A cozy winter British village murder mystery. A subgenre I am definitely partial to. And both books in Alex Pine's DI James Walker series were the kind of reads you want to grab and read wearing your fuzzy reading socks, under the blanket with some yummy hot chocolate by your side. Or maybe that's just what worked really well for me.

Even though the books could be read independently, I'd highly recommend reading The Christmas Killer first. The first book had DI Walker and his wife moving from the hustle and bustle of London to a small, sleepy village his wife grew up in. Though it seems like a place where nothing much besides crazy winter snow storms happens, it seems Kirkby Abbey is starting to develop a new kind of Christmas tradition - that of murder. In The Killer in the Snow a family is found killed at a local farm. 21 years ago that same farm was a place of another murder and an unsolved mystery of missing baby. Coincidence? Or are the two crimes somehow linked? Once again DI Walker and his (not so new) team are on a mission to uncover the truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series and honestly hope there will be a next one. It's the same reason I love the Midsomer Murders TV series. Murders in an unlikely setting with an interesting group of characters.

Very grateful to Avon Books UK & Netgalley for gifting me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was quite nervous going into this book, but it was a super fun and interesting read. I had a great time trying to put the pieces together.

THE KILLER IN THE SNOW ❄️🔪 - 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -

This is the first time I've read a book by Alex Pine and it definitely won't be my last. Thrillers are my go too and I love nothing more than to be gripped after a few pages. This didn't dissapoint, I read it in 24hours, I couldn't put it down. The Killer In the snow is well written and fast paced. Thanks to #netgalley and @avonbooksuk for a free of this book.

This is my first Alex Pine book and even though I haven't read the first in the series it didn't detract from my enjoyment of it. I enjoy a murder mystery but I did roughly solved this fairly early on. It was fast paced, well written and had everything that mystery fans will want.

This novel is a great read – the pacing is comfortable, it is well-plotted and the story is intriguing.

Based in Kendal, forty-year-old DI James Walker is ready for a quiet family Christmas in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey, Cumbria. He and his wife Annie have relocated to the small remote village and it's a big change from London. A local farmer has just returned home and it's Christmas Eve; he notices that there is a set of footprints leading to his basement which isn't used. He has a wife, Mary and a daughter, Charlotte and three days later, all three are found dead...

There is never a dull moment in this dark and atmospheric story and I was riveted from start to finish. The characters are solidly drawn, lending credibility to the festive mystery/ thriller. I look forward to seeing more of DI Walker in future instalments.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Avon Books via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I don't think you could come up with a more intriguing crime scene if you tried. There are so many elements to it, it's hard to know where to start.

Add in a very similar thing happened in the farm house over 20 years ago, and rumours the house could be haunted and it becomes more interesting still.

So I was hooked rather early on as to how DI James Walker and his team would unravel this.

I think I half guessed briefly about one small aspect but without the details, and everything else kept taking me ab the police by surprise.

We get flashback scenes to key events in the past which helped give the reader more understanding to the situation.

Meanwhile DI James Walker's own nemesis is at large and still threatening him and his family. So there is that element to contend with too.

There is a lot to keep you on your toes, and I loved being drawn into this crime and seeing how it would turn out.

Another fabulously wintery crime novel from Alex Pine and I'm certainly keen to see what complex case he will come up next.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This was an entertaining and fun thriller!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was pretty excited to read the next installment in the series. And fortunately it did not disappoint.

I really like the characters in this series and the setting. I love the Lake District, so it's nice to read about some familiar places.

The plot of this book was really interesting and intriguing. I was enagged from the start and throughly enjoyed the reading experience.

The pacing was really good. At no point was I bored or disinterested in the story.

I didn't guess the ending however, I was on the right track. So the end wasn't a complete shock but it was still pretty intense and I didn't see it coming.

This was a fun thriller to read. I love the Christmas/winter theme too. This would make the perfect thriller to read over the Christmas season.

Overall, I highly recommend this thriller and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

TW: violence, suicide, murder and death

The second book in this detective series
It was just as good as the first
Can’t wait for the next in the series
A real page turning
Thanks NetGalley

When I saw this second book in the series, I knew I had to have it. And I am so glad because it was even better than the first book. I also enjoy a good Christmas mystery, rather than your typical romance book.

James and Anna were enjoying the Christmas season that was murder free. Until the day after and a family turns up dead. Now James is trying to see what happened in, what should have been, a quiet village.

If you enjoy a good detective novel this is it!!

This marks yet another series that I've jumped into at a mid-point! This is the second book in this series, following on from 'The Christmas Killer' - although I think this works fine as a stand alone novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This story opens with a farmer returning home on Christmas Eve - it's snowing in the remote part of Cumbria where he lives and he is dreading discussing his urgent financial issues with his family. When he returns to the farm, he notices some footprints in the snow leading to his cellar - but there are no prints leaving the cellar. Days later, the bodies of the farmer and his family are found in the farmhouse and DI Walker is called in to solve a complex crime.

