Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood
DS Ashley Knight #5

A book that mostreaders seem to love but that I could not get into even though I did try. I read the first fifty pages, skipped to the end to see if it was worth continuing, went back to page fifty and read some more, then started to skim and skip around and finally realized that this book probably was not for me or perhaps not what I needed to read at this moment in time. I don’t know if it is because I am coming in on book five of the series and didn’t relate to the characters or if it was something else. I was originally attracted to this book because my father loved Dick Francis mysteries and introduced me to his work long ago…this did not feel the same except for the stories both having murders taking place in a horse racing setting. The writing was concise and chapters shorter in a way that will draw the reader quickly from one scene to the next in a smooth manner, the characters were well fleshed out and easy to visualize, and everything was there to make a good story but for some reason it just didn’t work for me. Anyway, I gave a new-to-me author a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC ~ This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

A good solid police procedural thriller with plenty of action going on. The character's are well written and it's an all around good read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a great read. Some of it is quite technical as the title might suggest. No 50p each way bets in this book! I was hooked and had no idea who the killer was. I loved catching up with Ashley and the team and look forward to the next book from this great author.
When everyone is lying, how do you catch a killer?

A brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.

Can Ashley, an outsider in a world of whispers and long-held grudges, unmask the murderer before they kill again?

Well written and entertaining, this police procedural thriller is a steady, good read.
Rounded characters and plenty of action.
Started well and held my attention throughout.

Although I did enjoy this book on the whole, I did get a little bogged down by the horseracing/betting world and by the complicated plot. It started off with a bang as a couple of people are murdered. The team are following what clues there are, but the links are tenuous and complicated by the weather and links within the horse racing stables and fraternity. The book seemed fairly long with a fair bit of repetition which also added to the confusion for me. I did finish and would rate at 3,5, but have rounded up to 4 stars.
Still not sure about Ashley, who I have had doubts about in reviews of previous books in the series. I also couldn't remember who some of the team were .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

I have long been a fan of this author's writing and I liked this book too, although I had my reservations about reading a book about horse racing. This is not a sport I would actually support in my real life but I learned a great deal about the sport during the reading of this story. The author clearly did his research!

DI Ashley Knight and her team are tasked with figuring out why a body turns up at Fakenham racecourse. It seems an odd choice for a body dump, especially since it has been snowing heavily and no-one in their right mind would be at the racecourse on such an evening. Then there is the curious case of an abandoned car in the carpark that did not belong to the victim.

When more murders follow, all having some connection with the racecourse, it is up to the team to find out who is lying, who is telling the truth and who has something to gain from the murders in the first place. Is there one murderer or are there two? Does an earlier case that the BHA is investigating have anything to do with this one?

So much to unravel and the author does a great job of doing so! In the end, I understood much more about the racing industry and even though I still don't support it, I get the attraction a little more, now.

4 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

I am really enjoying this series as the author visits places around Norfolk. I have somehow managed to miss the last couple of books and hadn't realised until I had finished this one! However, it just goes to show that each book can be read as a standalone.

This time, the author takes the reader to the races. Fakenham is the course, and there are plenty of characters to keep you on your toes, as an assault and then the discovery of a body starts the ball rolling into this latest investigation.

DS Ashley Knight leads her team and also welcomes back a previous member. As the synopsis mentions, fortunes can be won or lost in a matter of seconds. It seems it is not only fortunes but also reputations that suffer, but who has the most to gain or lose, or is this a wild goose chase?

What started off as checking out the racetrack for a missing person soon morphs into something much more sinister. The author provides details about racing, bookies, the secrecy behind stables, training and also how money can be made or lost. Rather than add loads of details, he cleverly adds them in as part of the story. So, as the investigating team is learning about the intricacies, the reader is as well. It makes it more palatable and sort of makes sense.

The crime, well, where to start... nothing seems to make sense. There is no real motive as such, then another crime that still leaves the team scratching their heads. When they are asking questions, they are getting answers, but they are either not straight answers, they have something missing or they receive more confusing and contradictory answers. This leaves the team feeling like they are chasing their tails and going in circles as they wait for that sudden penny to drop or mistake to be made.

When the author started to wrap the story up, there was still uncertainty as to who was involved, but then suddenly he added a wonderful twist and completely unsaddled me! I really didn't see that one coming at all, blinkered to be sure! (Sorry, I couldn't resist a slight pun(t)!)

This is a fabulous story that is very involved, definitely interesting and had me hooked. It is a crime thriller, police procedural and with an established team. Whether you read the series in order or as a standalone, it is a fabulously intriguing story and one I would definitely recommend.

The fifth instalment the DI Knight series and this time the world of horseracing is the focus of the teams attention. This was a solid mystery and a great addition to the series, Ashley is a strong, likeable lead with just the right mix of grit and heart.

