The Pike

DCI Walker Crime Thrillers #2

by J.J. Richards

A party gone wrong?
Or a sickening group attack?
Not everything is what it seems, and not everyone is who they appear to be.

A young girl is found dead at the Pike Tower on Winter Hill near Chorley and DCI Walker and the newly promoted DC Briggs are drafted in to investigate. But what they find extends far beyond the Rivington Pike. What seems like a party gone wrong, or a sickening group attack, transpires to be much more, and threatens not only the local community, but Walker and his team too.

After identifying who’d taken the deceased to the Pike, a cat and mouse chase ensues, taking them to Manchester and back. And when more women are attacked and left for dead, Walker gets reinforcements, turns it into a wide-scale manhunt. If they don’t find the attacker soon, more women will almost certainly die.

But Walker and his team don’t have to look too far, and what they find is much darker than they could possibly have imagined.

Is it a sin if you are the victim?

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Psychological Thriller

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2024

Reviews

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: Rape, Suicide

Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Walker and Detective Constable Shelly Briggs from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Lancashire Constabulary meet at the Pike Tower, Rivington. The body of a young woman, Charlotte Porter, has been found. Investigation is needed to confirm the circumstances of death. Evidence found at the scene does not immediately indicate whether suicide, accident, or crime scene.

An investigation follows the trails of inquiry, sometimes a tiny thread of a reply to a question leading to the strongest indication of what happened in the last hours of the victim's life. A poignant introspection by the individuals who shared those hours with emotions in the moment different from all the following hours.

I enjoy this detective partnership, with each detective bringing different strengths that complement each other during an investigation. The investigation was intricately weaved with twists and turns that were a surprise.

The title of Book 1 captured my initial interest. After I finished the book, a website announcement about the series intrigued me further, indicating that "Each book will feature a well-known landmark in Lancashire." The next featured landmark will be "The Tower" in Book 3. The specific date is not provided due to the conflict of information from various sources.

Thank you to J.J. Richards and LibraryThing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new favorite series. An intriguing story, compassionate and intelligent characters and an entertaining narration. Clean but dark parts.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book from J J Richards. I love the relationship developing between Walker and Briggs. The story was dark and kept me guessing. Brutal at times and a few times I gasped. A very clever ending which I had thought possible at one point then changed my mind. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of this series and see where Walker and Briggs go next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many plot twists as characters are introduced and evolved in this crime thriller! Another great read with DCI Walker and DC Briggs as the main characters. Ready to dive into The Tower next!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the DCI Walker series, brings us yet another chilling case which proves to be just as difficult to solve as the previous one. DCI Walker is a detective who doggedly works to try and catch killers and get justice for his victims. At the same time, he is a sad and depressive man who has seen so much evil in his lifetime that he finds it hard to relax and wind down. The one thing that he does seem to take pleasure in is working with the recently promoted DC Briggs, having found her help with the previous case extremely helpful, and he now feels that he would be lost without her assistance. He also appreciates DI Hogarth, the IT detective whose ability to discover any digital or electronic evidence a much welcome skill. These three work together well as a team and, with the occasional backup from other detectives, prove to be a formidable force.

To say this case was complicated and confusing in places would be an understatement, however the author is very good at taking us deep into the underworld of criminal activity and presents the reader with twists, turns and thrilling chases that keep us reading. Right from the start this plot grabbed my attention and held it firmly all the way through. Quite early on it becomes obvious to both DCI Walker and the reader who the killer is, but the whole point of these thrillers the the “why” rather than the “who” and “how”. These are basically psychological thrillers which delve deeply into the minds of abusers and murders. The ending of the book led us down quite a misleading path, making us think that the story was over and delivering a blow that was quite surprising and was very cleverly disguised. The only thing I would say is that I felt the final chapter, which closed everything off almost completely, seemed a little rushed and delivered almost like an addendum to the plot. Having said that, as always there was an interesting lead into the next case for DCI Walker and his team.

[Nichole Scanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold on to your seat from the first lines! If you read the first Lancashire Detective mystery, you'll know that J.J. Richards starts off the story with a real eye-opener (or closer if you're the victim). He amped this one up even more with an incredibly eerie point of view from the victim.

