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DCI Kenny Murrain #3
Snow Fallen
SNOW FALLEN
by Alex Walters
One winter's night, a lone figure arrives on foot in a remote Pennine village.
The next morning, as the first heavy snow begins to fall, a man's body is discovered in the village churchyard. Anne Tilston, one of three sisters living in a brooding run-down house in the shadow of the church, realises that the dead man is her father, a disgraced former senior police officer long estranged from his family.
As DCI Kenny Murrain's team arrive in the village to investigate the unexplained death, a further body is discovered in a nearby field – a young man from the village with no apparent connection to Tilston or his daughters. Meanwhile Murrain and DI Joe Milton are investigating the disappearance of a young woman. The case appears to be part of a string of similar missing persons cases, although with no evidence to date of foul play.
With the snow continuing to fall, another body is discovered, and Murrain finds himself stranded with his team in the sisters' house with a seemingly motiveless killer waiting outside in the night.
Desperately liaising with Milton, Murrain realises he has only hours to discover the truth and to prevent the murderer from killing again. And it seems the answer lies within Murrain's own team...
Praise for Alex Walters
'Brilliant from start to finish… one of the best police procedure books I have read.' – Bookstormer Blog
‘A talent to be reckoned with … A strong story line, muscular prose and a real sense of pace…a police procedural for a new age’ - Daily Mail
‘…Right up there with the best police procedural thrillers of the last few years. Expect to hear much more of Walters in the future.’ – Mark Timlin
by Alex Walters
One winter's night, a lone figure arrives on foot in a remote Pennine village.
The next morning, as the first heavy snow begins to fall, a man's body is discovered in the village churchyard. Anne Tilston, one of three sisters living in a brooding run-down house in the shadow of the church, realises that the dead man is her father, a disgraced former senior police officer long estranged from his family.
As DCI Kenny Murrain's team arrive in the village to investigate the unexplained death, a further body is discovered in a nearby field – a young man from the village with no apparent connection to Tilston or his daughters. Meanwhile Murrain and DI Joe Milton are investigating the disappearance of a young woman. The case appears to be part of a string of similar missing persons cases, although with no evidence to date of foul play.
With the snow continuing to fall, another body is discovered, and Murrain finds himself stranded with his team in the sisters' house with a seemingly motiveless killer waiting outside in the night.
Desperately liaising with Milton, Murrain realises he has only hours to discover the truth and to prevent the murderer from killing again. And it seems the answer lies within Murrain's own team...
Praise for Alex Walters
'Brilliant from start to finish… one of the best police procedure books I have read.' – Bookstormer Blog
‘A talent to be reckoned with … A strong story line, muscular prose and a real sense of pace…a police procedural for a new age’ - Daily Mail
‘…Right up there with the best police procedural thrillers of the last few years. Expect to hear much more of Walters in the future.’ – Mark Timlin
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2018
89 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 7, 2022
Excellent book - this is book 3 in the series and they just get better!
I like the fact that DCI Murrains special gift/paranormal experiences at murder scenes etc make these books different from the usual British crime series.
The plots are intriguing and the team are good.
Just bought book 4
I like the fact that DCI Murrains special gift/paranormal experiences at murder scenes etc make these books different from the usual British crime series.
The plots are intriguing and the team are good.
Just bought book 4
February 21, 2020
Loved this book from start to finish. It’s a 5* read. I only have 1 question.... What happened to Dougie?
September 2, 2020
This is the latest in Alex Walters's excellent DCI Kenny Murrain series.
Murrain has what could be described as a sixth sense that enables him to experience feelings and "visions" when he is around something that isn't right, usually related to a crime he is investigating.
An elderly man turns up dead in a churchyard near an old house inhabited by three sisters. He is identified by one of them as her father, a disgraced former senior police officer. Another body turns up in a field nearby and then a third in a house in the small remote community around the church.
The weather is closing in and Murrain, along with several members of his team, find themselves stranded with a dangerous killer lurking nearby. To add to the impending sense of unease, a series of missing person cases throws up a possible further related killing.
As Murrain and his team bunker in for the night, one of his colleagues has the information needed to crack the case. What will the night reveal, and who might the killer be?
This is a well-crafted and tensely dramatised investigation that had me guessing throughout. I had a feeling about one of the main characters early on, which proved correct, but the ending was still gripping as the plot sorted itself out.
Dialogue and interactions between the police personnel are realistic and the tension is skilfully ratcheted up until the dramatic denouement.
This is a worthy addition to the Kenny Murrain series and readers of the previous two books, Late Checkout and Dark Corners, need not hesitate.
Murrain has what could be described as a sixth sense that enables him to experience feelings and "visions" when he is around something that isn't right, usually related to a crime he is investigating.
An elderly man turns up dead in a churchyard near an old house inhabited by three sisters. He is identified by one of them as her father, a disgraced former senior police officer. Another body turns up in a field nearby and then a third in a house in the small remote community around the church.
The weather is closing in and Murrain, along with several members of his team, find themselves stranded with a dangerous killer lurking nearby. To add to the impending sense of unease, a series of missing person cases throws up a possible further related killing.
As Murrain and his team bunker in for the night, one of his colleagues has the information needed to crack the case. What will the night reveal, and who might the killer be?
This is a well-crafted and tensely dramatised investigation that had me guessing throughout. I had a feeling about one of the main characters early on, which proved correct, but the ending was still gripping as the plot sorted itself out.
Dialogue and interactions between the police personnel are realistic and the tension is skilfully ratcheted up until the dramatic denouement.
This is a worthy addition to the Kenny Murrain series and readers of the previous two books, Late Checkout and Dark Corners, need not hesitate.
June 27, 2025
Chionophobia.
Fear of snow.
What is it with the English and snow?
"They were isolated on the highest peak of the wast mountain range of a forgotten continent. The blizzard was raging in its third month. They were gaunt, starving. Some had already succumbed. The wolves were howling ever closer. The drums of the Yeti cannibals pounded night and day..."
Hardly.
Mr Walters is trying for something like an isolated country manor à la 30s Agatha Christie crossed with a B-movie haunted house.
The truth is that they are on a little hill, about 10 miles from Stockport, with a train station at walking distance. It snows, 'several' inches. For less than 24 hours. It's not freezing, because snowballs are made and the roads are slippery. This is enough for traffic in England to grind to a halt, people are unable to go home from work. In the middle of Stockport!
Mobile phones work just fine.
Nobody is hungry.
It's too silly for words, and I can't warm to it.
The rest of the plot is OK.
Very disappointing.
Fear of snow.
What is it with the English and snow?
"They were isolated on the highest peak of the wast mountain range of a forgotten continent. The blizzard was raging in its third month. They were gaunt, starving. Some had already succumbed. The wolves were howling ever closer. The drums of the Yeti cannibals pounded night and day..."
Hardly.
Mr Walters is trying for something like an isolated country manor à la 30s Agatha Christie crossed with a B-movie haunted house.
The truth is that they are on a little hill, about 10 miles from Stockport, with a train station at walking distance. It snows, 'several' inches. For less than 24 hours. It's not freezing, because snowballs are made and the roads are slippery. This is enough for traffic in England to grind to a halt, people are unable to go home from work. In the middle of Stockport!
Mobile phones work just fine.
Nobody is hungry.
It's too silly for words, and I can't warm to it.
The rest of the plot is OK.
Very disappointing.
October 30, 2020
Full of surprises
Right from the start, I got the feeling that this was going to be one of those “unputdownable” books, which so far has been the case with every one of Alex Walters novels. This one was set it a snow blizzard in the Pennines, in a bleak and atmospheric part of the countryside. The whole thing was chilling and quite creepy with a dark and tense atmosphere. Gradually the story of what had happened in that remote village started to reveal itself during what seemed like a very slow night. It was beautifully written and there were twists and surprises at every turn of the page. Kenny Murrain was on good form with his “feelings” but he wasn’t the only one – Paul Wanstead made a strong appearance in this story. When this author introduced us to Murrain he was certainly onto a winner and I am really looking forward to the next in this series which is due to land on my Kindle very soon.
Right from the start, I got the feeling that this was going to be one of those “unputdownable” books, which so far has been the case with every one of Alex Walters novels. This one was set it a snow blizzard in the Pennines, in a bleak and atmospheric part of the countryside. The whole thing was chilling and quite creepy with a dark and tense atmosphere. Gradually the story of what had happened in that remote village started to reveal itself during what seemed like a very slow night. It was beautifully written and there were twists and surprises at every turn of the page. Kenny Murrain was on good form with his “feelings” but he wasn’t the only one – Paul Wanstead made a strong appearance in this story. When this author introduced us to Murrain he was certainly onto a winner and I am really looking forward to the next in this series which is due to land on my Kindle very soon.
August 19, 2023
The most interesting ending in the series so far but also the most boring middle of the book. If I hear ‘You know how it is’ again I will collapse. The dialogues were super boring and repetitive. While I liked Kenny’s gift in the previous books, other than everyone spending most of their time discussing it, it didn’t make any difference to the plot of the present book and very little to the previous two.
Character development - non-existent and when I think about Joe Milton’s relationship with his love object, nothing, absolutely nothing changes here but more and more of his colleagues talk about it.
Overall, there is a lot of potential in this series but without something actually happening in the characters’ lives outside the main murder case the storyline feels stagnant and the reader looses interest.
Character development - non-existent and when I think about Joe Milton’s relationship with his love object, nothing, absolutely nothing changes here but more and more of his colleagues talk about it.
Overall, there is a lot of potential in this series but without something actually happening in the characters’ lives outside the main murder case the storyline feels stagnant and the reader looses interest.
July 24, 2025
Like all the previous books in this series, we're sucked into the mind of Kenny Murrain, we follow his actions as he 'listens' to the scrambling sounds going through his head. This time, it's the most confusing, with half of the team stranded where bodies are found, a mysterious person lurking around the house where they have to stay until reenforcements arrive through the snow storm, in the company of their unwelcoming host, who seems very detached and secretive considering she identified one of the bodies as her father.... it finally comes together in the last few pages ..with some surprises as well!! A 5🌟 read ...that only wants you to get to grips with book 5
December 2, 2018
E reader Vee
Oh my goodness, Alex Walters! Could hardly put this book down, read it in double quick time. I was hooked from the first page, and the suspense carried on right through the book. Love all the characters, Kenny, Joe and Marie, hope these two finally get together perhaps in the next book, don't make us wait too long. There was just one word that cropped up about three times that was spelt wrongly, otherwise a fantastic read. Roll on the next Kenny Murrain adventure!
Oh my goodness, Alex Walters! Could hardly put this book down, read it in double quick time. I was hooked from the first page, and the suspense carried on right through the book. Love all the characters, Kenny, Joe and Marie, hope these two finally get together perhaps in the next book, don't make us wait too long. There was just one word that cropped up about three times that was spelt wrongly, otherwise a fantastic read. Roll on the next Kenny Murrain adventure!
April 9, 2022
After my previous acerbic comment on book two of this series, I decided to plough on immediately with book three. I’m pleased to say, I managed to differentiate between many of the Ws…….
A (largely) claustrophobic book that managed to balance the (contained) action in a snow bound village with the activities of the few left behind in the snow bound police station. There is no doubt that the author has a talent for storytelling and I am pleased to add that this book produced no more characters whose names began with W or M. On to the next? Maybe.
A (largely) claustrophobic book that managed to balance the (contained) action in a snow bound village with the activities of the few left behind in the snow bound police station. There is no doubt that the author has a talent for storytelling and I am pleased to add that this book produced no more characters whose names began with W or M. On to the next? Maybe.
August 17, 2023
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobook of this title. (Audible Membership)
Snow had hit the high country, together with a plethora of murder victims.
The police detectives looking into a corpse found lying on top of grave in a remote village, was hampered by the snow and weather conditions, and then the further findings of two more victims.
Being prevented by road conditions from leaving, the night that follows is more nightmare than real life, as far as those caught up in the drama.
Snow had hit the high country, together with a plethora of murder victims.
The police detectives looking into a corpse found lying on top of grave in a remote village, was hampered by the snow and weather conditions, and then the further findings of two more victims.
Being prevented by road conditions from leaving, the night that follows is more nightmare than real life, as far as those caught up in the drama.
March 5, 2024
Snow Fallen by Alex Walters is book 3 in the DCI Kenny Murrain series and is even better than the earlier book, which I had also enjoyed listening too.
This storyline is based in an isolated area in the Peak District, which is further isolated by the heavy snowfall.
Kenny Murrain and part of his team are stuck up there, with two households and a serial killer running round. After a very long night, the team found out who is responsible for the murders possibly.
Thoroughly good story to listen to. Highly recommended
This storyline is based in an isolated area in the Peak District, which is further isolated by the heavy snowfall.
Kenny Murrain and part of his team are stuck up there, with two households and a serial killer running round. After a very long night, the team found out who is responsible for the murders possibly.
Thoroughly good story to listen to. Highly recommended
December 16, 2025
This book is a new edition provided for a review by Digital Publishers.
As such, the page count in this entry does not match the one I just read. The original noted just under 300; the current one is just under 1000.
This is a well written story, trapping the reader into the scene and characters from the start. The plot was developed and intriguing, and the characters were diverse enough to provide the desire to keep turning the pages.
While I may have considered some of the answers to the mysteries; I was kept in the dark about others, making it a thoroughly captivating story.
As such, the page count in this entry does not match the one I just read. The original noted just under 300; the current one is just under 1000.
This is a well written story, trapping the reader into the scene and characters from the start. The plot was developed and intriguing, and the characters were diverse enough to provide the desire to keep turning the pages.
While I may have considered some of the answers to the mysteries; I was kept in the dark about others, making it a thoroughly captivating story.
