Dead End

Dead End by Rachel Lynch
Canelo, publisher 2018

It's hard to describe how much I loved this book. It took me by surprise; I had never read any of Rachel Lynch's other novels, and didn't know what to expect.

This is a crime mystery, a 'whodunnit' and set in the lake country of Cumbria, UK. As a crime mystery it works very well, not revealing the killer until the very end of the novel. DI Kelly Porter, an ambitious and capable investigator, is charged with solving two crimes that appear unrelated at first, but then tie together later on. An Earl hangs himself, possibly an assisted suicide, and a pair of girls goes missing, seemingly due to foul play. The book takes the reader through these crimes gradually, adding in a murder, and with great investigative detail. As the book progresses it is easy to ask how these crimes are related, and eventually they are. As a reader, the author kept me guessing as to who the culprit was. I was never really sure until the very end.

The book has some of the best characterization I have ever read. The protagonist, DI Kelly Porter, is a complex character with a rich and complicated family life, a believable boyfriend, and a multilayered relationship with friends and the community. She struggles with problems in all three of these areas, and it makes her an interesting character. Other characters: the boyfriend Johnny, the son of the Earl, Zach, and others are also written in great detail.

Lynch's knowledge of autopsy and police procedure make for pleasurable reading. It's obvious that plenty of research went into writing this book and it shows in the fascinating details that make for good setting. Lynch is a British author and her choice of words and sentence structure reflect this. I recommend a kindle if you read this book; it makes looking up British words, like rota and scarpered, much easier. I found this book utterly compelling reading, I nearly finished it in one long sitting.

Highly recommended and 5/5 stars. D. Lowrey

#DeadEnd #NetGalley I was lucky enough to read the second novel in the DI Kelly Porter series via NetGalley so I was really excited to see the next book in this series. It did not disappoint! Rachel Lynch is a very talented crime writer who knows just how to keep her audience glued to every word! I love the character of Kelly Porter, she is tough, gritty and determined to get to the bottom of all her cases and I really enjoy hearing about her own family issues and struggles intertwined within the cases she is working. The added bonus is the setting of this series - the fabulous Lake District which makes a lovely change from the many London or southern based crime series. A fabulous 5 stars and I look forward very much to the next book in this series.

Missing girls in the Lake District. The suicide of a wealthy, elderly man. Is everything really as it seems for DI Kelly Porter?

The third of the series, but the first for me. An excellent, compelling tale

Another decent, drama filled read in what is shaping up to be a solid crime series. Fast paced and gritty with relatable characters and enough twists to keep you guessing

I loved this book it was fantastic, I cannot think of one negative thing to say. It was thrilling, fast paced, full of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me reading late into the night. I really like the characters in this series they feel real, their emotions are raw and relationships strained. This is such a well written book that kept me engaged and excited all the way through, it was an excellent read and I don’t hesitate in giving it 5 stars.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Dead End (from NetGalley). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one NEEDS to be a movie!!! (I NEVER say that, and I usually hate movies made from books that I love...however, this one is an exception!!!). There was so much action and build-up...twists abound!!! Suspicious deaths? Check. Missing girls? Check. Several monster suspects living in plain sight? Check. Family skeletons? Check. I just LOVED this book. I think it is one that would appeal to more than avid readers. (Unfortunately however, they will not take the opportunity unless it is presented in a 2 hour chunk of non-interactive entertainment.) I must admit it was a little dry until around chapter 16,(which could be done more quickly through film) when the connections between characters began to unfold, but I am so glad that I stuck with it. After that, I had a very difficult time putting this novel down! The characters felt real. Their situations seemed authentic. I am still thinking about this book a day after I finished it. The family secrets in this novel alone keep you reading! A big thanks to NetGalley and Rachel Lynch for allowing me to read and review this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book
I loved this British police procedural.
I found the main character believable and the plot good

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of Dead End, the third novel to feature DI Kelly Lynch, set in the Lake District.

Kelly is resisting promotion, preferring the sharp end of policing, but soon she doesn't have time to think about it as she has her hands full with the apparent suicide of the Earl of Lowesdale which soon turns out to be something different and the disappearance of two female students who went fell walking and didn't come back. As time goes on with no sign of the girls Kelly starts to suspect something darker.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dead End which has a good mystery a lovely location and some interesting characters. It is mostly told from Kelly's point of view but digresses to other characters' thoughts and actions from time to time. Fortunately, from my point of view, Ms Lynch doesn't spend any time with the perpetrator and their thoughts and motivations which as a device I mostly find banal and unconvincing. I like the slow accumulation of facts and theories as Kelly tries to solve both cases, not that the read itself is slow with its timely reveals and action scenes. I also like the picture it paints of the location, beautiful but incredibly dangerous for the unwary and ill prepared. It held my attention from start to finish.

