Just finished this and it was really good . It started with a gripping fast pace that drew you in from the start .It has both versions in it it gives you the killers side and story and also the police side and investigation . It was a brilliant police thriller with a twist you won't see coming. Thanks to #boldwoodbooks for the advanced copy

If there's one thing that I like doing and it's discovering new authors. Ross Greenwood is definitely a new author for me. Having just read and flipping loved 'The Snow Killer' as much as I did, I am quite annoyed with myself for leaving it this long to discover how fantastic an author he is. I absolutely, totally, utterly flipping well adored this book but more about that in a bit.
It didn't take me long at all to warm to DI Barton. He is a dedicated police officer but he is also a dedicated family man. He has the work/ life balance almost right although his police work sometimes impinges on his home life. Fortunately he has a very understanding partner. Barton leads a small team, who work very well together. Barton strikes me as the sort of boss you would like to have. He is fair but firm. He takes his fair share of the workload and often goes above and beyond the call of duty. He will back you to the hilt although if you have done something wrong he will definitely let you know about it. I don't think that he is one to bear a grudge for that long. Barton is determined, tenacious, stubborn, ambitious, inquisitive and he is like a dog with a bone in that if he gets a sense that there is something amiss then he will not stop until he has investigated the matter fully and until his curiosity has been satisfied.
It didn't take me long at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first paragraph I knew that it would be impossible to put this book to one side for any length of time. I was blown away by the quality of the writing and by the story itself. Reading 'The Snow Killer' became a serious addiction to the extent that I would find any excuse I could that meant I didn't have to stop reading. I managed to binge read the book over the course of a day, which is unusual for me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. I was so drawn into the story and so keen to find out how the story panned out that I was able to focus solely on the book and I was able to shut out all other distractions. I lost all track of time whilst reading this book and I was shocked to realise just how long I had been reading for.
'The Snow Killer' is simply brilliantly written. I love the way in which the author wrote the story from the point of view of the killer or the victim as he was originally and from the point of view of DI Barton. The book is also split into two parts. The first part starts in winter 50 years ago and explains what happened to turn the victim into a predator. I actually found myself feeling rather sorry for the predator for what happened to his family. The second part describes events as they happen present day. The second part of the story has chapters from the viewpoint of the killer and DI Barton. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly. The author uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself.
Reading this book really felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to the story than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. Just when you thought that you could catch your breath, gather your thoughts, reclaim your stomach then off the action would go again. For me the story was perfectly paced. The story hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout. If you want a book that will get your adrenaline flowing, your blood pressure rising and send your heart rate soaring then 'The Snow Killer' is the perfect book for you.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed, no make that adored, reading 'The Snow Killer' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Ross' work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

What can I say except WOW!!

This book is the first in the series featuring Detective Inspector Barton. The book is set in Peterborough.

The book is told from two very different viewpoints - DI Barton and the snow killer. The book is well written and has well developed characters which is something that I like. The book is full of action. There are twists and turns throughout the book and the ending was a surprise and not what I was expecting. A final dramatic twist.
I can not wait for the next book in the series.

I love this author's writing and when I discovered he had a new series out I wanted to read it and I haven't been disappointed.
‘Fear the north wind. Because no one will hear you scream…’ What a great tagline!
A family is gunned down in the snow but one of the children survives. Three years on, that child takes revenge and the Snow Killer is born. But then, nothing - no further crimes are committed, and the case goes cold.
Fifty years later, has the urge to kill been reawakened? As murder follows murder, the detective team tasked with solving the crimes struggle with the lack of leads. It’s a race against time and the weather – each time it snows another person dies.
As an exhausted and grizzled DI Barton and his team scrabble to put the pieces of the puzzle together, the killer is hiding in plain sight. Meanwhile, the murders continue…
Written from two POV's, the killer and the detective. The author made sure the killer had enough backstory for the reader to feel empathy and to leave clues and questions dangling. Also the detective is a wonderful character, reliable, normal. It makes a change from a lot of books I've read and I want to get to know him and his team more.
The book switched between the past and the present, is fast and gripping and full of suspense and twists and no I didn't guess the ending. Would recommend.

The Snow Killer is the first instalment in the DI John Barton series, set in Peterborough, UK, and boy oh boy are you going to need your seat belts on for this one as it's a thrill-a-minute wild ride. Half a century ago a family was gunned down in cold blood in the snow with only the teenage son escaping with his life. Then, having had the anger bubble under the surface for a couple of years, the surviving child takes vengeance and is christened The Snow Killer for his brutal actions. Fast forward fifty years and the killings begin again in earnest and in an eerily similar style to the long-forgotten Snow Killer's modus operandi. So has the authentic Snow Killer resurfaced to attend to his disturbing desires and terrorise the Peterborough population once again or is this merely a copycat?

This is a riveting and edge-of-your-seat, compulsive thriller, and I loved that the author wrote chapters from both the investigators perspective and the unnamed killer as it makes the story more fully rounded and enjoyable. This thrill-a-minute, high-octane tale moves at a brisk pace and you get swept along from the first few pages. The procedural aspect of it was written well and it had no problem holding my attention. The twisty narrative builds the tension over the course of the book right up until the shocking, action-packed conclusion. Overall, this is an extremely promising start to the series and given that I liked the characters and that the plot was seamless and suspenseful I will be looking out for the second instalment. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Ross Greenwood is a new author to me and I was in two minds to request and read a book by a new author. But, I am so glad I did. What a brilliant book The Snow Killer was. This is the first book in the DI Barton, series and what a cracking read it was. The snow Killer was a fast pace read. I was hooked. The author Ross Greenwood has done a brilliant job creating these new characters, that are believable and liked. I loved the new DI Barton character.

I am so looking forward more in the new DI Barton series and I will be looking forward in reading more from Ross Greenwood in the future.

Highly recommend this book.

Big Thank You to the publisher Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

I was excited to receive a copy of Ross Greenwood's latest thriller, the first in his new DI Barton series. I really do enjoy Ross's writing style and I knew this would be a page-turner of a story - I was right to be so excited! As the title suggests, it is a chilling read and one you will not forget in a hurry - especially when it starts snowing!

I was immediately drawn into the story and quite torn with the empathy I had for the killer. But wait, the killer is the bad one in crime novels, right? We are not supposed to be on the killers side - especially when DI Barton and his team are on the trail.

DI Barton has a great team and we are introduced to them in this opening story. DI Barton himself has managed to get to where he is whilst leading a normally happy family life at home. This is a nice refreshing change to the normal detective story where have experienced trauma, divorce or addiction of some sort. He really is a good bloke.

The author cleverly switches between the past to present, only giving away details as we really need them. There are some shocking twists that will keep you turning page after page (and had me drinking mug after mug!)

Ross Greenwood is firmly on my top author list and I cannot wait to read more of DI Barton and his team.

My sincere thanks to Ross Greenwood, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Fifty years ago 3 men shot 4 people…..a father, mother and two children….left for dead in the snow, only 1 survived.

They grow up cared for by Uncle Ronnie, learning the tricks of a thief and poacher, always with thoughts of revenge. When the Uncle dies, they take the name Ronnie and exact their revenge……

Now it’s the present day, it’s snowing and a body has been found…

DI Barton is investigating the murder and things get dark….can he catch the a Snow Killer before any more deaths?

This is an incredibly gripping thriller, just when you think you know where the tale is going a gasp inducing twist keeps you guessing. Clever plot, fast paced, dark and twisty…..brilliant.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a free ecopy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.

This is the first novel in DI Barton detective series.  Ross Greenwood is the author of six crime thrillers. Before becoming a full-time writer he was most recently a prison officer and so worked everyday with murderers, rapists and thieves for four years.

I really enjoyed this fast paced chilling crime procedural. It hooked me right from the beginning. It even had two points of view which I always enjoy, along with the crazy plot of revenge a few twists ands surprises its definitely a great start to a series.
The story starts out 50 years ago in the Winter when a family is running for their lives. They are all shot and killed, or so the gunmen think. Somehow although being shot twice the teenage boy survives.
Fast forward 50 years and that boy is seeking revenge for his family he lost back on that winter day.
"Fear the north wind. Because no one will hear you scream."
DI Barton and his team are baffled by what seems to be a serial killer who seems to come out everytime it snows. Will the detective and his team be able to figure out the mystery?

I can't wait to see what DI Barton and his team investigate next

I was given a copy of this book to read and give an honest review and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The book starts with Part 1 which occurred 50 years previously with a family on the run from a drugs baron who had ordered their killing. They are located and the family are shot and left for dead, but the killers make a mistake and one of the children survives. The child is taken to hospital and interviewed by the police but due to brain trauma is unable to give a description of the killers. The uncle then whisks the child away in the night and they go on the run living in a caravan doing what they have to do to survive. As the child matures into a teenager the uncle dies but before doing so the teenager asks where he can find his family's killers. The teenager sends the three men a warning and eventually avenges the family by murdering them one by one in winter, the press of the day dubbed the murderer the Snow Killer. Fifty years on and the teenager is now in their sixties and suffering from Parkinson's disease and decides to rid the area of drug suppliers and starts to kill what they think are a drugs gang. Detective Inspector Barton and his team are called to investigate but the case is going cold until more murders take place and the link is made to the Snow Killer from 50 years earlier.

A medley of crime genres expertly woven by the author into a fast-paced, intriguing thriller which focuses on the Snow Killer who appears to be killing again fifty years after the first snow killing.

The story is told from two points of view. The killer’s which is compelling, immersive and poignant and in keeping with the unreliable protagonist of a psychological thriller. The second point of view is Detective Inspector Barton’s this is in the third person and follows the accepted line of a contemporary police procedural.

The setting for the story is Peterborough, characterised by its relative remoteness for a cathedral city, in the rural heart of east England. The difference between Peterborough fifty years ago and now is marked. Well described, the area provides a perfect backdrop for the events its stages.

The cast of characters is varied and the characters are believable. Notably, the lead detective is an ordinary man, with a family. This makes the contrast between the detective and the killer greater. The plot has clues and twists aplenty and a final twist, which is unexpected and cleverly done.

The first book in a new series, it is hoped that the mix of genres continues with the skill, success and succinctness demonstrated here.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. The Snow Killer knows exactly what to do...

Fifty years ago, outside a rural cottage in Lincolnshire, a family of 4 is gunned down in the snow. One of the children survived and later managed to track and kill the men who had killed those family members. Then all went quiet. But now there are new bodies appearing in nearby Peterborough and the police have no idea why. How can it be that there is any connection to what happened all those years ago -- certainly DI John Barton and his fellow detectives at the Major Crimes Unit don't know because it all happened way before they were even born. By the time they figure it out, how many more murders will occur?

This is the first in a new series introducing DI John Barton and focuses on the current murder investigations of several victims in Peterborough. Each was killed during a snow storm. No clues or messages were left with the bodies but all were known to be connected with local crime and drug operations. Is this some sort of vendetta or a takeover of territory attempt? The reader knows because one point of view in the narrative is that of the Snow Killer but it takes the length of the book to figure out the whole story and there are some surprises along the way.

There were a lot of characters to keep straight in this crime thriller and we are just getting to know a little bit about them. I admit that I really liked DI Barton and am looking forward to learning more about him and his family and fellow detectives. I could definitely feel the cold and the chilling effect of the snow created a mood for the story. This was a little bit more than the typical police procedural as it gave some insight into the killer and although I wasn't quite sure how I wanted this to end, the author brought it all to a very satisfactory conclusion. The killer was unique and complex though the age-old revenge motive played out in a slower pace so this was not action-packed even as there was a lot going on. I will definitely be interested in the second book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

The Snow Killer is a chilling title for what is a chilling and dark read. The introduction sets a disturbing scene set back in the 1960s and lays out the killer’s motive for murder.
We then fast forward 50years until the present day and we are introduced to DS Barton. Immediately I warmed to him, there was something very safe and reassuring about this character and this was shown through his relationship with a colleague who is experiencing poor mental health. I’ve got a feeling I’m going to like Barton. It is refreshing to have a detective whose life is relatively normal.
I found myself really caught up in his life, his relationships with his colleagues and superiors felt realistic. I particular enjoyed how he worked with his superior, DCI Naeem and felt that the author portrayed the close professional bond these two characters have very well.
Told from the point of view of DS Barton and from the killer, I found myself caught up in the cat and mouse game between the two characters.
The chapters from the Snow Killer’s POV often have a chaotic feeling about them, and the reader does feel as though they are caught inside of the killer’s head. There’s something rather sad about the snow killer and it was difficult not to feel for them. The killer’s victims on the surface may have “deserved” their fate but as the story unfolds we can see the killer unraveling as they begin to question what they are doing. There is also a touch of social commentary in the exploration into addiction. The author has created multi-layered characters here and the reader is made to think about the stories behind the addiction and violence which he is to be applauded for.
With touches of black humour littered throughout and a real faith in the author’s knowledge of procedures sitting alongside some vivid scene setting this is most definitely an authentic and compelling read. It kept me guessing all the way through and by the end my jaw had hit the floor!
Plenty of twists and turns and a brilliant introduction to a new character and hopefully, a new series.

This is the first book I have read by Ross Greenwood and it definitely won’t be the last. This is book one in a new series introducing DI John Barton, he is based in Peterborough. He has a great team working with him. Despite him feeling tired, he is still there for his officers. He also has a family, he clearly loves his wife, teenage stepson and two young children, despite the hormones of a teenager and the early mornings of young children.

Fifty years ago a child witnessed the killings of mother, father and sister, receiving a bullet to the head as well which was meant to kill, the child was lucky and survived. The parents had been drug addicts, the father had stolen from the wrong person. Three men were sent to kill the family. The child that survived vowed to exact revenge on the three men for the deaths. Three years later the three men were dead. The killer stopped and moved on with life. But then five centuries later started killing again but why? What motivated the Snow Killer? Snow has become an aphrodisiac to the killer.

The body of a young drug dealer is found he has been stabbed a number of times in the back and then his throat cut. John and his team are tasked with finding this killer. Not an easy task with the very little they have to go on. Each time snow falls another body turns up. The team know that they need to catch this killer before snow falls again.

The story is told from two points of view, that of the snow killer and that of DI John Barton. The length of chapters vary some very short some longer. But the story is well plotted, keeping the reader guessing. The pace is good, I like the way you get to see not just the killer but you learn about John and some of the members of his team, as well as his home life. With an ending I didn’t even suspect. This is a great start to a new series. I look forward to reading more of this series, to see where the characters go next. A brilliant start.

A police procedural with a chilling beginning which gave me the snow killings. And a snow killer.

A family was wiped out except for a child. He grew up and took his revenge. Fifty years later the snow killings started again. And this time it was DCI John Barton in charge. The investigation started amongst the snow, going back deep into the history where it all began.

My first book by author Ross Greenwood, I was blown away by the premise of a story. Believe me, I had multiple theories for the murders 50 years later. And yes, they were all clichéd. The writing was smooth and managed to curve into a twist where needed. So explosive was the story and its team of investigators that I could not stop reading once I started late into the night. I got to know the killer too.

Fast paced, action filled scenes made me rush through the book. With dual POV of DCI Barton and The Snow Killer, it gave me insights from both ends of spectrum. And I could do nothing but cheer one and wait for the unfurling of the other. Quite a different read it was to get into the minds of both!!

A fun read, I would say!!

This is the first book I've read from this author.

The first in a new series I really enjoyed getting to know these characters.

The plot was interesting and kept me hooked til that brilliant twist.

Some of it seemed too coincidental but on the whole I enjoyed this book.

Will look out for the next one.

Just finished this gripping novel by @rossgreenwood published on 12 November. Revenge is a dish best served cold and this book definitely delivers. It’s a Scandi novel in all but place and the twist near the end is mind blowing. I thoroughly recommend it as both a police procedural and a Scandi thriller

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Ross Greenwood, and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I was eager to get my hands on this novel, having seen it being discussed all over Goodreads of late. New to the work of Ross Greenwood, I was also interested to see if this might be a new author to add to my ever-growing list of authors to follow. Fifty years ago, a family is gunned down in an apparent form of retribution. Left for dead in the snow, the one survivor plots revenge in an attempt to ensure the family did not die in vain. At present, DI John Barton is working in Peterborough, happy that the crime rate is much lower than in cities like London. As he plans to reconnect with his wife during a needed few days off, he is called to the scene of a crime. A local drug user is found stabbed multiple times in the back, his neck slit. Barton is a little shocked, as this community rarely sees a homicide, but he rushes into action. With few leads, Barton works with his colleagues to determine what must be going on. Meanwhile, the Snow Killer emerges with their own narrative, having exacted revenge for the deaths five decades ago. It would seem that the snow is a form of homicidal aphrodisiac, forcing new and needed victims to meet their end. As the Snow Killer continues to strike, DI Barton tries to piece the murders together, receiving a lead from a long ago ‘cold’ case of a family murdered in the snow. When the pieces fall into place, Barton cannot believe his luck, though there are still a few on the killer’s list and snow is expected in the forecast. A decent police procedural that keeps the reader flipping pages until the climactic ending. Recommended to those who love quick reads that are full of detail, as well as the reader who loves a British crime thriller with a twist.

Ross Greenwood does well with this series debut, pulling the reader into the middle of the story from the outset. The novel moves quickly and offers up a great deal of character development, hinting that the next few novels are in the works. DI John Barton proves to be a wonderful cop as well as a dedicated father. However, with these two jobs comes some needed sacrifices at times. With a wife he loves more than life itself, Barton has found a partner who is able to help him balance the rigours of work and three testy children. Barton reveals much in this debut, both personally and through his work, leaving his character development high and forcing the reader to pose many questions. Others within the book offer some slow development, hinting at the need to discover more in future books. Greenwood crafts his characters well and keeps the reader wanting more. The overall plot was well written and the theme proved useful as the narrative progressed. While it was not the most captivating or cliffhanging novel I have read this year, I found it highly entertaining. The mix of short and long chapters keep the reader pushing forward to learn just a little more before the final reveal and the race to the finish. I will return to follow the series, as I am eager to see what Ross Greenwood has in store for Barton and the rest of the Peterborough crew.

Kudos, Mr. Greenwood, on this series debut. The premise worked well and I hope to see more exciting adventures in the near future.

A new police series which introduces DI Barton overweight, middle aged and an old school cop. Based in Peterborough he has a murder on his patch. The MO is the same as a series of three murders which happened fifty years ago. Copycat? The police have no clues. The murders happened when the streets are covered with snow, just like they did fifty years ago. D I Barton and his team need to catch the killer before the snow starts to fall again. I was hooked from the first page and spent most of this read sat on the edge of my seat and tapping my kindle faster and faster. Drugs, corruption, secrets and of course REVENGE!!!!!! I also like the different take on the killer. Can't wait to read more, this author has another winner with this book. An easy five stars and so Highly Recommended.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

THE SNOW KILLER by Ross Greenwood is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Inspector John Barton. The novel is a combination of genres. Part of it is historical mystery, part contemporary police procedural, and part an insight into a serial killer’s mind.

The novel is set in and near Peterborough in the United Kingdom, a place where the author was born and later visited many times. This lent authenticity to the sense of place. The opening scene starts fifty years ago when a family is gunned down in the snow. However, a teenager survives, takes revenge a few years later and becomes known as the Snow Killer. However, the case goes cold and is forgotten by most. Fifty years later, murders start again that are somewhat similar in style to the revenge killings. Has the Snow Killer started killing again or is this a copycat Snow Killer? The novel is told from the alternating points of view of two very different individuals, DI Barton and the Snow Killer.

The characters are compelling and their motivations seem believable and well-drawn. The reader gets insight into DI Barton’s family life as well as his team members working to solve the contemporary murders. The descriptions are vivid and give a clear sense of time and space. The insight and perspective of the Snow Killer is disturbing. The ending has a twist that I did not see coming until late in the book.

This is the only book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series. What a great start to a new series. I believe those readers that enjoy police procedurals with a little something extra will enjoy this book.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Ross Greenwood for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.