After reading the first novel awhile back, I was happy to be reunited with the characters, who are so likable. It's like I was gathering with friends I hadn't seen in too long. I'm happy to report that DCI Walker is back in his Audi A6, rather than a smelly, junky pool car...

This installment sees another major crime to work out with time of the essence. Without giving away any spoilers, a teenage girl has died at a local landmark (accident or murder?) and Walker and Briggs are on the case. Per usual, they begin with nearly nothing and they doggedly pursue the tiniest of clues to keep the original case moving forward as new crimes are being committed, possibly connected to the first.

I would say that this installment gets a bit more grisly detailed and has a darker hue to the ember of the story. There may be triggers for some, but Richards has written it well.

Again, without a spoiler, when it seems as if the crime may be solved, I had something niggling at the back of my brain that it couldn't be that straightforward. I'm only reporting that I was partially correct in my assumptions and I also had a great surprise coming my way as will you...

[Catriona Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cruel Waste of Life

This second book in the series had even more edge of your seat action than The Icehouse, book one in the series. I warmed up to DCI Walker a little more than in that book, and was happy to read more with DC Briggs. She's competent, kind, and a great partner for Walker. Fortunately, he knows it!

The crimes they’re contending with kept me guessing for a long while. The author's done a great job with this police procedural thriller. It's got some triggers, but they weren't presented in a way that was lurid or overly graphic.

Thank you to JJ Richards, Simulacrum Press, and Bookfunnel for a free advance review copy of The Pike. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. If I don't enjoy a book, I won't finish it, and this one kept me happily entertained. I recommend it!

[Pamela Sewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books Sirens eARC. DCI Walker #2. Walker and his newly promoted DC Briggs are called to investigate the death of a young woman found at the base of Pike Tower, a popular Rivington landmark. Was this the result of a party gone wrong or a frenzied group attack? The case leads them to four young men, seemingly good lads with bright futures. What transpired that fateful night? What ensues is a cat and mouse game that leads them to Manchester and more deaths. This was a twisty gritty crime novel of the Lancaster Constabulary. DCI Walker is an old school sleuth of a certain age and his younger counterparts....techie Hogarth and bright personable Briggs offset his rough edges as they attempt to drag him into the digital age. A solidly plotted engaging crime novel.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pike is a good police procedural mystery, with lots of action and a relentless DCI who will not stop until he uncovers the whole truth. DCI Walker is a little bit out of date with technological stuff but he outsmarts his peers with his hunches and searches for leads. In this case 5 teenagers are brought together resulting in murders, suicides, and a master mind in need to be caught. Good plot, well-written.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

This book kept me guessing the whole time as I turned the (virtual) pages. Police procedural novels aren’t typically something I gravitate towards as they can sometimes be a bit bogged down with details. However, this one kept my interest and the characters were well written.

This was my first read from JJ Richard’s, but probably won’t be my last!

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of The Pike, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Wen Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lost me over the insensitivity of the rape and murder of young girls - especially when even a cursory survey of the internet would yield innumerable studies and FP experiences of survivors. And, where is the chain of command; the teamwork; the support staff when a vicious killer is loose in the community?

The narration is terrible. The reader’s attempts to act out women, children and teenagers is ridiculous.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This case was a detective's worst nightmare. Seemingly straightforward at first, the case takes a more sinister turn when it becomes obvious that the main suspect may be a victim himself.

Loved the twist at the end.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of The Pike through BookSirens, and have chosen to leave a review.

[Sophiesreadingbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second instalment of the Lancashire Detective series! Being local I really enjoyed this book, when the crime seems to be heading in one direction it takes a turn again! Easy mystery read

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl is found dead, is it a party gone wrong or murder?

“The Pike” is the second in a series of novels featuring DCI Walker and like all the books in this series it centers around a famous Lancashire landmark, in this case Rivington Pike near Chorley.