The novel is a mixture of procedural and Kelly's personal life which is fairly tumultuous. She is a loner by nature and feels like an outsider both in the area she was brought up in after many years spent working in London and in her family with whom she has a difficult relationship. The cases she is working on bring some new dimensions to these dynamics and with so much change in the air it will be interesting to see where Ms Lynch takes Kelly in future novels.

Dead End is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

DEAD END By Rachel Lynch

I have really started to enjoy British crime novels and am honored that I was given the chance to review this book by the author as well as goodreads.

The seventh Earl of Lowesdale is found deceased by hanging and no one suspects anything other than the fact that he must have committed suicide due to his lif style. However, the coroner says ithere are signs of foul play. DI Kelly Porter is called to investigate and hat she finds is nothing short of a mystery. Two hikers are now missing and while looking into their disappearance, more are found to me missing. Will this stop or will Kelly be able to find out what has happened and can stop the disappearances? This is a page turner that was well written and while it is number 3 in the dearies, itisa stand-alone novel. You should read the others but it is not necessary. Lynch has the ability to keep the reader enthralled into the story and has done adequate research on police work so that everything makes perfect sense.

5 out of 5

This is the first book I've read featuring DI Kelly Porter, although I believe that it is the third in the series. However, it did not seem to matter that I had not read the previous books - it is a good stand-alone crime novel.

In this book, DI Kelly Porter is living back in the Lake District where she grew up. Battling with her own difficult family background, she is called in to check out the apparent suicide of a local aristocrat whose unconventional family make for an interesting investigation. At the same time, two young women are reported missing from a local campsite on Lake Ullswater and there seem to be connections between the events.

This made for an engaging read, although I found the early sections a little disjointed as the story skipped between characters and time periods. I liked the character of Kelly - she's tough and appealing, having to overcome her own issues while maintaining her professional outlook. I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy police procedurals, especially those with a strong female protagonist.

Dead End by Rachel Lynch

The third in the Kelly Porter series of books and is set in Ullswater, the Lake District. While it’s the third in a series, it can be read as a stand-alone, as I haven’t read either of the others yet, but it didn’t feel disjointed in any way.

At Wasdale Hall, the Earl of Lowesdale, Xavier-Paulus II, is found hanging in his bedroom, by his grandson Zachary. Suicide?

2 young women, Hannah and Sophie are missing after leaving a campsite for a hike in the hills. They have been missing for a few days and concern grows for their safety.....

DS Kelly Porter is investigating both cases and wonders if there’s a link to Freya Hamilton who had been missing for a few months.

Rachel Lynch has created an original character in Kelly, she doesn’t have the usual ‘tough female cop, with a temper’ persona as is found in many novels in this genre. She has a healthy, happy relationship with Johnny, a family with the usual dramas (a couple not so usual though and a little link to Wasdale Hall), which just adds to Kelly’s character and is not the main point at all. She’s just a regular human being. The description of the area is detailed and atmospheric and Rachel Lynch clearly knows the area and breathes life into it.

Brian, is the gardener come handyman on the Wasdale estate and his partner, Linda, has been the housekeeper for the Earl for many years and has seen Zac grow up. She also has a son a little older than Zac, Dominic.

There are other characters which play a large part in the story and the suspects add up, each one is credible and it keeps you guessing to the end. Just when you think, ahhhhh it’s him, it isn’t!!!!!!

This is a book that will make you lose time.....as it’s a ‘just one more chapter’ read. I can thoroughly recommend it.


I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

Really enjoyed this book. .... Twist and turns abound...More murders and mystery.... Great addition to The Kelly Porter series.

I just finished reading Dead End by Rachel Lynch. This is the third book in the series and I was fortunate enough to have already read the first two which I loved. So it doesn’t come as any surprise that I am just as crazy about the last book as the first. The book reads very quickly which is of course good and bad because you don’t want it to end. I will absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery and I thank NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy. I unreservedly give it 5 stars and am looking forward to the next one. Absolutely love Rachel Lynch!

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this arc.
I had seen good/great reviews of the previous Kelly Porter stories but have not read either of them and I felt I was a little behind the eight ball starting with this 3rd story as a "stand alone". I wasn't so confused that I quit reading, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it more if I has started with book one and then book two. Kelly's back story and her relationship histories (with Johnny, her family, co-workers, etc.) were certainly a part of who she is in this 3rd book. Overall, I think these books should be read in their proper order.

I'm not all that proper, nor that orderly.... I kept reading book three. It was a very good story, fast paced with multiple crimes and criminals. A nice big nasty knot to unravel. While I had some trouble fully engaging with the characters initially because I should have started with the earlier books, by the half way point in the book, my "brain fog" had cleared up enough that the last half of the story just flew by.

I've really got to get my hands on the earlier books! A solid four stars without them and likely to go higher after I've caught up!

This is the 3rd in the DI Kelly Porter series, the books get better as the characters develop. It starts with two missing girls from a campsite and as investigations show these are not the first to disappear. Juggling her personal relationships with boyfriend and family as well as professional work as a Detective Inspector running a team Kelly has much to think about. making this quite a page turner.
The series gets better and I look forward to the next in the series.

This is the third novel in the Kelly Porter series and it was just as good as the first two. A very fast paced action filled storyline with plenty of twists and turns. Just as you think you know who the culprit is a spanner is thrown in the works and it turned out to be someone unsuspected. It is also good to get some background on Kelly and her own family life which you can then understand some of the issues she has with feeling like she doesn’t belong and finding it hard to trust people. Even though it is book 3 in a series it can just as easily be read as a stand-alone.

This is the third in the Lake District set series featuring DI Kelly Porter, who has returned to the area after spending numerous years in London. I read the first book which I really enjoyed but somehow missed the second. Nevertheless, this is mostly fine to read as a standalone. In the atmospheric Dead End, Kelly has two seemingly disparate investigations that are slowly revealed to have connections with each other. The hard living and ageing seventh Earl of Lowesdale, named Xavier-Paulus II, is found hanging by the rafters in his bedroom by Zachary, his grandson. Is it suicide or is there more to it? Two young women hikers, Hannah and Sophie, have gone missing from their camp and it turns out they are not the only women to have disappeared in the area.

Kelly harbours few ambitions as she is reluctant to scale the career ladder, she has little wish to be removed from the front of end of policing which is what she enjoys. Her family life has it struggles, as with her mother and sister. As she digs deeper into her cases, Kelly uncovers the secrets and lies behind the facade of the well heeled estate of a local aristocrat. Lynch has written a well researched and well plotted storyline with plenty of twists, suspense and tension. It is the creation of the determined DI Kelly Porter and her development which holds the readers attention with ease. This is turning out to be a great series, with all the requisite parts of what makes a gripping read, a wide cast of compelling characters and an added bonus with the wonderful location. Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.

The third in the Kelly Porter series of books but I hadn’t read the first two and I didn’t feel I’d missed out on anything. Well apart from wanting to read them now that I’ve read this one!

Oh I did like being in the LAke District. Ullswater to be precise and the fictional but highly compelling Wasdale Hall, home of the Earl of Lowesdale, Xavier-Paulus II. He’s been found hanging in his bedroom, by his grandson Zachary. That’s not the only case for DS Kelly, She’s investigating the case of two missing women. In these rural parts, there’s few witnesses and it’s hard to find people who are lost in the moors.

It was refreshing to find this female police officer with a nice family home life! She didn’t have issues, anger management problems or a drink problem which was nice! Other characters were also very strong and well developed. Brian the gardener on the estate in particular and his family were interesting to get to know. I now want to live at Wasdale Hall but well, in nicer circumstances.

On a totally separate note, Lynch is a good author name for a crime fiction author! Definately will be reading more from her!

This is fast becoming one of my favourite series of crime fiction books and I settled in to devour this book with a high level of expectation. It did not disappoint.
The Lake District is still the glorious backdrop for the events of the book, and whilst it felt slightly more slower paced than the previous books in the series, it felt a lot more rounded. The crime(s) and police procedural are still centre stage, but this time I felt as though I really got to know Kelly Porter and her family and I'm interested to see how revelations in this book develop in subsequent instalments.

My thanks go to Net Galley and the publishers for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Say "scottish" and "crime" and I am captive. Add an exciting female detective and the enthusiasm builds.
The plot begins with pace and an eye for procedural detail which adds appeals for the intelligent reader. The central character feels real and there are a few intruiging strands wafting around, so the pages turn quickly.
Interest is maintained until about three quarters into the book when things start to become quite obvious. The story feels familiar; the relationships become cliched. The ending seems inevitable and rushed as events are tied up..sufficiently to complete the plot but not enough to close the lives of the main characters who will, it seems, live on in a series.

Lynch writes well but the plotline feels contrived and ultimately disappoints. I look forward to her next release as she finds her own voice.

