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The Ophelia Murders
In a mountain resort in the Scottish Highlands, the body of a young woman is found in a loch, carefully arranged. The murder is vaguely reminiscent of a famous painting.
Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is called in to investigate. Shortly after his arrival, another body is found, but the evidence at the scene is confusing. Is it a murder or a suicide? Are the murders linked? There are too many coincidences, too few suspects and no leads.
After a couple go missing in bad weather, a woman is found dead at the bottom of Devils Ridge. Mountain rescuer Jack Mackay and his daughter, Bonnie, find the dead woman’s husband, miles away on Whistlers Peak Mountain, close to death and incoherent.
No one knows what happened, how he got there, or how his wife died.
But someone saw something.
With deaths stacking up, Scott is led a dance of lies and misdirection until he finally discovers the shocking truth that some secrets are worth killing for.
Murder, suspense, drama and mystery in the first of the Whistlers Peak series.
Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is called in to investigate. Shortly after his arrival, another body is found, but the evidence at the scene is confusing. Is it a murder or a suicide? Are the murders linked? There are too many coincidences, too few suspects and no leads.
After a couple go missing in bad weather, a woman is found dead at the bottom of Devils Ridge. Mountain rescuer Jack Mackay and his daughter, Bonnie, find the dead woman’s husband, miles away on Whistlers Peak Mountain, close to death and incoherent.
No one knows what happened, how he got there, or how his wife died.
But someone saw something.
With deaths stacking up, Scott is led a dance of lies and misdirection until he finally discovers the shocking truth that some secrets are worth killing for.
Murder, suspense, drama and mystery in the first of the Whistlers Peak series.
- GenresThriller
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2025
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Simpson
10 books15 followersJo was born in Essex but was raised primarily in the West Country, enjoying a childhood in Devon and Cornwall, never far from a rugged coastline, sandy beach, or harbour. Her parents moved to the country leaving London and her father leaving his job in banking.
Jo obtained a degree in Building Surveying from the University of Greenwich and then went on to specialise in research in construction and development, gaining her PhD in 2001. Jo still runs a successful research consultancy and writes her novels in every spare moment she has.
Jo lives in Kent, with her two (occasionally stroppy) teenage daughters, her extremely long suffering husband and her two writing partners Max (who features as Brock in the series) and Merlin, both rescue Border Collie’s.
Jo’s debut set of novels are the Castleby series, comprising of 5 books set in a coastal community and largely inspired by the plethora of time spent in and around the UK’s coastline, and the never ending visits to RNLI shops that her children insisted on with a regularity. The series seemed a natural progression and the fictional seaside town of Castleby grew with new people and new plotlines. The first debut novel in the Castleby series is SEA STATE.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-State-Ca...
Jo is currently writing a new series set in the Scottish highlands, the first of which will hopefully be published in Early 2023.
In what little spare time Jo has, she spends writing, walking by the ocean, being an armchair movie critic, and drinking copious amounts of wine in her most favourite pub with friends.
Jo obtained a degree in Building Surveying from the University of Greenwich and then went on to specialise in research in construction and development, gaining her PhD in 2001. Jo still runs a successful research consultancy and writes her novels in every spare moment she has.
Jo lives in Kent, with her two (occasionally stroppy) teenage daughters, her extremely long suffering husband and her two writing partners Max (who features as Brock in the series) and Merlin, both rescue Border Collie’s.
Jo’s debut set of novels are the Castleby series, comprising of 5 books set in a coastal community and largely inspired by the plethora of time spent in and around the UK’s coastline, and the never ending visits to RNLI shops that her children insisted on with a regularity. The series seemed a natural progression and the fictional seaside town of Castleby grew with new people and new plotlines. The first debut novel in the Castleby series is SEA STATE.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-State-Ca...
Jo is currently writing a new series set in the Scottish highlands, the first of which will hopefully be published in Early 2023.
In what little spare time Jo has, she spends writing, walking by the ocean, being an armchair movie critic, and drinking copious amounts of wine in her most favourite pub with friends.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 5, 2025
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint.
The opening pages had me so shocked, the twist right from the start was totally unexpected.
I fell in love with the characters right away, the author makes you get so emotionally invested in their stories, which I adore.
I felt immersed in this Scottish Highland town and felt like I was living with the locals too, this book is so much more than the crime, it’s the people and their stories that really get you hooked.
The crime element was complex to say the least , it had me going back and forth trying to unravel what had happened.
I really can’t wait to read more of this fantastic new series, the author has worked her magic again!
(The ducks melted my heart ♥️ )
The opening pages had me so shocked, the twist right from the start was totally unexpected.
I fell in love with the characters right away, the author makes you get so emotionally invested in their stories, which I adore.
I felt immersed in this Scottish Highland town and felt like I was living with the locals too, this book is so much more than the crime, it’s the people and their stories that really get you hooked.
The crime element was complex to say the least , it had me going back and forth trying to unravel what had happened.
I really can’t wait to read more of this fantastic new series, the author has worked her magic again!
(The ducks melted my heart ♥️ )
July 21, 2025
The Ophelia Murders by J.M. Simpson is the first book in the Whistlers Peak series. Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is sent to a mountain resort in the Scottish Highlands when a young woman's body is found carefully displayed in a loch similar to a previous case many years earlier. Another woman's body is found at the bottom of Devil's Peak, thought to be an accident but as the woman's husband is missing, a search by the mountain rescue team is undertaken. Soon the detective has his hands full with multiple investigations. A superb mystery thriller that I loved everything about- the mystery, drama, settings and characters. I especially enjoyed getting to know all the various characters in this resort town. There is a lot going on, with several rescue missions attempted and the dangers highlighted with multiple injuries and near misses. A lot of relationship problems also emerge along the way. I like detective Hansen who is smart and tenacious, courageous and determined and I'm glad that he has decided to move into the area to stay. Not everything is wrapped up nicely, giving us hints as to what is to follow. This is a book you can't stop reading once you start. A brilliant start to a new series.
March 17, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
Review for 'The Ophelia Murders' by J.M Simpson.
i am going to start my review a bit different to how I normally start them. Do you know when you found THAT AUTHOR, you know THAT ONE, and THAT AUTHOR has written THAT series that you absolutely LOVE with everything you have, from the characters, the locations to the storylines. And you know when THAT author then ENDS, yep ENDS, that series and starts a NEW series. Your heart freezes, you worry, I mean what are you going to do without your beloved characters and your home away from home? Well, ladies and gentleman! JM Simpson did EXACTLY that. I was bewitched, in love, addicted (you get the idea) to her absolutely stunning 'The Castleby Series', if you haven't read those then WHY haven't you read them? Call yourself a crime fan and yet you have never been to Castleby? Tut, tut!! Anyway, my bestest author ever then decides to take Castleby away from me. I read 'Christmas In Castleby' and was heartbroken when it came to an end and I had to say Goodbye. She then lets me know she has started a NEW series called 'The Whistlers Peak Series', of which this is the first book. Well, I tell myself that's great!! I cannot wait to get into it! However, how the heck am I going to love it as much as Castleby, Foxy and Solo, Maggie, Rudi and I could go on. Well, there is no chance is there? i mean how can you beat the unbeatable? How can she even match it? Well I said I would read it, i am sure I will love it but what I withheld is that I was dubious to how I could love Whistlers Peak, Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen, Jack Mackay and the rest as much as I loved The Castleby Gang. Well, well, well let me ask YOU, yes YOU JO, what sort of magic have you got going brewing? How did you do it?? How on Earth HAVE YOU created a second series JUST as amazing as Castleby with characters that I have already fallen for? You, lady, have some incredible talent and I just hope you are using it RIGHT NOW writing the next book in this series as I NEED, NEED, NEED it!!! Thankfully, I have no idea how, but I have actually yet to read a couple of books in The Castleby series so you have until THEN to have the next book in this series in my hands or I will have to hunt you down and do a 'Misery' on you!!! I mean as you could, possibly, maybe be able to tell I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this STUNNING MUST READ book and explosive start to another guaranteed epic series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the stunning 'Whistlers Peak'!! Congratulations Jo on yet ANOTHER absolute stunning masterpiece!!! It does not matter what I am reading when Jo drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for an addictive new series to sink your teeth into with a storyline filled with crime, ducks, hot characters, stunning settings, dogs and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! Once you have finished this absolute gorgeous book, fallen in love with JM Simpson and this series you are in luck as if you LOVED this book then head over to her Castleby series where you will meet another group of amazing characters and more stunning settings while you are waiting for Jo to SHIFT HER BUTT and bring the next book out in this series!!
This book an absolutely gorgeous, addictive and explosive introduction to what absolutely promises to be another amazing, addictive and EPIC new series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read by this amazing author. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Jo's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this book when I started reading it and I am just so glad as I know Whistlers Peak is going to be just like Castleby, a much loved holiday destination that when I am transported to it I will not want to leave!! I would never have thought it possible each book is better and better than the last. I mean, seriously Jo!! How do you even make an absolutely amazing series even better than the previous books and series when I love each of them so much!! Whistlers Peak has genuinely become a much loved holiday destination immediately that is filled with new friends that I have made immediately. It already feels just like cuddling up under my favourite blanket being warmed by everything I love and know!! Words are not even enough to express how much I love JM Simpsons books and how devastated I am to come to the end of each one and have to say Goodbye to these amazing friends and 'The Ophelia Murders' has given me exactly the same feeling as The Castleby series books. The one thing that I am extremely grateful for is that for some unbeknown reason I still have not gotten around to reading book 1 in this series which is called 'Sea State' and book 2 in this series which is called 'Sea Change' from 'The Castleby Series' as I can now get them and read them while I am eagerly and very impatiently waiting for the next book in this stunning series. When you grab this gorgeous book Jo will transport you to Scotland and into 'Whistlers Peak' where a woman's body is discovered in Ballamore and 33 year old Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is sent in to investigate. Scott moves in to a hotel for a while during the investigation. Scott meets his new team which includes the absolutely useless and irritating Murdo Brennan and the lovely, young but eager to please Rooney, the lovely and kind local GP Ruth Kinear, pathologist Dr Hector Mactavish (Hagrid) who has a wicked sense of humour and his APT Willy. While Scott tries to solve the case of the murdered girl, he has to settle down into Whistlers Peak permanently, put up with the advances of Louisa Whyte as well as discovering something about his long term girlfriend Nicola. We also meet 40 year old Jack Mackay who owns the water sports centre, café and cycle business along with being part of the mountain rescue team. Jack has just buried his wife Fee who was the deputy head at the local school and is mourning her death along with their daughter 17 year old Bonnie. Thankfully he is close friends with Ruth and her husband Tom as well as their children Annie and Will so they help support each other through difficult times. Jack's brother Gabriel helps with the business Whistlers but spends more time flirting with customers than serving them. Jack is busy with the rest of the mountain team when they discover the body of Rebecca Wallis at the bottom of the Peak and her unconscious husband Mark Wallis who is meant to be starting work with Ruth. Jack also meets new mountain ranger Mercy Fletcher who is covering for Gordon who had to leave due to his wife's dementia. Will Scott discover the killer before they strike again? Will Jack and his team be able to save Mark? Well, if you want to know more you will have to grab your copy of this absolutely action packed and explosive page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!!! You may even discover your new favourite author and series!! This amazing book has shot to my favourite book of the year and when you read it I am sure you will feel the same. I could go on forever about this amazing book but you just HAVE to read this EPIC page turner yourself!!! An emotionally packed page turner which will have you angry, fearful, on edge, smiling, laughing, happy, sad and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while watching crime, heartache, cute ducks, sweet dogs, friendship, rescue, community, twists and turns and everything you could ask for in an action packed thriller!!! Jo does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the multiple protagonists storylines together at just the perfect time to not give anything away while giving the reader a bigger picture of what is going on. The fact that Jo truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and Jo's evocative descriptions!! You truly cannot ask for a better book filled with exceptional characters!! Jo does an incredible job of weaving difficult topics such as cancer, dementia and death into an incredible storyline and treating each topic sensitivity while still highlighting the difficulties of each. The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Jo!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Jo's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end. However, she also leaves it on one hell of a cliff hanger which leaves you needing to know more about this characters plans!!! It is a huge annoyance when authors mentions something in books but then seem to forget about it and I never found out what happened to x, y or z but I never have this problem with Jo's books thankfully!! One of the other things I love about this book and series is that although they are predominantly crime thrillers is the fact that Jo literally had me spitting out my tea laughing so many times I lost count!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Jo has the balance perfectly. I mean honestly the interactions between several of the characters just had me in absolute stitches!!!! The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Jo's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. The descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself hearing the waves, smelling the cold and fresh mountain air and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, crime, animals, trauma, death, romance, fun, laughter, friendship, community and filled with twists and turns. The storyline is realistic and unique and I absolutely LOVED the stunning atmosphere at Whistlers Peak!! There was so much going on in this book that it doesn't give you a minute to get bored, or able you to put the book down!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! Jo manages to weave the story lines of all the characters romantic, criminal, stressful, fun and action packed lives together ensuring the reader can go from what one character is doing to another without any worry of confusion. I am still waiting and wishing that this stunning book series and Castleby gets turned into a TV series although it already plays like one in my head every time I return!!
WARNING ⚠ DO NOT START THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS THIS BOOK IS ADDICTIVE!!!!
I love that there are so many amazing, unique and colourful characters in Whistlers Peak and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives immediately. Although I still miss my Castleby gang these ones are definitely filing the gap that they left!! I loved getting to know each and every single one of them. I really cannot wait to read the next books in this absolutely amazing series. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. There was the perfect amount of friendship and romance sprinkled throughout to ensure some light-hearted moments in between the crime and darker times. It is an addictive book filled with romance, crime, mystery, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a stunning page turner! If you want to know more you need to grab your copy today. I love the strong female role models, the hunky men and the stunning atmosphere, I just love everything about Whistlers Peak and am missing it already!! I also LOVE the fact that Jack has ducks following him around and a sweet black lab called Kipper. The fact that it was filled with animals is right down my street being a huge animal lover myself. I run my own animal rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice which you can find on social media so any books that contain animals always get bonus points from me and this book is filled with them! There are just so many amazing and memorable characters that I really could go on and on but if you've made it this far as it is I will say congratulations and end it very shortly for you by saying if you haven't met these amazing people yet then you really do want to grab a copy of this or any of the other beautiful books by Jo and get ready to make some amazing new friends today!!! Congratulations Jo on creating another amazing group of larger than life, amazing and unforgettable characters!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite 3 author list and this is one of my top 3 book series!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller by Jo and an absolutely explosive start to this new and addictive series that will keep you up all night.
@JMSimpson @JMSimpsonAuthor
#TheOpheliaMurders #WhistlersPeak #JMSimpson #JMSimpsonAuthor
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Review for 'The Ophelia Murders' by J.M Simpson.
i am going to start my review a bit different to how I normally start them. Do you know when you found THAT AUTHOR, you know THAT ONE, and THAT AUTHOR has written THAT series that you absolutely LOVE with everything you have, from the characters, the locations to the storylines. And you know when THAT author then ENDS, yep ENDS, that series and starts a NEW series. Your heart freezes, you worry, I mean what are you going to do without your beloved characters and your home away from home? Well, ladies and gentleman! JM Simpson did EXACTLY that. I was bewitched, in love, addicted (you get the idea) to her absolutely stunning 'The Castleby Series', if you haven't read those then WHY haven't you read them? Call yourself a crime fan and yet you have never been to Castleby? Tut, tut!! Anyway, my bestest author ever then decides to take Castleby away from me. I read 'Christmas In Castleby' and was heartbroken when it came to an end and I had to say Goodbye. She then lets me know she has started a NEW series called 'The Whistlers Peak Series', of which this is the first book. Well, I tell myself that's great!! I cannot wait to get into it! However, how the heck am I going to love it as much as Castleby, Foxy and Solo, Maggie, Rudi and I could go on. Well, there is no chance is there? i mean how can you beat the unbeatable? How can she even match it? Well I said I would read it, i am sure I will love it but what I withheld is that I was dubious to how I could love Whistlers Peak, Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen, Jack Mackay and the rest as much as I loved The Castleby Gang. Well, well, well let me ask YOU, yes YOU JO, what sort of magic have you got going brewing? How did you do it?? How on Earth HAVE YOU created a second series JUST as amazing as Castleby with characters that I have already fallen for? You, lady, have some incredible talent and I just hope you are using it RIGHT NOW writing the next book in this series as I NEED, NEED, NEED it!!! Thankfully, I have no idea how, but I have actually yet to read a couple of books in The Castleby series so you have until THEN to have the next book in this series in my hands or I will have to hunt you down and do a 'Misery' on you!!! I mean as you could, possibly, maybe be able to tell I absolutely love, Love, LOVE this STUNNING MUST READ book and explosive start to another guaranteed epic series, the characters, the storyline and just absolutely everything about the stunning 'Whistlers Peak'!! Congratulations Jo on yet ANOTHER absolute stunning masterpiece!!! It does not matter what I am reading when Jo drops a book I drop everything to read it! Sod reading the synopsis when I know I will absolutely LOVE it!! If you are looking for an addictive new series to sink your teeth into with a storyline filled with crime, ducks, hot characters, stunning settings, dogs and so, SO much more stuff wasting your time reading what I have written when you can be reading so much better in this series and book!! Once you have finished this absolute gorgeous book, fallen in love with JM Simpson and this series you are in luck as if you LOVED this book then head over to her Castleby series where you will meet another group of amazing characters and more stunning settings while you are waiting for Jo to SHIFT HER BUTT and bring the next book out in this series!!
This book an absolutely gorgeous, addictive and explosive introduction to what absolutely promises to be another amazing, addictive and EPIC new series! However, I cannot say I am surprised as I have absolutely loved each book I have read by this amazing author. I do not even bother reading the synopsis of Jo's books before I start reading as I know I will love it whatever the back says!! I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the stunning settings, the storyline and just absolutely everything about this book when I started reading it and I am just so glad as I know Whistlers Peak is going to be just like Castleby, a much loved holiday destination that when I am transported to it I will not want to leave!! I would never have thought it possible each book is better and better than the last. I mean, seriously Jo!! How do you even make an absolutely amazing series even better than the previous books and series when I love each of them so much!! Whistlers Peak has genuinely become a much loved holiday destination immediately that is filled with new friends that I have made immediately. It already feels just like cuddling up under my favourite blanket being warmed by everything I love and know!! Words are not even enough to express how much I love JM Simpsons books and how devastated I am to come to the end of each one and have to say Goodbye to these amazing friends and 'The Ophelia Murders' has given me exactly the same feeling as The Castleby series books. The one thing that I am extremely grateful for is that for some unbeknown reason I still have not gotten around to reading book 1 in this series which is called 'Sea State' and book 2 in this series which is called 'Sea Change' from 'The Castleby Series' as I can now get them and read them while I am eagerly and very impatiently waiting for the next book in this stunning series. When you grab this gorgeous book Jo will transport you to Scotland and into 'Whistlers Peak' where a woman's body is discovered in Ballamore and 33 year old Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is sent in to investigate. Scott moves in to a hotel for a while during the investigation. Scott meets his new team which includes the absolutely useless and irritating Murdo Brennan and the lovely, young but eager to please Rooney, the lovely and kind local GP Ruth Kinear, pathologist Dr Hector Mactavish (Hagrid) who has a wicked sense of humour and his APT Willy. While Scott tries to solve the case of the murdered girl, he has to settle down into Whistlers Peak permanently, put up with the advances of Louisa Whyte as well as discovering something about his long term girlfriend Nicola. We also meet 40 year old Jack Mackay who owns the water sports centre, café and cycle business along with being part of the mountain rescue team. Jack has just buried his wife Fee who was the deputy head at the local school and is mourning her death along with their daughter 17 year old Bonnie. Thankfully he is close friends with Ruth and her husband Tom as well as their children Annie and Will so they help support each other through difficult times. Jack's brother Gabriel helps with the business Whistlers but spends more time flirting with customers than serving them. Jack is busy with the rest of the mountain team when they discover the body of Rebecca Wallis at the bottom of the Peak and her unconscious husband Mark Wallis who is meant to be starting work with Ruth. Jack also meets new mountain ranger Mercy Fletcher who is covering for Gordon who had to leave due to his wife's dementia. Will Scott discover the killer before they strike again? Will Jack and his team be able to save Mark? Well, if you want to know more you will have to grab your copy of this absolutely action packed and explosive page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!!! You may even discover your new favourite author and series!! This amazing book has shot to my favourite book of the year and when you read it I am sure you will feel the same. I could go on forever about this amazing book but you just HAVE to read this EPIC page turner yourself!!! An emotionally packed page turner which will have you angry, fearful, on edge, smiling, laughing, happy, sad and make you feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while watching crime, heartache, cute ducks, sweet dogs, friendship, rescue, community, twists and turns and everything you could ask for in an action packed thriller!!! Jo does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the multiple protagonists storylines together at just the perfect time to not give anything away while giving the reader a bigger picture of what is going on. The fact that Jo truly does care for these amazing characters leaps out of the pages in their incredible character development and Jo's evocative descriptions!! You truly cannot ask for a better book filled with exceptional characters!! Jo does an incredible job of weaving difficult topics such as cancer, dementia and death into an incredible storyline and treating each topic sensitivity while still highlighting the difficulties of each. The twist at the end left me absolutely gob smacked, I mean my jaw was hitting the floor!!! There was no way on Earth I would ever seen that one coming!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Jo!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me after reading hundreds of thrillers and crime books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I also want to say that even though there is so much going on at no point did I get confused which is an absolute credit to Jo's fantastic writing skills but she also wrapped everything up perfectly in the end. However, she also leaves it on one hell of a cliff hanger which leaves you needing to know more about this characters plans!!! It is a huge annoyance when authors mentions something in books but then seem to forget about it and I never found out what happened to x, y or z but I never have this problem with Jo's books thankfully!! One of the other things I love about this book and series is that although they are predominantly crime thrillers is the fact that Jo literally had me spitting out my tea laughing so many times I lost count!!! It is always nice to have humour thrown into books filled with darkness to lighten the atmosphere and Jo has the balance perfectly. I mean honestly the interactions between several of the characters just had me in absolute stitches!!!! The location , characters, descriptions are all just absolutely perfect with Jo's evocative writing skills bringing absolutely everything and everyone to life right in front of the readers eyes!! This book is fantastically written and had me hooked from the first page until the last. The descriptions were so vivid and realistic I felt myself hearing the waves, smelling the cold and fresh mountain air and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is packed with tension, suspense, crime, animals, trauma, death, romance, fun, laughter, friendship, community and filled with twists and turns. The storyline is realistic and unique and I absolutely LOVED the stunning atmosphere at Whistlers Peak!! There was so much going on in this book that it doesn't give you a minute to get bored, or able you to put the book down!!! I gave up counting how many times I told myself one more chapter just to HAVE to know what happened next as this happened over and over until I ended up devouring the whole book in one sitting!!! Jo manages to weave the story lines of all the characters romantic, criminal, stressful, fun and action packed lives together ensuring the reader can go from what one character is doing to another without any worry of confusion. I am still waiting and wishing that this stunning book series and Castleby gets turned into a TV series although it already plays like one in my head every time I return!!
WARNING ⚠ DO NOT START THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS THIS BOOK IS ADDICTIVE!!!!
I love that there are so many amazing, unique and colourful characters in Whistlers Peak and I became completely invested in each and every one of their lives immediately. Although I still miss my Castleby gang these ones are definitely filing the gap that they left!! I loved getting to know each and every single one of them. I really cannot wait to read the next books in this absolutely amazing series. The characters were all realistic and it was lovely to watch all the different relationships and friendships between different characters develop and grow. There was the perfect amount of friendship and romance sprinkled throughout to ensure some light-hearted moments in between the crime and darker times. It is an addictive book filled with romance, crime, mystery, suspense and absolutely everything you could ask for in a stunning page turner! If you want to know more you need to grab your copy today. I love the strong female role models, the hunky men and the stunning atmosphere, I just love everything about Whistlers Peak and am missing it already!! I also LOVE the fact that Jack has ducks following him around and a sweet black lab called Kipper. The fact that it was filled with animals is right down my street being a huge animal lover myself. I run my own animal rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice which you can find on social media so any books that contain animals always get bonus points from me and this book is filled with them! There are just so many amazing and memorable characters that I really could go on and on but if you've made it this far as it is I will say congratulations and end it very shortly for you by saying if you haven't met these amazing people yet then you really do want to grab a copy of this or any of the other beautiful books by Jo and get ready to make some amazing new friends today!!! Congratulations Jo on creating another amazing group of larger than life, amazing and unforgettable characters!!!
Congratulations Jo on yet another huge success!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and this is exactly why you are on my favourite 3 author list and this is one of my top 3 book series!!! Here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall YET AGAIN, another absolutely addictive, heart racing and unputdownable crime thriller by Jo and an absolutely explosive start to this new and addictive series that will keep you up all night.
@JMSimpson @JMSimpsonAuthor
#TheOpheliaMurders #WhistlersPeak #JMSimpson #JMSimpsonAuthor
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March 6, 2025
Another corker of a book by J M Simpson. With hints of the Castleby style community this new Whistler's Peak series introduces some fabulous characters and their interactions are brilliantly written. A great murder mystery and so much more. I need the next instalment and soon !
March 14, 2025
The Ophelia Murders • J. M. Simpson
★★★★
Looking for your next thriller obsession? Look no further!
🪷 Scottish Highlands setting
🪷 Crime, suspense, drama & mystery
🪷 Strong community vibes
🪷 So many twists
A young woman’s body is found carefully arranged in a loch, reminiscent of the Ophelia painting. During the investigation, bodies begin to pile up, secrets begin to spill, and connections are made between deaths. Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen only has to answer the question, what secrets are worth killing for?
This is one of those books that I stayed up until 2am reading. It was unputdownable, tremendously engaging, and plotted with the calculating manner of a person who wants to deliver an absolute corker of a crime story. It’s both straightforward in its telling and yet complex in its layers. There’s a strong sense of community that brings about an emotional investment that is rarely found in crime books. The anticipation starting it was real, and the hangover after finishing it was even more so. I eagerly await the next in this new series.
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★★★★
Looking for your next thriller obsession? Look no further!
🪷 Scottish Highlands setting
🪷 Crime, suspense, drama & mystery
🪷 Strong community vibes
🪷 So many twists
A young woman’s body is found carefully arranged in a loch, reminiscent of the Ophelia painting. During the investigation, bodies begin to pile up, secrets begin to spill, and connections are made between deaths. Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen only has to answer the question, what secrets are worth killing for?
This is one of those books that I stayed up until 2am reading. It was unputdownable, tremendously engaging, and plotted with the calculating manner of a person who wants to deliver an absolute corker of a crime story. It’s both straightforward in its telling and yet complex in its layers. There’s a strong sense of community that brings about an emotional investment that is rarely found in crime books. The anticipation starting it was real, and the hangover after finishing it was even more so. I eagerly await the next in this new series.
I’m active on instagram 💖
March 6, 2025
4.5/5! This was an unputdownable book once again from J.M. Simpson. There were so many twists and turns, and so much suspicion! And the ending? Wild! I need book 2 asap!
March 2, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the previous series by this author so I was really excited to read this is first book in her new Whistler’s Peak Series. I can whole heartedly say I was not disappointed. This new series is shaping up to be even better than the previous one, if that’s even possible. The Ophelia Murders introduces us to a host of fantastic new characters. Scott Hansen is the new detective in town, having been sent to the small village of Whistlers Peak when a young woman’s body is found in a nearby loch. When he arrives, the case becomes even more complicated when yet another dead body is discovered by mountain rescue, along with a badly injured man, the husband of the dead woman, who claims she fell from the notorious Devil’s Ridge. However, things don’t seem to add up for Scott. As the bodies pile up, Scott has to use all of his detective skills to try to get to the bottom of what is going on in this luxury ski resort. I really liked the atmosphere of this story. Set in the highlands of Scotland, one of my favourite places to visit, in the midst of winter, the weather and the isolated location add to the feel and enjoyment of this compelling story. The important characters in the story are brilliant. I really liked the way they were all so close. It was the closeness of a small community where everyone had lived for a very long time that shone through. How they all supported each other and looked out for one another. They were also very welcoming to newcomer Scott. I really liked Scott. He came across as very intelligent, personable and a very skilled detective. I also liked the characters of Ruth and Jack. Their friendship, rooted in their love for Fee, was great. The story was full of twists and surprising moments as well. I certainly did not suspect the actual killer of the young woman found in the loch to be who it turned out to be. I certainly didn't see that coming! It was a big surprise. The story was filled with surprises and shocks. It really had me guessing all the way to the end. I thought it was a quite different story in that there were actually two different, unrelated cases being investigated in tandem. I don’t think I’ve run across that before. It added to the intensity and engagement of the story. I can’t wait to see where this series goes in the future. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The author has a great talent for creating fabulously enjoyable reads.
April 1, 2025
The first book in a brand new series called The Whistler's Peak. J.M.Simpson introduces us to a new setting and exceptional characters in The Ophelia Murders.
Set in the Scottish Highlands, this story begins with a shock and keeps on going the same way. I have to say I feel a tad bias when I read anything by this author. Since I first read her Castleby series, I have no need to check blurbs before I start to read.
As always, this author brings characters that you can imagine so clearly. No one is totally perfect, and they are all multi layered just as they should be. It took me no time at all to feel like I had known these characters forever. I could easily imagine I was with Ruth while she traversed a marriage that is in a storm smashing into every rock it could find. There are some characters I wanted to get violent with because they are so horrible in ways I am not going to explain. Read the book! Such an eclectic mix of characters most certainly added so much.
The story is one packed with suspense and many twists. I didn't see them coming, and that just topped this stellar read off for me. I really didn't want to stop reading and begrudginly tore myself away in order to feed my child! The pages flew by, and I finished reading way too soon! That ending, though! I have to have the second book soon!!! I can't wait to return to The Whistler's Peak series!
Thanks to Jo Simpson for my gifted copy of the book to write my honest review.
Set in the Scottish Highlands, this story begins with a shock and keeps on going the same way. I have to say I feel a tad bias when I read anything by this author. Since I first read her Castleby series, I have no need to check blurbs before I start to read.
As always, this author brings characters that you can imagine so clearly. No one is totally perfect, and they are all multi layered just as they should be. It took me no time at all to feel like I had known these characters forever. I could easily imagine I was with Ruth while she traversed a marriage that is in a storm smashing into every rock it could find. There are some characters I wanted to get violent with because they are so horrible in ways I am not going to explain. Read the book! Such an eclectic mix of characters most certainly added so much.
The story is one packed with suspense and many twists. I didn't see them coming, and that just topped this stellar read off for me. I really didn't want to stop reading and begrudginly tore myself away in order to feed my child! The pages flew by, and I finished reading way too soon! That ending, though! I have to have the second book soon!!! I can't wait to return to The Whistler's Peak series!
Thanks to Jo Simpson for my gifted copy of the book to write my honest review.
November 9, 2025
The first in the new Whistlers Peak series, The Ophelia Murders drew me in straight away with its chilling opening and stunning Highland setting. A young woman’s body is found in a loch, eerily posed to echo a famous painting, and from there the story only gets darker.
Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is called in to investigate, but before he can make sense of one murder, another death complicates everything. Then a missing couple, a storm in the mountains, and a discovery that had me glued to the pages - this book really doesn’t let up!
I loved how the police investigation weaves together with the mountain rescue scenes, that element adds real tension to the story - you can almost feel the icy wind and the danger of every climb. The setting feels beautifully Scottish but also properly unsettling. Let’s just say Whistlers Peak is not somewhere I’d want to move to - far too many bodies turning up in those hills for my liking!
It’s the kind of crime novel that keeps you guessing right to the end, with twists that actually surprise you and characters you want to see more of. A brilliant start to what promises to be a gripping new series.
Atmospheric, twisty and packed with tension - The Ophelia Murders is perfect for fans of crime fiction!
Detective Sergeant Scott Hansen is called in to investigate, but before he can make sense of one murder, another death complicates everything. Then a missing couple, a storm in the mountains, and a discovery that had me glued to the pages - this book really doesn’t let up!
I loved how the police investigation weaves together with the mountain rescue scenes, that element adds real tension to the story - you can almost feel the icy wind and the danger of every climb. The setting feels beautifully Scottish but also properly unsettling. Let’s just say Whistlers Peak is not somewhere I’d want to move to - far too many bodies turning up in those hills for my liking!
It’s the kind of crime novel that keeps you guessing right to the end, with twists that actually surprise you and characters you want to see more of. A brilliant start to what promises to be a gripping new series.
Atmospheric, twisty and packed with tension - The Ophelia Murders is perfect for fans of crime fiction!
October 17, 2025
Book 1 in the new Whistlers Peak series set in the fictional area of Whistlers Peak in the Scottish Highlands. DS Scott Hansen, early 30’s and very good looking, is called in to investigate the death of a woman in a loch. Her body appears to have been staged. A fantastic setting for this new series and a main character I liked a lot.
Briefly, shortly after Scott’s arrival another body is found having apparently fallen from a peak, and her husband is missing. So with two dead bodies and a missing person Scott could do without the added problems around his personal life; having ditched his girlfriend who was cheating on him Scott is being romantically pursued by a local girl. The village is mourning the natural death of a much loved villager but within the community there are a whole host of secrets creating drama after drama.
With a whole host of largely likeable characters Scott is struggling to work out who is really genuine and whether there is a cold blooded killer hidden in plain sight. The plot is excellent and I was completely blindsided by the identity of the killer. All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining read and I look forward to Book 2.
Briefly, shortly after Scott’s arrival another body is found having apparently fallen from a peak, and her husband is missing. So with two dead bodies and a missing person Scott could do without the added problems around his personal life; having ditched his girlfriend who was cheating on him Scott is being romantically pursued by a local girl. The village is mourning the natural death of a much loved villager but within the community there are a whole host of secrets creating drama after drama.
With a whole host of largely likeable characters Scott is struggling to work out who is really genuine and whether there is a cold blooded killer hidden in plain sight. The plot is excellent and I was completely blindsided by the identity of the killer. All in all a very enjoyable and entertaining read and I look forward to Book 2.
April 20, 2025
I loved the Castleby series by J. M. Simpson so I was really excited for a new series set in a mountain resort in the Scottish Highlands.
Scott Hansen is a detective sergeant called to the area to investigate the death of a woman found in a loch, very carefully arranged to look like a famous painting. More untoward things happen and deaths start piling up. Are these connected? And if so, how? We follow along with Scott's investigation but also with the goings-on with some of the residents lives.
My favourite thing about J. M. Simpson's books are a) the settings. I absolutely feel like I am there and living it, and b) the cast of characters. Sometimes when I start a new series I get a bit confused with who everyone is but I was instantly intrigued by them all.
There is so much going on in this novel that you are forced to keep reading to see where it is going to go. I am so happy that this is a series because I am already excited to see what happens next. *cough* especially with you Mark Wallis *cough*.
Scott Hansen is a detective sergeant called to the area to investigate the death of a woman found in a loch, very carefully arranged to look like a famous painting. More untoward things happen and deaths start piling up. Are these connected? And if so, how? We follow along with Scott's investigation but also with the goings-on with some of the residents lives.
My favourite thing about J. M. Simpson's books are a) the settings. I absolutely feel like I am there and living it, and b) the cast of characters. Sometimes when I start a new series I get a bit confused with who everyone is but I was instantly intrigued by them all.
There is so much going on in this novel that you are forced to keep reading to see where it is going to go. I am so happy that this is a series because I am already excited to see what happens next. *cough* especially with you Mark Wallis *cough*.
April 7, 2025
‘The Ophelia Murders’ by JM Simpson is a great start to a new series called the Whistlers Peak series that is set in Scotland.
Bodies keep turning up in the great crime novel and the characters in the book take you along in the rollercoaster of a journey.
This novel introduces you to a whole range of characters and those new to and old friends to JM Simpson books will not be disappointed.
This writer has a great strength in their characters and the great plot lines. There is also amazing settings to the books and this one is set in an area near the Scottish Highlands.
For development of characters, the writing remains me of Colin Dexter books and for the settings there is a comparison to Ann Cleeves. Thats not to say the writing isn’t original as it is.
For me JM Simpson’s books highlight what gems are out there in indie books.
I absolutely loved this start to a new series and highly recommend.
Thanks to JM Simpson for allowing me to read in return for a review.
Bodies keep turning up in the great crime novel and the characters in the book take you along in the rollercoaster of a journey.
This novel introduces you to a whole range of characters and those new to and old friends to JM Simpson books will not be disappointed.
This writer has a great strength in their characters and the great plot lines. There is also amazing settings to the books and this one is set in an area near the Scottish Highlands.
For development of characters, the writing remains me of Colin Dexter books and for the settings there is a comparison to Ann Cleeves. Thats not to say the writing isn’t original as it is.
For me JM Simpson’s books highlight what gems are out there in indie books.
I absolutely loved this start to a new series and highly recommend.
Thanks to JM Simpson for allowing me to read in return for a review.
April 22, 2025
I loved every second reading this cracker of a book. The first in a new series set in the Scottish Highlands.
Scott is sent to investigate the mysterious murder of a young woman found artfully arranged in a Loch. Then another body is found, the reader is present for that murder although you never know who is behind it. It does make you look at one character different and almost want to scream at others NO!
It also follows Jack and his daughter Molly, his sister Ruth, her two kids and husband.
There are various subplots that all work brilliantly to add to the characters story and make it a gripping read.
The setting of the mountains, with its suffocating snowfall, contrasted with the beautiful loch made a character in itself.
I loved the small community vibe, and the inclusion of the mountain rescue team.
There are a couple of quite shocking and unusual surprises in this. I never saw them coming.
Read this cover to cover in a day and am eagerly awaiting book 2.
Scott is sent to investigate the mysterious murder of a young woman found artfully arranged in a Loch. Then another body is found, the reader is present for that murder although you never know who is behind it. It does make you look at one character different and almost want to scream at others NO!
It also follows Jack and his daughter Molly, his sister Ruth, her two kids and husband.
There are various subplots that all work brilliantly to add to the characters story and make it a gripping read.
The setting of the mountains, with its suffocating snowfall, contrasted with the beautiful loch made a character in itself.
I loved the small community vibe, and the inclusion of the mountain rescue team.
There are a couple of quite shocking and unusual surprises in this. I never saw them coming.
Read this cover to cover in a day and am eagerly awaiting book 2.
February 25, 2025
The Ophelia Murders by JM Simpson
Wow, wow, wow. When I tell you Jo could write a phone book and I would read it, I am not being dramatic. This brilliant woman knows how to tell an all-encompassing story.
Everything about this brand-new series is brilliant: the scenery, the characters, the sass, the humor, the intensity. Jo can set a scene like no other author I’ve read. I felt like I was in the mountains, feeling the breeze and chill from the snow.
The characters in this book will captivate you from their introduction. I cannot wait to connect with them again. This series has such a solid foundation and start. I devoured 90% of this novel in a single afternoon. I could not read fast enough.
I’m ready for book two… I have to know what happens next!
Publication: March 5, 2025
#KatyApproved
Wow, wow, wow. When I tell you Jo could write a phone book and I would read it, I am not being dramatic. This brilliant woman knows how to tell an all-encompassing story.
Everything about this brand-new series is brilliant: the scenery, the characters, the sass, the humor, the intensity. Jo can set a scene like no other author I’ve read. I felt like I was in the mountains, feeling the breeze and chill from the snow.
The characters in this book will captivate you from their introduction. I cannot wait to connect with them again. This series has such a solid foundation and start. I devoured 90% of this novel in a single afternoon. I could not read fast enough.
I’m ready for book two… I have to know what happens next!
Publication: March 5, 2025
#KatyApproved
March 3, 2025
Wow, JM Simpson has written a brilliant start to a new series called Whistler's Peak. We meet along the way, Jack MacKay, his daughter Bonnie, Dr Ruth Kinnear, her children Will and Annie, her husband Tom, and DS Scott Hansen. Scott is sent by his Detective Superintendent to investigate a mysterious incident of a dead body floating in the local loch. The characters are so descriptive and I felt so invested in them by the end of the book, that I look forward to meeting them again. The location set in the Highlands of Scotland was an amazing place to set this series in! I loved the community and how close they are to each other and so welcoming to newcomers to the village. I loved that the Mountain Rescue, which is vital in real life, is a part of the plotlines. All the subplots weave together to a surprising conclusion. More please!!
April 21, 2025
The Ophelia Murders was a book I couldn’t put down. As with J M Simpson's Castleby series, I was instantly drawn into the plot, subplot, setting, and the fantastic characters. I guarantee, the first chapter will have you hooked, and from there, the story just gets better and better. There are moments which tug at the heartstrings. Sensitive issues, some disturbing, yet these are tackled so well by Jo that they increase the potency of the narrative. I could just picture myself in the small Scottish town of Ballamore. With the sweeping mountainous scenery, the lochs and harsh climate, which is both frightening and unforgiving. The Ophelia Murders will leave you eager for the next in the series. I hope we don’t have to wait too long!
March 29, 2025
Characters are amazing, although I did find Ruth a pretty dense for a GP in the 21st century. The book opens with 2 murder; one a whodunnit the other a “how long will it take everyone else to figure it out” because you know who did it from the get go. Great plot until the end that isn’t. I don’t like cliffhangers in books, TV series okay, books no, hence the 3 stars - otherwise it would have been a 4. Not sure I’ll read the next one when it comes out,I’ll have moved on by then.
March 2, 2025
One word - wow!!
I am a huge fan of J M Simpson's writing style, criminal plots and the Castleby series so The Ophelia Murders was top of my anticipated reads list and it did not disappoint! If you're looking for a book full to the brim with love, lies, deciet, grief, deadly twists, mystery, and (most importantly) MURDER, then this is the perfect book for you.
The Scottish Highlands, a rescue team, a new Detective Sergeant and murders that shock everyone to their cores.
Based in the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Highlands, home to loyal friends and a community where everyone knows everyone, more grisly murders are being commited and Scott (the new Detective Sergeant assigned to the area) is shaking up the town. Scott is trying to solve the murders in a whole new area where he knows no one, whilst some colleagues push against him, he is suspicious of almost everyone and his life is about to change! Who can he trust? Who is leaving the body surrounded by flowers in the Loch, so beautifully placed yet so macabre, and why is it vaguely familiar? As the bodies mount, so does the pressure and suspicion.
J M Simpson has written an unpredictable, thrilling and phenomenal book that pulls you in from the get go and takes you on a rollercoaster ride. She has a way of weaving so many seemingly unrelated topics seamlessly together to create a book that is hard to put down.
Addictive, twisty, unpredictable and with some new excitingly relatable characters (her signature if you've read the Castleby series), I now have another community to become obsessed with!! I already cannot wait for book two and to be back with Scott, Jack, Ruth and the rest of the Whistlers Peak community.
Thank you J M Simpson for sending me an ARC ebook to review.
I am a huge fan of J M Simpson's writing style, criminal plots and the Castleby series so The Ophelia Murders was top of my anticipated reads list and it did not disappoint! If you're looking for a book full to the brim with love, lies, deciet, grief, deadly twists, mystery, and (most importantly) MURDER, then this is the perfect book for you.
The Scottish Highlands, a rescue team, a new Detective Sergeant and murders that shock everyone to their cores.
Based in the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Highlands, home to loyal friends and a community where everyone knows everyone, more grisly murders are being commited and Scott (the new Detective Sergeant assigned to the area) is shaking up the town. Scott is trying to solve the murders in a whole new area where he knows no one, whilst some colleagues push against him, he is suspicious of almost everyone and his life is about to change! Who can he trust? Who is leaving the body surrounded by flowers in the Loch, so beautifully placed yet so macabre, and why is it vaguely familiar? As the bodies mount, so does the pressure and suspicion.
J M Simpson has written an unpredictable, thrilling and phenomenal book that pulls you in from the get go and takes you on a rollercoaster ride. She has a way of weaving so many seemingly unrelated topics seamlessly together to create a book that is hard to put down.
Addictive, twisty, unpredictable and with some new excitingly relatable characters (her signature if you've read the Castleby series), I now have another community to become obsessed with!! I already cannot wait for book two and to be back with Scott, Jack, Ruth and the rest of the Whistlers Peak community.
Thank you J M Simpson for sending me an ARC ebook to review.
March 13, 2025
There is a new series in town!
As a big fan of JM Simpson’s Castleby books, I jumped at the chance to read the first of her new series, The Ophelia Murders, part one of the Whistlers Peak.
Detective Sargeant Scott Hansen is directed to a mountainous resort in the Scottish Highlands to investigate after a woman is found dead in a loch, artfully arranged to emulate a scene from a painting. Soon after, more deaths occur. Are they linked? What follows is an unpredictable and shocking truth that some secrets are worth killing for…
The storyline had me gripped! The reader knows more about what is going on than Scott- not a slight against his detective work at all, but we are privy to a perspective he is not- and this makes for more juicy reading! I felt like shouting at the characters to warn them!
The setting is almost a character in itself. The hill is a focal point of the town, part of the lives of all who live there. Much like the lifeboat volunteers in Castleby, many characters are connected to the mountain rescue, adding a feeling that anything could happen, at any time.
Simpson may write addictive plotlines, but its the characters we return for book after book. They seem so relatable, real and warm, like people you actually know. In Castleby we love Doug and Foxy. In Whistlers Peak I love Jack and Ruth.
For every wonderful character however, they must be a few duds! Jo has written some characters I just love to hate! One in particular I wanted to slap silly!
If you love a good mystery or crime story but also want characters you care about, you shouldn’t miss The Ophelia Murders. I already can’t wait to return to Whistlers Peak.
As a big fan of JM Simpson’s Castleby books, I jumped at the chance to read the first of her new series, The Ophelia Murders, part one of the Whistlers Peak.
Detective Sargeant Scott Hansen is directed to a mountainous resort in the Scottish Highlands to investigate after a woman is found dead in a loch, artfully arranged to emulate a scene from a painting. Soon after, more deaths occur. Are they linked? What follows is an unpredictable and shocking truth that some secrets are worth killing for…
The storyline had me gripped! The reader knows more about what is going on than Scott- not a slight against his detective work at all, but we are privy to a perspective he is not- and this makes for more juicy reading! I felt like shouting at the characters to warn them!
The setting is almost a character in itself. The hill is a focal point of the town, part of the lives of all who live there. Much like the lifeboat volunteers in Castleby, many characters are connected to the mountain rescue, adding a feeling that anything could happen, at any time.
Simpson may write addictive plotlines, but its the characters we return for book after book. They seem so relatable, real and warm, like people you actually know. In Castleby we love Doug and Foxy. In Whistlers Peak I love Jack and Ruth.
For every wonderful character however, they must be a few duds! Jo has written some characters I just love to hate! One in particular I wanted to slap silly!
If you love a good mystery or crime story but also want characters you care about, you shouldn’t miss The Ophelia Murders. I already can’t wait to return to Whistlers Peak.
August 31, 2025
3.5 this is a quick read with a cliffhanger, but some of the characters are one dimensional. Not sure if I’ll read the sequel.
October 26, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. Easy to read but in the best way as it draws you in from the first page.
Some twists and turns and parts I did not guess. Can't wait to read book 2!
Some twists and turns and parts I did not guess. Can't wait to read book 2!
August 26, 2025
Jo is back with a brand new, unputdownable new series featuring a brand new cast of really realistic, down to earth and relatable characters and a brand new community to become totally ensconced in. Centred in and around the mountain rescue services in the Scottish Highlands.
Something that Jo does really well is the fact that the hearts of her stories are more unique than most in the form of raising awareness of the lesser known emergency services. First, with the RNLI in the Castleby Series and now with the mountain rescue teams in the Whistler's Peak series. Highlighting the issues of funding, staffing, and the risk to life of the volunteers who selflessly donate their time and expertise to help save lives of thise most in need. It's different, refreshing, and inspiring.
The beginning of the story immediately drew me in and set the scene and tone of the story to come perfectly. Following up with great pace and brilliantly executed story fluidity. The plot and characters are all really well written, as well as being ridiculously realistic and relatable. Facing a litany of day to day experiences and connections with life, relationships, work, and family that we all face in our daily lives. So much so that I am already invested and in love with some of the characters and fledgling relationships that have been introduced in book one. Which is a real testament to Jo's talent as a writer. Something that, in my opinion, not anywhere near enough people have had the pleasure of discovering and experiencing.
The story is peppered with a little bit of everything genre throughout. It has grief, rape, murder, action, adultery, loss, dementia, secrets, lies, stalking, intrigue, found family, family dysfunction, community, connection, live, suspense, mystery, crime, tension, laughter, suspense, tragedy and plot twists and turns galore.
It quite literally has everything you could ever want and need in a story. I absolutely loved it, and I can't wait to dive into book 2 when released.
how Jo hasn't been picked up by a major publishing house yet is a travesty! not to mention that both series would make great tv. If you haven't discovered her yet, you're missing out!!
Something that Jo does really well is the fact that the hearts of her stories are more unique than most in the form of raising awareness of the lesser known emergency services. First, with the RNLI in the Castleby Series and now with the mountain rescue teams in the Whistler's Peak series. Highlighting the issues of funding, staffing, and the risk to life of the volunteers who selflessly donate their time and expertise to help save lives of thise most in need. It's different, refreshing, and inspiring.
The beginning of the story immediately drew me in and set the scene and tone of the story to come perfectly. Following up with great pace and brilliantly executed story fluidity. The plot and characters are all really well written, as well as being ridiculously realistic and relatable. Facing a litany of day to day experiences and connections with life, relationships, work, and family that we all face in our daily lives. So much so that I am already invested and in love with some of the characters and fledgling relationships that have been introduced in book one. Which is a real testament to Jo's talent as a writer. Something that, in my opinion, not anywhere near enough people have had the pleasure of discovering and experiencing.
The story is peppered with a little bit of everything genre throughout. It has grief, rape, murder, action, adultery, loss, dementia, secrets, lies, stalking, intrigue, found family, family dysfunction, community, connection, live, suspense, mystery, crime, tension, laughter, suspense, tragedy and plot twists and turns galore.
It quite literally has everything you could ever want and need in a story. I absolutely loved it, and I can't wait to dive into book 2 when released.
how Jo hasn't been picked up by a major publishing house yet is a travesty! not to mention that both series would make great tv. If you haven't discovered her yet, you're missing out!!
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