thanks to the Author and Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting idea - using the idea of the twelve days of Christmas as an idea behind a murder spree.  A London policeman relocates to the Lake District, beautiful, peaceful (or is it).  Suddenly, messages accompanied by Christmas cards appear, and then bodies ......... To say more, would be to reveal more.  A good read for a winter's evening, preferably with snow.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an ARC.

This is what I get for reading a Christmas book before Halloween.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like The Christmas Killer - I'm trying to read some seasonal books and thought a good new thriller in the Yuletide genre would be welcomed.
The book opens with a lot of backstory. Like, a lot. Cookie-cutter dialogue and characters feel uninspired. There's not even a murder, as suggested by the title, until 23 per cent into the book.
Detective James Walker reveives a dead bird wrapped as a gift at his front door. And a message: "Twelve days, twelve murders, twelve victims. And they all deserve what's coming to them". (Message repeated I think 15 times in the book, but I lost count.) 
I guessed who the unsub was upon the character's first appearance. 
So to sum up - I like Christmas. I like stories about killers. But not in this book's combination. 
For release on Oct. 29, 2020.

(TW:  infertility, abortion, drunk driving, adultery)

James Walker, a détective from London, and his wife, Annie, move to Kirkby Abbey from London, hoping to start a quieter lifestyle in the small town, the place where Annie grew up.  But this little village is hiding some secrets.  After receiving a threatening Christmas card at their house, a murder is committed, and Walker has to find the killer before they strike again.

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley and  Avon UK for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Second, I feel like this was a solid three-star read.  The writing style wasn’t for me.  It felt like a cozy mystery with a little bit more murder a some extra cursing to make it seem more “tough”.  I was expecting more of a “thriller” vibe (and more murder, given the Twelve Days of Christmas cards), too, but that’s my fault; I failed to notice it was a police procedural when I requested the book.  The book felt really long, despite the quick chapters, and nothing really happened until about 15 chapters in.

The biggest problem I had with this book (MINOR SPOILER AHEAD) was the attitude toward Annie’s infertility.  Whether it was intentional or not, the book seemed to frame it as only Annie’s “fault”, and that rubbed me the wrong way entirely.

That being said, something must have been good because I kept reading it.  I did love the British setting, what I like to call the “scavenger hunt” theme (though this one didn’t quite fit, it was loosely based, at least at first, on “The Twelve Days of Christmas”), and, despite what I said earlier, the police procedural/mystery vibe.  If you’re looking for a fairly “quick”, slightly cozy mystery to read during the winter, this one will probably be a good fit.

📖 Book Reviews 📖

The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine 
Publication date - 29th October 2020.

This book was okay, would class it as an easy read Christmas book, rather than a gripping thriller.

The storyline was good, but it just seemed a bit slow in parts, I did like the main characters and will give the 2nd book in the series a read.

Thank you to @netgalley and @avon_books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There have been hundreds of murder-mystery books set around Christmas; from Conan Doyle, through the golden age of Sayers, Christie, Heyer to the present, e.g. Patterson.  So any new book should seek a new angle, a surprising twist.  The killer in this story is of the serial variety, in the subset where there is an underlying pattern to the killings.  Again,  this is a popular format, although very rare before the 1930s and really only prominent from the 1970s, although the classic example is  Agatha Christie’s 1939 novel ‘And Then There Were None’  (the original USA title – The original UK name is now anathema).  This back history again imposes a need for a novel approach.
Unfortunately, this book does not stand comparison with such competition, nor even with many lesser works by less prominent authors.  A police Inspector and his wife flee London for the depths of Cumbria under threat of vengeance by a violent criminal.  Based in the small village where she had grown up their peaceful rural idyll is broken by a Christmas card showing the twelve days of Christmas and carrying a message that the sender intends to kill 12 people, one per day, who have committed offences for which they have not been punished.  The village will become snow bound, of course, but the killer manages to sneak around and start killing without inconvenience and without any novel links to the cards in the method.  The plot is essentially linear, plodding even, and the writing style is cliched: hearts pound, breaths are held, blood drains from faces, whole sentences are just strings of standard phrases.  Despite some minor secrets and red herrings, identifying the killer is too easy.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Sadly I really did not enjoy this book, the vocabulary used is all over the place with overly descriptive words that just do not read write, it's like having extra words in just to fill it it.

