The Colwyn Bay Killings

DI Ruth Hunter #17

by Simon McCleave

The Colwyn Bay Killings

When a young man is murdered in a fire at a holiday park, it seems that his complicated love-life might provide the clues to his killer. However, when DI Ruth Hunter and her CID team discover that there is also drug dealing at the park, the focus of their investigation switches. When their prime suspect disappears and with time running out, Ruth must track down the killer before it’s too late.

The Colwyn Bay Killings is the seventeenth book in Simon McCleave’s DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller Snowdonia series which has now hit over 2 million sales. If you like chilling police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love Simon McCleave’s page-turning thrill ride. Perfect for fans of JD Kirk, JM Dalgleish, Rachel McLean and LJ Ross.

Genres: Mystery

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2023

Reviews

[Caroline Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good easy read and an interesting twist!

[Shiny5711 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to 'watch' Nick work as SIO on this one. -- another don't sleep until it's finished book.

[Julie Devonald-Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg another amazing read in the Ruth Hunter series. Highly recommend this book and series

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[J Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another tense tales from Simon McCleave.

There are two story threads here, the aftermath of of Ruth Hunter being shot in the previous book in the series and the rest of her team dealing with a suspiciously with a dead leg and then another death. As ever with Simon McCleave'ebooks it all moves along at a fast pace. After a hectic chase and an eventual confession there is closure and then a hint of the next book in the series.

[Michael Bellamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DI Ruth Hunter story without Ruth as she recovers from being shot. In her absence Nick and the team solve the murder of the son of a Holiday Park owner. As usual there are a number of suspects , false leads and mandatory car chases but in the end they get the culprit. Looks like Ruth will be back for story 20.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I have read all the DO Ruth Hunter books and look forward to each one. I am from the area in the books so started with Snowdonia killings and the writing has lead me to read the next & the next and so on. Looking forward to the next in the series

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as always. Well written, so easy to read, if I had the time I would read in one sitting. No cliff hanger on this one, well not quite. Good ending. Roll on February for the next instalment and hopefully news of the TV series.

[Louise Ridout · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 17 in the DI Ruth Hunter series, and a little disappointing following how much I enjoyed book 16.

This one sees Ruth recover from her incident in book 16 with lots of random flashbacks, which I’m not quite sure added anything to the story at all, and totally missed the mark for me. Alongside this we see the team investigate a death at a holiday park, and the fall out from this investigation. I felt a lot of the story was rushed, and whilst things were tied up at the end, there wasn’t a whole lot of explanation or consequence for some of the actions. Having Nick take the lead as SIO in Ruth’s absence also didn’t work for me as I just don’t gel with his character - it would have been nice, and in my opinion more realistic considering the history of the characters, to see Dan step up instead. I’ll probably continue with the series when the next book is out but this one sadly didn’t do it for me.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't reviewed these books individually, preferring to look at them as a series. I have reached the end, and am waiting for book No. 18 to come out soon!

This has been an incredible series, you can tell that Simon McCleave is a script writer, as the books are written like a continuing drama, which is what makes them so compulsive.

Each story is unique, but the sub plots continue with the police team in a really addictive way. I simply couldn't put them down . I love North Wales, so the places were all familiar, and described with such warmth.

The depiction of alcoholism is so fraught and tangible, that it must be something that the writer has experienced at close hand, it couldn't be that vivid from research alone.

This is a wonderful series, and I would urge anyone that likes this genre to pick them up- but this is one that you really have to read in order.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst this was a quick read, I found the random flashbacks re Ruth an unnecessary distraction and interruption to the flow of the main storyline and I do wonder whether the author just added these in to get his page count up. The rest of the story seemed a bit thin and rushed. The later books in this series have left me (and a colleague who is a fellow Simon McCleave fan) feeling that the author was focusing more on churning out yet another Ruth Hunter story than the actual story. Having said that, it was a quick read and I did read most of it in one sitting. The speed of the read may well have been helped by me skipping over most of the, in my opinion, dull and unnecessary flashbacks and hospital scenes. I will however read the next one and look forward to reading a different series by this author as well as his stand alone books.

[Anthony Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Womanizer. Holiday Park. Cabin Fire. Murder!

As we knew, Georgie was kidnapped, she crashed the car, survived, but the perpetrator shot Ruth. Now fighting for her life, in an induced coma, the team are 2 down, as Georgie is recovering on desk duty.

The team is called to a cabin fire, where they find a body. With too many people in the CID crosshairs, the team needs to figure out who had the motive. Its not always the obvious.

Ruth contemplates retirement, will she? Can she leave her team?

Another 5 Star read!

[Kirsty Hinchliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Directly following on from the previous instalment, Ruth is fighting for her life after getting shot. While her family rally around her, its touch and go whether she will pull through and if there will be any permanent damage.

