Detective Beth Young notices a connection between a recent murder and three cold cases that revolve around the Lake District. "A Body in the Lakes" weaves a tale of how Detective Young and her team connect the dots as they search for the killer.

"A Body in the Lakes" moves at a fairly fast pace, and Beth Young is a likable and capable woman. The crimes are sexual in nature, and the book includes references to sexual violence, which could be a trigger to some readers.

While I enjoyed the pace and the opportunity to solve the mystery along with Beth Young and her team, the final resolution was a let-down. It introduced new evidence that took the book in a different direction that didn't flow with the rest of the story.

5 stars

This is an excellent second-in-the-series novel by Graham Smith.

DC Beth Young is reminded daily as she glances in a mirror about the “accidental” attack that left her scarred for life. She is a dedicated and very astute young police woman.

This story starts with the discovery of an elderly woman's body. She is emaciated and has no hair. The attending pathologist puts forth that she had cancer. Why would anyone want to kill someone with cancer? She is later identified as a tough woman, a survivor if you will named Felicia Evans.

Beth peruses the HOLMES system and comes up with a possible three additional women who were murdered in the same way. At the same time, a letter is received by the police team that states that the mayor is behind the rapes and murders. Beth and her boss go to arrest Forster the mayor – or at least bring him in for questioning.

The mayor is popular and can be very charming, but does this hide a murderous intent?

Throughout the book, the reader is treated to snippets from the killer's point of view.

This is a very well written book and I enjoyed it immensely. I liked the way Beth's character was more fleshed out in this novel. I appreciate the way that the team gets along and Beth's relationship with her immediate boss, DI Zoe O'Dowd. The characters are engaging and interesting. I am anticipating the next book in this series.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I loved the first book in this series and I was eager to get back to Detective Beth Young's story. This is the second book in the series but you could read this as a standalone.

Beth and her team have quite a hard time in this book. Some unexpected events cause the team to be thin on the ground but Beth doesn't let that stop her on her pursuit of whoever committed these heinous crimes. Beth works extremely hard and I couldn't help but feel for her at times in this book.

This was a thrilling edge of your seat story that captured my heart.

I haven't read book one in this series but the writing is good. It sucks you in I feel as if I am apart of the story. The characters were described really well. I will definitely read more by this author.

Enjoyable read. I found this easier to get into than the first book - perhaps because the lead character felt more settled in this book. Good read and interesting plot

Graham Smith paints a perfect picture of the Cumbrian scenery lulling the reader into a false sense of security as he destroys the beautiful imagery with his own special twisted brand of evil.
Opening up with the discovery of the body of an elderly woman, it soon becomes clear that past and present are about to collide as Beth recognises a link with previously unsolved cases. As is to be expected of the author he doesn't shy away from grisly or gruesome and there were a few eye-watering moments for me as I read through! Despite his love of evil, Graham Smith still manages to inject some humour into his writing so don't worry, there will be a few smiles on the way!
This is the second novel featuring DC Beth Young and she is a detective determined to serve justice. With an unusual background Beth does not come with a drinking problem or broken marriage, however, she does have her own unique reasons for joining the force. She was the victim of a brutal attack which left her physically scarred and her desire to bring her perpetrator to justice was the driving force behind her decision to join the police. She is an intriguing young woman with a lateral thinking mind who loves nothing more than a puzzle and the investigations that Graham Smith puts her way provide her with plenty to puzzle over that's for sure! Beth's own story is further explored in this novel and I'm really looking forward to finding out more about her as the series develops.
Her relationship with her colleagues is based on mutual respect and over the two books, we can see how they have developed. I particularly enjoy the banter between Beth and her superior DI Zoe O'Dowd but it is definitely DS Thompson who pulls at my heartstrings. He and Beth had a rocky start to their relationship but as she has learned about his personal circumstances their bond has deepened.
There are a few characters in this book who will get your emotions rising, from Forster, the Mayor, who is a grade A creep to the unknown narrator who drip-feeds you information via their diary entries! To say any more would be giving away too much info!
The dialogue between the characters is natural and flows well. Plenty of red herrings and twists kept my brain engaged throughout. Exploring sexual assault and rape, misogynistic attitudes and values are cleverly challenged through the characters.
As I have already said this is the 2nd book in the series but the author gives just enough background that anyone picking this up without having read the first one, will not be left floundering. But hey, just go and buy the other one too!
Review will be published on my blog as part of the blog tour

I loved the first book in the series but this one is even better, What could be a more idyllic setting than the Cumbrian countryside and The Lakes, it certainly wouldn't be the first place you would think of as a setting for the most heinous crimes of rape and murder. Beth the young DC has a brilliant way of thinking out of the box and she is determined to catch the killer rapist, however, the task is not easy as there's lots of blind alley's and not a suspect in sight. Once I started this book I didn't want it to finish, it's a great read and a must for crime thriller fans.

When a walker finds the body of a woman by the shores of Lake Ullswater, the police are put on high alert. Felicia Evans was known to be a tough character, but who would have strangled her? Detective Beth Young quickly spots the links to three cold cases. Three women strangled and discarded in the stunning, wild hills of the Lake District.

As Beth begins tracking down witnesses, the team receives an anonymous letter claiming the charming mayor of Carlisle is behind the murders. There’s pressure from the top to clear his name. But Beth is determined to find the truth no matter whose feathers she ruffles in the process.

I loved Beth and her determination, she made me want to keep reading! I found this to be a compelling crime thriller that keeps you on your toes.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #AbodyInTheLakes
Pub Date: 15 Mar 2019

This is the first book by Graham Smith that I read. I’d never heard of him until this one popped up and am really glad I requested it.
The characters that Graham has created, along with back stories are believable and very well written,
This book also has a great storyline which is very well written and keeps you guessing all the way to the end as to what the outcome will be, who has a grudge against the mayor, who is the killer?
The locations and the setting in the lakes really add something to this book and make you want to keep reading.
As crime thrillers go, this is one that I’d highly recommend,

A woman's body lies on the shore in the Lake District. The police quickly link her death to three others.

The local mayor is implicated. what really happened to them all?

A very enjoyable read! I was very interested in getting my hands on this one after I read the blurb and I am pleased to say that I was not let down.

The story is written very well and the characters are interesting and jump off the page. I would recommend this read!

This was a engaging and entertaining read. I can't wait for the next book.

When a walker finds the body of a woman by the shores of Lake Ullswater. The police learns the victim name is Felicia Evans and was known to be a tough character, but who would have strangled her?


As they investigate Detective Beth Young quickly spots the links between three cold cases after talking to a paramedic. Three women strangled and discarded in the stunning, wild hills of the Lake District.

As they found evidences near Felicia body that points toward the Mayor and anonymous letter arrive saying he a murderer and will kill again but when the Mayor said he innocent and he has a alibi and even though Beth dislike him she can't help but wonder if he fool of smoke or is someone really is framing him.

As they keep the Mayor on the suspect list the pressure to capture the perpetrator mounts, Beth and the team must race to find him/her before another life is in danger or lost.


I ARC received via NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.

A good and solid police procedural, engaging and entertaining.
I liked the characters, Ben is likable and relatable.
The mystery was fast paced and engaging, no plot hole, and it keeps you guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this



When a walker finds the body of a woman by the shores of Lake Ullswater, the police are put on high alert. Felicia Evans was known to be a tough character, but who would have strangled her?

Detective Beth Young quickly spots the links to three cold cases. Three women strangled and discarded in the stunning, wild hills of the Lake District.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC.
Detective Beth Young works in the Force Major Investigation Team, a job she loves and practically gives her life for. The story is set In Cumbria and has a great sense of place, it sounds so beautiful there...
When an elderly woman is found strangled, naked and violated, the team can't understand who would want to kill this poor woman - she was weeks away from death from cancer!? Beth, after some research, finds there have been several previous cases with a similar M.O., leaving no doubt that there's a serial killer on the loose. The likeliest candidate is the Mayor as his license and a party invitation was left by the body. He's a powerful, charismatic man with friends in high places and Beth dislikes him at first, but after several meetings even she begins to be charmed by him.
This is a good, tense police procedural which can definitely be read as a standalone; I hadn't read the first in the series and didn't find it a problem, there's enough backstory to catch you up.
Beth is an likeable character, fiercely dedicated to her job and empathetic to the victims she fights to find justice for. Highly recommended.

Detective Beth Young had been called to Lake Ullswater where the naked body of an elderly woman had been discovered and incriminating evidence at the scene pointed to the charismatic local mayor of Carlisle as being involved.

Information from a paramedic at the scene set Beth off investigating if there had been other similar murders in the area and to her amazement found that there were three others and no-one had connected them.

As the pressure to capture the perpetrator mounts Beth and the team must race to find him/her before another life is in danger or lost.

Action packed, gritty , grisly in parts but also with some humour ( what do you call a man ) jokes and with a nail biting build up of tension this novel delivers on all counts for me. Great characterization and skillfully woven plot strands all add up to a captivating and very enjoyable read.

Loved it and comes highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read the ARC for my honest review.

This is a second in the DC Beth Young series and a great story. The body of an elderly woman is discovered and there are links to the charismatic local mayor. Beth’s individual strength is her analytical thinking, and she discovers three previous murder/rape cases in the area in the past few years. Bad news for previous investigators who should have found that link. The story is wide ranging, complex and interesting. Beth’s personal life is expanded upon in this book and she faces danger from more than one of the suspects. It’s an exciting, well-paced story that links cold cases with a current one. It left me breathless on a few occasions and I really look forward to more.

Well I loved the first book in the Beth Young series so this one had a lot to live up to and I wasn’t disappointed one one bit it excelled all expectations and this is a series that is right up there with my favourites along with Beth Young as a brilliant character. The book is set in one of my favourite places the Lake District with it’s beautiful scenery but the storyline is gruesome,disturbing and complex as Beth and colleagues investigate a new murder which also brings up some unsolved cold cases that have similarities to this new case. As always Graham Smith writes a gripping, fast paced thriller that grabs all your attention and doesn’t let go, it’s a real whodunnit and I would urge you not to miss it. Highly recommended ( I laughed out loud at the “what do you call a man” jokes) and a 5 Star read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

You really a get a sense of the surrounding area within this story. Somewhere that is usually a very scenic setting, is tarnished with violence and death and boy did I love every minute of it!

Whilst this may be the second book to feature Beth, there is enough background so that you can pick this one up without having read the first one in the series. You more than likely will want to though as this is an author who knows his crime thrillers inside and out. He is an author who just keeps on giving, giving everything that a true crime junkie wants and needs to satisfy that craving of thrills and chills.

The nature of the story line is one that is quite sombre. I didn’t envy Beth one bit working the case she is on. Not only does she have her work cut out trying to catch a killer, she has to deal with the mayor also. So not much pressure there then!

A Body In The Lakes is a dark and brooding read that totally held me captive. Parts chilled me to the core whilst other parts caught me off guard, causing an array of emotions. British crime writing at it’s best!

A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith
Genre: Fiction/Crime Fiction/Crime, Thriller & Mystery
BUG Rating: 4.5/5

Overall: Well paced book, with a lot going for it! The storyline, set in Cumbria, follows Detective Beth Young and her colleagues at Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) as they discover the body of an old woman, who has been disturbingly sexually assaulted, strangled and discarded, naked, by the lakes. The case also flags up cold cases in the same area with a similar MO - the killer never having been found. Beth is determined to resolve the puzzles of the past and present murders in order to bring peace to the victims and their families. Multiple storylines (some quite grisly) going on in this book, which all tie together perfectly, whilst allowing us to explore the great set of characters Graham has given us. If I was to sum up in 3 words: Exciting, Spine Tingling and Unpredictable. It had me on the edge of my seat at times, especially when we got a glimse into the killer’s mind, and it literally kept me guessing until the very end who they were!


Read my full review on my blog