All DI Ashley Knight’s regular team at DCI Kettle’s Norfolk MIT including DS Emma Stones and DS Jan Pedersen, along with DCs Barry Hooper, Morgan Golding, Zelda Cartwright and Sal Freitas are back. DS Bhavini Kotecha is still on maternity leave and they are joined by an old face, Hector Fade, demoted to the rank of DC after an altercation at the NCA left him with little choice. An anonymous caller reports a heated argument between two people at Fakenham Racecourse, and in the process of investigating the snow-covered site, everyone’s favourite officer PS Frank Levine is assaulted by an unknown assailant. Ashley oversees the CID investigation until the snow melts and the body of racehorse owner Glen Gordon is discovered, dead from a blow with a blunt instrument. Could this be connected to local bookmaker Jonny Lowe who disappeared for two days, abandoning his car at the racetrack, only to return home covered in blood? Was Glen lured to his death and why did someone want him dead? Is there a very dark element lurking beneath the sport of kings for the MIT team to uncover?
After the abhorrent and very topical theme of the previous story, the reader might be wondering if this could be a simple case of personal differences or maybe to do with the high stakes that are involved in horseracing, but will soon find themselves engrossed in a chilling story where detectives battle to peel back the layers of deceit in order to catch a killer on the loose. Full of well painted colourful characters and with some good suspects to choose from, this is a solid police procedural featuring a lovely closeknit team with plenty of warmth and humour between them. Barry never fails to make me laugh. A smashing addition to the series, the plot is well paced, twisty and cleverly written with lots of short gripping chapters. Thoroughly recommended.

Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood is a police procedural taking place in England. It was a pretty good mystery, although there were a ton of people, both police and suspects. It was complicated. A team had been called to the racetrack one night and one of them had gotten knocked over the head. As the others were called and investigated, they found a body, which turned out to be one of the horse owners who both boarded/trained his horses nearby and lived nearby. It was a gruesome death with bones of his battered head breaking through the skin. Thus began a week of gruesome deaths, all related to the racetrack and nearby training facility. A trainer, the facility owner, a jockey...all dead. And the methods became increasingly awful.

There was a fair amount of interaction between the police officers. As a result, we got to know them better as the case wore on. It seemed like it took forever, but the whole thing was really only a week or so. I like the police characters. They each had their issues, but each had their strong points. Greenwood did a good job developing then. The multiple murders all had a reason behind them, which made sense only to the murderer and no one else. It was a good read, bull of twists and turns and good old-fashioned police work. It was a good read.

I was invited to read Death at Fakenham Races by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #RossGreenwood #DeathatFakenhamRaces

DI Knight has her work cut out! The bodies keep piling up in this one and it looks to be a clear cut case of corruption, fraud and blackmail. Not everything is as it seems and the characters and their shifty behaviours make it all the more difficult to work out who the culprit is.

This is a slow-burn, police procedural that aims at unpicking and initial murder. It seems that their suspects are being picked off one by one which helps keep the reader on their toes as you find there's much more to the story than initially assumed.

Ross Greenwood delivers another gripping installment in the DI Ashley Knight series, and it’s a thrill to catch up with her and the team. Their chemistry, banter, and evolving personal lives add warmth to the grim case ahead. The mystery begins at Fakenham Racecourse, but evidence is scarce, the weather uncooperative, and frustration builds. This time, the investigation is slow-burning and realistic, full of dead ends and powerful suspects. The racetrack setting comes alive, rich in atmosphere and tension. Fast-paced, layered, and immersive—this is another standout police procedural. A highly enjoyable read!

It's book five in The Norfolk Murders, Ashley's back and we're off to the races! There's a killer on the loose!

Horse racing or riding has never been my thing, but Greenwood somehow still turned it into a great read!

Well paced, with the great characters we've grown to love and those we don't, Death at Fakenham Races is a suspense fueled police procedural and a thoroughly enjoyable one to boot!

And before I forget, it's snowing! Have you ever tried catching a killer when you can't trace his footsteps?

An anonymous tip, to the races the police go
Travelling there through driving snow.
Then a shocking attack knocks out one of them out
Why would they do that? What's it all about?

DI Ashley Knight is put on the case
But there's so much more that's taking place.
With murder, mystery and a plethora of lies
Can they solve the case before someone dies?

An intriguing read filled with suspense
With the racing fraternity proving so tense.
What are they hiding? Can the police discover
Before everything leads to the death of another?

A fascinating story filled with twists galore
As the horse racing world they start to explore.
There a hints and lies before they'll succeed
And facts are really what they all need.

A page turner story I didn't want to put down
With red herrings to make you want to frown.
An enthralling look at horse racing, too,
Showing events from different points of view.

For my copy of this thrilling read I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

I can't believe I haven't read more of this author's work - I need more hours in the day!

A brutal attack in the dead of night at Fakenham racecourse gives DI Ashley Knight and her team a new case. None of them know anything about horse racing - but they'll have to learn. As the investigation begins, they uncover another - darker - side to the sport of kings. Can they get to grips with everything that's going on before another murder occurs?

Although this is the fifth in series, it is a perfect stand-alone read. Not a straighforward case at all, but all the intracacies of the racing world are clearly covered so that even a novice like me understood what was going on. This is a complex case, well-crafted and the murderer wasn't easy to discover - I think I suspected almost every character along the way. I shall be looking out for more from Ross Greenwood. Definitely an exciting, enigmatic read which I'm happy to recommend. 5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Death at Fakenham Races by Ross Greenwood is book 5 in the excellent book in the DS Ashley Knight series, and I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the beginning till the very end. This book was a super read. Full of great twists and turns throughout and a great storyline especially of you love going to the races! Horse racing of courses.


There's a Policeman has been brutally attacked their body has been found nearby. Fakenham Racecourse.
DS Ashley Knight is called to the most famous and competitive world of horse racing. This is where people rich, famous and where people who just want to go, dress up and watch the races and have a gambe at the horses. This is a place where people win and loose their fortunes. The investigation starts and DS Ashley Knight and his team uncovers the darker side of this glamorous sport, and it is not so glamorous as it makes out to be! it is corrupt full of lies etc.
More bodies turn up and it is very clear to DS Ashley Knight and his team they have a serial killer on their hands.
But they do not know why they are killing these people.

What is their motive?

What have they got to Prove?

and

Why are they killing them?

With the stakes getting very high. . . . . betting on the horses Big money! but someone has something to hide and they will do anything to stop being caught!!

Tick tock the clock is ticking. . . . Can DS Ashley Knight and his team caught them before they kill again?

WoW this series just gets better and better. Fantastic read.

I was so excited to be joining this book tour for another amazing instalment of Ross Greenwood’s series. I thought this book was gripping and it had me on the edge of my seat. The plot focused on a unique setting and is something I have not read about in any book before!

The book starts when DI Ashley Knight and her team are investigating a murder at a horse racing course. The book follows the investigation and with the killer still on the go, they don’t know when the next murder will happen. I didn’t know a lot about horse racing but this book does explain it and how having the winning horse can cause chaos within the sport.

I enjoyed how the chapters looked at different characters and how some of the characters appeared to be unreliable. This kept me guessing about who the killer was and I wasn’t really sure until the very end. Also, I like how Ross Greenwood includes a character list at the front of the book which is useful for people who have had a break in the series or are reading this book as a standalone.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it will appeal to a wider audience with the setting. If you don’t know about horse racing but I wouldn’t let that put you off, because it is made easy to understand. I was a bit cautious at first but I had no doubts with Ross Greenwood’s writing. This book was easy to read and it was definitely a page turner.

The story:
When Norfolk police receive an anonymous call about a disturbance at Fakenham Race Course on a snowy December night, two uniformed police officers are quickly dispatched to investigate. And when one is seriously injured by an unknown intruder, it’s clear something is not right. But when the snow thaws, Detective Inspector Ashley Knight and the Norfolk Major Investigation Team have a bigger problem on their hands… a body.

As the crimes mount up, Ashley and the team are sure they are linked to the complicated world of horse racing. But will they be able to untangle things in time, or will the killer strike again?

My thoughts:
Following hot on the heels of "Death at Horsey Mere", which published earlier this year, "Death at Fakenham Races" is the fifth instalment in the Norfolk Murder series by Ross Greenwood, featuring DI Ashley Knight and her team.

This has been an action-packed series with some complex, sometimes international cases. This time we stay closer to home, with a series of crimes linked to Fakenham Race Course, and the various people that are associated with it and the world of horses – from bookies to trainers, owners and jockeys. The first murder is something of a puzzle, with the victim being generally well liked, but there is a hint of something dodgy in a past race where a favourite, The Taciturn Man, unexpectedly pulled up at the final jump. Was this just the unpredictable nature of racing, or is there the possibility of race fixing?

As ever, Ashley and the team delve into the intricacies of the case (with some of them more interested in horse racing than others!), each bringing their own skills to the challenge. This includes detective Hector Fade – previously on the fast-track scheme to high places in the force, he returns under something of a cloud… but it’s great to have him back!

Ashley herself is in a pretty good place in this book, but still struggling to find the joy in her personal life that she finds in her work. The end of this book ends with some hope on that front (but I’ve said that before!). I also have a soft spot for her somewhat difficult detective constable Barry Hooper, and I hope things can work out for him too, one way or another!

Overall this was an enjoyably twisting case, with the backdrop of the racing community adding a great level of complexity for the team at MIT to get their teeth into!

I love this book it part of 5 book series and wow loved it

brutal attack at Fakenham Racecourse plunges DI Ashley Knight into the competitive world of horse racing, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink of an eye. As the investigation unfolds, a chilling discovery reveals a darker side to this glamorous sport. In these high-stakes arenas, where winning is everything and everyone has something to hide, a few are willing to cross the ultimate line.

I always look forward to any book by Ross Greenwood. and this didn't disappoint. In this 5th outing for Greenwood's DCI Ashley Knight, one of Knight's officers is attacked on the racecourse and, shortly after, a body is found resulting in an investigation that leads us into the world of race fixing. It is a sound police procedural novel with strong characterisation. The suspense is maintained throughout, keeping the reader guessing until the end. The novel is set in the heart of winter and opens with snow on the ground, giving it the feel of a Christmas offering despite its June publication. This would make a good summer of winter holiday read.