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DI James Walker #2
The Killer in the Snow
A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season. But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter. Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier…
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2021
481 people are currently reading
3749 people want to read
About the author
Alex Pine
11 books254 followersAlex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 590 reviews
September 17, 2023
My thanks to Harper 360/Avon, Alex Pine and Netgalley. This was a caricature. Everyone might have been cut out dolls. There was nothing here. The people were wooden. Stiff. Just the speaking back and forth was awkward. I knew from the 30% mark what had happened. Yet, I kept reading and waiting for something else. That "else" didn't happen. Discounting all that, I believe the worst of all is how this author wrote the women. The hysterical, puking and crying pregnant wife of "our hero." Also, "no spoilers" but the whole rest of the story. We women and our vapors and hysterics! Woe is me! This author needs to get real. I've no intention of reading anything from this author again.
October 25, 2021
EXCERPT: There was a set of shoeprints in the otherwise pristine snow, and Robert was sure that they hadn't been there earlier. They were coming from the road and leading over to the steps on the right side of the house, the ones that descended to the cellar door. And yet there were no prints going in the opposite direction.
It puzzled him because the cellar door was always locked and there was only one set of keys, which hung from a hook in the kitchen. What's more, Mary rarely ventured down there because she'd convinced herself many years ago that it was haunted.
He tightened his grip on the bag and went to investigate. What he saw made him frown further.
The shoeprints went down the steps and stopped in front of the door, which suggested that whoever had gone in there hadn't yet come out.
But who could it be?
He was about to go down and check when the sound of raised voices came from inside the house. They were loud enough to cause a blast of alarm to shoot through him.
Instinct told him that whatever was going on in the house had to be more important than what might be happening in the cellar, so he turned sharply on his heels and rushed towards the front door.
Just as he reached it, the shouting was drowned out by a high-pitched scream that sent his pulse racing.
ABOUT 'THE KILLER IN THE SNOW': The first fall of snow can be fatal…
A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season.
But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.
Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier…
James knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold…
MY THOUGHTS: A good plot, but I found the writing style somewhat dry and lacking suspense. While I didn't struggle to get through my listen/read, neither did I pick it up every chance I got. And that's always a tell.
It was difficult to feel any connection with the characters. They all felt very formal and stiff, as was the dialogue. Other than DC Jess Abbott and James' wife Annie, the women in this story are all portrayed as rather weak characters or mentally unbalanced.
I enjoyed the mystery being linked to what had happened on the farm twenty four years earlier, even though it was pretty apparent what had happened. It was the 'how' that kept me reading.
Initially there are a handful of suspects for the current killings and I did enjoy the resolution. I just wish that it had been a bit less plodding and a lot more suspenseful. I also think that the inclusion of a gangster 'out to get James' was unnecessary and distracted from the main storyline. It just didn't seem to 'fit', and served no useful purpose.
I enjoyed the narration of Sid Sagar, but overall this was only an okay, but totally forgettable read.
⭐⭐.6
#TheKillerintheSnow #NetGalley
I: #alexpineauthor @avonbooksuk @harperaudio
T: #alexpineauthor @BooksAvon @HarperAudio
#audiobook #christmasfiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds! Alex Pine is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written books under the names Jaime Raven, James Raven and JP Carter.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK for providing the digital ARC, and Harper Collins UK audio for providing the audio ARC of The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It puzzled him because the cellar door was always locked and there was only one set of keys, which hung from a hook in the kitchen. What's more, Mary rarely ventured down there because she'd convinced herself many years ago that it was haunted.
He tightened his grip on the bag and went to investigate. What he saw made him frown further.
The shoeprints went down the steps and stopped in front of the door, which suggested that whoever had gone in there hadn't yet come out.
But who could it be?
He was about to go down and check when the sound of raised voices came from inside the house. They were loud enough to cause a blast of alarm to shoot through him.
Instinct told him that whatever was going on in the house had to be more important than what might be happening in the cellar, so he turned sharply on his heels and rushed towards the front door.
Just as he reached it, the shouting was drowned out by a high-pitched scream that sent his pulse racing.
ABOUT 'THE KILLER IN THE SNOW': The first fall of snow can be fatal…
A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season.
But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.
Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier…
James knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold…
MY THOUGHTS: A good plot, but I found the writing style somewhat dry and lacking suspense. While I didn't struggle to get through my listen/read, neither did I pick it up every chance I got. And that's always a tell.
It was difficult to feel any connection with the characters. They all felt very formal and stiff, as was the dialogue. Other than DC Jess Abbott and James' wife Annie, the women in this story are all portrayed as rather weak characters or mentally unbalanced.
I enjoyed the mystery being linked to what had happened on the farm twenty four years earlier, even though it was pretty apparent what had happened. It was the 'how' that kept me reading.
Initially there are a handful of suspects for the current killings and I did enjoy the resolution. I just wish that it had been a bit less plodding and a lot more suspenseful. I also think that the inclusion of a gangster 'out to get James' was unnecessary and distracted from the main storyline. It just didn't seem to 'fit', and served no useful purpose.
I enjoyed the narration of Sid Sagar, but overall this was only an okay, but totally forgettable read.
⭐⭐.6
#TheKillerintheSnow #NetGalley
I: #alexpineauthor @avonbooksuk @harperaudio
T: #alexpineauthor @BooksAvon @HarperAudio
#audiobook #christmasfiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds! Alex Pine is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written books under the names Jaime Raven, James Raven and JP Carter.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK for providing the digital ARC, and Harper Collins UK audio for providing the audio ARC of The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 31, 2025
This is a Christmas Mystery, and this is the second book in the DI James Walker Series. I did read and review the first book in this series before picking up this book. I did not feel you have to read the first book in this series before reading this one, but there is a lot of things said about the first books case in this book. I have to say I liked this book a lot more then the first book not that I did not enjoyed reading the first book. I found the case that DI James is working on in this book more interesting. I was really pulled into the case, and I found myself wanting to how what happen to the family that was killed. I did find the flash backs in this book to be a little weird at first, and I think they could have been written in a little bit better. The characters in this book are the type of characters that grow on you. I found that I also really did not care about the side storyline that was going on in this book because I guessed what was going on the minute it came up in the story. I am glad it came to a end because I was getting sick of it coming up, and it runs in the first book and this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Avon) or author (Alex Pine) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
September 4, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this tantalizing mystery in return for an honest review. The complicated, but easy-to-follow plot that flows well. It will keep readers engaged while they try to untangle the mystery. This is a police procedural that describes how painstaking and detailed their work must be in order to solve the case. There are no graphic sex scenes or vulgar language. Violence was described through flashbacks to the past, or by discovering already murdered victims.
I enjoyed the fact that the lead detective, DI James Walker, seems so well adjusted with a pleasant, comfortable home life, unlike many lead detectives in fiction who have emotional issues in their personal lives that they soothe with alcohol. He also has a cooperative team working together without dissension, and delegates tasks wisely. He is calm, persistent, and patient in his skilled interrogation of suspects. I learned that this is the second book in the DI Walker series, both cases occurring in a quiet village during the Christmas season. This works as a standalone but refers to previous events which raised my interest in reading the first book.
A family of three, an adult daughter and her parents, are found in a bloody scene at an isolated farmhouse. Forensic evidence suggests they were murdered on Christmas eve. DI Walker was hoping to spend the holiday season relaxing at home, but like a year ago this is not to be. To add to the mystery, the team finds a walled-in hidden room containing a peephole, giving an eerie suggestion that the family was being watched. There is shocking proof that an unknown person was secretly observing the murdered family. The farm was deeply in unpaid debt, partly due to the father's gambling addiction. The high-strung mother hated the home, believing it to be haunted. The daughter had anger issues and was rebellious, engaging in drugs with unsavoury friends. The detectives uncover multiple suspects, secrets and intrigue.
More than two decades earlier, the previous owners of the farm were murdered in the basement and their baby daughter vanished. This murder was never solved. The investigators feel there must be a connection between this cold case and the present family murder. With so many possible perpetrators, they must find a motive linking both killings within the same house during the elapsed time period. Can they succeed? In an unrelated thread, there is a gangster that Walker helped imprison while working in London who is bound on revenge.
Recommended for readers those who enjoy a suspenseful, complex, easy-to-follow mystery with engaging and dedicated investigators. I would read Alex Pine's next book in the series.
I enjoyed the fact that the lead detective, DI James Walker, seems so well adjusted with a pleasant, comfortable home life, unlike many lead detectives in fiction who have emotional issues in their personal lives that they soothe with alcohol. He also has a cooperative team working together without dissension, and delegates tasks wisely. He is calm, persistent, and patient in his skilled interrogation of suspects. I learned that this is the second book in the DI Walker series, both cases occurring in a quiet village during the Christmas season. This works as a standalone but refers to previous events which raised my interest in reading the first book.
A family of three, an adult daughter and her parents, are found in a bloody scene at an isolated farmhouse. Forensic evidence suggests they were murdered on Christmas eve. DI Walker was hoping to spend the holiday season relaxing at home, but like a year ago this is not to be. To add to the mystery, the team finds a walled-in hidden room containing a peephole, giving an eerie suggestion that the family was being watched. There is shocking proof that an unknown person was secretly observing the murdered family. The farm was deeply in unpaid debt, partly due to the father's gambling addiction. The high-strung mother hated the home, believing it to be haunted. The daughter had anger issues and was rebellious, engaging in drugs with unsavoury friends. The detectives uncover multiple suspects, secrets and intrigue.
