Each year I compile a list of horror/thriller books to read for Halloween and Christmas. This one is perfect for Christmas and I might reread it then because dark Christmas books are weirdly hard to find. Really liked this one. 4.5 stars

This is the sixth book in a series, and my silly self didn't look before I requested. I found it a little hard to get into, and ultimately ended up DNFing. Some of the characters must be recurring characters because I didn't feel like I got to know them and I desperately wanted to know more to connect with them. Writing style was good, but, in the end, I couldn't connect.

My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of “ The Santa Killer” for an honest review

From about November I start reading my Christmas themed books that I’ve saved up over the year.
My usual favourite genre is thriller/ psychological themed and this title seemed to be a perfect start to the change for the festive season.I was really pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this read.I thought it was really well paced ,with believable characters, and it kept me guessing throughout.I loved the humour in the book and the good natured banter between Barton and his colleagues.
Being the last in the series wasn’t a problem in spoiling my enjoyment of the book , but I’m now looking forward to start reading from the beginning “ Snow Killer”
Highly recommended

This has been a fun, whirlwind ending to the series and I have thoroughly enjoyed dipping in and out of this series.

The Santa Killer has definitely been an exciting and sometimes terrifying concept to read about in the run up to Christmas 2023. I read a book like this before, and I have to be honest it fell really flat and cliche, so it was great to read something that had a bit of spark and a rollercoaster feel to it.

DI Barton is a great character and detective, who works extremely hard, at times to the detriment to his family time, though he also credits his supportive and loyal team for his successes.

This will take you on quite a journey of near-misses and trying to make the crime stick. I definitely couldn’t predict where this one was going. There are some really dark themes explored in the book, including the desperation of poverty, grief and violence against women, but Greenwood carries it off because you know throughout that he has the rigbt persob at the helm, who won’t give up until the right man or woman gets what they deserve.

I don’t read police procedurals much anymore but it’s testament to how much I’ve enjoyed this series that I keep coming back to it. I highly recommend Ross Greenwood!

I really enjoyed this book. Excellent read with great characters and a really good storyline. I would recommend this book.

I’ve been struggling to read thrillers recently but this One pulled me right back in. I loved it. Thank you very much for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a review.

This was a fitting end to the series and my only disappointment is that there aren’t going to be any more for me to read. I want to know what happens next to the team. I’m going to miss them all!
Thank you Ross Greenwood for a great series. I’ll definitely be reading the next trilogy.

DI Barton and his team investigate the assault on a single mother two weeks before Christmas. The daughter draws a picture of a Santa Killer. When will the killer strike again?
This is my first DI Barton book. For the most part, it could stand alone. The author includes enough backstory that I wasn't too confused. But some of the references are specific to the police in the UK and thus confusing to me, a reader based in the US.
I like that each chapter is labeled with the main character, and each chapter is written in the character's voice. I also like how the author ties up each story line with a character summary at the end of the book.
This installment includes plenty of mental health references and treats the topic in a respectful way.

Once again Ross Greenwood delivers an amazing book in the DI Barton series!
I have read all of his books so far and urge the reader to read the rest of the series as they give much insights in many facets of our current society.
Reading this author will make you more appreciative of the daily work the work force does to keep the peace and equally will develop some empathy towards the criminals and the reasons that sometimes drives them into their actions.
The whole story lines are always very realistic probably thanks to the author's personal professional's experiences .I cannot recommend this series highly enough and it is with much sadness that I finish this book as it seems this will be the end of DI Barton....

DI Barton and his team are on the hunt to stop the "Bad Santa" from attacking any more women in this gripping, well-written story. Love the characters and the pacing, kept me guessing right up til the end.

The Santa Killer by Ross Greenwood is the sixth book in the brilliant DI Barton series and I love it! It's full of excellent twists and turns and was gripped at the very beginning of this series to this book. Especially as it went straight into action!

I highly recommend this series and all his books.

Big Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author Ross Greenwood for my ARC of The Santa Killer in exchange for an honest review.

I love the set up of this book, it flicks between the killer & the victim and really builds atmosphere and anticipation. Great read.

I absolutely love this series and I kept putting off reading The Santa Killer because I knew it was the last book in the series.

It gave me a overwhelming feeling of sadness. I have to say what a brilliant ending to a fantastic series!

I read it from start to finish in one sitting…..I absolutely loved it and I’m glad that I didn’t put off reading it any longer.

The author alternatives the chapters between the characters and the killers POV….each chapter leaving you wanting more. The descriptions made it feel so real and easy to visualise.

One of the things that I love about this series is the humour that’s thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that it would make an excellent Netflix show.

Barton is a character that you cannot help but like. Fans new and old are in for a treat! I am just gutted it’s the end. But I am looking forward to see what Ross as in store for us next.

What a way to kick off a festive reading season! (though not a warm and fluffy festive read!).
I didn't realise this was book 6 (and possibly last) of a series that follows DI Barton. A refreshing change from most fictional detectives as he's not jaded, bitter or an alcoholic! Although this reads well as a standalone, I'm definitely keen to read the series from the beginning as I like the characters that will be running through all of them, it would be good to know them from the start.
Quite fast paced, the action starts early on and I had no inkling as to who the culprit was. I liked the way parts were written from their perspective, I just kept wondering who it could be.
Well written and great characters, perfect to snuggle up with on a chilly, dark night.

This is an interesting series if you're looking for a new British police procedural to get involved in. What can be worse deaths at christmas? But when the killer is dressed in a Santa suit it makes it even worse. This is a tight little mystery wrapped up in a police procedure that will keep you guessing up to the very end. Don't miss this one the ending will catch you with your stockings down LOL.

My Rating system: 2⭐️⭐️ ticked very few boxes BARELY THERE!!

The Santa Killer is coming to town… a mother is violently attacked on her front door step a couple of weeks before Christmas. DI Barton begins and investigation and is surprised to learn that the women has nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her.

The woman’s non-verbal daughter seemingly saw the attacker and her grandmother calls DI Barton - the young girl has drawn a picture of ‘Bad Santa’ attacking her mum. It seems there is a mean Santa on the loose dishing out beatings instead of goodwill. Will Barton and the gang be able to save Christmas and stop Bad Santa before someone dies…

This is also the last DI Barton novel in the series so if you liked this one and haven’t already read the previous books definitely go back and read the series.

I am going to preface this review with the fact that I wasn’t able to make it all the way to the end. Normally I wouldn’t give a fully fledged review when I DNF but after number 5 (The Fire Killer) I feel like this one is basically going in the same direction. The cases are different of course but the level of excitement, thrills, suspense, even banter just isn’t there. 🤷‍♀️


I am sorry to say but this has already taken me over a week to get to the halfway mark and I am so bored and disinterested that I don’t feel like picking it up and reading… that is absolutely not how I want to feel when I read. I want to feel like I need to drop everything to get to the next chapter, stay awake late to read just a little bit more or take the phone off the hook and ignore everyone just to finish… I found myself doing anything and everything other than read more of this book… I knew it was over at that point. 😑

The first 4 books in this series were really good I enjoyed them, they were funny and engaging the killers were interesting and hard to guess. Unfortunately this one has just left me yawning and feeling that I literally don’t care who the Santa Killer is… its the final book and I really did want to know how it was wrapped up … but unfortunately that is actually not enough for me to keep going. 🥱

The POVs were in the same style as the other books one of the Killer, one of DI Barton and a couple of other characters that are pivotal to the story. I just couldn’t get into it… it felt like the killer was going to be obvious but I doubt it will be as obvious as it seemed… if it turned out that way then I really am glad I stopped reading it. 🎅

There is ALOT of extra info in this one, lots of descriptions of things that really we don’t need to know or don’t care about… the scenic route is an understatement. I felt like I was going to start skimming to get it to move along… I just couldn’t stay the course not even to find out what happens to the gang at the end… 😪

WHY I hear you ask did you give this 2 stars and not 1 - I have read other reviews that say the ending gets better… I have my doubts but since I didn’t actually finish it I figured it would be more fair of me to give 2 stars rather than 1. Also I may go back at some stage and finish the book and adjust my rating but right now… I just want to read something I enjoy and this just isn’t it. I am actually really disappointed it ended this way with me bowing out of the series because I loved it to begin with… I hope other readers have a different experience to me. I hope you find me picky and finicky and get more of a Christmas Killer read out of it… but its a no from me!! 🙅‍♀️

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

There are red herrings aplenty and many suspects in The Santa Killer by Ross Greenwood. As such, the story proved to be an engaging read since it was fun to watch the detectives sift through the evidence and wrack their brains to eliminate the suspects one by one.

I kept guessing till the end who the murderer could be.

The author also gives a glimpse into the working conditions of the police force. They have to comb through the misery of people to nab criminals which take a toll on their mental health. However, the author also adds a touch of levity to this otherwise grim story by adding snippets of the daily routines of the detectives – their camaraderie with each other and interactions with their family.

I felt that the story dragged in some places. It could have helped if it had been a few pages shorter. Overall, I enjoyed reading The Santa Killer by Ross Greenwood.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy via Netgalley. It doesn't affect my views on the book.

The Santa Killer is coming to town…
One night less than two weeks before Christmas, a single mother is violently assaulted. It’s a brutal crime at the time of year when there should be goodwill to all. When DI Barton begins his investigation, he’s surprised to find the victim is a woman with nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her.
A few days later, the mother of the woman attacked rings the police station. Her granddaughter has drawn a shocking picture. It seems she was looking out of the window when her mother was attacked. And when her grandmother asks the young girl who the person with the weapon is, she whispers two words.
Bad Santa.
The rumours start spreading, and none of the city’s women feel safe - which one of them will be next?
He’s got a list. It’s quite precise. It won’t matter even if you’re nice.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

The Santa Killer is a complex case fraught with angst. A blistering piece of crime fiction.

I love police procedurals, crime novels, and books with an air of mystery. The only thing that takes that fascination to the next level is stories with a propulsive background story. It’s all very well and good to have a killer storyline, but it needs to be believable. There needs to have a tinge of realism at its core. Otherwise, it doesn’t work. The Santa Killer does that impeccably. It features real-life characters flawed by real-world problems. It doesn’t follow the typical trajectory but instead follows its own path, abides by its rules, and flourishes because of it.

Ross Greenwood has perfected the police procedural. He’s highly skilled at grabbing his readers by the proverbial bollocks and not letting go until the compulsive ending has taken its final bow. I was impressed by the introduction of a non-verbal, autistic character, the victim’s daughter. Unfortunately, authors seem to shy away from the complexities this can bring to a story but what is immediately apparent, especially in The Santa Killer, is that it can take your story to the next level. It shows an understanding of how communication isn’t just talking. It’s in the little nuances that talking discounts. Writing about this isn’t easy, but it was a fantastic display of Greenwood’s skill.

It’s the run-up to Christmas, and a single mother is brutally attacked outside her own home. Her nine-year-old non-verbal, autistic daughter witnessed the attack and translated that into artwork. When her grandmother questions her about it, she says it’s bad Santa. It’s confusing, the woman was well liked by all, and the motive eludes the detectives.

It isn’t a clear-cut case. The victim’s friend, Ann-Marie, is attacked similarly, so it’s a race against time for DI Barton and his team to find the connection. Again, Greenwood had recent events featured in his story with the depletion of his squad due to COVID. He was once more immersing the reader into the realism of the story.

The author’s descriptions were strong enough to allow the reader to conjure up fear and panic in the process. Who can you trust? Is the suspect just under their noses, or is the entire thing one big red herring? Things get messy when a radio DJ receives a message saying Santa is coming to town.

The Santa Killer completely engrossed me, and I couldn’t pause to do my everyday chores, to make tea, nothing. I didn’t ask questions. I just kept reading. It packs an impactful punch. I doubt you’ll come out of it unscathed. I certainly didn’t.

Greenwood is one of my go-to authors and his latest offering, the sixth book in the DI Barton series didn't disappoint.

I'm a huge lover of crime fiction and everything Christmas, so with both in the same book you knew it was going to be a Christmas unlike any other!

The Santa Killer is a very well written police procedural, fast paced and gripping from the get-go. Told from both Barton and the killers POV, with an intriguing plotline and a fantastic cast of characters, the race is on to find out who killed young Pippa's mother.

A little dicky bird also told me that this is the last we'll hear of Bsrton, so I'm hoping that Greenwood is creating someone bigger and better to fill the shoes of our favourite Detective.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