This was my first book featuring DCI Oldroyd, and I could not get into it at all, possibly for that reason. This is the 10th in a series, so was perhaps I expecting too much.
I did not enjoy the writing style. It is dialogue- driven, and unfortunately the dialogue is very clunky. For example, the fact that Oldroyd’s next-in-command uses ‘sir’ in every sentence she utters to him, was extremely irritating. There was no sense of urgency about the investigation, and no feeling of danger about the fact that this dangerous criminal was at large, having vowed vengeance on Oldroyd. Even Oldroyd didn't seem that bothered.
The dangerous criminal’s escape from prison was written as a matter- of- fact event, as if he had just popped out to meet friends. No tension, no drama, nothing. This story just seemed to be going through the motions. A DNF for me, sorry.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Another great novel from JR Ellis.

DCI Oldroyd and his team never fail to disappoint, although in this story, the DCI’s past has come back to haunt him.

Lots of twists and turns in this story, you will be pleasantly surprised.

A very good and enjoyable mystery, and one which I would recommend.

Thank you for the advance read.

Serial killer Adam Blake was finally caught & convicted due to the excellent detective skills of DCI Oldroyd and his team. However, upon sentencing Blake shouts threats to Oldroyd, and swears that he will get revenge. Years later, he escapes with this purpose in mind.
Just hours after his escape, a man is discovered murdered, and Oldroyd thinks that Blake could be the culprit. However, his team suspect that his previous experiences with the man could be clouding his judgement.
This is a fast paced and exciting installment of the DCI Oldroyd series with multiple murders in unusual circumstances. With him & his family living under police protection, he sets about solving the case as quickly as he can before anyone one else dies.

Chilling Reappearance..
The eleventh entry in the Yorkshire Murder mystery series featuring the stoic DCI Oldroyd and a blast from his past makes a chilling reappearance. As events begin to spiral, Oldroyd needs his wits about him if he is to stop a killer in his tracks. Nicely written and well executed, a worthy addition to this long running series.

Chief Inspector Oldroyd and his team are back, this time investigating a series of murders in the market town of Otley. Someone is strangling seemingly quiet, mild-mannered people, and staging their bodies in locations around the town, with a message written in marker on their foreheads. But what does it all mean, and how are the victims connected? That's what Oldroyd and DS Steph Johnson need to find out if they hope to catch the killer. 🗡️🔎
As if this wasn't enough, a serial killer escapes from prison, vowing to have his revenge on Oldroyd for arresting him ten years previously. 🗡️🔎
Red herrings abound, and there are some quite unsavoury characters, with some being not quite as they seem. 🗡️🔎
Thankfully, DS Andy Carter has been tasked with finding the escapee, giving him less time to sing Oldroyd's praises with his partner, DS Johnson, thus making this an enjoyable read. Sure, it has its dark moments, but Ellis's descriptions of the settings paint such a pleasing picture, you almost feel as if you are there. 🗡️🔎
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

The Otley Murders is the 11th novel in J. R. Ellis' Yorkshire Murders series. I tend to think of this series as a nice diversion. The plot is basic. In The Otley Murders, a convicted serial killer stages a well-orchestrated escape. DCI Jim Oldroyd, who sent the serial killer to jail, is threatened for having jailed the killer. A series of gruesome killing follow. On the surface, the plot basics are familiar, as is another element of the plot, a closed and seemingly haunted Victorian mansion, where even Oldroyd is scared.

This Ellis novel is a good police procedural with a solid plot and lots of action. The Otley Murders is not a fast paced thriller, but is instead, a solid mystery with lots of twists and turns. As is always the case in this series DCI Oldroyd pulls through and solves a nicely complex series of murders. There are some nice characters, especially DCI Oldroyd's partner and sister, whose presence helps to create a few moments of soothing peace for the inspector and the readers.

I always enjoy these novels. I thought The Otley Murders was a step up from the usual novels in this series. This was a complex plot, even though readers know Oldroyd and his officers will pull through in the end. The plot worked well.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon UK, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I do recommend The Otley Murders.

4 stars.

When a criminal who has publicly threatened DCI Jim Oldroyd with retribution escapes from prison, his colleagues are on high alert. At almost the same moment a man is found murdered in a local arts space. Are the two things linked?

The Otley Murders is another enjoyable book in JR Ellis's detective series. The usual cast is present in its normal setting, which is well described. Worryingly, though, Jim mentions the R(etirement) Word...

This is the eleventh book in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series and I have read all of them.

I always enjoy reading these books because I used to live in Yorkshire and the places are all known to me including Otley where this one is set. As usual Ellis gives us an enjoyable police procedural made more interesting by the characters who we know so well. It was just a little different this time to see DCI Oldroyd making a few mistakes and doubting himself.

I liked the structure of the story with those hints at the beginning and then a sudden switch in the plot half way through. When Oldroyd gasped with shock at that point I think I did too. The pacing was a little slow at times but the plot was always interesting and the scenery was great. An easy comfortable read. Four stars.

Great story from J.R. Ellis.
Very similar to the previous books in this series revolving around DCI Oldroyd.
This time his past has come back to haunt him. Twisted storyline.

Ten years ago, DCI Oldroyd was the only person who could see the monster hiding behind Adam Blake’s charm. Oldroyd proved that Blake was a deadly serial killer, responsible for murdering many innocent people. Having vowed to take revenge on Oldroyd, on a crisp autumn morning Blake escapes from jail…
Hours later, in the Yorkshire market town of Otley, a man is found strangled inside the old courthouse. Written in bold black ink across the victim’s forehead is a single chilling word: vindicta―revenge. Oldroyd’s blood runs cold when he picks up a call and hears an all-too-familiar voice: I’m coming for you.
The eleventh book in the series & another well written gripping read. I do like Oldroyd, his family & team & have liked how the dynamics have changed throughout the series. There are twists, turns & red herrings as well as misassumptions so be prepared to be surprised. A well paced story, strong characters plus I was left guessing had me reading the book in two sittings
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This excellent series goes from strength to. It has great characters, an intriguing plot and moves at a fast pace. And a brilliant Yorkshire setting! I hope there are many more cases for this team of detectives to come.

A particularly unpleasant man, Adam Blake, who DCI Oldroyd helped to convict of multiple murders of lonely old women has broken out of prison after a decade. Since he threatened revenge on DCI Oldroyd the police are understandably concerned for his safety and for that of his family.

Meanwhile, a man's body is found inside a cell in what was the Old Courthouse before it became a community arts centre. The man has been strangled and the word Vindicta scrawled across his forehead.

DCI Oldroyd can't help but suspect the murder is somehow linked to Adam Blake, particularly when Adam starts calling him on his mobile phone. There is surprisingly little information about the victim, he seems to have very little history prior to a few years previously, even his wife seems to know very little about his previous life. Then a second body appears, similarly staged, with the same word scrawled on their forehead. What links the victims? Why has the murderer chosen to write the Latin word for vengeance on their heads? Why have the victims been murdered and their bodies moved to a different location and staged?

While DCI Oldroyd and Steph investigate the murders, Andy is helping investigate how Adam escaped custody and try to locate him.

I recall that I had read the first few books in this series and given up, but decided to request an ARC of this eleventh book anyway. Rereading my previous reviews apparently I requested an ARC of the tenth book and power read through four of the earlier books before thinking they were a bit same-same and finding DCI Oldroyd a bit of an old fuddy duddy. Nevertheless, after a suitable palate cleansing romance or two I really enjoyed the tenth book so I am glad I requested this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this. A solid police procedural with DCI Oldroyd not always getting things right and maybe failing to follow up on avenues of enquiry. The irritating quirks from the first four books are no longer in evidence (I think his partner Deborah has helped remove them).

I know the series is available on Kindle Unlimited so I may well start to read the intervening books.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

Complex police investigation with a really pleasant group of detectives that you would likely want to be friends with - you really root for them. Some tense moments and twists you might not see coming, a solid and enjoyable mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

J.R. Ellis delivers another gripping instalment in the Yorkshire Murder Mystery series. This time, the stakes feel even more personal for DCI Oldroyd as he confronts Adam Blake—a convicted serial killer who has escaped prison and is clearly out for revenge.

The atmosphere is as compelling as ever, with Ellis capturing the moodiness of the Yorkshire landscape while weaving in a tense, character-driven plot. The use of Latin (vindicta, scrawled chillingly on the victim's forehead) adds a thoughtful layer of menace, and the psychological weight of Oldroyd’s past decisions is felt throughout.

There’s a real sense of urgency in this one, and I found myself fully invested in how Oldroyd would piece together this unsettling puzzle while also wrestling with his own history. The pacing is spot-on, the mystery unfolds smoothly, and the emotional depth adds a satisfying complexity.

This book can easily be read as a standalone. Perfect for fans of British crime fiction with thoughtful characters and taut suspense.

Thank you to #NetGalleyand #Thomas & Mercer for my copy of #TheOtleyMurders by #JREllis
It has been a while since I read one of the books in this series, they just fell off my radar. (So many books, so little Time)
But it was so easy to fall back into the lives of DCI Jim Oldroyd and his team.
With two cases going at the same time, and threats to Jim’s and his family’s safety it was all hands on deck.
An easy read, which can be read as a standalone.

3* Feels like a cosy mystery without any real sense of danger or urgency.

This is quite decently written but it bigs itself up to something that the writing doesn't deliver, unfortunately. We are told the characters are great at their jobs, but investigations and the initial prison escape plot were quite mundane and there was no feel of danger or urgency. The cops weren't clever - take Andy, for example. He plans to capture the escaped prisoner when he turns up at an agreed place at 1pm, so he and some cops turn up at 12.30pm, not wondering, seemingly, that the guy would've likely been casing the place.

The reveal of the prisoner's fate was believable. The arc that suddenly appeared around 66% of the tale gone was believable, too, but felt like too much too late, and as if the police should've been detecting and investigating more. Had it not been for the female DC who was good at research, they'd have been at it for years, it felt like. The DI with the Mc surname solved the escaped prisoner case far too easily and quickly, with some very basic access to what should've featured earlier on in the tale. That is, if policing was happening.

The dialogue was un-rushed, slow and without any sense of urgency. For example, 'We've got evidence that makes XY a suspect. We just need his address and we'll be over there.' Really? The pace was sooo lax all over the book. I'm not sure I'd read another, as these cops felt they thought they were great but embodied the country bumpkins stereotype sadly.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer, for my reading pleasure.