The fifth instalment the DI Knight series and this time the world of horseracing is the focus of the teams attention. This was a solid mystery and a great addition to the series, Ashley is a strong, likeable lead with just the right mix of grit and heart.

All DI Ashley Knight’s regular team at DCI Kettle’s Norfolk MIT including DS Emma Stones and DS Jan Pedersen, along with DCs Barry Hooper, Morgan Golding, Zelda Cartwright and Sal Freitas are back. DS Bhavini Kotecha is still on maternity leave and they are joined by an old face, Hector Fade, demoted to the rank of DC after an altercation at the NCA left him with little choice. An anonymous caller reports a heated argument between two people at Fakenham Racecourse, and in the process of investigating the snow-covered site, everyone’s favourite officer PS Frank Levine is assaulted by an unknown assailant. Ashley oversees the CID investigation until the snow melts and the body of racehorse owner Glen Gordon is discovered, dead from a blow with a blunt instrument. Could this be connected to local bookmaker Jonny Lowe who disappeared for two days, abandoning his car at the racetrack, only to return home covered in blood? Was Glen lured to his death and why did someone want him dead? Is there a very dark element lurking beneath the sport of kings for the MIT team to uncover?
After the abhorrent and very topical theme of the previous story, the reader might be wondering if this could be a simple case of personal differences or maybe to do with the high stakes that are involved in horseracing, but will soon find themselves engrossed in a chilling story where detectives battle to peel back the layers of deceit in order to catch a killer on the loose. Full of well painted colourful characters and with some good suspects to choose from, this is a solid police procedural featuring a lovely closeknit team with plenty of warmth and humour between them. Barry never fails to make me laugh. A smashing addition to the series, the plot is well paced, twisty and cleverly written with lots of short gripping chapters. Thoroughly recommended.

Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood is a police procedural taking place in England. It was a pretty good mystery, although there were a ton of people, both police and suspects. It was complicated. A team had been called to the racetrack one night and one of them had gotten knocked over the head. As the others were called and investigated, they found a body, which turned out to be one of the horse owners who both boarded/trained his horses nearby and lived nearby. It was a gruesome death with bones of his battered head breaking through the skin. Thus began a week of gruesome deaths, all related to the racetrack and nearby training facility. A trainer, the facility owner, a jockey...all dead. And the methods became increasingly awful.

There was a fair amount of interaction between the police officers. As a result, we got to know them better as the case wore on. It seemed like it took forever, but the whole thing was really only a week or so. I like the police characters. They each had their issues, but each had their strong points. Greenwood did a good job developing then. The multiple murders all had a reason behind them, which made sense only to the murderer and no one else. It was a good read, bull of twists and turns and good old-fashioned police work. It was a good read.

I was invited to read Death at Fakenham Races by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #RossGreenwood #DeathatFakenhamRaces

DI Knight has her work cut out! The bodies keep piling up in this one and it looks to be a clear cut case of corruption, fraud and blackmail. Not everything is as it seems and the characters and their shifty behaviours make it all the more difficult to work out who the culprit is.

This is a slow-burn, police procedural that aims at unpicking and initial murder. It seems that their suspects are being picked off one by one which helps keep the reader on their toes as you find there's much more to the story than initially assumed.

Ross Greenwood delivers another gripping installment in the DI Ashley Knight series, and it’s a thrill to catch up with her and the team. Their chemistry, banter, and evolving personal lives add warmth to the grim case ahead. The mystery begins at Fakenham Racecourse, but evidence is scarce, the weather uncooperative, and frustration builds. This time, the investigation is slow-burning and realistic, full of dead ends and powerful suspects. The racetrack setting comes alive, rich in atmosphere and tension. Fast-paced, layered, and immersive—this is another standout police procedural. A highly enjoyable read!

It's book five in The Norfolk Murders, Ashley's back and we're off to the races! There's a killer on the loose!

Horse racing or riding has never been my thing, but Greenwood somehow still turned it into a great read!

Well paced, with the great characters we've grown to love and those we don't, Death at Fakenham Races is a suspense fueled police procedural and a thoroughly enjoyable one to boot!

And before I forget, it's snowing! Have you ever tried catching a killer when you can't trace his footsteps?

An anonymous tip, to the races the police go
Travelling there through driving snow.
Then a shocking attack knocks out one of them out
Why would they do that? What's it all about?

DI Ashley Knight is put on the case
But there's so much more that's taking place.
With murder, mystery and a plethora of lies
Can they solve the case before someone dies?

An intriguing read filled with suspense
With the racing fraternity proving so tense.
What are they hiding? Can the police discover
Before everything leads to the death of another?

A fascinating story filled with twists galore
As the horse racing world they start to explore.
There a hints and lies before they'll succeed
And facts are really what they all need.

A page turner story I didn't want to put down
With red herrings to make you want to frown.
An enthralling look at horse racing, too,
Showing events from different points of view.

For my copy of this thrilling read I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I can't believe I haven't read more of this author's work - I need more hours in the day!

A brutal attack in the dead of night at Fakenham racecourse gives DI Ashley Knight and her team a new case. None of them know anything about horse racing - but they'll have to learn. As the investigation begins, they uncover another - darker - side to the sport of kings. Can they get to grips with everything that's going on before another murder occurs?

Although this is the fifth in series, it is a perfect stand-alone read. Not a straighforward case at all, but all the intracacies of the racing world are clearly covered so that even a novice like me understood what was going on. This is a complex case, well-crafted and the murderer wasn't easy to discover - I think I suspected almost every character along the way. I shall be looking out for more from Ross Greenwood. Definitely an exciting, enigmatic read which I'm happy to recommend. 5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood is book 5 in the excellent book in the DS Ashley Knight series, and I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the beginning till the very end. This book was a super read. Full of great twists and turns throughout and a great storyline especially of you love going to the races! Horse racing of courses.


There's a Policeman has been brutally attacked their body has been found nearby. Fakenham Racecourse.
DS Ashley Knight is called to the most famous and competitive world of horse racing. This is where people rich, famous and where people who just want to go, dress up and watch the races and have a gambe at the horses. This is a place where people win and loose their fortunes. The investigation starts and DS Ashley Knight and his team uncovers the darker side of this glamorous sport, and it is not so glamorous as it makes out to be! it is corrupt full of lies etc.
More bodies turn up and it is very clear to DS Ashley Knight and his team they have a serial killer on their hands.
But they do not know why they are killing these people.

What is their motive?

What have they got to Prove?

and

Why are they killing them?

With the stakes getting very high. . . . . betting on the horses Big money! but someone has something to hide and they will do anything to stop being caught!!

Tick tock the clock is ticking. . . . Can DS Ashley Knight and his team caught them before they kill again?

WoW this series just gets better and better. Fantastic read.

I was so excited to be joining this book tour for another amazing instalment of Ross Greenwood’s series. I thought this book was gripping and it had me on the edge of my seat. The plot focused on a unique setting and is something I have not read about in any book before!

The book starts when DI Ashley Knight and her team are investigating a murder at a horse racing course. The book follows the investigation and with the killer still on the go, they don’t know when the next murder will happen. I didn’t know a lot about horse racing but this book does explain it and how having the winning horse can cause chaos within the sport.

I enjoyed how the chapters looked at different characters and how some of the characters appeared to be unreliable. This kept me guessing about who the killer was and I wasn’t really sure until the very end. Also, I like how Ross Greenwood includes a character list at the front of the book which is useful for people who have had a break in the series or are reading this book as a standalone.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it will appeal to a wider audience with the setting. If you don’t know about horse racing but I wouldn’t let that put you off, because it is made easy to understand. I was a bit cautious at first but I had no doubts with Ross Greenwood’s writing. This book was easy to read and it was definitely a page turner.

The story:
When Norfolk police receive an anonymous call about a disturbance at Fakenham Race Course on a snowy December night, two uniformed police officers are quickly dispatched to investigate. And when one is seriously injured by an unknown intruder, it’s clear something is not right. But when the snow thaws, Detective Inspector Ashley Knight and the Norfolk Major Investigation Team have a bigger problem on their hands… a body.

As the crimes mount up, Ashley and the team are sure they are linked to the complicated world of horse racing. But will they be able to untangle things in time, or will the killer strike again?

My thoughts:
Following hot on the heels of "Death at Horsey Mere", which published earlier this year, "Death at Fakenham Races" is the fifth instalment in the Norfolk Murder series by Ross Greenwood, featuring DI Ashley Knight and her team.

This has been an action-packed series with some complex, sometimes international cases. This time we stay closer to home, with a series of crimes linked to Fakenham Race Course, and the various people that are associated with it and the world of horses – from bookies to trainers, owners and jockeys. The first murder is something of a puzzle, with the victim being generally well liked, but there is a hint of something dodgy in a past race where a favourite, The Taciturn Man, unexpectedly pulled up at the final jump. Was this just the unpredictable nature of racing, or is there the possibility of race fixing?

As ever, Ashley and the team delve into the intricacies of the case (with some of them more interested in horse racing than others!), each bringing their own skills to the challenge. This includes detective Hector Fade – previously on the fast-track scheme to high places in the force, he returns under something of a cloud… but it’s great to have him back!

Ashley herself is in a pretty good place in this book, but still struggling to find the joy in her personal life that she finds in her work. The end of this book ends with some hope on that front (but I’ve said that before!). I also have a soft spot for her somewhat difficult detective constable Barry Hooper, and I hope things can work out for him too, one way or another!

Overall this was an enjoyably twisting case, with the backdrop of the racing community adding a great level of complexity for the team at MIT to get their teeth into!

I love this book it part of 5 book series and wow loved it

brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.

I always look forward to any book by Ross Greenwood. and this didn't disappoint. In this 5th outing for Greenwood's DCI Ashley Knight, one of Knight's officers is attacked on the racecourse and, shortly after, a body is found resulting in an investigation that leads us into the world of race fixing. It is a sound police procedural novel with strong characterisation. The suspense is maintained throughout, keeping the reader guessing until the end. The novel is set in the heart of winter and opens with snow on the ground, giving it the feel of a Christmas offering despite its June publication. This would make a good summer of winter holiday read.

Set in the world of horse racing, the latest in the DS Ashley Knight crime thrillers is complex and mysterious. The many suspects soon become victims, and the false leads outnumber the clues. The investigative team are relentless, but everyone is lying, and the killer always seems one step ahead. The personal lives of the detectives add depth to the story and are an essential part of this series. I like the characterisation, the horse racing setting and the twisty crime mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

'A large, dark shape materialised to his right, as though plunging through a thick cloud. The drumming faster, relentless'.

I read my first Ross Greenwood novel, earlier this year and loved it, so of course I was going to read this one. Another day and another Norfolk murder! This one reminded me of a Dick Francis book. If you don't know, Dick was a former jockey, turned author and many of his books were set in the horse racing world and featured a murder or two!

As Ross was writing about the stable yards, and the beauty and grace that comes with the horses who reside there, I could smell the wood shavings and the gorgeous horsey smell. I could sense the love the people who worked there, had for their charges, and I dropped myself right into the middle of it all, as I set about trying to solve the murder(s) along with DI Ashley Knight.

A perfectly written police procedural. Ross kept me guessing most of the way through, and my choice of murderer changed from one chapter to the next as one curveball after another was thrown into the mix. I had just one thought at the end.....poor Barry! 😉

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood.

Well... here we are at book five of this cracking series and with no signs of flagging. Obviously usual series rules apply and you don't need me to spell them out.
This time, DI Ashley Knight and her team are thrown into the thrilling and competitive world of horse racing when there is a death at their local racecourse. One of her own officers also being injured during the call out. The weather, specifically the snow, doesn't help their investigation. Nor does navigating the ins and outs of the racing fraternity, the owners, trainers, bookies, jockeys, racecourse staff etc etc all leave them running ragged.
They have only just scratched the surface of their investigations when there is another body found, upping the urgency to solve the crime before the body count rises even further.
I really loved this book. Especially the horse racing element which, for those not in the know, the author explains well enough to allay the layman but not too much to go over the top. The crimes and investigation thereof were well plotted and said plot ably executed by a cracking cast of existing series characters, well supported by new ones. We even had the return of an old "friend" whose welcome back by a colleague had me in stitches. Honestly, outwith the main case, there's some seriously cracking banter between the officers!
And the conclusion to the case when we eventually got there was rather shocking and extremely clever. But I'll let you discover that as the author intends. No spoilers from me.
All in all, a great addition to what is now a well established series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Always a pleasure to return to read about DI Ashley Knight and her team (& a relief that there is another book in the series!) Ross Greenwood has developed the lives of the members of the team so well, that it is fun seeing how each of their worlds has moved on since the last book, effortlessly picking back up with their banter and sarcasm, offering some light relief alongside the darkly serious side of their jobs.

This time the murders begin at Fakenham Racecourse and from there, the mystery quickly deepens, with little evidence to help the investigation start. Even the weather hampers them, slowing them down, adding to the overall feeling of frustration, at getting to grips with the crime scene.

I found it refreshing to read a police investigation, where it doesn’t all fall quickly into place, one that benefits from a huge effort from the team, following many loose threads often to dead ends. This multi-layered plot has so many suspects, from a wide array of powerful characters connected to the racing world. I found out a lot more about what goes on behind the scenes at the race track and also how a stables works.

The action is certainly fast-paced and creating tension by running just behind the mounting number of crimes. With the setting being vividly described, the reader will hear the thunder of hooves on turf, feel the excitement of a race day, whilst also being enveloped in the tension and intrigue. There are clues wound in, for us to try to piece together, alongside DI Ashley’s team and time is racing past.

Another great read in this strong police procedural series!

This book sees DI Ashley Knight thrown into the world of horse racing. After a call to Fakenham race course gets a PC assualted that’s just the start of it. Before Ashley knows it she has dead bodies and some sort of betting con to get to the bottom of. There’s a lot going on in this case and luckily the author has a way of explaining the world of racing as you read. It’s a cold snowy time coming up to Christmas, will Ashley be able to get this case solved before Seb arrives for Christmas

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read the previous one in this series and really enjoyed it, so was happy to revisit the team in Norfolk again. This one didn’t disappoint. There’s so many lies, twists and secrets in this one, it’s difficult to keep track! I guessed who it was but it was right near the reveal, so didn’t feel clever at all.

Ashley and her team are investigating a death at a local race course and getting immersed in the world of horse racing and betting. If you’re not familiar with any of this, don’t worry - you’ll get a full lesson all the way through of how it all works and who does or doesn’t do what. I found it really interesting and engrossing, I loved learning as I read especially when it’s a novel.

The writing as ever was easy to follow and kept me involved all the way to the end. I really like Ashley and her banter with the team, they all get on well and this was definitely more light hearted than the last - even with murder involved! I’m looking forward to the next one already.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this book.

3.5 stars.

I read this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion based on my completing the story.

I had a good time reading this book, even if it didn’t completely blow me away. It’s part of a series featuring DI Knight, but can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous books and didn’t feel disconnected at all.

The story is set mostly in the world of horse racing, which I found really interesting reminding me of early Dick Francis novels. It’s not a setting I usually read but the author knows his stuff and has worked a lot of detail into the plot. It felt very authentic and even though I don’t know much about horse racing as I have not read any recent books about that theme, but I seem to have learned a fair bit along the way.

The case itself kicks off when someone is found dead at Fakenham Racecourse and a police officer is attacked. DI Knight is called in, and from the start, it’s clear that almost everyone involved is hiding something. The mystery is layered and keeps you guessing. It felt like I was solving the case alongside the police and I enjoyed that feeling of uncertainty.

There’s no shortage of action and dead bodies, so if you like your crime novels with a bit of grit, you’ll probably enjoy this. The pace is quick, and there are a few nice twists and clues sprinkled throughout.

My only real issue is that at times the story felt a bit too crowded several subplots and characters made it hard to stay fully invested in everyone. I also wanted a bit more depth from some of the main characters. Still, the plot carried things well enough, and I was interested to see how it would all play out.

All in all, this is a solid police procedural with an unusual and well-researched setting. It didn’t quite hit that wow factor for me, but it’s definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of British crime fiction or just want something a little different. I am hoping to pick another book from the author.