I loved the remote and snowy setting of this book - there is something really eerie about an already remote place being cut off further by the weather. Cumbria is also a great setting for crime novels as it is at the mercy of the elements and difficult to navigate quickly even in bright sunshine - Rachel Lynch uses just this setting for her excellent crime novels about DI Kelly Porter (also worth a read!)

The central characters of DI Walker and his wife are also well-rounded and engaging. They are expecting a baby and there is a sub-plot to do with their past in London which adds a bit of depth and interest to their relationship and situation - although I think the sub-plot probably feels more high-stake if you've read the first book. I thought it was a shame that more of the police team weren't given more to do - so much of the focus is on Walker himself that the team don't really have distinct personalities.

The plotting is clever and this is a really solid police procedural novel - I enjoyed following the investigation as it experienced highs, lows and setbacks galore. There was certainly enough happening to keep me reading - but I did guess one of the big revelations very early on which is why this is a 4 star review and not a 5 - maybe I've just read too many crime novels and am suspicious of everything! That said, the tension is managed well and the connection to the earlier crime at the farmhouse gives this an interesting dimension.

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys tense and twisty police procedurals. There are some really creepy ideas and situations in the book so it probably isn't for the faint of heart. However, there's lots to enjoy and it would make a lively festive read...if Christmas bloodbaths are your thing.

Incidentally, no judgement from me because this book is just my thing!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book.
I read The Christmas Killer last year and really enjoyed it so knew I had to read the 2nd James Walker book and it did not disappoint!
I think i enjoyed this one even more than The Christmas Killer!
I enjoy James' story as well as the main storyline.
Even though lots of characters are introduced to us, its not uneasy to follow and kept me gripped from the beginning.
It got to a point in the middle when I couldn't work out at all who was the killer, there was so many twists and suspects I couldn't work out who was behind it or behind the stalking of Robert's family.
A tense, twisty thriller that you will want to stay up late to finish!

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 basement - an no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of 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 missing 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 a standalone.

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

The first fall of snow can be fatal…
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…
James knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold…

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

This is the second novel by Alex Pine in the DI James Walker series.
The scene looks like a murder suicide of a farming family and its up to DI Walker and his team to investigate. They discover links to a similar crime which occurred over 20 years ago and make a shocking discovery.
Although I didn’t find it as fast moving as some other crime stories it felt refreshing to read a different paced book allowing more time to appreciate and get to know the characters. One scene which stayed with me was early in the story. The image of a bloody murder scene against a Christmas background couldn’t have been more stark.
Don’t think you have solved this crime cause you might be in for a surprise.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Although I hadn’t read the previous book in this series, this was an enjoyable read. A detective story set in the rural North of England, which centres around the mysterious death of a farmer, his wife and daughter in a remote farm. With echoes of a murder suicide that took place in the same farm years earlier, DI James Walker and his team set about unravelling the events that led to the tragedy and uncover some new information about the earlier mystery. The story had a good plot and relatable characters in the detective and his team.

The Killer in the Snow is the second book in the DI James Walker Series, the first being The Christmas Killer which I absolutely loved last year!
 
This book is a gripping page turner that has you wanting for nothing.  There is murder, lies, thrills and so many twists and turns!
 
I really liked James’ Character from the first book and I found that my fondness grew as you learnt more about his and Annie’s past and present.
 
Because of the amount of red herrings thrown in, I found trying to work out who the murderer was almost impossible, however I did work out some of the other parts of the story along the way which were shockers!
 
I definitely recommend this book, but I would suggest reading the first so that you get a better understanding of the Town of Kirkby Abbey!

For a whodunnit it was pretty rubbish. I didn’t really like this book and figured it out straight away. I wont be rushing to read another book by this author.

The second book in the DI James Walker series, by Alex Pine

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. DI James Walker knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold……

I was intrigued to find out why the murders happened, who caused them to happen and if they were connected to the murders at the same farm more than 20 years ago....

An interesting read if you like thrillers set in the snowy English countryside. Its a real whodunnit!

https://mams.ie/forums/topic/the-killer-in-the-snow-by-alex-pine/

DI James Walker has spent the year recovering from his first big case in Cumbria. His wife,Annie, is pregnant and their Christmas was relaxing. Until the discovery of a family savagely murdered on their farm. The farm was Linked to an old case of murder 20 years previously and is the past back to haunt the village?
This was such a great book. I love the characters and the story is full of little twists. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

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.

This is an okay read, I wouldn't say it is the best thriller or crime/detective book I have read, but it kept me entertained enough. Not sure if I would follow the series or be a hard fan. Overall, it is an okay and quick read.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.