Cringed at Lines like "plonking the shopping on the kitchen table". When the previous sentence stated his wife asked him to drop shopping off at home. But still another sentance to describe "plonking". Many many random words used like this, that don't fit in with the vocabulary.
It's like the author searched for words to use instead of the normal word they would normally use, but then it's not in keeping with the rest of the writing and stands out like a sore thumb.

So cringe I found myself reading just to identify the irregular words. Such a shame, but not a book that can pass as readable.

I loved the premise behind this book and was really looking forward to it, especially as the reviews I'd seen were so good. However for me, this cozy village murder mystery simply never really got going until well over half way in. It did pick up after the second murder but the fact that the murderer was obvious from pretty much their first appearance removed any possible tension from the story

This was a bit of a slow start, but once you got past the background information the chapters just flew by. I started this two days ago and just finished it today. I am completely floored by how this book pulls you in. This is a perfect read to finish out spooky season reading! When it comes to reading mysteries I never predict the outcomes, and this was no different. I like books that keep you on your toes and have you constantly changing your opinion on what is going to happen. 

4.5/5- Only giving it 4.5 because of the slower start! 

I was sent this book by #netgalley as an advanced reading copy for my honest opinion and review of this.

I was intrigued by the premise of this story. This is the first book in the DI Walker series. Someone in the village has promised there will be 12 murders in 12 days. To top it off, the village is in the midst of a massive snowstorm, cutting it off from the rest of the world. Although it starts really slowly, the first murder occurrs after the first 20% of the book, it´s a very solid story with several red herrings and twists. That is something I enjoyed because it had me constantly changing my mind throughout. Something that I found intriguing is that just before each murder, the writing became from the victims POV. 
I will definitely be following ‘Alex Pine’ and his future books and hopefully follow DI James Walker with his future investigations!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon books for giving me a copy of this amaizing book!

DI James Walker is rising through the ranks of the London police, but is forced to relocate to his wife’s home village of Kirkby Abbey when a local villain who he put away is released and swears revenge. Cumbria CID is a distinct change of pace, but things are about to change.

As Christmas approaches, a message arrives – Twelve Days, Twelve Murders – along with a dead partridge. When a local philanderer is stabbed, and another death follows, it seems that a serial killer is stalking the village. More messages follow – is the killer following a pattern, and are they closer to home than Walker thinks? And are there really twelve people in the village who deserve to die?

OK, let’s get something straight first of all. This is not a serial killer basing their crimes around the twelve days of Christmas. Which, of course, would be a stupid thing to do. Despite the “Twelve Days, Twelve Murders” tagline, it’s closer to “Eight days, three or four murders”. Just wanted to put that out there, in case you’re misled, so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

With that misconception out of the way, you can sit back and enjoy a Christmassy murder mystery. Except, no you won’t, because it’s not really that Christmassy. It’s set between the 15th and 23rd of December (it does mention that the Twelve Days do follow Christmas) but apart from a conversation near a nativity play, and messages in Christmas cards, it doesn’t feel very festive. Other Christmas books take the easy way out on this one – Hercule Poirot’s Christmas and The Murders Near Mapleton are both set on Christmas Day, so you get parties, trees, crackers, etc – but apart from a lot of snow, that’s not really on display here.

So what this is, basically, is a fairly standard police procedural which ticks a lot of boxes on police procedural bingo. Experienced detective relocates to a new area, tick, serial killer, tick, personal secrets, tick, possible link to the killer, tick, and so on. But it also falls into some standard traps. Most of the suspects are unlikeable, and the killer stands out like a sore thumb. Some of the behaviour of the killer – notably the order of the killings, adulterer first, murderer second – has to fall back on the “being mad” explanation. Some obvious leads are ignored – one in particular – until it is time for the finale, and even then, Walker suddenly has an extreme attack of the stupids in order to prolong the peril.

I think connoisseurs of classic mystery fiction should probably steer clear. This is a perfectly competent cosy-esque police procedural mystery that, in my opinion, the blurb does a reasonable job of mis-selling. I suppose the over-arching reaction is whether I’d read book two of the series, as there is a running plot that clearly is going to appear in that book. Unfortunately, the answer is probably not. The book is fine, but it didn’t excite me enough.

The Christmas Killer is out on 29th October from Avon Books. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.