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Inspector Ramsay #4
Killjoy
Why is everyone afraid of Gabriella Paston? Is it because she's too beautiful, too talented, too self-confident? In the middle of rehearsals for her first big show at the arts center, eighteen-year-old Gabriella is murdered . . . and it seems to Inspector Stephen Ramsay that people are more afraid of her than ever. For Gabriella turns out to have been not only gifted and gorgeous but ruthless, and not everyone mourns her loss. In a community where teen crime is becoming a dangerous problem, the murder is just one more headache for the police. But the stage is already being set for another killing . . . .
266 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 1993
669 people are currently reading
1194 people want to read
About the author
Ann Cleeves
132 books8,829 followersAnn is the author of the books behind ITV's VERA, now in it's third series, and the BBC's SHETLAND, which will be aired in December 2012. Ann's DI Vera Stanhope series of books is set in Northumberland and features the well loved detective along with her partner Joe Ashworth. Ann's Shetland series bring us DI Jimmy Perez, investigating in the mysterious, dark, and beautiful Shetland Islands...
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
Ann grew up in the country, first in Herefordshire, then in North Devon. Her father was a village school teacher. After dropping out of university she took a number of temporary jobs - child care officer, women's refuge leader, bird observatory cook, auxiliary coastguard - before going back to college and training to be a probation officer.
While she was cooking in the Bird Observatory on Fair Isle, she met her husband Tim, a visiting ornithologist. She was attracted less by the ornithology than the bottle of malt whisky she saw in his rucksack when she showed him his room. Soon after they married, Tim was appointed as warden of Hilbre, a tiny tidal island nature reserve in the Dee Estuary. They were the only residents, there was no mains electricity or water and access to the mainland was at low tide across the shore. If a person's not heavily into birds - and Ann isn't - there's not much to do on Hilbre and that was when she started writing. Her first series of crime novels features the elderly naturalist, George Palmer-Jones. A couple of these books are seriously dreadful.
In 1987 Tim, Ann and their two daughters moved to Northumberland and the north east provides the inspiration for many of her subsequent titles. The girls have both taken up with Geordie lads. In the autumn of 2006, Ann and Tim finally achieved their ambition of moving back to the North East.
For the National Year of Reading, Ann was made reader-in-residence for three library authorities. It came as a revelation that it was possible to get paid for talking to readers about books! She went on to set up reading groups in prisons as part of the Inside Books project, became Cheltenham Literature Festival's first reader-in-residence and still enjoys working with libraries.
Ann Cleeves on stage at the Duncan Lawrie Dagger awards ceremony
Ann's short film for Border TV, Catching Birds, won a Royal Television Society Award. She has twice been short listed for a CWA Dagger Award - once for her short story The Plater, and the following year for the Dagger in the Library award.
In 2006 Ann Cleeves was the first winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award of the Crime Writers' Association for Raven Black, the first volume of her Shetland Quartet. The Duncan Lawrie Dagger replaces the CWA's Gold Dagger award, and the winner receives £20,000, making it the world's largest award for crime fiction.
Ann's success was announced at the 2006 Dagger Awards ceremony at the Waldorf Hilton, in London's Aldwych, on Thursday 29 June 2006. She said: "I have never won anything before in my life, so it was a complete shock - but lovely of course.. The evening was relatively relaxing because I'd lost my voice and knew that even if the unexpected happened there was physically no way I could utter a word. So I wouldn't have to give a speech. My editor was deputed to do it!"
The judging panel consisted of Geoff Bradley (non-voting Chair), Lyn Brown MP (a committee member on the London Libraries service), Frances Gray (an academic who writes about and teaches courses on modern crime fiction), Heather O'Donoghue (academic, linguist, crime fiction reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, and keen reader of all crime fiction) and Barry Forshaw (reviewer and editor of Crime Time magazine).
Ann's books have been translated into sixteen languages. She's a bestseller in Scandinavia and Germany. Her novels sell widely and to critical acclaim in the United States. Raven Black was shortlisted for the Martin Beck award for best translated crime novel in Sweden in 200
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
September 2, 2021
I read this for "Murder Most Foul" for Halloween Bingo 2021.
So in book 4 in the "Inspector Ramsey" series we have Ramsey trying to figure out who strangled a young amateur actress. Ramsey finds himself in a new village where the people there have a dark history with the police. Cleeves takes on not only a murder, but also the darker part of the country where the poor have been forgotten and have nothing left to lose.
Ramsey is so good. I just want to hug him. He still is reeling a bit from his divorce from a few years earlier, but thinks about moving on. When an old love comes center in this new murder mystery he wants to make a move, but past history on his cases has him cautious about trusting anyone.
We still have Hunter wanting to have some action on the cases, but I saw more maturity with this character in this one. He sniffs out something is going on with a family on the estate and pushes to do more there and not just let it pass while Ramsey is focused on the main murder. With both of them being in a new village/area due to short staffing it was great to see how they are around people they are not used to and different police officers and superintendents.
So in book 4 in the "Inspector Ramsey" series we have Ramsey trying to figure out who strangled a young amateur actress. Ramsey finds himself in a new village where the people there have a dark history with the police. Cleeves takes on not only a murder, but also the darker part of the country where the poor have been forgotten and have nothing left to lose.
Ramsey is so good. I just want to hug him. He still is reeling a bit from his divorce from a few years earlier, but thinks about moving on. When an old love comes center in this new murder mystery he wants to make a move, but past history on his cases has him cautious about trusting anyone.
We still have Hunter wanting to have some action on the cases, but I saw more maturity with this character in this one. He sniffs out something is going on with a family on the estate and pushes to do more there and not just let it pass while Ramsey is focused on the main murder. With both of them being in a new village/area due to short staffing it was great to see how they are around people they are not used to and different police officers and superintendents.
August 7, 2019
This reissue of an early Ann Cleeves novel (written before she found greater fame with the Vera and Shetland series’) was not without merit, but it didn’t quite work for me. I’m not sure if there’s an element of the author still honing her craft at this stage (originally published 1993) or whether it’s more a reflection of the more classical murder mystery police procedural of the time, but it just felt a little flawed to me.
The plot follows the investigation into the death of a teenage girl found murdered and dumped in a car in North Tyneside, and undercurrents at play in the local area. This storyline was good, and kept me interested till the end, I just felt it was a little buried in extraneous detail. For a novel of barely two hundred pages there seemed to be a lot of this which was taken up with defining and giving description to a large cast of interconnected characters, it was hence difficult to remember all of their names at times and where they fitted in. All something which the author doesn’t seem to have to do to the same level in extended series’ where each book is therefore less crammed.
Had this been my first Ann Cleeves I might’ve been a bit more put off, but having read others and enjoyed them relatively more, I’m inclined to put this book down as an early work of yet in reached promise.
The plot follows the investigation into the death of a teenage girl found murdered and dumped in a car in North Tyneside, and undercurrents at play in the local area. This storyline was good, and kept me interested till the end, I just felt it was a little buried in extraneous detail. For a novel of barely two hundred pages there seemed to be a lot of this which was taken up with defining and giving description to a large cast of interconnected characters, it was hence difficult to remember all of their names at times and where they fitted in. All something which the author doesn’t seem to have to do to the same level in extended series’ where each book is therefore less crammed.
Had this been my first Ann Cleeves I might’ve been a bit more put off, but having read others and enjoyed them relatively more, I’m inclined to put this book down as an early work of yet in reached promise.
December 23, 2025
Usually I don’t enjoy shorter books because they feel incomplete. That isn’t the case with this series. Each story has been fulfilling. I enjoy the character of Inspector Ramsay and seeing how he solves each murder. Highly recommend if you enjoy a cozy, very British murder mystery. Outstanding narrator.
I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
February 26, 2013
This is one of Cleeve's Atephen Ramsey books. Like her Palmer-Jones series the solution to the muder is a bit untraditional which makes them a bit more interesting. This one gives a glimpse at small town politics and amateur theater productions
April 27, 2025
Fourth in the DI Ramsay series ..written in the 90s but republished a decade back.
Great procedural crime/ police series.
As with all Ann Cleeves books, it is the everyday..the mundane ..the routines of life that spark the crimes.
This time the focus is upon an arts centre and the problems in a housing estate.
And I didn’t guess who the killer was until the final pages
A good read for a Sunday afternoon or sunny day when a ‘ traditional ‘ whodunnit story is needed !
Great procedural crime/ police series.
As with all Ann Cleeves books, it is the everyday..the mundane ..the routines of life that spark the crimes.
This time the focus is upon an arts centre and the problems in a housing estate.
And I didn’t guess who the killer was until the final pages
A good read for a Sunday afternoon or sunny day when a ‘ traditional ‘ whodunnit story is needed !
January 15, 2026
Killjoy is the 4th book in the Inspector Ramsay series. Ramsay is investigating the death of a young actress named Gabriella Paston. I enjoyed this one because the victim and perpetrator were younger.
In this story Cleeves focused more on the impact of a teen crime in the community, and some of our suspects were also younger. I like how this balances out the series, we aren't seeing the same crimes or motivations on repeat.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
In this story Cleeves focused more on the impact of a teen crime in the community, and some of our suspects were also younger. I like how this balances out the series, we aren't seeing the same crimes or motivations on repeat.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 31, 2025
Thought this one was a little subpar with some unrealistic elements.
December 5, 2023
Inspector Ramsey, a colorless copper saddled with a callow Sergeant, has been assigned a case well off his patch. Tied into the northern UK mayhem is an underfunded arts center, council housing gone bad, and midlevel community politics.
If this sounds like an episode of Vera — you aren’t far off. The author of this book is responsible for that character and series. However, this isn’t nearly as engaging. The detective’s personality does not seem to exist, and the mystery’s suspects are a pretty mediocre bunch. The sole interesting element is the genuine friction between the Inspector and his lightweight subordinate. Usually, a youthful sidekick in this kind of procedural shows potential for becoming something better. That does not appear to be the case here.
Ultimately, it’s not too easy to guess, but it’s not all that great to read. The elements are there, but concoction is underbaked.
If this sounds like an episode of Vera — you aren’t far off. The author of this book is responsible for that character and series. However, this isn’t nearly as engaging. The detective’s personality does not seem to exist, and the mystery’s suspects are a pretty mediocre bunch. The sole interesting element is the genuine friction between the Inspector and his lightweight subordinate. Usually, a youthful sidekick in this kind of procedural shows potential for becoming something better. That does not appear to be the case here.
Ultimately, it’s not too easy to guess, but it’s not all that great to read. The elements are there, but concoction is underbaked.
September 25, 2019
Cleeves keeps her clues close and her readers guessing.. few reveals. Settings atmospheric with localized descriptions ensure a unique reading experience.
August 30, 2019
As a fan of the Vera series (Books & TV) I decided to give an earlier series by Ann Cleeves, Inspector Palmer, a go. The earlier books showed a writer dveloping her style, which at that point had not equaled the writing quality of Vera. However, as I've continue to read the Inspector Palmer series I have noted the improvement in style and development of characters that has increased the reading experience.
Killjoy (not a great title and it's hard to see where this comes from in terms of the book) is the fourth in the series and, to my mind, the best to date. The story is set around the a small provincial theatre company, which has as its head ex-TV star Gus Lynch. The leading (young) lady goes missing and turns up dead in the boot of Lynch's car. There are a nice group of characters, which includes the leading man (heartthrob to all), Lynch's deputy (and ex-flame of Ramsey's) and her daughter, a CID officer (father of the leading man) and his neurotic wife, the key trustee of the theatre and her husband and the theatre caretaker being the main players who all (of course) seem to have reason to kill her and various skeletons in their respective cupboards. Throw in Ramsey and his sergeant, Hunter, and there is a nice mix for a very enjoyable little novel.
I must admit I had several theories along the way and didn't get it right when the big reveal came.
I like Ramsey's character but to me there is one contradiction in his make up / personality. Ramsey is written as a dour, shy, boring and serious individual who is divorced and doesn't seem to know how to connect or talk to women. All that is fine but how come every novel seems to involve an ex-flame of his? It just doesn't fit with his personality.
Anyway this is a really good series that I would recommend thoroughly. On to book 5.
Killjoy (not a great title and it's hard to see where this comes from in terms of the book) is the fourth in the series and, to my mind, the best to date. The story is set around the a small provincial theatre company, which has as its head ex-TV star Gus Lynch. The leading (young) lady goes missing and turns up dead in the boot of Lynch's car. There are a nice group of characters, which includes the leading man (heartthrob to all), Lynch's deputy (and ex-flame of Ramsey's) and her daughter, a CID officer (father of the leading man) and his neurotic wife, the key trustee of the theatre and her husband and the theatre caretaker being the main players who all (of course) seem to have reason to kill her and various skeletons in their respective cupboards. Throw in Ramsey and his sergeant, Hunter, and there is a nice mix for a very enjoyable little novel.
I must admit I had several theories along the way and didn't get it right when the big reveal came.
I like Ramsey's character but to me there is one contradiction in his make up / personality. Ramsey is written as a dour, shy, boring and serious individual who is divorced and doesn't seem to know how to connect or talk to women. All that is fine but how come every novel seems to involve an ex-flame of his? It just doesn't fit with his personality.
Anyway this is a really good series that I would recommend thoroughly. On to book 5.
March 7, 2012
I am starting to like Inspector Ramsey. At least in this book he didn't dwell too much on his ex-wife and their troubles. The story line was good along with the mystery to be solved. It was suspenseful and not too gruesome. You could concentrate on solving the mystery instead of a lot of blood and gore. I have read one of the George and Molly books that Ms. Cleeves also writes. Their books seem to lean toward educating me about birds and birding. I prefer just a good mystery to solve along with a cast of characters that I like. If I am educated subtlety, that okay...just don't blatantly give me a textbook paragraph every few pages.
May 15, 2021
Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A cleverly told story, and the identity of the murderer came as a surprise. There were plenty of red herrings and a number of plot strands that provided interest. Stephen Ramsay meets up with a former girl friend, and his relationship with his Sergeant seems to be improving... slightly. There is a nice contrast between Ramsay and Hunter.
If you haven't tackled this series before, you could read this one as a stand-alone, but hopefully will enjoy it enough to go back to the beginning and read them all.
If you haven't tackled this series before, you could read this one as a stand-alone, but hopefully will enjoy it enough to go back to the beginning and read them all.
December 26, 2025
Inspector Stephen Ramsay and Sergeant Hunter have their latest case. The body of a teenage girl, Gabriella Preston, is discovered in the trunk of a car. The first person Ramsay speaks to is Gus Lynch, the car’s owner. The town of Hallowgate is preparing for a theatrical production, and Lynch is the director of the upcoming play. Gabriella was set to play the lead.
Ramsay is tasked with solving the case—determining whether the play had anything to do with Gabriella’s murder and why her body was found in Lynch’s trunk. It is not an easy case, but Ramsay and Hunter begin a series of interviews as the investigation unfolds. The town is full of secrets, and Ramsay is determined to uncover them.
This fourth book in the Inspector Ramsay series is another solid police procedural murder mystery. As I progressively read each book in turn, I found that I was completely disenchanted with Sergeant Hunter. In my opinion, he is both misogynistic and sexist. This may well have been by design on Ann Cleeves’s part. Disliking Hunter only made Ramsay stand out more as the series progressed.
I have been listening to the entire six-book series and have enjoyed the narration by Simon Mattacks. His matter-of-fact delivery works well for the story and subtly reinforces Ramsay’s moral character.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for these ARCs for review. This is my honest opinion.
Ramsay is tasked with solving the case—determining whether the play had anything to do with Gabriella’s murder and why her body was found in Lynch’s trunk. It is not an easy case, but Ramsay and Hunter begin a series of interviews as the investigation unfolds. The town is full of secrets, and Ramsay is determined to uncover them.
This fourth book in the Inspector Ramsay series is another solid police procedural murder mystery. As I progressively read each book in turn, I found that I was completely disenchanted with Sergeant Hunter. In my opinion, he is both misogynistic and sexist. This may well have been by design on Ann Cleeves’s part. Disliking Hunter only made Ramsay stand out more as the series progressed.
I have been listening to the entire six-book series and have enjoyed the narration by Simon Mattacks. His matter-of-fact delivery works well for the story and subtly reinforces Ramsay’s moral character.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for these ARCs for review. This is my honest opinion.
January 15, 2022
Kuuntelin yhdellä kertaa olohuoneen maalauksen taustalla. Kertomus oli ihan mielenkiintoinen ja juoni eteni jouhevasti. Kirja on julkaistu 93 ja oli muistutus siitä kuinka nopeasti kehitys on tuosta edennyt, vaikka lähimenneisyyttä onkin. Syyllinen oli totaalinen yllätys, veikkasin ihan eri henkilöä.
January 7, 2026
Always enjoy an Ann Cleeves story, either in print, audible or on TV!!
December 28, 2025
oh Ramsey, will you ever find love? this one was good, but not like the previous books where I was blindsided by the murderer.
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 1, 2025
One of her earliest books and definitely glimpses of the excellent novelist she developed into. So many twists and turns & many characters to remember but a real sense of time & place that made it easy to read. Not convinced that I believe that the murderer would have been capable of two murders.
August 6, 2021
Let me say right at the start that Anne Cleeves is one of my favourite authors. I have read and enjoyed all of her Vera and Shetland series. I picked this off the shelf thinking it was a stand alone novel.
As I started reading I soon realised that I had come across Det. Inspector Ramsay before but
after some Graham Brack's Slonsky and especially Bruce Beckham's Skelgill recently , this seemed as if something was missing. Here I felt as if I knew little about our DI. Ok, he is away from his usual patch on secondment but there was no office banter or interaction with other officers.
I found the main narrative interesting enough with the few side stories dragged across our reading path to cloud our thoughts. I suspect that the author learnt much from this series to take forward . Both Vera and Perez have a character that Ramsay seems to lack.
I didnt get the guilty one although I admit I didnt try too hard, which, especially for an Anne Cleeve's book, isnt good.
I know it gets better.
As I started reading I soon realised that I had come across Det. Inspector Ramsay before but
after some Graham Brack's Slonsky and especially Bruce Beckham's Skelgill recently , this seemed as if something was missing. Here I felt as if I knew little about our DI. Ok, he is away from his usual patch on secondment but there was no office banter or interaction with other officers.
I found the main narrative interesting enough with the few side stories dragged across our reading path to cloud our thoughts. I suspect that the author learnt much from this series to take forward . Both Vera and Perez have a character that Ramsay seems to lack.
I didnt get the guilty one although I admit I didnt try too hard, which, especially for an Anne Cleeve's book, isnt good.
I know it gets better.
May 19, 2018
Another good story.
I really enjoyed this book, lots of twists, turns and suspence. I did wonder if a romance would happen for Steve Ramsey. I am working my way through this series, I am looking forward to the next book. Thank you Ann Cleeves.
I really enjoyed this book, lots of twists, turns and suspence. I did wonder if a romance would happen for Steve Ramsey. I am working my way through this series, I am looking forward to the next book. Thank you Ann Cleeves.
February 28, 2019
The book didn't have any big flaws. It just wasn't as entertains a typical Ann Cleve's book. The ending reinforced a feeling that the characters were wooden and predictable
January 2, 2026
Killjoy AUDIO by Ann Cleeves is the fourth in the Inspector Ramsey series. It begins with the murder of a young amateur actress from the local theatre. When Ramsey went to investigate at the center, it turned out the secretary there, Pru, was his girlfriend from high school. She had a daughter now, but no husband, apparently. Ramsey went about investigating as he always did, conversations circling the crime until he honed it down to the actual killer, the roots of which were to be found in the past. After Gabriella’s murder, he discovered her parents had been killed in a car wreck years earlier. She had lived with her grandmother and aunt but moved on as soon as she could. She had moved in with Pru and Anna and things had been pretty good. Anna had a crush on a young man who was wild, like Gabby’s father, but had eyes for Gabby. The leader of the center was a washed up actor that they had gotten for a song, guilty of something, but he didn’t think it was murder..
Old grudges, old loves, jealousy, blackmail. All played a part in this murder as Ramsey and Hunter struggled to find the killer before there was another death. As he struggled, he saw more of Pru, and she seemed to still be interested. Poor Ramsey. He had struggled since his divorce. Then, there was another murder: the woman who had discovered Gabby’s body. Hunter discovered a theft ring in the estate that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the murder. Ramsey suspected someone but his police officer father protected him. It was all rather a mess. But, Ramsey discovered the killer and the motivation in an interesting story. Terrific character.
Simon Mattacks is the reader and does a terrific job. He is formal, perfect for Ramsey. He made a good book into an enjoyable listen.
I was invited to listen to Killjoy by Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #MacmillanAudio #SimonMattacks #AnnCleeves #Killjoy
Old grudges, old loves, jealousy, blackmail. All played a part in this murder as Ramsey and Hunter struggled to find the killer before there was another death. As he struggled, he saw more of Pru, and she seemed to still be interested. Poor Ramsey. He had struggled since his divorce. Then, there was another murder: the woman who had discovered Gabby’s body. Hunter discovered a theft ring in the estate that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the murder. Ramsey suspected someone but his police officer father protected him. It was all rather a mess. But, Ramsey discovered the killer and the motivation in an interesting story. Terrific character.
Simon Mattacks is the reader and does a terrific job. He is formal, perfect for Ramsey. He made a good book into an enjoyable listen.
I was invited to listen to Killjoy by Macmillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #MacmillanAudio #SimonMattacks #AnnCleeves #Killjoy
December 11, 2024
Ann Cleeves, the master of atmospheric and intricately plotted mysteries, delivers another engaging entry in her Inspector Ramsay series with “Killjoy”. This fourth installment continues to showcase her skill in weaving together complex characters, small-town dynamics, and a compelling murder mystery.
The story centers on a theater production in the quiet English village of Heppleburn, where tensions run high among the cast and crew. What begins as artistic drama turns sinister when the star of the show, an enigmatic and polarizing actress, is found dead. Inspector Stephen Ramsay is called in to unravel the mystery, revealing long-buried secrets and hidden resentments among the villagers and the theater company.
Cleeves excels at creating a palpable sense of place, immersing the reader in Heppleburn’s moody landscapes and the claustrophobic world of amateur dramatics. The pacing is deliberate but never slow, as every interaction adds layers to the mystery. Ramsay, with his understated yet methodical approach, remains an intriguing protagonist, though he often takes a backseat to the vibrant cast of suspects and witnesses.
The novel’s strength lies in its character development. Each individual feels authentic, with personal struggles and motivations that complicate the investigation. The narrative explores themes of jealousy, ambition, and the dark sides of human nature, all while keeping the reader guessing until the very end.
While “Killjoy” might lack the fast-paced thrills of some contemporary mysteries, its charm lies in its subtlety and psychological depth. Fans of traditional British crime fiction, especially those who enjoy writers like P.D. James or Ruth Rendell, will find much to admire here.
Overall, Killjoy is a quietly gripping and expertly crafted mystery that reaffirms Ann Cleeves as one of the genre’s finest storytellers.
The story centers on a theater production in the quiet English village of Heppleburn, where tensions run high among the cast and crew. What begins as artistic drama turns sinister when the star of the show, an enigmatic and polarizing actress, is found dead. Inspector Stephen Ramsay is called in to unravel the mystery, revealing long-buried secrets and hidden resentments among the villagers and the theater company.
Cleeves excels at creating a palpable sense of place, immersing the reader in Heppleburn’s moody landscapes and the claustrophobic world of amateur dramatics. The pacing is deliberate but never slow, as every interaction adds layers to the mystery. Ramsay, with his understated yet methodical approach, remains an intriguing protagonist, though he often takes a backseat to the vibrant cast of suspects and witnesses.
The novel’s strength lies in its character development. Each individual feels authentic, with personal struggles and motivations that complicate the investigation. The narrative explores themes of jealousy, ambition, and the dark sides of human nature, all while keeping the reader guessing until the very end.
While “Killjoy” might lack the fast-paced thrills of some contemporary mysteries, its charm lies in its subtlety and psychological depth. Fans of traditional British crime fiction, especially those who enjoy writers like P.D. James or Ruth Rendell, will find much to admire here.
Overall, Killjoy is a quietly gripping and expertly crafted mystery that reaffirms Ann Cleeves as one of the genre’s finest storytellers.
January 4, 2026
Audiobook Review: Killjoy (An Inspector Ramsay Novel) by Ann Cleeves
Narrated by Simon Mattacks
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to continue reading this series with my ears. I’ve now reached the fourth book in the Inspector Ramsay series, and while I appreciate the opportunity to listen through the entire collection, this one still didn’t fully click for me.
Killjoy has an interesting premise—beginning with the disappearance and murder of a young actress involved in a youth theater production, alongside a seemingly separate investigation involving escalating violence on a nearby housing estate. The idea of two cases gradually intertwining is compelling, but for me, the execution felt a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot happening at once, with many new characters introduced, and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who and how everyone fit into the larger story.
I think part of my struggle may stem from not being fully invested from the very first book in the series. Even now, several books in, I still don’t feel a strong emotional connection to many of the characters beyond Inspector Ramsay himself. Because of that, it was harder to stay engaged and truly care about the outcome of the mystery.
That said, Simon Mattacks continues to be a steady and reliable narrator. I do enjoy that the same narrator is used throughout the series—it provides continuity and familiarity, which definitely helps when working through multiple books. His accent and delivery suit the setting well and remain one of the highlights for me.
Overall, Killjoy wasn’t my favorite installment so far. With two books still left in the series, I’m hopeful that things will come together more strongly as I continue. I’m committed to finishing the series and curious to see how Inspector Ramsay’s story ultimately develops.
Narrated by Simon Mattacks
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to continue reading this series with my ears. I’ve now reached the fourth book in the Inspector Ramsay series, and while I appreciate the opportunity to listen through the entire collection, this one still didn’t fully click for me.
Killjoy has an interesting premise—beginning with the disappearance and murder of a young actress involved in a youth theater production, alongside a seemingly separate investigation involving escalating violence on a nearby housing estate. The idea of two cases gradually intertwining is compelling, but for me, the execution felt a bit overwhelming. There’s a lot happening at once, with many new characters introduced, and I found it difficult to keep track of who was who and how everyone fit into the larger story.
I think part of my struggle may stem from not being fully invested from the very first book in the series. Even now, several books in, I still don’t feel a strong emotional connection to many of the characters beyond Inspector Ramsay himself. Because of that, it was harder to stay engaged and truly care about the outcome of the mystery.
That said, Simon Mattacks continues to be a steady and reliable narrator. I do enjoy that the same narrator is used throughout the series—it provides continuity and familiarity, which definitely helps when working through multiple books. His accent and delivery suit the setting well and remain one of the highlights for me.
Overall, Killjoy wasn’t my favorite installment so far. With two books still left in the series, I’m hopeful that things will come together more strongly as I continue. I’m committed to finishing the series and curious to see how Inspector Ramsay’s story ultimately develops.
November 10, 2025
I love Ann Cleeves and I'm amazed how she can turn out so many mysteries of such consistently high quality.
I discovered the inspector Ramsey series after devouring Vera, Shetland, and the Two Rivers' series (the only series I haven't been able to get into are the bird watchers but I'll probably give it another try after I've read everything else she's written!).
Ramsey is Cleeves' usual slightly (or very) emotionally crippled detective but less eccentric than, say, Vera and less depressed (for much of the series at any rate) Jimmy Perez (I absolutely love both of them, by the way). He was married (before the series begins) to a beautiful, charming, well-born woman who moved on and he has settled into a lonely bachelorhood. My only quibble here is unlike Vera or Jimmy I don't quite understand why he hasn't remarried. He's pretty lovable. I think.
A young girl (whatever the British equivalent to high school senior is--she's 18 and in school), lively and beautiful (of course) is found murdered in the head of the drama group in whose play she is -- or was--starring in.
And of course there are a string of suspects. And in a somewhat separate story which weaves in and out of the main one, are two women--one of whom is worthy of Dickens in her grotesqueness and sly nastiness.
I was a little disappointed that I guessed the killer. In fact, at a certain point it seemed pretty obvious. So either I'm more clever than I think or the mystery was too easy.
That being said, I loved the book--Cleeves is good company.
I will keep coming back for more--maybe even the bird watchers.
I discovered the inspector Ramsey series after devouring Vera, Shetland, and the Two Rivers' series (the only series I haven't been able to get into are the bird watchers but I'll probably give it another try after I've read everything else she's written!).
Ramsey is Cleeves' usual slightly (or very) emotionally crippled detective but less eccentric than, say, Vera and less depressed (for much of the series at any rate) Jimmy Perez (I absolutely love both of them, by the way). He was married (before the series begins) to a beautiful, charming, well-born woman who moved on and he has settled into a lonely bachelorhood. My only quibble here is unlike Vera or Jimmy I don't quite understand why he hasn't remarried. He's pretty lovable. I think.
A young girl (whatever the British equivalent to high school senior is--she's 18 and in school), lively and beautiful (of course) is found murdered in the head of the drama group in whose play she is -- or was--starring in.
And of course there are a string of suspects. And in a somewhat separate story which weaves in and out of the main one, are two women--one of whom is worthy of Dickens in her grotesqueness and sly nastiness.
I was a little disappointed that I guessed the killer. In fact, at a certain point it seemed pretty obvious. So either I'm more clever than I think or the mystery was too easy.
That being said, I loved the book--Cleeves is good company.
I will keep coming back for more--maybe even the bird watchers.
July 21, 2024
'Killjoy' by Ann Cleeves, the forth novel in the Inspector Ramsay series, was first published in 1993. It has now been reissued by Bello, a division of Macmillan Publishers.
Stephen Ramsay, a detective inspector with the Northumbria police, and Gordon Hunter, a detective sergeant, are investigating the death of Gabriella ‘Gabby’ Paston, an eighteen year-old high school student.
Her body is found on a weekday evening in November. It is in the boot of a car parked outside the Grace Darling Art Centre in Hallowgate, part of the North Tyneside sprawl.
She had a leading role in a roistering melodrama being presented by the Tyneside Youth Theatre, based at the Art Centre. She had failed to turn up for the latest rehearsal.
Within days, Ramsay and Hunter are able to trace Gabby’s movements until she leaves school around mid-day for a lunch appointment. However, she didn’t arrive at the restaurant. Also, Ramsay is not satisfied with the explanation from her family as to why she moved into lodgings. And, there is a mystery about money being placed regularly for her in a bank savings account.
While Gabby’s death is being investigated, Ramsay’s colleagues are dealing with local hooligans: joy-riding is widespread; cars and shops are being broken into.
To complicate the investigation and Ramsay’s private life, there’s a second murder and the inspector meets a significant other from the past.
'Killjoy' is a cosy crime novel of just over 200 pages that increases our appreciation of an unassuming, dedicated policeman.
November 20, 2024
In this fourth installment of the early Ann Cleeves Inspector Ramsey series, a talented member of a local small-town youth theatre is found strangled in the boot of the theatre director's car. Later, a local magistrate suffers the same fate while walking in the local area.
Ramsey and his team, as usual, go about untangling the various relationships surrounding the arts centre, youth theatre, and local council estate where teenage boys are known to run wild. The first murdered girl happens to be living with an ex-girlfriend of Ramsey's, which gives us hope for some character development and insight into his psyche. However, he's still a bit of a mystery by the end of book four, and still bewildered by the failure of his first unsuitable marriage.
As with most Ann Cleeves books, this is well written, but somehow it seemed to me a lot harder to care about the characters than with some of the other books I've read by the same author, including in the Ramsey series. There was a distinct sensation of skating over the surface of the issues motivating a large number of characters, including and especially the murderer, who is a bit of a stereotype. Still, it's a reasonbly good read and these caveats may be due to personal preferences.
Ramsey and his team, as usual, go about untangling the various relationships surrounding the arts centre, youth theatre, and local council estate where teenage boys are known to run wild. The first murdered girl happens to be living with an ex-girlfriend of Ramsey's, which gives us hope for some character development and insight into his psyche. However, he's still a bit of a mystery by the end of book four, and still bewildered by the failure of his first unsuitable marriage.
As with most Ann Cleeves books, this is well written, but somehow it seemed to me a lot harder to care about the characters than with some of the other books I've read by the same author, including in the Ramsey series. There was a distinct sensation of skating over the surface of the issues motivating a large number of characters, including and especially the murderer, who is a bit of a stereotype. Still, it's a reasonbly good read and these caveats may be due to personal preferences.
April 4, 2025
Killjoy is the 4th in the Inspector Stephen Ramsey series.
Gus Lynch, a former TV star now directing the Youth Theatre at Grace Darling Art’s Centre, is readying to begin a dress rehearsal of their latest production but the star, Gabby Paston is missing. A little time later she is found in the boot of his car, murdered.
Stephen Ramsey is called in along with his side kick sergeant Gordon Hunter. Ramsey isn’t delighted. This area isn’t his patch but he has been contracted out to help in this murder investigation. He was hoping for a more likeable character to work with but sadly Hunter has been sent with him. It is the character of Stephen Ramsey that makes this series interesting. He is smart, full of self doubt after his marriage failed although he was probably full of self doubt then too. He struggles with these extroverts and how to handle women and yet muddles thru in a way we many of us are familiar.
The ending is a surprise. All that Stephen Ramsey learns is not revealed fully to the reader until the very end. Hence, the twist and yet if we had learnt what Ramsey did it would not be so much of a twists. This disappointed.
Over all 3 1/2 stars. The Ramsey character and his sidekick are terrific.
Gus Lynch, a former TV star now directing the Youth Theatre at Grace Darling Art’s Centre, is readying to begin a dress rehearsal of their latest production but the star, Gabby Paston is missing. A little time later she is found in the boot of his car, murdered.
Stephen Ramsey is called in along with his side kick sergeant Gordon Hunter. Ramsey isn’t delighted. This area isn’t his patch but he has been contracted out to help in this murder investigation. He was hoping for a more likeable character to work with but sadly Hunter has been sent with him. It is the character of Stephen Ramsey that makes this series interesting. He is smart, full of self doubt after his marriage failed although he was probably full of self doubt then too. He struggles with these extroverts and how to handle women and yet muddles thru in a way we many of us are familiar.
The ending is a surprise. All that Stephen Ramsey learns is not revealed fully to the reader until the very end. Hence, the twist and yet if we had learnt what Ramsey did it would not be so much of a twists. This disappointed.
Over all 3 1/2 stars. The Ramsey character and his sidekick are terrific.
December 2, 2025
Gabriella is the young, extroverted lead actor in a play being put on by a provincial youth theatre, until she is found dead in the boot of the director’s car. Brought in to solve the murder, Inspector Stephen Ramsey and his bully-boy sidekick, Sgt Hunter, are seconded to the local police who have their hands full with youth crime and unrest on the nearby council estate. Ramsey finds a police force under stress and a community uneasy about the febrile rise in violence, worried about their own children’s involvement. Complicating matters, Ramsey is distracted from the case by one of the theatre staff suspects, whom he dated as a teen.
I haven’t loved the Inspector Ramsey series until this book. Here Ann Cleeves really hits her stride, painting a vivid picture of the deterioration of law and order in regional England. She also really fleshes out the character of Stephen Ramsey in a very satisfying way, taking us back to a time in his teens. I also enjoyed the different strands of the plot and the rich, messy tapestry that Ramsey and Hunter had to unpick to solve the murder. 🎧 UK voice actor Simon Mattacks provides a very solid performance, totally at ease with the different regional accents, ages, genders, and classes.
I haven’t loved the Inspector Ramsey series until this book. Here Ann Cleeves really hits her stride, painting a vivid picture of the deterioration of law and order in regional England. She also really fleshes out the character of Stephen Ramsey in a very satisfying way, taking us back to a time in his teens. I also enjoyed the different strands of the plot and the rich, messy tapestry that Ramsey and Hunter had to unpick to solve the murder. 🎧 UK voice actor Simon Mattacks provides a very solid performance, totally at ease with the different regional accents, ages, genders, and classes.
May 30, 2024
This fourth book in the series just grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading. Gus Lynch, a faded sitcom star is directing a community theater and his leading lady is found dead in the trunk of his car. Gabriella Paston was a beautiful, talented teenager with ties to the Starling Farm Estates, a bad section of town known for it's joyriding and thefts. As Ramsey and Hunter investigate Gabby's murder, Ramsey reconnects with an old flame Prudence Bennett and tries to protect her and her daughter Anna, who was Gabby's best friend. Another murder occurs and our detectives have to tie the threads of this mystery together. Cleeves great, understated portraits of all the main characters are spot on and the identity of our murderer almost fooled me!
Favorite line ... " It was the sort of incompetence that irritated because it was unnecessary. Hunter disliked the routine of statement taking and avoided it. He claimed it was boring, usually a waste of time, but Ramsey thought it was the listening which he found so irksome. He could not bear to give anyone his full intention," Oh yes, a good listener is a rare gift.
Favorite line ... " It was the sort of incompetence that irritated because it was unnecessary. Hunter disliked the routine of statement taking and avoided it. He claimed it was boring, usually a waste of time, but Ramsey thought it was the listening which he found so irksome. He could not bear to give anyone his full intention," Oh yes, a good listener is a rare gift.
January 12, 2026
Inspector Ramsay is back with another mysterious case in Killjoy.
"Gabriella Preston is found in the boot of a car, lying curled on her side like a child asleep. She is dead. The car belongs to Gus Lynch. Gus Lynch is the director of Hallowgate's Youth Theatre, Gabriella his female lead.
Inspector Ramsay and Sergeant Hunter are called in to assist the local police who have their hands full with an outbreak of joy-riding. Another death and an escalation of violence among the joy-riders threaten mayhem. Against a background of spiralling disorder Ramsay realises what could have provoked someone to kill - and to kill again."
Another great book in this series. I think I’m finally getting into Ramsay and his colleagues. The only thing I’m still a little disappointed in is the lack of a dynamic working group for Ramsay to bounce ideas off of. Hunter is a boor and I’m still not finding many redeeming qualities about him. Oh well. He's a butt.
This mystery had me guessing all the way through. The murderer was someone I had dismissed, but the solution made sense when all was revealed.
I received a free audiobook copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
"Gabriella Preston is found in the boot of a car, lying curled on her side like a child asleep. She is dead. The car belongs to Gus Lynch. Gus Lynch is the director of Hallowgate's Youth Theatre, Gabriella his female lead.
Inspector Ramsay and Sergeant Hunter are called in to assist the local police who have their hands full with an outbreak of joy-riding. Another death and an escalation of violence among the joy-riders threaten mayhem. Against a background of spiralling disorder Ramsay realises what could have provoked someone to kill - and to kill again."
Another great book in this series. I think I’m finally getting into Ramsay and his colleagues. The only thing I’m still a little disappointed in is the lack of a dynamic working group for Ramsay to bounce ideas off of. Hunter is a boor and I’m still not finding many redeeming qualities about him. Oh well. He's a butt.
This mystery had me guessing all the way through. The murderer was someone I had dismissed, but the solution made sense when all was revealed.
I received a free audiobook copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
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