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Lake Murder Mysteries #1
The Body on Scafell Pike
OUT ON THE HILLS, A KILLER IS WAITING.
'I loved everything about this book! The atmosphere, the suspense, the storyline, the characters.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
'I can't wait for the next' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
'This gripping thriller has everything you want in a great mystery.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
The riveting, darkly atmospheric new crime series based in the iconic Cumbrian Lake District.
A renowned mountaineer and self-described 'fell runner' is found dead in a deep gully on one side of Scafell Pike within hours of announcing his intention of breaking the world record for the quickest continuous summit of every peak in the Lake District.
Only a month into the job, DI Jess Chambers had been hoping that Cumbria would offer a slower pace of policing than her native Belfast, but this first case already sees her out of her depth. A local mountain guide, Margot Voyce, proves to be her biggest asset as she begins her investigation into the mysterious death of this world-famous athlete in unfamiliar terrain.
But as legions of his online following descend on the Lakes to pay their respects, it becomes clear that this was no accident. Jess and Margot must solve the case before more blood is spilled - but in a community such as this, sometimes the truth is more dangerous than a killer.
'I loved everything about this book! The atmosphere, the suspense, the storyline, the characters.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
'I can't wait for the next' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
'This gripping thriller has everything you want in a great mystery.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
The riveting, darkly atmospheric new crime series based in the iconic Cumbrian Lake District.
A renowned mountaineer and self-described 'fell runner' is found dead in a deep gully on one side of Scafell Pike within hours of announcing his intention of breaking the world record for the quickest continuous summit of every peak in the Lake District.
Only a month into the job, DI Jess Chambers had been hoping that Cumbria would offer a slower pace of policing than her native Belfast, but this first case already sees her out of her depth. A local mountain guide, Margot Voyce, proves to be her biggest asset as she begins her investigation into the mysterious death of this world-famous athlete in unfamiliar terrain.
But as legions of his online following descend on the Lakes to pay their respects, it becomes clear that this was no accident. Jess and Margot must solve the case before more blood is spilled - but in a community such as this, sometimes the truth is more dangerous than a killer.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2023
32 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Brooke
1 book7 followersS. J. Brooke lives in Kent and used to be a newspaper crime reporter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 8, 2023
I love a well-crafted police procedural, and this one didn't disappoint. With an atmospheric and scenic Lake District setting, an interesting protagonist, and a mysterious murderer, it ticked all the boxes.
D.I. Jess Chambers was personable, flawed, and her backstory is obscure. I'm eager to delve into in further books in this fledgling series to discover some snippets of her past in order to understand her better. Fingers crossed. We know that she is middle-aged, single, and has just moved to the rural Lake District from the urban posting of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Inexperienced in the weather and customs of her new locale, she befriends a local woman, Margot Voyce, to help her navigate her new terrain. Margot, is of a similar age, and also has an interesting backstory.
The story takes place in late November, when temperatures drop and the rainy weather seems to permeate the soul. When an expert fell runner is found dead on Scafell Pike, it is first believed to be an accident, but on closer examination Jess is sure that the man was murdered. When a second body, with connections to the first, shows up on her patch, she knows that this case will be challenging indeed. She has a minuscule staff of two police officers under her watchful eye and those two men are local and haven't yet gotten to know their new D.C.I. who is younger than either of them. Jess, herself, is her own worst critic and she hates to makes mistakes.
The growing rapport of the police team and the fledgling friendship between Jess Chambers and Margot Voyce were a joy to read. I didn't guess who the murderer was, and the ending of the book was dramatic and tension-filled.
I very much enjoyed this novel and would definitely like to read more books featuring D.C.I. Jess Chambers.
D.I. Jess Chambers was personable, flawed, and her backstory is obscure. I'm eager to delve into in further books in this fledgling series to discover some snippets of her past in order to understand her better. Fingers crossed. We know that she is middle-aged, single, and has just moved to the rural Lake District from the urban posting of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Inexperienced in the weather and customs of her new locale, she befriends a local woman, Margot Voyce, to help her navigate her new terrain. Margot, is of a similar age, and also has an interesting backstory.
The story takes place in late November, when temperatures drop and the rainy weather seems to permeate the soul. When an expert fell runner is found dead on Scafell Pike, it is first believed to be an accident, but on closer examination Jess is sure that the man was murdered. When a second body, with connections to the first, shows up on her patch, she knows that this case will be challenging indeed. She has a minuscule staff of two police officers under her watchful eye and those two men are local and haven't yet gotten to know their new D.C.I. who is younger than either of them. Jess, herself, is her own worst critic and she hates to makes mistakes.
The growing rapport of the police team and the fledgling friendship between Jess Chambers and Margot Voyce were a joy to read. I didn't guess who the murderer was, and the ending of the book was dramatic and tension-filled.
I very much enjoyed this novel and would definitely like to read more books featuring D.C.I. Jess Chambers.
May 13, 2024
Being from the Lake District, this was bought for me as a Christmas gift. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it. Somehow both quite boring and confusing at the same time, I didn’t really warm to the characters as I didn’t feel like I learnt enough about them as true people to care. Backstories felt a little half-done. What really disappointed me was the ending however - I really wanted the killer to be someone a bit more clever than that, to have come from a story that had been woven throughout the novel instead of dropped in at the end. Two stars (not one) as I did quite like the narrative swapping and I did actually finish it (but then I’m one of those who has to finish pretty much every book I start). Unfortunately wouldn’t recommend!
February 20, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot. I liked the interaction between Margot and Jess, and I'm dying to know what happens to some of the other characters! Not mentioning any names, don't want to give anything away if you've not read this book yet. At the moment this is the only book published by this author, I hope there will be more soon.
August 21, 2025
Very good book. Beautiful setting in Lake District, the mutual respect and eventually friendship between the detective Jess and Margot, the local woman who knows everything about the peaks, give the book a good story line, with 2 murders that look like they are not connected but....are they?
It seems like the writer might want to write another book with the 2 main characters, I really hope so cos I surely enjoyed the story. I also liked the way she described the murders and also what the killer was thinking, even briefly and with a different typing so the reader kinda knows it's the killer.
It seems like the writer might want to write another book with the 2 main characters, I really hope so cos I surely enjoyed the story. I also liked the way she described the murders and also what the killer was thinking, even briefly and with a different typing so the reader kinda knows it's the killer.
January 17, 2026
I loved it, read it quickly. I would make a great mini series, good classic crime vibes. And having lived in the Lakes I could see it all!!
January 17, 2026
It was ok. Not the best police y book but reasonably entertaining
May 28, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of The Body on Scafell Pike, the first novel set in the Lake District to feature DI Jess Chambers.
The body of endurance athlete James Garfield is found on Scafell Pike. Nobody is sure if his death is accidental or murder, so Jess’s first case in Cumbria after a transfer from Northern Ireland is to investigate the circumstances. Being new to the district she feels overwhelmed and enlists local trail guide, Margot Voyce to help.
I enjoyed The Body on Scafell Pike as I always like a new character, series and author, although it isn’t without some teething problems. It is told from various points of view, mostly Jess and Margot with some interjections from “the stranger”, who is obviously the killer. There is no doubt for the reader that James Garfield was murdered as the novel opens with the events surrounding it. The stranger’s identity is thus the main mystery for the reader.
Jess’s investigation is slow and doesn’t have much momentum. I understand the attempts at realism from the author, by stressing budgetary constraints and only having a team of three detectives including her investigating, but it doesn’t work as fiction. There is no depth and precious few of the startling revelations that animate both the reader and the read. It feels circular at times as if it’s going nowhere. Obviously this changes as the finale approaches with the reveal of a motive, but even the final showdown feels rather lacklustre as it lacks tension and relies on a move a professional like Jess would never make.
I like Jess Chambers as she is smart and ready to question any assumptions she may make. It is interesting to make her a fish out of water by moving her from the urban policing of Belfast to a rural setting. I think more could have been made of that, rather than her simply not having the right clothing.
Having said all that there are bright spots in the novel, like the burgeoning friendship between Jess and Margot and the efforts to understand Garfield’s life, business interests and character.
The Body on Scafell Pike is an interesting enough start to a new series to make me think about reading a follow up before deciding if the series suits me or not. 3.5*
The body of endurance athlete James Garfield is found on Scafell Pike. Nobody is sure if his death is accidental or murder, so Jess’s first case in Cumbria after a transfer from Northern Ireland is to investigate the circumstances. Being new to the district she feels overwhelmed and enlists local trail guide, Margot Voyce to help.