I've not read the other books in this series but this did not matter. This story has a great, original plot and is full of interesting and well developed characters. I will definitely look out for other books in this series

Dead End is the third book in the DI Kelly Porter series, having not read the first two this in no way spoiled my enjoyment of this book and I now look forward to reading the previous two after enjoying this so much.
Two young female hikers are missing but it soon becomes clear that this is not just two girls becoming lost in the Lake District hills but becomes more worrying when links are discovered to unsolved previous missing persons and a decaying body is found.
The Earl of Lowesdale is found hanged probable suicide but post mortem shows otherwise. Gradually these cases interlink and DI Porter and her team have their work cut out for them.
With a great host of well thought out characters and well constructed plot this becomes an enthralling and entertaining read.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly.

The Coroner performing an autopsy on a suspected suicide victim, the Earl of Lowesdale, suspects fowl play, leading to DI Kelly Porter becoming embroiled in the investigation at the same time as heading the search for two missing girls who appear to have been abducted whilst on a hiking expedition from their Lakeland camp site. Time is not on her side and the search for the girls becomes more urgent the longer they are missing.

Visiting the Earl’s home - Wasdale Hall - she encounters more mysteries and her gut feeling is that the truth is being hidden by the housekeeper and the gardener who are extremely evasive.

At the same time she is endeavouring to get to grips with family problems - in the main due to a love/hate relationship with her sister, not helped by her mother constantly trying to persuade her to make peace. Kelly takes her mother for a quiet birthday dinner during which, possibly aided by a few glasses of wine, her mother lets slip that she knew the Earl, some of his friends, and Wasdale Hall well, causing Kelly to do some deep thinking.

This is a fast paced book which is extremely hard to put down - read and enjoy.

Dead End by Rachel Lynch. DI Kelly Porter book 3
Set in the north of England, Dead End has DI Kelly Porter working on two cases when two young women go missing and a local earl is found hanging in his study.
I found this book to be intriguing and most enjoyable. Every character was well rounded with enough information to keep them interesting while the reader is not being overwhelmed with too much information or background.
Porter herself has her own life problems threaded through the story as her relationship with Johnny moves forward, her issues with her sister; where there is no love lost, worry over her mother’s health and then the realization that she may not know who her father is. All this while she is tracking down clues and hunting murderers.
With a few possible suspects for the reader to keep the hooked and to think about while being fast paced and well developed.
Having the love angle gave the story an extra element but I couldn’t help but feel it either needed more to be made of the relationship or to remove some of the details and to keep some parts private. It was as if the author was not sure if to slip it into the romance genre or not. Not quite enough to satisfy romance lovers, but too much information for a mystery/detective story.
On saying that it was a good book which I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend to readers of mystery/whodunit detective stories.

I read this in a weekend, I couldn't put it down.
I love how Rachel Lynch's lead character is a strong woman in a traditionally male world. But she is respected and has a great team around her, so the story focuses on her job. There are two storylines running, which turn out to be connected. Various characters are put forward as plausible suspects and the truth eluded me until the end.
I also love Kelly's relationship with Johnny, the way they are well matched in ability and fitness, with both being strong, but supportive of each other.
The description of the kidnapper, from the viewpoint of Sophie and Hannah, was excellent and gave me chills as I read it. I could imagine the smell of him.
Great read.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are believable, likeable, for the most part, and very well written. This was my first book by this author and even though it is part of a series that didn't cause any problems. There are mentions of a previous case but no spoilers which would discourage me from reading them out of order.
The Lake District is a major player in this story and is well observed and described and there was never a time when anything unnecessary took you away from the storyline. The private life of Kelly Porter was as enthralling as the crimes and investigations and I found her a sympathetic and professional main character.  There are threads which could continue into another book and I will definitely be on the lookout for it.

This might actually be my favourite book of the DI Kelly Porter series. I should probably say ‘so far’ as I trust there will be further books to come. I found myself picturing Wasdale Hall in muted colour like an old movie, maybe influenced by the cover image which is very atmospheric. As with previous books in the series there is a good mix of the investigation and personal life of Kelly. I say this every time I read one of these books but I really must visit the Lake District.
Highly recommended but best read as part of the series.

This is the first book I have read by Rachel Lynch and about the protagonist DI Kelly Porter, this did not hinder the story too much although some mention was made about a family member who had been kidnapped by a serial killer in a previous book.

The book was not just a crime thriller but also dealt with how Kelly Porter feels she doesn't 'fit' either in the area or in parts of her personal life.

The story was an interesting read, police procedure was easily explained without being too over long or complex, the book flowed well and kept me interested, I did guess who the 'baddie' was, but this didn't spoil the enjoyment of the book at all.

