I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of The Fire Killer, the fifth novel to feature DI John Barton of the Peterborough Police.

A fire in a skip is not a case for the Major Crimes Unit, but the burned body found when the skip dried out is. Barton and the team, based on a tip, believe the culprit lives in the area, but all of the residents raise suspicion. Their first task is to identify the victim.

I enjoyed The Fire Killer, which is as much psychological suspense as it is police procedural with the narrative switching between the unnamed Fire Killer and John Barton.

The plot is well conceived with Barton and his team playing catch-up to a self confessed pyromaniac who freely admits to the reader to prior instances of fire setting and how it came about. This explanation is fairly routine in crime fiction so it’s not overly interesting, what’s much more interesting is their well concealed identity. Barton, on the other hand, has a much more exciting time. His enquiry provides links for a Met county lines operation investigation and widens the novel’s scope considerably. I was intrigued by all the permutations of who fits where. The Fire Killer is caught about 65% of the way in, but, obviously, that is not the end of the story. The author has some great twists to offer after that and a bit of heartbreak. This is, by far, the best section of the novel and I found it riveting with one surprise after another.

The team is the team, nice people trying to a hard job in difficult circumstances. It was the secondary characters that I noticed more, especially the predatory male and what happens to the victims of his love them and leave them policy. He is cruel to them and while the less charitable could say they brought it on themselves, he picks women who are in precarious situations, both financially and emotionally. The trouble is, it’s a very recognisable pattern of behaviour, so kudos to the author for calling it out.

The Fire Killer is a good read that I can recommend p.

A first for me with this team and I've missed out on character development I think. That said, the two main detectives work well together and it's great to see the senior one with a happy family relationship. A body in a burnt out skip is just the first; Barton links it to an old murder where a small boy rescued his mother from a fire in which his abusive father died; other fires occurred; it then turned rather more to drug running and police areas working together or not which blurred matters. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I never repeat the blurb. Yet another superb escapade with the immensely likeable and credible DI Barton. A change from ice to fire and possibly the penultimate adventure...I hope not!

Book 5 in the DI Barton series finds him searching for an arsonist. in this well written tale. We get a glimpse into the personal lives of police officers and the toll the job takes on family life. There is a steady pace throughout and good character development. It's believable, tense and twisty, with a good ending, but a bit disjointed in places. Still worth a read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

DI Barton and the gang are back from the Peterborough‘s Constabulary and this time they are chasing the ‘Fire Killer’. At first what seems to be a seemingly innocent skip bin fire, turns out to be the scene of a murder. Did the culprit commit arson to kill knowingly or unknowingly… the team need to find out.

Was the young lady that perished in the bin thrown in there by a gang and left to burn or was it an accident by a passerby or silly kid. DI Barton is talking with the pathologist ‘Mortis’ and he mentions pyromania and the Inspector’s Spidey Senses go off the charts, what are the team really up against… And, can they catch this killer before it’s too late and they lose control.

Well… I was super excited to see this book up for grabs on NetGalley and immediately requested it. To my disappointment I found it lacking the usual intrigue, finesse and excitement of Ross Greenwood’s other ‘Killer’ Novels. I am sad to say that in parts I was bored and I found the writing doing nothing for me except holding my hand through every so called twist and turn. I unfortunately guessed the killer very early in approx 30% in, although the motive wasn’t completely clear until the end. I never felt like I could let my imagination off the leash with this story, it was filled to the brim with descriptions of things that seemed irrelevant, bits of info that weren’t necessary and repetitive storyline. It also included a very convoluted gang/drug related side story that just took the focus away from everything and didn’t, in my opinion value add.

I can’t recall feeling that way with the other novels in this series, so I am going to see it through too the end, as the author put a note saying he had another book coming out later in the year, which will be the final for the series. I really hope that he is able to go back to his old style and leave something to the imagination.

I was really put off by quotes like:

“You’re on ice so thin an ant could fall through. You’ve got one minute to tell me what you think you know, or I’m gone”.
Said by a grown up not a teenager… 🤷‍♂️

“The showers at the gym are minging, so I’ll skip them and see if I can take one on the wing. Someone had taken a dump in them the last time I was here”.
Unnecessary sentence that served only to gross out the reader by imagining women doing their business in the prison shower. 🤢

“Strange was looking urgently for you. She’s just nipped to the toilet.
Another toilet reference that served no purpose at all 🤦‍♀️

I could go on with the throw away statements and sentences but I will put it down to this one was just a bit off kilter for me. Others enjoyed it and I am really glad - I preferred the author’s other books - The Ice Killer, The Soul Killer and the Cold Killer - although the names are quite boring those books definitely put on more of a show.

I will give ‘The Santa Killer’ a shot later in the year but I do hope that we get some more interesting stories and less unrelated red herring crimes thrown in to spice it up… The Fire Killer was less of an Inferno and more of a Smoulder for me. 🔥

Thank you to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and the author for an advanced readers copy for my honest review.

When DI Barton is asked to investigate a seemingly innocuous fire that kills, he believes it's either children fooling around or a worrying racially-motivated crime.

As he delves deeper into the case, he soon realises that there is a history of similar blazes spread out over many years, all within a close area. An idea suggested by pathologist Mortis makes Barton suspect he has the arsonist’s motives wrong.

When a night worker comes forward with a tip, Barton narrows down the suspects. But with all of them acting suspiciously, he knows for sure that one or more of them must be lying. And when a huge house blaze shocks everyone, Barton fears the killer has lost all control.

Who is The Fire Killer? What will be next to burn?

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat through out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go. I found this book thrilling, the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way through keep you guessing until the end this book. It stays with you long after you finish the book

5 Stars from me

Love love love this series!

It's actually kind of hard to articulate exactly how good the DI Barton series is - I absolutely tore through this book, and at the same time felt that I could happily read about Barton and his team for ever.

Please do yourself a favour and read this books in order:

1. The Snow Killer
2. The Soul Killer
3. The Ice Killer
4. The Cold Killer
5. The Fire Killer

I would be so happy if this was made into a long running TV series, along the lines of a Vera, Rebus, Thorne, Midsumer type thing. I can picture the characters so easily and feel it could run for years (no matter what the author might think about how long the series should be...).

My thanks to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and to Ross Greenwood for letting me be a part of this blog tour.

Blurb: When DI Barton is asked to investigate a seemingly innocuous fire that kills, he believes it's either children fooling around or a worrying racially-motivated crime.

As he delves deeper into the case, he soon realises that there is a history of similar blazes spread out over many years, all within a close area. An idea suggested by pathologist Mortis makes Barton suspect he has the arsonist’s motives wrong.

When a night worker comes forward with a tip, Barton narrows down the suspects. But with all of them acting suspiciously, he knows for sure that one or more of them must be lying. And when a huge house blaze shocks everyone, Barton fears the killer has lost all control.

Who is The Fire Killer? What will be next to burn?

I LOVE this series!
For some reason, I managed to miss The Cold Killer which was the book before The Fire Killer, which gave me the enviable enjoyment of reading both books back to back and it felt very much like a BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) which added to the enjoyment – must be the Scot in me!
The Fire Killer was a really enjoyable read which lasted too short a time. I was torn between racing through it to find out who did it and savouring each precious moment of it.
Greenwood managed to keep me on the edge of my seat as he fully drew me into the narrative. I found myself unable to work out who The Fire Killer was until very near the end and he got me on the back foot with the second storyline – even although he’d hidden the clues in plain sight.
For me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the DI Barton series is the dynamics between the characters. The workplace characters are really well drawn and with Barton at the helm become a part of his extended family. Which brings me onto Barton’s actual family – they are a joy to behold and offer some lightness and humour among the darkness of the novel.
With issues from abuse to drug running, entitlement and more, this is a really relevant read which has been plotted seamlessly so that the main plot and the subsidiary plot are both given the time they deserve to be explored.
Another reason, I enjoy this series so much is that, Greenwood has created a really unique character in Barton. He’s not your usual dysfunctional, alcoholic cop with no home life and fewer friends and I find this really refreshing.
Can’t wait for the next one!
5***** from me

4 stars

DI John Barton and his most often partner DS Shawn Zander catch a case of a deceased woman found in a dumpster fire. The investigation starts immediately with the interview of the proprietor of the nearby convenience store.

The reader is treated to near alternating chapters between the police investigation and the fire killer; what they are thinking, feeling and doing. But not enough to give away their identity.

When they notice that the only path to the scene is a dead-end cul de sac with only four houses, they set out to visit those houses.

This turns out to be a twisty case, with many surprises along the way. The police get a little sidetracked when they get a call from the Met saying they have some bad drug dealers heading their way. Try as they might, the police can’t connect their arson to the dealers. At least not directly.

I was so sure I knew who the fire killer was, until they showed up dead.

This is perhaps not Mr. Greenwood’s best. It seemed a little disjointed, going in too many directions at once. That being said, it was still a good read. I like DI Barton and his interactions with his family. The team gets along well. One thing that may be said about this story is that it ends with a bang…and the fire killer’s identity was a surprise.

I want to thank NEtGalley and Boldwood Books for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I am back with DI Barton and his team and another gripping addition to this fantastic series. A pyromaniac sets a fire in a skip, but Little does he realise there is someone in the skip. This series keeps going from strength to strength and this is my favourite so far. All the books in this series are five star reads and I can't wait to read more from this very talented author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I did not know DI Barton and his team yet, so it was very nice indeed meeting them.

I loved the great relationship between Barton and his DS Zander. It’s clear they have known each other for quite some time and they work well together. They even seem to be able to read each other’s minds.

Even though DI Barton is away a lot, he has a wonderful connection with his family. They tease each other and they really have that warm feeling surrounding them.

As I said this is my first book in this series and it can easily be read as a stand alone. Of course you miss out on the backstory the author shares about the main characters, but the case itself was easy enough to follow.

It seems a bit straight forward when a witness comes forward. Not a lot of possible suspects or so it seems. But when our great duo starts digging they come up with a lot more than meets the eye .

Will they be able to catch this fire killer before they take to many victims? What is their story?

I thought this was a great story with some funny bits that made me smile and unfortunately also some real sad ones.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. 5 stars

Thank you

I really enjoyed meeting Barton's team again, and again I found the plot most captivating! Barton has to investigate a murder which is closely linked to either an arsonist or a pyromaniac.... Good characterisation which left me guessing at who the culprit was! I love the friendly atmosphere of the police team! I can't wait for the next DI Barton' s investigation! Warmly recommended series!
I received a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this read it was fast paced and tense with a well written and compelling storyline and well developed characters. It was a gripping read that was twisty and unpredictable and had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I thought this was a great book to read. It started off very well with DI Barton and his team investigating a fire in a skip and when a dead body is found in it the case takes a lot of surprising turns. The Police characters are very realistically portrayed and likeable and I enjoyed the glimpses into Barton’s home life, and reading of his friendships with his work colleagues. I loved the individual story threads here and thought they were very current covering real issues like drug supplying and county lines, and that these threads added more depth to the story. Overall this is a very good and engaging read which is well written and held my interest all the way through. It has a strong plot line and flowed really well, there was lots of action and suspense which I liked and it raced to a thrilling conclusion with an ending I could never have guessed. If you like police procedurals then you’ll enjoy this read. I’d recommend you read the series in order to get to know DI Barton and his team properly.

DI Barton is investigating a fire where a skip has been set alight and a body was found within it. Years beforehand a young man wakes to smoke and pulls his mother downstairs. His abusive father is still asleep. What transpires is more than arson- or is it pyromania? The latter may well prove a far more complex case to solve than arson where the person generally has something to gain from the fire. The leads take the team to drugs and a possible country lines trail but what has this to do with the death in the skip?
I really enjoyed this and quickly got between the pages. There is a very clever plot line with a few twists thrown in that I wasn't expecting. DI Barton and the team are very likeable with good camaraderies and some appropriate humour thrown in. A little backstory to me always helps shape characters and the dog rescue was wonderful. Love Gizmo! A wonderful read that enveloped me and I soon came to care for the characters. A brilliant, exciting read.
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I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was an easy read, although the structure was odd, with the mystery at least partly solved about 75% of the way through. After that it lost steam for me, although one of the twists was very effective. Although I am sure it is true that the police spend a disproportionate amount of time dealing with drug gangs and county lines, it does't make for particularly intriguing reading for lovers of detective fiction. Here the Met seemed to have overlooked the fact that a character was the cousin to brothers they had had under surveillance for some time, and the Peterborough police's attitude to that character's level of involvement seemed to change for no reason - instinct?

I gather there is one more in this series, but I think I'll give it a miss.

The Fire Killer is the 5th book in Ross Greenwood's very successful D.I. Barton series and as ever the relationships between his diverse group of detectives and his family life play as large a part as the crime-fighting.

A fire in a Skip might not appear to be the crime of the century ,or one needing a Detective Inspector to investigate. When it's a suspected case of arson and a charred body is discovered underneath the more usual type of Skip contents it's more serious.
Barton discovers that there have been a series of suspicious fires in the area over a period of years. Following a tip-off Barton narrows his list of potential suspects down to the occupants of a small cluster of 4 houses,all rather erratic and apparently sketchy individuals.
From there on it's a race against time as the fires continue and Barton's team struggling to discover which of their pool of suspects is the Fire Killer.
Meanwhile there's romance in the air and complicated love lives amongst the team and Barton welcoming a new addition to his family........a rescue Greyhound named Gizmo.
There's also the usual banter between Barton and Zander for a bit of comic relief,though some of the jokes went over my head no matter how many times I re-read them,and yes I do have a sense of humour.

A great read as always with plenty of tension,the usual excellent characterisation, and of course a neat twist to round things off..

Great stuff and I look forward to the next D.I. Barton book

Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, A great who done it and lots of twists and turns! There was great police work too! A surprise twist towards the end! The storyline was very interesting and flowed nicely! I will definitely recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!