I read this book a while ago but unfortunately forgot to review it. I just remember it was one that I enjoyed.

*thank you to Netgalley, Penguin UK and Alastair Gunn for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


2.5 stars.

I found the first half of this to be rather good. It was interesting and the characters were likeable. But by the second half, it started to get a bit boring because it was lacking intensity. The story just seemed to drag and like it was getting no where. So I decided upon 2.5 stars which is between 'Ok' and 'good.'

Unfortunately, by the end it felt it wasn't really one I would recommend. But saying that, I would definitely give this author another go. Even some of my favourite authors have some books that I'm not fond of, so maybe this was just my bad luck I stumbled across this one first.

This is the 4th instalment of DCI Antonia Hawkins series and don’t let the title fool you it is not a festive read! When the bodies of three men are found in an abandoned flat, the link between them is not clear, different backgrounds, jobs and social circles. And the cause of death is not clear.
This was an ingenious read, with several shockers along the way. I found it was very snappy and fast paced. There are lots of distractions thrown in along the way to confuse both the reader and Hawkins! And that ending!!!!! How could you Mr. Gunn?!!! I would highly recommend this book.

This is yet another book off my now decreasing "to-be-read" pile and another book that I am left asking myself, why did I leave it so long to read it?

Cold Christmas is the fourth in the Antonia Hawkins series but only the second I have had the pleasure of reading. I read the first in the series, The Advent Killer, and found that to be very satisfying and it has been nice to catch up with DCI Hawkins and her team and although I think this works well as a standalone, in order to appreciate the main characters, I do think reading at least one of the previous books would be a good idea because although you get some of the backstory, you don't truly appreciate or understand DCI Hawkins motivations without previous insight.

From the cover and the title, you might think this would be a Christmas story but you would be wrong ... what we have here is a dark thriller written at good pace with intrigue abound and excellent characters. The method used by the killer to murder his victims is ingenious and not one I have come across before which made a nice change and with a good mix of investigation into this complex case and into the equally complex personal life of DCI Hawkins, this is, once again, a satisfying read ... well, that is until the end ... oh Mr Gunn you are mean!

Despite this, I will be reading more from this author and I want to thank Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

Even though I really enjoyed this book
and I do like D I Hawkins character
I feel that you really do need to start the series in the correct order
so as soon as I've written this review in going to start
The Advent Killer

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I liked this, it's a bit beyond a normal crime thriller with some twists I didn't see coming. Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

Three bodies and found in a depilated, old London flat. No one knows how they got there, and no one knows the obvious cause of death. Where they murdered or was it a suicide pact? D.I Antonia Hawkins and her team are set to investigate. Which brings her first to Stratham motors where they discover a drugs ring linked to one of the bodies. As the case progresses, more bodies turn up and links to the paranormal are discovered.

Another great book for crime fiction lovers this certainly isn’t a bright festive read. It’s dark, disturbing and ends on a tragic twist but well worth a read!

This is the fourth book in the DCI Antonia Hawkins series but it reads just as well as a standalone.
Although this book is called Cold Christmas this is not a particularly festive thriller!
It has plenty of twists and turns and a sublime ending that takes your breath away.
Really clever, well written crime fiction at its best.

Could not read this book because the book had been archived. Will see if I can get my hands on the book some other way. Looks interesting

A book that starts slow but soon picks up the pace. Dark and with some interesting twists and turns, this is a well written book. I must read the previous 3 books in the series, which I'm sure are just as good

I loved Alastair,s book a well drawn plot and characters. Look forward to reading more from him. Excellent pacing and a real page turner

This is a dark murder mystery not to be fooled by the title to be a light mystery around Christmas time. It begins pretty early on with the murder of 3 young men with no visible signs of how they died. They are found near a church that is pointed the wrong way. That confused me as I don't know what the right way to point a church would be but it has to do with devils and evil. But there was a history of children being found dead in the same area so the murders seem to be connected. This brings in the strange and spiritual feel of the book. Antonia is the chief detective and has some serious psychological problems which make her quite obsessive in solving the murders. She has a fiancee who finds it hard to live with her for similar reasons. So the serial murders are solved but in a surprising and supernatural way.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a fair interview I would recommend this book to all who like dark murder stories and British police procedurals.

Loved the book, first book that I had read by Alistair and it definetly won't be the last

An unusual and gripping story that I found almost impossible to put down. This was my first introduction to Alistair Gunn and his chief character DI Antonia Hawkins, and it won't be the last of his books that I read. I must download the others in time for the holiday season! If you enjoy Peter Robinson and Peter James, Alistair Gunn is another author you will enjoy.

This book started off well with the 3 bodies found with no obvious cause of death. However, I just couldn't engage with the characters and the story was very slow to move on. Admire anyone who can write, it's just not the book for me.

A little more unusual - I enjoyed this and am eager for the next installment.

Can't quite decide whether I like books about the English police, DCI, DI, DS, generally - with that in mind, I started off this book and it took a twist for the weird when it started touching on the occult, satanic rituals and so on. Not entirely convinced but kept me sufficiently interested to keep turning the pages until the end. Didn't like the tone of the book towards the end, the lead character's fiance suddenly seemed to slip back into the role of her supporting officer and I think their relationship deserved more than that

Wowser what an opening chapter (poor Joel) it totally grabs you and drags you in and doesn’t let go!!! I totally loved this book and read it in one sitting, it’s a dark and disturbing thriller and a seriously good read. I really enjoyed it

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.

Maybe I'm reading too many murder mysteries and I'm getting a bit jaded but this just didn't grab me by the throat. The writing is great, the characters believable and the killer suitably creepy.

I think I'll read something fluffy for a bit!!

This is the first Alistair Gunn book I have read and it didn't disappoint - I want to read more! Toni is a strange but interesting character and I'm not sure that I really like her.

The plot was good and somewhat unpredictable - I don't like it when I have guessed where a book is going. The ending was devastating - I can say no more.