Although the second in the series, you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this - I haven't and although some back-story has been missed, I didn't think it detracted from the overall story at all.

A triple murder has occurred in an isolated farm on the outskirts of the fictional village of Kirkby Abbey in Cumbria. Initially, it looks like a clear case of murder-suicide however, on further inspection, things just don't add up. In addition, there are similarities to a murder-suicide at the same house some 20 years earlier.

Are the two connected?

This is a well written murder mystery with a great plot and excellent characters. Alex Pine really captures the location and puts you in the heart of the Cumbrian countryside - I should know, it's in my neck of the woods! I love reading books that are set in and around my home/work area; it really adds a sense of realism and authenticity as I can actually vividly put myself in the scenery, on the roads and in the houses.

The pace is steady and whilst I anticipated the twist, it didn't take away from the journey to get there.

Once again, another series to look out for in the future and thank you must go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

The is the second book in Alex pine's DI James Walker series. The first book being the Christmas Killer.
I preferred the Killer in the snow to the Christmas killer as it wasn't as repetitive. This book is such an easy read and is light relief from heavy and complicated thrillers. I did guess what happend to the Roths and baby Megan but I didn't guess the plot twist towards the end. Overall a really enjoyable read and I am looking forward to more murders in Kirkby Abbey

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to publication.
Poor DI Walker. Last Christmas saw a spate of killings and all he wants - like most of his fellow villagers - is a quiet holiday period. Unfortunately, when three bodies are discovered in a remote farmhouse and he learns it is similar to a case that took place in the same house over twenty years earlier, it’s clear that’s not going to happen.
The story is a fairly standard police procedural as Walker and his team try to uncover the truth of what happened. There’s a number of suspects, the local nosy journalist is pushing for answers and Walker is also aware that the gangland boss who has threatened to kill him is on the run and knows where he lives.
From start to finish, there’s always something going on. While it might be rather exaggerated, the events are interesting and it was good to see Walker trying to work things out. Things get quite incredible towards the end, but everything’s tied up nicely…though I do think Walker should look at moving somewhere quieter!

This is the second book in the DI James Walker series. I was looking forward to this one as I really liked the first book in the series.

In this installment, DI Walker is hoping for a quiet holiday season after last years Christmas murder. Unfortunately he doesn't get his wish. Two days after Christmas he is called to a crime scene of a triple murder scene involving an entire family. As they work the crime, they get more questions and more suspects instead of answers.

I enjoy a book that has more than one suspect. I like to be kept guessing instead of knowing who the murderer is right from the start. This one has several suspects and lots of mystery surrounding the farm it takes place on.

It is a slow burner for sure. It takes a long time to get the answers but is worth the wait. I was already familiar with most of the characters from reading the last book so it took no time to get into this one.

Many thanks to netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc

I know some people have loved this book but sadly it wasn’t for me. I was expecting a fast paced , gripping thriller but unfortunately I found it too slow paced and predictable for me to really enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

Another fantastic book from Alex Pine! This was equally as suspenseful and full of action as the first. What I really loved about this was that alongside the modern day murder case there was also a link to a historical case at the same farm. There were a number of twists and turns, one that I physically gasped out loud at and was like ‘of course!’ It was just amazing and full of clues to keep you on your toes to the very end 🔪

Thank you NetGally, Avon Books Uk and to the author for my copy of this book in return for a review

It's Christmas time and DI James Walker has another killer loose in his sleepy village. A triple murder at a local farm, it is soon be comes to light that twenty years ago another murder was committed at the same farm. If this wasn't enough a dangerous London gangster is missing and has vowed vengeance after crossing paths with Walker.
Nothing is what it seems in this book, plenty of misdirection and packed to the rafters with tension and suspense. I was constantly changing my mind about the killer and yes I still got it wrong. A really clever whodunnit which kept me reading late into the night. This is the second book to feature DI Walker and I loved the first book The Christmas Killer, a fantastic five star read. With his latest book you get more of the same and so much more and I can't wait to read more of another gripping and addictive series. Loved it!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review

I am new to the murder-mystery genre, but, as they toe the line between thriller and true mystery, I have started to try more and more. Recently, Alex Pine’s James Walker follow-up was available for a look, and I am glad I didn’t pass this up. There is just enough chaos to drive you crazy and more than enough intrigue to keep you asking, “what in the hell is going on?”

Robert Bateman is a troubled farmer with great debt, mainly due to his gambling habits, on the way home to Oaktree Farm. When he returns, his world completely changes. Oaktree Farm has its secrets. More than two decades ago, Simon and Amanda Roth met a grizzly death there that was ruled a murder-suicide. Megan, the Roth’s daughter, disappeared the same night.

Detective James Walker and his partner Detective Jessica Abbott are on the case and endure car chases, shootings, and enough bad guys with secrets to keep you glued to the pages.

Pine’s ability to keep multiple storylines going all at once and keep them separate is phenomenal. The Killer in the Snow is dark, gruesome, and will make you question everything about everyone you have ever known. How dark are their secrets?

Talk about a great thriller! I wish I would have saved this for closer to winter/ Christmas time to really set the mood but it definitely fit into my spooky season reads. I was entertained the entire time and it had plot twists I didn't see coming. When I received this book, I didn't know it was part of a series but now I am anxious to read the first and I hope he continues with the books.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of The Killer in the Snow, the second novel to feature DI James Walker of the Cumbrian Police.

When the Bateman family, Robert, Mary and daughter Charlotte are found murdered on the family farm James and the team are called in to investigate. Initially suspecting a family annihilation scenario they soon realise the evidence points to a third party and then find the investigation further complicated by the fact that this is not the first murder at the property. Twenty years ago a couple died and their baby daughter went missing.

I think that The Killer in the Snow has a good premise and some interesting twists but the execution isn’t the best. The writing is ponderous and lacks the sharp edge and tension that the page turners have, so it is more like a recitation than a gripping read. I also don’t think it helped that one of the big twists is easily guessable from early in the novel.

I liked that there were several viable suspects, not just “well, maybe” but real possibilities with motive. I think it was well done the way James and his team slowly ground them down to uncover lies and more information and I liked the solution, which put everything into perspective and came as a bit of a surprise. I thought that the forensics side was a bit duff, but early breakthroughs that the novel screamed out for would have ruined what the author was trying to achieve.

In an ongoing thread from the previous novel London gangster, Andrew Sullivan, who threatened James’s life and forced his move from The Met to Cumbria is still on the loose. This should be terrifying and nerve shredding but the author doesn’t manage to get the reader invested.

The Killer in the Snow is a solid, if unspectacular, read.

When a family of 3 is murdered in their farmhouse, DI Walker is the lead investigator. At first, it looks like a straightforward case but as the investigation moves forward, it becomes a bit more complicated. I really enjoyed the plot with it's many twists in this well written police procedural. Full of suspense with believable characters, it kept me interested until the end. Another good read from Alex Pine, which I would recommend to lovers of the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the second in the series of books by Alex Pine.

DI James Walker is hoping for a quieter life up in Cumbria but is having anything but after leaving London.

This Christmas he is solving the investigation where 3 bodies are found in farmhouse. Will they be able to solve the case?

Enjoyed reading this and the twists in the case.

After catching a serial killer the year before at Christmas DI James Walker is looking forward to a quiet Christmas this year. When the bodies of a family of 3 are discovered in their farmhouse it looks like Walker will be busy trying to figure out who would want this family dead. While investigating this case he discovers that 20 years ago another family was found dead and their 3 week old baby missing in this very house.
The story flows along with suspects and secrets being revealed. I enjoyed the book and will definitely be looking for more from this author. It's a surprise right up to the very end

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Detective Inspector James Walker series. I did not read the first book, so came in late. However, this is a stand alone book that can be read without having seen the initial book.

