What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Ruth Hunter #6
The White Forest Killings
A dangerous Islamic terrorist. A safe house in the middle of Snowdonia. Can DI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans deliver the suspect safely before there is a deadly rescue attempt?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2020
1338 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
September 16, 2020
Much to their displeasure, DCI Ruth Hunter and DS Nick Evans of North Wales police are told to up and go transport Abu Habib, a terrorist from prison to a safe house in Snowdonia where the CIA can interrogate him. They have to babysit him until reinforcements from MI5 arrive. Just babysitting? That’s a joke according to Ruth. No-one is to know that the man is even that the man is in Wales or where the safe house is located. Everything will happen as planned, will it? And later on, they’ll even find out that the police aren’t told the full story.
This series went in overdrive with this story. It’s gone from a police procedural to an action/spy thriller. This time they’re not conducting an investigation to catch a killer but they themselves are the prey of a group of violent terrorists. MI5 is involved and as you know, the spooks play by different rules. Anyway, this is a great story.
I’m no expert on spy-related matters but I’m sure that they would be armed if they have to babysit a known terrorist, even if the British police aren’t. They still police by consent, a thing that should be admired by the rest of the world.
I loved how the author made the tension rise by all the false alerts. You know that something will happen otherwise there wouldn’t be a book. But it’s brilliant how they’re spooked by a fox or unfriendly motorists.
According to my information, the terrorists that are to liberate Abu are grossly under-armed. If you see the weapons that have been used in attacks in France and Belgium, the terrorists have no problem to acquire assault weapons and surely that’s no different for those that operate across the Channel. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not in favour of looser gun laws, but terrorist do not live by the law, do they?
I thank the author for sending me a free ARC and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
This series went in overdrive with this story. It’s gone from a police procedural to an action/spy thriller. This time they’re not conducting an investigation to catch a killer but they themselves are the prey of a group of violent terrorists. MI5 is involved and as you know, the spooks play by different rules. Anyway, this is a great story.
I’m no expert on spy-related matters but I’m sure that they would be armed if they have to babysit a known terrorist, even if the British police aren’t. They still police by consent, a thing that should be admired by the rest of the world.
I loved how the author made the tension rise by all the false alerts. You know that something will happen otherwise there wouldn’t be a book. But it’s brilliant how they’re spooked by a fox or unfriendly motorists.
According to my information, the terrorists that are to liberate Abu are grossly under-armed. If you see the weapons that have been used in attacks in France and Belgium, the terrorists have no problem to acquire assault weapons and surely that’s no different for those that operate across the Channel. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not in favour of looser gun laws, but terrorist do not live by the law, do they?
I thank the author for sending me a free ARC and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
November 16, 2020
The best of this series. Stayed up until I'd finished it.
February 1, 2022
Totally different from the rest of the series but just as much fun. These books are addictive
November 26, 2021
These books just keep getting better and better.
May 18, 2022
Very different from the other books in the series. There is a single plotline and n0 crime c0mmitted in picturesque North Wales for DCI Ruth Hunter and her team to investigate. Ruth and DS Nick Evans are instructed to transport and keep a known terrorist from prison to a remote safe house in Snowdonia. They will essentially babysit him until backup arrives in the form of MI5. All on a strictly needs to know basis and sounds so simple and boring.
Then the whole story turns completely on its head. Our doughty detective duo of police procedural fame have been propelled out of the usual crime mystery into an action spy thriller. No longer babysitting, they find themselves at the mercy of a group of ruthless, violent terrorists.
We can only hope that Nick makes it out alive as his partner is due to give birth imminently.
There is also a new character, PC Jim Garrow who has no hesitation on getting in on the action and it will be interesting to see if Simon Mcleave keeps him in the rest of the series and develops his character.
The whole novel is ludicrously over the top, but the way the action is ramped up and the pace of the story sweeps you along. It is very, very good and I loved it.
Then the whole story turns completely on its head. Our doughty detective duo of police procedural fame have been propelled out of the usual crime mystery into an action spy thriller. No longer babysitting, they find themselves at the mercy of a group of ruthless, violent terrorists.
We can only hope that Nick makes it out alive as his partner is due to give birth imminently.
There is also a new character, PC Jim Garrow who has no hesitation on getting in on the action and it will be interesting to see if Simon Mcleave keeps him in the rest of the series and develops his character.
The whole novel is ludicrously over the top, but the way the action is ramped up and the pace of the story sweeps you along. It is very, very good and I loved it.