February 8, 2019
Wonderful
I found this to be a wonderful read - totally enthralling. The presence of the snow closing off the main scene reinforced the sense of isolation that would have already been there with the hilly location, despite the neatness of the city. The constant proximity of the murderer added to the building tension too
I found this to be a wonderful read - totally enthralling. The presence of the snow closing off the main scene reinforced the sense of isolation that would have already been there with the hilly location, despite the neatness of the city. The constant proximity of the murderer added to the building tension too
November 6, 2019
[3,5 stars] [Audiobook] Although the book is not really outstanding in any kind of way it is solid entertainment. As the snow keeps falling so do the bodies. At first I had no idea where this was going but in the end everything fell in place. Nice story about police connecting the dots and finding the killer.
July 19, 2024
Some cliched plot devices well executed here, but sadly also some elements just plain hackneyed. Some nice details too - but this is a ridiculous story. As it progressed I felt more and more like I was wasting my time. If I hadn’t enjoyed the first two books in this series, I would have given in before the end. What happened, Alex?
December 22, 2018
Snow Fallen
Most enjoyable read not sure how I came to start on book 3 but will backtrack now and read the first 2.Good storyline decent characters and kept me interested all the way through.
Most enjoyable read not sure how I came to start on book 3 but will backtrack now and read the first 2.Good storyline decent characters and kept me interested all the way through.
May 11, 2019
Could not put the book down dark and disturbing at times, but one that got you from the beginning
Kept me interested and in suspense, except that I had already decided the Mother must have been killed and not ran off, but still lots of twists and turns to keep me up late reading
Kept me interested and in suspense, except that I had already decided the Mother must have been killed and not ran off, but still lots of twists and turns to keep me up late reading
January 20, 2020
Really enjoyed this instalment of Murrain..the snow cutting off the village really built the sense of isolation and tension. Great story that had me gripped until the end, never guessed the ending either.
November 8, 2020
Great autumn afternoon reading 📚
Agatha Christie in a modern setting. Snow, isolated village, gothic house, three spinster sisters. I could go on and on. Great read - more like this please.
Agatha Christie in a modern setting. Snow, isolated village, gothic house, three spinster sisters. I could go on and on. Great read - more like this please.
March 28, 2021
Chilling, gothic and disturbingly atmospheric, the tension in this story grew as the plot - and the snow - thickened. Really enjoyed this book, just one suggestion - always explain what happens to the dog.
October 16, 2021
I'm so pleased I found this series by Alex Walters, they are such a good read. And how nice to find a policeman with a happy marriage, despite some terrible circumstances. I look forward to reading more of these.
March 23, 2023
Another great story
Another great story in the DCI Murrain series featuring all the usual team. Great setting for the story being cut off due to the snow and not knowing who to trust. A Great and unexpected ending.Looking forward to reading more.
Another great story in the DCI Murrain series featuring all the usual team. Great setting for the story being cut off due to the snow and not knowing who to trust. A Great and unexpected ending.Looking forward to reading more.
May 6, 2024
Loved this next book in the series, it was a steady plod not run away excitement however felt real how something like this could happen. I love getting to know characters, i like their style. I look forward to carrying on either the series
May 19, 2024
Superb
This is really well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. Murrain is a character that is believable and relatable, despite his 'feelings'. It all adds to a brilliant character leading a great team.
This is really well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. Murrain is a character that is believable and relatable, despite his 'feelings'. It all adds to a brilliant character leading a great team.
May 20, 2024
1st (audio)book from the author I've listened to. I really liked the winter setting and the story was engaging.
Even if this is book 3 of a series (which I haven't read/listened to) I felt like I could follow the plot just fine
Even if this is book 3 of a series (which I haven't read/listened to) I felt like I could follow the plot just fine
December 13, 2018
Chilling
A good read, I've enjoyed all three books in this series they are easy to follow with interesting story lines
A good read, I've enjoyed all three books in this series they are easy to follow with interesting story lines
January 5, 2019
Snow fallen
Another Murrain book. A bit different from normal crime thrillers but a gripping read with a real twist in the tale towards the end. Most enjoyable
Another Murrain book. A bit different from normal crime thrillers but a gripping read with a real twist in the tale towards the end. Most enjoyable
January 31, 2019
Walters does it again
A simple yet thrilling book from start to finish. Good story and excellent twist. Walters is a great thriller writer and can't wait to read more
A simple yet thrilling book from start to finish. Good story and excellent twist. Walters is a great thriller writer and can't wait to read more
October 4, 2019
Enjoyable twisty story
Good quality writing. Will look for more of his crime novels. I like Kenny Murrain with his weird second sight. Interesting angle.
Good quality writing. Will look for more of his crime novels. I like Kenny Murrain with his weird second sight. Interesting angle.
December 3, 2019
Best of the series so far
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews