The Portmeirion Killings

DI Ruth Hunter #13

by Simon McCleave

When a London journalist is run off the road and killed, it seems that his death might be linked to his investigation into plans for a nuclear plant. Is the murder linked to an American power company with a dark past who want to bury the story? There are also locals who stand to make millions from the plant’s construction. However, it soon appears there might be an event in Jake’s past that might provide the clue.

Another murder throws the case on its head, and Ruth and her team are struggling to find the killer with a motive to kill both victims. With time running out, Ruth realises that the clue to both murders might lie in a bitter dispute from twenty years earlier.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Ebooks

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2022

Reviews

[Mike Shackle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in the series. I love these books.

[Billie Brocklehurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story from my beloved Ruth! Really enjoyed this and every book gets better and better. Love the relationship building between the characters. Only 1 small niggle here, the positive pregnancy test after 5 days?! Super quick 😂
Can’t wait for the next !

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I stumbled across this book whilst looking for Botanic Garden pottery on Oxfam Online... I was a bit wary having been very disappointed with another location-titled Amazon published crime sensation... but this is far from the first in the series so there's less work for it to do. And such a glorious setting.

And for the first half or so I was pretty happy with my find. We have one officer banged up awaiting trial for a murder he didn't commit... and the rest of the team getting on with investigating other incidents. After that it started to feel a bit baggier, although I liked the culmination and identity of the murderer.

What did dissatisfy me was that the acceptable licence to play with location was far exceeded - as if the author (who lives in North Wales) had never encountered their roads - and more importantly, the title is a total con. Portmeirion gets, I think, a mere couple of paragraphs and those include two mentions of a Beatle having their birthday party there. It's almost totally irrelevant to the story and isn't allowed to be the rich backdrop it so easily could.

[Megan Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series .. I’ve never had an issue before .. but pregnant test after how many days !?? 🤦🏽‍♀️

[Anthony Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dead Journalist, A Crooked Power Plant, And secrets held at a sheep farm!

A nuclear power plant wants to build on the land held by an elderly sheep farmer, she won't sell, and the power plant is sketchy at best, and then on a night that the journalist Jake bumps in to DC Georgie Wild, an old flame from school days, one thing leads to another...Leaving Georgie's Flat, Jake is run off the road a killed. Enter Ruth and her team to investigate this strange vehicular homicide.

Jake, who has been framed for murder by an old nemises, is now behind bars, trying to figure out how he will get out and clear his name. He has two options, play ball with a criminal or escape, what will he do?

Ruth, Georgie and the CID team start to uncover the secrets at the farm, the secrets that are better of buried for some, because they could bury those involved.

The Portmeirion Killings is another 5 star book!

[Kim J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, even of part of the ending was a little unrealistic! But that's why this is a novel!

This was an amazing book! There were multiple plots going on at once, all original! So well written, even though I've come to expect that with this author! And I read it all in one sitting. I loved everything about this book, until I got to the end. There were 2 main parts to the ending ! One was virtually impossible in this context, and the other, well I kind of expected it to go that way! But, the ending did not do anything to detract from the book, I just shook my head, and now I can't wait for the next one to come out!

[Nicky Bale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to get back to the main series after the one off McCleave summer read. There are several threads running through now. I’m not always convinced Nick thinks clearly before his actions and am worried about what will come next. The Sarah story has gone quiet but I’m sure will resurface at some point. The main story of this book was of the usual standard with a good conclusion

[Jane Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

This has been one fabulous episode in this series. I enjoyed all the characters and the parts they all played, and was really surprised when the killer was revealed. Well done Simon.

[Janet C · Rating 5 out of 5]

who done it?

Poisoned sheep, fires set by a pyromaniac, a community in turmoil about a nuclear plant. And a surprise twist with Georgie! Will DCI Hunter’s common sense attitude crack when Nick appears? I really liked this book!

[Derek Thorndyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gripping plot

Nick arrested, and imprisoned can they find the evidence to clear him? An old friend turns up for Georgie but is found dead the next morning. Ruth Hunter has her hands full again.

[Josh Fisk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible and finally given up on the series. New crime series needed!

[Jim Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon does it again, this is a truly cracking read. At present I'm awaiting an operation to remove cataracts from both eyes hence I find it hard to focus yet this book was compulsive reading, I just couldn't put it down. The beauty of McCleaves writing is rooted in realism, no mass murders but as evinced here every story has its twists and turns.
One minor criticism arose from the naming of the Holywell CID officers, that flew in the face of my earlier claim. I'll take it that it was a sardonic attempt at tongue in cheek humour.
The only problem now is a 5 to 6 month wait for the next one in the series, hopefully my eyes will be fully operational by then.

[Mr Mark Hawksford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Portmeirion Killings -

I realise this is book 13 in the series and the story about Nick probably would make more sense if I had read the previous books in the series. Despite that, you can still read the book as a standalone, but the Nick story is obviously running through the series. I enjoyed the book. It has quite short chapters, it is fast paced with lots of twists, keeping you guessing who is guilty. I think I need to go back and start reading some of the earlier books in the series. A 5 out of 5 from me.

[Marcia Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back on Track

I've read all of the Ruth Hunter books and enjoyed them very much with the exception of Book #12. One of the reasons I like these books so much are the bits about the scenery and the history of Wales. It sounds like a beautiful and fascinating country. Those interesting sidelines were sadly missing from Book #12, but thankfully have reappeared in Book #13. I know book series have cliffhangers, but it seemed Book #12 went way over the top with its non ending. Totally unsatisfying and the author didn't seem quite up to his best writing. Book #13 also leaves you hanging, but at least it was expected and the main case was tied up fairly nicely. My only real annoyance with Books #12 and #13 was the overuse of the phrase "virtual whisper" which makes no sense to me. What does that even mean? Other than that little nitpicking gripe, I highly recommend this series of books to anyone who enjoys British police procedurals. I always look forward to reading the next one.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a London journalist is run off the road and killed, it seems that his death might be linked to his investigation into plans for a nuclear plant. Is the murder linked to an American power company with a dark past who want to bury the story? There are also locals who stand to make millions from the plant’s construction. However, it soon appears there might be an event in Jake’s past that might provide the clue.
This is the 13th book in DI Ruth Hunter series. DI Ruth Hunter investigates a suspicious death. Twists and turns end in the fact that Nick is arrested and held in jail. Hopefully, he will be released in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love police procedurals, true-to-life characters, and psychological twists, then you’ll love this book.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read in a terrific series. Following on from the events of the last book, Nick is in serious trouble while Ruth and Georgie look into the death of a journalist who's investigating how a company won the contract to build a nuclear plant. Sheep poisonings and arson attacks also take place but are these also linked to the company?

I found this a riveting read. Georgie is more to the fore in this one as she teams up with Ruth in Nick's absence. The prison scenes were also captivating and I wasn't sure if everything was a red herring or not. There was a terrific twist in the end of Ruth's investigation which I didn't see coming, and the ending on Nick's side sets things up for the next book which I can't wait to read.

[Kirsty Hinchliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

When one of Georgie’s friends, a journalist from London is run off the road and killed, the team set out to try find motive. Seemingly tied to his investigation into the potential building of a new nuclear power plant, with a wrath of people benefitting namely the energy company. Ruth and Georgie investigate, and as more people get caught in the crossfire, they must work quickly to find the culprit.
Aside to this Nick is currently in jail having been set-up for a murder.

As always there are many twists, and whilst most of the characters were at one under suspicion, the actual motive for the murder was a good surprise. Ending on a cliffhanger, it sets up the next
instalment well.

4 stars.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A self immersive thriller by Simon McCleave, returning for his 13th Ruth Hunter novel.

With Nick inside, the team desperately hunt for clues to get him back on team, whilst investigating a double murder.
Yes the plot is somewhat unrealistic, but we can call that creative licence!
It’s interesting, with good red herrings and decent descriptive work. A much better improvement on some of the previous outings.

I particularly liked the character development of some of our side detectives, such as Georgie. Often mentioned but yet to be developed, this was a welcome change. All in all, very well done.
Five out of five.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't See Any of That Ending On the Horizon/strong>

What a great story and a dynamite police procedural. I am coming to appreciate the author's skill at building story lines. And how he weaves through some from the past into the present and potential future. Poor Nick. What will happen in the next book with him, Georgie and Sarah? The latter's nemeses are a bit slow at taking their revenge. How have they not found her yet? Daniel is a sweet addition. And will Ruth give up smoking? All will be revealed soon...hopefully...

[J Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simon McCleave does it again with another great Ruth Hunter story.

This was for me another long awaited follow up. There's reunion of a lost love, a murder - see the title and more about a police colleague who is in more than a spot of bother. On top of that there's more on the personal lives of some of the regular characters. Oh, and of course the case gets solved by Ruth and her colleagues. Thank you Simon and clearly there's more to come.

[kenneth Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the novel and Ruth’s stronger relationship with all her contemporary’s but missed the close association usually reserved for Nick , in fact so much so that , I felt it weakened the appeal
The quality of the writing and planning that went into this book is evident , obviously forming new fans of the series but I hope Nick finds an answer to his problems, leading him back to the fold as all good detectives need their partner

[christine lees · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read

This one of the better crime novels that are flooding the market right now. Simon McCleave knows how to write and the storyline is easy to follow. One slight error: a female cannot have a male identical twin (identical twins have identical DNA) . Slightly distracting is the issue of the DS Nick Evans' unlikely escape from prison, but no doubt this will be developed in the next book.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this title. That being said, I also thought it could have been a bit more dramatic than it was. The sub plot concerning Ruth Hunter’s partner Sarah kind of stalls and instead there is another sub plot about her colleague that becomes more important. I wonder what this might lead to.
All in all, it was pretty obvious that the usual suspects are not behind the killings. It turned out to be good, though this one is not my favourite title. 4 out of 5 stars

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I always enjoy the investigative side of the books, I think that the side stories are a bit over the top. How many books dealt with the Sarah saga (and it is still going on) and now I feel that the Nick saga will be the same. They could be an interesting side lines but not through book after book. I do like the fact that Ruth wants to adopt Daniel but where will that go? Also, I find it interesting that Georgie can find out that she is pregnant only a few days after her encounter with Jake.

[Linda Gettig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 13

It amazes me how anyone can maintain consistently such good writing, not only for one book, but for a number of them. Mr McCleave does just that. If I had to compare him to anyone, it would be John Sanford and his series of Lucas Davenport and Vigil Flowers. And that says a lot for me as Sanford is my favorite author. Okay, now you know I'm American and naturally I chose an American author because that's what we do. Right?

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5*

I, for the most part, really enjoyed this book. It picked up right from where the previous one left off. The main focus of investigation around the initial murder of a journalist was fast paced and kept me guessing up to a point. The Nick storyline I am not so much of a fan of. There were parts that moved away from the believable to the incredulous. Once again the setting won out of me and contributed greatly to my enjoyment of this.

[Barbara Truppo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a fan of Simon McCleave! This is my genre! Since book #1, The Snowdonia Killings, I have been hooked. They are entertaining reads, quick absorbing reads, the character are strong, the stories have twists and turns, the vivid imagery of North Wales puts us there. I can't say enough good things. I'm ready for book #14 (pre-orderd, yay) ......

[Graham Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting!

I love Simon Mcleave and his writing. However I was not expecting this storyline. I couldn't get my head around Nick being in prison. In my opinion it slowed down the smooth flow of the story. It seems strange that the police from a different area can't work with colleagues from another station. I'm sure that the next installment will clear up the mess!

[Lynn Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant as always

Once again a fast pacing story with twists and turns. Nick falsely accused and set up by his nemesis. Ruth at her best, with Daniel now in her life. I hope things work out that he stays.
Murder at the back of things which the team solve, but with a twist in the tail. Good luck Georgie.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Excellent Story

Another excellent story by Simon in the Ruth Hunter series featuring Ruth and her team. She is without her usual sergeant who is at present on remand. With the rest of her team she does however manage to solve the cases. Looking forward to reading more in the series.