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DCI Walker Crime Thrillers #1
The Icehouse
A murderer on the loose.
A detective haunted by the past.
A race against time.
DCI Jonathan Walker is a senior detective for the Lancashire Constabulary in Northwest England. He’s haunted by events of the past and hell-bent on redemption--if he can stay healthy for long enough, that is.
After a body turns up in the sleepy village of Rufford, Walker returns from his leave of absence early, his experience deemed crucial for the case. But when it transpires the crime may be linked to a decades-old cold case involving the murder of his sister, the crime becomes he needs this—for his wife and kids, to make amends for past mistakes, and for the current victim—but he must toe the line if he isn’t to be thrown off the case.
When more people start to go missing and bodies turn up with the same bizarre signature, Walker and his team realize they have a serial killer on their hands. But time is running out if they want to save more people from dying, and one in particular, and Walker has to consider breaking the law himself to make things right, once and for all.
A detective haunted by the past.
A race against time.
DCI Jonathan Walker is a senior detective for the Lancashire Constabulary in Northwest England. He’s haunted by events of the past and hell-bent on redemption--if he can stay healthy for long enough, that is.
After a body turns up in the sleepy village of Rufford, Walker returns from his leave of absence early, his experience deemed crucial for the case. But when it transpires the crime may be linked to a decades-old cold case involving the murder of his sister, the crime becomes he needs this—for his wife and kids, to make amends for past mistakes, and for the current victim—but he must toe the line if he isn’t to be thrown off the case.
When more people start to go missing and bodies turn up with the same bizarre signature, Walker and his team realize they have a serial killer on their hands. But time is running out if they want to save more people from dying, and one in particular, and Walker has to consider breaking the law himself to make things right, once and for all.
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First published July 8, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
October 24, 2023
The Icehouse is a fast paced, thriller that keeps you engaged. The opening chapter begins with a murder and ends with a cliffhanger that cleverly pulls you in!
DCI Walker is a likable character who has been on leave because of illness but is called back on duty because his experience is impertinent to the case.
When it turns out that the murderer has left the same trademarks as the cold case from 20 years ago when his sister was murdered, Walker is determined to find the killer.
Walker has the assistance of a brand new female officer PC Briggs. As the case proceeds there are many possible suspects and Walker and Briggs end up working well together.
What I especially liked about the book is that there was little downtime. There was always something happening and it kept you on your toes trying to figure out who the killer was.
Because it was an ebook I could only read it at certain times ( audiobooks I can listen to while I work) so I found myself staying up late, several nights, because each chapter brought on more suspense and I just couldn’t put it down. I finally ended up finishing one night at 2 am!
There was one scene I found pretty gross and offensive. It was a detailed account of a guy masturbating. I sped passed it and told myself if I came across another scene of that sort I was going to DNF it but there weren’t any others. Except for the one unnecessary part it was a pretty good book.
TW: death of animals. One intentional and another an accident.
Thanks to JJ Richards ,Simulacrum Press Publishers and BookSirens for the free book. My opinions are given voluntarily.
DCI Walker is a likable character who has been on leave because of illness but is called back on duty because his experience is impertinent to the case.
When it turns out that the murderer has left the same trademarks as the cold case from 20 years ago when his sister was murdered, Walker is determined to find the killer.
Walker has the assistance of a brand new female officer PC Briggs. As the case proceeds there are many possible suspects and Walker and Briggs end up working well together.
What I especially liked about the book is that there was little downtime. There was always something happening and it kept you on your toes trying to figure out who the killer was.
Because it was an ebook I could only read it at certain times ( audiobooks I can listen to while I work) so I found myself staying up late, several nights, because each chapter brought on more suspense and I just couldn’t put it down. I finally ended up finishing one night at 2 am!
There was one scene I found pretty gross and offensive. It was a detailed account of a guy masturbating. I sped passed it and told myself if I came across another scene of that sort I was going to DNF it but there weren’t any others. Except for the one unnecessary part it was a pretty good book.
TW: death of animals. One intentional and another an accident.
Thanks to JJ Richards ,Simulacrum Press Publishers and BookSirens for the free book. My opinions are given voluntarily.
October 1, 2023
Mm, I have mixed feelings about this police procedural.
The story starts off rock-solid and original by focussing on (the agony) of the victim being killed.
I also found the setting quite original.
There are, however, a few things that stood out to me, or bothered me; for instance, the rank of the relevant policeman is repeated endlessly on a regular basis. I also found it strange that Walker's type of medication (brand name) is being mentioned. Unless the author is a medical doctor or a pharmacist, such details should not be included in a book; or be kept generic, e.g. a penicillin course or an antibiotic.
The writing style is initially strong and mildly ironic in nature, later in the story I noticed that the writer is telling too much or explaining too much, sometimes in a judgemental tone. Why would it be odd for someone to have a tidy house? I found it peculiar that the police would bring home-baked muffins to a home visit. I would honestly find that very strange as well, and find Mrs Robinson's reaction completely justified. The misplaced joke and reference to Simon & Garfunkel was also somewhat blunt and highly inappropriate.
I found the comment about the skin colour of a police officer by no means appropriate and advise deleting such comments in future editions.
The writer needs to learn to keep an eye on main and side issues properly, now the investigation/interrogation of the local residents is sometimes interrupted by a train of thought from one of the officers.
I found the balance of the story a bit uneven at times. Sometimes dialogues are interspersed with too long elaborations, which for me took the pace out of the story. If I want to read a police procedural about a murder, I don't find it interesting to read that a cop had a wisdom tooth pulled. I would really delete such info. Writing is deleting.
The plot is otherwise fine, I found the setting in a Victorian ice house interesting enough to finish the book, but my advice to the author is to edit the story, and keep the narrative tighter.
*** -3 stars.
The story starts off rock-solid and original by focussing on (the agony) of the victim being killed.
I also found the setting quite original.
There are, however, a few things that stood out to me, or bothered me; for instance, the rank of the relevant policeman is repeated endlessly on a regular basis. I also found it strange that Walker's type of medication (brand name) is being mentioned. Unless the author is a medical doctor or a pharmacist, such details should not be included in a book; or be kept generic, e.g. a penicillin course or an antibiotic.
The writing style is initially strong and mildly ironic in nature, later in the story I noticed that the writer is telling too much or explaining too much, sometimes in a judgemental tone. Why would it be odd for someone to have a tidy house? I found it peculiar that the police would bring home-baked muffins to a home visit. I would honestly find that very strange as well, and find Mrs Robinson's reaction completely justified. The misplaced joke and reference to Simon & Garfunkel was also somewhat blunt and highly inappropriate.
I found the comment about the skin colour of a police officer by no means appropriate and advise deleting such comments in future editions.
The writer needs to learn to keep an eye on main and side issues properly, now the investigation/interrogation of the local residents is sometimes interrupted by a train of thought from one of the officers.
I found the balance of the story a bit uneven at times. Sometimes dialogues are interspersed with too long elaborations, which for me took the pace out of the story. If I want to read a police procedural about a murder, I don't find it interesting to read that a cop had a wisdom tooth pulled. I would really delete such info. Writing is deleting.
The plot is otherwise fine, I found the setting in a Victorian ice house interesting enough to finish the book, but my advice to the author is to edit the story, and keep the narrative tighter.
*** -3 stars.
July 20, 2023
HOLY CRAP. I’m a huge thriller fan and this.. WOW. YES. Had me HOOKED from the beginning! The twists and turns plus the overall plot line? Very original and I could not read fast enough
I received this ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
I received this ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
September 12, 2023
If you have read other reviews then you might find this as just a summary of most of them. The author has a good idea and good characters, but that is about all. While I can agree that the plot was interesting and the conclusions were not as obvious as some other police procedurals or mysteries, the author has a long way to go in technique and skill.
The passive voice has been commented on in other reviews, however, I must note that the mixing of passive and active was even more annoying than if the whole story had been written in the passive voice. Secondly, there are 12 major verb tenses in the English language, the author really needs to learn those that apply to standing and sitting, the whole world is not (was) stood or (was) sat. Hopefully the author or someone whom interacts with the author will read these reviews and can pass this tidbit along.... "He was stood by the car." This implies that someone or something picked up the "he" and placed them by the car. The same implication would exist for "he" being sat by or at the table.
Additionally, readers of this genre tend to be detail oriented, thus if the author cannot remember what he had the MC do 3 pages ago and thus TOTALLY contradicts that action 3 pages later, it tends to completely disrupt the reader, why, because they remember.
The use of an editor (a real person) and proofreader (again, a real person) should have prevented these technical writing skills errors. Advice for future endeavors; take a couple writing courses that focus on grammar and voice, use a proofreader and an editor.
*Received an ARC copy for review.
The passive voice has been commented on in other reviews, however, I must note that the mixing of passive and active was even more annoying than if the whole story had been written in the passive voice. Secondly, there are 12 major verb tenses in the English language, the author really needs to learn those that apply to standing and sitting, the whole world is not (was) stood or (was) sat. Hopefully the author or someone whom interacts with the author will read these reviews and can pass this tidbit along.... "He was stood by the car." This implies that someone or something picked up the "he" and placed them by the car. The same implication would exist for "he" being sat by or at the table.
Additionally, readers of this genre tend to be detail oriented, thus if the author cannot remember what he had the MC do 3 pages ago and thus TOTALLY contradicts that action 3 pages later, it tends to completely disrupt the reader, why, because they remember.
The use of an editor (a real person) and proofreader (again, a real person) should have prevented these technical writing skills errors. Advice for future endeavors; take a couple writing courses that focus on grammar and voice, use a proofreader and an editor.
*Received an ARC copy for review.
October 1, 2023
The Icehouse by J.J. Richards is a Lancashire Detective novel. There is a murderer on the loose. A Detective haunted by his past, when his younger sister was murdered. Who is also recovering from another dose of meningitis.
Walker returns from sick leave to run the murder investigation and find out whether the new murder is also linked to his sister’s historical murder case.
It is a long hard slog to find out who is responsible and at the end of the investigation Walker is worn out.
Recommended
Walker returns from sick leave to run the murder investigation and find out whether the new murder is also linked to his sister’s historical murder case.
It is a long hard slog to find out who is responsible and at the end of the investigation Walker is worn out.
Recommended
February 23, 2024
Way too much excess detail and words. The story didn’t get off to a good start, I wasn’t connecting with it. The writing needs work. Not for me.
September 20, 2024
Reminded me of Ian Rankin’s characters and plots. That IS a compliment. Good plot, terrific narration, excellent characterizations, and relatively clean. A win - win.
August 14, 2023
I downloaded this book which was offered as an Advanced Reader Copy so that I could read and review it. I am very pleased that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here is my honest review and I hope it is of help to prospective readers.
When I first started reading this book, I was a little concerned because it was a slow and heavy start and I found that some of the details seemed totally unnecessary. However, at the same time I could see promise in the plot and was keen to find out where it was going. Obviously, when an author starts a new series, they must spend time introducing the characters to the reader in a way that helps the reader enjoy the story more, and this is exactly what this author was doing in the beginning. So, not being a reader who gives up easily, I was determined to carry on. I am so very pleased that I didn’t give up, because all of a sudden the book came to life and things started to get interesting and exciting. As the pace continued to heighten, we were taken on a roller coaster ride, jumping from one possible suspect to the next, until we finally found out who the killer was and a plausible reason as to why they had killed. Until the end of course, when we discovered that the whole conclusion had taken a different turn and we are now left waiting to find out what will happen in the next of the series. The story itself was an excellent idea with lots to concentrate on and it certainly kept me reading into the night – although thankfully it didn’t manage to give me any nightmares.
I am definitely looking forward to book number two and am eager to find out what will happened to DCI Walker as his recovery and return to work continues.
When I first started reading this book, I was a little concerned because it was a slow and heavy start and I found that some of the details seemed totally unnecessary. However, at the same time I could see promise in the plot and was keen to find out where it was going. Obviously, when an author starts a new series, they must spend time introducing the characters to the reader in a way that helps the reader enjoy the story more, and this is exactly what this author was doing in the beginning. So, not being a reader who gives up easily, I was determined to carry on. I am so very pleased that I didn’t give up, because all of a sudden the book came to life and things started to get interesting and exciting. As the pace continued to heighten, we were taken on a roller coaster ride, jumping from one possible suspect to the next, until we finally found out who the killer was and a plausible reason as to why they had killed. Until the end of course, when we discovered that the whole conclusion had taken a different turn and we are now left waiting to find out what will happen in the next of the series. The story itself was an excellent idea with lots to concentrate on and it certainly kept me reading into the night – although thankfully it didn’t manage to give me any nightmares.
I am definitely looking forward to book number two and am eager to find out what will happened to DCI Walker as his recovery and return to work continues.
September 10, 2023
DCI Jonathan Walker is a senior officer in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Lancashire Constabulary. Returning from medical leave, Walker didn't expect the first investigation to take him back to a case that has haunted him throughout his 32 years in law enforcement: the murder of his sister. Will the signature at the crime scene lead him to justice for his sister and enable him to pick up the lost pieces of life with his wife and children? Coincidence or Copycat?
The intrigue began at the crime scene, and the investigation was filled with twists, detours, and surprises. The dental woes of DI Riley allowed PC Shelly Briggs to become DCI Walker's partner on the case. During the investigation, mutual respect was evident, and there was no doubt mentorship would go beyond a few days. The partnership is interesting as they offset each other in multiple ways.
A warm welcome to this partnership for all who love police procedural thrillers. As soon as I finished the novel, I decided to sign up for the author's newsletter. As the title captured my interest in Book 1, a website announcement provides excitement for the future,
The intrigue began at the crime scene, and the investigation was filled with twists, detours, and surprises. The dental woes of DI Riley allowed PC Shelly Briggs to become DCI Walker's partner on the case. During the investigation, mutual respect was evident, and there was no doubt mentorship would go beyond a few days. The partnership is interesting as they offset each other in multiple ways.
A warm welcome to this partnership for all who love police procedural thrillers. As soon as I finished the novel, I decided to sign up for the author's newsletter. As the title captured my interest in Book 1, a website announcement provides excitement for the future,
"Each book will feature a well-known landmark in Lancashire."Thank you to J.J. Richards, and LibraryThing for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
August 23, 2023
This was a very enjoyable read that even better, is the first in a new series. It's a good police procedural featuring DCI Walker who returns early from his sick leave when the body of a man is discovered in an old icehouse. His dog is found unharmed. Another body of a dog walker is discovered later, again with the dog unharmed. Things escalate then with the disappearance of a schoogirl.
