L'Assassinio del Cimitero: I Delitti dello Yorkshire, Libro 4

The Yorkshire Murders #4

by Wes Markin, Peter Fletcher (Translator)

Nel cimitero di Harrogate, i morti non riposano in pace.

Perfetto per i lettori di Massimo Carlotto, Donato Carrisi e Maurizio de Giovanni.

Un caso vecchio di decenni... Quando il corpo di Penny Maiden viene trovato riesumato dalla sua tomba dopo quarant'anni, l'Ispettore Capo Emma Gardner sa che qualcuno ha un conto in sospeso. La quindicenne fu uccisa in un investimento mortale nel 1984, e il suo assassino non fu mai trovato. Ma ora qualcuno ha disseppellito i suoi resti con cura chirurgica.

Un ispettore che sta perdendo tutto... L'Ispettore Paul Riddick sta cadendo a pezzi. Determinato a portare davanti alla giustizia una pericolosa banda di spacciatori, cerca disperatamente di rispettare le regole dopo le sue precedenti azioni sconsiderate. Ma quando la sua vita privata si trasforma in un incubo, la sua ossessione per la giustizia diventa pericolosa. È diventato imprevedibile. Violento. E potrebbe essere proprio quello che il killer stava aspettando.

Emma ha bisogno di Paul lucido per fermare un assassino determinato a completare la sua vendetta. Ma Paul non è più l'uomo che conosceva, e ogni sua decisione potrebbe costare la vita a qualcuno.

Mentre la tensione sale tra le tombe di Harrogate, Emma deve fare una scelta fidarsi di un uomo che sta perdendo la ragione, o lasciare che un assassino completi la sua vendetta quarantennale.

Perché in questa tomba a cielo aperto, anche i vivi rischiano di non uscirne mai più.

Cosa dicono i lettori di Wes

«Inizio travolgente per una serie avvincente. Colpi di scena, brividi e suspense. Me ne sono innamorato.» - Autore bestseller Ross Greenwood

«Markin lascia senza fiato con quest'ultima opera... Buio e profondo da capogiro, capisci subito che non è roba per cuori deboli. Trama intricata, colpi di scena diabolici e personaggi eccezionali portano questa storia a un livello superiore. Un must per gli amanti del crime!» - Autore bestseller Owen Mullen

«Una serie poliziesca che spezza i nervi e fa battere il cuore.» - Autore bestseller TG Reid

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Procedural, British Literature

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2024

About the author

Be sure to follow Wes on BookBub for the latest on sales: bit.ly/3tFWIHL

Wes Markin lives in Harrogate and is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels set in Salisbury. He is also the author of the Jake Pettman series set in New England.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book in which I wish the publisher and/or NetGalley would have noted that this book is part of a series.

A cold case, decades old, gets another look when a grave is exhumed. A grave that has investigators asking more questions and looking for answers. DCI Emma Gardner is on the case, and she must ask DI Paul Riddick, a man who has hurt her in the past, to help her with this case. But can she trust him?

There is a lot packed into the 427 pages of this book. A hit and run accident, a grieving father, drugs, bullying and criminal activity to name a few. The investigators have a lot to weed through in the search for the truth. The book takes place in the present and 40 years ago.

This was a well written and well thought out book, which I enjoyed. As I mentioned there is a lot going on in this book, and the author did a great job bringing things together. I just wished that I knew more about backstories, etc. I am an outlier for this book and many who have read the previous books love this book so please read their reviews as well.


Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Karen Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5.0

My first comment when I finished the book was… wtf is going on. The last 100 pages felt like I was on a rollercoaster with no end, doing all sorts. I’m confused, I’m still processing but also not really understanding why what just happened, happened and why the last 25 pages felt like i was reading a different book. First of all, i think this book was the ‘messier’ of the book, it felt like the main plot had merged with the subplot but that was pushed aside for the main spotlight: Gardener and Riddick’s turmoil of a friendship/relationship. You won’t understand this book if you haven’t read the books in order, the books display the character development of both but also the heavy personal struggles each are going through.

I’m kind of frustrated with the events near the end, it felt like it came out of no where, throughout this plot this ‘shadowy figure’ in the presence throughout Gardeners investigation shows up and it doesn’t make sense. It feels super random and really out of place, and to throw more in the mix it ties in with her past. It feels very much forced and unnatural. I also found the ending to be a very open ending up for interpretation. As an avid reader invested in the series, it feels sometimes when I’m reading the book and the series I’m on a journey that doesn’t have an end destination, similar to a car having no control and no driver.

I also have a bone to pick with the order of the plot and chapters. So much is happening, well three investigations happening in one go- one historic and one outside of the Knaresborough location. I found how the chapter transitioning to the different cases really awkward and would end up stalling the momentum that was built up. I can see the potential of the book and the series but it’s when the plot is over complicated it’s hard to connect and appreciate the plot. Very mixed about this book, I have reserved the next book so we shall see how that goes….

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess this book stands alone but I probably recommend reading them in order. This story jumps back and forth between years which I found confusing and made me loose interest. There’s too many characters to keep track of. I did think it started out good but just fell apart and went on and on. I really had a hard time getting into the story.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** four and a half shiny stars

Gritty and dark, this fourth installment in the Yorkshire Murders series is my first by this author, working well as a stand-alone read. With shades of Ian Rankin, this is a world of drug lords and bosses, rival gangs and enforced loyalties, haves and have-nots, the universally-suffering arm of revenge, and perhaps most of all, the cold clear brutality of new youth. Peopled with a complex and intricately-related cast of characters, this is a plot that winds and weaves its way across broken families and decades.

The story (or actually stories, each twisting and turning to eventually intertwine) are alternately narrated by DCI Emma Gardner, a compassionate yet deeply practical outsider now seconded to Knaresborough, North Yorkshire; and DI Paul Riddick, a haunted, grieving, and troubled man, prone to unpredictable blasts of emotion that take him to desperate and dangerous places.

When a decomposed skeleton is discovered, unearthed and displayed on a graveyard tombstone, Emma’s team and their investigation trip upon a series of events, beginning with a hit-and-run in 1980, winding through a stash of unicorn-stamped ecstasy and its holders, and always, more bodies, as hidden wounds exposed now run deep in new trauma inflicted.

An absorbing, powerful, immersive read, with a cliff-hanger of an ending that is guaranteed to leave a reader wanting more - this is an author this reader will definitely be reading more of.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Graveyard Killings - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

A gritty police procedural, The Graveyard Killings starts with not one, but three eponymous deaths.
SIO Paul Riddick has sunk into depression after personal issues changed his life and are about to do so again, very differently in this instance.
His newly-arrived boss and sometime close friend, DCI Emma Gardner, despairs of his gruff exterior and forceful interactions with suspects but still values him as a colleague ...and maybe more?
Currently the duo and their team are working intensely on Operation Red Cascade and the unrelated discovery of a man's body found in the same cemetery.
Outside influences of county lines drug-running and those involved in it, lead to more deaths before any conclusion can be reached, and the resulting web of secrets and lies leaves at least one relationship unresolved.
What's next?
Get a copy of The Graveyard Killings by Wes Markin today, to find out!

[Angie Jones-Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a complex investigation, the team have their own personal battles to deal with as history comes to the forefront of everyone's minds.

A detailed read with a lot to take in. Murders to solve, and personal vendetta to get to the bottom of.

A well written thriller.

[Nicola Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hit instalment for me. Always happy to read about Gardner, Riddick and the team.
This has a multi layered plot line, which was carefully woven to create the bigger picture. Very cleverly done.
I like a series in order and there is so much history in this one that I think it’s worth looking back before reading this.
Would recommend.

[Lydia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theme and set-up always seems to be similar, book to book. Vengeance and bullying. This needs to change but I will trudge on to the next book in hope...

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5* Review of The Graveyard Killings. I always look forward to reading Wes Markin's books and this one certainly lived up to my expectations. I don't mind violence and horror in books but some people don't. If you are in the latter category you will be pleased to know that Wes has toned it down a bit in this book but it is by no means a cosy murder mystery. The story starts in the early 1980's, when a young woman is brutally murdered, a murder that was never solved. Forty years later her exhumed remains are found on her mother's grave. DCI Emma Gardener is the lead investigator, and drugs are thought to be involved, without going into too much detail our old friend DI Paul Riddick is brought in to help as he is working on a drugs case that might prove to be connected. A fast-paced entertaining read

[Pat K · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed this series, but not this one. I DNF at chapter 16, so I gave it a fair chance.
There are multiple timelines, which was confusing. There were vague but important references to events which occurred in earlier books, but even though I’d read all the book, I couldn’t follow what was happening. It felt very disjointed, and the main character’s internal voice is constantly disrupting the story.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

1980 and Penny Maiden’s father Dean is late picking her up from her church book group. He freezes as he sees the blue lights and learns she has been killed in a hit and run walking home. Her killer is not caught. 2023 and in Knaresborough cemetery teenagers up to no good find Penny’s body pulled from its grave and left on her mother’s plot. In Penny’s grave now lies the body of a local hero, Howard Walters. Could someone be trying to implicate him in Penny’s death? 2024 and only eight months later with Howard’s murder still unsolved, the bodies of two young adults are discovered in the same graveyard. DCI Emma Gardner in Harrogate has to wonder if all these deaths are connected. Meanwhile in Bradford DI Paul Riddick has problems of his own as Nathan Cummings, the gang leader he believes guilty of a brutal attack on a cuckooed young man, once again gets away with a crime. Riddick locks horns with Cummings who is found dead hours later. As their investigations progress, a link materialises between the cases and the paths of these two detectives cross again. Emma and Riddick stopped working together after she learned that he had a man killed and as he fights his alcohol addiction and more pressure piles onto his home life, she needs him but can she afford to trust him? But then again, can she afford not to?
The earlier chapters of the story move between three timelines, two of them only a few months apart which is a little confusing at times when many of the same characters are involved. Although this can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I would certainly recommend reading these books order to follow the character progression and history that has built up since the start, much of which is referred to in this book. Emma and Riddick had previously built up a strong friendship and she had saved him from himself in the past but his admission about the man responsible for the death of his family had broken their bond. Riddick’s paranoia and downward spiral is particularly well told by the author, as is Emma’s continuing guilt over Collette’s death and her fear of the truth about her mysterious stalker. The chemistry between Emma and Riddick is as good as ever in this dark tale of murder, loss and heartbreak. This story will appeal to readers who love a good solid and beautifully crafted police procedural with a clever and complex plot, lots of interwoven threads and some very likeable detectives. I am already looking forward to book five, The Winter Killings.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Graveyard Killings by Wes Markin is a fabulous contemporary murder suspense that completely consumed me. It is the fourth book in The Yorkshire Murders series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the previous books first for continuity, understanding and character progression.
Once more, I returned to Bradford and Knaresborough as I met up with familiar faces. Policing is in safe hands as we see the relentless pursuit of justice and for answers.
The search for closure is not just found within the law enforcement agencies but individuals need answers too.
A cold case is quite literally unearthed as the search for the truth continues.
We meet a father who has been guilt-ridden and grieving for years after a terrible accident robbed him of his daughter. Time is running out as his health is deteriorating and he needs to know the truth before he dies.
The criminal underworld is brutal and selfish. Youngsters are rising up who terrify others. Older criminals still have a hand in activities too. The young, the old, the rich, the poor – crime has no boundaries. We witness a character trying to make atonement – but there can be no atonement for taking a life.
Corruption is found at the lowest and highest levels of society. Those with power and money can easily bride and cover up crimes.
There is the cruelty of youth. They bully in person and online. There is no escape for the victims. Many follow the crowd and no one speaks up for the innocent.
All the characters were well drawn ad realistic. They elicit a variety of responses – from respect to disgust.
Darkness covers evil deeds that need coming into the light.
Once more, Wes Markin has thoroughly entertained me. I was glued and guessing. Parallel stories draw the reader in. The Graveyard Killings, along with the other books in the series would make a marvellous television series. It would certainly be very binge worthy.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of The Graveyard Killings, the fourth novel to feature DCI Emma Gardner based in Knaresborough and DI Paul Riddick based in Bradford.

In 2023 the remains of Penny Maiden, killed in a hit and run in 1980, are dug up and left on her mother’s grave in Knaresborough Cemetery. In 2024 the bodies of two teenagers are found beaten to death in the same cemetery. Emma is investigating the murder of the teenagers, which according to management has nothing to do with the prior incident. She finds that she needs Paul’s help when she finds links to his current investigation in Bradford.

The Graveyard Killings did not hold my attention. There is a well conceived story in there with plenty of variables offering room for speculation, but I didn’t enjoy the format. The present day narrative switches between, mostly, Emma and Paul with Penny’s father, Dean, contributing. The novel also flashes back to 1980 on a regular basis to examine events surrounding Penny’s death from Dean’s perspective. This gives the reader a comprehensive overview of events, while leaving enough unknowns to hook the reader. It’s not an approach that holds my attention as I like an immersive experience told by one narrator, instead of trying to keep up with an abundance of detail that initially seems unrelated. This is too choppy for me to get involved, flitting endlessly from situation to situation. If, however, this format appeals I think readers are in for a treat as it builds a complicated web of interaction with some unexpected twists.

Paul Riddick carries a lot of baggage, so it would probably be better to read the novels in order to get the full measure of his self destructive tendencies and the reason for them. I get no pleasure from reading about a character who seems destined to be ruled by his past and unable to move forward. It’s more of the same in this novel. One the other hand I like Emma, who is a competent human being and seems able to cope with anything but Paul.

The Graveyard Killings is not for me.

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Graveyard Killings’ is a thrilling read, packed full of realistic storylines and a jaw dropping finale! This is the fourth book in this brilliant series and although you could pick this up as a stand-alone novel you might be best starting from the beginning as there is a lot of background to the two main characters that enhances the plot. I thoroughly recommend this series and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed if you are a crime fan!

The skeletal remains of a young woman who died in a hit and run decades ago has been exhumed and placed on her mother’s grave. In her grave is the body of a local garage owner. DCI Emma Gardner is stumped and the case remains unsolved. In the same cemetery a year later two bodies are found placed on a bench - are the cases related?! DI Paul Riddrick is on his last chance and is trying to play by the rules but he is desperate to bring down a local gang as he failed a cuckoo victim, leading him to get hurt.

I really love the relationship between Emma and Paul - the friendship and the ‘will they won’t they’ aspect. But it’s the unquestioning support they give each other which I have found fascinating over the series and after the last book’s revelation I wasn’t sure you would still have this aspect. Both are damaged in their own ways and whilst I love them together, I don’t want them to get together romantically! I like their pure friendship.

Both sections of the plots were enough for one book themselves and the inclusion of both made this outing jam packed of action and tension. I was more into the drugs and Riddick’s plotline and I definitely didn't see that outcome coming!! I literally gasped out loud! Wes doesn't pull any punches when it comes to how dark his work is and this book is no different. It makes for an exciting and fascinating read. Plus, we have that massive cliffhanger for Emma and hopefully the next book will dive straight into that.

Let me know if you pick this one up!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story:
In 1980, 17-year-old Penny Maiden is killed in a hit-and-run accident that is never solved. More than 40 years later, her body is removed from its grave and placed by her own mother’s headstone. In Penny’s grave, DCI Emma Gardner and her team discover another body, this one far more recent…

When another murder occurs in the graveyard a year later, DCI Gardner is forced to consider whether they are connected. But how? And if so, why has the murderer decided to strike now?

My thoughts:
“The Graveyard Killings” by Wes Marlon, is the fourth instalment in the author’s Yorkshire Murders series, and picks up from the events of the previous book (“The Crying Cave Killings”). After the dramatic events of that book, DI Paul Riddick is no longer working alongside DCI Emma Gardner, and is now working for Bradford CID, living with his former grief counsellor Claire. Gardner, who hasn’t spoken to Riddick in a year, is trying to make a more settled life for her daughter and niece (who she has now adopted), although her own past — the very thing that led to her relocation to Yorkshire in the first place — seems to be coming back to haunt her.

Moving between time periods, we learn about a tragic hit-and-run accident and its aftermath. Then in 2023 and 2024, there are two seemingly separate murder cases, their only link being their location in a Knaresborough cemetery. The first seems to have its roots in the past, working class families and the events of 1980, while the second has much more modern links, involving drugs, gangs and middle-class teenagers.

But when the two cases are drawn together, Gardner finds herself working alongside Riddick once again, as he fills in the Knaresborough team on the CID’s county lines investigations. It was great to see the pair together again, I think they have such great chemistry, despite all the complications in both of their lives.

This was a great instalment in the series, although not without tragedy in its conclusion. The intriguing character of Gardner’s brother Jack also continues to rumble along in the background, with a new titbit of information that he might not be all that he seems… Overall, an exciting and dramatic case for Gardner and Riddick that leaves us on quite the cliffhanger, so I hope it’s not too long to wait to find out where the story goes next!

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in this excellent series and, although the main story is self-contained, you would have a better all round experience if you start from book one and read in order...
So... This time we start with a skeletonised body which has been exhumed from its grave. It has been position in an interesting place too. Emma starts her investigation and is swiftly taken back to the past as the body is identified as that belonging to Penny Maiden who was killed in a hit and run, the driver having never been caught. Interesting also is what has replaced her in her grave.
Meanwhile, DI Paul Riddick is still flying by the seat of his pants and trying and failing to stick within the rules as he works to bring a drug gang to justice. Even though he in last chance saloon. Which is a bit rubbish really as it soon becomes evident that Emma needs his help in her case. Trust really does become an issue...
And so begins a rather interesting and intriguing set of cases both in the present and the past weaving expertly around each other as they meander towards the final denouement. It's as horrific as it is intriguing and no punches are pulled by the author which you will already know if you have also read his other series (also highly recommended) although not quite as dark.
Characters are all well drawn and play their parts well, both main and supporting, series and episode. The story is well plotted and that plot well executed and kept me on my toes throughout. Leaving me with a jaw dropping but satisfying conclusion. Leaving me hotly anticipating the next book.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Joanna Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Graveyard Killings is the fourth in The Yorkshire Murders series. It is an absorbing crime thriller with all of the twists, turns and surprises I’ve come to expect with DCI Emma Gardner and her team. This time she’s without DI Paul Riddick, who has been transferred to Bradford. The story begins in 1980 with the hit and run which kills seventeen year old Penny Maiden, before moving to present day, when Penny’s remains are discovered lying on her mother’s grave. Moving between 1980 and present day, the links between the past and what is going on in the present are gradually revealed. Nevertheless, there are moments when Emma and her team find themselves struggling to make connections. To assist in the investigation into an influx of contaminated drugs, she enlists the help of DI Riddick, whose patch covers the area where the gangs operate.

It’s clear despite past events, Emma and Riddick still have that emotional link, but as the story draws to a conclusion, unexpectedly, they are parted once more. The ending leaves some unanswered questions, and I look forward to the next book, when hopefully some of them may be answered.

The Graveyard Killings, as all the other Wes Markin novels I have read, gripped from the first page and there were times when I really found it difficult to put down. An excellent thriller.

I would like to thank Boldwood, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Graveyard Killings in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another brilliant read by a truly brilliant writer.
I've read all of Wes' books to date, and although he toned down the darkness for this series, it doesn't take away from the action or brilliant storytelling.
This is set over 40 years, with stories in the 1980s, 2023, and 2024.
It's quite a sad story, in some ways. The loss of a daughter and the impact on the family, the abuse of a disabled young man. It also shows the impact of guilt.
It also features county lines, potent drugs, and a gang and a sleazy politician or 2.
Emma Gardener and Paul Riddick both feature and must join their knowledge to try and figure it out whilst also dealing with the many emotions left behind after Paul left to go to Bradford.
I like the way Wes guides the reader through the story, you have slightly more knowledge than the detectives so you don't get lost along the way, but not so much that it ruins it for you.
This book really ends with a bang. I sat with my jaw on the floor for the final few chapters. I never would have seen any of that coming and can't believe it.
I would say you can read this as a standalone, but you'll understand the relationships better if you read the previous books.
A brilliantly interwoven intricate plot, with really heartfelt characters, and a mind blowing ending. What more could you ask for.

[Sheila Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from the talented author Wes Markin. The story is set over a period of 40 years beginning in 1980 with the horrific death of Penny Maiden killed in a hit and run, a young woman with all her life before her. The death is covered up and never solved by the police. Fast forward to the present day when that same young woman’s body is found exhumed and placed on her mother’s grave, a recently murdered male body has been placed in Penny’s grave. An investigation headed by DCI Emma Gardner begins. More young people are subsequently murdered, their bodies found together in that same graveyard. It soon becomes clear with the second deaths drugs are involved. Emma’s former colleague DI Paul Riddick is investigating a gang of drug suppliers in Bradford. A vulnerable disabled young man is being bullied and RIiddick has suspicions as to who is doing this. Riddick is called back to Knaresborough from Bradford to assist Gardner n solving these murders, unfortunately he still has a lot of emotional baggage and Emma constantly has to rein him in. The book isn’t as gory as Wes’ other series but that doesn’t detract from its enjoyment it is still a riveting story. It is the mark of a great author who can make you care for the main characters, I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Five stars from me.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Graveyard Killings is the fourth installment in Wes Markin's Yorkshire Murder series. I had not read the previous installments, and I think that affected my overall enjoyment of the book. There are shifting viewpoints and shifting time periods, which can be confusing if you are not staying focused. It took me a while to get into the story and keep everything straight, but I stayed with it and eventually the story picked up. There are several murders and strange happenings that seem unconnected at first, but eventually things come together and the worlds of Riddick and Gardner collide during the course of their seemingly unrelated investigations. Once those characters join forces, the story begins to pick up and become engaging. There are twists and turns and the author does a nice job connecting the many different plotlines in the end.

At first I thought I would not stick with this book to the end, but I am glad that I did. It was a decent story with a nice cliffhanger to keep fans of the series coming back for more. I would recommend this book, but I highly suggest new readers check out some of the previous installments to get background information on the key characters. I really wish I had done that!

The Graveyard Killings is set for release on March 2, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

DCI Emma Gardner is the senior investigating officer assigned when the corpse of a young girl is found in a graveyard. The girl was killed by a hit and run driver many years before and had been buried in the same cemetery. The girl was called Penny Maiden and as the investigation began DCI Gardner and her team have to look back at the original investigation of Penny’s death.

DI Paul Riddick is determined to get something he can charge Nathan Cummings with but it seems he’s fighting a losing battle. He knows that Nathan is responsible for a lot of the crime in the area but he always seems to wriggle out of it.

A bad batch of ecstasy tablets have turned up in Knaresborough and also in Bradford. Crossovers in both cases means that DCI Gardner and DI Riddick are reunited and end up working together again. They both feel nervous about it and dwell on what happened in the past.

So much happened in this book and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I had read the previous two books and was keen to read more about DI Riddick and DCI Gardner. It was action packed and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Graveyard Killings is book 4 in the Yorkshire Murders series and once again, Wes Markin does an excellent job in bringing together an enthralling storyline and characters who come alive on the page. Not only do we get a further insight into the evolving relationships of the lead characters (personal and professional) but the author also manages to sensitively introduce topics that are uncomfortable to read, but unfortunately reflect the reality of our world and some of the lives of people in it.

Such a multifaceted web of intrigue surrounds the discovery of the exhumed body of a hit and run victim from 40 years ago, a case that was not solved. And it is now with DCI Emma Gardener and her team to see if they can bring closure for the victim and her family and friends.
In parallel but initially separately, DI Riddick is investigating a drug crime which does not appear to be related to that of Emma’s focus until more bodies are found in the graveyard of the hit and run victim.

Having read previous publications by the author, I am never surprised to enjoy reading his work – always so full of consistently engaging plots, characters and all enhanced by the wonderful prose of the settings.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

DCI Emma Gardner is called to a cemetary where a girl's body was exhumed and placed on another grave.
The girl was killed in a hit and run.

DI Paul Riddick is convinced this crime is tied to a gang of drug dealers.

Wow, a lot to unpack here. Lots of characters, and a jump from the 1980's to present time, to tie all the events together.
So many twists and all the mysteries and questions are neatly wrapped up at the end.

The book is dark and deals with bullying and cruelty towards the weak and disabled.
However, it is unputdownable.

I look forward to reading more from this series.

I enjoyed this very much, but have to challenge a statement in the book regarding the cruel, inhumane and brutal murder by 'necklacing'.
1980. Keith is at Howard's garage with Dean and Neil Clark has been prepared to be killed by this method.
Keith says it is 'common in South Africa'.

The first necklacing actually happened on 20th July 1985, five year later. I am not sure if this is 'artistic licence', but did want to correct that statement.


Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the fourth instalment of the Yorkshire Murders series, can be read as a stand alone, but definitely recommend you read the previous books especially when it comes to Riddick and Gardner's past.

This book takes us on a roller-coaster, with a 40 year old cold case connecting to a recent grisly discovery in the graveyard Gardner and her team are divided up to find the connection, and when two teenagers are found dead in the same graveyard months later it brings her together again with Riddick. He has been working in another station after his his previous reckless actions saw him lose his friendship with Gardner. When he is brought in to weigh in on a  drugs connection to the teenagers death, he starts to spiral again, and Gardner who has reservations of trusting him feels herself torn with helping him.

There is a lot packed into this book, it was great to see Riddick again, he is a broken man and he really needs someone on his side - could that be Gardner? I woluld love to think so but how Markin leaves this book hanging I  am patiently waiting for the next instalment!

5 stars

[ReadandRated · Rating 4 out of 5]

This not so cold case from 40 years ago, following the death of a local girl Penny who is killed in a hit and run, is re-investigated when her body is found exhumed and placed on her mother’s grave. With a male corpse found in Penny’s grave.

DCI Emma Gardner sets about trying to work out what has happened and the storyline flits between the relevant time periods with more of the story being revealed along the way.

There are some fabulous characters in this book and I loved the ongoing tale with the aging gangster - as comical as it was awful at times. This Yorkshire Murders series grows ever more complex and engaging with each new book.

As DCI Gardner gets deeper into the case it becomes apparent that there is more going on than initially thought and she soon has to work with DI Paul Riddick, who is as brilliant as he is a liability!

This story covers a wide range of topics, including drugs, bullying, gangster style repercussions and the abuse of a vulnerable young man - not to mention grief and love.

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This is book number four in the Yorkshire Murders series. It starts with the hit and run death of a young woman in 1980. Fast forward to today when her remains are found exhumed, and placed on her mother's grave. The invesigation of her gravesite reveals the freshly buried body of a young man. DCI Emma Gardner has been brought in to invesitage. Further deaths reveal a connection to the drug trade and leads Emma to work with her former colleague, DI Paul Riddick. Paul's been working on a drug trade and gang investigation in Bradford but he's brought back to Knaresborough to help Emma's investigation.

Paul's spiral downhill, the bullying and violence towards a disabled young man, and the emotional toll of the death of a young woman all come together to make for an excellent book, very well written. It's not as dark or as graphic as some of Markin's previous works, but it could be triggering for some.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

[Helen Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book are absolute gems and completely mesmerising and compelling and I thoroughly enjoyed them. The premise is good too and jumps between past and present. It centres around a young girl, Penny, who was killed in a hit and run incident years ago and the perpetrator never brought to justice much to the distress of her family. Her body is suddenly found, present day, dug up from her grave and it seems that old scores are still to be settled amongst many secrets and lies.
There is also a slightly on the edge detective on the case with a rollercoaster of a personal life to navigate.
At the start of my review I alluded to the fact that I didn’t click with the book in its totality. I think this was mainly due to the vast number of characters and trying to keep up with and remember who they all are. I read the book over just a few days nd I think I’d have found it even trickier to keep up if I’d taken any longer.
Still a good read and I’d recommend.

[HAZEL WILLIS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the settings of these books around Knaresborough as know the area well but find DI Paul Riddick extremely annoying as a character -as do a lot of his colleagues !

Thank goodness we have stalwarts such as DS Ray Barnett who is indeed a safe pair of hands as described by Gardner to just get on with police tasks .

Other characters can also be very two dimensional such as “harsh Marsh “ the Chief Constable who seems to be in the very hands on and attending incidents in the area quite a lot rather than leaving it to the DCI who would normally report back to her on such events and keep her in the loop.

I’m also not comfortable with the internalised thoughts of some of the “main” characters being used so extensively . I have a conflict with this style of writing which becomes rather intrusive and indulgent with my desire to continue with Gardners story ( hopefully minus Paul ) and the delight of following the plot in locations that are familiar .

[Rosie Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant offering from the twisted mind of Wes Markin.

I opened this book looking forward to the great pairing of DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick being back on the case, but instead, I find DI Riddick, a troubled policeman with more baggage than lost property in King's Cross station banished to the wastelands of Bradford while Emma and the rest of the team deal in part with an unsolved hit and run from 40 years ago.

I've loved everything that I've read by this author and while this series is not as violent or gory as some of his previous books, it's just as gripping. A bad batch of ecstasy tablets turning up both in Knaresborough and Bradford means that Emma and Paul do end up working together again, but neither is willing (or able) to deal with the fallout from the previous book.

Plenty of twists, this will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat

[Arelis Lozada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma sigue cargando con los muertos de su amigo rid y su comportamiento suicida y violento, sus propios traumas y problemas familiares, además de los casos terribles en qué se tropieza por el camino..el caso de esta historia es bastante complejo, como se conectan los hechos aunque parece q no tienen relación, como el alcohol y las drogas puede dañar la vida de las personas, el abuso de poder para tapar los delitos, la corrupción de todos los niveles, la manipulación afecta las vidas de todos..
Como el abuso y humillación de una persona influenciada por la droga puede llevar a actos horribles y sin sentido, marcando la vida de varias personas y destruyendolas. No sé porque el personaje de rid es tan dañado y torturado, creo q ya basta de tanta carga..debería evolucionar o terminar..es una tortura..el coyote y el..nada bueno le pasa dios mío..necesita un cambio... urgente!