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DCI Ryan Mysteries #21
Death Rocks
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A COINCIDENCE...
When the body of a talented photographer is found on the rocks beneath the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, DCI Ryan and his team of detectives immediately suspect the worst. But, since none of their potential suspects seems to have a motive, the case runs cold.
Then, when another body is found dead on a lonely stretch of road near Hadrian’s Wall and their only suspect has an airtight alibi, the team are faced with another crime without a perpetrator.
With the number of unexplained deaths in the area increasing rapidly and only a series of coincidences to work from, Ryan and his team must find the invisible link between them to crack the case—before it’s too late.
Can Ryan solve his most dangerous case yet?
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
When the body of a talented photographer is found on the rocks beneath the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, DCI Ryan and his team of detectives immediately suspect the worst. But, since none of their potential suspects seems to have a motive, the case runs cold.
Then, when another body is found dead on a lonely stretch of road near Hadrian’s Wall and their only suspect has an airtight alibi, the team are faced with another crime without a perpetrator.
With the number of unexplained deaths in the area increasing rapidly and only a series of coincidences to work from, Ryan and his team must find the invisible link between them to crack the case—before it’s too late.
Can Ryan solve his most dangerous case yet?
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2024
2516 people are currently reading
989 people want to read
About the author
L.J. Ross
58 books3,293 followersLJ Ross is an internationally bestselling author, whose books have sold over 7 million copies worldwide.
Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, a further eighteen of her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and addictive storytelling.
Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong.
The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.
In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.
Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends.
To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.
If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:
https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com
Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, a further eighteen of her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and addictive storytelling.
Her eleventh novel, The Infirmary, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong.
The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.
In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.
Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends.
To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.
If you would like to connect with LJ Ross, she would be very happy to hear from you:
https://www.facebook.com/LJRossAuthor
https://twitter.com/ljross_author
www.lovesuspense.com
lj_ross@outlook.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 492 reviews
November 28, 2025
This eventful crime mystery is the 21th volume of the "DCI Ryan" series, but it has the same pattern as that done by the author with "The Shrine" and "Cuthbert's Way", by writing again a half mystery.
At the start of the book you'll find a phrase about Dan Jurgens's "The Death of Superman".
Storytelling is wonderful, but again this book is a first half of two books for the sequel will be "Poison Garden", the author should have made into one complete book in my opinion, for "Death Rocks itself hardly feature in this story, nevertheless the characters come splendidly to life in this tale about hidden decisions and killings, while the other scenery and history of Northumberland is greatly pictured and described.
The book starts off when the body of a talented photographer, William Harding, is found on the rocks beneath Dunstanburgh Castle, famously known as "Death Rocks".
This death is a hard nut to crack for there are hardly any clues concerning the perpetrator of this murder, and its not long before an innocent woman, Kath Hopkins, is found killed on a lonely road, and so for DCI Ryan and his team, with new addition DC Charlie Reed in their midst, to find the links between these deaths.
What is follow is an incomplete mystery with the mysterious "Circle" back again doing lethal mischief, with Gregson back in the limelight again while in prison, and although a couple of thugs are apprehended for certain deaths in this book, the master spider of the "Circle" still remains at large, although some connections are being made to break this web of evil and death, still unfinished business and thus sadly ending with a unnecessary cliff-hanger.
Recommended to all "DCI Ryan" fans, but for me this is only half a book of this up and down series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Half Finished Rock"!
At the start of the book you'll find a phrase about Dan Jurgens's "The Death of Superman".
Storytelling is wonderful, but again this book is a first half of two books for the sequel will be "Poison Garden", the author should have made into one complete book in my opinion, for "Death Rocks itself hardly feature in this story, nevertheless the characters come splendidly to life in this tale about hidden decisions and killings, while the other scenery and history of Northumberland is greatly pictured and described.
The book starts off when the body of a talented photographer, William Harding, is found on the rocks beneath Dunstanburgh Castle, famously known as "Death Rocks".
This death is a hard nut to crack for there are hardly any clues concerning the perpetrator of this murder, and its not long before an innocent woman, Kath Hopkins, is found killed on a lonely road, and so for DCI Ryan and his team, with new addition DC Charlie Reed in their midst, to find the links between these deaths.
What is follow is an incomplete mystery with the mysterious "Circle" back again doing lethal mischief, with Gregson back in the limelight again while in prison, and although a couple of thugs are apprehended for certain deaths in this book, the master spider of the "Circle" still remains at large, although some connections are being made to break this web of evil and death, still unfinished business and thus sadly ending with a unnecessary cliff-hanger.
Recommended to all "DCI Ryan" fans, but for me this is only half a book of this up and down series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Half Finished Rock"!
April 2, 2024
Well firstly; what an absolute treat to wake up on Saturday, go for a scroll on Facebook to see an announcement that Death Rocks was out in ebook, I always pre order these books but I have to say I quite liked the random surprise and let me tell you, I dropped all my current reads to read this and devoured it all in the same day!
Death Rocks is quite a dark whodunnit full of twists and you can’t forget the added humour which is my favourite - Ryan and Frank are quite the duo!
I was so happy to be back with Ryan, Frank and the rest of the team and their families, having read this whole series I’ve become quite attached to them and this book definitely showed that for me with such a huge twist! I definitely felt ALL the emotions reading this and it had me on the edge of my seat. I am SO excited for book 22, Poison Garden.
The DCI Ryan mysteries always give me the escapism - a massive thank you to Louise for writing incredible stories and I look forward to reading the next book and finding out what happens next, especially after that insane cliff hanger!
Death Rocks is quite a dark whodunnit full of twists and you can’t forget the added humour which is my favourite - Ryan and Frank are quite the duo!
I was so happy to be back with Ryan, Frank and the rest of the team and their families, having read this whole series I’ve become quite attached to them and this book definitely showed that for me with such a huge twist! I definitely felt ALL the emotions reading this and it had me on the edge of my seat. I am SO excited for book 22, Poison Garden.
The DCI Ryan mysteries always give me the escapism - a massive thank you to Louise for writing incredible stories and I look forward to reading the next book and finding out what happens next, especially after that insane cliff hanger!
March 30, 2024
Wow...
No spoilers... A must read, be prepared to hold your breath, laugh & cry. Great plot... Louise has done it again...
No spoilers... A must read, be prepared to hold your breath, laugh & cry. Great plot... Louise has done it again...
April 1, 2024
Overall, not a bad story but not particularly original and the ‘twists’ somewhat predictable, although I can’t say why without spoilers. Nevertheless, fits the bill perfectly for whiling away a wet bank holiday.
There are some rather tortured passages of over-explaining procedural details and clunky insertion of ‘hot-topics’ and current affairs, in what feels like box-ticking rather than plot enrichment or character development e.g. the gendered nature of violent crime, and the impact of the cost of living crisis.
I found repeated reference to ‘smoked kippers’ very irritating. Kippers aren’t smoked - herring are smoked to make kippers.
There are some rather tortured passages of over-explaining procedural details and clunky insertion of ‘hot-topics’ and current affairs, in what feels like box-ticking rather than plot enrichment or character development e.g. the gendered nature of violent crime, and the impact of the cost of living crisis.
I found repeated reference to ‘smoked kippers’ very irritating. Kippers aren’t smoked - herring are smoked to make kippers.
April 7, 2024
Wow, easily the best book I have read in 2 maybe 3 years!
This is going to take a few days to get my thoughts together
Full review to follow.
This is going to take a few days to get my thoughts together
Full review to follow.
June 6, 2024
Good storyline but very short and sweet. Ended on a cliffhanger which could really have been combined with the next book.
July 3, 2024
This book is unfinished. Good story but absolutely no need to end on a cliffhanger when the book is only 250 pages long. These books are getting shorter and shorter. Feels like the author is just in it for the money now.
April 3, 2024
I appreciate that the author needs to address the past history of the characters involved for the benefit of new readers and that one of the strengths of the series is the character development and banter between the team but these aspects take up far too much of the text to the extent they feel like a filler for the first half of the book.
Once the book finally gets going it is classic Ryan and a really great read.
I can't help thinking that Death Rocks and it's forthcoming sequel The Poison Garden would have been better combined into one novel without all the padding.
Once the book finally gets going it is classic Ryan and a really great read.
I can't help thinking that Death Rocks and it's forthcoming sequel The Poison Garden would have been better combined into one novel without all the padding.
March 31, 2024
DCI Ryan doesn’t believe in coincidences, and with a rise in unexplained deaths, the team realise they may be on to something - the only problem is no evidence.
How do you solve murders when the suspects have airtight alibis? The team need to start from the beginning and work their way through, again!
This is a great whodunnit that makes for a compelling read.
There is a good mix of dark, alongside some very funny humour now and then. Poor Frank does manage to drop himself in it somehow, in every single story, but you can’t help but smile at his antics.
Ryan and Anna still have a wonderful relationship plus the added bonus of their beautiful daughter, Emma.
The fabulous thing about these books is that, living in Northumberland, these places are well known. The descriptive writing makes me feel as though I’m seeing them for the very first time.
I did find this story to be emotional at times. After reading these books from the start, I can’t not love the team and their families, they have all grown on me without even realising.
How do you solve murders when the suspects have airtight alibis? The team need to start from the beginning and work their way through, again!
This is a great whodunnit that makes for a compelling read.
There is a good mix of dark, alongside some very funny humour now and then. Poor Frank does manage to drop himself in it somehow, in every single story, but you can’t help but smile at his antics.
Ryan and Anna still have a wonderful relationship plus the added bonus of their beautiful daughter, Emma.
The fabulous thing about these books is that, living in Northumberland, these places are well known. The descriptive writing makes me feel as though I’m seeing them for the very first time.
I did find this story to be emotional at times. After reading these books from the start, I can’t not love the team and their families, they have all grown on me without even realising.
April 3, 2024
Another brilliant crime thriller from LJ Ross.
It’s always good to catch up with Ryan and Frank and the close bond they have as colleagues and friends is clear to see.
There’s some great humour in this book and the more you read this series, it’s like you know the main characters.
In this book there is a very sick and twisted killer who is targeting people and trying to make it look like their deaths were an accident.
Ryan and Frank soon know what they are dealing with, but don’t know who is behind the overall plan.
I won’t say anymore as I really wouldn’t want to spoil the rest of the story.
I can’t wait for the next book….
It’s always good to catch up with Ryan and Frank and the close bond they have as colleagues and friends is clear to see.
There’s some great humour in this book and the more you read this series, it’s like you know the main characters.
In this book there is a very sick and twisted killer who is targeting people and trying to make it look like their deaths were an accident.
Ryan and Frank soon know what they are dealing with, but don’t know who is behind the overall plan.
I won’t say anymore as I really wouldn’t want to spoil the rest of the story.
I can’t wait for the next book….
April 17, 2024
Poor ending
I have so many questions regarding the ending, obviously done for a reason but why did Charles go back to Ryan's home?
I have so many questions regarding the ending, obviously done for a reason but why did Charles go back to Ryan's home?
April 14, 2024
Another great book from this author 😊
April 1, 2024
Absolutely brilliant!
May 27, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Enjoyed the book - enjoyed the geordie slang, and nice characters! And nice to see Northumberland places - learnt many facts !!
3.5 due to bit confused by characters when they sometimes referred to them as there first names and sometimes last names ? Plot towards end picked up and was exciting !
Enjoyed the book - enjoyed the geordie slang, and nice characters! And nice to see Northumberland places - learnt many facts !!
3.5 due to bit confused by characters when they sometimes referred to them as there first names and sometimes last names ? Plot towards end picked up and was exciting !
September 10, 2024
Latest entry in this very enjoyable series of police procedurals. There is just enough of the personal lives and friendships among the team to add a bit of romance, domesticity, and comic relief to the often grisly and heartrending crimes they deal with. The setting in the north of England (similar to that of the Cleeves series and television show Vera) is very well described. The plot in this book may ring a faint bell to Hitchcock film aficionados, but Ross makes it her own. It's best if you go back and start with the first in the series - I envy you beginning this excellent set of books.
June 8, 2024
Is this the best yet from the brilliant? LJ Ross!!
Ryan and his team are back in one of the most challenging cases yet…
I just love the banter and humour between Ryan and Phillips ..
What a twisted plot … people are being murdered, but who buy and who are they being murdered for what I work of genius…
Full of drama, twists tension, and the occasional light-hearted humour. This is one of the very best from a truly brilliant author. !!
Truly magnificent from start to its gripping dramatic jaw, dropping finish …
When I say, I cannot wait for the next instalment, I truly mean I need to know what happens next …
LJ Ross this is truly one of your finest pieces of work, and I have to say the audiobook was absolutely amazing!!
Ryan and his team are back in one of the most challenging cases yet…
I just love the banter and humour between Ryan and Phillips ..
What a twisted plot … people are being murdered, but who buy and who are they being murdered for what I work of genius…
Full of drama, twists tension, and the occasional light-hearted humour. This is one of the very best from a truly brilliant author. !!
Truly magnificent from start to its gripping dramatic jaw, dropping finish …
When I say, I cannot wait for the next instalment, I truly mean I need to know what happens next …
LJ Ross this is truly one of your finest pieces of work, and I have to say the audiobook was absolutely amazing!!
July 2, 2024
Hate to say it but I stopped just after half way, really struggled to get into this book
April 19, 2024
So happy and excited to dive back into a DCI Ryan book and WOW what a book.
I literally shut the world out and devoured it in one sitting, I could not put this down.
It was great to be back with the team, the characters are portrayed so well. I love Frank for his humour but mostly his love of friends and family and that he will do anything for them. I know Ryan is the main character, who is brilliant too, but Frank is just spot on. The humour between him and the team is brilliant.
This was a really, really great read and I cannot praise LJ Ross highly enough. I love her style of writing, so descriptive that I feel like I am there.
Fantastic storyline with an amazing twist that has you on the edge of your seat.
Happy Reading.
I literally shut the world out and devoured it in one sitting, I could not put this down.
It was great to be back with the team, the characters are portrayed so well. I love Frank for his humour but mostly his love of friends and family and that he will do anything for them. I know Ryan is the main character, who is brilliant too, but Frank is just spot on. The humour between him and the team is brilliant.
This was a really, really great read and I cannot praise LJ Ross highly enough. I love her style of writing, so descriptive that I feel like I am there.
Fantastic storyline with an amazing twist that has you on the edge of your seat.
Happy Reading.
April 13, 2024
Unresolved
These books have a few to much of the romance novelist in them - perfect characters who brood too much, for example. But the humor more than makes up for gag-me moments where the main characters seem to fart unicorns and rainbows. The murder mysteries and the police procedural that accompany each book are well worth reading. Unfortunately, the author got tired writing this book and we'll have to read the next one to see how it gets resolved finally.
Well, I guess I'll get back to other things. This ending leaves a lot - and takes a lot. Too bad there wasn't an editor telling the author that the book wasn't over yet.
You'll want to start early in the series so you're aware of all the history, as well. Do not start with this one.
Note this is 21. I've thoroughly enjoyed the prior 20, and will probably read 22. Just to see how it all ends. Start at 1 and by the time you get to 21, 22 will probably already exist. That's my advise. It's well worth the journey, as I've probably said too many times.
These books have a few to much of the romance novelist in them - perfect characters who brood too much, for example. But the humor more than makes up for gag-me moments where the main characters seem to fart unicorns and rainbows. The murder mysteries and the police procedural that accompany each book are well worth reading. Unfortunately, the author got tired writing this book and we'll have to read the next one to see how it gets resolved finally.
Well, I guess I'll get back to other things. This ending leaves a lot - and takes a lot. Too bad there wasn't an editor telling the author that the book wasn't over yet.
You'll want to start early in the series so you're aware of all the history, as well. Do not start with this one.
Note this is 21. I've thoroughly enjoyed the prior 20, and will probably read 22. Just to see how it all ends. Start at 1 and by the time you get to 21, 22 will probably already exist. That's my advise. It's well worth the journey, as I've probably said too many times.
April 3, 2024
Simply superb!
New friends, old foes, Frank being Frank and Ryan as perfect as ever.
Fast paced and brilliant story.
New friends, old foes, Frank being Frank and Ryan as perfect as ever.
Fast paced and brilliant story.
July 8, 2024
I am a huge fan of LJ Ross and have watched her speak on many occasions and have read every page she has written. She has written some exceptional books: Seven Bridges, The Infirmary and Penshaw. There have been some lows along the way but nothing like this. I have read this plot before and seen it on television and film, which is fine but this series, for me, is not set up for the silly suspension of belief offered. Why use a fishing magazine and not the dark web as a medium? Why would real people do this? How could an explosive be there on that morning? Who provides the dossier? So many holes. Even the brilliant characters, which always add at least a star seem annoying. The cloying syrupy goodness - bastion of all that is good - is too annoying here and almost a safe space to fall back on. I will continue to read for the next high. This was not for me.
March 31, 2024
Another brilliant read, not publicised regarding release it was a brilliant Easter to find the next DCI Ryan book had been released, no info, no spoilers but a must for die hard fans and if you’ve yet to discover this amazing series start with the first Holy Island
April 17, 2024
LJ Ross does it again
This is a fantastic new story in the series. I wanted to read it slowly but in the end I couldn't actually put it down. I'm hoping we'll hear more on this particular episode in the life of DCI Ryan, his work, friends and family.
This is a fantastic new story in the series. I wanted to read it slowly but in the end I couldn't actually put it down. I'm hoping we'll hear more on this particular episode in the life of DCI Ryan, his work, friends and family.
June 23, 2024
Really disappointing
April 20, 2024
A good story but once again Ryan’s family are targeted …also the storyline about the murders being carried out by different people is very similar to Steve Cavanagh book …. Kill For me Kill For You
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
Set in the north east
Read this as my first from LJ Ross and I will be reading the rest of this series.
WOW
I have read one book in the series but DCI Ryan has my heart
Read this as my first from LJ Ross and I will be reading the rest of this series.
WOW
I have read one book in the series but DCI Ryan has my heart
January 5, 2026
Just terrible. In every way. Preposterous plot. 21 of them🙀. No words can do my experience justice .
December 1, 2024
This is my all time favourite series and each book just gets better and better.
I loved being back with Ryan, Frank and their families. Each character is so familiar and I loved catching up with each of them. The friendship between Frank & Ryan is just so unique and loveable. I love the camaraderie between them, but you can tell their friendship runs deep, as this was evident at the end of the book.
This storyline had me on the edge of my seat throughout and I went through every emotion possible. I was not expecting the twists at the end and just when I thought things couldn't get worse, they did. I had to put the book down at one point, as I was literally sobbing 😢.
The book ends on such a cliffhanger, that it has me itching to read Poison Garden soon. Another fantastically written story by Louise and I would recommend everyone to pick this series up.
I loved being back with Ryan, Frank and their families. Each character is so familiar and I loved catching up with each of them. The friendship between Frank & Ryan is just so unique and loveable. I love the camaraderie between them, but you can tell their friendship runs deep, as this was evident at the end of the book.
This storyline had me on the edge of my seat throughout and I went through every emotion possible. I was not expecting the twists at the end and just when I thought things couldn't get worse, they did. I had to put the book down at one point, as I was literally sobbing 😢.
The book ends on such a cliffhanger, that it has me itching to read Poison Garden soon. Another fantastically written story by Louise and I would recommend everyone to pick this series up.
August 23, 2024
I relied on my rule of min 4 star before reading this. Seeing it had 4.69 gave me great confidence. Sadly misplaced. I can only assume fans of this series give auto 5 stars. It is truly awful. I laughed out loud but that was not the authors intention! It is so twee that it made me cringe continuously. I can’t believe how popular this series of books is. No plot, no enjoyable characters. Would only read another one if I was on a desert island and this was the only reading material left and then i would probably burn it to keep warm.
June 7, 2024
I found this book a little disappointing. The first half was very slow, little tension in spite of there being two murders. It hotted up a bit towards the end but the ending itself, shocking though it was, didn’t seem to solve much and left me feeling cheated.
Normally I look forward to reading the DCI Ryan mysteries but this time I felt it needed a bit more umph! However looking at the other reviews I seem to be in the minority. I look forward to the next one and hope to be more engaged!
Normally I look forward to reading the DCI Ryan mysteries but this time I felt it needed a bit more umph! However looking at the other reviews I seem to be in the minority. I look forward to the next one and hope to be more engaged!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 492 reviews