Book Review - The Killer in the Cold by Alex Pine

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Title: The Killer in the Cold

Author: Alex Pine

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 7th November 2024

Rating: 4 Stars

Chilling truths are buried in this snow…

When a body dressed in a Santa Claus suit appears in the snow just outside a small village in Cumbria, DCI James Walker is the first to appear on the scene. Almost a year has passed since something so tragic has happened in the close-knit community, and James is hopeful that it’s just an accidental death.

But when he uncovers the body, he discovers something that chills him to the bone. The man, a former police officer, was murdered. And it’s not long before another body appears.

Time is ticking as James races to uncover the killer’s next victim, before they strike again. But can James find them before the snow washes away the evidence?

From the master of wintery crime, comes a thriller that will chill you to the bone…

You know it is the start of the winter reads season when you see a new Alex Pine has landed on your Kindle. 

For James Walker lives in the worst place to live in the UK at Christmas, as for now five years in a row there have been murders at Christmas in and around Kendal, and James has had to work to solve them instead of spending time with his young family. 

And this was a particularly tricky case for him as the dead bodies are former colleagues of the police. Which adds an even more personal dimension to the whole investigation.  Add in they are in a small village where everyone knows James and wants more info from his (or his long suffering wife), and it makes for a really tricky case. 

There is very little to go on, plenty of suspects, various potential motives, but a lack of cold hard evidence, which means the pressure is on for the team. 

As interesting as this case was, I found it wasn't as gripping to me as previous books in the series. It's a really good book still, just didn't quite capture my imagination in the same way, which is probably on me and not the author. 

Regardless I did really enjoy it, and I totally gobsmacked by the final third of the book where things suddenly ramp up and get a whole lot more compelling and I had never suspected the actual murderer. 

it's another very readable book in this series. But please never let me move to a small village in Cumbria, it sounds rather dangerous and I like Christmas! 

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.