The Leighton Meadow Killings

DI Jemima Huxley Thrillers #4

by Gaynor Torrance

Previously published as Gone

Leighton Meadow is an idyllic village in the Vale of Glamorgan. But evil lurks beneath its tranquil surface.

A woman is found dead in the village church. She thought she’d found a sanctuary from her killer. But they found her in the end.

And they shot her through the heart with a crossbow.

The locals all clam up when questioned. Detective Jemima Huxley is worried that they’re hiding something — but what?

The dead woman turns out to be a Czech student. She went missing on a night out with friends.

She was doing well at uni. She came from a good family. How did she end up dead in a Welsh church?

And where are the other missing women?

Detective Huxley must find them before it’s too late.

Genres: Fiction

307 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2021

About the author

Gaynor Torrance lives near Cardiff with her husband and their rescue cat, Cleo. The area is the setting for her Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller series of books. Like Gaynor, Jemima has a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Though, apart from them both having a keen interest in human behaviour, that’s where any similarity ends.

When she’s not writing or glued to her Kindle, Gaynor enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, walking, travelling, and eating far too much chocolate.

Find out more at: http://www.gaynortorrance.com
Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/gaytorauthor and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gaynortorran...

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Jemima Huxley is once again on a case in The Leighton Meadow Killings by Gaynor Torrance. This is the fourth book in the series and one not previously encountered. An unidentified woman is found murdered in the local church and Jemima and her team investigate. With few clues, the team has to track down leads and try to break open the case. Yet, as the leads are advanced, things get more complicated and other crimes are uncovered. Whilst the investigations are undertaken, Jemima’s life continues to throw up challenges as she juggles personal and professional struggles. A top notch police procedural with the perfect balance of crime investigation and the personal lives of the police team which makes for a four and a half star rating. With thanks to Joffe Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

DI Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller Book 4

A woman is found dead in the village church. She thought she'd found sanctuary from her killer. But they found her in the end. And they shot her through the heart with a crossbow. All the locals clam up when questioned. Detective Jemima Huxley is worried that they're hiding something - but what?

This is the first book in the series that I've read. After some events have taken place in DI Jemima Huxley's life, she decided to move to Leighton Meadow as she thought it would be safer there to bring up her family. But it's not the quiet town she imagined it would be. Jemima and her team are looking for the person responsible for killing a young woman in a church. The story is told from Jemima's perspective. There's lots going on in the book. The book reads well as a standalone. The only thing that spoiled the book was that I thought the ending was a bit rushed.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #GaynorTorrence for my ARC of #TheLeightonMeadowKillings in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Jemima Huxley series. I've read all the prior books, but enough background information about the characters is given, new readers could also enjoy it. My favorites in this series are the second and third books, and I was a little disappointed in this one. Part of the reason is the book deals with several disturbing topics including the emotional and physical abuse of children, and violent assault. It was a lot for one book. There was also a lot of sadness and sometimes puzzling events in the personal lives of some of the detectives.

Detective Jemima Huxley is still an appealing character and I like the way the team of detectives work together on a couple of difficult cases. I also enjoyed getting to know Jemima's sister, Lucy, better. This is a crime series so I know bad things will happen, but I hope the next book is a little less dark with more hopeful moments. I would rate the book 3.5 stars.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Joffe Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first reading of this author’s work – and it won’t be my last!

When a body is found in the village church – not far from where Huxley is living with her sister – the local residents are shocked; things like this just don’t happen in their community. Killed by a bolt from a crossbow, the young woman’s death is particularly violent and the team are determined to get to the bottom of it all – but it won’t be easy.

Jemima Huxley is a Detective Inspector who takes her job seriously, not only in getting justice for the victims but also encouraging her team to make the best of the career opportunities open to them. Outside of work, she has an adopted ten-year old son to care for and, sometimes, when the pressure gets to her, Jemima resorts to self-harming. This latest investigation hits far too close to home for comfort and as it progresses, the DI torments herself wondering if she could, somehow, have prevented this murder. This is a well thought out novel, with an abundance of well-crafted characters and a cleverly woven story to keep the readers’ attention throughout. Although this is the first I have come across Gaynor Torrance’s writing, I would very much like to read more of it and, in particular, will be looking out for more of this series. An excellent novel, easily worth 4.5* and my recommendation.

[wendy geen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

I really enjoy this series. The plot lines are always different and keep you guessing. The characters develop over time. Looking forward to more in the series.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this. The story was good and it was easy to read. However, it felt a bit repetitive in terms of explaining feelings or thought processes and that seemed a bit excessive to me. Not sure if the previous books in the series are the same as this is the first book I have read by this author.

I thought the ending was a bit abrupt also. This brought down what would have been a 4 star review to a 3 star unfortunately.

My thanks to Joffe books for an advance copy of this.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts with the escape of Dominika, a young female student abducted as part of a group of five woman from the Czech Republic and trafficked to Wales. She runs and hides out in a church, hoping she will be safe but is brutally murdered with a crossbow. Then the story switches to eight months ago and the horrific attack and rape of DI Jemima Huxley. Her Cardiff Major Incident Team close knit team of boss DCI Kennedy, DS Dan Broadbent, DS Finlay Ashton and DC Gareth Peters, together with Kennedy’s partner, a sex crimes officer DS Sally Trent, are determined to bring her attacker to justice but despite their best efforts, no progress is made in the ensuing months. Back in the present day Jemima is heavily pregnant and not far off maternity leave. Having always thought she couldn’t conceive, she made the decision to keep the baby and now lives with her sister Lucy together with her adopted son James who means everything to her, especially after she kicked out her husband Nick who let her down when they needed him most. The call comes in to CID that the young woman’s body has been discovered by the priest in St Agnes’ Church in Leighton Meadow, the normally very quiet village where Jemima now lives. Her clothes and jewellery indicate she is Czech and Jemima contacts Charlie Morgan from the NCA. Could this woman be part of a trafficking operation and could it be linked to the haulage company whose owners live in the village? As the victim is identified and four girls are still missing, a raid is mounted on a property which produces grim and startling results. Soon Jemima and the rest of the team have two deaths and an abduction to investigate, and as they do so the case grows bigger and turns on its head completely. With Jemima determined to solve these crimes before she takes her leave, will she succeed in time?
This is a super solid police procedural featuring a team of very likeable detectives who have a strong loyalty to each other and produce great results. The story flows seamlessly and was a pleasure to read. Although number four in the series, any necessary history is well explained so it works perfectly as a standalone. With its shocking ending I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series. 5*

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An assured, engrossing and brilliantly written crime novel, police procedural fans will enjoy Gaynor Torrance’s The Leighton Meadow Killings.

When DI Jemima Huxley had moved to the village of Leighton Meadow in Wales, she had thought that she had found the ideal place to bring up her ten year old son. However, little did Jemima realise that Leighton Meadow is a hotbed of lies, secrets, deception…and murder as she discovers when a young woman is found dead in the village church shot through the heart with a crossbow. As Jemima begins her investigation, she is shocked when she discovers the identity of the young woman. The victim was a Czech student who had gone missing on a night out in Prague. So how did she end up murdered in a Welsh churchyard?

With Jemima going down one dead end after the other, she wonders whether she will ever solve this macabre and complex case. What had brought the victim to Wales? Who is she hiding from? And what secrets did she know that had got her so brutally murdered? The clock’s ticking and Jemima needs to unmask the culprit before more bodies are found. Can Jemima solve this case in time? Or will the killer end up getting away with cold-blooded murder?

Gaynor Torrance certainly knows how to keep her readers turning the pages and on the edge of their seats. A compelling, tension-packed and fast-paced crime thriller that grabs readers from the start and keeps them gripped till the end, The Leighton Meadow Killings is an exciting, unpredictable and shocking police procedural with a fabulous detective at its heart readers will enjoy spending time with.

Fans of Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis will not want to miss Gaynor Torrance’s latest crime thriller, The Leighton Meadow Killings.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Leighton Meadow Killings, the fourth novel to feature DI Jemima Huxley of South Wales Police.

Death comes close to Jemima when a young woman is found murdered by a crossbow bolt in the church in the village of Leighton Meadow where she lives. The body is identified as a young Czech woman who went missing from Prague four days earlier. Jemima has another puzzling case on her hands.

I enjoyed The Leighton Meadow Killings, which is a non stop, adrenaline fuelled read with too many crimes to count. It is told almost entirely from Jemima’s point of view so the reader can settle in to the story without distractions or other points of view muddying the concentration.