More than two decades earlier, the previous owners of the farm were murdered in the basement and their baby daughter vanished. This murder was never solved. The investigators feel there must be a connection between this cold case and the present family murder. With so many possible perpetrators, they must find a motive linking both killings within the same house during the elapsed time period. Can they succeed? In an unrelated thread, there is a gangster that Walker helped imprison while working in London who is bound on revenge.
Recommended for readers those who enjoy a suspenseful, complex, easy-to-follow mystery with engaging and dedicated investigators. I would read Alex Pine's next book in the series.
October 1, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
DI James Walker was hoping for a quiet Christmas as last year was stressful hunting down a serial killer. Unfortunately, he’s not that lucky.
Two days after Christmas he is called out to a possible murder/suicide at Oaktree Farm where the owners, the Batemans, have suffered gunshot wounds and their daughter has been stabbed, plus the daughter’s boyfriend has gone missing.
The investigation is just getting underway when DI Walker is made aware of a similar murder/suicide at the farm twenty years ago, one in which the couples baby daughter went missing, presumed dead. Could the cases be linked?
I haven’t read the first book, The Christmas Killer, but as this book worked as a standalone and I was intrigued enough by the plot that I decided to give it a read, though I never felt like I got to know DI James Walker fully or appreciated his character in the way I would have had I read the first book.
The book is set in Cumbria, a place where I’m not sure I want to visit anymore given by how many thriller/detective books are set there!! Joking aside, Cumbria with its vast open spaces, numerous forests and lakes, plus tiny villages make for a great place to set a thriller and I can see why so many authors do.
The plot felt fast and edgy, plus, the investigation had many leads to it, including a few red herrings. Given that I read a lot of thrillers I tend to have a good idea early on what has happened and by 38% of the way through the book I made my prediction which turned out to be near as damn right. This, however, didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book as I then needed to see if I was right or what I had missed.
The Killer in the Snow kept me interested the whole way through. It had plenty of suspense and twists to keep you on your toes. It is dark and foreboding at times and I loved the snippets of info from twenty years ago and the first murder case at the farm and how DI Walker worked on the two cases to close them both.
DI James Walker was hoping for a quiet Christmas as last year was stressful hunting down a serial killer. Unfortunately, he’s not that lucky.
Two days after Christmas he is called out to a possible murder/suicide at Oaktree Farm where the owners, the Batemans, have suffered gunshot wounds and their daughter has been stabbed, plus the daughter’s boyfriend has gone missing.
The investigation is just getting underway when DI Walker is made aware of a similar murder/suicide at the farm twenty years ago, one in which the couples baby daughter went missing, presumed dead. Could the cases be linked?
I haven’t read the first book, The Christmas Killer, but as this book worked as a standalone and I was intrigued enough by the plot that I decided to give it a read, though I never felt like I got to know DI James Walker fully or appreciated his character in the way I would have had I read the first book.
The book is set in Cumbria, a place where I’m not sure I want to visit anymore given by how many thriller/detective books are set there!! Joking aside, Cumbria with its vast open spaces, numerous forests and lakes, plus tiny villages make for a great place to set a thriller and I can see why so many authors do.
The plot felt fast and edgy, plus, the investigation had many leads to it, including a few red herrings. Given that I read a lot of thrillers I tend to have a good idea early on what has happened and by 38% of the way through the book I made my prediction which turned out to be near as damn right. This, however, didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book as I then needed to see if I was right or what I had missed.
The Killer in the Snow kept me interested the whole way through. It had plenty of suspense and twists to keep you on your toes. It is dark and foreboding at times and I loved the snippets of info from twenty years ago and the first murder case at the farm and how DI Walker worked on the two cases to close them both.
October 16, 2021
DI James Walker Series #2
A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he's hoping for peace and quiet this festive season. But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his basement - an no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.
DI James Walker is investigating what looks like a murder/suicide of a farmer, his wife and daughter. But the more James Walker and his team investigate into the family, the more intriguing the case becomes. Over twenty years ago, the previous owners met a similar fate. There's also a dangerous London gangster who's went missing that's vowed vengeance on James Walker.
The pace is fast in this twist filled read. There's also plenty of suspects to choose from. This is quite a good series so far. The books can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #AlePine for my ARC of #TheKillerInTheSnow in exchange for an honest review.
A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he's hoping for peace and quiet this festive season. But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his basement - an no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.
DI James Walker is investigating what looks like a murder/suicide of a farmer, his wife and daughter. But the more James Walker and his team investigate into the family, the more intriguing the case becomes. Over twenty years ago, the previous owners met a similar fate. There's also a dangerous London gangster who's went missing that's vowed vengeance on James Walker.
The pace is fast in this twist filled read. There's also plenty of suspects to choose from. This is quite a good series so far. The books can be read as a standalone.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #AlePine for my ARC of #TheKillerInTheSnow in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2022
Very few authors can keep me engrossed in a story from the beginning, through the middle until the very end. Alex Pine has done just that with The Killer in the Snow. The cover initially pulled me in, but I stayed for the storyline. A family massacre with mother, father and daughter killed in cold blood. It initially looks like a murder-suicide but as the investigation delves deeper it’s found to have dark connotations to a similar murder/suicide on the same property twenty-four years ago. Are the two connected? Or is this a deathly case of coincidence?
If you’ve been a follower of my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I don’t hand out 5 stars willy nilly – The Killer in the Snow deserves all the stars. I read it in about 6 hours, I found myself transfixed to the spot. The case kept throwing up curveballs and it took everything for me to dodge them. The prologue left me feeling like a moth to the flame…I knew it could kill me to go too close, but the magnetic pull was too strong to ignore.
The prose in The Killer in the snow is deadly. Pine depicts a picture so resolute in its intensity. The weather hints at a further undertone of danger. It feels isolated, wind sweeping across the fells, it gives the impression that the cold could let in a stranger. A knife hidden behind the back – a sardonic smile, hidden intentions to harm. Three dead family members, an isolated farmhouse in Cumbria, and a concealed room in the cellar that seems to have been used to spy on the family. Financial woes, an unhappy wife, and a daughter with drink and drug issues. Was this enough for the husband to flip and kill his family?
Pine doesn’t beat around the bush with the reveals or twists, he delivers it without ceremony – what you see is what you get, and it feels like a hammer blow. Two days after Christmas DI James Walker is called out to a farmhouse on the outskirts of Kirkby Abbey a village near Cumbria. Things aren’t clear cut, and he still has the threat of Sullivan still on the horizon, he needs to protect himself and his wife but that’s a side plot with serious implications. He has several suspects in custody for the triple murder but not enough evidence to charge any of them. Is it the boyfriend of the murdered daughter who was cheating on her and has previous for small-time crimes? Or could it be the ex-employee who was fired for stealing from the family? Time is running out and still, the team can’t find that one bit of vital evidence that will nail them bang to rights.
The Killer in the Snow grabs you with its stealthy grip from page one with its vivid settings and realistic characters. The pages practically turn themselves.
If you’ve been a follower of my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I don’t hand out 5 stars willy nilly – The Killer in the Snow deserves all the stars. I read it in about 6 hours, I found myself transfixed to the spot. The case kept throwing up curveballs and it took everything for me to dodge them. The prologue left me feeling like a moth to the flame…I knew it could kill me to go too close, but the magnetic pull was too strong to ignore.
The prose in The Killer in the snow is deadly. Pine depicts a picture so resolute in its intensity. The weather hints at a further undertone of danger. It feels isolated, wind sweeping across the fells, it gives the impression that the cold could let in a stranger. A knife hidden behind the back – a sardonic smile, hidden intentions to harm. Three dead family members, an isolated farmhouse in Cumbria, and a concealed room in the cellar that seems to have been used to spy on the family. Financial woes, an unhappy wife, and a daughter with drink and drug issues. Was this enough for the husband to flip and kill his family?
Pine doesn’t beat around the bush with the reveals or twists, he delivers it without ceremony – what you see is what you get, and it feels like a hammer blow. Two days after Christmas DI James Walker is called out to a farmhouse on the outskirts of Kirkby Abbey a village near Cumbria. Things aren’t clear cut, and he still has the threat of Sullivan still on the horizon, he needs to protect himself and his wife but that’s a side plot with serious implications. He has several suspects in custody for the triple murder but not enough evidence to charge any of them. Is it the boyfriend of the murdered daughter who was cheating on her and has previous for small-time crimes? Or could it be the ex-employee who was fired for stealing from the family? Time is running out and still, the team can’t find that one bit of vital evidence that will nail them bang to rights.
The Killer in the Snow grabs you with its stealthy grip from page one with its vivid settings and realistic characters. The pages practically turn themselves.
October 2, 2021
The Killer in the snow by Alex Pine is the second in the D I James Walker series. It is a year since the Christmas killer case and James is thrown into another case during Christmas time. On Christmas eve a farmer comes home to see footsteps in the snow lead to his unused cellar. Days later the farmer and his wife and their grown-up daughter is found brutally murdered at Oaktree farm.
Is this suicide or were the murdered?
As the case is investigated James Walker finds out that the farmer was in a lot of debt. Was this one of the reasons that he and his family are dead? We also learned that 24 years previous that the owners of the farm also ended up the same way and their daughter was missing. Are these deaths connected somehow?
This is another great story from Alex pine that I really enjoyed. It had interesting plot with several points of view that kept you guessing and a few red herrings along the way. The story was also going back and forward in time to find out the similarities between the two murders which gave you the full picture of what and why these deaths occurred that kept me guessing until the end. James walker is such a likeable character I would like to see how this series develops. 5 stars from me.
Is this suicide or were the murdered?
As the case is investigated James Walker finds out that the farmer was in a lot of debt. Was this one of the reasons that he and his family are dead? We also learned that 24 years previous that the owners of the farm also ended up the same way and their daughter was missing. Are these deaths connected somehow?
This is another great story from Alex pine that I really enjoyed. It had interesting plot with several points of view that kept you guessing and a few red herrings along the way. The story was also going back and forward in time to find out the similarities between the two murders which gave you the full picture of what and why these deaths occurred that kept me guessing until the end. James walker is such a likeable character I would like to see how this series develops. 5 stars from me.
October 13, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book.
On a remote farm, the bodies of 3 family members are found and DI James Walker is going to try and find out who did it. It's not going to be easy because there are plenty of suspects.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author of this book.
On a remote farm, the bodies of 3 family members are found and DI James Walker is going to try and find out who did it. It's not going to be easy because there are plenty of suspects.
December 4, 2021
I read The Christmas Killer last year and loved it, so couldn’t wait to read this and it did not disappoint. I love a good thriller/police procedural and this delivered. This is the second in the series featuring DI James Walker, who has relocated away from the city to the ‘peace and quiet’ of the countryside, to escape a criminal with a vendetta against him. It is however not the peace and quiet he envisaged as the first book showed! This time, a family of three are found brutally murdered in their farm house and the story centres around the investigation in to this.
This massively reminded me of the series ‘White House Farm’ and had the same level of mystery and intrigue. Many theories come to light about the killings, which become even more mysterious when we find out what happened at the same farm 20 years earlier.
I loved the way this was written, packed full of twists and turns and characters you can warm to. I loved the fact that it makes you suspect everyone, and I didn’t guess the twist which I thought was done really well. The plot was complex but easy to follow, and the story was engaging from the start. Perfect for thriller lovers like me, and will be keeping my fingers crossed for more in the series!
This massively reminded me of the series ‘White House Farm’ and had the same level of mystery and intrigue. Many theories come to light about the killings, which become even more mysterious when we find out what happened at the same farm 20 years earlier.
I loved the way this was written, packed full of twists and turns and characters you can warm to. I loved the fact that it makes you suspect everyone, and I didn’t guess the twist which I thought was done really well. The plot was complex but easy to follow, and the story was engaging from the start. Perfect for thriller lovers like me, and will be keeping my fingers crossed for more in the series!
January 7, 2022
The second book and I enjoyed
I do struggle a bit sometimes with the authors writing style, particularly with regards to the conversations between James and his wife. It seems a bit stilted in the way it’s written. I don’t even know if that makes sense!
No use of “hon” thankfully although I’m not sure if “my love” is worse!
3.5 stars from me.
I do struggle a bit sometimes with the authors writing style, particularly with regards to the conversations between James and his wife. It seems a bit stilted in the way it’s written. I don’t even know if that makes sense!
No use of “hon” thankfully although I’m not sure if “my love” is worse!
3.5 stars from me.
December 14, 2022
I found this second book in the series much better than the first. The plot was good with a few twists here and there which kept me wanting to read on.
April 15, 2022
A good old fashioned detective who dunnit which I enjoyed. The style of writing was quite amateur as if self published but a good effort 3.5
September 21, 2021
I expected a lot more from this book and was severely let down. I haven't read the first in the series and honestly don't plan on it. First off, the plot was predictable as there are several movies with the same, and I was able to figure out everything after getting about a third of the way through. Very unimaginative on the authors part.
The writing style is was got me the most, it's very detached. There was a constant use of names, for example he always referred to his wife by her name instead of saying "my wife". It was in the main character, James, point of view yet it always stated his name instead of referring to him as "he/him/his". The way the characters spoke to one another was almost robotic. It was written more like a newspaper article than a book. Which makes sense considering the author was a journalist. I prefer to emerse myself in the book, become a part of the story, not feel as though I'm looking at it through a snowglobe.
There was also evidence in the story that was never mentioned, like did the shotgun shells come from that particular gun? Why weren't the footprints measured for stride to determine how tall the suspect could be? The main character also referred to himself and his fellow officers as "coppers" and I have never heard a law enforcement officer call themselves such.
I was not a huge fan of this book at all and it took me a lot longer to read because of it. I most likely wouldn't recommend it to others.
The writing style is was got me the most, it's very detached. There was a constant use of names, for example he always referred to his wife by her name instead of saying "my wife". It was in the main character, James, point of view yet it always stated his name instead of referring to him as "he/him/his". The way the characters spoke to one another was almost robotic. It was written more like a newspaper article than a book. Which makes sense considering the author was a journalist. I prefer to emerse myself in the book, become a part of the story, not feel as though I'm looking at it through a snowglobe.
There was also evidence in the story that was never mentioned, like did the shotgun shells come from that particular gun? Why weren't the footprints measured for stride to determine how tall the suspect could be? The main character also referred to himself and his fellow officers as "coppers" and I have never heard a law enforcement officer call themselves such.
I was not a huge fan of this book at all and it took me a lot longer to read because of it. I most likely wouldn't recommend it to others.
November 16, 2022
such a good murder mystery book, only downfall was the amount of people in the book had me confused. but otherwise, I had an idea of what the ending was to be and to say I was more than pleased with the ending is the truth!❄️
August 13, 2021
I was kindly sent a copy of the next book in the DI James Walker series by @avonbooksuk to read and reveal the cover. This book follows on from The Christmas Killer.
In this book, three dead bodies are discovered and with multiple possible suspects, DI Walker and his team race to find out the truth.
I loved reading this book! If you want a book that keeps you hooked right through to the end and keeps you guessing then this is a book for you!
I haven't read a thriller for a while and I loved everything about it. The characters, the detailed descriptions and the setting of the story.
In this book, three dead bodies are discovered and with multiple possible suspects, DI Walker and his team race to find out the truth.
I loved reading this book! If you want a book that keeps you hooked right through to the end and keeps you guessing then this is a book for you!
I haven't read a thriller for a while and I loved everything about it. The characters, the detailed descriptions and the setting of the story.
October 19, 2021
Yeah, so this is three stars. You see, one truth of everything was pretty obvious way too quickly. I mean, I got to the point where I was literally just reading to see if I was right – I was.
I did start out curious about the relation between a couple of different crimes, but I just got a little bored too quickly. There was a wee bit of a surprise in the end, but it was more of an out-of-left-field surprise, that did not satisfy.
Honestly, not sure I’d revisit the author in the future.
This one just got an okay from me.
*ARC via Publisher
October 28, 2021
The best clues always come out easy in the fresh snow. But what actually happened in the basement?
This is a must read story! From the first chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t read fast enough to see where the story takes me. Everything seemed so easy to solve but so twisted and so many turns at the same time. Those 24 years old cold case were scary and brought up quite a fes theories along the the new investigation.
Suspenseful and interesting read overall.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.
This is a must read story! From the first chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t read fast enough to see where the story takes me. Everything seemed so easy to solve but so twisted and so many turns at the same time. Those 24 years old cold case were scary and brought up quite a fes theories along the the new investigation.
Suspenseful and interesting read overall.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley.
November 18, 2021
I don't think you could come up with a more intriguing crime scene if you tried. There are so many elements to it, it's hard to know where to start.
Add in a very similar thing happened in the farm house over 20 years ago, and rumours the house could be haunted and it becomes more interesting still.
So I was hooked rather early on as to how DI James Walker and his team would unravel this.
I think I half guessed briefly about one small aspect but without the details, and everything else kept taking me ab the police by surprise.
We get flashback scenes to key events in the past which helped give the reader more understanding to the situation.
Meanwhile DI James Walker's own nemesis is at large and still threatening him and his family. So there is that element to contend with too.
There is a lot to keep you on your toes, and I loved being drawn into this crime and seeing how it would turn out.
Another fabulously wintery crime novel from Alex Pine and I'm certainly keen to see what complex case he will come up next.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Add in a very similar thing happened in the farm house over 20 years ago, and rumours the house could be haunted and it becomes more interesting still.
So I was hooked rather early on as to how DI James Walker and his team would unravel this.
I think I half guessed briefly about one small aspect but without the details, and everything else kept taking me ab the police by surprise.
We get flashback scenes to key events in the past which helped give the reader more understanding to the situation.
Meanwhile DI James Walker's own nemesis is at large and still threatening him and his family. So there is that element to contend with too.
There is a lot to keep you on your toes, and I loved being drawn into this crime and seeing how it would turn out.
Another fabulously wintery crime novel from Alex Pine and I'm certainly keen to see what complex case he will come up next.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
December 25, 2021
Another excellent Christmas Time mystery by Alex Pine! I discovered his first mystery last year around this time. I hope he continues to publish the series at this time because it’s the perfect read before Christmas.
James and Annie are great characters. He has an outstanding group of investigators and the murders might just keep coming in Kirkby Abbey. They remind me of BritBox Cop shows. If that’s something you enjoy and also love this time of year I’m sure you’ll enjoy Alex Pine.
Merry Christmas!
James and Annie are great characters. He has an outstanding group of investigators and the murders might just keep coming in Kirkby Abbey. They remind me of BritBox Cop shows. If that’s something you enjoy and also love this time of year I’m sure you’ll enjoy Alex Pine.
Merry Christmas!
January 1, 2024
3.5 stars
Enjoyed this one a little bit more than the previous one. Though maybe the end didn't come as a complete surprise, the journey was interesting enough. The narration was less boring, however not more enjoyable unfortunately (hated the voices he made).
Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 7
Premise /Plot 7
Execution/Setup 7
Enjoyment/Engrossment 7
Narration 5
Enjoyed this one a little bit more than the previous one. Though maybe the end didn't come as a complete surprise, the journey was interesting enough. The narration was less boring, however not more enjoyable unfortunately (hated the voices he made).
Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 7
Premise /Plot 7
Execution/Setup 7
Enjoyment/Engrossment 7
Narration 5
October 9, 2021
This is the second book in the DI James Walker series. I was looking forward to this one as I really liked the first book in the series.
In this installment, DI Walker is hoping for a quiet holiday season after last years Christmas murder. Unfortunately he doesn't get his wish. Two days after Christmas he is called to a crime scene of a triple murder scene involving an entire family. As they work the crime, they get more questions and more suspects instead of answers.
I enjoy a book that has more than one suspect. I like to be kept guessing instead of knowing who the murderer is right from the start. This one has several suspects and lots of mystery surrounding the farm it takes place on.
It is a slow burner for sure. It takes a long time to get the answers but is worth the wait. I was already familiar with most of the characters from reading the last book so it took no time to get into this one.
Many thanks to netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc
In this installment, DI Walker is hoping for a quiet holiday season after last years Christmas murder. Unfortunately he doesn't get his wish. Two days after Christmas he is called to a crime scene of a triple murder scene involving an entire family. As they work the crime, they get more questions and more suspects instead of answers.
I enjoy a book that has more than one suspect. I like to be kept guessing instead of knowing who the murderer is right from the start. This one has several suspects and lots of mystery surrounding the farm it takes place on.
It is a slow burner for sure. It takes a long time to get the answers but is worth the wait. I was already familiar with most of the characters from reading the last book so it took no time to get into this one.
Many thanks to netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc
October 19, 2021
I read The Christmas Killer last Christmas and am always on the lookout for a thriller set during the festive season, so I was excited to pick up the second book in the series, The Killer in the Snow.
While I enjoyed the first book, I did find it a little slow at the beginning, although I was still excited to see more from the characters. And this second instalment definitely picks up the pace. There’s a lot of action throughout, the pace is quick, and it’s an exciting case to follow.
Pine starts off by summarising the events of the first book without giving any spoilers, so this can easily be read as a standalone. I also love that he provides a set of character profiles at the start for any new readers, making sure that everybody starts off in a knowledgeable place.
The case is a really interesting one to follow and will feel similar to certain true-crime documentaries that have been popular this year, with a desolate farm being the setting for a crime in both the present and past.
Although the case is complex with two stories coming together, it’s easy to follow and constantly intriguing. I did guess the twist early on after making a wild prediction, but I was still excited to see if I was right and how the answers would be revealed.
A definite improvement on the first book, I look forward to seeing what DI James Walker is faced with next and whether he can get through a Christmas without a murder happening on his doorstep.
While I enjoyed the first book, I did find it a little slow at the beginning, although I was still excited to see more from the characters. And this second instalment definitely picks up the pace. There’s a lot of action throughout, the pace is quick, and it’s an exciting case to follow.
Pine starts off by summarising the events of the first book without giving any spoilers, so this can easily be read as a standalone. I also love that he provides a set of character profiles at the start for any new readers, making sure that everybody starts off in a knowledgeable place.
The case is a really interesting one to follow and will feel similar to certain true-crime documentaries that have been popular this year, with a desolate farm being the setting for a crime in both the present and past.
Although the case is complex with two stories coming together, it’s easy to follow and constantly intriguing. I did guess the twist early on after making a wild prediction, but I was still excited to see if I was right and how the answers would be revealed.
A definite improvement on the first book, I look forward to seeing what DI James Walker is faced with next and whether he can get through a Christmas without a murder happening on his doorstep.
November 17, 2021
This was an entertaining and fun thriller!
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was pretty excited to read the next installment in the series. And fortunately it did not disappoint.
I really like the characters in this series and the setting. I love the Lake District, so it's nice to read about some familiar places.
The plot of this book was really interesting and intriguing. I was enagged from the start and throughly enjoyed the reading experience.
The pacing was really good. At no point was I bored or disinterested in the story.
I didn't guess the ending however, I was on the right track. So the end wasn't a complete shock but it was still pretty intense and I didn't see it coming.
This was a fun thriller to read. I love the Christmas/winter theme too. This would make the perfect thriller to read over the Christmas season.
Overall, I highly recommend this thriller and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
TW: violence, suicide, murder and death
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was pretty excited to read the next installment in the series. And fortunately it did not disappoint.
I really like the characters in this series and the setting. I love the Lake District, so it's nice to read about some familiar places.
The plot of this book was really interesting and intriguing. I was enagged from the start and throughly enjoyed the reading experience.
The pacing was really good. At no point was I bored or disinterested in the story.
I didn't guess the ending however, I was on the right track. So the end wasn't a complete shock but it was still pretty intense and I didn't see it coming.
This was a fun thriller to read. I love the Christmas/winter theme too. This would make the perfect thriller to read over the Christmas season.
Overall, I highly recommend this thriller and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
TW: violence, suicide, murder and death
September 4, 2025
The Killer in the Snow by Alex Pine is the second in the DI James Walker police procedural series.
Okay, the firstin this series was okay, but this was a bit better. I'm hoping for great next time!
The plot was really interesting, and I love how the current case was tied to the case from 20 years ago. I actually had guessed the connection early on, but it was still entertaining to get there. I also guessed the perpetrator.
The biggest thing that made a difference for me is that I'm getting used to the characters. Annie was a little more bearable in the story, maybe because she couldn't get too involved in the case due to her pregnancy, and she wasn't automatically reaching for a bottle of wine when stressed. I even liked Giles a little more, because he too, kept out of the active case.
I'm glad the Sullivan side-story is complete.
The short chapters helped to make the book a fast read, but I still feel that something was lacking....hoping for more in book 3.
Anyway, until next time...
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 20, 2021
A cozy winter British village murder mystery. A subgenre I am definitely partial to. And both books in Alex Pine's DI James Walker series were the kind of reads you want to grab and read wearing your fuzzy reading socks, under the blanket with some yummy hot chocolate by your side. Or maybe that's just what worked really well for me.
Even though the books could be read independently, I'd highly recommend reading The Christmas Killer first. The first book had DI Walker and his wife moving from the hustle and bustle of London to a small, sleepy village his wife grew up in. Though it seems like a place where nothing much besides crazy winter snow storms happens, it seems Kirkby Abbey is starting to develop a new kind of Christmas tradition - that of murder. In The Killer in the Snow a family is found killed at a local farm. 21 years ago that same farm was a place of another murder and an unsolved mystery of missing baby. Coincidence? Or are the two crimes somehow linked? Once again DI Walker and his (not so new) team are on a mission to uncover the truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series and honestly hope there will be a next one. It's the same reason I love the Midsomer Murders TV series. Murders in an unlikely setting with an interesting group of characters.
Very grateful to Avon Books UK & Netgalley for gifting me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Even though the books could be read independently, I'd highly recommend reading The Christmas Killer first. The first book had DI Walker and his wife moving from the hustle and bustle of London to a small, sleepy village his wife grew up in. Though it seems like a place where nothing much besides crazy winter snow storms happens, it seems Kirkby Abbey is starting to develop a new kind of Christmas tradition - that of murder. In The Killer in the Snow a family is found killed at a local farm. 21 years ago that same farm was a place of another murder and an unsolved mystery of missing baby. Coincidence? Or are the two crimes somehow linked? Once again DI Walker and his (not so new) team are on a mission to uncover the truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series and honestly hope there will be a next one. It's the same reason I love the Midsomer Murders TV series. Murders in an unlikely setting with an interesting group of characters.
Very grateful to Avon Books UK & Netgalley for gifting me the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2021
First I want to say that I have enjoyed all this author's books. This was no exception.
A heart racing crime thriller with twists and turns throughout.
Lots of possible suspects, but not so many that they became overwhelming.
As usual with this author, the main character has a back story which also added to the excitement.
Full marks and strongly recommended.
A great Christmas read.
A heart racing crime thriller with twists and turns throughout.
Lots of possible suspects, but not so many that they became overwhelming.
As usual with this author, the main character has a back story which also added to the excitement.
Full marks and strongly recommended.
A great Christmas read.
December 11, 2024
I called this early on but an enjoyable series to read
January 18, 2025
Wow!! What a book!! This was way better than the first one. Kept me guessing all the way through.
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