James has moved to the country with his wife to escape a Mob killer who he "put away" some years previously. It is Christmas time and James and his wife who are now expecting their first baby have had a couple of days off until the dreaded phone call. Three bodies have been discovered in a farm house and DI Walker is in charge. There is very little evidence and it first appears as a murder/suicide. However James is a bit skeptical and investigates further.

During his investigation it turns out that 24 years ago a similar incident occurred. Was this related or not?

Not only is there this triple murder and the previous murder/suicide to investigate but also the Mob Killer is on the loose and James Walker is the last person on his list to eliminate prior to disappearing overseas.

It is a very good read and I hope to go back to the start of the series and read the first novel.

I have given this a 4 star rating, but it could quite easily be a 5 star. If you get an opportunity to read this book, do so.

Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️

It’s been a year since the residents of the quiet sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey, nestled in the Cumbrian fells were exposed to a serial killer rampaging through their midst. Peace has been restored but everyone is still recovering from the trauma, hoping this Christmas season will be one to remember for all the right reasons. None more so than DI James Walker and his pregnant wife Annie who have left behind the crime infested streets of London in the knowledge that a certain gangland boss is baying for James’s blood. If you prefer a police procedural that leans towards the lighter side of crime fiction and might ease you into the season of goodwill ( even though there’s little on show here!) then this could be a great series for you to curl up with as you endeavour to figure out whodunnit.

This is the second outing for the detective who first made his appearance in The Christmas Killer. Whilst I prefer to read a series from the very beginning (otherwise I’m inclined not to bother!) you don’t necessarily need to. Oaktree farm is the setting for this Yuletide crime, currently home to the Bateman family. The stage is all set for potential tragedy to strike with the portrayal of the farm’s owner Robert Bateman drowning his sorrows in the local pub. Here’s a man who has reached the end of his tether, a man for whom luck has finally run out, his livelihood and home under imminent threat of loss. Even though the outlook in terms of Oaktree farm is bleak Robert’s planning to enjoy one last Christmas with his family before the harsh reality of what the future holds sinks in. Thus Christmas Eve sees Robert returning home to his loved ones but what awaits him isn’t your usual traditional festive family scene. Just two days later DI Walker is the SIO presiding over the deaths of Robert, his wife Mary and daughter Charlotte. All three have been found dead in the kitchen at Oaktree farm, the scene of much bloodshed. Initial evidence points to a murder/suicide but what if the bodies have been staged purposely to give that impression? Could this be the work of a killer in the snow??

With constant snowfall ( it’s obligatory!) obliterating vital evidence and the remoteness of the farm ensuring a lack of potential witnesses, DI Walker has a mountain to climb if he is ever to solve this crime. When it comes to his attention that this isn’t the first time these walls have borne witness to murder, the case becomes stranger, more complicated and more confusing with the configuration of the dwelling playing a significant role in how and why murders both past and present have taken place. At times an element of creepiness pervades the narrative with Mary believing the place to be haunted but why is she the only one to sense a ghostly presence? Could it be she has further reason to feel so rattled which we have yet to ascertain? As details slowly emerge regarding the family dynamics, the secrets and lies that up until now have been so carefully concealed confirm your suspicions that the past has an enormous bearing on current day events. Figuring out the common denominator between both sets of murders is the key to unlocking the truth. The pace of the plot is not fast and furious but plods along at an acceptable rate as a handful of suspects, all with reasonable motive for wishing the Bateman family ill will are introduced to the reader. There are plenty of reasonable twists and turns to keep you engaged but will you see through the red herrings ahead of DI Walker and his team? Some are clearly intended to throw you off the scent whereas others deserve much closer scrutiny. Unlike in the first book where very early on I guessed the identity of the culprit this time I managed to join up the majority of the dots but failed to link the final few guaranteed to reveal the whole picture. Whether the investigation follows correct police procedure at all times is highly questionable but I’m happy to make allowances for the sake of artistic licence! As for the subplot concerning James and his nemesis Andrew Sullivan I didn’t feel this added anything meaningful to the storyline other than to tie up a loose end from the previous novel. However I didn’t expect Annie to behave so rationally in light of such potential danger! The fact these parents to be think bringing up a child is safer in Kirkby Abbey as opposed to London is mind boggling!

I think what lets this series down (so far) is the poor characterisation, a fact I commented on in my previous review. Everyone appears to be one dimensional, showing little or no emotion whatever they’re faced with. I was hoping on this occasion to discover hidden depths to DI Walker and the rest of his team as I found them too beige for my liking with none of the usual banter between colleagues that can offer insight into individual personalities. I like to be able to visualise the characters in my mind’s eye especially the main ones and it’s far easier to do that if you’re given glimpses of their backstories/private lives beyond the bare bones. I accept DI Walker is a welcome departure from the usual flawed detectives whose personal lives are often in tatters, seeking solace in the demon drink but he’s TOO ordinary!! I think when you’ve decided to follow a series these fictional characters need to feel like familiar acquaintances whom you’re excited to catch up with and I’ve yet to feel that way about any of them. Disappointingly the author fails to deliver in terms of any character development, the whole cast still resembling cardboard cut outs which does mean the focus of the narrative, once again, remains solely on the crime.

Overall this is an entertaining Christmas crime novel with a reasonably well executed plot. Easy to read and digest, with a minimal amount of violence and bloodshed, this is a series that I intend to keep following despite my obvious criticisms. Plus I’m looking forward to meeting baby Walker!

My thanks as always to the publisher Avon and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

After really enjoying the first book last year, I REALLY wanted to enjoy this. Unfortunately although I enjoyed it mostly (It was sitting around a 3 star read for most of it) but I REALLY hate how mental health was represented in this one so I won't be recommending it.

Also I believe the Andrew Sullivan plot line was just filler and didn't add anything to the story.

The Killer in the snow by Alex Pine is the second in the D I James Walker series. It is a year since the Christmas killer case and James is thrown into another case during Christmas time. On Christmas eve a farmer comes home to see footsteps in the snow lead to his unused cellar. Days later the farmer and his wife and their grown-up daughter is found brutally murdered at Oaktree farm.
Is this suicide or were the murdered?
As the case is investigated James Walker finds out that the farmer was in a lot of debt. Was this one of the reasons that he and his family are dead? We also learned that 24 years previous that the owners of the farm also ended up the same way and their daughter was missing. Are these deaths connected somehow?
This is another great story from Alex pine that I really enjoyed. It had interesting plot with several points of view that kept you guessing and a few red herrings along the way. The story was also going back and forward in time to find out the similarities between the two murders which gave you the full picture of what and why these deaths occurred that kept me guessing until the end. James walker is such a likeable character I would like to see how this series develops. 5 stars from me.

I enjoyed this second book even better than the 1st. The plot was intriguing and kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed all the characters and learning more about them throughout the book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

DI James Walker and his wife Annie moved to Kirkby Abbey, a sleepy Cumbrian village, to escape from London. Last Christmas their plans were ruined when a serial killer roamed the district but they are hoping for a quiet family Christmas this year. A local farmer returns home to find footsteps in the snow leading to a disused cellar and a commotion going on inside the farmhouse. Like a lot of farmers in the area the family are struggling financially and the farm is up for sale but they too are hoping for one last family Christmas in their home. Sadly it is not to be for either household and the unfolding story is brilliantly woven and had me gripped from the first page to the last.

I thought this was an okay read, with a great setting. I like the lake District, the characters were well written, and the mystery was interesting. I found the writing style a little stilted and I think it could have been tightened up. I was also very concerned about the lack of nutrition eaten by the main police man, when he came home from a hard day at work trying to solve a messy crime his wife bunged a ready meal in the microwave for him, on another occasion he had a cheese sandwich after a hard day at work. There is obviously a shortage of fruit, veg and salad in the lake district these days, I can't believe how distracted I became by his lack of good food ! Overall this was a reasonable read and its a 4 star read for me.