Death in Bacton Wood by Ross Greenwood

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When a mud-splattered man staggers from Bacton Wood with a terrifying tale about being buried alive, DS Ashley Knight and her team are called in to investigate. Soon, another victim is found, and more men are missing – all with connections to the well-known Vialli family.

The Major Investigation Team find themselves attempting to untangle a case that stretches from Eastern Europe through to North Norfolk. Along with rookie detective, the whip-smart Hector Fade, Ashley is in a race against time trying to help a family who seem determined to take matters into their own hands. And when Ashley suspects there is a department rat, the stakes get even higher.

As the evidence continues to point in different directions, and as new victims are uncovered thick and fast, Ashley and Hector begin to fear they have finally met their match in a killer too ruthless and clever to be caught.

My Opinion

Hamish wakes up and finds that he has been buried alive, the friend he had been out with is also missing. Within the first few pages Ross Greenwood had packed in enough to grab my attention. This is the third book in a series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Before I started reading, I made a mistake of looking at the page count - honestly this book didn't feel like it had over 400 pages.

A great crime thriller. There is a lot going on in this book, so definitely one to read without distractions.

Rating 4/5

I am a huge fan of Ross and his work and have been for a while now. I haven't quite caught up with everything that he has released to date but that is something that I hope to rectify in the not too distant future. I read and loved the first two books in 'The Norfolk Murders' and I have (im)patiently been waiting for the third book in the series to be released. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because the third book in 'The Norfolk Murders' is called 'Death In Bacton Wood' and it was released on 3rd May 2024. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death In Bacton Wood' but more about that in a bit.

I was drawn into 'Death In Bacton Wood' from the very start. It's safe to say that I soon became addicted to the story and found it difficult to put the book to one side. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. It was as if the book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn't willing to break. The deaths in the book in the books intrigued me as did the characters so I had to keep reading to see if the story was going to play out as I expected it to or if there was a twist to the tale. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I was so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I didn't realise just how quickly the time was passing and the speed with which I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Death In Bacton Wood'. I found 'Death In Bacton Wood' to be a superbly written, tense and dramatic story, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

'Death In Bacton Wood' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Ross Greenwood. Ross certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. Ross clearly cares about his characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which he describes them. he makes his characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact I even grew to consider Detective Ashley Knight as a friend rather than a character in a book. For me, this story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading 'Death In Bacton Wood' felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twist and turns along the way. I love the way in which Ross makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Death In Bacton Wood' and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I hope to read much more of Ross's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Death in Bacton Wood, Ross Greenwood
The Norfolk Murders, Book 3
Blog Tour, May 7, 2024

Sometimes timing does not work out in your favor. DS Ashley Knight’s timing, for example, is awful. She has long been interested in an officer from another station, but he was unavailable. So she settled for a relationship that was physically enjoyable but not otherwise sustainable. Then, when the other person became available, Ashley herself was in a relationship.

This is very much a side plot to Death in Bacton Wood. We are not (at least I am not) reading it to see the plight of a lovelorn detective. Ashley Knight is far from a damsel in distress. She is among the leaders of a major crimes department in Norfolk, in charge of working with her team to break open the most difficult and the most heinous cases in the area. In this latest installment, Knight is dealing with a strange crime. A young man (who also had very poor timing) is in the hospital after being struck by a car. The driver had slowed down, unable to avoid hitting him but immediately coming to his aid and making sure he got medical attention. Major Crimes, and Knight, were not called because of those minor injuries to the young man. They were called because of everything else.

Hamish, the one who was hit, told a horrifying story, one that was backed up by his other injuries and the condition of his clothes. He remembered going out to a club with his best friend. He vaguely remembered leaving the club. The next thing he could remember clearly was waking up in a shallow grave with a door on top of him. Fortunately there was not much dirt on top of the door and he was able to escape the grave only to stagger in front of the car and get hit.

Knight arranges for a search of the area near the scene of the accident. They find Hamish’s grave, and more. There is another grave, this one much deeper, and the victim did not and could not have escaped. Then on a nearby beach, two more bodies were found. Although there were many differences in the way the victims had been killed, all of them along with Hamish showed signs of brutal torture prior to their deaths.

