Cover Image: The Nidderdale Murders

The Nidderdale Murders

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher supplying me with a copy of this book to read and review, I now have the earlier 4 in the series that I want to read in order. This read well without having read the previous books, but I do feel that reading the series in order helps with character development. The description of the Yorkshire Moors has me ready to pack my bags and visit, and the mystery set there had a lot of red herrings to keep me guessing. DCI Oldroyd is a main character who is ready to look at different alternatives and works well with his team, which I enjoyed. Some series feature characters with a huge anoint of baggage that affects their work and relationships that can get over the top at times, it’s nice to have a sympathetic person in charge. 
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Was this review helpful?
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC.  Enjoyed this book. Great for one of those days you have to stay indoors. The characters were likable. Would recommend..
Was this review helpful?
The story is somewhat slow-moving, and there are many paragraphs that I felt really needed a copy editor; they had awkward transitions and static phrasing. It's difficult for me to enjoy a story if I'm distracted by such things. It was just "okay" in my opinion.
Was this review helpful?
I started with number six of this series, but it didn't seem to make a difference. The village came alive in the pages, all Agatha Christie and Local Pub with moleskinned farmers and gossip and grouse-shoots and wonderful mystery. Best of all was the pace. Ellis managed to slooow things down so the reader became one with the rhythm of life in Nidderdale. It was a delightful read, transporting and engaging. And the gimmicky murders kept a reader guessing.  Nidderdale Murders was a fun read, especially good for these days of social distancing, for the times left me alone with the characters struggling for normal when nothing suddenly was.
Was this review helpful?
THE NIDDERDALE MURDERS: A Yorkshire Murder Mystery opens with a shoot on retired judge Sandy Fraser's rural Yorkshire property. Animal rights activists are on hand to save the grouse, employees are unhappy. Later that day, at the Dog and Gun, where Fraser has put together a special dinner to honor the hunt, we learn that Fraser not only is pompous but also not liked by the locals. Friction abounds all around this man, and later that night he is shot dead at point blank range in front of the restaurant. A witness gives the name of the shooter, and DCI Jim Oldroyd is on the case. The only problem is, the shooter disappears. It's as if he never existed.

In this delightful cozy/police procedural there is a red herring lurking behind every bush. As Oldroyd digs into Fraser's life, he finds many people who might wish the judge dead. And then another similar killing occurs. 

I appreciate the excellent writing, plot twists, great characters, and a fine setting for this book, and look forward to enjoying more from J.R. Ellis.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a review copy of the book.
Was this review helpful?
An entertaining book that will keep you intrigued until the end. .  This murder mystery is modern take on the British detective mystery, with a few  echoes of Agatha Christie throughout.  The author exhibits sensitive understanding of the cultural and geological history of the area and weaves that understanding well with the plot.  And his descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside make me long to travel there.
Was this review helpful?
The Nidderdale Murders is an absorbing police procedural surrounded by the stunning Yorkshire landscape. Once again, DCI Jim Oldroyd and his team are called in to solve a murder. A retired judge is killed for no apparent reason. The murderer is identified as a local handyman and the search begins. Police canvass the village and surrounding hamlets to no avail. How will they solve this high-profile case? Oldroyd is well known for his ability to clear difficult cases, but this one has him stumped, until he remembers a Sherlock Holmes film he saw in his boyhood. A robbery from years earlier, is somehow involved. But how?

This is the fifth in the Yorkshire Murders series. I definitely will pick up the earlier books.

I got tis one through NetGalley. Reviewed on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51033514-the-nidderdale-murders
Was this review helpful?
This series and author were new to me.  I see now that John R. Ellis has written four previous books in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series.  The story was intriguing:  the murder has a witness, but are things as they seem?  DCI Jim Oldroyd doesn't think so. And why this victim?  With able assistants Steph and Andy, he begins a search for the killer.  

The Yorkshire landscape is almost a character in itself.  Ellis paints lovely word pictures of the scenery and also adds local color with attention to dialect.

I confess I was on the right track by the time the ending rolled around but after so many twists (and another victim!) I was glad that I was.  

I recommend "The Nidderdale Murders" and plan to read the other books in the series as well.  Jim, Steph, and Andy were likable and hard-working and I want to see what they do in Ellis's other stories.
Was this review helpful?
I am never disappointed with this author's police procedurals set in some remote quaint village outside of Detective Oldroyd's home base of Harrogate. It is part of a series but is very easily read as a stand alone as are all of the series. Only the main characters are.the same in the series. Det. Oldroyd seems to be a mix of Sherlock Holmes, Morse, and maybe a little Colombo which makes for an interesting main character.  The stories are unique and characters are well developed. He describes the  settings in such a way that you can easily picture the hills, forests or barren lands. The story itself is quite detailed but not boring. It may take a little while to get involved and it is not a quick read but it is enjoyable and not one you can guess "who dunnit" until the end! Jacket cover gives a good synopsis of the story so I will not write a book report. Read and enjoy!
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy of the book and was under no obligation to provide a review.The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Was this review helpful?
I am a fan of the British or Scottish or Irish mysteries whether they be TV series or novels. They particularly appeal to me because they are rarely violent but rather more cerebral. This one is a perfect example of the genre and I loved it. It was atmospheric, complicated enough to provide the surprise denouement at the end and had an endearing inspector to accomplish it all.  I only read this one but if there is a sequel I will be delighted to read it.
Was this review helpful?
Sorry, I read about 7% of the book and it didn't interest me.  There aren't100 words to describe it.  I couldn't get I to this book. Lack of interest.  I'm just being honest!
Was this review helpful?
The Nidderdale Murders is the 5th book in the Yorshire Mysteries by J.R. Ellis. Released 20th Aug 2020 on Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint, it's 301 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book and the rest of the series are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

These books are well written engaging procedurals which are tightly plotted, set against the Yorkshire countryside: hills, moors, and fells. Although it's part of a series, it works quite well as a standalone. There are references to occurrences from previous books in the series, but they don't play a central role in the action and readers new to the series won't have any troubles keeping up. 

DCI Oldroyd is an experienced and practical investigator in charge of a team of intelligent and hardworking detectives. The unexpected shotgun murder of a local retired judge has the team looking for motives from the past and present. I enjoyed the writing and I really liked Oldroyd's relationship with his family and colleagues. He's an honest and compassionate officer and the development of the plot and denouement were satisfying and well written. Looking forward to more in this series which compares quite favourably with P.D. James' wonderful Adam Dalgleish books.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Was this review helpful?
The Nidderdale Murders > Review > Edit
The Nidderdale Murders
The Nidderdale Murders (Kindle Edition)
by J.R. Ellis (Goodreads Author)
Change edition
My rating: 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]Clear
Bookshelves/tags:
Choose shelves...
read
What did you think?Formatting tips Insert book/author Enlarge text field
I really enjoyed this mystery. I could not put down and it is a must read for everyone. Great author and cannot wait to read more by J.R. Ellis.
 Hide entire review because of spoilers
Was this review helpful?
A tightly written murder mystery. Good characters and a steady plot. I really enjoyed JR Ellis’ writing style as well. The dialogue was well done and the characters were like regular neighbors. The descriptions of the land were good enough that I didn’t need to google, though I did. An excellent read that I definitely recommend.
Was this review helpful?
This was a long, lonely slog through the heavily described Yorkshire dales area. There is a murder to be solved and it could have been done in half the number of pages if the author was an adept editor. Too many clichés, too much clutter, too much extraneous language and dialog. I was bored. I can’t remember the last time I fell asleep reading a book but The Nidderdale Murders put me to sleep each and every night I tried to finish it. Obviously not the book for me but apparently it hit the mark for many others.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy.
Was this review helpful?
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Nidderdale-Murders-Yorkshire-Murder-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0847NMGY9
This is my first book by this author. My father in law is a big fan so I thought maybe this would be something interesting to read. This book takes place on the high fells above Nidderdale, one of the Yorkshire dales. We begin the book with four men dressed in expensive weatherproof jackets shooting at birds. These men are avid shooters and end up attending a party where they will be eating what they kill. This is high pressure for the chefs, as the kill as to be rushed back and prepared and roasted prior to the men returning. After a lot of jovial enjoying of the meal, the men liquored up retire to their rooms. The staff stayed in small apartments that overlooked the front of the Inn. Kirsty, the bartender and chambermaid and Harry , the chef were in a secret relationship and he had snuck into her room, but was snoring and hogging the tiny bed, so Kirsty was laying awake, but got up because she heard something. She witnessed Alan Green shoot Mr. Fraser. The Detective Chief Inspector Jim  Oldroyd and his partner, Deborah were called into action due to such a high profile murder. Mr. Alexander Fraser is a local landowner and former Judge. They drop what they are doing and head to the crime scene. We are taken on the in-depth investigation along with more murders. This book was very interesting!
Was this review helpful?
Move over Agatha Christie, there’s a new author in town!  J R Ellis’ Nidderdale Murders is a refreshing who dunnit that keeps you turning the page in anticipation of case. Each character leaves you guessing whom could be the murderer while keeping you rooting for the DCI in charge to solve the case. This book is entertaining from start to finish and leaves you wanting for another.
Was this review helpful?
No doubting this is an English novel. It's crisp writing style and English colloquialisms make for a refreshing read. I understand this is the 5th in the series of Chief Inspector Oldroyd and his team.  While it is a procedural, it is light on technology and heavy on the personalities and puzzles of whodunit and why? I had to do some research on some of the words used to describe the landscapes, but once I did a lovely picture is painted of a charming hamlet in England. I figured out most of the end right along with Oldroyd, which was fun. I enjoyed this one alot.  Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read.
Was this review helpful?
A fairly well written mystery with plenty of twists to keep in interesting. I liked the plot and the slower paced fleshing out of it but didn't really care for the characters. None of them seemed to have anything really redeemable about them and their crude language was annoying at times. So while it was a good read, it's not one I would recommend given the content that many would find objectionable. I think the author should have focused more on the murder side of things rather than trying to add in enough shocking behavior and language to pad his story that didn't need those inclusions to be good. 

I received a temporary complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Was this review helpful?
When after a hunting party at Judge "Sandy" Fraser's Yorkshire manor house and then a supper at the local hotel, Fraser was shot and there was a witness who saw who shot him.  Since it was an important personage, Detective Chief Inspector James Oldroyd and his team was brought into the case.
As they began to gather information from all the locals in this small town, they can't find the alleged shooter but they do find that Fraser was in financial difficulties and there were also activists, sabotaging hunts. 
As different theories are brought up and then discarded, another murder occurs in similar fashion.  Oldroyd then begins to get a glimmer of the who and the why of these murders.
A quick and interesting British police procedural with likable characters and descriptive locales.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for this e-copy of "The Nidderdale Murders".
Was this review helpful?