I didn't like all the characters, but liked Kelly very much, straight talking, and came across as likeable.and engaging.

Highly recommended, and would read more by this author.

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

wow...what a tangled web we weave....some much deceit and lies involved with this book...it was great to read...but some of it you could see happening and not that very long ago in the past....

mysteries abound in this book....we have missing teenagers and dead bodies galore ...are they all linked or are they the work of different people

and what other mysteries can the police uncover....brilliant read...kept me glued till the end of the book

The seventh earl of Lowesdale was found hanging in his study by his teenage grandson, Zachary. Initially everyone assumed that the nonagenarian, hard-partying aristocrat had finally realised that the glories of his youth were long past and had decided to take the quick way out. When forensics discovered signs of foul play DI Kelly Porter was called in. It's not the only problem she has though: two young hikers have gone missing on the fells near Ullswater and she is in charge of the search. When they're not found within a couple of days her team uncover links to two other unsolved disappearances - and the girls all look startlingly similar.

I don't normally like joining a series when there are already a few books under its belt, but in this case the fact that I had nothing to read, it was raining like it was going out of fashion and we were only onto book three of a police procedural series set in the lake district convinced me that I needn't be quite so choosy and I'm glad that I wasn't. I warmed to Kelly Porter straight away: she was born in the lake district, spent some time in London and then came 'home'. Only it doesn't feel like home. She doesn't feel that she belongs and some of her family and an old school friend are prepared to confirm her suspicions. There's a thought-provoking theme of 'family' running through the story, which ties it altogether very neatly.

Porter's fortunate in her boyfriend: he's a bit of an outsider too, despite being in mountain rescue and his skills are to the fore in the search for the missing girls. This part of the story really brought the area alive for me: it's a very realistic mix of the tourist locations and the parts the locals know about. So - engaging characters and well-evoked location, but you want to know about the plot, don't you? It's good, if not great. I decided on who the perpetrator was pretty early on in the book and I was right, but there were enough red herrings to make me doubt my judgement. Even when I was proved right it didn't spoil my enjoyment: it was a good story, well told. It's certainly a series I'll be happy to follow.

Dead End by Rachel Lynch is yet another incredible thriller which shows her development as an author in all thing character, plot and place. I love reading and reviewing her books as I always know that she will put together a distinct plot with brilliant new characters, while still developing her staple ones. I enjoy the fact that the stories in this series always begin with two or three open cases which somehow end up woven into one another in highly unexpected ways. Dead End by Rachel Lynch will be published on 8 October, 2018 by Canelo. I will be doing a Q&A session with Lynch as part of the blog tour on 15 October.

The story
Dead End continues following DI Kelly Porter in her crime/thriller series. While she does her job and leads the main plot of the book in her investigations, we also see her story develop. We see the aftermath of Nikki, her sister’s prior abduction; how her mother is handling her illness and we get to enjoy the beauty that is her and Johnny’s budding relationship.
The mystery… Dead End begins with a case of two missing girls, and the case of a dead earl in his house, all in the Lake District. As always, the story not only sees Kelly’s perspective, but also looks from the eyes of the victims and other characters in order to give a brilliant view of the crime scene itself. As Kelly tracks the girls’ disappearance, similar bodies and missing persons cases appear and she begins to connect the dots. However, nothing will prepare her for the way that these cases have been intricately bound together.

Why this is a great crime novel…
Dead End by Rachel Lynch is great because it takes a few topical issues into account; inheritance and old money, abduction and sexual abuse. She takes these societal issues and presents them in a way that most people would be able to stomach. She is not explicit with language, but there is enough said so that tension is built and the reader will understand what is happening. The plot itself is pretty good, and it kept me engrossed the whole way through. The only problem I had with the overall plot was the lack of explanation for the abductions, rapes and murders of the females. I did not feel that this was properly explored.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed the storyline following the earl’s death. The strange, old money family dynamics were intriguing, and I enjoyed the chilling environment caused by Linda and Brian, encompassing Zac’s life and making the circumstances surrounding the family feel eerie throughout. The foreboding feelings Kelly appears to get from going to their estate sets up the aura for the whole novel, as matters appear to get exceedingly worse and the detectives struggle to get any closer to discovering the truth. This is accompanied by the beautiful, yet mysterious setting of the Lake District, which I felt was better described in this novel than previously, proving Lynch’s improvements as a writer.