I enjoyed this police procedural. It's a slow burn of a story but that didn't detract from anything as I enjoy these type of books and how the police methodically do their investigation. I wasn't quite sure about Walker for a while but he did grow on me. I liked Briggs immediately, wonderfully naive yet so much a people person. With several twists, I wasn't sure about where things were going and even when I figured things out, there was still some surprises to come. I do love surprises in a book.
Looking forward to seeing more of Walker and Briggs in future books. They have the makings of a great partnership.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this police procedural. It's a slow burn of a story but that didn't detract from anything as I enjoy these type of books and how the police methodically do their investigation. I wasn't quite sure about Walker for a while but he did grow on me. I liked Briggs immediately, wonderfully naive yet so much a people person. With several twists, I wasn't sure about where things were going and even when I figured things out, there was still some surprises to come. I do love surprises in a book.
Looking forward to seeing more of Walker and Briggs in future books. They have the makings of a great partnership.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2023
Book Sirens eARC. DCI Jonathan Walker has been on extended leave due to a chronic illness. When a body is found bludgeoned in a historic icehouse on a local sheep farm he is called back as his experience is needed. The victim has a cross of ashes on his forehead just like Walker's 8 year old sister decades ago. Hoping to find some answers about his sister he throws himself into the investigation risking his health. Set in gloomy rural Lancashire the setting adds atmosphere to the narrative and the residents seem to be as dour as the landscape. The characters seem to be a study on lives of hard breaks and how it affects the individual. When more bodies show up and a teen goes missing the tension builds and time is running out. This first entry in a series shows promise with an interesting protagonist and supporting cast.
August 2, 2023
With many thanks to Booksirens for this free ARC and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
This is a slow burner but worth sticking with as the last hour in the book the pace really ramps up. Good rapport between the two detectives - it did take me a while to take to Walker but Briggs I liked from the off. The author did a brilliant job of capturing her naivety. Some good descriptive narrative and a twisty end done well. Looks a promising start to a new series .
This is a slow burner but worth sticking with as the last hour in the book the pace really ramps up. Good rapport between the two detectives - it did take me a while to take to Walker but Briggs I liked from the off. The author did a brilliant job of capturing her naivety. Some good descriptive narrative and a twisty end done well. Looks a promising start to a new series .
February 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. The detail, twists in the storyline, and the characters kept you wanting to know who was the bad person! The narrator had a varied intonation which made listening to the story easy. I'm moving on to The Pike now and ready to see what case JJ Richards has DCI Walker and PC Briggs taking on next!
November 11, 2025
This was a rather simplistic detective novel.
July 13, 2024
I feel this author still has his L plates on. This was very much a work in progress. There are a whole lot of rookie errors, the worst being that the services of a good editor must have been completely overlooked. Grammatical errors were rife, as were spelling errors (here, here for 'hear, hear' and broach for the jewellery accessory 'brooch' amongst the many), two characters had momentary name changes and the continual use of the very incorrect 'was stood' and 'was sat' wore me down. Add to that the inexplicable use of Americanisms (gotten, math, meter) and, well...
And that's just for starters. DCI Walker and PC Briggs pair up to solve a seemingly ritualistic murder(s) and one that has alarming similarities to a cold case of particular interest to Walker. The irritating thing was Richards insisted on referring to Walker and Briggs and all their colleagues constantly with their titles. The reader is well aware of their positions by about the third or fourth reference, so the constant use of them was very tedious.
Although the dialogue is bland and awkward and sometimes a bit inane, the plot had legs until the rather silly and unbelievable ending.
Not a satisfying read and a very poorly edited one.
And that's just for starters. DCI Walker and PC Briggs pair up to solve a seemingly ritualistic murder(s) and one that has alarming similarities to a cold case of particular interest to Walker. The irritating thing was Richards insisted on referring to Walker and Briggs and all their colleagues constantly with their titles. The reader is well aware of their positions by about the third or fourth reference, so the constant use of them was very tedious.
Although the dialogue is bland and awkward and sometimes a bit inane, the plot had legs until the rather silly and unbelievable ending.
Not a satisfying read and a very poorly edited one.
September 14, 2023
I received a free copy of this book as a member of the ARC.
I am sorry that I can only give this book 2 stars. While the characters were likeable and the plot was engaging, the writing style grated and this spoiled my enjoyment of what could have been a good read.
It is set in Lancashire, so why do we have 'airplane' instead of 'aeroplane', 'math' instead of 'Maths' and refer to 'public school' rather than 'state school'?
And the constant use of 'gotten' and 'gunna' was so distracting (as well as ungrammatical) that I found myself counting the number of times they occurred on each page, rather than concentrating on the plot.
A number of other minor issues (inconsistencies, spelling errors etc) could have been sorted out by proper editing and proofreading.
However, with all the above addressed, there is the potential for an interesting series.
I am sorry that I can only give this book 2 stars. While the characters were likeable and the plot was engaging, the writing style grated and this spoiled my enjoyment of what could have been a good read.
It is set in Lancashire, so why do we have 'airplane' instead of 'aeroplane', 'math' instead of 'Maths' and refer to 'public school' rather than 'state school'?
And the constant use of 'gotten' and 'gunna' was so distracting (as well as ungrammatical) that I found myself counting the number of times they occurred on each page, rather than concentrating on the plot.
A number of other minor issues (inconsistencies, spelling errors etc) could have been sorted out by proper editing and proofreading.
However, with all the above addressed, there is the potential for an interesting series.
July 16, 2025
DNF
For those who want the ending:
Alan Smith was the killer. He killed the boy who drunkenly ran his car into their family, then killed Tom because his dog annoyed him. He killed Patricia because she was rude, and the girl, Emily, lived.
Also, he wasn't the one who killed Walkers sister, he just read about the ashes in a true crime book. That still remains unsolved.
I think he killed some golfers too, but honestly, I just don't care.
This book was so boring, I'm only putting this review up in case anyone else doesn't want to finish it, but still wants to know who the killer was.
For those who want the ending:
Alan Smith was the killer. He killed the boy who drunkenly ran his car into their family, then killed Tom because his dog annoyed him. He killed Patricia because she was rude, and the girl, Emily, lived.
Also, he wasn't the one who killed Walkers sister, he just read about the ashes in a true crime book. That still remains unsolved.
I think he killed some golfers too, but honestly, I just don't care.
This book was so boring, I'm only putting this review up in case anyone else doesn't want to finish it, but still wants to know who the killer was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
DCI Walker is called back from sick leave when a body is discovered in the old icehouse. When Walker visits the site he notices a cross drawn on the victim in ash. It links back to the cold of Walker's sisters murder years ago. As Walker and his team start to investigate another body is discovered. They are now hunting a serial killer. Will Walker finally get justice for his sister? A great thriller with twists and turns to keep you gripped.
October 29, 2024
I seem to have had a run of badly written books lately. This is the same as I couldn't finish it. DCI Walker irritated me no end. Why would he decide to solve a murder case with a lowly PC with no previous experience in detective work by his side when he had a perfectly capable DI to help him?
I found it very slow and boring and kept putting it down which is a sure sign for me that I wasn't enjoying it.
I found it very slow and boring and kept putting it down which is a sure sign for me that I wasn't enjoying it.
August 29, 2023
The Icehouse
This is a serviceable novel with no real flaws but no real hook for the reader.
This is a conventional English mystery that might appear on any of the BBC or Acorn feeds. It is leisurely paced and features characters who are at best languid.
If you are a fan of this sort of semi-cozy then this will work very well for you. If not perhaps you should look elsewhere.
I found the writer’s habit of giving the full rank and position of each character every time they appeared annoying. I knew after the first chapter who had what rank and served in what capacity.
But this was not as annoying as the lack of plot and pace. There was no tension in this investigation. The lead character has physical flaws and some mental baggage but this is never developed. Just mentioning a character’s challenges does not build any identity for that character.
The sidekick could have added interest and was in fact the most interesting character in the book, but was never developed enough to take off. Could this person be a catalyst for the awakening of stifled emotions? Could a relationship for between mentor and student? Could the attachment make possible a breakthrough to the old wounds? The writer offers no answers.
The Golden Rule of conflict fiction is the hero can only be as heroic as the villain allows him to be. In all the great conflicts novel, film, or even television, the villain plays a central role in making the reader/viewer pull for the hero. Could Holmes have become as lasting without Moriarty?
In Icehouse the villain is kept in the shadows until he is thrust on the scene for little reason. Even after he is revealed there is little for him to do. This story could have done with a bit more thought to building the tension by having the villain do some escalating crime, even directly attacking the central or secondary characters.
This lack of vigor on the villain’s part makes the end of the story a bit flat. Yes, the story threads are resolved save for the ancient loss, but there is no sense of satisfaction. It just gets packaged up and set under the table for someone to unwrap.
This is a story for the die-hard British detective fan, but for most, it will not connect.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a serviceable novel with no real flaws but no real hook for the reader.
This is a conventional English mystery that might appear on any of the BBC or Acorn feeds. It is leisurely paced and features characters who are at best languid.
If you are a fan of this sort of semi-cozy then this will work very well for you. If not perhaps you should look elsewhere.
I found the writer’s habit of giving the full rank and position of each character every time they appeared annoying. I knew after the first chapter who had what rank and served in what capacity.
But this was not as annoying as the lack of plot and pace. There was no tension in this investigation. The lead character has physical flaws and some mental baggage but this is never developed. Just mentioning a character’s challenges does not build any identity for that character.
The sidekick could have added interest and was in fact the most interesting character in the book, but was never developed enough to take off. Could this person be a catalyst for the awakening of stifled emotions? Could a relationship for between mentor and student? Could the attachment make possible a breakthrough to the old wounds? The writer offers no answers.
The Golden Rule of conflict fiction is the hero can only be as heroic as the villain allows him to be. In all the great conflicts novel, film, or even television, the villain plays a central role in making the reader/viewer pull for the hero. Could Holmes have become as lasting without Moriarty?
In Icehouse the villain is kept in the shadows until he is thrust on the scene for little reason. Even after he is revealed there is little for him to do. This story could have done with a bit more thought to building the tension by having the villain do some escalating crime, even directly attacking the central or secondary characters.
This lack of vigor on the villain’s part makes the end of the story a bit flat. Yes, the story threads are resolved save for the ancient loss, but there is no sense of satisfaction. It just gets packaged up and set under the table for someone to unwrap.
This is a story for the die-hard British detective fan, but for most, it will not connect.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 17, 2023
A body turns up in an icehouse in the sleepy village of Rufford in Lancashire, and DCI Jonathan Walker is brought back early from sick leave (following a major debilitating illness). It soon becomes apparent that the murder has a lot of similarities to the murder of Walker’s sister many years before, and which is yet unsolved; therefore this has just become personal for him.
I felt the book took a while to get into but this was totally understandable and needed, as it was the first book in a new series and the main characters had to be introduced and some context given to their personal lives. I feel this was well done and was cleverly weaved into the main storyline which moved forward at the same time.
I liked the main character and the PC he had working with him, and I hope to see that the two of them continue to work together in other books in the series as I feel she was a good foil to the main character and complemented him well. I do however feel I am yet to get to know some of the other supporting characters, which I am sure will happen as the series develops.
I felt this was a good storyline that kept you engaged in the book throughout, and I felt there was good pace in the story once we had got to know the main characters. I also feel there was good dialogue, which for me is key in a good murder mystery book. It also came to a good and tense conclusion, which included some good action.
Overall I felt this was a good introduction to a new series, a series set in a new area compared to a lot of other Murder mystery books. I definitely look forward to continuing the series and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good detective series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I felt the book took a while to get into but this was totally understandable and needed, as it was the first book in a new series and the main characters had to be introduced and some context given to their personal lives. I feel this was well done and was cleverly weaved into the main storyline which moved forward at the same time.
I liked the main character and the PC he had working with him, and I hope to see that the two of them continue to work together in other books in the series as I feel she was a good foil to the main character and complemented him well. I do however feel I am yet to get to know some of the other supporting characters, which I am sure will happen as the series develops.
I felt this was a good storyline that kept you engaged in the book throughout, and I felt there was good pace in the story once we had got to know the main characters. I also feel there was good dialogue, which for me is key in a good murder mystery book. It also came to a good and tense conclusion, which included some good action.
Overall I felt this was a good introduction to a new series, a series set in a new area compared to a lot of other Murder mystery books. I definitely look forward to continuing the series and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good detective series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 12, 2023
Overall, this is an interesting book. It does start a bit slowly, though, and there were other parts of the story that dragged on a bit. It probably could have been about 15-20 pages shorter without the plot being negatively impacted.
It also includes several really long paragraphs. I read the book on my Kindle, and maybe they wouldn't have felt so long in a traditional paperback format. As it was, the long paragraphs sometimes made it hard to read because a paragraph would start on one screen, drag through the whole next screen, and then end on a third screen. Some of these long paragraphs could have easily been condensed or separated into two or more paragraphs.
The plot was great. I found myself guessing throughout the story who would turn out to be the killer. About a chapter and a half before the killer was revealed, it hit me who it was. I just wasn't sure of the motive.
This book does include swearing. I've read books with a lot more swearing, though. There are a few little sexual innuendos, but nothing that's likely to make a reader uncomfortable or that would cause most people to quit reading the book. There are a few characters who are brutally murdered, but the details of those murders are behind-the-scenes. I'd consider the violence on the upper end of mild when it comes to a murder mystery novel. If you enjoy murder mysteries, you're unlikely to be bothered by any of the murders.
I received a free ARC of this book through BookSirens, and I am voluntarily leaving a review of this book.
It also includes several really long paragraphs. I read the book on my Kindle, and maybe they wouldn't have felt so long in a traditional paperback format. As it was, the long paragraphs sometimes made it hard to read because a paragraph would start on one screen, drag through the whole next screen, and then end on a third screen. Some of these long paragraphs could have easily been condensed or separated into two or more paragraphs.
The plot was great. I found myself guessing throughout the story who would turn out to be the killer. About a chapter and a half before the killer was revealed, it hit me who it was. I just wasn't sure of the motive.
This book does include swearing. I've read books with a lot more swearing, though. There are a few little sexual innuendos, but nothing that's likely to make a reader uncomfortable or that would cause most people to quit reading the book. There are a few characters who are brutally murdered, but the details of those murders are behind-the-scenes. I'd consider the violence on the upper end of mild when it comes to a murder mystery novel. If you enjoy murder mysteries, you're unlikely to be bothered by any of the murders.
