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DI Ruth Hunter #1
The Snowdonia Killings
A small-town murder. A big city detective. Can she unravel the gruesome trail of clues before the killer strikes again?
Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. About to hit fifty, the veteran police officer trades in the crime-ridden streets of London for a more peaceful life in rural North Wales. But Ruth has barely settled into her new position in North Wales Police, when the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered…with strange symbols carved into her skin. Teaming up with an obstinate deputy, Ruth struggles to eliminate anyone from a long line of suspects. When another slain victim is discovered with the same cryptic markings, she’s forced to re-think the investigation. Has Ruth got what it takes to solve the case before the murderer attacks again?
The Snowdonia Killings is the first book in the DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller series and set against the majestic backdrop of Snowdonia, a timeless land of Arthurian legend, folklore and myth.
If you like dark police procedurals, psychologically complex characters, and shocking twists, then you’ll love Simon McCleave’s pulse-pounding debut novel.
Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. About to hit fifty, the veteran police officer trades in the crime-ridden streets of London for a more peaceful life in rural North Wales. But Ruth has barely settled into her new position in North Wales Police, when the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered…with strange symbols carved into her skin. Teaming up with an obstinate deputy, Ruth struggles to eliminate anyone from a long line of suspects. When another slain victim is discovered with the same cryptic markings, she’s forced to re-think the investigation. Has Ruth got what it takes to solve the case before the murderer attacks again?
The Snowdonia Killings is the first book in the DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller series and set against the majestic backdrop of Snowdonia, a timeless land of Arthurian legend, folklore and myth.
If you like dark police procedurals, psychologically complex characters, and shocking twists, then you’ll love Simon McCleave’s pulse-pounding debut novel.
404 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 941 reviews
June 21, 2024
Almost Perfect!
A new author for me.
DI Ruth Hunter has left The Met in London, for Snowdonia, in Wales. She is sick of the death, crime and murders of London.
She is barely in Snowdonia before she is faced with a murder. Now she has a new team she must work with and she is unsure if they are up to the task.
Simon McCleave selects a good pick of supporting characters for the story. It seems as if Ruth and her DS are not going to get along, but the rest of her team toes the line.
McCleave even has the ability to make the mountains of Snowdonia part of the charm of the story with his brilliant descriptions of the scenic vistas.
Unfortunately, there is a small, but significant error near the end of the mystery that is not alluded to. Which causes the story to be solved with a key missing clue. So I must remove a star.
Four fantastic stars. 💫💫💫💫
A new author for me.
DI Ruth Hunter has left The Met in London, for Snowdonia, in Wales. She is sick of the death, crime and murders of London.
She is barely in Snowdonia before she is faced with a murder. Now she has a new team she must work with and she is unsure if they are up to the task.
Simon McCleave selects a good pick of supporting characters for the story. It seems as if Ruth and her DS are not going to get along, but the rest of her team toes the line.
McCleave even has the ability to make the mountains of Snowdonia part of the charm of the story with his brilliant descriptions of the scenic vistas.
Unfortunately, there is a small, but significant error near the end of the mystery that is not alluded to. Which causes the story to be solved with a key missing clue. So I must remove a star.
Four fantastic stars. 💫💫💫💫
July 21, 2020
This debut novel is a wonderful introduction to what looks like being a great new series of murder mysteries. Set in Wales in the area around Mt Snowdon, the rugged and beautiful countryside is as much part of the novel as the characters.
DI Ruth Hunter has transferred from London to North Wales in search of a quieter, less stressful life dealing with petty crimes instead of violent murders. However, instead she finds herself SIO of a murder case as soon as she walks into her new station. The Deputy Head at a local school has been brutally murdered in the school car park after a parent teacher evening with a strange symbol carved into her hand. Ruth's second in command, DS Nick Evans is a great help to Ruth with his local knowledge and connections and she's pleased to find a competent and industrious team of local police at her command.
It's really refreshing to read a police procedural where the police all get along and work well together without any tension or jealousy. Ruth is very likeable and gets on well with her partner Nick, despite his problems with alcohol addiction and it was great to see Ruth confront Nick about that and support his attempt to overcome it. Ruth also has a vulnerable side and feels lonely since her partner Sarah boarded a train in London and disappeared without a trace four years before. Theirs was a harmonious, loving relationship so Ruth is convinced that Sarah met with foul play.
I really enjoyed the way this murder mystery unfolded with credible police work and relatable characters. I also loved the wonderful descriptions of Snowdonia (which I visited on a Girl Guide camping trip as an 11 year old) and the little snippets of information about Wales, its myths and legends that the author inserted. I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favourite series!
DI Ruth Hunter has transferred from London to North Wales in search of a quieter, less stressful life dealing with petty crimes instead of violent murders. However, instead she finds herself SIO of a murder case as soon as she walks into her new station. The Deputy Head at a local school has been brutally murdered in the school car park after a parent teacher evening with a strange symbol carved into her hand. Ruth's second in command, DS Nick Evans is a great help to Ruth with his local knowledge and connections and she's pleased to find a competent and industrious team of local police at her command.
It's really refreshing to read a police procedural where the police all get along and work well together without any tension or jealousy. Ruth is very likeable and gets on well with her partner Nick, despite his problems with alcohol addiction and it was great to see Ruth confront Nick about that and support his attempt to overcome it. Ruth also has a vulnerable side and feels lonely since her partner Sarah boarded a train in London and disappeared without a trace four years before. Theirs was a harmonious, loving relationship so Ruth is convinced that Sarah met with foul play.
I really enjoyed the way this murder mystery unfolded with credible police work and relatable characters. I also loved the wonderful descriptions of Snowdonia (which I visited on a Girl Guide camping trip as an 11 year old) and the little snippets of information about Wales, its myths and legends that the author inserted. I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favourite series!
June 9, 2024
This was a hard book to get into so I decided to DNF because the characters I could not relate too the main DCI Ruth Hunter had no empathy for the accused victim quite callous at times.
January 3, 2021
4.5 stars
Ruth moves from the busy London Met to the , what she hopes to be, sleepy police force of North Wales. That doesn't turn out quite the way she expected.
I really enjoyed this police procedural, one of my favourite types.
Ruth moves from the busy London Met to the , what she hopes to be, sleepy police force of North Wales. That doesn't turn out quite the way she expected.
I really enjoyed this police procedural, one of my favourite types.
February 29, 2020
I received Simon McCleave's prequel novella a few months ago and loved it. So when I was sent the first full length novel in the Snowdonia Murder Mystery series I was very excited. I think DI Ruth Hunter is a great character and love the icy Wales setting. Can't wait to continue with the series. Thanks to the author for my copy.
March 25, 2020
The start of the book jumps around all over the place, with different characters and locations. I assumed it would settle down, but it suddenly went back four years to an unnamed girl running down mount Snowden. Then the next sentence is about Crystal Palace railway station. I found this quite a difficult way of getting into the story. To make matters worse the whole tone of the book was quite depressing.
It is probably just me, but I like to make an early connection with the main character and this didn't help.
One of the things I look for in a decent crime/thriller is that it isn’t just about the investigation, but also includes the main characters personal life. The author definitely went to town with the two main characters in this book. I found Ruth's back-story interesting, but I didn't like the way the author used random snippets about Sarah and then ended the book with a bit of a cliff-hanger. As for Nick, I just found him quite wearing for most of the book, especially the tedious dreams.
I'm really not sure about this book, it's not a bad story, but I think the author was trying too hard to be clever. If possible I would have given 2.5 stars, but because of the ending I have reduced this to two.
It is probably just me, but I like to make an early connection with the main character and this didn't help.
One of the things I look for in a decent crime/thriller is that it isn’t just about the investigation, but also includes the main characters personal life. The author definitely went to town with the two main characters in this book. I found Ruth's back-story interesting, but I didn't like the way the author used random snippets about Sarah and then ended the book with a bit of a cliff-hanger. As for Nick, I just found him quite wearing for most of the book, especially the tedious dreams.
I'm really not sure about this book, it's not a bad story, but I think the author was trying too hard to be clever. If possible I would have given 2.5 stars, but because of the ending I have reduced this to two.
June 14, 2023
I am constantly on the lookout for authors to add to my list and I believe that I have found one in Simon McCleave. The Snowdonia Killings is far from perfect but it has a very good plot, some wonderful characters that McCleave has done a nice job of developing, a few red herrings (and maybe a blue one), and the obligatory twist at just the right time, mercifully cutting off what seemed like a rather choppy ending.
DI Ruth Hunter has made the difficult decision to leave London and the Met for the much quieter life in the North Wales Police Force. Her last year in London has been made all the more difficult by the disappearance of her close friend and lover, Sarah, who, one day got on a train and never got off. She seems to have vanished.
Events conspire to thrust Ruth into a murder investigation almost as soon as she arrives in North Wales - Not exactly the slower pace that she had anticipated. A teacher at a local school has been killed just as Parent's Night was wrapping up. As it turns out, the teacher was an arrogant bitch so there was no shortage of potential suspects. Ruth plunges headlong into the case with her not-so-trusty DC who is resentful that a London DI has been sent to his hometown apparently to oversee his actions.
Then, as if things weren't messy enough, the headmaster of the school is found murdered. So much for the slower pace of the hinterlands. And he was killed in almost the identical way that the first victim was. Oy vey, do we have a serial killer in heretofore sleepy North Wales? What the heck is going on?
The book is not perfect but it is a fine start to an ongoing series. McCleave's unpretentious writing style nicely mirrors the nature of the setting in which the story takes place and is, to my way of thinking, perfect for the book. I can comfortably recommend The Snowdonia Killings to those who enjoy a solid cop investigation and I shall certainly read the next book in the series - although not right now since I never read books by the same author in succession. Why, you ask? It's just one of my many quirks.
Finito
DI Ruth Hunter has made the difficult decision to leave London and the Met for the much quieter life in the North Wales Police Force. Her last year in London has been made all the more difficult by the disappearance of her close friend and lover, Sarah, who, one day got on a train and never got off. She seems to have vanished.
Events conspire to thrust Ruth into a murder investigation almost as soon as she arrives in North Wales - Not exactly the slower pace that she had anticipated. A teacher at a local school has been killed just as Parent's Night was wrapping up. As it turns out, the teacher was an arrogant bitch so there was no shortage of potential suspects. Ruth plunges headlong into the case with her not-so-trusty DC who is resentful that a London DI has been sent to his hometown apparently to oversee his actions.
Then, as if things weren't messy enough, the headmaster of the school is found murdered. So much for the slower pace of the hinterlands. And he was killed in almost the identical way that the first victim was. Oy vey, do we have a serial killer in heretofore sleepy North Wales? What the heck is going on?
The book is not perfect but it is a fine start to an ongoing series. McCleave's unpretentious writing style nicely mirrors the nature of the setting in which the story takes place and is, to my way of thinking, perfect for the book. I can comfortably recommend The Snowdonia Killings to those who enjoy a solid cop investigation and I shall certainly read the next book in the series - although not right now since I never read books by the same author in succession. Why, you ask? It's just one of my many quirks.
Finito
March 2, 2020
This debut novel from Simon is the first book in his Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter series, set in North Wales. It is a regular British Police Procedural crime thriller that ticked all the right boxes for me. I was very impressed with the quality of The Snowdonia Killings from the very first chapter. Having just moved on from the DS Alexandra Cupidi series by William Shaw, I wondered if The Snowdonia Killings was written by an established and successful author under a pen name. A quick search on the internet reveals that Simon is a new author but he has been a script writer for television and film.
I loved Simon’s writing style and content. There is so much more to this book than basic crime scene investigation and the search to find the bad guy. This novel explores how alcoholics cope with daily life and how married mothers can move on to find love in a same sex relationship. Also the family lives of the police officers are skillfully woven into this story which adds perspective to this tale. Real past events like Operation Trident and the murder of Claire Tiltman in 1993 were mentioned to explain to the reader how certain things can happen.
There is plenty going on in this novel and there are many twists and turns for you to enjoy. Character development is very good and relationships are built as DI Ruth Hunter is the new kid on the block. There is also a hint at romance too!
I thought the plot was great with tension running all the way through. I enjoyed reading about the police procedures and jargon like “Victim is an IC3 or M1 female”. Ah yes, you spot those codes and the ugly face of racism has it’s part to play too. I liked the advice DI Ruth Hunter shared with the reader about interview techniques. I loved the attitudes within the police force that were explained, for example…
The arrogance of CID officers towards uniform was often a source of conflict. It had always been that way and Ruth remembered exactly what it was like when she was in uniform. Being treated as a glorified assistant, expected to take statements and other ‘menial’ tasks. Ruth had worked with police officers who, once they had transferred from uniform to CID and bought their Matalan suit, thought they were Inspector bloody Morse.
… I loved how Welsh culture and folklore was integral to this story, it gave such added value to this book. It was the quality of the detail that impressed me, it was not the obvious tourist highlights but obscure nuggets like the Demon of Cerrigydrudion. I loved the strong Welsh identity that this novel supported and shall ignore the little dig about the people of Cardiff.
Simon mentions a car I have not come across before, a Saab XC-90 4x4. Volvo do make the XC-90 though! Simon has a wide vocabulary and one of his favourite words is sardonic or sardonically which he uses 7 times within his novel. In his acknowledgements at the end, Simon thanks Claire Rushbrook for her proof-reading. Well, I was disappointed by the number of mistakes I came across and think that she has done a poor job indeed. I did not let this spoil my enjoyment of this OUTSTANDING book which gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
I loved Simon’s writing style and content. There is so much more to this book than basic crime scene investigation and the search to find the bad guy. This novel explores how alcoholics cope with daily life and how married mothers can move on to find love in a same sex relationship. Also the family lives of the police officers are skillfully woven into this story which adds perspective to this tale. Real past events like Operation Trident and the murder of Claire Tiltman in 1993 were mentioned to explain to the reader how certain things can happen.
There is plenty going on in this novel and there are many twists and turns for you to enjoy. Character development is very good and relationships are built as DI Ruth Hunter is the new kid on the block. There is also a hint at romance too!
I thought the plot was great with tension running all the way through. I enjoyed reading about the police procedures and jargon like “Victim is an IC3 or M1 female”. Ah yes, you spot those codes and the ugly face of racism has it’s part to play too. I liked the advice DI Ruth Hunter shared with the reader about interview techniques. I loved the attitudes within the police force that were explained, for example…
The arrogance of CID officers towards uniform was often a source of conflict. It had always been that way and Ruth remembered exactly what it was like when she was in uniform. Being treated as a glorified assistant, expected to take statements and other ‘menial’ tasks. Ruth had worked with police officers who, once they had transferred from uniform to CID and bought their Matalan suit, thought they were Inspector bloody Morse.
… I loved how Welsh culture and folklore was integral to this story, it gave such added value to this book. It was the quality of the detail that impressed me, it was not the obvious tourist highlights but obscure nuggets like the Demon of Cerrigydrudion. I loved the strong Welsh identity that this novel supported and shall ignore the little dig about the people of Cardiff.
Simon mentions a car I have not come across before, a Saab XC-90 4x4. Volvo do make the XC-90 though! Simon has a wide vocabulary and one of his favourite words is sardonic or sardonically which he uses 7 times within his novel. In his acknowledgements at the end, Simon thanks Claire Rushbrook for her proof-reading. Well, I was disappointed by the number of mistakes I came across and think that she has done a poor job indeed. I did not let this spoil my enjoyment of this OUTSTANDING book which gets the top score of 5 stars from me.
August 23, 2020
This really is rather dreadful. Somewhere in there is a fairly decent plot and there are several distractions to solving it, so this justifies my 2 star rating. However there so many errors of grammar, detail and fact that spotting them became the chief sport in continuing reading; police officers whose rank changes twice in the same chapter, car make and model confusion, bible chapters incorrect, a victim's name changing, dates and days mixed during an interview, changes in tense in the same paragraph - it could go on. And the irony is the gushing acknowledgement at the end to the 'incredibly talented editor' and a Detective who 'explained the complicated world of police procedure and investigation'; both these people need sacking because, firstly, it clearly has not been proof-read or edited, and secondly, there is a dire lack of understanding of the mechanics and urgency of such a police investigation. This compounded with lengthy and unnecessary descriptions, music track details, gratuitous and irrelevant sex scenes, unbelievable characters and pointless 'shock' expletives all make for a turgid and amateur effort. 5 stars? have these reviewers even read it?
July 16, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this one. I started out really loving The Snowdonia Killings. But as the end was drawing near, I was feeling disappointed.
DI Ruth Hunter is tired of her job at the London Met. She feels worn out and wants a slower pace of life. Also, a few years earlier, her girlfriend, Sarah, went missing. She was seen getting on a train and somehow vanished. Ruth just needs to get away.
Ruth gets a job in a remote area in North Wales. But the moment she arrives, she is faced with a murder. Arabella Dixon, deputy head teacher at the Dinas Padog Secondary School, was attacked and killed in the car park after a parents meeting. A few days later there is yet another murder. This is very unusual for the small community.
Ruth (a chain smoker who is constantly lighting up a “ciggie”) is working with DS Nick Evans, an alcoholic. Although Nick is a true asset to the case, I was a little annoyed that an alcoholic police officer is introduced in yet another mystery. But, I like his character, so I accepted it. They develop a good relationship and work well together.
I definitely liked the relationship between Ruth and Nick and the setting of Northern Wales. The first half of the book was pretty exciting. But after that I was looking forward to the end. That’s never a good sign for me.
That said, I will still read the second book. I like Ruth and Nick and want to see what’s going to happen next. Hopefully Nick will recover and that will not be a part of the series.
DI Ruth Hunter is tired of her job at the London Met. She feels worn out and wants a slower pace of life. Also, a few years earlier, her girlfriend, Sarah, went missing. She was seen getting on a train and somehow vanished. Ruth just needs to get away.
Ruth gets a job in a remote area in North Wales. But the moment she arrives, she is faced with a murder. Arabella Dixon, deputy head teacher at the Dinas Padog Secondary School, was attacked and killed in the car park after a parents meeting. A few days later there is yet another murder. This is very unusual for the small community.
Ruth (a chain smoker who is constantly lighting up a “ciggie”) is working with DS Nick Evans, an alcoholic. Although Nick is a true asset to the case, I was a little annoyed that an alcoholic police officer is introduced in yet another mystery. But, I like his character, so I accepted it. They develop a good relationship and work well together.
I definitely liked the relationship between Ruth and Nick and the setting of Northern Wales. The first half of the book was pretty exciting. But after that I was looking forward to the end. That’s never a good sign for me.
That said, I will still read the second book. I like Ruth and Nick and want to see what’s going to happen next. Hopefully Nick will recover and that will not be a part of the series.
March 12, 2021
DNF at 13%. The writing is terrible and the book is in desperate need of a proofread. There are silly errors—such as an address jumping from SE15 to SE19 in the space of four pages—but there are also glaring factual inaccuracies too. Whoever the author used as a research tool into policing either hasn’t been doing the job since the early 2000s or is wildly incompetent and has no business advising on crime novels! At least if I gave this to some of my colleagues they’d get a good laugh out of it, I suppose...
There’s more substance abuse than a Stephen King box set, and there is absolutely no way the alcoholic DS still has a job. Even a policeman fresh out of training school could smell the drink on him. He’d be caught within five minutes, although from other reviews it looks like his superior officer is aware and just not bothering to do anything about it? Nah. Gross misconduct dismissal, done and dusted.
I didn’t even get to the mystery, so can’t comment on that.
The heroine is about as charismatic as a cardboard box, and almost as interesting too. The hero—perhaps—is a chronically angry alcoholic racist, so is even less likeable. I felt more connection to the CID car. At least I know the make, model, colour, speed capability and light arrangement...much as I don’t care about it.
Don’t waste your time.
There’s more substance abuse than a Stephen King box set, and there is absolutely no way the alcoholic DS still has a job. Even a policeman fresh out of training school could smell the drink on him. He’d be caught within five minutes, although from other reviews it looks like his superior officer is aware and just not bothering to do anything about it? Nah. Gross misconduct dismissal, done and dusted.
I didn’t even get to the mystery, so can’t comment on that.
The heroine is about as charismatic as a cardboard box, and almost as interesting too. The hero—perhaps—is a chronically angry alcoholic racist, so is even less likeable. I felt more connection to the CID car. At least I know the make, model, colour, speed capability and light arrangement...much as I don’t care about it.
Don’t waste your time.
November 23, 2020
DI Ruth Hunter transfers from the London to North Wales looking for a quieter, less stressful life dealing with petty crimes instead of violent murders. But as soon as she walks in the door (before she checks into her hotel) she is the SIO of a murder case.
It was quite unusual, not unique, but unusual to read a police procedural where the police all seem to work well together without any tension or jealousy. Ruth is a very likeable character, who gets on well with her partner DS Nick, Evans, a born and bred local despite his problems with alcohol addiction. Ruth has her own troubled past.
The team work through the evidence and their investigations uncover new details, and then a second murder occurs, they find their confidence that their focus is on the right suspect shaken time and time again. Do any of the characters tell the truth? There are plenty of lies and misdirection, along with a generous “supper “of red herrings. That will keep even the most astute reader from even suspecting, let alone deciding who the perpetrator is, until the final chapters.
Throughout the story, Ruth relates stories from her career about the arrogance of CID officers towards uniform. Having been treated as a glorified assistant, who was expected to take statements and do other ‘menial’ tasks. In between the action there are passages that give insights into the others characters’ lives and backgrounds.
I loved the way Simon put so much more into the story than a great plot, and well, developed characters. It explores the way alcoholics cope with daily life. He includes wonderful descriptions of Snowdonia and surrounding areas. I also loved how Welsh culture and folklore was integral to this story, even with the Welsh/English “racism”. The detail was impressive, it wasn’t just the obvious tourist highlights but obscure little snippets of information about its myths and legends that the author inserted.
This is my first book by Simon McCleave and I was not disappointed. I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favourite series!
It was quite unusual, not unique, but unusual to read a police procedural where the police all seem to work well together without any tension or jealousy. Ruth is a very likeable character, who gets on well with her partner DS Nick, Evans, a born and bred local despite his problems with alcohol addiction. Ruth has her own troubled past.
The team work through the evidence and their investigations uncover new details, and then a second murder occurs, they find their confidence that their focus is on the right suspect shaken time and time again. Do any of the characters tell the truth? There are plenty of lies and misdirection, along with a generous “supper “of red herrings. That will keep even the most astute reader from even suspecting, let alone deciding who the perpetrator is, until the final chapters.
Throughout the story, Ruth relates stories from her career about the arrogance of CID officers towards uniform. Having been treated as a glorified assistant, who was expected to take statements and do other ‘menial’ tasks. In between the action there are passages that give insights into the others characters’ lives and backgrounds.
I loved the way Simon put so much more into the story than a great plot, and well, developed characters. It explores the way alcoholics cope with daily life. He includes wonderful descriptions of Snowdonia and surrounding areas. I also loved how Welsh culture and folklore was integral to this story, even with the Welsh/English “racism”. The detail was impressive, it wasn’t just the obvious tourist highlights but obscure little snippets of information about its myths and legends that the author inserted.
This is my first book by Simon McCleave and I was not disappointed. I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favourite series!
January 14, 2020
The Snowdonia Killings is the first book in the DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller Series.
LOVED this book! Devoured it! Absolutely loved the setting, so descriptive. Set against the majestic backdrop of Snowdonia. (Side note - I was unaware such a place existed until reading this book and doing my own research - very cool)
I was extremely impressed with how well written the characters were. I really got a feel for who both Ruth & Nick were as individuals. (Along with many others we meet throughout the pages) A definate cliffhanger with a certain character ... you'll see.
Excellent storyline! I did NOT guess who the killer was and felt as though I questioned several characters at one point throughout the story. Well done!
Overall I enjoyed this dark police procedural! Excited to read the next book in the series. Huge thank you to Simon for sending me a copy!
LOVED this book! Devoured it! Absolutely loved the setting, so descriptive. Set against the majestic backdrop of Snowdonia. (Side note - I was unaware such a place existed until reading this book and doing my own research - very cool)
I was extremely impressed with how well written the characters were. I really got a feel for who both Ruth & Nick were as individuals. (Along with many others we meet throughout the pages) A definate cliffhanger with a certain character ... you'll see.
Excellent storyline! I did NOT guess who the killer was and felt as though I questioned several characters at one point throughout the story. Well done!
Overall I enjoyed this dark police procedural! Excited to read the next book in the series. Huge thank you to Simon for sending me a copy!
April 18, 2020
4.5★s
The Snowdonia Killings is the first book in the DI Ruth Hunter series by British author, Simon McCleave. After almost twenty-five years with the London Metropolitan Police Force, DI Ruth Hunter transfers to North Wales. The idea is she has come up here for low-level crime, less murder and less politics, and it doesn’t hurt that she will be away from reminders of her missing, and much missed partner.
But she has to hit the ground running: on her first day, she finds herself SIO in the case of a murdered secondary school teacher. Arabella Dixon, deputy head at Ysgol Dinas Padog, has been strangled in the school’s car park minutes after leaving a Year Eleven’s parents’ evening. A symbol has been carved into her hand. And if tributes flow in the wake of this shocking news, it’s also soon apparent that not everyone loved this controlling woman.
Ruth is pleasantly surprised to find that her CID team in Llancastell is competent and hard-working, although her 2IC, DS Nick Evans seems to resent her appointment. Fairly quickly, they have an ever-lengthening list of people with motives and, possibly, opportunities to murder Arabella. After watching Nick in action, she judges him to be capable but is (rightly) worried that he has a drink problem.
As the team works through the evidence and their investigations uncover new details, and then a second murder occurs, they find their confidence that their focus is on the right suspect shaken time and again. Plenty of lies and misdirection, and a generous helping of red herrings will keep the most astute reader from even suspecting, let alone settling on, the perpetrator until the final chapters. Some of those red herrings, though, are not really satisfactorily explained by the conclusion.
Interspersing the action pieces are passages that allow the reader to get familiar with each of the characters destined to be the backbone of this series. While the lesser characters seem fairly solid, Ruth’s boss may prove good material for one of the later books, and both Ruth and Nick fit the “somewhat damaged” protagonist mould. There’s a tiny cliff-hanger in the final chapter to entice readers into the second book (The Harlech Beach Killings) of what promises to be a very readable crime fiction series.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by the author.
The Snowdonia Killings is the first book in the DI Ruth Hunter series by British author, Simon McCleave. After almost twenty-five years with the London Metropolitan Police Force, DI Ruth Hunter transfers to North Wales. The idea is she has come up here for low-level crime, less murder and less politics, and it doesn’t hurt that she will be away from reminders of her missing, and much missed partner.
But she has to hit the ground running: on her first day, she finds herself SIO in the case of a murdered secondary school teacher. Arabella Dixon, deputy head at Ysgol Dinas Padog, has been strangled in the school’s car park minutes after leaving a Year Eleven’s parents’ evening. A symbol has been carved into her hand. And if tributes flow in the wake of this shocking news, it’s also soon apparent that not everyone loved this controlling woman.
Ruth is pleasantly surprised to find that her CID team in Llancastell is competent and hard-working, although her 2IC, DS Nick Evans seems to resent her appointment. Fairly quickly, they have an ever-lengthening list of people with motives and, possibly, opportunities to murder Arabella. After watching Nick in action, she judges him to be capable but is (rightly) worried that he has a drink problem.
As the team works through the evidence and their investigations uncover new details, and then a second murder occurs, they find their confidence that their focus is on the right suspect shaken time and again. Plenty of lies and misdirection, and a generous helping of red herrings will keep the most astute reader from even suspecting, let alone settling on, the perpetrator until the final chapters. Some of those red herrings, though, are not really satisfactorily explained by the conclusion.
Interspersing the action pieces are passages that allow the reader to get familiar with each of the characters destined to be the backbone of this series. While the lesser characters seem fairly solid, Ruth’s boss may prove good material for one of the later books, and both Ruth and Nick fit the “somewhat damaged” protagonist mould. There’s a tiny cliff-hanger in the final chapter to entice readers into the second book (The Harlech Beach Killings) of what promises to be a very readable crime fiction series.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by the author.
January 7, 2021
First book in the DI Ruth Hunter series and I really enjoyed it!
It's a pretty standard detective murder mystery BUT I really liked the characters and level of detail.
Loved the setting. Ruth has an interesting background story too, as well as her colleague Nick who is struggling with alcoholism.
I did have a couple of issues with the realism of the story (and I really do hate it when the detectives lurch from one suspect to the next 'convinced' they've got it right but with no real evidence).
However, my overall enjoyment of the book allowed me to overlook procedural/plotting problems...so much so that I've downloaded the second book and I'm listening to it right now!
It's a pretty standard detective murder mystery BUT I really liked the characters and level of detail.
Loved the setting. Ruth has an interesting background story too, as well as her colleague Nick who is struggling with alcoholism.
I did have a couple of issues with the realism of the story (and I really do hate it when the detectives lurch from one suspect to the next 'convinced' they've got it right but with no real evidence).
However, my overall enjoyment of the book allowed me to overlook procedural/plotting problems...so much so that I've downloaded the second book and I'm listening to it right now!
January 3, 2022
Struggled to finish it
I plodded through the first half and managed to finish it by skim reading the second half. I even checked the date it was published because it felt as if it was set in the 70s or 80s. It felt as if it was a vain attempt to make addictions cool. Ruth was having a "ciggie" on nearly every page. Maybe Wales doesn't have the UK smoking ban and it was OK for Ruth to smoke in hotel rooms and work vehicles. And I suppose smoking isn't as bad as the work vehicle constantly being driven by a drunk police officer. And don't get me started on the anachronistic use of WPC. I might have been able to forgive all this if the police procedures were believable but epic failures there as well. The team celebrating "getting their man" long before he has been interviewed and charged, he hadn't even been arrested! Never mind, I now know more than I every wanted to about Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy. On the plus side, I borrowed through Prime reading so all it has cost me is time. Life is too short to read poor literature so I won't be reading any more of the series.
I plodded through the first half and managed to finish it by skim reading the second half. I even checked the date it was published because it felt as if it was set in the 70s or 80s. It felt as if it was a vain attempt to make addictions cool. Ruth was having a "ciggie" on nearly every page. Maybe Wales doesn't have the UK smoking ban and it was OK for Ruth to smoke in hotel rooms and work vehicles. And I suppose smoking isn't as bad as the work vehicle constantly being driven by a drunk police officer. And don't get me started on the anachronistic use of WPC. I might have been able to forgive all this if the police procedures were believable but epic failures there as well. The team celebrating "getting their man" long before he has been interviewed and charged, he hadn't even been arrested! Never mind, I now know more than I every wanted to about Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy. On the plus side, I borrowed through Prime reading so all it has cost me is time. Life is too short to read poor literature so I won't be reading any more of the series.
June 21, 2020
4 years after her partner Sarah disappeared from a busy train, DI Ruth Hunter is fed up with her life in London. The constant death, destruction and mayhem made her cynical and she’s more than happy to change the hustle and bustle of the Met for the peace and quiet of North Wales. That her daughter lives in Liverpool is also an advantage. To her surprise, the CID at the fictitious town of LLancastel is talented and committed.
DS Nick Evans, a ‘recovering’ alcoholic, sees this new English arrival with a heavy heart. Like many Welsh mining families, he still feels a trace of bitterness towards the London Met since Thatcher send them to break their strike in 1984. He expects a cockney-know-it-all. Their first meeting doesn’t go too well and Ruth thinks him parochial and immature. And it doesn’t take long before she suspects that he has an alcohol problem, but she also notices that when he’s focused he’s a fantastic copper. When he gets to know her a bit better, he also warms to the cockney-‘plonk’.
CID Llancastell isn’t as rural and peaceful as Ruth assumed though. She’s only just arrived and hasn’t officially started yet as a report comes in about a coloured teacher who’s attacked and strangled on the teacher’s parking lot of the school. There’s a strange symbol carved into her hand.
The school paints a rosy picture of the dedicated and beloved teacher, but soon cracks appear in that image. Arabella was a ‘ball-breaking bitch ’ with a chip on her shoulder is a more realistic version of the truth. Though an ex-student admits that she was a good teacher. Ruth can’t believe sometimes how everybody knows everyone in this case and sometimes feels as if she’s in an episode of Midsummer Murders. Nick, her DS is related to a witness and went to school with another, he even attended the school in question and knows several people there.
Then the school principal, an Indian muslim, gets murdered in the same fashion. Nick and Ruth (who were there to question him) see a person in a pig mask run away. What is going on? Someone that hates teachers or people of colour or is it personal?
Here and there the story is interrupted with flashbacks of Nick’s niece’s suicide and Sarah's disappearance. 2 incidents with a major impact on the lives of both leading detectives. Only one of those is relevant for this case, but it also creates a background for the main characters. As there’s no follow-up or solution for the other one, I suppose that this will come back in the next books.
With a few well-chosen words, the author paints a clear picture of the various characters. You can imagine them right in front of you. The whole book is very visual. The vivid descriptions of the amazing nature in the national park make you want to leave immediately for a holiday. Nick’s preference for Welsh myths and legends gives us an insight into the local history as well.
When I thought ‘not another lesbian detective’ (haven’t we got enough of those already? Before long people think that it’s a requirement), I noticed that she wasn’t all that politically correct, at least she was still smoking. And she has a past: as a youngster, she smoked weed and took ecstasy at concerts. Apart from her past, she’s an excellent detective and an experienced SIO. She’s not all that eager in calling in the help of one of the larger CID’s outside of Wales as she finds out that her own team is competent enough, despite not having too much experience with murders. They do know the community.
Any mistakes? Yes, of course, there are some, the main one is that the age of the teacher is first given as 53 by herself and later as 51 by the team. The reverse would be more likely unless she fibbed to the school. It may also be good to point out that acronyms as CPS have a completely different meaning in the UK than in the USA.
Nick says somewhere that getting of alcohol is more dangerous than coming off heroin. It may be a soul saver for him, but the truth isn’t as forgiving. I know first-hand how bad a cold turkey heroin detox can get with epileptic seizures and all; a close friend of mine had a spontaneous abortion that way. Nevertheless, cutting down yourself, the way Nick tries to do is extremely difficult, dangerous and is seldom successful (that’s true for all addictive drugs!). The thoughts and emotions of an addict (to whatever) are very well put into words. Especially the dread when realising that you can never drink again and the description of alcohol as a trusted friend are so true and totally relatable! It is definitely one of the most accurate and compassionate renderings of this situation that I’ve come across. I can only hope that the author doesn’t struggle with this problem himself.
If anything, the author tries to put an awful lot into this volume with the myths and the addiction problem, the enquiry takes second place sometimes. As for the solution of the case, I had a vague sense that it was going in this direction and I was not far from the truth.
There’s a short prequel to this series downloadable for free from the author’s website. I must admit that I haven’t read it yet, but will repair that in short.
I think that Mr McCleave must have some inside police information because the jokes and police history are too well-chosen and plausible to be mere fictional inventions. They’re quite funny as well, but surely the anecdote about guarding the pm with a handbag must be true. 😊
Overall, I’m very pleased with this new series and the detectives involved. Certainly, interesting enough to read the next books in this series. So, if the author reads this, please send them my way. I thank him for this free ARC and this is my unbiased and honest review of it.
DS Nick Evans, a ‘recovering’ alcoholic, sees this new English arrival with a heavy heart. Like many Welsh mining families, he still feels a trace of bitterness towards the London Met since Thatcher send them to break their strike in 1984. He expects a cockney-know-it-all. Their first meeting doesn’t go too well and Ruth thinks him parochial and immature. And it doesn’t take long before she suspects that he has an alcohol problem, but she also notices that when he’s focused he’s a fantastic copper. When he gets to know her a bit better, he also warms to the cockney-‘plonk’.
CID Llancastell isn’t as rural and peaceful as Ruth assumed though. She’s only just arrived and hasn’t officially started yet as a report comes in about a coloured teacher who’s attacked and strangled on the teacher’s parking lot of the school. There’s a strange symbol carved into her hand.
The school paints a rosy picture of the dedicated and beloved teacher, but soon cracks appear in that image. Arabella was a ‘ball-breaking bitch ’ with a chip on her shoulder is a more realistic version of the truth. Though an ex-student admits that she was a good teacher. Ruth can’t believe sometimes how everybody knows everyone in this case and sometimes feels as if she’s in an episode of Midsummer Murders. Nick, her DS is related to a witness and went to school with another, he even attended the school in question and knows several people there.
Then the school principal, an Indian muslim, gets murdered in the same fashion. Nick and Ruth (who were there to question him) see a person in a pig mask run away. What is going on? Someone that hates teachers or people of colour or is it personal?
Here and there the story is interrupted with flashbacks of Nick’s niece’s suicide and Sarah's disappearance. 2 incidents with a major impact on the lives of both leading detectives. Only one of those is relevant for this case, but it also creates a background for the main characters. As there’s no follow-up or solution for the other one, I suppose that this will come back in the next books.
With a few well-chosen words, the author paints a clear picture of the various characters. You can imagine them right in front of you. The whole book is very visual. The vivid descriptions of the amazing nature in the national park make you want to leave immediately for a holiday. Nick’s preference for Welsh myths and legends gives us an insight into the local history as well.
When I thought ‘not another lesbian detective’ (haven’t we got enough of those already? Before long people think that it’s a requirement), I noticed that she wasn’t all that politically correct, at least she was still smoking. And she has a past: as a youngster, she smoked weed and took ecstasy at concerts. Apart from her past, she’s an excellent detective and an experienced SIO. She’s not all that eager in calling in the help of one of the larger CID’s outside of Wales as she finds out that her own team is competent enough, despite not having too much experience with murders. They do know the community.
Any mistakes? Yes, of course, there are some, the main one is that the age of the teacher is first given as 53 by herself and later as 51 by the team. The reverse would be more likely unless she fibbed to the school. It may also be good to point out that acronyms as CPS have a completely different meaning in the UK than in the USA.
Nick says somewhere that getting of alcohol is more dangerous than coming off heroin. It may be a soul saver for him, but the truth isn’t as forgiving. I know first-hand how bad a cold turkey heroin detox can get with epileptic seizures and all; a close friend of mine had a spontaneous abortion that way. Nevertheless, cutting down yourself, the way Nick tries to do is extremely difficult, dangerous and is seldom successful (that’s true for all addictive drugs!). The thoughts and emotions of an addict (to whatever) are very well put into words. Especially the dread when realising that you can never drink again and the description of alcohol as a trusted friend are so true and totally relatable! It is definitely one of the most accurate and compassionate renderings of this situation that I’ve come across. I can only hope that the author doesn’t struggle with this problem himself.
If anything, the author tries to put an awful lot into this volume with the myths and the addiction problem, the enquiry takes second place sometimes. As for the solution of the case, I had a vague sense that it was going in this direction and I was not far from the truth.
There’s a short prequel to this series downloadable for free from the author’s website. I must admit that I haven’t read it yet, but will repair that in short.
I think that Mr McCleave must have some inside police information because the jokes and police history are too well-chosen and plausible to be mere fictional inventions. They’re quite funny as well, but surely the anecdote about guarding the pm with a handbag must be true. 😊
Overall, I’m very pleased with this new series and the detectives involved. Certainly, interesting enough to read the next books in this series. So, if the author reads this, please send them my way. I thank him for this free ARC and this is my unbiased and honest review of it.
September 27, 2020
Ok read, plenty of political correctness to keep everyone happy, but I guess that’s the road we’re being driven down now sadly. For me it spoilt a good read although I found the fact almost anyone could have done it (the murders) confusing and the constant smoking/drinking references were a bit tedious. The ending came in the last 7% and was totally unexpected. The anti English welsh history lessons were unnecessary, if I want a history lesson I’ll buy a book, and if reversed I’m no doubt someone would shout “racist”. Over the top multiculturalism considering its North Wales (93.2% white British). Doubt I’ll bother with the rest of the series.
December 9, 2019
The Snodonia Killings is the first in the DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller series. It is a brilliantly written thrill ride with some of the most descriptive prose I've ever read! Wonderful characters that leap off the page in a setting that's as bleak as it is gorgeous. Well done, Simon! Well done! I am looking forward to more of your work!
September 8, 2020
Between alcoholism and lesbian affairs, I actually don't remember who got murdered or why. But it's a lovely setting and the characters have some interesting quirks.
August 19, 2022
A middle aged female detective goes to North Wales because she's tired of the danger in the streets of London. She's in town about five minutes when a high strung local teacher is murdered. Strange markings are carved into her skin.
Not really getting along with the rest of the department, the investigation isn't really getting anywhere until another body is found carved up.
Checks a lot of boxes instead of letting things happen organically.
Not really getting along with the rest of the department, the investigation isn't really getting anywhere until another body is found carved up.
Checks a lot of boxes instead of letting things happen organically.
September 26, 2022
A generous two stars... For a free Prime read I was expecting a lower standard of writing, but this plumbed new depths. It had every trope you can think of: hardened cockney copper moving to a quieter countryside town, close-minded locals, alcoholic detective, a poorly fleshed out lesbian (whose internal monologue was some of the clumsiest written-by-a-man stuff I've ever read). The dialogue was at best cringe, at worst over-written, and the plot twist at the end could be seen from space. If I hadn't been on holiday I would have given up on this read about 3 chapters in...
This was clearly meant to be a textbook murder mystery, but you'd have been better off on Sparknotes.
This was clearly meant to be a textbook murder mystery, but you'd have been better off on Sparknotes.
March 28, 2020
My spouse read this book and here's her review.
The book features a very intriguing lead character who had an understandable motive to relocate from London to Snowdonia in the pursuit of her lover's murderer. The description of the countryside around Snowdonia in Wales lent a dark and brooding atmosphere to the story. All the characters were well delineated, not all were likeable though but that made the story more realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to the next.
Review edited and presented by Shawn Callon author of The Diplomatic Spy
The book features a very intriguing lead character who had an understandable motive to relocate from London to Snowdonia in the pursuit of her lover's murderer. The description of the countryside around Snowdonia in Wales lent a dark and brooding atmosphere to the story. All the characters were well delineated, not all were likeable though but that made the story more realistic. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to the next.
Review edited and presented by Shawn Callon author of The Diplomatic Spy
February 1, 2025
I have previously read two short stories by this author and was impressed so I decided to buy the Ruth Hunter series, well at least the first five books. The first in the series did not excite me the way his short stories did. Let me explain, I know he was trying to introduce two new characters to the readers and a little backstory is necessary but the thing is that more than half the book was dedicated to their backstories.
Too much reminiscing for my taste and a lot of folklore and an explanation of fables and legends that felt unnecessary. I guessed who the killer was during the first twenty percent of the book. Instead of red herrings the author concentrated his efforts in writing about the two “detectives” who investigated and interrogated everyone except the killer.
Nick and Ruth have both addictive personalities and that transferred to their vices, alcohol and smoking. I have not read all of the series but I am betting Ruth gets cancer and she beats it or will be in remission.
Although I am suffering from severe whiplash from the many subplots, I am reading the next installment. I love a good police procedural but the first in the series left me disappointed.
Too much reminiscing for my taste and a lot of folklore and an explanation of fables and legends that felt unnecessary. I guessed who the killer was during the first twenty percent of the book. Instead of red herrings the author concentrated his efforts in writing about the two “detectives” who investigated and interrogated everyone except the killer.
Nick and Ruth have both addictive personalities and that transferred to their vices, alcohol and smoking. I have not read all of the series but I am betting Ruth gets cancer and she beats it or will be in remission.
Although I am suffering from severe whiplash from the many subplots, I am reading the next installment. I love a good police procedural but the first in the series left me disappointed.
June 3, 2021
This book is so English, it hurts. This is a very strangely written book with some stinky red herrings that were and weren't obvious in the end. Research tells me that this book was published last year, which means the subsequent novels have all been published straight after. It's got to be the first book ever set in Wales where the English interlopers are hardly confronted by the infamous Welsh chip and also the first book where an Englishwoman can pronounce Welsh phrases and place names, without anyone correcting her. In her defence, she had spent some time in Wales as a kid, but Welsh is really hard.
A character is smoking Marlborough cigarettes. "Fynydd Snowdon" is used instead of Yr Wyddfa. King Arthur is described as ENGLISH, of all things. This book is so English it hurts.
I didn't like the victims at all. They get what they deserved and so I really didn't care who killed them. Even the initial suspects are eternally unlikeable. The coppers don't have a clue until the very end when an accidental reveals all ends the mystery. What really annoyed me was the two victims were POC and so a lot of nastiness can be said about them to do with the colour of their skin. They were both English, what does it matter? Felt very pointed.
The bigger mystery is what happened to Ruth's wife and has she ended up in Wales after a four year disappearance. Will Nick stay sober after the easiest alcohol ease off Ive ever seen? Will he stay in AA after the tragedy? Do we care?
Croeso
A character is smoking Marlborough cigarettes. "Fynydd Snowdon" is used instead of Yr Wyddfa. King Arthur is described as ENGLISH, of all things. This book is so English it hurts.
I didn't like the victims at all. They get what they deserved and so I really didn't care who killed them. Even the initial suspects are eternally unlikeable. The coppers don't have a clue until the very end when an accidental reveals all ends the mystery. What really annoyed me was the two victims were POC and so a lot of nastiness can be said about them to do with the colour of their skin. They were both English, what does it matter? Felt very pointed.
The bigger mystery is what happened to Ruth's wife and has she ended up in Wales after a four year disappearance. Will Nick stay sober after the easiest alcohol ease off Ive ever seen? Will he stay in AA after the tragedy? Do we care?
Croeso
February 17, 2020
In search of a new start somewhere quieter and less violent than London, DI Ruth Hunter transfers to a small town in North Wales. She has barely set foot in the place, however, when a schoolteacher is murdered in the school's parking lot following a parents' evening and Ruth is put in charge of the investigation. As it turns out, quite a few people had reason to dislike Arabella Dixon, and a second murder soon after does little to whittle down the pool of suspects.
Great series opener offering a murder case with plenty of twists, an intriguing and complex protagonist, and bleakly beautiful settings that make me want to hop on the next flight to Wales.
Great series opener offering a murder case with plenty of twists, an intriguing and complex protagonist, and bleakly beautiful settings that make me want to hop on the next flight to Wales.
December 16, 2020
I didn't really warm to Ruth and Nick although I quite liked the setting in Wales and some Welsh history. I couldn't see the point of spending 90% of the book investigating and solving the murders to find out in the last 10% they got it completely wrong and tripped over the real murderer by pure chance (although I did have some suspicions along the way about him).
July 12, 2020
This is my first book by Simon McCleave and I was not disappointed. It is based on DI Ruth Hunter and I loved the intertwining of London and North Wales, the stories of the characters and the history of Wales. I may be a bit biased, as I am originally from South Wales and even though Llancastell is a fictional town, this does not take away from the fact that the descriptive writing makes you want to visit Snowdonia. The murderer, I had guessed correctly, then quickly dismissed and was redirected by DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans and their arrests. The very last page, no spoilers here !!, leaves you in suspense and I will have to read the second book to see what unravels.
May 16, 2024
DI Ruth Hunter is a bloody good DI!
Ruth and her new partner Nick catch her first case, since moving from London to the small town of Snowdonia. The case is two murders in a town that has not seen a murder in ages.
A Teacher, Hell pressed to move up by any means is sleeping with the Head Teacher, and they both end up dead. With many suspects, the case takes a very twisted turn in the end. Sometimes the ones you least expect turn out to be what you least expect.
Great story, great character development.
Ruth and her new partner Nick catch her first case, since moving from London to the small town of Snowdonia. The case is two murders in a town that has not seen a murder in ages.
A Teacher, Hell pressed to move up by any means is sleeping with the Head Teacher, and they both end up dead. With many suspects, the case takes a very twisted turn in the end. Sometimes the ones you least expect turn out to be what you least expect.
Great story, great character development.
November 11, 2023
Ruth is tired of the stress working for the Met Police in London, so she accepts a position in Wales. So much for less stress--no sooner has she arrived, than she's assigned to head a murder inquiry at a local school. Her colleague is native to the area and starts out with a massive chip on his shoulder against the outsider, but they work well together, trying to figure out which of the many suspects could be guilty. I really enjoyed learning about Wales, and the strong sense of place reminded me of the Tartan and Nordic Noir novels, where setting plays such an important role.
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