Murders in North Wales continue, as a young man is found in a burnt-out caravan. With Ruth out of action, Nick is in charge of CID, and tasked with uncovering what happened. There are many different characters in play, all of who have sufficient motive.

A fast-moving book with many twists.

4 Stars.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is DI ruth really going to retire? The book carries on well with Nick in charge as ruth is healing in an induced coma at the hospital. Georgie proves she's a great addition to the force, no longer the flirt or semi immature person as she initially was. The plot is bouncy, keeping you wondering if you've figured it out correctly right up to the end. And what an ending, if you can even believe it.

[Margaret Heher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colwyn Bay Killings

I am a fan of this series, Love Ruth, Nick, Georgie, Sara, Ella et all. This one gave me trouble. I do not know if it was the layers of different stories, the number of potential suspects, the chases or what but I became frustrated and a wee bit bored. I am very happy to read that Ruth can not bear retirement although I hope Simon has pared down the number of suspects and car/ horse chases

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another story with Ruth and her team, except this time it's the team without Ruth. Ruth is in the hospital trying to survive the gunshot she received on her last case. She had to be placed into an induced coma to heal and we get some of her backstory as she flashes back to points in her life. Meanwhile her team has to find answers as to who and why a young man was locked into a holiday cabin and then that cabin was set on fire killing him. Lots of suspects.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Clever and Tidy Ending

I was a bit bored and uninterested through the first half of he book. Ruth being in a coma kept a huge part of the normal dynamic of this series too quiet and humdrum. But, as usual, the plot thickened and we were off again. I loved the ending and for once guessed the real murderer. Cute lead in to the next episode with a throw back to The Bridge for those who know it. 😎

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Colwyn Bay Killings: A Snowdonia Murder Mystery. ( A Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller Book 17). 17)

I have read and re-read this series of books and loved every one. Set in an area I live on the fringes of I know every place they are set. This adds to the pleasure because I can picture right when they are. Simon is an excellent author and I hope he has many more books yet to write. I shall read them all. I thoroughly recommend them.

[Valerie Douthwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following this author who never disappoints. Loved this book, so cleverly written with the little references to remind of Ruth's journey. This story kept the reader guessing until nearly the end when all was revealed. A great read and will look forward to the next one, please keep these characters going they gel so well.

[Graham Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too good!!

Simon McCleave , you are a brilliant writer. What a great follow on from your previous book. The unfortunate thing is that your books are too good!! I finished this in only 3days. I really couldn't wait to get back to it. The storyline was excellent and the characters superb. On to the next installment.

[Staci Popp · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

It was interesting having the investigation without Ruth involved. Her story was a bit lackluster and I wasn’t thrilled with Sarah’s handling of things. I’ll be interested to see what happens with them moving forward. Can’t wait for Georgie to have her baby and see how the dynamic changes.

[Sandra Johnson]

As brilliant as always

I think i enjoyed this book even more than usual as it also gave us more background into Ruth which i loved
The twist at the end was great too
Definitely woth reading i loved it

[Julian Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story picking up from the cliffhanger about Ruth in no. 16. Enjoyed the flashbacks of Ruth's earlier life while she was still recovering in hospital. The team gave her great support in solving a heinous crime. On to no. 18!
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire

[beryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colwyn Bay.

I know it well, day trips from a child. But no murders then, thank goodness, these books are awesome, i really can't get enough of them. Than you so much Simon McCleave. Keep them coming please. Belle.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

i just wasn't as enamored with this book as I have been most of the others in the series. It seem to me that the author is just starting to crank out books in this series with no real depth of fiels to the main characters (except in this case Ruth iwas not involved in the investigation.)

[Robin Esau Grosshans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Hunter Series

I have read all of the DI Ruth Hunter Series. I try to read them a little slower to make the book last longer. It doesn’t work. Simon McCleave books are very hard to put down. I gave up trying.

[julie young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense, brutal

Another absolutely enthralling case for DI Ruth Hunter and her team. As a key member of the team fights for their life the others must try to chase down a killer before they strike again.

[Will Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read 😁😁

Another excellent story ,wonderful characters and continues the Ruth Hunter life story.
Simon McCleave has excelled yet again with a story that encompasses a Welsh background built round a excellent crime story . 👏👏👏👏😁😁

[Vaughan Leonard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Colwyn Bay - really?? Only two references to Colwyn Bay. The author needs to sort out the geography of North Wales eg Bethesda is west of Colwyn Bay and Beaumaris is nowhere near the A470 - artistic licence or lazy research?

[PATRICIA ROBINS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explained

The story line and characters in this series of books are good, improving as the series continues.
Please get an English expert to proofread before publication if only to get the characters to stop 'explaining' !