There is also a missing person. Hamish’s friend who went clubbing with him is missing. The friend was the son of a local wealthy businessman…and the brother of a suspected drug trafficker. Could these crimes have all been initiated by him to keep his people in line? Were they signs of an impending gang war? Whether either of those hypotheses were true or whether the motivation was something else completely, the Norfolk police need to crack this case before more people start getting killed.

There are two things in particular that I love about The Norfolk Murders series. The first one is the protagonist. DS Ashley Knight is very intelligent, a good leader, a dogged investigator, a solid friend, and a personal mess. Her life outside of work is chaotic and messy, but she sets that aside to be the consummate professional on the job. Her team works as a strong and cohesive unit largely because of Knight. Near the end of the book she observes that, “In some ways we didn’t solve this case. We merely chased it to its conclusion.” Knight is not a brilliant outside consultant. She is a sharp and committed and ethical officer who takes her job seriously and carries it out effectively.

The second thing that really stands out to me is the complexity of the plot. Rival gangs. A worried father with money to spare and influence in high places. Different MOs. No obvious motive. More red herrings than could be explained by their coastal location. Each of Greenwood’s plots involve a high level of planning, and are carefully unveiled piece by piece by piece.

Death in Bacton Wood by Ross Greenwood is the third book in the excellent
DS Ashley Knight series which is set in Norfolk, England, and what an excellent series this has been. I have loved it from the very first book till this book. It was fast pace with lots of twists and turns throughout that will have you turning the pages over quickly to find out what happens next.
This book starts with a young man, called Hamish, who was buried alive, WoW!!! Buried alive...........but somehow he manages to escape. Phew! But, His friend max who he went out partying is still missing. Hamish is taken to the local hospital and then he disappears from his hospital bed,
DS Ashley Knight arrives at the scene to investigate Why Hamish was been buried and why? and what has happened to Max?

Another body is found the same way - Buried.......as the DS Ashley Knight's team investigates, a well known gentleman - local businessman to the area arrives at the scene called Rocco Valli, he is Max's father, sadly he fears the worst. and he has a gut feeling it is his son, he has not heard from him for a few days. However, when he identifies the body it is not his son Max! it is another person that works for the Valli family.

Why has he been buried like this?

DS Ashley Knight and her team have to work fast. Max is still missing. He could be anywhere in these woods and buried. But, will they be in time and find him alive?

Is Rocco Valli being targeted? and why?

DS Ashley Knight asks him to come in for questioning and whilst he is helping them with their inquiries, however he’s not too keen on answering them. His family seems to be mixed up in people trafficking, drugs and so much more.
When they look into his past the full extent of their crimes are revealed, and it becomes clear someone wants revenge. But Who?

WoW this book is So good.

I highly recommend this series Plus you can read this book as a standalone, but I do recommend you read the other two in this series.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

5 Stars from me

Another absolute belter of a book from Ross Greenwood! In this one, the third of a new strand called 'The Norfolk Murders' which is a step aside from the author's prison books and much beloved DI Barton series, and is led by DS Ashley Knight.

In Death in Bacton Wood (as well as a delightful tour of Norfolk) the story bursts to life with the horrific experience of man being buried alive in sleepy old Bacton Woods. It soon becomes clear this isn't an isolated incident and DS Ashley Knight and her team are soon testing their metal against the case of a lifetime.

 There is so much packed into this exciting book, and some absolutely superb characters. I love how the author takes the time and effort to make people 'real' whether they are a bit player or integral to the whole thread of the story.

Death in Bacton Wood successfully combines a complex, dangerous, high-stakes crime spanning both countries and generations along with some gentle good humour and solid police work. It is an exceptional example of the genre.

Absolutely recommended, as are all of the author's previous books and I am grateful to Ross Greenwood, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for letting me be a part of this blog tour.

The third book in the Norfolk Murders series, another drama filled and complex police procedural book with the interesting DS Ashley Night and the rest of the team.
Action packed from start to finish – you know when a book starts with someone almost being buried alive that you will be kept on the edge of your seat all the way through.
Death in Bacton Wood takes a deep dive into the dark, violent world of drugs and people trafficking and the long-held grudges that come back to haunt each monster involved.
With detailed and explicit descriptions of torture, they added a harsh and violent realism to the story – and whilst each crime was truly horrific; its hard to muster any sympathy when you’ve read about the heinous crimes, they have been involved with themselves.
DS Knight is a fantastic character and the team have really grown on me since book one. They work together well and can occasionally add some light relief amongst the gruesome crime action.
With fantastic twists along the way, I was trying to piece everything together as the story progressed rather than already knowing what was happening and who was to blame. I couldn’t put this one down!
This is a brilliant crime series and I look forward to the next.

This story's claustrophobic and disturbing beginning sets the tone for what follows: increasingly dark crimes and few clues about the reason for them or the instigator. DS Ashley Knight and her team search for motive, means, and opportunity in an ethos of lies and silence. The detective team are cohesive, but the shadow of betrayal prevails. I like the detectives and the dynamic between them, the twisty plot that gradually reveals its secrets and the addictive mix of adrenaline and reflection this story provokes. The crimes are disturbing and graphic but are integral to the story. It is an absorbing, gritty crime detective read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I couldn’t wait to read this next thrilling book in the DS Ashley Knight, Norfolk crime series by Ross Greenwood. Rejoining a great cast of characters who you already know is like watching the next episode of a favourite TV series, you welcome them back into your life.

The setting this time focuses on Bacton Woods, the description evoking clear images and experiences.

But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a cosy crime read, far from it! This is full of dark crimes and disturbing scenes, vividly brought to life. However what really kept me wanting to read on, is unravelling the case alongside ‘people’ I feel I knew, whilst they investigated.

Seeing the team spirit continue to evolve, gaining strength and direction from the each other both personally and professionally is heartwarming.

If you enjoy gritty, action-packed police procedural writing, I would recommend this book/ series.

This is a great crime thriller.
Ashley is called when a man stumbles out of the woods and is then hit by a car. At the hospital he says he was buried alive in the woods, so Ashley and the team need to find out why and who was responsible.
Soon a body is found and Rocco Vialli, a local businessman, is convinced it’s his son.
With the Vialli’s seemingly being targeted, Ashley has many questions for Rocco, but he’s not too keen on answering them.
The family seem to be mixed up in people trafficking and when the full extent of their crimes are revealed, it’s clear someone wants revenge.
This is a gripping crime thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Next instalment in the Norfolk murders book, but it could be read as a standalone. A great police procedural Book.

This book as everything, and the bad people were bad, family feuds, human trafficking. The book starts with a man being buried alive. I was hooked.

Great author and great book as are all his others.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an exciting fast paced read and I loved it! The story was full of twists and not at all what I expected. I will be definitely be reading more of this series immediately! Highly recommend

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This shocking crime thriller is set in Norfolk and follows DS Ashley Knight and her team as a mud-covered man is discovered, who claims to have been buried alive.

Soon it is learned there may be more missing people, and the investigation is intensified to find them whether they be dead or alive.

With a link to international criminal activity DS Knight finds the investigation frustrating as witnesses and family members are unwilling to disclose all they know.

Who will they find alive? Will DS Knight crack the case?

I have loved every book in this series, I think partly as they are set quite near to my home but also how the team interact with each other. There is a lot of banter between the characters, and you see into their personal lives.

The international criminal link adds another layer to the investigation as it makes it a lot more difficult for the mystery to be unravelled, but it makes it exciting as you discover the hidden secrets along with the team.

DS Knight is a strong female lead which I always like to see, in this part of the series she has decisions to make in her personal life, but she keeps it away from her work, which shows how strong she is.

Overall, a shocking crime thriller where the race is on to find multiple missing people dead or alive.

This is the third book in this series and you know what comes next... To get the best with regard to back story and character development, please do start from book one and read in order. Or even for no other reason than they are also great books!
So... we start with a man breaking free from an underground grave where he had been buried alive. Last thing he remembers is being out a few evenings prior with a mate. Actually, where's his mate? DI Ashley Knight and her team are called in to investigate. A search is started, and another body found. And then the man disappears from the hospital... Initial investigation unearths links to the "well connected" Vialli family which throw a bit of a spanner into the works along with muddying the water and opening up the suspect field a little wider than the police would like...
It also appears that the Vialli's are one step ahead of the police at every turn... Is the mole back, and who is it, ad what is their endgame...?
I love this series. I know it is only the three books old at the moment but it is really shaping up nicely. The author isn't afraid to make the big decision with the characters - which for obvious reasons I can't explain here! But that, I believe, is what keeps a series fresh!
As with the previous books, the plot contained herein is well crafted and expertly executed with some really cracking characters, both series and episode. And, to complete my main trifecta of wants, there is absolutely no superfluous waffle or padding.
It also kept me guessing all the way through. There are teasers throughout that hint at various things along the way, but it's only as it races towards the end that the big picture is opened up and the whole truth laid bare. With a conclusion that when it eventually came, was wholly satisfying.
All in all, another winner in this series, and another worthy addition to an already impressive back catalogue. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is the next installment in the Norfolk Murders series and can be read as a standalone. The plot is labyrinthine… people buried alive, organized crime, drug use, immigrants, human trafficking, a possible “bent copper”, revenge….what do they all have to do with each other? And on a personal level will DS Ashley Knight realize that the fellow officer she is seeing is a poor choice for a romantic dalliance and will she cut him loose?

A solid police procedural, I like this investigative team with their close personal relationships and sarcastic humor. The criminals in this installment are quite malevolent and their crimes abhorrent while the writing pulls you in in this engrossing, can’t put down read.

If you enjoy police procedurals featuring capable female detectives, you can get in on this series from the beginning as this is only the third book. I have read two of them. While this story is grittier than the prior one I read, this author/series has been added to my “must read” list.

Third in this series featuring D'S Ashley Knight. Complex and disturbing thriller. Families and revenge,drugs and trafficking,fat moving read.

This is the third book in the DS Ashley Knight series and whilst it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading in order to understand the character development and events the team have been through before. Unusually for me, I have read this series back to back and enjoyed (if that's the right term for a murder series!) the investigations and getting to know the team.

Death in Bacton Wood opens with Hamish escaping from being buried alive and the team soon discover another man is missing. When another victim is discovered there is a clear connection to the Vialli family which draws the reader into a complex and dark investigation.

The pacing of Death in Bacton Wood is perfect, keeping the reader gripped with many twists and turns - interspersed within this is rookie Hector's decision about his future and DS Knight's Inspector's exam.

I really hope there is more to come from DS Knight's team, loving the Norfolk setting!

A book with twists, turns and edge of my seat bits! I haven’t read any by this author before, I will be now. Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for a fab read.

Thanks to Bolwood books and netgalley. This is the 3rd book in the Ds Ashley Knight series, I loved the first 2, couldn't wait to get stuck into this one.. To start it gave me chills as somebody wakes up to find they are buried underground., how did they get there and why? One family is at the heart of it all , seeking vengeance. Great crime thriller, creepy with being buried underground and other torturous methods, highley addictive series

First in the series for me but I don't feel as if I've missed much. DS Ashleigh Knight and her team start with investigating an attempted murder of a young man - tortured and buried alive but managed to force off the door over his head and escape. An Italian family gets involved when father thinks that the next body found, this time dead, is that of his missing son, a friend of the survivor. It gets complicated and is essentially a story of family revenge. Pretty gruesome revenge using old style Roman torture instruments. Naasty. Ashleigh's team is run off it's feet but she does seem to be able to get more help as and when needed. There are a lot of characters, many of whom have names that could indicate male or female which confused me - starting with Ashleigh and Ally. Just took a while to get them sorted. Plenty of twists and turns as well as not quite getting the whole truth let alone nothing but. There is a lot of dialogue at times and I felt that that needed context, it seemed more like a script. 3.5* rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A family's secrets lie buried the time has come to uncover the truth.
The Norfolk Murders.
D.S. Ashley Knight.
Bacton Woods and a reported incidence, a man ran out in the path of a van, distressed state running for his life, Hamish MacDonald in a concerned mental state, upset he has been buried alive.
Ashley and D.C. Barry Hooper go to the hospital to question the poor man and he is just not making any sense.
The story continues on to find two dead bodies buried and two bodies thrown over the cliffs, this is turning into one hard complicated case for the team to deal with.
Lots of action, lots of gripping chapters, lots of who done it, to keep the readers turning page after page.
Its mind blowing all the way throught.