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I still think this book could be a good choice for readers looking for a light mystery which often has more questions than answers and is set at a captivating location. And it would be a nice way to spend a weekend reading.
Overview: This was a great festive read with my reading buddy. I read the first two books in this series last December so was excited to see that this came out last month. As usual I didn't guess the killer. I never do with these books because the author is very clever at throwing numerous red herrings and constantly throwing new suspects into the mix. Four friends fail to return home after a trail hike in the Lake District on Christmas Eve. As the weather closes in, DCI James Walker and his team work with the Mountain Rescue teams to find them. It’s a race against time to trace the men before harsh winter weather arrives. It transpires that the men and their dogs were on an illegal hunt and when a photograph showing one of the men having been murdered is sent to the press, it appears they are the ones being hunted and DI Walker and his team realise they have precious little time to find the others amongst a plethora of suspects. What looked foremost like a rescue turns into DCI James Walker most challenging case of his police career.
Summary
One of the men is Ted Rycroft. When the team find that his farm has been broken into and trashed and the vehicles belonging to the men have been vandalised, it raises the question of whether this is related to their disappearance. It have been several hours since they have been seen and severe bad weather is closing in. The Police pull out all the stops to find them, even the Mountain rescue are involved to rescue the four. with further investigation into them they find out that the four-take part in illegal hunting and they are presently on a hunt and after threats from anti hunt protesters and the vandalism of their nearby farm, James realise that they might be involved in the disappearance of them. This novel is a marvellous read – the pacing is comfortable, it is well-plotted and the story is intriguing. If you're into mystery, crime and detailed police procedural story, then you can give this one a try.
The heavy snowfall hampers the search efforts, but eventually one of the dogs is found hiding, cold, and covered in blood. I needed more. The story was often repetitive with the reader constantly reminded of the progression of events. And several of the twists, including the final reveal, were quite predictable. I also didn't see the point of the detective being so uncharacteristically worrying as it served no real purpose in the story. Let this trait hinder or compromise his investigation or, better yet, let it be an asset in solving the case.DI James Walker and his team return in The Winter Killer, third in this excellent police procedural series by talented author Alex Pine. DC Jessica Abbott and her fiancé Sean are attending the glamorous New Year’s Eve wedding of Libby Elliott and Greg Murphy, owner of the luxury lakefront hotel where the wedding takes place. When Rachel, Libby’s sister and maid of honor, disappears during the the reception, a search begins. DC Abbott is in charge, joined by DI Walker when clues leading to a grim discovery are found. Rachel has drowned in the lake after receiving a head injury. Abbott and Walker must deal with the grieving family, over-served wedding guests, and the bleak and snowy Cumbrian winter. When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall – when the temperature plummets. The ending also feels a bit rushed, I wish it was a bit more fleshed out cause I would like to know more of what happen next. I would like to extend my gratitude to Alex and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to delve into "The Night before Christmas" ahead of its official release date. As the fourth installment in this series, I've thoroughly relished each prior book, even though this latest addition carries a slightly darker undertone.
DI James Walker is looking forward to seeing in the New year with his wife and baby daughter, when he gets a call from DC Jessica Abbott who is attending a wedding at ‘The Fells’ a prestigious Hotel in Cumbria with her fiancé. The owner of the chain of hotels is getting married to Libby Elliot. Her Maid of honour, her sister Rachel has gone missing, when the investigate they find evidence of foul play on the pier. They have a pretty good idea that they will find her body in the Lake. DI Walker heads the investigation to find Rachel’s killer. She was not liked much by others. So, who disliked her that much to killer her and what is the motive for her death? When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall - when the temperature plummets. After hours of searching, the first body is found. Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered. As a snowstorm descends, three lives hang in the balance. But can the killer be caught before the trail goes cold? I certainly would recommend The Night before Christmas to people who like a well paced whodunnit full of suspense. I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Avon and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.And as DI Walker arrives on the scene and the investigation begins startling revelations come to light. Not only about the victim, but the family too. The night before Christmas by Alex One is the fourth book in the DI James Walker series but can be read as a standalone. The most chilling crime thriller you’ll read this winter, perfect for fans of Catherine Cooper’s The Chalet and Simon McCleave’s The Snowdonia Killings – and anyone who prefers their mince pies with a side of murder. When one of DI Walker’s team is attending a wedding and one of the guest goes missing he is called in to handle the case. What starts as a simply missing person soon turns into a murder enquiry with many suspects.
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