October 13, 2021
Excellent read in two sittings couldn’t put it down
January 24, 2021
SPOILER ALERT
Book 6 of DI Ruth Hunter and read within hours. After Book 5 (still my favourite) this completely turned everything around. What can go wrong when Ruth and her partner Nick are transporting an Islamic terrorist to a safe house, within the White Forest. With mass killings, MI5 Agents, corruption, deceit and a double bluff, what could possibly go wrong ? Young PC James (Jim) Garrow, what a hero, he deserves a place on the CID Team when he finishes his probation. Between them, Ruth, Nick and Jim manage to stop Abu, a radical extremist leaving the country. The story delves into radicalism and terrorism, which is essential for this book. Nick having been taken to the hospital after receiving a gun shot wound, finds out that he missed the birth of his baby girl. Amanda is in ICU with complications after suffering a haemorrhage after giving birth. Meanwhile, Ruth visits Sian, who has ended their relationship, as Ruth cannot let go of her past; to no avail as Sian does not want to see Ruth and has asked for a transfer to Cardiff. But, wait, it’s not ALL bad news 😊. Tony, Amanda’s Dad, sees his first grandchild and the ending is Amanda being wheeled into Nick’s room in a wheelchair with their daughter. ❤️
Book 6 of DI Ruth Hunter and read within hours. After Book 5 (still my favourite) this completely turned everything around. What can go wrong when Ruth and her partner Nick are transporting an Islamic terrorist to a safe house, within the White Forest. With mass killings, MI5 Agents, corruption, deceit and a double bluff, what could possibly go wrong ? Young PC James (Jim) Garrow, what a hero, he deserves a place on the CID Team when he finishes his probation. Between them, Ruth, Nick and Jim manage to stop Abu, a radical extremist leaving the country. The story delves into radicalism and terrorism, which is essential for this book. Nick having been taken to the hospital after receiving a gun shot wound, finds out that he missed the birth of his baby girl. Amanda is in ICU with complications after suffering a haemorrhage after giving birth. Meanwhile, Ruth visits Sian, who has ended their relationship, as Ruth cannot let go of her past; to no avail as Sian does not want to see Ruth and has asked for a transfer to Cardiff. But, wait, it’s not ALL bad news 😊. Tony, Amanda’s Dad, sees his first grandchild and the ending is Amanda being wheeled into Nick’s room in a wheelchair with their daughter. ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2021
Best one yet
This was one of the author's best stories yet. Not a complicated story with several crimes in the mix but a concerted effort to show the two main characters doing their best without a lot of car chases, pursuit of lost loves; just out and out account of a day's adventure in what proves to be a nail biting story.
This was one of the author's best stories yet. Not a complicated story with several crimes in the mix but a concerted effort to show the two main characters doing their best without a lot of car chases, pursuit of lost loves; just out and out account of a day's adventure in what proves to be a nail biting story.
March 22, 2023
The stories are improving but the main characters still have TSTL stamped on their foreheads. They go to the most unsafe safe house ever imagined and completely ignore all the red flags that tell them the situation has been compromised. There is lots of action in this one and it is entertaining. Oh, TSTL means "too stupid to live".
May 7, 2021
Read in a single sitting, thank you insomnia. Much better than the previous instalment, real edge of your seat stuff from start to finish
August 8, 2022
Wow
Fast-paced, twisty plot. This book is a great ride. I couldn’t put it down. Seriously recommend that you read it.
Fast-paced, twisty plot. This book is a great ride. I couldn’t put it down. Seriously recommend that you read it.
August 2, 2024
This was a 5 Star Jack Reacher like novel!
Ruth Hunter, Nick, and a new PC Garrow are tasked with moving a suspected terrorist bomber to an MI5 holding area. They later find out as they are waiting for the agents to arrive and take the suspect away, that they are not alone as a team of terrorists have come to free their fellow terrorist. (or did they)
Everything about this installment is fast paced, and will leave on the edge of your seat!
Highly recommend!
Ruth Hunter, Nick, and a new PC Garrow are tasked with moving a suspected terrorist bomber to an MI5 holding area. They later find out as they are waiting for the agents to arrive and take the suspect away, that they are not alone as a team of terrorists have come to free their fellow terrorist. (or did they)
Everything about this installment is fast paced, and will leave on the edge of your seat!
Highly recommend!
June 9, 2025
I’ve really enjoyed the series so far but this was a real disappointment.
The bodged arrest of the terrorist followed by the moronic events at the safe house from supposed professionals were just farcical. And the obsession with ‘cigs’ and booze on every other page from the two lead characters smacks increasingly of padding and is starting to get boring.
I’ll try the next in series and hope the series gets back on track.
The bodged arrest of the terrorist followed by the moronic events at the safe house from supposed professionals were just farcical. And the obsession with ‘cigs’ and booze on every other page from the two lead characters smacks increasingly of padding and is starting to get boring.
I’ll try the next in series and hope the series gets back on track.
September 21, 2025
“You see that peak? Nick said, pointing. Ruth peered and saw the dark plum shape in the distance rising from behind the forest… It’s a mountain. Moel Siabod…another older translation for the word ‘siabod’ is bare hill, a crown that is covered in newly fallen snow” -59-60
Slightly different to his other books and I really enjoyed it. Still encompassing the beauty of Wales which is something I love to see x
Slightly different to his other books and I really enjoyed it. Still encompassing the beauty of Wales which is something I love to see x
January 1, 2024
Just off to catch my breath back!
After the maddeningly slow, thorough and twisted stories in the series so far, this one is something else altogether!! Feeling slightly exhausted and woozy now, waiting for the adrenaline rush to wear off before tackling the next one.
After the maddeningly slow, thorough and twisted stories in the series so far, this one is something else altogether!! Feeling slightly exhausted and woozy now, waiting for the adrenaline rush to wear off before tackling the next one.
September 14, 2020
The White Forest Killings
Five stars plus absolutely brilliant brilliant book your books and story lines just keep on getting better and better roll on November when your next book is out
Five stars plus absolutely brilliant brilliant book your books and story lines just keep on getting better and better roll on November when your next book is out
September 26, 2024
Just what I needed, a fast paced thriller with characters I care about. I read this in a few hours, fabulous, where's the next one!
October 15, 2024
Excellent read
I have read the other Ruth Hunter books 1-5, but this is on a different level. Fast paced and a real page turner. Heading off now to start the next one!
I have read the other Ruth Hunter books 1-5, but this is on a different level. Fast paced and a real page turner. Heading off now to start the next one!
March 25, 2022
The best DCI Ruth Hunter to date
This is more of an action thriller than the usual DCI Ruth Hunter novels we know. It has a refreshing page-turning suspense almost from the first page. I am still a bit uneasy when the main characters does something unlogical or direct stupid but the small mistakes are necessary to get the action going. We get introduced to a new character, PC Jim Garrow, which I certainly hope we get to know more of in the following books.
This is more of an action thriller than the usual DCI Ruth Hunter novels we know. It has a refreshing page-turning suspense almost from the first page. I am still a bit uneasy when the main characters does something unlogical or direct stupid but the small mistakes are necessary to get the action going. We get introduced to a new character, PC Jim Garrow, which I certainly hope we get to know more of in the following books.
May 20, 2023
Different but good. ,loaded with action.
Not what I expect , kind a side step to the progression of the solve murder
Theme, but I had a hard time putting the book down. No matter where you are in the world today, evil and terrorism has its tentacles entrenched and seeing a country such as Wales dealing with these forces is a challenge . The lack of armament for its officers ,forces them to be extremely resourceful and creative. An interesting concept in this gun happy world.
Not what I expect , kind a side step to the progression of the solve murder
Theme, but I had a hard time putting the book down. No matter where you are in the world today, evil and terrorism has its tentacles entrenched and seeing a country such as Wales dealing with these forces is a challenge . The lack of armament for its officers ,forces them to be extremely resourceful and creative. An interesting concept in this gun happy world.
September 16, 2020
Brilliant Simon
Just cannot get enough of this author, his characters are so real, they have their own personal problems to hear and solve in addition to the crimes they have to resolve. The stories are full of unexpected twists and turns, this is so very true of his latest book, The White Forest Killings, I started novel yesterday and finished it today - I just had to find out how it ended, surprise after surprise! I already have the next novel, The Space Farm Killings, due out in November, on pre-order.
Just cannot get enough of this author, his characters are so real, they have their own personal problems to hear and solve in addition to the crimes they have to resolve. The stories are full of unexpected twists and turns, this is so very true of his latest book, The White Forest Killings, I started novel yesterday and finished it today - I just had to find out how it ended, surprise after surprise! I already have the next novel, The Space Farm Killings, due out in November, on pre-order.
October 9, 2020
A weak link in chain of great books.
Still a decent read plot was very far fetched tho,ive enjoyed every book in series so far simon mcleave and damion boyd my current go to authors but felt this book was definitely the weakest in series mr mcleave is quite prolific as a writer as he seems to release books every 8 to 12 weeks,i have preordered his next book and hope he returns to winning ways.
Still a decent read plot was very far fetched tho,ive enjoyed every book in series so far simon mcleave and damion boyd my current go to authors but felt this book was definitely the weakest in series mr mcleave is quite prolific as a writer as he seems to release books every 8 to 12 weeks,i have preordered his next book and hope he returns to winning ways.
March 17, 2021
I wish I could give this book a higher rating. I am loving the series and this book was the very best so far. I never wanted to put it down. It read like a movie playing out before me. The pace, the setting and the situation the characters were in made for a GREAT READ. As with all of Simon McCleave's novels so far the ending was not as I predicted. The closer the ending came the more exciting the book became. Now on to the rest of the series.
March 25, 2021
The White Forest Killings
I don't want to give away the plot of the book because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. So I'll say this instead
The White Forest Killings is one of the most thrilling books I've ever read. It is fast paced and you can feel the tension mounting as you read it. I had to keep reading because I was hooked and needed to know what was going to happen next.
I can not praise this book highly enough.
Highly recommended indeed.
I don't want to give away the plot of the book because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. So I'll say this instead
The White Forest Killings is one of the most thrilling books I've ever read. It is fast paced and you can feel the tension mounting as you read it. I had to keep reading because I was hooked and needed to know what was going to happen next.
I can not praise this book highly enough.
Highly recommended indeed.
July 27, 2021
Great action
I was prepared for the mind numbing explanations that come with serial books but they seem to be shorter this time. Every thing else about this series of books is great.
Well developed characters, a twist here, a turn there, including in the personal lives of the characters.
This one though, had all the action that I would expect from a modern movie, even the dreams. Honestly, I would recommend this book and the series to anyone.
I was prepared for the mind numbing explanations that come with serial books but they seem to be shorter this time. Every thing else about this series of books is great.
Well developed characters, a twist here, a turn there, including in the personal lives of the characters.
This one though, had all the action that I would expect from a modern movie, even the dreams. Honestly, I would recommend this book and the series to anyone.
October 15, 2020
The best yet!
Quick paced,new characters and a different storyline. This was , by far, the best of a great series of books. The DI the DS and the new pc proved how good they are under immense pressure. I couldn't put this down until I knew the outcome. I do hope that PC Garrow is in the next of the series which I've just preordered!
Quick paced,new characters and a different storyline. This was , by far, the best of a great series of books. The DI the DS and the new pc proved how good they are under immense pressure. I couldn't put this down until I knew the outcome. I do hope that PC Garrow is in the next of the series which I've just preordered!
October 23, 2020
Brilliant
I have not been able to put this book down. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions, and fast paced with plenty of twists. I love DI Ruth Hunter and her side kick DS Nick Evans, Simon McCleave is an excellent writer who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. Trust me you will thoroughly love this series of books. Keep them coming Please Simon
I have not been able to put this book down. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions, and fast paced with plenty of twists. I love DI Ruth Hunter and her side kick DS Nick Evans, Simon McCleave is an excellent writer who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. Trust me you will thoroughly love this series of books. Keep them coming Please Simon
November 15, 2020
Totally gripping
Well! I ache all over from being so tensed up with anticipation. This is a good thing by the way, the story is totally gripping - one of those things where you can’t bear to read it but you can’t stop!
Well! I ache all over from being so tensed up with anticipation. This is a good thing by the way, the story is totally gripping - one of those things where you can’t bear to read it but you can’t stop!
May 14, 2021
Ruth Hunter is back with another adventure, far different from the others in the series.
Gripping, thrilling and an all round fantastic read. I would go as far as to say this is one of the best ones in the series so far.
Simon McCleave, take a bow.
Gripping, thrilling and an all round fantastic read. I would go as far as to say this is one of the best ones in the series so far.
Simon McCleave, take a bow.
September 10, 2021
Different type of crime story
As always Simon has woven an excellent book. Ruth and Nick are in the thick of the action as normal. Fast pacing,exciting and you won’t be able to put it down!
As always Simon has woven an excellent book. Ruth and Nick are in the thick of the action as normal. Fast pacing,exciting and you won’t be able to put it down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews