The Winter Killer (DI James Walker #3) by Alex Pine
29 November 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Alex Pine, DI James Walker #3, The Winter Killer
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Less thriller, more police procedural
So, here I am again crashing into a series part way through! Anyway, this book can definitely be read as a standalone as the mystery is tied up nicely, although, of course I may be missing a bit of character interaction/development from the first two books in the series.
The Winter Killer is a murder mystery set in a countryside location where a wedding is taking place on New Year’s Eve. I enjoyed this and I certainly didn’t guess the ending, but, it didn’t quite blow my socks off and I think an element of that may be that I simply misled myself into expecting something else. When I picked this up I had in mind a cosy, locked room style murder mystery. Now, I’m not sure that I would call this either cosy or locked room and I also wouldn’t call this a thriller. This is much more a straightforward police procedural, although now I cast it in those terms I think I would also add the word cosy back in because this isn’t one of those gritty, dark police procedurals where cynical cops are trying to drink themselves into oblivion or have become so hard bitten that nothing affects them. So, cosy police procedural.
The scene is a remote hotel. The guests are gathered and in their finery and things seem to be going accordingly until the bride’s sister goes missing. Foul play is suspected fairly quickly and DI Walker is called in. Before long, the lake is being searched and indeed, a body is found.
I liked the start of this one. It kicked off really well, the author pulled me into the location with ease and then began to demonstrate that in spite of the beautiful setting and the top notch event tensions were simmering beneath the scenes and lies and deceit lay just below the surface, ready to be dragged forth during the questioning.
In terms of the characters – well, I wouldn’t say I formed any real attachments. DI Walker certainly isn’t a character that I disliked but he felt a little bland. There were a number of suspects and leads being followed to help draw you down the wrong path and also a number of other extras such as DC Abbot, who is a member of Walker’s team but was also a guest at the wedding and so on hand to immediately contain the crime scene.
To be fair to the author I’m not quite sure I can pin down why this one didn’t wow me. The writing is easy, the story moves along at a good clip, I enjoyed listening to the audio version and I never suffered from the dreaded book fatigue that sometimes happens if a book isn’t quite able to work it’s magic. I think it was more that the characters failed to really make friends with me – or for that matter really make me dislike them, and I felt the ending and the eventual reveal left me a little underwhelmed. I don’t know what I was expecting really but instead of experiencing that ‘ah-hah’ moment where you begin to rethink some of the key moments in the book to try and pick up the trail of breadcrumbs you’ve overlooked along the way I just felt a little flat.
To conclude. I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from giving this a go and it definitely has a seasonal feel, it just wasn’t quite what I was hoping for when I picked it up.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3 of 5 stars.
December Countdown – one prompt per day
I decided to reinstate my December countdown this year. This is a one per day prompt where I will literally post the prompt and the relevant book. I’m hoping to use books read during 2022 where possible and use this as an opportunity to shine the light on some good reads. Books will be linked to reviews where possible or Goodreads. If you fancy joining me feel free to dip in and out. This is just a little fun and isn’t meant to be hard work..
Here are the prompts: 31 days of December and 31 opportunities to give a very quick shout out to a book you’ve loved.
Prompts:
- Snow – a book set in a cold or wintry climate
- Shopping – the last book added to your wishlist
- Wrapping paper – a lovely cover
- Gifts – a book you enjoyed more than you expected to
- Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious
- Christmas stocking – stocking fillers – a novella or short story
- Christmas Tree – a winter read
- Baubles – these add some colour, a very colourful and striking cover
- Fairy Lights – something magical
- Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned
- Mistletoe – a little bit of romance
- Holly and Ivy – a book with great world building
- Feast – a book that was magnificent
- Christmas pudding – if you could squeeze in just one more book for 2020
- Mince pies – a little sweet something
- Turkey Dinner– eye’s too big for your belly? A chunkster
- Glitter – A book that you simply have to have
- Christmas Cards – a book with a hidden message
- Christmas Carols – a book with musicians, song or instruments
- Eggnog – a book that was out of your comfort zone
- Santa’s Snack – a book that was a ‘light read’ between heavier books
- Reindeers – a book with memorable critters
- Sleigh bells – a series that you want to ring out the praise for
- Christmas Eve – One of your most anticipated books for 2021
- Christmas Day – a book you received as a gift
- Boxing Day – feeling bloated, a palate cleanser
- Christmas Crackers – Ended with a bang
- Candlelight – a book that kept you up into the early hours
- A roaring fire – a book that was heartwarming
- Family and Friends – a book with great characters
- Bottle of Bubbly – your first read for 2023
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing so but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Books read this week:
My reading as been a bit quieter this week. I managed to complete my first SPFBO book so I’m happy about that. I’m still reading Silvia Moreno Garcia’s Signal to Noise and I also started The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore.
Next Week’s Reads:
Hoping to complete The Witch and the Tsar and Signal to Noise. .
Reviews Posted since my last Sunday Post:
- A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2) by Freya Marske
- Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse
- Love Will Tear Us Apart by CK McDonnell
- The Winter Killer by Alex Pines
- Pulling the Wings off Angels by KJ Parker
- The Creeper by AM Shine
- SPFBO No.1
Friday Face Off : And they all lived happily ever after – fairy tales retold
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.
I’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
This week’s theme:
And they all lived happily ever after – fairy tales retold
Sorry I didn’t post last week. I got behind and then at the last minute I tried to find a book but struggled and decided not to go with a book I’ve used before. That being said I think this week will be easier for me although my book is a slight cheat. I’ve gone for a book that I loved and that reads like a fairytale, it feels like it has elements of other tales in their but they’ve been changed to make them unique. Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisther. I just loved this book and highly recommend. My first by this author for definitely not my last. To the covers:
My favourite:
Do you have a favourite?
If you’re taking part in this week’s theme feel free to leave your link in the comments below. Also, you may have noticed that I’ve not updated the list. I’m making a change to the Friday Face Off and will post more soon on that front.
If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next Week’s Theme : Assassins
2022
A Restless Truth (The Last Binding #2) by Freya Marske
24 November 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Restless Truth, Freya Marske, The Last Binding #2
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Fantasy of Manners Murder Mystery
I had a really good time with this – even though I just discovered that I crashed into the series on the second book – whoops! Anyway, the very least I can say is that you can read this book without having read the first! Although if this is anything to go by I’m sure the first is delightful. This was an entertaining, fantasy of manners with a murder mystery and romance. I actually requested the audio version which was really good – thought I’d just throw that in here in case I forget later. I thought the narration was spot on.
Anyway, Maud Blyth is aboard the R.M.S. Lyric enroute to America accompanying a woman carrying a magical artefact. Unfortunately, when Maud’s companion is murdered she takes measures to uncover the perpetrator and solve the mystery. What could possibly go wrong?
I’m not going to go overboard (pun intended *andsorry*) on the plot but just highlight what worked so well for me.
Firstly, the writing and attention to detail is really good. This isn’t overloaded with descriptions but there’s enough to give a really firm footing and to pull you into the period. I loved the writing, it flows well, the story has legs and the dialogue is witty.
Secondly, I liked Maud a lot, she has a wonderful arc developing emotionally and really finding herself along the way. The other predominant characters are Violet Debenham – who is fantastic, I just loved her. She’s a young woman who ran away from her family’s straitlaced expectations to become an actress in America. She’s inherited some money and is returning to the UK with her family who are determined to latch onto some of that inheritance in any way possible and she loves to be shocking. What a breath of fresh air she was. I also liked Hawthorn who was the steadfast character and the ship’s master, he was roped into all sorts of shenanigans.
Finally the setting. I loved this and felt it worked really well. It felt like everyone was in really close quarters with each other on an almost constant basis. There’s not much room to maneuver and no way of escape although lots of secret places to hide. There’s an almost claustrophobic feel. The author throws in some perfectly quirky and strange asides such as the strange menagerie that’s travelling on board, ghosts and even a seance. We spend much of the voyage with the first class passengers all eyeing each other nervously and the baddies finally show their hand ramping up the tension.
In terms of criticisms. I don’t really have much. I loved that there was magic included but didn’t really get much of a feel for the dynamics which I blame on myself for not having reading book 1. There’s an almost over-the-top-Agatha-Christie-Vaudevillian feel to the story with the criminals being overblown caricatures but to be fair, I enjoyed the overall feel and thought it played into the cosy mystery elements Let’s just be honest – a gritty police drama this is not.
This is a fast paced, sometimes steamy, quite often funny, beautifully written cosy (I guess you could call it a locked room) mystery story with endearing characters, a lovely romance and a menagerie of craziness. Talking parrots, racy scenes and an overall charm that I was really taken with.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 