Overall, I love Rachel Lynch’s DI Kelly Porter series so far. Dead End continues her exploration of the human psyche and the ways that things can be threaded together without any awareness. This is a gripping, stunning thriller which I would recommend to regular crime and thriller readers, especially if you love watching the progression of protagonist detectives. It also steers clear of lots of female-led crime pitfalls, such as making it too much about them being a woman, or bringing in lots of memories and life anecdotes of the protagonist. Thank you to Canelo and NetGalley for my advance review copy of the book. I look forward to my Q&A for the blog tour!

This was the first Rachel Lynch book I had read and I was not disappointed! Immediately I was hooked. The characters were all interesting and it kept you guessing with a few clues and red herrings along the way. It was a great read and I thoroughly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for my copy! i will be looking out for more from Rachel now.

Another excellent procedural set in the Lake District and following neatly on from previous instalments. Great characters although an unlikely twist in the backstory which seemed a tad too convenient for it to be totally satisfactory or believable, given the prior characterisation.

I really enjoyed this Brilliant read! The atmosphere was beautifully created within the Lake District as the backdrop for DI Kelly Porter's crime-solving adventures, and they were many - really well interwoven from seemingly disparate parts to the conclusion of a whole story; very satisfying for this reader. The writing, giving some pace throughout, was in my view, excellent. There was just enough commentary to explain background and intent through both the police-procedurals and her personal life, without detraction from the crimes and their solution (or perhaps not?). I was totally immersed the whole way through, couldn't put it down. Looking forward to acquainting myself with more work by this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Another fantastic read!!

Kelly Porter is back and she's more determined than ever to solve a case when it turns from missing persons to a murder investigation.

I read the first book in the series a while ago and absolutely loved, I wasn't aware there had been another until I stumbled across Dead End on Netgalley which is actually the third book in the series.

Having missed the second book I wondered if I'd struggle to understand this novel but luckily for me it can easily be read as a stand alone.

Fast paced with clever twists, I changed my mind constantly about who the culprits could be. With Kelly's own home life story running secondary to the case I found myself completely immersed in the pages.

The only negative, I didn't want it to end so quickly.

Hopefully there will be more books to come in this series!

Another great book from Rachel Lynch and her main heroine DI Kelly Porter who along with her team manage to come to a relatively successful and happy end to this case.

I never read the first two of her books but this did not detract from this novel. I enjoyed reading this book from the characters and backstories , it kept me enthralled and interested from the getgo until the end. I would definitely read her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I would like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dead End’, third in the DI Kelly Porter series written by Rachel Lynch, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Two women, Sophie Daker and Hannah Lawson, go missing whilst walking on the Fells and when DI Kelly Porter is called in to investigate she realises their looks are similar to Freya Hamilton who disappeared in similar circumstances four months earlier. Meanwhile, the hard-living Earl of Lowesdale is found hanging in his room and suicide is suspected, but is it?
‘Dead End’ is an exciting police thriller where the beauty of the Lake District’s Fells comes through in the descriptions. I very much liked Rachel Lynch’s style of writing which made for captivating reading. I enjoyed finding out more of the growing relationship between Kelly and Johnny and also her family which added another dimension to her identity. The characters were interesting, the plot is fast-paced and gripping, with a number of possible suspects to keep me guessing, and although there were some parts of the story that were fairly predictable and maybe it didn’t have an ending that made me gasp in surprise, it was still pretty good all the same. I hope there’s going to be another in the series which I’ll look forward to.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed this book. The storyline and characters where brilliant. It took a bit of reading to get into the story but it was worth it. Definately worth 5 stars, as I couldn’t put it down.

This s a superb story with all kind of intertwined events. Try guessing the culprit! It is very well written and I defy any reader to want to stop before the end. The lead detective is particularly well described and fits in perfectly. It would make a very good television series.

Rachel Lynch writes wonderful books featuring DI Kelly’s Porter and whilst I loved books one and two, book three of the series, ‘Dead End’, is definitely my favourite so far.
It is such a delight to read a wonderful continuing series where the main character keeps developing as we find out more about her and those who surround her.
The main plots in this book are also brilliant, thoroughly gripping and together with the enlargements in Kelly’s personal life, this book makes a totally enthralling read.
Rachel Lynch is a superb author and I am delighted to see she is writing book four of the series, I just hope we do not have to wait too long until it is published!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finally more about Kelly Prince's background, very interesting and it explains a lot. Of course, there is also a murder mystery to solve, a killer to catch and an old family secret to come out. Brilliantly written, page turner and I loved every minute of it.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo!

I throughly enjoyed this book. It is the third book in a series about Kelly Porter a Detective who after spending many years in London returns to her home in the Lake District. I enjoyed book one as well but somehow seemed to have missed book two. This did not spoil my enjoyment of the book and it could definitely be read as a stand-alone if you’ve not read the other books in the series. Kelly is busy in this book firstly an Earl is found hung but is it a straightforward suicide as it’s meant to look. If that wasn’t enough two young girls go missing from a campsite and it seems they aren’t the first. There is a lot going on and I recommend this book.

Dead End is the third book to feature DI Kelly Porter, set in the pristine surroundings of the Lake District, Cumbria, UK, and having loved the first two novels, I was excited to get going with this one. Initially, the setting was what drew me to the series as I live maybe two minutes from the Cumbrian border in Northumberland, however, I have come to the realisation that Ms Lynch is a superb storyteller who knows exactly how to grip her audience and spin a compelling yarn. It's this combination that makes this an unmissable series for anyone who enjoys thrilling crime fiction.

Here, there are two storylines running concurrently to one another: the first is the investigation into the apparent suicide of the affluent Earl of Lowesdale, who has been found swinging from the rafters of his home, Wasdale Hall. The second investigation follows DI Kelly Porter as she tries to locate two missing girls who were last seen when they went hiking in the stunningly beautiful but often treacherous landscape. Kelly soon discovers that clues from both investigations lead to a single place - Wasdale Hall.

This is a solid and highly entertaining mystery novel with a breathtaking setting which is vividly described and a cast of intriguing characters. Mostly told from Kelly's perspective, it is easy to follow and straightforward. There are action scenes aplenty and a slow unravelling of the story which had me reading faster and faster. The exploration of Kelly's personal life adds another dimension to the tale, and I really could relate to her introverted nature, being an introvert myself. She has been dubbed an outsider and recluse her whole life, so I loved the way she has been able to adjust to working as part of a team which comes as part of her job. Even so, her individuality remains. I look forward to seeing her evolve over the rest of this excellent series.

Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Another gritty police procedural crime drama. This is the 3rd one in the series, but I think that they are also stand alones.
This one had more of a story than the first two, rather than people being killed off all the time.
I like the main protagonist very much and I feel that theses books could run and run quite easily.

Thanks to Netgalley, Rachel Lynch and Canelo for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Excellent, really enjoyed this novel, Rachel Lynch certainly hits the spot when it comes to serial killers in the Lake District and her main character DI Kelly Porter is the one to solve the crime. The novel as stated earlier is situated in the Lake District and starts with the suicide of an Earl and then two girls go missing from a campsite. They realise quite quickly that the Earl was murdered and that other girls have also gone missing over the years and it is the job of DI Kelly Porter and her team to find the missing girls and the murderer. I would highly recommend this book.

This is a great series.
DI Kelly Porter is asked to investigate a murder which was made to look like a suicide. The victim lived in a stately home and his grandson made the gruesome discovery of his body.
Zac is in shock and the housekeeper Linda tried to support him, but what is she hiding?
Everyone linked to the house had secrets and Kelly and her team have to try and unravel them.
Kelly also discovers her own family have been keeping a secret from her which she stumbled across as part of the investigation.
As well as the murder there are two missing girls which Kelly is desperate to find.
This is a good book full of mysteries to solve and is definitely a gripping read.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A good crime story with some great twists but also very enjoyable as it is more than just murder and who dun it and also about relationships, feelings and families.

This is the first Rachel Lynch book I’ve picked up, but I had no problem jumping into the series. The characters are credible and relatable, the murder mystery keeps you guessing, and the family background of the main character got pretty interesting, too.
All in all very enjoyable and I shall seek out the others in this series.

I have read so many great books this year, and this 3rd instalment in the DI Kelly Porter series is up there with one of the best.
Having recently read the first 2 books, I was excited to discover that book 3 was up for grabs and I wasted no time in requesting it and it hasn’t disappointed.
I do love a good old fashioned British detective story, with mystery, intrigue and a little bit psychological drama, and dead end ticks all the boxes.
Various seemingly unrelated storylines, which appear to be unrelated. The supposed suicide of an Earl, and the mystery disappearance of 2 young girls, presumed lost while walking and the discovery of a missing person who was last seen a few months previously. DI Porter has her work cut it for her when it becomes clear that there is a killer on the loose. Interesting and likeable characters, and great storyline set in the beautiful Lake District.

A very worthy 5 stars

This was a very competent, easy read. I know this is book 3 in the series, but it's my first meeting with Kelly Porter and it read very well as a standalone. The story jogs along and kept the pace continually all the way through. Although I thought it was quite obvious as to who the killer was, the personalities of the cast of people around him and what had led him to follow such a murderous path was as interesting as the denouement. I shall keep my eyes out for the first two of this series now and am happy to recommend Rachel Lynch's writing. An enjoyable book.

I’m really getting into this genre of book and as it’s a book based in the uk and on the British police force it makes it more believable.
Fast paced and really holds your attention, not one to put down until it’s finished.
I’ve really enjoyed this series.

Another solid read in the Kelly Porter series set in the Lake District. This is book three and I would recommend reading them in order. A good location, two mysteries to solve, good character development and a glimpse into Kelly's private life. An absolute winner again for the author. I would recommend this series of books. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to review this book.its a new author to me,I liked the sound of the story and it was recommended by a book group. I really enjoyed it. It was a no frills straight forward Copper's instinct book,with no complicated story lines or third person chapters. I will definitely be reading other books by this author .

A really good police procedural which nicely combines two cases, one of possible abduction and one of suspected murder. It also considers the personal life of the main protagonist DI Kelly Porter.

Two girls have gone missing on the Cumbrian fells and an elderly man may or may not have committed suicide. The characterisation in this novel is excellent and I really warmed to Kelly with all her fears and hang-ups. The story moves at a good pace and the descriptions of the fells and lakes of Cumbria are lovely.

I hadn’t read anything by Rachel Lynch before but I will be back for more.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Dead End is the third in the series in the Detective Kelly Porter and it's the best one yet.

The Earl of Lowesdale is found dead by hanging at his home. First impressions is that he has commited sucide but, his post mortem says otherwise and they discover that the Earl's safe is missing. So the think that it is a murder/robbery.

Also Two girls have gone missing on the Lake district hills. The police thinks that they have just lost their way but, when a body of Freya Hamilton turns up after dispearing a few months previously. Detective Kelly Porter knows that there is a murder on the loose.

This is another very entertaining novel involving Kelly Porter. Her peers steering her towards promotion but, she likes to be part of the action. I love her fiesty character and she works hard ot get the job done. This has a original with lots of twists and turns and different to others in this genre and I love that it's in the setting of the Lake district.

Thank you Canelo and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

This was my 1st Rachel Lynch book featuring DI Kelly Porter and although this was the 3rd in this series I didn't feel I had missed anything by not reading the 1st 2. I will however make sure I read them in the future as I am keen to find out more

A fast paced police procedural. At first there seems to be little connection between an aristocrat's suicide and two missing girls, but soon the pace hots up. Set in the beautiful Lake District, this is a refreshing change from the usual gritty, criminal ridden cities.
A real page turner.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

When I received Dead End as a digital ARC from Netgalley I didn't realize it was the third book in the DI Kelly Porter series. It feels like a stand alone novel. When Xavier Paullus II, earl of Lowesdale, is found dead it looks like a suicide. The coroner discovers it wasn't suicide, and Kelly Porter leads the case to find his killer. Kelly is also investigating the disappearance of two young women, Hannah and Sophie. Dead End is an atmospheric mystery with two storylines told mainly from Kelly's perspective weaving a twisty, intense narrative about family secrets, betrayal, and self-acceptance.
As a character Kelly is well-rounded. Definitely active, with wants and needs, internal conflict, all that good stuff. The other characters felt flat to me, especially the killer. I didn't get a good sense of the killers motivations, wants, needs, strengths, or emotions.

The story has too much going on. Xavier's death, the missing women, Kelly's new boyfriend, relationship with her sister, and father. Cutting one or two of these would have made the plot feel less cluttered.

Told from mainly Kelly's perspective, the writing is fantastic, and easy to understand. I guessed the killer early on, yet I still enjoyed the uncovering of details because the characters and setting are so well-written. Dead End is a twisty-turning ride, with a great page-turning pace. A great read for mystery/thriller fans.

Plot 3/5
Writing 5/5
Characters 3/5
Overall 3.65/5- Rounded up to 4 :)

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

With a hanging and girls going missing there seems a lot going on for DI Porter, is it connected? This was a really good story to get your teeth into and I loved it. This series about the DI is great and I am looking forward to the next one already. Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review.

An old Earl is found hanging in his dilapidated estate in the Lake District - seemingly a suicide until the coroner takes a look... meanwhile two young women have gone missing from their campsite in suspicious circumstances. Nothing seems to connect the crimes at first. DI Kelly Porter must investigate both, fighting reluctant locals and frustrating family members along the way.

This is part of a series but works well as a standalone.

I've read a few books in this vein lately - a killing in rural UK, competent and sympathetic DI, good pacy story. This was an enjoyable read and I did like the location, resolution of the crimes, Kelly's character growth.

My only 'complaint' as such as in tone it felt a bit similar to the others I've read, as above. But I think as more books come out the author will continue to develop her voice and could well be worth watching.