I enjoyed The Body on Scafell Pike as I always like a new character, series and author, although it isn’t without some teething problems. It is told from various points of view, mostly Jess and Margot with some interjections from “the stranger”, who is obviously the killer. There is no doubt for the reader that James Garfield was murdered as the novel opens with the events surrounding it. The stranger’s identity is thus the main mystery for the reader.
Jess’s investigation is slow and doesn’t have much momentum. I understand the attempts at realism from the author, by stressing budgetary constraints and only having a team of three detectives including her investigating, but it doesn’t work as fiction. There is no depth and precious few of the startling revelations that animate both the reader and the read. It feels circular at times as if it’s going nowhere. Obviously this changes as the finale approaches with the reveal of a motive, but even the final showdown feels rather lacklustre as it lacks tension and relies on a move a professional like Jess would never make.
I like Jess Chambers as she is smart and ready to question any assumptions she may make. It is interesting to make her a fish out of water by moving her from the urban policing of Belfast to a rural setting. I think more could have been made of that, rather than her simply not having the right clothing.
Having said all that there are bright spots in the novel, like the burgeoning friendship between Jess and Margot and the efforts to understand Garfield’s life, business interests and character.
The Body on Scafell Pike is an interesting enough start to a new series to make me think about reading a follow up before deciding if the series suits me or not. 3.5*
July 19, 2023
This is the first in SJ Brooke's Lake District crime series featuring DI Jess Chambers, a newcomer to the district, struggling to find her feet after leaving Northern Ireland with her background in urban policing. Local councillor, Robert 'Bob' Newman has taken it upon himself to introduce her to the area, which is how she ends up with her first case. After an alert about a body, Chambers is with a shocked Newman when she discovers the dead man is related to him, and there is enough that does not feel quite right for her to take a strong interest in discovering what happened. The victim is James Garfield, a adventurous fell runner, a famous influencer with a big and constant social media presence.
Jess is lucky enough to have Margot Voyce's help on a case where it proves to be difficult to find hard evidence of murder, although we as readers know it is. Additionally, Margot, who is preparing to become a local mountain guide, makes sure that Jess has the necessary all year round outdoor clothing to do her job, although Chambers is shocked at just how expensive it all is. As Jess and her team of DS Tony Evans and DC Bill Harper start to dig into the ambitious Garfield's life, it soon becomes clear he is far from the good guy portrayed in social media. As SIO, Jess becomes more closely acquainted with the local terrain and settles into her role as she starts to develop a good relationship with Evans and Harper. When a suspicious RTA results in a death with a obvious connection to Garfield, it becomes certain that Garfield was murdered.
This is a great start to what promises to be a terrific crime series, it has a wonderful location in the Lake District, and Jess Chambers turns out to be a feisty central protagonist you cannot help but root for. She has a lot on her plate, by the end she has begun to love her new role and location. Jess has made significant community links, particularly with her close friendship with Margot who plays a crucial role in the concluding finale. This has me looking forward to the next in the series! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Jess is lucky enough to have Margot Voyce's help on a case where it proves to be difficult to find hard evidence of murder, although we as readers know it is. Additionally, Margot, who is preparing to become a local mountain guide, makes sure that Jess has the necessary all year round outdoor clothing to do her job, although Chambers is shocked at just how expensive it all is. As Jess and her team of DS Tony Evans and DC Bill Harper start to dig into the ambitious Garfield's life, it soon becomes clear he is far from the good guy portrayed in social media. As SIO, Jess becomes more closely acquainted with the local terrain and settles into her role as she starts to develop a good relationship with Evans and Harper. When a suspicious RTA results in a death with a obvious connection to Garfield, it becomes certain that Garfield was murdered.
This is a great start to what promises to be a terrific crime series, it has a wonderful location in the Lake District, and Jess Chambers turns out to be a feisty central protagonist you cannot help but root for. She has a lot on her plate, by the end she has begun to love her new role and location. Jess has made significant community links, particularly with her close friendship with Margot who plays a crucial role in the concluding finale. This has me looking forward to the next in the series! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
October 28, 2023
Margot wants a nice walk up Scarfell Pike, but it's safe to say her day is ruined when she finds a dead body. Jess, detective inspector, quickly establishes it is a man named James. Bit of a local celebrity so to say. A huge following on social media. Well known, well loved and heading towards an excellent future. However, was James as loved as everyone makes out? Are there some secrets about James lurking somewhere? It could be an accident, it wouldn't be unusual on Scarfell Pike, and so maybe Jess is wasting police time and resources considering anything else... but something tells her she isn't dealing with an accident here.
When a second death occurs, one with a close connection to James, Jess knows for sure that there is a murderer somewhere lurking in the fells. She dives in deep investigating all parties involved and trying to solve this mystery, almost driving herself insane doing so.
I really liked the police investigation, I always find that fascinating. I enjoyed following Jess and some other characters too. I won't name names in case it works for spoilers! I genuinely had no idea who murdered these people and what their motive could be. Everyone seemed to have a possible reason but it didn't feel extreme enough to go to these lengths.
Obviously the Lakes was an awesome setting and I thought it was interesting that it wasn't just described as being a wonderful place, but had some honesty in it's issues too. I did chuckle at the speed these characters (especially those described as novices) managed to climb Scarfell Pike continously, almost like it was a little hill but I suppose they could with determination.
The ending was intense but I wish after all that investigation and hard work discovering the truth, it didn't finish off so quickly with what happened next!
Recommend to those who love thrillers / crime fiction.
When a second death occurs, one with a close connection to James, Jess knows for sure that there is a murderer somewhere lurking in the fells. She dives in deep investigating all parties involved and trying to solve this mystery, almost driving herself insane doing so.
I really liked the police investigation, I always find that fascinating. I enjoyed following Jess and some other characters too. I won't name names in case it works for spoilers! I genuinely had no idea who murdered these people and what their motive could be. Everyone seemed to have a possible reason but it didn't feel extreme enough to go to these lengths.
Obviously the Lakes was an awesome setting and I thought it was interesting that it wasn't just described as being a wonderful place, but had some honesty in it's issues too. I did chuckle at the speed these characters (especially those described as novices) managed to climb Scarfell Pike continously, almost like it was a little hill but I suppose they could with determination.
The ending was intense but I wish after all that investigation and hard work discovering the truth, it didn't finish off so quickly with what happened next!
Recommend to those who love thrillers / crime fiction.
May 27, 2023
The Body on Scafell Pike by S J Brooke is the first book in the DI Jess Chambers and Margot Voyce murder mystery series. It is set in the Lake District national park in northwest England. I liked the setting descriptions and felt right there alongside the detectives.
The synopsis of the story is that a renowned mountaineer and self-described 'fell runner' is found dead in a deep gully on one side of Scafell Pike within hours of announcing his intention of breaking the world record for the quickest continuous summit of every peak in the Lake District.
Only a month into the job, DI Jess Chambers had been hoping that Cumbria would offer a slower pace of policing than her native Belfast, but this first case already sees her out of her depth. A local mountain guide, Margot Voyce, proves to be her biggest asset as she begins her investigation into the mysterious death of this world-famous athlete in unfamiliar terrain.
The ending was anticlimactic, and some scenes felt implausible. I don't want to say too much, as it would give away the culprit.
I may be in the minority, but this was just an okay read for me. I had a hard time getting into the story, and the writing and action seemed slow.
I rate this 3 out of 5 stars due to it feeling slow and some implausible scenes and character actions.
#TheBodyonScafellPike #NetGalley @headlinepg
The synopsis of the story is that a renowned mountaineer and self-described 'fell runner' is found dead in a deep gully on one side of Scafell Pike within hours of announcing his intention of breaking the world record for the quickest continuous summit of every peak in the Lake District.
Only a month into the job, DI Jess Chambers had been hoping that Cumbria would offer a slower pace of policing than her native Belfast, but this first case already sees her out of her depth. A local mountain guide, Margot Voyce, proves to be her biggest asset as she begins her investigation into the mysterious death of this world-famous athlete in unfamiliar terrain.
The ending was anticlimactic, and some scenes felt implausible. I don't want to say too much, as it would give away the culprit.
I may be in the minority, but this was just an okay read for me. I had a hard time getting into the story, and the writing and action seemed slow.
I rate this 3 out of 5 stars due to it feeling slow and some implausible scenes and character actions.
#TheBodyonScafellPike #NetGalley @headlinepg
May 26, 2023
I loved everything about this book! The atmosphere, the suspense, the storyline, the characters. There was plenty to keep you guessing and plenty to keep you returning back to the story, eager to uncover the truth and find out what was happening.
This has great promise as a series and has set itself up really well. The DI, Jess Chambers at the forefront was a great character to follow, and we see her slip into Cumbrian life and a new police force, with a murder to solve. The Lake District is also one of my favourite places, so a book set in this beautiful place was also a deciding factor for my reading!
The writing was great and managed to capture everything you want from a crime, murder and suspense kind of story. I certainly can’t wait to read follow ups and to see what else is flung Jess’s way! Margot was a great character edition too. Interesting to see how their dynamic develops.
It was super easy to read and entertaining, will eagerly await book two!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
This has great promise as a series and has set itself up really well. The DI, Jess Chambers at the forefront was a great character to follow, and we see her slip into Cumbrian life and a new police force, with a murder to solve. The Lake District is also one of my favourite places, so a book set in this beautiful place was also a deciding factor for my reading!
The writing was great and managed to capture everything you want from a crime, murder and suspense kind of story. I certainly can’t wait to read follow ups and to see what else is flung Jess’s way! Margot was a great character edition too. Interesting to see how their dynamic develops.
It was super easy to read and entertaining, will eagerly await book two!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
May 28, 2023
James Garfield, a mountaineer and runner, is an influencer on the cusp of major success. When his dead body is found in a ravine, DI Jess Chambers has her first case in Cumbria as an autopsy shows that Garfield was pushed to his death. Jess is nervous about her position as SIO on the investigation and unfamiliar with the Lake District. She relies on Margot Voyce, the young walking guide who discovered the body, for advice on everything from proper clothing for this cold, damp region to descriptions of village life and directions. As James Garfield’s followers and fans flood Cumbria for a memorial service, Jess knows there is a killer among them. Can she find him before there is another murder?
The Body on Scafell Pike is the first in a new series featuring Jess Chambers and Margot Voyce and I can’t wait for the next mystery. All characters are well described, especially Tony Peters and Tom Drake, and the Lake District provides an atmospheric location. Kudos to S J Brooke! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and S J Brooke for this ARC.
The Body on Scafell Pike is the first in a new series featuring Jess Chambers and Margot Voyce and I can’t wait for the next mystery. All characters are well described, especially Tony Peters and Tom Drake, and the Lake District provides an atmospheric location. Kudos to S J Brooke! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and S J Brooke for this ARC.
August 20, 2023
I'm a sucker for books that are set in my neck of the woods so when I heard of a new series set in the beautiful Lake District, I wasn't going to pass up the chance and I'm pleased I didn't because this is a great start to a new series and one I am looking forward to getting my teeth into.
There is plenty of atmosphere in this book and the excellent descriptions of the Lakes countryside only add to this. I really liked the characters and am keen to find out more about DI Chambers' back story and watching the developing friendship between her and Margot and between Chambers and her small team.
The mystery of who the killer was kept me guessing and there were enough twists to keep me returning. I liked the different points of view which helped to give a rounded picture from Chambers', Margot's and the killers point of view.
Overall, a really successful start to a series and one I am looking forward to reading the next.
Thanks go to the author, Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Body on Scafell Pike.
There is plenty of atmosphere in this book and the excellent descriptions of the Lakes countryside only add to this. I really liked the characters and am keen to find out more about DI Chambers' back story and watching the developing friendship between her and Margot and between Chambers and her small team.
The mystery of who the killer was kept me guessing and there were enough twists to keep me returning. I liked the different points of view which helped to give a rounded picture from Chambers', Margot's and the killers point of view.
Overall, a really successful start to a series and one I am looking forward to reading the next.
Thanks go to the author, Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Body on Scafell Pike.
August 15, 2024
For info - I love the Lake District. I thought this book would be the start of another good series set in this landscape (Rebecca Tope-type stories) but unfortunately it disappointed from the beginning. First let-down was the travel to Carlisle to kit out the main character for her life/work in the Lakes - anyone who knows the area will be familiar with the multitude of outdoor shops in Keswick / Ambleside etc. The author seems to have had a tick list of things which should be included with regard to police procedures and these appeared randomly through the book but did not add to the narrative at the time. Whilst the characters started to be interesting their backstories did not emerge, maybe they will be revealed in subsequent books. The ending was very weak but my main reason for the two stars is that this could have been set anywhere, there was no use of the Lake District geography which, had it been included, could have enhanced some of the chapters. Not an author I will follow.
