Fell Walker

by Michael Wood

Set in the evocative landscapes of the English Lake District and the Scottish highlands, as well as the mean streets of Manila, "The Fell Walker" is a fast moving thriller with a poignant touch that sets it apart. A government minister is found dead at the foot of a Lake District mountain, adding to a sudden increase in the accident statistics. A lonely Scotsman leaves his isolated croft and travels to steamy Manila. These apparently unconnected events are the first sketches on a large canvas, soon to be smeared blood red by a brutal killer. Who is he? What is driving him? And why are his hideous crimes being ignored by the police? A small town journalist, Ben Foxley, starts to investigate. In the process, he is drawn into a world of technology and politics, love and obsession, and finally to a living nightmare - a terrifyingly personal race against time. Before beginning "The Fell Walker", allow yourself some quality reading time, for once you've picked it up, you'll not want to put it down.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Thriller

360 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2006

Reviews

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live in the Lake District National Park and was given this book a couple of years ago. I must admit I’ve put off reading it as I really didn’t expect it to be very good, written for tourists I thought, but wrongly.
Wood actually creates a page-turning crime thriller in the guise of a Martin Edwards. It is every bit as good as those.
Ben Foxley is a journalist for the small weekly Keswick newspaper having moved away from a bigger job in London for a quiet life, there are plenty of that sort of person up here in the Lakes. He becomes interested in a series of unexplained deaths in the mountains of Sutherland, Torridon, and the Lake District. It is not long before he realises he is on to something.
It is a very easy read with of course, a magnificent backdrop, and a debut novel.

[Soozee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent first novel. The story revolves around Ben, a reporter in the Lakes who is drawn into a series of killing sparked by the death of a politician. However, what he uncovers is much darker than he realised, and results in him being drawn right to the murders and abductions. The climax is exciting and gripping, and the whole novel is pacy and enjoyable, with a great sense of place as it is set firmly in the Lakes.

A cracking read - I hope its the first of many!

[Ninkasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combines a good detective story with good knowledge of the lives and places of the Lake District. It does not over focus on the well known popular tourist traps. Would be a good story even if not set in the lakes but the well written descriptions of the area does bring the story to life. The characters are believable and interesting in their own way and generally just come across as normal people having normal lives.

[Tracey Redmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read. Takes a bit to get going but worth persevering. Chilling and gruesome. Lots of twists and turns to keep you interested. Good knowledge of the Lake District. Had me on the edge of my seat.

[Kevin Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant first novel. Found this as it is set in and around the area I grew up and spend time in now running in the fells.
In the first half of the book I was easily able to put it down. But once the groundwork was laid the pace increased and I didn’t want to put it down.

[Steve Dempsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great murder mystery for fans who love the great outdoors. Based around factual places with a serial killer driven by an unusual and unique motive it is hard to put the book down

[Eryn Huck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book all the way through although I felt the ending was a little rushed. I was expecting much more. However still a fab read.

[Alma (retirement at last)]

DNF as I don’t think I was in the right frame of mind for reading it.
Will probably try again later🤞

[Laura Gregson · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished this book in a day! really enjoyed the building up of the characters and how it all fell together quickly

[Alison D · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read, taking in the lovely lake district, an adventure no one wanted but one can see how worked very enjoyable

[Lucy Middleton · Rating 2 out of 5]

An enjoyable yet strange romp through a murder spree across the lakes. The protagonist was reasonably compelling as an investigator, although a terrible husband. The parts set in Manila were a strange juxtaposition to the idyllic scenery of the lakes, and whilst not unenjoyable, were unexpected and unnecessary. The inner view into the murderers mind was interesting, but ruined the suspense of the killer’s identity early on, leaving only his tenuous motive as the mystery. Overall, not a bad read, but won’t pick it up again.

[Simone Sinna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book at a Pub in Cumbria because it was set in the Fells of the Lake District where I was walking the Coast to Coast. Unlike the Camino I was having my bags carried so the extra weight was not an issue!
This is another serial killer story and I had sworn off them, but I quite enjoyed this, possibly because of the references to the walk I was doing. It did make me a little nervous as I was walking the crags in mist and gale force winds though, as the victims are thrown from the cliff. Our hero is a small town journalist who really isn’t after a big story but it comes to find him in more ways than one. The writing is competent and the story gripping enough to keep you wanting to turn the page. The villain is not quite believable but by and large this doesn’t get too much in the way of a good yarn.
There is a threat woven in to the heroes relationship which isn’t paid off as well as it could be and the demise of one character is a bit unsatisfactory in this regard, but it’s an enjoyable holiday read.
I probably would give it a 3.5 if you could do that, and went down rather than up because I then read his next one, Climate Change, and was disappointed.

[Regie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this at Fred Holdsworth's in Ambleside, because the nice man behind the counter recommended it - it is set mostly in the Lake District, but also travels to the far North of Scotland which I know well, and which I'd been chatting to the nice man at Fred's about.

As a novel it's flawed - and it positively screams "first novel" at you - but I'm more than happy to forgive the slightly clunky characters and coincidences. The plotting is clever and the details are sublime. You work out who the killer is very quickly, but it doesn't matter because what you really want to know is not "who?" but "why?" and the answer to that doesn't reveal itself until the tension of the climax is well entrenched.

The answer, when it comes is genuinely tragic.

So yes, this isn't perfect, but first novels seldom are. I tell you what though - it's a thumping roller-coaster of a read. Excellent holiday reading, whether you're in the Lake District or not. And I'll tell you something else. If there's ever a second novel from this guy, I'll be buying it.

[Jo Riordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Problem solving is hunting. It is savage pleasure and we are born to it." This quote is fantastic, and the best line in the book! Unfortunately, Wood didn't write it: Thomas Harris did. There is nothing original or interesting about this novel, and the abounding stereotypes are outnumbered only by the cliches. There are more plot holes in this novel than there are fells in the Lake District setting. I recommend reading Wainright's "Pictorial Guides" and Thomas Harris's "Silence of the Lambs" instead. Your time will be much better spent!

[Cath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Given to me as a freebie from the author when I agreed to sell the title through the gift shop at work. Had heard not so good things about it. I have to say that there are many bad things about this book, unsophisticated writing, ridiculous amounts of coincidence and clunky characters and yet I did enjoy it. I put this down to the fact that it was set locally and it was undemanding and a bit silly in a goo d way.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I read the same book?!! Well I really enjoyed this. I find it a rarity to come across a crime thriller that avoids the usual clichéd traps *yawn*. Luckily not here, an imaginative premise and set of characters. Fast moving with very little padding. Okay a tiny bit outside of reality on some plot details but as a reader I'm happy to accept the reality the author presented (as it wasn't widely ridiculous).

[Hazel Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it :) It was pretty obvious early on who it was but was there were still some twists and turns on the way which kept me reading and interested.

There was a lot of location "name dropping" (for want of a better term) but this just helped me with the visualisation, I'd been to a lot of these places so found that quite a novelty :)

I'd recommend it and I look forward to reading the sequel.

[Therese Fisher · Rating 1 out of 5]

In all fairness, it's not a genre I usually read. I picked it up in the Lake District as a bit of a souvenir. The Lake District is beautiful and I highly recommend it. This book however, not so much.

[Adrian Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this after seeing it on sale at The Brittania Inn in Elterwater when we were in the Lakes recently and bought it as I fancied a local read. It starts a bit creakily but is actually pretty decent once it gets going.

[Callum Clement · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story. bought this in a pub in the Lake District & enjoyed the evocative descriptions of the Lakeland landscape etc. Good story, rollicking at a fast pace. slightly creaky writing, but its the author's first novel. a gripping thriller, it would make me want to read more from Michael Wood.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like most of the other reviewers I bought this because I live near the Lake District. It is a bit creaky, but quite entertaining

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the other reviews, bought it because it was set in the Lakes, but the unsophisticated writing let a very good story down.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

a simple read with some predictable outcomes but extremely enjoyable to read, look forward to more of this authors work