I received a free ARC of this book through BookSirens, and I am voluntarily leaving a review of this book.
September 5, 2023
DCI Jonathan Walker is just returning to work in Lancashire after a long medical leave, and his first case is a doozy: a murdered man with an ash-made cross on his forehead. His superintendent knows that Walker’s young sister was found murdered with just such a mark some 30 years ago, and that Walker still holds out hope of finding the killer; this fresh death might provide new leads for that cold case. But before too long there are more deaths, and the possibility of a serial killer becomes a nightmare for all…. Oh dear, I really wanted to like this book, if only because I like to encourage new writers and I had not come across a police procedural in the setting of Lancashire before. The problems range from minor-but-irritating (the contraction for “going to” is NOT “gunna,” it’s “gonna”; “her and the super get up together” - paraphrase - is poor grammar) to odd (the CID officer gives a major role to a PC, despite there being DCs available) to ignorance (the author apparently doesn’t know what a “public school” is in the English context) to a great deal of repetition (from constantly reminding the reader of each character’s rank to having several identical chases by a single officer going after a different “prime suspect”). Sigh. At least the places mentioned actually do exist (I checked). I won’t be looking for any more of this planned series, though of course your reaction may vary.
September 27, 2023
DCI Jonathan Walker is returning to work after a long sick leave. A body is found from a local icehouse. On the forehead of the body is a cross of ash, the same symbol that was on the forehead of Walker's little sister when she was killed over thirty years ago. Soon there is another body and then a girl goes missing. Walker needs to catch the killer and find out if they are behind his sisters murder also.
This is a good police procedural set in Lancashire. Lots of interesting characters and dogs too. PC Briggs, who was partnered with Walker for her excellent people skills despite the lack of experience, was my favorite character. Walker is haunted by the trauma of what happened to his sister and also his deteorating health. I did not connect with him at all, but he seems like a decent character.
The writing style was nice, but clumsy at places. Sometimes the word order seemed wrong, perhaps being charasteristic to that particular area of England? The story is told from the viewpoint of several characters and the chapters are just the right length to keep things interesting.
I thank the author and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for a copy of this book.
This is a good police procedural set in Lancashire. Lots of interesting characters and dogs too. PC Briggs, who was partnered with Walker for her excellent people skills despite the lack of experience, was my favorite character. Walker is haunted by the trauma of what happened to his sister and also his deteorating health. I did not connect with him at all, but he seems like a decent character.
The writing style was nice, but clumsy at places. Sometimes the word order seemed wrong, perhaps being charasteristic to that particular area of England? The story is told from the viewpoint of several characters and the chapters are just the right length to keep things interesting.
I thank the author and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for a copy of this book.
September 12, 2023
The introduction is a real grabber! It's a bit elusive and the reader isn't sure what they're witnessing at first - I loved the unique opening.
I'm thinking this is going to be an excellent English detective series. Several of the characters who I THINK will be returning were fleshed out well. Our author definitely sends out some red herrings as to the perpetrator(s) and kept me on the wrong track.
I also appreciate the closure that the epilogue provides the reader that we usually don't receive.
Now, for the storyline - sleepy English village with not one, but two similar murders in a short span of time. The main character is called off of sick leave (I'm wondering where this storyline of his illness is going to take us in future books) to help out. Wildly, the new murders have a strong outward connection to a personal cold case from two decades ago. Are they connected? Or is it wishful thinking that he'll solve more than the current murders?
A very well-written mystery with offerings of more installments to come.
I'm thinking this is going to be an excellent English detective series. Several of the characters who I THINK will be returning were fleshed out well. Our author definitely sends out some red herrings as to the perpetrator(s) and kept me on the wrong track.
I also appreciate the closure that the epilogue provides the reader that we usually don't receive.
Now, for the storyline - sleepy English village with not one, but two similar murders in a short span of time. The main character is called off of sick leave (I'm wondering where this storyline of his illness is going to take us in future books) to help out. Wildly, the new murders have a strong outward connection to a personal cold case from two decades ago. Are they connected? Or is it wishful thinking that he'll solve more than the current murders?
A very well-written mystery with offerings of more installments to come.
August 4, 2023
I want to start off by saying that I do think this book was very well written. I think that J.J. Richards writes with great attention to detail. For me personally, the book was a little longer than I would have liked. It seemed to drag out a little bit and there were a lot of secondary characters to follow. I was left wanting when it wasn't tied up nice and neat at the end. For that reason, I will read the next book if there is one because I want to see Walker get his bad guy. I did really enjoy the relationship between Walker and Briggs. I'd like to see that relationship develop more. I would be disappointed if it turned romantic because I thought they had a great start to a friendship. I also really like getting into the mind of the killer, so the little teaser into his mind that makes me want a novella about him or maybe to have him come back in some way. It was a little long but I didn't want to stop reading it either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2023
Gruesome, But Engrossing
I don't enjoy murder as much as I used to, but chose to read The Ice House anyway because other novels by this author have been real gems. Immersion into the tense atmosphere of Richards' British police procedural serial killer investigation was quick and it was a page-turner until the end.
I don't think that the main character, DCI Jonathan Walker, was meant to be likable. Walker has plenty of true reasons to be unhappy, but I don't think I could tolerate working with him. Determination is a good trait for an investigator, but it's often accompanied by habits that close more doors than it opens.
Pairing him with PC Shelly Briggs was brilliant. She's not an experienced investigator, but fresh eyes are sometimes key. Briggs is capable of expressing empathy, a refreshing skill that Walker lacks. Her warmth and humanity took the edge off of Walker's self-absorption.
Aside from Briggs, daughters and dogs were among the more appealing characters throughout the book. Skelmersdale may have been a nice neighborhood, but some of the residents presented themselves like murders waiting to happen. And they do! The Ice House is suspenseful and a good read.
Thank you to author JJ Richards, Simulacrum Press, and BookFunnel for the opportunity to read a free advance reader's copy of The Ice House. I'm under no obligation to them and have given my enthusiastic recommendation honestly.
I don't enjoy murder as much as I used to, but chose to read The Ice House anyway because other novels by this author have been real gems. Immersion into the tense atmosphere of Richards' British police procedural serial killer investigation was quick and it was a page-turner until the end.
I don't think that the main character, DCI Jonathan Walker, was meant to be likable. Walker has plenty of true reasons to be unhappy, but I don't think I could tolerate working with him. Determination is a good trait for an investigator, but it's often accompanied by habits that close more doors than it opens.
Pairing him with PC Shelly Briggs was brilliant. She's not an experienced investigator, but fresh eyes are sometimes key. Briggs is capable of expressing empathy, a refreshing skill that Walker lacks. Her warmth and humanity took the edge off of Walker's self-absorption.
Aside from Briggs, daughters and dogs were among the more appealing characters throughout the book. Skelmersdale may have been a nice neighborhood, but some of the residents presented themselves like murders waiting to happen. And they do! The Ice House is suspenseful and a good read.
Thank you to author JJ Richards, Simulacrum Press, and BookFunnel for the opportunity to read a free advance reader's copy of The Ice House. I'm under no obligation to them and have given my enthusiastic recommendation honestly.
September 19, 2023
When DCI Jonathan Walker is called back from his sick leave, it is to work a murder investigation that has eerie similarities to the unsolved murder of his own sister years ago. Still, Walker is determined to remain impartial, not letting his heart lead the investigation, but rather, the facts. Sometimes that’s impossible.
Dark and broody, both the book and the main character, I found this book consuming. And as dark as DCI Walker is, PC Shelly Briggs is just the opposite. She keeps Walker grounded and pointed in the right direction. Together they make a formidable pair.
Both the characters and the plot grabbed my attention and held on with a vengeance throughout the story. I wanted the killer to be the one responsible for the earlier murder of Walker’s sister. I wanted his to get his closure. But that wasn’t the case. However, it is the beginning of a much longer story arc…hopefully.
Gritty and fast-paced. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Dark and broody, both the book and the main character, I found this book consuming. And as dark as DCI Walker is, PC Shelly Briggs is just the opposite. She keeps Walker grounded and pointed in the right direction. Together they make a formidable pair.
Both the characters and the plot grabbed my attention and held on with a vengeance throughout the story. I wanted the killer to be the one responsible for the earlier murder of Walker’s sister. I wanted his to get his closure. But that wasn’t the case. However, it is the beginning of a much longer story arc…hopefully.
Gritty and fast-paced. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
September 13, 2023
The Icehouse: A Lancashire Detective Mystery (DCI Walker Crime Thrillers) by JJ Richards is a well-written book and a great read. This is a detective story set in England, with many mysterious murders. The main character is an older investigator who is recovering from an illness, and the killings remind him of how his sister was murdered, so he is desperate to solve the case, hoping he will be able to apprehend the killer of his sister. He is not an entirely likeable character but that's okay, it makes him more human and interesting. Throughout the novel, the evidence points in numerous different directions, leading the reader to become immersed in the story, and it is engaging, albeit a little sluggish in spots. However, this is a solid read and a main character that can certainly be expanded upon in follow-up books. Recommended.
January 9, 2025
This was a very good mystery novel set in England involving a serial killer whose MO was very similar to the type of death suffered by Detective Walker's sister many years ago...a murder which haunted him and had led to his marriage breakdown. After pursuing some false leads, Walker and his assistant PC Briggs finally zeroed in on the real culprit, a man whose daughter had been hit by a drunk driver and was confined to a wheelchair and permanenly traumatized. The result was the trigger for a killing spree by a father eager for revenge, not just on the drunk driver, whom he killed but on anyone who displeased him, including Tom Woods whose body he left in an icehouse. After his capture and imprisonment, he confided to Walker months later, that he now felt freedom for the first time in his life.
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