October 16, 2023
#TheBodyonScafellPike #NetGalley. This is a new author for me and I believe the first in a series. I really enjoyed the setting of the beautiful Lake District and initially found the murder storyline interesting and exciting. it then became a bit of a slow burner until later in the book. The "partnership" between Jess, The Detective Inspector and Margot, the fell guide, seemed a little odd but this may develop in future installments. Without giving too much away, I found the timing of the introduction of the murderer a little strange with no real lead up to the motive. I also thought it odd, that in a middle of a double murder case, Jess would go to meet an unknown person who sent her a weird text, without mentioning it to her team and leaving both her work and personal mobile on the desk. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the action and the setting and I definitely warmed to the characters of jess and Margot. I will be interested to see how future books in the series develop.
June 20, 2023
The Body on Scafell Pike by S J Brooke
I look out for books set in Cumbria as it is the place where I live , through in a police procedural and a woman detective and it's a win win.
A fell runner is found dead in a gully on Scafell , after announcing he is about to break the record for running quickest on all the lake district summits.
DI Jess Chambers , new in the job is sent in to investigate . She is helped out by Margot a mountain guide I enjoyed finding out about Jess and her backstory which I felt gave us an insight to the woman who we will be following in further books in the series.
The plotline was good , I would describe it as a slow burn , but there is enough action and a twist or two to keep us reading.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing where it goes.
I look out for books set in Cumbria as it is the place where I live , through in a police procedural and a woman detective and it's a win win.
A fell runner is found dead in a gully on Scafell , after announcing he is about to break the record for running quickest on all the lake district summits.
DI Jess Chambers , new in the job is sent in to investigate . She is helped out by Margot a mountain guide I enjoyed finding out about Jess and her backstory which I felt gave us an insight to the woman who we will be following in further books in the series.
The plotline was good , I would describe it as a slow burn , but there is enough action and a twist or two to keep us reading.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing where it goes.
June 28, 2023
The Lake District is a fantastic location for a crime series, and DI Jess Chambers is a likable, effective but impulsive detective. She makes mistakes and one of them nearly costs her her life.
Investigating the murder of a well-known fell runner with a strong social media presence is Jess's first SIO role in her new post in Cumbria.
We're given a satisfying number of red herrings as suspects, and the police investigation and technology is impressive.
Jess is an intriguing character and we know very little about her, except that she was transferred to Cumbria from Belfast, and has been single for a long time. No doubt SJ Brooke, a former newspaper crime reporter, will fill in some of the gaps in subsequent books.
An enjoyable and well written crime thriller. Vivid imagery around the murder will stay in my mind for some time to come.
Investigating the murder of a well-known fell runner with a strong social media presence is Jess's first SIO role in her new post in Cumbria.
We're given a satisfying number of red herrings as suspects, and the police investigation and technology is impressive.
Jess is an intriguing character and we know very little about her, except that she was transferred to Cumbria from Belfast, and has been single for a long time. No doubt SJ Brooke, a former newspaper crime reporter, will fill in some of the gaps in subsequent books.
An enjoyable and well written crime thriller. Vivid imagery around the murder will stay in my mind for some time to come.
May 29, 2023
I'm a big fan of British police procedurals, so I was excited to read the first in a new series taking place in the Lake District. While the author did a wonderful job of setting the scene, I didn't really enjoy the characters or the plot, which moved slowly. And while the book as billed as a partnership between DI Jess Chambers and civilian Margo Voyce, that relationship didn't really work for me. The book did do a good job of highlighting the constraints placed on investigations, both financial and otherwise, and seemed very realistic in that regard. I will check out the next book in the series, as The Body on Scafell Pike definitely shows promise.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
October 9, 2023
Having climbed Scafell Pike many times (over more decades than I like to remind myself of!) the title of this novel was an immediate draw and didn't disappoint with its highly evocative descriptions, both of the unforgiving nature of the terrain via some of the ascent routes, but also of the Lake District landscape in general. Although I found the pacing of the story rather slow, something which mitigated against any real build-up of tension, I thought that the main characters, particularly Jess, Tom (her old school friend) & Margot were well-portrayed. By the time I reached the end of the story I felt invested enough in them to want to get to know them better so I'll be looking out for #2 in this promising new series.
November 3, 2023
Really not for me.
The mystery failed to draw me in and the point of view jumping pulled me out of the book quite a bit.
Lots of bits that struck me as clunky writing. For example, in the opening scene the murderer is referred to as "The Stranger." At the end of the chapter, the stranger reflects on how well they knew the victim.