As I said the novel is non stop, with crime upon crime and no clear idea early on of who is lying or what, ultimately, is going on. That makes it sound like it’s confusing, but it isn’t, more like too many events and not enough information to see the big picture. The actual events are clearly described and easy to follow. Of course, realism takes a back seat to entertainment, but so what when it does its job and makes a few hours pass easily?

I read the first novel in the series and thought that it was too much about Jemima and not enough about the investigation. This novel is still about Jemima but the balance seems better. She makes some strange lifestyle choices in this novel, but who am I to judge? They wouldn’t be for me, especially when there are other options. Vague, I know but I don’t want to spoil one of the first scenes in the novel.

The Leighton Meadow Killings is a good that I can recommend.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING: rape and self harm
A young woman is abducted and trafficked to the UK. She makes a daring escape but is killed by a crossbow killer. DI Jemima Huxley leads the case despite beings seven months pregnant following a rape.
The Leighton Meadow Killings is the fourth book in the DI Huxley series but the first that I have read. There are mentions of previous cases (but no spoilers) and also events from the past in the personal life of Jemima.
The book begins with the trafficking and death of a young Czech woman before moving onto the past to show us Jemima's rape. We then rejoin the present day as Jemima investigates the murder. It has taken place in the safe small Welsh village in which she lives so she feels almost violated once more.
The book is written in the third person to allow us to see the victim's perspective before her death as well as Jemima's. I think it was a good idea not to have first person persepctives as it would have been too rawly emotional with the rape content.
The plot and investigation develop at a reasonable pace. Jemima is a character who is easy to like so we readers are keen for her to succeed personally and professionally. The style of writing is easy to read and there is a good mix of description, dialogue and the characters' emotion.
The Leighton Meadow Killings is an enjoyable detective thriller and I would like to read more by this author.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Joffe books and also the Author Gaynor Torrance whom I had not read before. I received an ARC of this book via Joffe books in return for an honest review.

Although I was new to the author and detective Jemima Huxley I found that I was soon invested in the characters and the plot-line flowed well. The book was well written, a pleasure not to find typos and grammatical glitches. The Welsh village location was well described and it was amusing to find, as with Midsummer Murders, that every household seems to have a secret.

I enjoyed the read and have given it 4 stars. However, I did find occasionally that the inner monologue (telling rather than showing as the old adage goes) switched between characters very confusingly. There was an early scene with Jemima and her sister where I had to check whose thoughts were being revealed. Jemima is in the last trimester of her pregnancy during the bulk of the book. Understandably her hormones and emotions are challenged. I think the author could have spared us the regular comments about this. The ending was rushed for me and left me with some hanging threads. Why did the lush Canadian priest up stumps to a tiny rural Welsh village? Surely there was a morsel of interesting scandal that we could have picked up? However, I will definitely look out for more from this author. A very good read.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is my first read by this author this is book 4 in the DI Jemima Huxley Crime Thriller Series. It’s a well written, fast paced book told mainly from the perspective of Jemima. There is quite a large cast of characters, obviously all new to me, but many of them would have been in previous books I guess, but easy to follow. Jemma herself is a good but complex character. A great detective, supportive of her colleagues, intelligent and brave but she has a secret. She didn’t have a good childhood, her mother mentally abused her and as a result she self harms when she is under pressure.

Briefly, when a woman is found shot by a crossbow in a church a heavily pregnant Jemima is in charge of the case. The victim is eventually identified as one of five girls who went missing in Prague some days earlier. Can Jemima and her team find the killer and save the other girls?

The pace of this book doesn’t let up from start to finish. For such a quiet village there seems to be an awful lot of crime. I think maybe a little less and expansion of the main crimes might have added to the authenticity of the plot. In particular the strand of the two missing children that were found in a shed seemed superfluous to the story. However , this was an enjoyable read with lots of action and one very good twist near the end. I would definitely read this authors books again ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

The team of the Cardiff Major Incident Team is out having a celebratory drink when everything changes for DI Jemima Huxley. She thought that she was aware of her surroundings but that doesn't stop someone from almost destroying her life. She has come along way in the last eight months and she is looking forward to going on leave but this latest case has hit close to home.
A young woman has been murdered in the local church and the team needs to find out who killed her. But where did she come from as no one in the village Leighton Meadow had seen her before?
Jemima & her team know now that there are more missing women but will they be able to find them before it is too late? The case has taken another dark turn as two young children have been kidnapped but who is telling the truth? Will the team be able to find all the answers that they need to get the cases closed?
The beginning of the read really hits you in the face. Jemima is a strong woman who has amazing strength to carry on with her life. She has lost so much but she just gets up again and carries on. I really do hope that everything works out for her & her son James.
Her partner Dan Broadbent is a true friend he really comes through at the end.
The rest of the team all add their extra to the read.
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher Joffe Books for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Leighton Meadow Killings by Gaynor Torrance is the forth book in the DI Jemima Huxley Thriller series and Its the first book I have read! (Where have I been?) Now, I need to go back and read the other three books within this series.

Leighton Meadow is an idyllic village in the Vale of Glamorgan. But evil lurks beneath its tranquil surface.

When a woman is found dead in the village church. She thought she’d found a sanctuary from her killer. But they found her in the end.

And they shot her through the heart with a crossbow.

The dead woman turns out to be a Czech student and she went missing on a night out with friends.

Detective Jemima Huxley is called to the scene and has many questions to ask the locals However, she feels that the locals are hiding something from her and her team, but she is determined to get to the bottom of it all – but it won’t be easy. she needs to find out what it is before the killer strikes again and who will be next?

This book was so good I was gripped from the very first few pages and I just had to stop what I had planned for the day and try and finish it.

Big Thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Gaynor Torrence for my ARC of The Leighton Meadow Killings in exchange for an honest review

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 students from the university of Prague are abducted by sex traffickers. One of the girls, Dominicka, escapes from the hidden storage compartment they are stashed into. Her captor soon finds and kills her inside a church.

Eight months earlier, Detective inspector Jemima Huxley was assaulted on her walk to her car after a dinner with her team. They were celebrating after solving a case. She decided to move herself and her adopted son in with her sister in the small town of Leighton Meadow because she is pregnant after the assault and has decided to keep the baby. She wants to raise her kids in this safe little town.

When Dominickas body is found, Jemima and her team catch the case. The investigation will uncover secrets in this small town. This isn’t the safe little town Jemima hoped.

This is my first book by this author and WOW is there a lot going on. Great story and I didn’t feel at a loss for not reading the other books in this series. I look forward to the next installment.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a young girl is found dead in a village church murder is brought close to home for Jemima Huxley. This is where she lives with her sister, a place she thought was safe for her & her adopted son. She knows that this is the last case she will take before she goes off on maternity leave & she knows that she will find it hard not being able to be as hands on as usual. Further investigations reveal that the young woman went missing along with four of her friends after a night out in Prague . The girls appear to be trafficked. Enquiries point to the co-owner of a haulage firm but she denies all knowledge & says she is terrified for her six year old twins who have been abducted by her brother.

This is the fourth in the series but I had not read any previously. There was no shortage of references to previous events, although for me there were almost too many. The story was told mostly from the perspective of Jemima, an interesting character in many ways although I didn't really 'bond' with her. I don't know if it was the style of writing but it fell short for me. This was a good read but not a great one. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Gill Appleyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th outing for DI Jemima Huxley.
It starts with the death of a young girl in the village where Jemima is living and her and her team questioning people she’s neighbours with. It turns out that the girl was trafficked and that brings the team back in to contact with the NCA, their contact being someone from a previous case with an axe to grind, just to add to the drama! Jemima finds the investigation difficult, not just because of where it’s based but because of her personal circumstances.
It’s a fast paced book with twists and turns along the way and an unexpected ending.
I would recommend reading the other three very good books before this one It could be read as a stand alone but I’m glad I read the previous books as it gives you the background to why she’s ended up living in the village where the crimes take place and the frosty relationship with the NCA.
Overall, an enjoyable read and I’ll be looking out for other books in the series and by the author.
Thank you to Joffe’s Arc for an ARC of this book

[CJ Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is book four in the DI Jemima Huxley series which I picked up at book three and this one was a continuation in terms of Jemima;s personal the circumstances of which lead her to move to the picturesque village of Leighton Meadow.

This one becomes a little too close to home for Jemima after the body of a young girl is discovered murdered in the village church literally on her door step has she made a mistake seeking refuge and a newer safer life for her and family in what she thought was a safe haven? Time to switch to the professional mode as her and her team are tasked with bringing the perpetrator to justice.

This is another fab edition to the series, the relationship between Jemina and her team is admirable and loyalty is at their core, from the first to the last page the story flows and the plot unfolds to reach a satisfying conclusion well worth a read.

[Jase · Rating 4 out of 5]

gripping thriller. This book is longer than the previous instalments of the series, and I think it benefited the story. The procedural aspect of the narrative was well constructed and we’ll establish character traits were well used.

The author pulls no punches in the crimes committed, and descriptions of them. It’s not the most gory I’ve read but very detailed. The little bits dropped in from the past are great at making it possible to read as a standalone, and also for reminding readers of the whole series about the backstory.

I’ve had a few niggles in the past about aspects of these books, but they weren’t present this time (although Jemima does mention something at some point in this book), at least not so prominent. I’ll be reading the next in the series soon.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book blew my mind! I was concerned going into this as I have not read the previous books in the series but I loved this!

Our MC Jemina is a detective who lands a case involving sex traffickers while also dealing with the pregnancy that was a result of her own assault. She moves to the small town of Leighton Meadow to provide a safe and happy environment for her child but it turns out this small town has many hidden secrets.

I simply devoured this book. It was such a good read, it kept me guessing until the end. I will definitely be picking up the rest of this series!

[EILEEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LEIGHTON MEADOW KILLINGS opens during a terrifying, atrocious event that results in a horrific discovery
Eight months earlier a frightening, heinous act has taken place that has had long term ramifications.
The unfathomable, chilling mystery spreads like a spider's web and eventually develops into a labyrinthine, high tension rollercoaster ride. Suspense skyrockets as the conundrums unfold leading to a heart-racing dynamite explosive conclusion you'll never see coming.

THE LEIGHTON MEADOW KILLINGS IS A MUST READ!

[Jeannie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via Joffe books in return for an honest review.

I had already purchased and read the three previous books in the Jemima Huxley series and whilst it was helpful in terms of past happenings, it isn’t necessary in order to get a feel for the main characters and their past adventures.

Jemima is a complex character, passionate about her job.

This storyline is complex with lots of unexpected deviations and is well worth a read. It will keep you guessing!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher's blurb is a little off center, but the book is riveting and disconcerting. There are plots and side plots, but it all comes together at the end. Don't want to get into any kind of spoilers, but there are definitely triggers here as well as mental health issues. The teamwork is great on the small scale, but the brass is about what you'd expect. Very involving story that moves along rapidly.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[J Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant and exciting DI Jemima Huxley story

This books has thrills from beginning to end, with lots of other emotions stirred along the way. Yet again Huxley and her team get very personally involved in the crimes they end up investigating. Please bring on the next one Gaynor Torrance.

[Sue Hayward · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely brilliant read from start to find, I would highly recommend this story either as a stand alone or part of the series. Jemima and Dan have their fare of detective work with both drugs and human trafficking. Would highly recommend this book.

[Jan Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really gripping murder mystery

I enjoyed this book immensely, there were many twists and turns which included trafficking, murder and drug dealing, not to mention the detective giving birth!!!

[Michael Cordery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by Gaynor Torrance and the DI Jemima Huxley series. It was also book 4 so I missed the first 3. I nearly gave the book away after the first few chapters due to the very violent and henious crimes committed and I wasn't disappointed I missed the first 3 books. I stayed the course but found the end a little simplistic but ok though with another violent murder of one of the good guys. I will battle on with book 5 and hope there is some reprieve of the over the top violence. I accept if one reads English (or Welsh as in this case) crime books there are violent murders and crimes but this one topped any of the 50 or more simi!ar books I have read over the past year. Talking to the author about her books style would be an interesting discussion.

I do not discuss the contents/spoilers in my reviews however I noticed with this book nearly all the reviews were carried out by Joffe Books "professional reviewers" who happily wrote a lengthy precis of the book with most of the details. Are these reviews for new readers or just an opinion after the fact? I don't understand this approach at all.

[yvonne chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just my sort of easy reading

This was a brilliant murder mystery which I couldn't out down . Well worth a read ..and kept me guessing all the way

[doreen williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Leighton Meadow Murders

A riveting read from the very beginning. Couldn't put it down had to now the finish. Would definitely recommend this author

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is honestly noticeably improving book by book and is now a must read series