It is an intriguing and entertaining read if a little predictable (I did figure out most the outcome). The story is a good one and moves along at a good pace and like most good detective fiction, the facts are slowly drip fed as the plot unravels. It is a competently written police procedural crime novel. However it is very basic, there is little in the way of character development, the characters all lack depth. It is also lacking in suspense or tension. Even the settings lack detail, instead relying on simple stating where the action or scenarios are taking place. And that is it’s draw, the streets, the shops, the buildings, schools etc are all factual, for someone like myself who has lived in the area all my life it is what drew me to the book. There are a few little niggles on that score, for example a boy who went to school at Parklands is asked to call into Chorley Police station by a detective in order to provide a description of a person of interest, the detective tells him to google its address, Parklands school is on the same road as Chorley Police station. Also I found the method in which a suspect left a message while on the run a bit hard to swallow. But those are minor criticism.

I should imagine there are a few readers like me drawn to this book because they live in or are familiar with the area and from that point of view it is an interesting read. And as I have pointed out it is a good story it just needed fleshing out, it needs more substance and a more pace and tension.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an ARC reader this is my honest opinion. I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. I find it's good to follow the progress of a character when he or she is interesting, like DCI Walker of Lancashire police (North of England). Symptoms of his recent long illness still plaque him, but he insists on following up everything that makes him at all curious. PC Shelly Briggs, from book 1, The Icehouse, has been promoted and is now a DC and still working with DCI Walker. Their relationship is a bit ambiguous - she's half his age but they get on so well it almost seems as though romance may be possible. There is a series by another author that I read, also police detectives, where such a romance happened. The case they take this time is particularly grusome, especially near the end. It isn't for anyone with a delicate disposition. What I like in particular is that the action is set only two years ago and the issues and problems that arise are true to life. The story is believable and the characters well written. (there's also a DI Hogarth, just as in trilogies based on a DI written by another author. A tribute perhaps?) I like the way the author tries to have her characters speaking with the Lancashire dialect, using "gunna" for going to, but I don't find it necessary when it's the author saying " going to", not the characters. There's a third book about DCI Walker and DC Briggs waiting for publication, that I'm looking forward to.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is often debate within book communities about whether one should just let inaccuracies go rather than pointing them out. This can be quite a hot topic as for some people it doesn’t matter but for others it jars enough to pull the reader out of the world created by the author. In this case, whilst there are some inconsistencies, they are liveable with but unfortunately there was one activity which would be downright dangerous if a reader thought it was a reasonable thing to do. If someone is prescribed beta blockers for a medical condition, they are NOT to be taken whenever one feels the need. They are to be taken regularly at the time directed by the prescribing physician. It’s not like taking a couple of paracetamol for a headache. To take them randomly or more often than prescribed can have VERY serious consequences!

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great follow-up to the first book. It begins with the death of a teenage girl and it is clear that several boys have something to hide. It is up to DCI Walker and DC Briggs and the team to get to the bottom of things.

I was hooked immediately and even though it soon became clear who was responsible, I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game throughout. I also loved the fact that things were not as straightforward as they seemed and there were several twists later which really caught me unawares. I loved the complexity throughout and delighted to see the third book is already lined up which I can't wait to read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as crime fare goes, this was quite alright.

The author is awfully fond of over-explaining things and repeating phrases or ideas, though.
This bugs me.

The main character, DCI Jonathan Walker, is about as wooden as a board, which bugs me a bit, too. Somehow, I think his personality actual shrank in this book compared to the first. That was kind of weird, to be honest.

Shelly Briggs is the one saving grace that will get me to give the series a third chance, I think. 🤔

I didn't like the hints at where Walker's relationship with her might be going though. If they end up romantically involved, I will throw the third book metaphorically out the bloody window. Fingers crossed, I won't have to do that. 😂

[Autumn Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC read in exchange for an honest review. My rating is actually 4.5 stars, but I can not put that on here. This was a good, quick read. It definitely had the feel of a NCIS, Law & Order SVU, or Criminal Minds episode. I was also surprised by the twists throughout the book. The entire time, I was trying to figure out what happened and why. Usually, I can figure out most of the endings of these types of thrillers, but this one had me guessing for most of it. I would recommend this to those who enjoy these kind of shows or thrillers. Also, for those who enjoy trying to figure out the ending before it happens.

[Toni Krogh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another twist at the end

Really liking this book series. The main character, DCI Walker, has a sad backstory and in 30 years of policing, has seen too much. But he keeps going. Now he has a young partner that he works well with. This was a disturbing case and it ramped up quickly, but the ending was a bit rushed, almost like the author thought there needed to be to be another element to the ending. The policing elements seemed to be realistic and the flow of the story, other than the very end, was well done. It’s nice to have a main character to follow through books to see how they develop in themselves and with others, you get comfortable with them.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and am glad to say that number 2 did not disappoint.

Walker is a great lead character, and his relationship with Briggs was really well developed in this book. I'm excited to see where it goes next, and am glad that the easy way out of a quick romance was not taken!

The plot moves along at a good pace, and it was a real page turner.

I would thoroughly recommend this book, and am grateful to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review for free.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pike by JJ Richards is the second book in the DCI Walker police crime series based in Lancashire. The death of the young girl occurred at Rivington Pike, was it an accident or was it murder? She was also raped and abused before her death.
There were four young girls men with the young girl at the time of her death.
The investigation the. Also uncovers another two young women’s deaths and young lady who managed to survive.
Was the murderer insane, hearing voices or were there people telling him what to do?
Highly recommended

[Ted Barringer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 of the DCI Walker series. As per usual, I read a few reviews before I wrote this. My rating is a 3 star, regardless of what I read. These books are serviceable, not great. As with the plethora of English Detective Mysteries, there are several plot lines going on at once, but this one, was easy to follow, we knew who the bad guy was early on, but the twists at the end made the read worthwhile. I hope JJ Richards doesn't write these books as fast as he claims he will - one every year or so will be quite enough.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could have started as nothing more than a bit of fun turns serious when one of the party dies. Charlotte Porter, 16, is found dead at Pike Tower. But what really happened to her and why. Will there be more deaths. DCI Jonathan Walker and his team investigate.
An interesting and entertaining modern mystery with its likeable main characters supported by a cast of varied personalities. A good addition to this enjoyable series.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via BooksFunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rock Chick Fee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read in a long time.

This was a brilliant police procedural novel. I enjoyed it very much indeed.

The storyline is action packed and fast paced.

If you like a good police procedural novel then this book has to be a must read.

In fact I enjoyed it so much I have bought the first book in the series, and pre-ordered the third.

I received a free ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, though I did deduce who was orchestrating the events. There are evil people in the real world, and we hear about the twisted abhorrent acts that they have done. I guess therefore, that anything can happen in the fictional world, even though what we are reading may seem totally over the top and unbelievable. I am going to read the 3rd book in the series, to see what Walker & Briggs find when they arrive Blackpool.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid writing. Intricate plot and examination of mental illness and family disfunction. I like the relationship between Walker and Briggs, and the supporting characters blend seamlessly into the story. I like that neither Walker’s nor Briggs’ personal life has played much into the plots so far.
I’ll continue the series.

(Some grammar mistakes and a few words misused.)

Narrator Kevin E Greene is fine.

[Diane Huettemann Wills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in a series of. In my opinion, it’s one of the better detective stories I’ve read in a long time. The two main detectives work together well and both are likable people. The only thing I don’t like is they keep referring to DCI Walker’s past illness and his sister’s disappearance. I get that it needs to be mentioned in each book, but not several times in each one. Other than that, I’m off to start the next book!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent page turning 2nd book in the series. Started this book and yet again it had me gripped from the first page. Twists and turns all the way through. LJ Ross has a rival now.

Excellent development between DCI Walker and DC Briggs.

Not everything is as it seems. Stomping book, get this you have to read it.

Please when are you releasing the next one?

[Cherie Melbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story that had a relatively slow pace. I liked the twists, I didn't see them coming.
My only complaint is a couple of the characters had the same thoughts on more than one occasion, the repeat added nothing to the story.
I will read more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.