Winter's End

Alex Rourke #1

by John Rickards

Discovering a knife-wielding young man standing over a woman's murdered body, sheriff Dale Townsend wonders at the enigmatic suspect's refusal to answer questions and a lack of forensic evidence linking him to the crime. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

339 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[J.J. Overton · Rating 4 out of 5]

From page 12 of this book, which is told in first-person narrative, tension is created that rarely subsides throughout the whole book. There has been a murder. The details of its commision have an immediate bizzare feel about them. Nicholas, the captive suspect, taunts private investigator, Alex Rourke, with snippets of information which implies that the perpetrator knows Rourke; why and how are details remaining obscure until the story is almost finished.
As well as the build-up of tension, there is a dark, brooding atmosphere that the writer, John Rickards, builds into the tale which is set in a place whose name, Winter's End, also adds a touch of darkness to events. An old, burnt-out place set in woodland, becomes a place of suspicion when it is revealed that, some years previously, oppressive things went on there.
Other murders take place. Alex Rourke is gradually brought into an unsettling web of events which create an undertone of threat and add to the tension of the story.
There is love interest, which is not overstated, but which adds some normality and lightness as one turns the pages.

An unexpected twist, as the story is heading to a finale, is cleverly introduced.
This book would have been given five stars if the dark atmosphere had been toned down a little; too much of anything can sometimes be heavy. Having said that, Winter's End is a gripping, well-written tale that is well worth a read, but don't have the lights in your room turned down too low whilst you are reading it!
JJ

[Alesha Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many twist, feel a range of emotions while reading. From suspicion to worry to curious and confusion. The story keeps getting interesting till the end. The ending gives closure and justifies the entire hype of emotion. Absolutely love the story and the characters. Highly recommend.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Ik begon te lezen zonder verwachting. Dat komt niet vaak bij mij voor. Na twee hoofdstukken was ik nieuwsgierig: waar gaat dit heen. Hoe komt die jongen daar en waarom wijst forensisch niets naar hem?

Een goed verhaal, zeker voor een beginnende schrijver! In het eerste gedeelte van het boek lees je allerlei losse eindjes die naarmate het verhaal vordert naadloos in elkaar gaan vallen! Als puzzelstukjes .

[AJ Payne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eighth book I read in Kenya.

I picked this up off the book shelf at a place I stayed in Nairobi the night before I was set to leave. So, it's an easy read. I was able to finish it in a day.

It was not a great book. A typical mystery/killer type book, with some strange supernatural elements thrown in. It almost seemed like the author was trying to (ineptly) channel some Stephen King. I thought the supernatural elements were unnecessary, and a bit distracting to the story. And the twist at the end, while not surprising, added a little interest to the story. I did not particularly like the main character, and it got very tedious as the author described every sip of coffee, drag of a cigarette, or drink of beer he had. After a while, it seemed that those were the only three things the character did. I thought to myself, "Enough already, so he smokes and drinks coffee, shut up about it!!"

What was strange about the particular version I read was that it is very obviously an American mystery - it takes place in Maine and has all the hallmarks of an American crime novel - but it was printed using all British slang and spellings and terms. So, I'm not sure if there was a thorough edit before publishing it for British authors or if the author is British and was trying to write an American crime story.

Not really recommended, unless you are sitting in a foreign country and are desperate for a quick and easy read to pass some time.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is John Rickards first novel and who lives in England. Some of the words used in this story were a little confusing because of John not being from the United States. However the story was a good read just not fantastic. I think the ending was probably my Favorite of the whole story in other wards ended Great!!!!

[Kaylol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed parts of it, I was bored in others.

I read it about a month ago and I had to re-read parts of it to remember anything at all about it. So I'm guessing it wasn't good enough to remember.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy enough read with likeable, if flat, characters and an interesting enough premise to keep me reading.

[Steve Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked the book and thought it was an interesting premise. I got a good sense of place. I don't understand why authors want to include a habit over and over again. I'm curious just how many times his smoking was mentioned in the book. It's distracting to me.

[Yvonne G · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When suspense novel becomes psychological thriller"


"Childhood events shape the rest of our lives, Mr.Rourke."

The first thing to say about `Winter's End', is that this book was written back in 2003, so crime detection procedures and forensic analysis methods have moved on apace since then. Even so, I think that this story stands its ground very well in the genre, even today and John Rickards is way up there with his contemporaries of the time ... the likes of John Connolly and Michael Connelly.

The choice of cover art for this edition, was spot on, setting the scene for the dark and menacing force which has gripped small town America. Where fear is contagious and neighbour suspects neighbour, as the chilling truth is uncovered, piece by piece. A mysterious puzzle which everyone has their suspicions about, but which, to a person, they would rather had remained hidden in the depths of time.

Alex Rourke, once a child of this introspective community, is a flawed and broken man, abandoned by the system of justice he strived so hard to uphold, now working freelance on the outside, although still on behalf of truth and fairness. The incident which brought about his breakdown, has left him a loner, lonely, vulnerable and seemingly unable to commit to, or become close to anyone, so returning to his hometown to help out a colleague in need, isn't really what he needs right now. His journey becomes something of a pilgrimage of self discovery, where he uncovers some pretty unpalatable home truths and dark secrets about his own family, that he isn't expecting.

Romance is also on the cards for Alex, in the shape of pathologist, Gemma. However, whilst there is an obvious mutual attraction between the two, it is left to Gemma to do much of the groundwork. The two seem like a great match, with Gemma a caring, yet carefree individual and Alex responding to her nurturing in a positive and committed way, horrified when it seems that she might be in danger. Whether there is a future for them as a couple, I wouldn't like to say, but it would seem that they are prepared to take things slowly for now, living their separate lives apart from one another, with Gemma more than respecting Alex's need to re-examine his future and the direction in which he would like his life to go.

In our unknown `villain', whom Alex has named `Nicholas', we have a chilling, dark character, full of hatred and bitterness, seeking revenge in a terriflyingly final way, for wrongs he feels have been committed against him, both by the establishment in general and certain individuals in particular. His methods are calculating and systematic, his results brutal and final. His actions are all leading up to one decisive, irrevocable show-down, when the full extent of all the heinous injustices against him will be revealed and his final act of retribution will be meted out. Given the things that had happened to `Nicholas' during his early years, I had to admit a grudging feeling of sadness and remorse for him, as I would for anyone else who had endured such incarceration and humiliation, as to alter the balance of their mind so completely.

The plot isn't particularly fast paced, the moves have already been pre-ordained and the outcome a foregone conclusion, unless Alex acts quickly to change it. There are several twists and turns, as Alex tries to manipulate the endgame and trap his suspect, however the whole story is more one of a titanic battle of strength of will and mind games between two evenly matched adversaries. A plot firmly based on some great characterisations and human observations, with all their warts and flaws.

I had a couple of endgame scenarios mapped out in my head and was glad to see that I wasn't too far off the mark with one of them, although I was never really sure which it was to be until right towards the end, which kept the suspense and tension building nicely, as I avidly devoured the pages.

This is a debut novel for both author and character and was curtailed into a short series of just four adventures in total. I shall be more than interested in acquiring the remaining three books, to see just where John takes Alex on both his professional and personal journey forwards.

[Monster Goddess of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective thriller with constantly having a killer one step ahead. You don’t need to know more.

Rating System:
⭐️
DNF
⭐️ ⭐️
Finished but should’ve been a DNF
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Decent story/world building, not shelf worthy but a recommend
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Amazing story/world building, shelf worthy and a recommend
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Don’t talk to me, I’m LIVING in this book from now on

[Clara Kimmerle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Winter’s End by John Rickards takes place in a small town called Winter’s End and is about a cop that is driving during a rain storm and finds a man holding knives in the middle of the street standing next to a dead naked women. The cop takes the man into custody and down to the police station. The next day they take the suspect into an interrogation room and start questioning him. The suspect won’t tell any of the investigators his name or what he was doing standing in the road next to the dead women. After more research the police find out that the women’s name was Angela Lamond and that she was a nurse. The cop in charge of the murder case is named Dale and he calls in his old friend from high school Alex Rourke. Alex lives in Boston but grew up in Winter’s End. He hasn’t been back since his parent’s tragic death in a car accident. Once Alex gets into town he starts interviewing the suspect every day and the suspect says to call him Nicolas but still changes topics when asked about the murder. Deputy Rourke starts having deep conversations with Nicolas who seems to know a lot about him and hints that Angela got what she deserved.
Throughout the book various conflicts are revealed. For example, Deputy Alex Rourke is back in his home town for the first time in a long time and is suffering from insomnia, migraines, and stress. He is seeing a lot of friends from high school that never got out of the small town. He is also getting frustrated with Nick who is asking a lot of deep questions about Alex’s parents and seems to know a lot already.
I would recommend the book Winter’s End by John Rickards because it is very interesting and suspenseful. Someone who likes mysteries and horror books would really enjoy it. I liked this book and think it is a good read for high school students.

[Laurel Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars. Okay so, I found this in a book take one leave one book exchange at the hotel my family and I lived in for a week while we waited for the movers to deliver our household goods. I thought it looked like a perfect quick read paperback to read by the pool and in my new backyard, and it was perfect for this. I will say this edges very close to what others and myself call Dad novels, but it wasn't so I'll say, police-y, detective-y, FBI-y jargon and police procedure that I couldn't stick to the narrative.

This book does bear the marks of a first time novelist, though the writing is not awful, it does have some cliche' and falls heavily into thriller/PI tropes a little too hard at times. I mean, one can only check that their Glock is at the ready when anxious so many times as foreshadowing. This is also an odd read because it's set in Maine, but written by a Brit, so some of the spelling and phrases don't fit as one would like. I only mention this because it pulled me out of the narrative of a book not set in a British speaking time and place.

The mystery and intrigue we're just enough to keep me interested, and I didn't feel like it dragged on. I also appreciate that the romantic aspect was kind of limited. Throughout reading about Alex there was almost too much about his 'breakdown' and mental state, which did pay off as purposefully done, but almost too overdone.

Long story short, will I read the next in this series? Probably when I want a quick summer thrill, I'd like to see where Alex goes next, and if the continuation of his work continues to be quite so personal.

[Gabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Winter's End" by John Rickards is a gripping mystery novel that had me hooked from the very beginning. The story centers around Detective Chief Inspector Jane Bennett, who is investigating a series of murders in a small English town. As the bodies pile up, she races against time to catch the killer before they strike again.

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was the mystery itself. Rickards has a real talent for crafting a complex and layered mystery that kept me guessing right up until the end. The twists and turns in the plot kept me engaged and eager to turn the pages to find out what would happen next.

However, I do agree that something more could have been made out of the story. While the mystery was compelling, there were times when the pacing of the novel felt a bit slow, and I found myself wanting more from the characters and the overall story arc. Additionally, there were some loose ends that were never fully tied up, leaving me with a few unanswered questions by the end of the book.

Despite these minor issues, "Winter's End" is still a great read for fans of mystery and crime fiction. The mystery is strong, the characters are engaging, and the small English town setting is vividly portrayed. While there may have been missed opportunities to fully develop the story, I still found myself engrossed in the book and eager to see how it would all play out in the end.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about a sheriff that is on his way home when he finds a a man half naked in the round. when he gets out he finds that by the man he discover a dead body. it is the body of a women that is naked. as he takes the person in to jail the storm gets worse. when he returned the body is clean from the rain and most if not all of the evidence is gone. as he tries to figure out what happened to the women he finds out that there is a lot more to the story then it appears.
i liked this book because it kept you wondering what would happen next. also it had two sides and you could really tell what the sheriff was thanking. the problem was that in some spots of the book it did not make much sense, like what was going on like if it was really happening. this book also had many twist to it like at first i thought it was some one but then the book makes you change you mid by making it seem that it is some one else. i thought it was funny how the book did this. also it had a real kick to it. like it made the book seem real but it is not. like instead of getting test results back in a day it took a week or a few days. most people think that cops get a DNA test back in day but in the book it takes a week, like in the real world. i would recommend this book to people that like mystery and non-fiction.

[Aaron Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

***3/4 out of *****

Winter's End is a Murder Mystery novel that ticks many boxes and has many good points, while also leaving room for improvement.

PROS: The scene is well set and the world-building is nicely done, from the weather to the scenery to the personal experience of protagonist Alex Rourke. The fact that it's set in Maine also prepared me for something quite 'Kingly' and certainly there are some moments that would qualify for that category. Reading it also made me feel like I was experiencing a TV show or a movie. It is paced in that way, which is a nice touch.

CONS: The characters are mostly by-the-book with predictable development or back story - I'm acknowledging that there are sequels that would build upon key figures. At times the book seems to lose focus, and it decides to tell stories between the plot, such as Alex meeting up with the girl he lost his virginity to (and her husband), and a date with the Coroner. Also, I was a little disappointed by the twist, and was expecting more of a red herring. It worked. It's good. But I have preferences.

Despite taking nearly 3 months to read a 190-200 page book, I felt able to read it for 2-4 pages on multiple busy days without getting lost on what was happening. I would consider that kind of writing 'a win'.

[Joe A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter’s End is a gripping and original fiction mystery. Winter’s End takes place in a small New England town called Winter’s End. One night wile the local sheriff, Dale Townshend, was driving home in the rain with his partner, he came across a man standing in the middle of the road with the body of a dead victim at his feet. The man was brought in on murder chargers.
Dale calls a friend from his childhood, Alex Royke who lives in Boston and work as a private eye, to see if he could come to Winter’s End to investigate the murder. After many failed attempts at trying to interrogate the suspect, Alex is filled with nothing but riddles, and events of his past and childhood.
After the suspect brakes out of jail and runs around the town causing problems and stress, the mystery ends in a shocking way that all comes back to Alex and his childhood. It is an ending unlike no other that took me 100% by surprise.
This book is gripping and original and keeps you so far on the end of your seat that you will have to catch yourself before you fall. The book has very fast passed easy reading that made me never want to put it down. I was always wondering what was going to happen next.

[The goblin queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had some nice elements to it. The antagonist was interesting because he talked around the questions to avoid answering them, and that he plays a game with the detective. His downside however is that I wasn't really convinced by his motive. Why put years of your life into murdering some people who knew about your parents? He could have moved on, trying to change things for the better, but he didn't.

The protagonist in general was okay, but I really had the feeling that he wasn't solving anything, the local police found more clues than him. I do understand that putting clues together can be very difficult, but it really felt like he was pushed too much into the set out direction.

Then the writing style. There's still some room for growth

Like I already said, it had some good things, but also some lesser things to it. It's three stars for me.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good if you like suspense. A guy who used to work for FBI but had breakdown (ofc!!), so he has his own private invegestor company.. blah blah..... then his hometown (name is Winter's End, hence the title). Where the dead woman was found. With a topless man with knives in his hands. But there's no evidence because of rain. So ex-FBI guy is trying to find the evidence and same time, trying to find who the topless man is since there's no record or DNA stuff in the system. Since the man refused to tell the police his name. So the ex-FBI guy has to learn who he is, and started to do alot of research on his town, and its dark past. This book is very good. :)

[james · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a creepy, but well written, mystery about a corpse found on a highway in northeastern Maine. A suspect is discovered by the police standing over the body with the murder weapons in hand. The suspect admits nothing. An FBI interrogation specialist, who came from this area, is summoned. He starts a discussion with the suspect with little results. Then the suspect escapes. It's a fast read, and a very satisfying beginning of a series.

[Frederick Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

PI Alex Rourke returns to his hometown Winter's End when his childhood friend Dale Townsend who happen to be the county Sherrif over a murder case where the murderer stick around the crime scene.
As the suspect somehow manage to escape the county jail, Alex has to also confronts his pass in order to solve the problem. As time is running out, Alex is forced to examine who he truly is in order to apprehend the suspect.

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Rourke is an ex-FBI man who became a private detective after he had a nervous breakdown. He's called to help with the investigation of a murder in the town where he grew up, and has lots of nightmares during the investigation. A lot of it was taken up with describing his dreams and psychological states, and while the latter were a bit relevant to the plot, the dreams, and how many times he got up in the night, were a bit much.

[Toni Umar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book, it was amongst a bag of books a friend donated and I have to admit I hesitated as I tend to prefer ‘feel good’ novels. How ever as I want to be an author I thought I’d give the title a go, and I’m pleased I did. The tension build up was subtle and well written, the characters well described and even tho Alex had some dislikeable habits, he was easy to like! Glad to see the book has some sequels and I’ll be tracking them down for sure!

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty standard thriller but ...

Along with the unnecessary detail (that others have mentioned) of each time he eats, drinks or smokes, I also got frustrated with the overly-detailed scenic descriptions. (In fact, they slowed the book down so much for me, that I skimmed the second half of the book only to find out how the mystery worked out!)

[Gemma Sykes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm. Well I have mixed feelings. I'm a huge fan of John Connelleys Charlie Parker series so when I started this a few bells started ringing. It's a good book and an intriguing story but many things rang familiar with the Charlie Parker series. I think I'll give John Rickards another try and see if I have the same feelings.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a nice mystery with just a touch of romance. It was a nice break from the normal love-mystery. The plot was great with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

[Jen Acheson]

the jacket says author is from England but the story takes place locally in Houlton Maine area and he obviously lived or studied Maine as he described things there and in Presque isle well- that made it kind of cool= not a bad read

[Desiree · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up at my local library. It looked like a nice little mysterious read for my summer days. The book has a strong beginning, but as I continues to read it became profoundly predictable up to the very end.

[Angel Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

En un pueblecito de Maine detienen a un asesino con su víctima todavía caliente. Lo que parece un caso fácil se complicará cuando el sospechoso se niega a contestar a las preguntas de la policia. Así que llamarán al ex-FBI local Alex Rourke.

[Ethel Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is a real holiday book, one to be read by the pool !

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! It kept me suspense the entire time!