Shotley Bridge Murders: A British Crime Mystery featuring DC Heather Hudson

by Bobby Cussens

Four bodies. Two weeks. One secret that's waited forty years to surface.

This is the case that could cost Detective Heather Hudson everything.

When DC Heather Hudson finds Boz's throat-slashed body on a frozen riverbank, she's plunged into a chilling murder case. As the body count rises and winter storms batter County Durham, Heather spots a pattern nobody else can see.

With DS Roberts undermining her at every turn and a team of sceptical detectives dismissing her theory, Heather must race against time to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

The case seems solved—until it spectacularly unravels.

In a violent final confrontation, Heather risks everything to stop a serial killer seeking revenge.

A gripping British detective series powered by a female sleuth, filled with authentic Geordie voices, workplace drama, and cold cases that refuse to stay buried.

Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, and LJ Ross who love police procedurals with complex female protagonists and the atmospheric beauty of England's North East.

SHOTLEY BRIDGE MURDERS is Book 1 in the Detective Heather Hudson series. One killer is caught—but in the chilling epilogue, another threat emerges...

What readers

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gritty, atmospheric and deftly handled with wit and humour, Nincyq

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great debut novel! Looking forward to the next one LK Smith

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fabulous must read crime novel from a very talented author A Wilks

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sharply written, standout debut Tom W

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A cracking read, great setting and an twisty plot J McGarry

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[Kay Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read with a twist in the ending. Can't wait for the next book. Living locally you can imagine the areas where all of the scenes take place.

[Julie-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a thriller! I really enjoyed this one and how the story developed. Great writing and fast paced throughout. This one took me a bit longer to read but I’m putting that down to me not reading thrillers too often as I think I could have devoured this in a day otherwise! With this being set in County Durham, where I’m from & live, it really added to the atmosphere for me. Fantastic story, highly recommend.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was ok

Book was ok wrote well, i grew up in Consett so i could picture the public houses (as i have frequented them all at some point) and the other areas mentioned.

I personally felt like the Author is just starting out writing books, so lacks the experience of more accomplished writers bring, saying that it was a decent book

[Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders is an outstanding start to what promises to be a phenomenal crime series. From the very first scene, discovering a body on a frozen riverbank, Bobby Cussens establishes a dark, atmospheric tone that never lets go. The bleak winter setting of County Durham adds an icy tension to every chapter, perfectly mirroring the increasing danger faced by DC Heather Hudson as the body count rises. Heather is an exceptional protagonist: intelligent, determined, flawed, and deeply human. Watching her fight not only a brutal killer but also skepticism, undermining colleagues, and internal politics makes the story feel raw and real. The mystery is layered, expertly paced, and full of clever misdirection. Just when you think the case is solved, the plot unravels in shocking fashion. The final confrontation is intense, satisfying, and emotionally charged. This is British crime fiction at its best.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Shotley Bridge Murders' by Bobby Cussens.

This is Bobby's DEBUT novel, not that you would ever think that!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into her next guaranteed success especially if this gripping page turner is anything to go by!! This is also the first book in her 'Shotley Bridge Thrillers' series and what a blooming brilliant introduction to it this book is!

OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE ,LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, GRIPPING AND PAGE TURNING EXPLOSIVE MUST READ FROM THIS AMAZING AUTHOR!! MY MIND IS ABSOLUTELY BLOWN ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THIS IS HER FIRST BOOK!!!! WHAT A FLAMING EPIC INTRODUCTION TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN EPIC SERIES, A GRIPPING, ADDICTIVE AND SUSPENSE FILLED THRILLER YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN!!!

The first thing I have got to say is an absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing author Bobby Cussens! I was absolutely mind blown when I had finished this epic page turner and realised that it was actually her debut novel!! What an absolutely EPIC debut novel!! If THIS is what she has created for her very first book then I just cannot wait to get stuck in to her future books to see what on Earth she will come out with in the next promising book in this series!! This is seriously one of the best starts to a series I have ever read and definitely one of the best debut novels I have ever read and it is also one of my favourite psychological crime thrillers of all times!!! You seriously have to grab your copy of this twisty and gripping thriller today!! The tension, the suspense, the characters, the absolutely mind blowing twists and turns!!! It really is an absolutely fantastic and explosive page turner that will blow your mind like never before!! The storyline is so compelling and immersive it had me hooked throughout so make sure you clear your schedules before stepping into the world of 'Shotley Bridge Murders'!! I mean seriously I cannot describe just how addictive and absolutely jaw droppingly mind blowing this book is!!! There are just no words. I mean I'll try but my advice is stop reading this review and GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! You really do just have to grab your copy of this gripping page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!! In fact while you are there you may as well pre-order the next book in this series to save you coming back to do just that after you finish this. Yes, you read that right!! the next book in this series is available to pre-order NOW!! It is called 'Shotley Bridge Revenge' and it will be released on the 30th June!! With an addictive storyline ram packed with danger, crime, mystery, twists, death, suspense, tension, action, drugs, murder, BOMBSHELLS, drama, tension and so much more then what on Earth are you waiting for? It is certainly not for the light hearted!! Bobby absolutely captivated my attention from the prologue and sucked me deep into the storyline. I cannot even express in words how good this storyline in and how much I was completely drawn into the storyline!! If you love thrillers, crime, suspense, unique, mind blowing, action packed books, shocking twists and .do you know what? Whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I absolutely LOVED this addictive and explosive page turner!!! I love the fact that that every "chapter" states the time, date and location of where it takes place which I thought was a fantastic idea and wish more authors would do as it really helps the reader get in to the storyline even deeper. Not only has Bobby done this but has also very thoughtfully included not just a map of Shotley but also a Glossary of words common to the North East of England and Scotland and I found both of these extremely helpful so thank you so much Bobby. These are other things I would love to see added into more books as they are both extremely useful to refer back to throughout the book.

I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the start to the end. It was just one heck of an amazing read!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Bobby absolutely smashes it out of the world and further with this one!! The ending just had my jaw dropping and I absolutely NEED the next book in this series YESTERDAY so I really am counting down the days until it is released!! Even more so considering the absolutely brilliant ending of this page turner! Judging by this epic book I would be shocked if this series does not make it to Netflix soon and that is just from reading this one debut book!!! I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to the book for a few hours!! Bobby's vivid evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I just cannot wait to get hooked into her future books!!! I have just never come across a book or movie anything like this one and I doubt I will again!!!! I really hope this is brought to the big screen and if not why not? I will definitely be first in line to watch it. I just genuinely love, love, LOVED IT!!! This book will suck you in and keep you gripped in the pages until your thrown out at the end with a racing heart!! A truly unforgettable one in a million page turner!!!! Get ready to pick your jaw up from the floor at the twists that you will NEVER see coming!! An absolute must read that I wont be forgetting about anytime soon!!

OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!? Bobby Cussens you are an absolute crime writing legend!!!

I seriously mean it when I say I have NEVER EVER, EVER come across a book like this before!! Just absolutely blooming amazing!! Bobby Cussens has seriously just smashed straight into my favourite author list .

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, intriguing, unique, mind blowing thriller with twists will leave you gobsmacked!

#ShotleyBridgeMurders #ShotleyBridgeThriller #BobbyCussens #BridgeEndPress #KellyALacey #lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #FreeReview #FreeBookReview #Bookstagram

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[Anita Dent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a local thriller and as this book was right on my doorstep I couldn’t resist it. I enjoyed the story, with Heather as a strong character in a male dominated environment. However I did not like the ending which left me disappointed, thinking is that it?

[Amorina Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always here for a strong, independent female lead! And our FMC Heather was kicking butt and taking names, and was not apologizing for it! A recently single mom, she is blessed to have help from her parents (and a reluctant/grumpy ex - probably why he's an ex) to keep her career as an up-and-coming Detective Constable going when she is the first on the scene at a small-town murder.

Unfortunately, she does NOT have such good support at work where she's the only female detective, and her superior officer is trying to hold her back at every turn. But she's in for a penny, in for a pound! And I love those kinds of ladies, personally. They're not here to be liked; they're here to do the job, thanks, and there are people to be saved! Woohoo!

I loved DC Heather Hudson to pieces, and I cannot wait to see her again in the sequel. As well as some of the supporting characters, both in the police force and in the village. Despite this not being a cozy crime novel, it features a lot of the things I love about those books - a strong female lead, a quirky cast of supporting characters you can't help but love, and even a cop determined to get in the way! Though this time she's also a cop, so that was weird. I'd personally be willing to call this a cozy-crossover, so if you tend to go for cozies instead of trad crime or thrillers, I would give this one a go! As a lover of both genres, I really think my strictly cozy friends would enjoy this one.

While this is a little on the darker side for my cozy lovers, it is still no darker than, say, the Goldy Bear series and some of the other '90s cozies, which featured some darker content. But it's still a thrill a minute and plenty exciting for my strictly thriller lovers!

I can't wait to read what's next!

CWs: Murder, Violence, Misogyny, Hostile Workplace, SA, Infidelity, Adult Language, Animal Cruelty, Gore, Mild Sexual Content

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders – Bobby Cussens ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Love Book Tours PR and Bobby Cussens for the opportunity to read and review.

If you enjoy British crime fiction with a strong sense of place and layered characters, this is definitely one to pick up.

Set in the quiet County Durham village of Shotley Bridge, the story begins with the murders of three local men, sending shockwaves through the community. As the investigation unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that secrets run deep and that the truth may be far closer to home than anyone wants to admit.

One of the things I really enjoyed was the switching perspectives throughout the novel. Moving between the police investigation, the insufferable DS Roberts, and the locals of Shotley Bridge added depth and tension to the story. DS Roberts in particular is frustrating, dismissive, and very old-school but that made his chapters strangely compelling, and he adds a strong dynamic within the police team.

DC Heather Hudson is a relatable and determined protagonist, balancing the demands of her role with family life, and I enjoyed seeing her persistence as she worked to uncover the truth despite obstacles along the way.

The local setting really shines in this novel. There’s a genuine sense of community, history, and atmosphere that makes the story feel grounded and authentic, and it was easy to become immersed in the world of Shotley Bridge and its residents.

Overall, this is a solid 4-star crime read — engaging, well-paced, and full of small-town secrets with enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. I’m definitely interested to see where the series goes next.

[Rustic_reads_ (Donna) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping crime novel set in a quiet County Durham village, where the murders of three local men rock the community. As police try to uncover the connection between the victims, it becomes clear that the residents of Shotley Bridge are hiding secrets of their own.

DC Heather Hudson is a strong and relatable lead, juggling the pressures of a new detective role with raising two young daughters which adds a real emotional layer to the story. I enjoyed her grit and determination in getting to the truth, despite being constantly undermined.

DS Roberts is completely unlikeable. Sexist, dismissive, and very old-school, he constantly tries to discredit Heather- frustrating to read, but an amazing addition to the story, and clearly very well written.

I loved that the story is set so close to home for me - the familiar locations make it feel grounded and immersive. The inclusion of a glossary of North East words is a brilliant added touch that I loved seeing woven into the language. It really adds to the authenticity. A compelling local crime novel with strong characters, a real sense of place, with the right amount of grit that kept me hooked.

I’m already looking forward to Shotley Bridge Revenge, the next book in the series, and I’m hoping it delves deeper into Eric and Luke’s story, as it definitely feels like there’s much more to uncover there.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tense, atmospheric police procedural that grips right from the first body on the frozen riverbank in the first chapter, to the explosive final showdown. Detective Heather Hudson is a compelling lead—driven, flawed, and constantly battling not just a ruthless killer but also scepticism and sabotage from within her own team. The workplace friction, especially with DS Roberts, adds a satisfying layer of tension beyond the central mystery. There really wasn’t much I liked about DS Roberts.

The bleak winter setting in County Durham is vividly drawn, amplifying the sense of isolation and urgency as the body count rises. The Geordie voices feel authentic without becoming distracting, grounding the story firmly in its northern setting. The cold-case element and the decades-old secret at the heart of the plot unfold at a steady pace, with enough twists to keep you guessing. The way the whole story is constructed helps to drive the pace and I loved the different points of view.

While the resolution is dramatic and satisfying, a few plot turns require a bit of suspension of disbelief, and some secondary characters could have used more depth. Even so, this is a gripping, character-driven thriller that fans of British detective fiction—especially those featuring strong female leads—will thoroughly enjoy.

[Courts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders is a gripping and exciting debut. The story is set in a quiet County Durham village, where the murders of three local men shake the close-knit community. Everyone knows each other, but secrets, tensions, and hidden grudges make trust fragile, which keeps the story tense and engaging.

The sense of place is wonderful and the North East dialect being explained in a helpful glossary adds authenticity without slowing the story. It makes the village feel real and lived-in.

DC Heather Hudson is a strong and relatable lead. She is determined and capable, but not perfect, balancing her detective work with raising two young daughters. DS Roberts, while infuriatingly sexist and old-fashioned, adds tension and makes Heather’s struggle feel real.

The mystery is well-plotted with twists that keep you guessing, and the final reveal is satisfying. Some sections slow the pace a little, especially when focusing on local details or investigative work, but they mostly help build atmosphere.

Overall, Shotley Bridge Murders is a well-written, character-driven crime novel with a vivid setting and a compelling story. I can’t wait to read Shotley Bridge Revenge and see more of Eric and Luke’s story.

[Alis Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders by Bobby Cussens is a gripping crime thriller and the first book in the Shotley Bridge Murder series. Set in the North of England, I loved seeing authentic Northern words woven throughout the story. For those unfamiliar, the detailed glossary at the beginning was a helpful touch that made the language easy to follow while maintaining its local charm.
Cussens really captured the heart of a small village. Her vivid descriptions allowed me to see and feel every nuance, and the main protagonists’ personalities gradually came to life with each turn of the page. The chapters, structured with tiered subheadings and timestamps, added a real sense of urgency—I could almost feel the time ticking away. The short chapters also contributed to a rising tension that kept me on edge throughout.
I did manage to guess the culprit early on, but there were still plenty of surprises, twists, and turns that kept me engaged until the very end. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Shotley Bridge Murders. It’s a well-crafted, atmospheric thriller with a strong sense of place and character, and I can’t wait to continue the series to see what happens next.

[Kez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it's nice to step out of my little cosy bubble, and reach for something a little more gritty. DC Heather Hudson is called to the site of a body found by the river. Her first dead body, as it happens. And from the off, you know she's not going to have an easy time of it. An insufferable boss, who has an insufferable boss of his own. Witnesses that are holding back. Of all the cases to cut her teeth on, it doesn't get any tougher than a series of shocking murders unsettling the quiet North East town.


I really enjoyed the writing style, I found myself quickly sucked in and had to finish in one sitting. You could imagine it playing out like a TV crime drama with the scenes shifting quickly throughout the novel, and loved the use of local dialects to tie the story to its location. There's a strong sense of place throughout the book, the Northern grit visible through the locations and the people.


A series I'll definitely be following, and highly recommend for all crime fans.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living about 20 miles from where this book is set, I couldnt wait to get started. The Glossary of terms in the beginning made me laugh as you don't often hear some of the phrases in books but they are things you hear in every day life living in the North East.
I liked the way the story was written in diary entries. It's a little bit different for murder mysteries but it kept everything in order making it easier to follow. It was a little jumpy going between characters at times but it was interesting to see how they all were linked.and I especially liked how the story started with the first person being murdered so you know what has happened before the police.
One thing I didn't like throughout was Roberts - he was chauvinistic with a clear hatred of women which is sadly still present in some roles in real life. I was routing for Heather to show him up at every opportunity and to succeed in solving the case especially as she had the juggle home, kids, the job and a nightmare of a boss.

[Kirsty Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shotley Bridge Murders felt like a slow-burn crime read for me that rewards your patience. The first half takes its time introducing the characters and laying the groundwork. Once you reach around the 50% mark, the pace noticeably picks up and the tension starts to build in a much more gripping way for the ‘who done it’ elements.

There are a lot of moving parts, which keeps you guessing. You’re never entirely sure who’s involved, who’s hiding something, or who can actually be trusted which is cleverly written by the author. The twists feel earned rather than forced, and the shifting suspicions add to the overall intrigue.

The characters are interesting … although don’t get me started on Robert’s decisions — frustrating in the best (and sometimes worst!) possible way 😂 I enjoyed the character of Heather … patience of a saint!

Overall, a compelling and satisfying read, and a great setup for future books in this series.

[Melina Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders by Bobby Cussens is book one in the Detective Heather Hudson series and it delivers exactly what I want from a good murder mystery with plenty of atmospheric tension. The plot is gripping from early on and kept me fully engaged throughout. It is intense in places but there are also some lighthearted moments that balance the tone nicely.

These kinds of books have that cosy but still gritty vibe that I really enjoy. DC Heather Hudson is a strong and resilient main character and she definitely carries the story well. There are also some interesting side characters, some more likeable than others, which adds extra layers to the investigation.

I do feel this book leans more towards being plot focused rather than deeply character driven, but honestly that is what gives it such a sharp edge. Overall this was a really solid start to the series and I cannot wait to pick up the next book.

[Sara-Jane Keenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping thriller set in County Durham. The first in the Detective Heather Hudson series and I can’t wait to read more.

It’s fast paced with four bodies found and an investigation taking place over a two week period. I enjoyed that the chapters time and date stamped, with multi pov and take place in the police station, crime scenes and the local businesses.

There are lots of interesting characters. I liked Detective Hudson and was really rooting for her. She’s facing serious mam guilt trying to juggle her career and raise her two daughters. Then she goes to work and is being bullied by DS Roberts who is absolutely awful and has been written so well I hated him.

The book will keep you guessing throughout and throws a couple of twists in too. I will definitely be reading the next book as I need to know more about Luke.

I absolutely loved the glossary of north east words. I’m from up here and I still learnt a couple of new words.

Overall a 4⭐️ read.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather's relatively new to her role but is eager to work hard and solve the case. Sadly, she's working alongside someone who isn't a team player.

I liked Heather's instincts and the way she methodically works through the case. She's quite open minded and this helps unearth a key clue that joins up the victims. Roberts is the complete opposite and I had hoped the murderer might have set their eyes on him 😆

The culprit isn't too clever so it's not surprising that things unravelled in the end. Their partner wasn't too bright either and it does make you wonder why they went to the lengths they did.

I liked the fact that yoga was a cover for something quite different. Highlights vulnerability and the lengths that people feel they need to go to in order to feel safe.

We're at the beginning of Heather's journey and it seems she has a backstory that we'll perhaps learn more of in the next book.

[Andrea Hulme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders by Bobby Cussens is a gripping crime thriller and the first book in the Shotley Bridge Murder series.

A fast paced thriller, with some police procedural. The police procedural parts were not too heavily described but we saw so much conflict between the ranks of the police force in this book. A lot of the darkness and tension in this book came from the events and actions of individuals within the police force, which was a bit different to some police procedurals I have read.

I loved that this was set in the North of England, and the language and spoken words of the North East were brilliantly represented in this book. There was a glossary at the beginning of the book, which was a lovely touch.

I also loved that this was set in a small village, where every body knows each other's secrets and gossip is rife. With 4 murders in a tight knit community, and links to historical events, this small village setting really helped to ramp up the tension.

I liked that the chapters had subheadings and timestamps, which really helped to get to feel the timeline in the book. Almost like the hands of time ticking away, as the murder investigations continued, right through to the unexpected ending.

There were plenty of surprises, twists, and turns that kept me engaged until the very end.

[Amanda Felton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you LBT for having me on this review tour and for my gifted copy of this epub

I mean this book grabbed my attention right from the beginning with a body found in a frozen river bank. I mean that to me just sets the tone for a good book and wow was it ever !!

The setting really adds to the darkness of the book too like it’s just good and adds so much tension to this book especially for DC Heather Hudson because the body count just keeps going up and with what seems like no end in sight.

I felt like Heather was such a good character she felt real and raw and she faces a lot that most people couldn’t handle.

I thought the story was well written and really did a good job of diverting the who done it because I was completely shocked and just on the edge of my seat.

Overall I liked this book really good. I can’t wait to read more by this author !!!

[ericas_bookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders is a strong start to the authors Detective Heather Hudson series. A suspense filled gripping read with a great premise, the author created a deeply dark & atmospheric setting that complimented the story perfectly. This story & the characters themselves are extremely layed with lots of secrets buried & history involved, just when you think you've gotten to the core of things more layers are revealed.

I loved the strong main female character Heather, she's tough, fearless, very relatable and balancing personal & work life as best she can despite the lack of support in work. You can't help but cheer her on and she persists and pushes back.

A well-written story with a strong premise, great characters. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

[Soumya K S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a crime thriller fan. And it didn’t disappoint. From the moment DC Heather Hudson finds a throat-slashed body on a frozen riverbank, I was hooked. Four bodies in two weeks, a long-buried secret, winter storms, and rising tension, it honestly felt like I was investigating the case alongside her. I couldn’t guess the killer at all, which made the experience even better.

What stayed with me most was Heather herself. Even when her team doubts her and DS Roberts keeps undermining her, she refuses to back down. I love strong female leads, and she felt real, determined, frustrated, but relentless. Just when I thought the case was solved, it completely unraveled, and that ending gave me chills. Definitely excited to continue this series.

[Ivona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders by Bobby Cussens is a strong and confident crime debut that leans into atmosphere, community tension, and solid police work.

Set in a small County Durham village, the novel explores what happens when violence disrupts a place built on familiarity and routine. The close-knit setting works in the book’s favour. Everyone knows everyone. Rumours spread fast. Trust fractures quickly. That undercurrent of suspicion gives the story weight.

Detective Constable Heather Hudson is a believable and steady lead. She is capable but not flawless. Her determination drives the investigation, while glimpses of her personal life add dimension without overpowering the plot. The procedural elements feel researched and grounded, which gives the case a realistic edge.

The mystery itself is well structured. There are enough turns to keep you engaged, and the final reveal feels earned rather than forced. Motives are layered, and the emotional impact lands.

At times, the pacing slows, particularly in sections focused on local detail or investigative groundwork. While this builds atmosphere, a tighter edit in a few places could have sharpened the tension even more.

Overall, this is a compelling start to what promises to be a strong series. If you enjoy character-driven British crime fiction with a vivid sense of place and a thoughtful investigation, this one delivers.

[Nicole Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Northeast, in the village Shotley Bridge, this book focuses on 4 murders which happens over the course of 2 weeks.
DC Heather Hudson is on the only female on the investigating team, who gets undermined by DS Roberts, which leaves her questioning whether she is actually on to something or not.
In this pacey book which quickens up very close to the grand reveal and get to meet the villagers who all have something to hide, but the question is does this relate to the murders or is it all circumstantial.
I can’t wait for the second book to continue the career of DC Hudson and hopefully see if some of the loose ends are wrapped up.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great first book in a new series and I for one cannot wait to read more.
This was told in various perspectives which broaden the view and f the crimes and village life, Heather was a great character and her boss the inept DS Roberts was infuriating but also had a humorous bumbling way about him.
I was gripped on this British crime thriller, it had a clever plot that kept me guessing as to what was going to happen,plenty of twists and tension building as the book progressed.
I loved the times given in the chapters you could feel the progression of the investigation, and the descriptive writing gave an atmospheric feel to the crimes and setting.

[Leanne (Queen_and_the_wolf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Well 💩 I wasn't expecting that ending😱🤯 though
there was a huge smile on my face when a certain
DS got a huge bollocking 😂

Shotley bridge murders is a gripping quick paced thriller. The characters are highly relatable, likeable and loathable
The plot was complex which left me guessing and wondering many times throughout the book.
I really liked how it's written without chapters but location, date and time instead.
If you like a police procedural thriller then this one is for you
I see there's a book 2 on the way so l'll definitely be putting that on my TBR

[Nicola Malloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im a fan of crime novels that have a sense of authenticity that I can truly escape into and I found this book to be tense, with a darker sense of grit and realness that made me feel like I was walking the streets of County Durham along side DC Heather Hudson. I really liked the way in which we follow the investigation feels very true to life and has a rawness that I loved. One of the things I enjoyed most was the setting, the close knit community adds another layer to unpick in the investigation

[Tami Wylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shotley Bridge Murders is a gripping, chilling debut that introduces DC Heather Hudson, the main character of the series. Heather was a superb character. She’s intelligent and determined even though she has a lot to deal with. The story is fast-paced, twisty and full of suspense. I was gripped from the very start and became completely immersed in the hunt for the killer. The author’s writing style is unique, providing background stories of the characters as well as the main story. This is a promising start to what is sure to be a brilliant new series.

[Eliana Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, atmospheric debut that hooks you from the first page and never lets go. SHOTLEY BRIDGE MURDERS delivers a chilling, fast-paced investigation led by a sharp, determined female detective navigating buried secrets, workplace tension, and a race against time. The wintry North East setting, authentic voices, and twisty plot make this a standout British police procedural. An excellent series opener that leaves you eager for what comes next.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good police detective story with some strong female characters especially DC Hudson working in such a misogynistic male environment, belittled by DS Roberts whilst all other male officers stand around not calling him out. Bit predictable but thankfully she comes good in the end. The plot is great but what spoils it for me is some corny use of vocabulary often repeated and poor proofreading and editing. Overall though an engaging and easy to read debut.