Cover Image: The Winter Killer

The Winter Killer

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Member Reviews

Book 3 of the DI James Walker series opens with the DI enjoying New Year’s Eve at home with his wife and new daughter. Meanwhile one of his team, is enjoying the wedding of hotelier Greg Murphy to Libby Elliott at his crown jewel property on Lake Windermere. It’s all progressing smoothly till the speeches. Where is the maid of honour, Libby’s sister Rachael? A search ensues and personal items are found on the jetty and foul play is suspected. DI Walker is called in to coordinate the search and investigation.
The book is very much a traditional British police procedural, much like those from the golden age, just set in modern times with modern technology. It’s an easy, enjoyable read.

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This was #3 in the Alex Pine series. It was a great read and read it quickly. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books.
Thanks NetGalley, Avon and Alex Pine for letting me read this ARC!

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The Fells on the edge of Lake Windermere is the jewel in the crown of the hotel chain owned by Greg Murphy. On a chilly New Year's Eve it is also the location of his wedding to Libby Elliott and the guests are enjoying his hospitality as they toast the happy couple. As the day progresses however, it becomes clear one member of the party has disappeared.

Called in towards the end of an enjoyable day with his family DI James Walker soon realises he will be seeing the New Year in with strangers. His request for back up to search the extensive grounds soon needs forensic teams and the coroner as well when a body is found and a murder investigation begun. With a hotel full of guests and potential suspects, many with secrets they're determined to keep, James knows he has his work cut out for him to make an arrest before the new year takes hold.

This is the third Christmas-centric novel featuring James Walker and he really needs to start going away for the holidays! At least this time his present opening was uninterrupted, instead he has a mysterious death on New Year's Eve to get his teeth into. Being set at a wedding there were plenty of suspects to consider, some more likely than others, and I found myself second guessing everything a few times before the big reveal.

I was surprised by how suddenly the story finished as I was expecting and wanting a little extra. I have however, enjoyed all three of these stories and their locations, and hope there will be more for me to dive into in the future.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent winter read that is easy to recommend.

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Absolutely gripping right from the start. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting, it was fast paced, unpredictable and had me on the edge of my seat

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Absolutely amazing! Couldn't put it down and read it in a day.
I'd already read his previous two books so knew it would be a fantastic read

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Faced paced thriller with many suspects, keeps you guessing right to the end. Well written with good characters. Well worth reading thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

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This is an intriguing murder mystery written by a gifted author…although the story moves slowly, it is a good book. The book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. This is a character driven story that reads like true crime…it would make a great television series or a movie. Surprises…secrets…murder and mayhem…family and friends…

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Book 3 in the DI James Walker series and it’s just as good as the others.

An elaborate New Year’s Eve wedding. A missing bridesmaid who is discovered dead. DI Walker and his team are called in to investigate the murder. With several leads and the number of suspects piling up, can James and his team discover who killed her and the reason why?

Another good book in this series. A fast paced story which will keep you guessing until the end.

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A sensational and chilling crime thriller by Alex Pine - Book 3 of the DI James Walker series. Well written and a great story. After an elaborate wedding the bride's sister, Maid-of-honour Rachel, is found murdered. Detailed police investigations trying to solve the murder are complex and highlight several possible suspects. The investigation takes a turn when family lies and secrets are revealed that skillfully guide the story to a climatic ending. Well worthy of five stars. Looking forward to more from Alex Pine.

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Published October 13, this is the third in the DI James Walker cases. He’s gotten through Christmas OK, but as New Year’s Eve arrives, he’s got another mystery to solve. While family and friends were partying at a loved one’s wedding, set in a very picturesque hotel owned by the groom, the bride’s sister has vanished, leaving the party well before her speech. Sister Libby is furious at her sibling spoiling her big day, but as the evening continues, and there’s no sign of the missing bridesmaid, people begin to get worried. And when signs point to Rachel having taken a dip in the lake – and let’s just say, not a planned one – James and his team have multiple leads to follow and clues to solve to figure out what’s really going on. One of the guests is a killer – but who’s responsible? The book paces along nicely, with ample clues to put the reader on the right track… and just enough red herrings to make you doubt your own armchair deductions.

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Thanks to Alex and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Winter Killer prior to the publication date.
This is the 3rd book in the series and I have enjoyed each of them.
With his track record, I am amazed that any of DI Walker’s team will want to be on duty over the festive season as they are invariably thrown in the deep end.
In this one, DC Jessica Abbott does not escape even when she is on holiday and attending the wedding where Rachel Elliott, the maid of honour dies. (I hope Jessica had her holidays reimbursed and paid for her work on the day!)
At the start of the year, Rachel was due to be married at The Fells Hotel, overlooking Lake Windermere, until her fiancé dumped her at the last minute.
Now her sister Libby is getting married in the same hotel and has insisted that Rachel is part of the wedding party.
When Rachel goes missing, the guests organise a search of the grounds in vain.
DC Jessica Abbott is a guest at the wedding and takes immediate charge of the situation until the police arrive and Rachel’s body is found in the water.
With a hotel full of potential witnesses, Walker and the team are up against the clock before the guests start to rebel.
In most police procedurals, the body count rises, but in this book, it is the suspect list which grows.
Plenty of secrets and lies will be revealed before the truth surfaces.

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The Winter Killer is the third book in this British detective series. During a New Years Eve wedding at the Lakeside hotel, the bride's sister disappears before her speech. DI James Walker gets called in to lead the investigation to find the missing bridesmaid. A body is found in the lake and it looks like one of the guests is a murderer. This was a fast paced book with Multiple suspects and plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing til the end. Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

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As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, DI James Walker receives a phone call that puts paid to his Christmas break. During the wedding of the year at a lakeside hotel, the bride’s sister has vanished.
When Rachel left the wedding breakfast before her speech, newlywed Libby was furious. But as the night went on with no sign of her maid of honour, Libby started to realise something was very, very wrong. Before the wedding night is out, the lake is being searched for a body.
Third book in the series
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Avon Books Uk
I just reviewed The Winter Killer by Alex Pine. #NetGalley

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