I was excited to read this as I love this series. A good solid police procedural with a fast paced storyline and the right balance of detective work and catching up with James and his team on a more personal level. I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I love this series of books so much and was so excited to see a new one. We yet again join DI James Walker and his team at Christmas where the tradition of murder continues. I love re joining the team every year and seeing how each case unfolds. Thank you Netgalley

Solid police procedural with a good balance of investigation and the personal side of the team members. A complex mystery with plenty of twists will keep you engaged!

This was the first book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. It worked well as a stand alone novel. I don't think I'll go back and read the others. My enjoyment may have improved if I read this during the winter. I recommend picking this up.

I love all Alex Pine’s books which are set at Christmas time in Cumbria. DCI James Walker hopes for a quiet family Christmas each year. Each year he is called into work to solve a murder. We have descriptions of the weather in winter in Cumbria, snow, ice, wind, dark days, the local people and Christmas festivities. This book is the 6th in the series, but can be read as a stand alone book.
This time a journalist from the local paper is murdered. He was a friend of James, but as he has made enemies of hardened criminals by writing about them in the paper, and indeed giving information to the police, there are plenty of suspects.
Just when all the leads are proving negative, James and his team find the murderer. I didn’t guess who it was! There were several twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing. Besides all this police work, James’ wife Annie is waiting for tests for an health scare and this adds to the tension.
I recommend this book and my thanks go to NetGalley, the publishers, Harper Collins and Alex Pine of an arc of this fabulous book.

I was delighted to receive this arc for the latest Christmas thriller from Alex. I look forward to this release every year and I am never disappointed. Would definitely make a great present under the tree.

It is approaching Christmas, and so it must be time for another murder in Cumbria. Not quite my beloved Lake District, but very close.
I always appreciate that this author does know the area about which he writes. More authors should take note. So the reader can get a fairly accurate sense of place, certainly if the weather is anything to go by!
I felt that this year's gruesome offering was written in a slightly simpler manner than the others, so feel I cannot give it the five stars that I gave the others in the series. However, I really enjoyed the read, and will look with interest for the next.
The characters continue from each book in this series to the next, but each book could be read without having read the others. Although, once this gets its hook into you, you will probably reach for the others!

It’s approaching the end of the year, so that means it’s time for the annual trip to Cumbria! And as per usual this this was an eventful one, I mean could we actually cope with DCI Walker having a normal and quiet one?! I couldn’t, these books are now well and truly part of my Christmas tradition, not that I can wait till December to read it.

This year we see James have his usual Christmas murders to solve, but also a head full of worry for Annie, I really felt for her keeping her concerns quiet.

This is the sixth book in the series, it could be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the series from the start so you can really get to know the characters and their area of Cumbria.

There was plenty of red herrings and twists, it is so fast paced, I was second guessing everyone. To me this felt like one of the more gruesome books in the series and I loved it!!

Another tale of festive murder and mayhem from Alex Pine. I have devoured these since the first in the series (this is no6) and was delighted to get the chance to read this ahead of publication on 23rd October 2025.

Now I may have been reading this during one of the hottest summers surrounded by folk on the beach and eating ice cream, I live at the coast, but my brain was firmly up North with snow on the ground.

Once again James plans for a cosy family Christmas were thwarted, in fact he better get his leave request in for next year early and book a trip to some tropical Isle. Mind there would probably be a murder on said Isle if he did.

His wife remains a jolly good sport about things even though she has issues of her own to deal with. I do find her character quite grey throughout the books and a tad too saintly for my tastes in all honesty.

The tale progresses in the same atmospheric way we have come to expect and was just as enjoyable as always.

I'd describe these as cosy murder mysteries with teeth rather than the darker thrillers I often choose. Perfect with hot chocolate and buttered crumpets.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC which was very much appreciated.

This is #6 in the DCI James Walker series. It can easily be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the whole series.

Christmas is always interrupted for DCI James Walker. This year, he’s really looking forward to spending Christmas Day with his wife and two young children, but it’s not meant to be.

James is good friends with a local journalist, Gordon Carver, and misses a call from him on Christmas Eve. The next day, Gordon’s body is found and the call to James was the last one he made. It appears that Gordon was going to reveal some very important information to James, so he had to be silenced but by whom?

A brilliantly written, gripping read with lots of twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars
It's Christmas day, and DCI James Walker is hoping to spend the day with his family.
Unfortunately, local journalist Gordon Carver has been found murdered.
The team is on the case to find out who would want to kill him. There are plenty of suspects, especially one whose girlfriend disappeared some eight months previously. Carver was convinced that he was involved in her disappearance.
Add into the mix that Walker's wife Annie has some health concerns, there is certainly a lot going on.
This is an ok quick read. The writing is simplistic and very much show and tell.
There is quite a bit of repetitiveness, too.
Thanks to Avon Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is my first read by Alex Pine and I think Cold Blooded Killer is a good read and can also be read on it's own. I like the character list given at the start of the book which I found helpful especially as I am new to this author. The authors writing is good and the plot is ok but for me the story was very much a slow burner that took time to pick up any pace. I also feel it lacked the wow factor and the suspense, mystery and thrills I was hoping for. The DCI and his team investigate the murder of a local journalist and are frustrated when all leads come to nothing. I liked the background thread regarding the missing woman and the little glimpses into the home and personal life of the DCI who is very likeable. But ..... the ending feels far too rushed for my liking and finding out who the murderer is didn't really surprise me. Yes, I'd probably recommend this book if you like police procedurals although I'd say read this series in order to know the characters from the beginning.

3 stars

This may be my favourite in the series so far.

Yet again I was captivated throughout.
I flew through this. Wanting to figure out the truth.
But also the side story of his wife. I was hoping she would be OK.

This is a series I'll keep reading as long as new books are released.

This Christmas Crime series by Alex Pine has been my go to books in December over the last few years. I thoroughly enjoy spending December in snow filled Cumbria with DCI James Walker and his team.

Cold Blooded Killer is the 6th book in the series. It was another gripping, read. There was still plenty of snow and frost but also howling winds to contend with. Christmas in Cumbria is never just about sparkly lights and Christmas songs, but murder, mystery, and mayhem

This sixth book delivers everything I’ve come to love: a chilling crime, a tightly woven plot, and fabulous characters that I have got to love over the last few years. This can be read standalone though and you will quickly get to know the characters. We follow James Walker and his team as they try to uncover who was responsible for the murder of journalist Gordon Carver.. There's plenty of red herrings and we meet several gruesome characters, who may, or may not have committed the murderous act. This was a fast paced book. We are introduced to several possibilities, side stories and intriguing plot lines. Just when you think you have worked out who it might have been, you get thrown in a different direction. The final revelations were wonderful.

The setting in Cumbria is awesome. You can really picture yourself in the book, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the lakes and fells. The challenging weather conditions adds to the sense of adventure and you really feel that James Walker and his team have to grapple with not only the terrible crimes but also the unpredictable weather that they face.

A series that I thoroughly enjoy and a new tradition to winter is looking forward to reading these. Settle in with a mulled wine and a mince pie (or whatever festive food and drink you prefer) and embrace this fantastic Christmas Crime caper.

My thanks to Alex Pine, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I was excited for this one and it didn't disappoint!

"Cold Blooded Killer" by Alex Pine fails as a thriller, a procedural, a mystery, and only wins as a melodrama. Every clue is an adrenalin rush or the D.I.'s crying and his guts are squirting. He's the worst detective ever. An excellent editor could make this a good short story.

My thanks to Alex and Netgalley for allowing me to read Cold Blooded Killer in advance of the publication date.
This is the 6th book in the series but it can be read as a standalone book.
A phone call on Christmas morning will tear James away from watching his children open their presents from Santa. The body of a man has been found on a woodland path by neighbours who recognise the victim as journalist, Gordon Carver.
Carver’s work has seen him be the target of some very angry people and he has recently been threatened about continuing with an investigation into a missing woman.
Was he murdered because of his journalist activities, was the murder personal or was he a random victim?
The turkey and all the trimmings are forgotten as the team start the investigation.
The reader sees the impact of a murder where the victim is known to DCI Walker and most of his team. Existing on coffee and sandwiches, James is soon showing the signs of how this investigation is wearing him down. Meanwhile, his wife, Annie is bearing the weight of the family responsibilities.
Without giving away any spoilers, this is a thought provoking read which involves some topical subjects.

Number 6 in the series and it didn’t disappoint!
Fast paced from the start, lots of twists to throw you off the killers scent. Loved it!
I would definitely recommend reading all 6 in order

Another Christmas, another murder to solve for DCI James Walker and this one is closer to home, as the victim tried to contact James shortly before he was killed.

James has a close knit team who go above and beyond expectations when it comes to a murder, even at Christmas. There are quite a few suspects, lines of enquiries and red herrings. The clues are few but the team make the most of them. It has the authentic feel of a murderer enquiry, with all the pressures that are put on the police to do more, and quicker, make arrests before the media and the public start a frenzy about lack of results. Add to this the fact that Annie has her own problems, and you have a cracker of a Christmas read,

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was everything that I was looking for from a sixth entry in the DI James Walker series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the previous books in this series. Alex Pine was able to create another winning concept and how it uses the thriller perfectly to tell the story. It was written well and had that character development that I was looking for. It left me wanting to read more in this series and from Alex Pine.

Ive read all of Alex's book and this one didn't disappoint! I remembered the characters from previous books. A great read, I actually guessed the right suspect in this book, great story