A lot of "tell not show", like introducing a character as "her father-like mentor from her old job."
I gave up on the book about a third of the way through when the characters have (another) in depth conversation about how hard it is for women to get sponsorship deals. Well it's quite possibly true but I don't need the characters in my novels to stand around discussing it.
The mystery failed to draw me in and the point of view jumping pulled me out of the book quite a bit.
Lots of bits that struck me as clunky writing. For example, in the opening scene the murderer is referred to as "The Stranger." At the end of the chapter, the stranger reflects on how well they knew the victim.
A lot of "tell not show", like introducing a character as "her father-like mentor from her old job."
I gave up on the book about a third of the way through when the characters have (another) in depth conversation about how hard it is for women to get sponsorship deals. Well it's quite possibly true but I don't need the characters in my novels to stand around discussing it.
May 27, 2023
The setting and premise of this novel, the first in a series, is a good one. The location of the Lake District gives the reader a sweeping and dramatic backdrop as the protagonist tackles a suspicious death of a famous climber and fell runner. I hope her background as a cop in Belfast will be important in future stories in the series.
Despite the setting, I really couldn't warm to this as a thriller/mystery novel. The suspense, for me, was never there, and I felt the ending was anti climatic and relied too much on telling rather than showing, so it never felt natural.
Sorry, this wasn't for me.
Despite the setting, I really couldn't warm to this as a thriller/mystery novel. The suspense, for me, was never there, and I felt the ending was anti climatic and relied too much on telling rather than showing, so it never felt natural.
Sorry, this wasn't for me.
November 29, 2025
An easy read. I was excited to read a book based around where I live but unfortunately it seems like the author was writing about Cumbria but doesn't actually know much about it. Getting all the outdoor gear from Carlisle??
My copy was sadly riddled with typos - 'northern island' instead of Northern Ireland, etc.
it's fine if you want a little book that you don't have to think too much into.
I will probably try the next in the series to see if and how the friendship between Jess and Margot develops, I found that an enjoyable part of the book.
My copy was sadly riddled with typos - 'northern island' instead of Northern Ireland, etc.
it's fine if you want a little book that you don't have to think too much into.
I will probably try the next in the series to see if and how the friendship between Jess and Margot develops, I found that an enjoyable part of the book.
July 2, 2023
This is a promising new series, set in the Lake District and featuring DI Jess Chambers. She has recently relocated from Northern Ireland and I would have liked some more background detail. That aside, the book is well plotted and moves at a steady pace with good characterisation. I liked the setting and the plot and hope there is a follow up but with a bit more suspense. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
August 13, 2023
SJ Brooke is a new writer to me and this is an enjoyable introduction to her work. The setting is excellent as a backdrop to murder, the writing is very good and the plot satisfying enough. However, I am not yet convinced by the lead detective, nor by the combination of policewoman and fell walker to solve the crimes. However, I will be reading the second instalment.
August 13, 2023
3.5 upped to 4
I think there's a lot of potential in this series and I loved the descriptions of the places.
Jess and Margot are good couple of investigators but I would have to know more about Jess background.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I will surely read the next book.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I think there's a lot of potential in this series and I loved the descriptions of the places.
Jess and Margot are good couple of investigators but I would have to know more about Jess background.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I will surely read the next book.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 4, 2023
A solid police procedural set in the Lake District, with a likeable detective, supported by a local mountain guide. I liked the setting and there was a good level of suspense. Not particularly original and does not stand out in this genre but interesting enough to sustain a series.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
May 9, 2024
a good short read for holiday ! i enjoyed reading a murder mystery for a change and i liked the setting of the lakes. the writing was a bit random though and the ending felt quite rushed which contrasted how slow the middle was. overall a good easy read but not quite good enough for 4 star or to recommend :)
July 2, 2025
This might be set in Cumbria but apart from Scafell Pike its self not many places are named and what were mentioned seem to be rather close together and why on earth visit an outdoor shop in Carlisle when all the good ones are much closer in Keswick etc. If you ignore all this then it is a good read if rather predictable.
August 1, 2025
I liked this book. It kept me guessing until the end, the characters were good, the setting by was great. I found the really long sentences sometimes difficult to follow but that just seems to be the author’s writing style. This is the first book of hers that I’ve read but I now want to read the other books in this series.
June 5, 2023
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it and as it is the first in a series of books I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
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