This is an intriguing police procedural. It’s an incredibly complicated case, involving the racing community. I have learned a considerable amount about horse racing and betting, which was fascinating. Although part of series, it could be read as a stand alone book. The relationships between the police officers are realistic and the story moves at a good pace.

ones, this works as a standalone. To help with identifying characters, the author provides a directory of the cast of players at the beginning of the novel. I really like that!

A police officer investigating a call at Fakenham Racecourse is attacked. When a dead body is found at the site, Ashley, a novice to the sport, and her team investigate the world of horse racing, where owners, trainers, jockeys, and bookies all have a role in this risky business. How far will any one of them go for a win? There is no shortage of suspects.

A solid police procedural, I like this investigative team with their close personal relationships and sarcastic humor. There are twists and turns. Atmospheric, the descriptions of the Norfolk surroundings, particularly in the snow, are vivid and evocative. I am not a big horse race fan, but did appreciate Greenwood’s sharing knowledge of all aspects of the steeplechase as operated in the UK.

If you enjoy police procedurals featuring capable female detectives, I encourage you to check out this book. This author/series has been added to my “must read” list.

With no horsey hurdles pun intended I leapt at the chance to read an early copy of this book, the 5th in the Norfolk Murders series by Ross Greenwood.

DI Ashley Knight and the team are back, and it was great to see Hector Fade taking a more confident role in the proceedings.

You will need your wits about you if you want to keep up with the case as the team battle to unmask (unsaddle?) a serial killer from within this world immersed in all things equine. Much like the earlier books in this series, there is a lot going on and there are several mini-mysteries to keep the reader on their toes. It is evident the author has done their homework to make sure the rich, exciting, dangerously glamorous side of horse racing is brought to life, and death.

How to sum up this book... think Riders by Jilly Cooper and add lashings of murder and intrigue!

My thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me be a part of this book tour.

A Murky World..
The fifth outing in the Norfolk Murders series finds DI Ashley Knight thrown in at the deep end when a brutal attack occurs at Fakenham Racecourse. It soon becomes clear that - far from being a glamorous world - murky secrets, lies and revelations lie in wait around every corner. An accomplished addition to this excellent series with a well drawn and credible cast and a pacy plot littered with twists and surprises.

Again, I enjoyed reading about the team made up of Ashley, Barry, and Hector. There are always a few petty jokes, but the dynamics between these people working together, knowing each other's strengths and all of them being passionate about solving the murders were a fast-paces and pleasant read.

However, unlike before, this puzzle was a bit complicated when it came to schemes. And the suspicion on the characters kept going back and forth. For the first time when reading a book by Ross Greenwood I am only giving it three stars :( But that doesn't mean I am not looking forward to the next in this series :)

I really enjoy this series and enjoy Ross Greenwood's way of writing. The characters are complex and are brought to life during the story, great storyline and interesting characters.
This is the fifth in the series of the Norfolk series with DI Knight and her group of colleagues, which include Barry, Hector, Sal and Emma, who are part of the MIT at Norfolk. It can also be read as a stand alone if others haven't read previous books.
This book is set around Fakenham races and the characters set around racehorse owners, trainers, a bookmaker and retired jockeys. It revolves around murder, suspects and an ongoing case running alongside of it for race fixing.
I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

An enjoyable well-written mystery that will interest Dick Francis fans and other interest in mysteries that are set around the horse 🐎 racing scene.

Although I enjoyed this book, I didn't find it quite as captivating as some of the mysteries I have recently read, the ones I couldn't put down until I finished reading them but it is a 4 star informative mystery novel.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. I have read other books by this author and liked them too. It was a well written book.

Fifth in a series of police procedural/crime novels billed as “The Norfolk Murder Series” by a well known writer whose previous DI Barton books were set around his native Peterborough but whose parents have a chalet near Cromer – hence inspiring this series.

The series features Detective Inspector Ashley Knight of a Wymondham based Norfolk Major Investigative Team and a group of colleagues around her who are now familiar friends to readers (such as Barry Hooper and the returning young Hector Fade.

This episode is set in and around Fakenham races and features a small group of people based in and around Fakenham races – racehorse owners, trainers, a bookmaker and retired jockeys (who between them end up as both the victims and suspects for a series of murders).

This was one of my favourite of the series to date – as well as the attacks there is a separate but related investigation into potential race fixing and the local colour on mid Norfolk is accompanied by some detailed writing on jump racing. Given how much of my time is spent either in Norfolk or around horses this worked particularly well for me.

I continue to enjoy this series and look forward to the next (and potentially last) in the series – the brilliantly titled “Death on the Norfolk Express”

Snow falls silently hiding the tracks of a killer.
Book five DS Ashley Knight.
The Norfolk murders investigation team.
Fakenham racecourse plunged Ashley into an investigation of a brutal attack.
When everyone is lying how do you catch a killer.
This book leads readers into a psychopathic killer on the loose, can the team get the murderer before it's too late and more bodies are found at the racecourse.
Dynamic, jumping, chills as once again this author has delivered what reader's love to read.
As we read heavy gruesome chapters in the deep snowy cold nights.
Loved it

<i> I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. </i>

A gripping police procedural - 3.5*

I was a little apprehensive reading this book because I've not read any in the series - but there was no need. This book can be read as a standalone: there's very little reference to the previous novels (which I am grateful for).

At the start of the novel, there's a huge list of characters which seemed daunting to begin with but Greenwood is very skilled in creating a range of deeply complex characters. From Ashley Knight herself to Barry 'Hoops' Hooper and even recently demoted Hector, these characters not only help advance the plot along but are also interesting and well-thought out characters. I was also deeply impressed with the complexity of the supporting characters (the suspects). 'Trust no one and remember everyone lies' should be a tag line for this novel. The book dealt with very deceitful characters well.

The structure of the police procedural helped jog my memory and honestly made me feel a part of the team as I joined Ashley Knight to solve who on earth completed these savage attacks. Now, I am no expert in horseracing, but neither were the team so it did feel like it was a team effort to solve the crime.

I will definitely be going back and reading the other novels in this series.