My first experience of this author, and I found it well written, and a great thriller. I would recommend, a thoroughly good read!

"A Nice Place to Die" by J. Woollcott is a compelling police procedural set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, introducing Detective Sergeant Ryan McBride and his partner DS Billy Lamont. This debut novel in the DS Ryan McBride series offers readers a gripping mystery with a well-crafted plot and rich, atmospheric setting.

The story begins with the discovery of a young woman's body near a river outside Belfast. DS Ryan McBride makes a crucial discovery at the crime scene but chooses to keep it secret, risking his career and the investigation. As McBride and his team delve deeper into the case, they uncover connections to a local rapist and a web of deception that leads to a dangerous family secret.

Woollcott's writing shines in her vivid portrayal of Belfast and its surroundings. Her intimate knowledge of Northern Ireland lends authenticity to the setting, making it an integral part of the story. The author's background and connection to the area enhance the novel's sense of place, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the local atmosphere.

The character development, particularly of DS Ryan McBride, is noteworthy. McBride is a complex protagonist, harboring his own secrets while navigating the intricacies of the investigation. The dynamic between McBride and his partner, DS Billy Lamont, adds depth to the narrative and provides opportunities for both tension and camaraderie.

Woollcott skillfully balances the dark themes of murder and family secrets with touches of humor and hints of romance, creating a well-rounded story that keeps readers engaged. The pacing is steady, with enough twists and turns to maintain suspense throughout the novel.

"A Nice Place to Die" has received recognition within the crime fiction community, winning the Romance Writers of America Unpublished Mystery/Suspense Daphne du Maurier Award in 2019 and being shortlisted for the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in 2021. These accolades speak to the quality of Woollcott's storytelling and her ability to craft a compelling mystery.

For fans of police procedurals and mysteries set in unique locations, "A Nice Place to Die" offers a fresh perspective on the genre. Woollcott's debut sets a strong foundation for the DS Ryan McBride series, leaving readers eager for the next installment.

In conclusion, "A Nice Place to Die" is a promising start to a new crime series, showcasing J. Woollcott's talent for creating atmospheric mysteries with intriguing characters and complex plots. It's a recommended read for those who enjoy well-crafted police procedurals with a strong sense of place.

I really enjoyed this book. Engaging characters and compelling storyline. Lots of twists and turns and a surprising ending.

This book delivers the twists and turns that thriller lovers crave. I really really enjoyed this book. The story was very well written and the characters in the were great too. The ending of the book was a good surprise.

Some aspects of this narrative were far fetched and unbelievable. The plot was intriguing and let me guessing. The ending was a surprise

A Nice Place To Die is not a nice but great book with a unique army of characters to keep you hooked till the very last page. Being based in Ireland, it took me some getting used to the lingo but the plot is compelling & makes you want to finish this book & hop onto the next one in the series. Even with his somewhat questionable attitude in a select few instances, I found his character quite appealing. The myriad of complex characters with equally interesting backstories also adds to the appeal to me. I enjoyed the plot & characters very much & can't wait to discover what lies ahead for the DS Ryan McBride.

Thank you NetGalley, Level Best Books & J. Woollcott for the arc!

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

I liked it! Interesting interactions within the police department. Seemed to follow gut instinct more often than I would expect. But in the end the guilty one was a surprise. I liked the twists and turns. I enjoyed the story.

My first read from this author and WOW. Lots of twists and turns that had me edge of my seat. But I felt the ending left me hanging. Definitely would recommend and hope there is another story continuing.

I thought this book was a really good physiological thriller , was really looking forward to reading it and it didn’t disappoint. From start to finish it got you hooked and was a really well laid out story with lots of very interesting characters who were so different but was very good the way they were all able to be connected together. Would really highly recommend this book.

This is an excellent police procedural, with a great setting in Northern Ireland and a wonderful ensemble cast of characters. It's the first of a series featuring Detective Sergeant Ryan McBride—a flawed but dedicated police officer whose heart may go astray but ends up in the right place after all. This book has lots of tension and suspense, and builds to a satisfying ending. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!

I love books that are set in Ireland and or the UK! I was hooked from the first page and loved how the story flowed so well and effortlessly.
This ticked all of the right boxes for me when it comes to a thriller/crime book and I hope to read more by this author!

Very credible police procedural. Realistic characters, complex plot, surprise ending. Highly recommended.

Detective McBride and his team held me captive with this thrilling story. He finds himself in a tangle concerning his link with their victim. Although the Detective had a little issue with women, it in no way detracted from the story.

It is always so gratifying when you start a new series, and try a new author, and your efforts pay off. This was an engrossing novel, essentially a police procedural but it also contained elements of domestic thriller and had a little romance thrown in for good measure.

The setting was in and around Belfast, Northern Ireland and featured members of the PSNI (Police Service of Norther Ireland).

When DS Ryan McBride attends the scene of a murder, he quickly realizes that he knew the victim - had slept with her in fact. Should he confess his one night stand and be removed from the case??? He decides not to.

Later, he realizes that the victim had a twin sister, and he is also attracted to her, though he already has an 'on again, off again' relationship with his former girlfriend, Bridget. McBride is a diligent policeman who works long hours. He lives alone on a farm that he inherited from his grandfather. His only company is his faithful dog, Finn, a wired-haired fox terrier. He is quite close to his younger sister, Erin, a food blogger who often provides him with sustenance when he is too busy to cook for himself. He is somewhat estranged from his father, who is very disappointed in him. McBride holds an honours law degree and his father, a solicitor, assumed he would join his prestigious law firm. Instead, MacBride joined the PSNI.

His second in command, DS Billy Lamont is a family man. Married, with three little daughters that he is devoted to. Some of Lamont's attitudes and actions create a little levity during this very serious story.

DC Wylie, on the other hand, acts as McBride's nemesis. He is an odious man who just so happens to be the nephew of the Chief Inspector. He has a smug, entitled attitude, does little actual work, and has been fast-tracked for promotion...

The other members of McBride's team were all interesting to read about and added lots of interest to the novel. Hopefully they will have a more pertinent role in future books in the series.

Told essentially from McBride's point of view, we also hear from Kathleen McGuire, the murder victim. Her narrative takes place in the months leading up to her murder.

Kathleen found herself in a toxic relationship. Her lover was insanely jealous and controlling.

As her murder investigation continues, the body count rises. McBride faces some personal and professional challenges. The skilled blend of these story-lines was what I really enjoyed the most in this book. The author threw in a few plot twists that I had not anticipated, and ended the book with a scenario that left me with a smile on my face.

Highly recommended! I eagerly await the next title in this series "Blood Relations" which is due for publication next summer.

4.5 stars rounded up

Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

This book held my interest all the way through! Very quickly moving from the investigator, the other policemen and the sister of the murdered girl. Even when the writer takes the reader back to "Before" it all flows so well with lots of red herrings planted very cleverly by this author.
Look forward to reading more by this writer.

A great start to a new series where the main character is a flawed character like many of those people he captures and who are on the other side of the law. He is conflicted between his personal life and feelings and his professional life and a DS. I kept on reading and guessing who was the culprit, but the author kept me imagining things till the end. A Nice Place to Die has a good plot, is well-written, and provides good entertainment!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this book.

It's that most engaging of treats, a big, fat, intelligent thriller. It is a first-rate crime novelist's ability to lead his readers up the garden path….

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This was a fantastic read!! I couldn't put it down. The characters and writing were so well done. The alternating timeline really made the book compelling.