Showing posts with label police procedural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police procedural. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

My Review for The Snow Killer by Ross Greenwood, read by David Thorpe


I loved the huge twist at the end!

Having read a couple of Ross's newer books, I decided to go back to the beginning of the DI Barton series and listen to The Snow Killer. I love a police procedural and this was a great one, with twists and turns throughout the story, but a huge humdinger of a spiral at the end. 

This differed from others I've read, because we know from the beginning who the killer is and why they are killing. What we don't know is if and when they're going to stop, and why some of the victims are dead.

Chapters skip between the viewpoints of The Snow Killer and DI Barton, and they are narrated very well by David Thorpe - although I did have to speed him up a little 😂

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Snow Killer by Ross Greenwood.

About the Book

‘Fear the north wind. Because no one will hear you scream…’

A family is gunned down in the snow but one of the children survives. Three years on, that child takes revenge and the Snow Killer is born. But then, nothing - no further crimes are committed, and the case goes cold.

Fifty years later, has the urge to kill been reawakened? As murder follows murder, the detective team tasked with solving the crimes struggle with the lack of leads. It’s a race against time and the weather – each time it snows another person dies. 

As an exhausted and grizzled DI Barton and his team scrabble to put the pieces of the puzzle together, the killer is hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, the murders continue…


About Ross - by Ross

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

My first book Chancer was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

It's surprising for me to realise I've written twenty books now. There are three strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind.



















Thursday, June 5, 2025

My Review for Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood


'A large, dark shape materialised to his right, as though plunging through a thick cloud. The drumming faster, relentless'.

I read my first Ross Greenwood novel, earlier this year and loved it, so of course I was going to read this one. Another day and another Norfolk murder! This one reminded me of a Dick Francis book. If you don't know, Dick was a former jockey, turned author and many of his books were set in the horse racing world and featured a murder or two!

As Ross was writing about the stable yards, and the beauty and grace that comes with the horses who reside there, I could smell the wood shavings and the gorgeous horsey smell. I could sense the love the people who worked there, had for their charges, and I dropped myself right into the middle of it all, as I set about trying to solve the murder(s) along with DI Ashley Knight.

A perfectly written police procedural. Ross kept me guessing most of the way through, and my choice of murderer changed from one chapter to the next as one curveball after another was thrown into the mix. I had just one thought at the end.....poor Barry! 😉

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood. 

About the Book

When everyone is lying, how do you catch a killer?

A brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.

Can Ashley, an outsider in a world of whispers and long-held grudges, unmask the murderer before they kill again?


About Ross - by Ross

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

My first book Chancer was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

It's surprising for me to realise I've written twenty books now. There are three strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind.























Sunday, June 1, 2025

My Review for The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter

“No-one would mess with a detective that looked like a pi$$ed-off Shrek

I read The Crucifix Killer back in August for ##bookstabritsbookclub - now known as #thatindiebookclub, and wow! I thought I'd hate it, I was put off by the genre 'horror', but as I've mentioned recently, I think the horror genre is subjective. In my opinion, if the subject is about something that can happen in real life, then it's more of a dark thriller than a horror.

This was horrific, and so, so descriptive. I cringed, I hid behind virtual curtains and wondered whatever was going to come next as Chris continued to type those words. It did make me wonder what gruesome scenes the author had seen, read or heard about in his career as a criminal psychologist. 

I loved both Robert Hunter, the LAPD detective and his rookie sidekick, Carlos Garcia. They brought a touch of humour and lightheartedness to their difficult days. I can't wait to go back and read the next in the series. 

The Crucifix Killer is full of gore, mutilated bodies and deeply disturbing scenes, but if you're ok with all that then I would thoroughly recommend this one.

About the Book

When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. 

All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? 

Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.


About Chris - by Chris

Biographies can be an absolute drag, so I won’t bore anyone with a long life story.

I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.

I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.

A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer.

Thursday, March 6, 2025

My Review for Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood


I wish I'd discovered Ross before now!

I'll be honest, the only reason I chose to read this book was because I live just a few miles from Horsey Mere - yep, it's a real place, with lots of seals, but no dead bodies - as far as I know! But by God, I wish I'd discovered this series earlier! Now I want to read all the Norfolk series, followed by the rest of Ross's books. 

I loved it, from beginning to end. It's fast-paced, descriptive, full of great characters (well the good guys anyway) and lots and lots of references to real places in Norfolk and Suffolk. We only moved here a couple of years ago, but it's cool to see the pop-up references to the villages and tourist attractions. 

The story was brilliant, if dark, but honestly, stuff like human trafficking is prevalent and even though this is fiction, it's good to see it written about, and it'll definitely make you think about the completely evil people there are in this world. 

Apparently this is the fourth book in the Norfolk series, and it can definitely be read as a standalone, but I'll certainly be revisiting Norfolk in the earlier books. 

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Death at Horsey Mere by Ross Greenwood.



 About the Book

Freshly promoted DI Ashley Knight has enjoyed her first six months in charge even though it’s been a challenging time with her team focused on breaking down a network of people smugglers.

One organisation has been swept away, but the other group operating in the county manage to fade from sight and reappear almost like their nickname, the Vampires. Blood is spilled, people vanish, lives are shattered, but intel is scarce. When they do catch the criminals, nobody talks. Tracking the ringleaders down in this vacuum is exhausting and morale is plummeting.

A teenage couple go missing in Suffolk, a body is found near a lighthouse and when two girls disappear from Norwich’s Golden Triangle, Hector makes a connection which chills Ashley to the bone. When another victim is found at Horsey Mere, the link to the ruthless criminals is obvious. Can Ashley solve the case, or will the mysterious Typhon prove to be an unstoppable force?

About Ross - by Ross

I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.

I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.

My first book Chancer was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.

It's surprising for me to realise I've written sixteen books now. There are three strands, one where the books concern lives affected by prison, and then my detective series starring DI John Barton. The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind.

I've also written four detective books in a Norfolk series now, starting with Death on Cromer Beach. There are two more planned.




Monday, September 18, 2023

My Review for Shadow Angel (Detective Beth Katz #2) by D.K. Hood


I love this new team of Detectives Beth Katz and Dax Styles that D.K Hood has created.

They’re back with a new serial killer to bring down. A serial killer who has a very weird set-up, which only becomes more strange as you read further. As with the first book, I was hooked. I wanted to finish it to discover whether weirdo got his comeuppance, but I also didn’t want it to end.

Beth doesn’t like these bad guys in the world and sometimes both she and Styles go rogue and go a little off-piste to remove them from society, but this is what makes both of them such interesting characters. I’d definitely want her on my side in a fight!

I’m hoping I don’t have to wait too long for the next book, but in the meantime, check those trigger warnings and get yourself off to the bookshop.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Shadow Angel by D.K. Hood.



Book Description

An absolutely addictive and nail-biting crime thriller (Detective Beth Katz Book 2):

In a dark cabin, a young woman sits totally still. Long dark hair hangs over her shoulders and heavy makeup adorns her pale face. Cherry red lips offer a hint of a smile, but she won’t ever smile again. Her body is already cold to the touch…

When black crows are spotted circling over an abandoned cabin in the woods near Rattlesnake Creek, FBI agent Beth Katz and her maverick partner Dax Styles fear something is very wrong. Beth has been hunting serial killers for years, and as she races to the forest she vows to serve her own form of justice, whatever the cost…

Cassie Durham’s friends reported her missing when she didn’t return home from a local bar a few days ago. Now, Cassie sits in darkness, her last breath taken days before. Beth notices the rouged cheeks and bright blue eyeshadow are nothing like the pictures she’s seen of Cassie alive. Did someone add the heavy makeup and pose her like this after death?

When another woman vanishes from a night out, Beth is convinced a twisted killer is in town. A clue on the dark web leads her to a local late-night hangout. Going undercover, she learns that when both girls vanished they were being watched by someone at the back of the crowded room.

Noticing a man following her every move, Beth knows she has one chance to capture him. With a knife in her pocket and hellbent on saving another innocent life, Beth is already sure she’s going to be the killer tonight. Otherwise she will become his next victim…




Author Bio

D.K Hood is The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 Amazon Million Copy Bestselling Author.

D.K's spine chilling, fast paced serial killer thrillers revolve around Sheriff Jenna Alton and her ex- special forces Deputy, Dave Kane. As the main characters fight crime, their secret pasts are never far away. Set in and around the fictional backwoods town of Black Rock Falls, Montana, known locally as Serial Killer Central, D.K 's imagery takes the reader into the scenes with her. Given the title "Queen of Suspense" by her reviewers, D.K 's writing style offers her readers a movie style, sizzling fast thrill ride.

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My Review for Dark Angel (Detective Beth Katz #1) by D.K. Hood



Wow! What a start to a brand-new series by D.K. Hood. Detective Beth Katz is great, I loved her and her sidekick, Dax Styles. We have recently visited Montana, so the mentions of bears and elk, and the scenery, had me invested from the beginning.

Hood brought me right into the heart of the story with her writing, describing scenes in such detail I could almost smell the metallic tang of the blood and the yummy smells of TJ’s diner.

Beth has her own unique way of dealing with serial killers, but you’ll have to read Dark Angel to discover just what that is and what happened in her tragic past.

There are lots of trigger warnings so check these out before you buy the book, but as long as you’re ok with them all and you enjoy an FBI police procedural with a difference, then I’d highly recommend Dark Angel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review Dark Angel by D.K. Hood.





Book Description

A gripping and unputdownable FBI agent thriller (Detective Beth Katz Book 1)In the dark pine forest surrounding the quiet town of Rattlesnake Creek, the body of a young girl lies on the ground. Her angelic blonde hair spills over her shoulders and her unblinking eyes stare up toward the sky…

It was Beth Katz’s serial killer father who made her like she is: a successful FBI agent and an unstoppable vigilante dedicated to hunting down murderers who have evaded capture. Beth will push herself to the limits to deliver justice. Even if it means killing those who deserve to die.

When the body of missing schoolgirl Brooklyn Daniels is discovered in a secluded patch of woodland on the outskirts of town, Beth and her partner Dax Styles race to the scene. Brooklyn and her best friend left home to pick wildflowers a week ago and vanished without trace.

Taking in Brooklyn’s body carefully laid on a blanket and the dress neatly folded next to her, Beth suddenly freezes. She’s seen this before: in the files of a cold case. The perpetrator takes two girls—one vanishes, the other is killed and left with her clothes beside her. Now Beth knows she has a twisted serial killer on her hands, she’ll stop at nothing to catch him. Even if it means going against Dax’s orders…

Desperate to find the other missing girl, Beth’s heart pounds as she puts herself up as bait and walks into the secluded forest, knowing evil is lurking nearby. With Dax watching her every move, Beth prays the gamble pays off. Can she outsmart the murderer, or did she just walk into a trap? And when Beth finally comes face to face with the killer, will she hand him over or serve justice of her very own?


Author Bio

D.K Hood is The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 Amazon Million Copy Bestselling Author.

D.K's spine chilling, fast paced serial killer thrillers revolve around Sheriff Jenna Alton and her ex- special forces Deputy, Dave Kane. As the main characters fight crime, their secret pasts are never far away. Set in and around the fictional backwoods town of Black Rock Falls, Montana, known locally as Serial Killer Central, D.K 's imagery takes the reader into the scenes with her. Given the title "Queen of Suspense" by her reviewers, D.K 's writing style offers her readers a movie style, sizzling fast thrill ride.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

My Review for Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman


Unnatural History Cover
This book is number 38 in the Alex Delaware series and it’s only the first one I’ve read, despite me having a copy of a previous book sitting on my shelf! I’ve read it as a standalone and it was absolutely fine. However, I guess if you want more of the backstory to the characters, then you’d need to start at the beginning.

Alex is a psychologist and assists his police detective friend, Milo Sturgis, in solving cases, looking at them from a psychological point of view in order to help solve the crime. I found Unnatural History somewhat slow to begin with, but I guess that’s the case with many police procedurals, as the crime is discovered and the background built up. However, once I was through all of that, the pace picked up and I was fully invested in the characters Kellerman has in his story. I enjoyed reading about the homeless communities of Los Angeles and how their mental health can affect their daily lives. We also discover how someone who was once pretty well off can spiral downwards incredibly quickly and go from one life to another.

Definitely grab yourself a copy of Unnatural History if you enjoy a police procedural, but be warned, if this is your first Alex Delaware book, it probably will not be your last. You’ll have another 37 to buy!

Thank you to Century Publishing for a review copy of Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman.