This is a new series by the talented writer Wes Markin. DCI Emma Gardner is seconded to Knaresborough from Wiltshire. On her first day in the job a murder is committed. She soon gets to meet her senior officer, nicknamed Harsh Marsh, and her second in command Paul Riddick, they must catch this murderer as quickly as possible. Emma is at a disadvantage, she is new to the area and does not know the terrain or the people who live there. Luckily for her Riddick does and his knowledge is invaluable. The characters are so well depicted you can visualise them and hear them speak, they have so much depth. There is a great deal of emotional content in the book not only from the main characters but all involved. The plot is cleverly written with plenty of twists and turns, the story is action packed and progresses skilfully. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in this new series and look forward to next book

Book 1 in the DCI Emma Gardner, Yorkshire Crime Thriller Series and as a fan of this author I was looking forward to the start of a new police procedural and I was not disappointed. It’s a cracker. I loved the two main protagonists, Emma and DI Paul Riddick. Emma is married with a daughter but has had to leave them behind, temporarily, as she is seconded to Knaresborough. Riddick is living with a tragedy in his personal life, trouble from a previous work life and is coping by turning to the bottle. I was completely engrossed from the first to the last page.

Briefly, Emma arrives to a murder, in this quiet town where murder doesn’t happen. Her number two is Riddick a DI with a history and a rather grumpy exterior. When investigations lead back to one of Riddick former cases it looks like the case is coming back to haunt those involved. Can Emma and her new team track down the killer before they strike again?

Really well written story with the reader getting to see some facts before the police uncover them. But there are so many red herrings I never guess the real motive before the reveal and the shocking climax. It really was totally unexpected. And just when I thought it was all over along came the epilogue with a cliffhanger…. This was a great read, a proper police procedural with a brilliantly written plot. Bring on book 2 please

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Viaduct Killings" by Wes Martin. This is the first book I have read by Wes Martin and the first book in this new series. After reading "The Viaduct Killings," I'll be looking up other books by this author. The novel was well-written and the ending was open-ended, as to set up the series for a sequel. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Wes's writing, which has grown in strength with each book.
I was excited to see how he would handle a new series, one he said would be less dark.
The answer is brilliantly.
We meet Emma Gardner, seconded to Knaresborough, to take over the DCI role, stepping on the toes of Paul Riddick, who thought the role should have been his.
Both have have tragedy in their past, that they are struggling to come to terms with, but neither has time to dwell as a young man is murdered.
Emma realises that despite her partners grouchy exterior, he is actually a good man and his local knowledge is invaluable. I am enjoying the burgeoning relationship with these 2 and look forward to seeing where it goes.
One of the twists I guessed, but some of the others shocked me greatly.
The story starts off strong and doesn't let up pace throughout. It's well crafted and cleverly linked to incidents of the past, with personal stories interwoven seamlessly.
All this is set against the backdrop of the small Yorkshire Town of Knaresborough, where nothing normally happens, and the viaduct running through it.
Bring on book 2.

This is the first novel I’ve read from Wes Markin and I’m already hooked enough to be looking at his previous stories, The Viaduct Killings in the first of a new series featuring DCI Emma Gardner the story itself was gripping and had strong if flawed lead detectives. I also like the way it’s been left open to lead to the next instalment

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of The Viaduct Killings, the first novel to feature DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick of North Yorkshire Police.

Emma is seconded to Knaresborough, North Yorkshire after a tragedy in her native Wiltshire. On her first day in her new job she is called out to a murder and meets her deputy, DI Paul Riddick, a man with an attitude and a lot of hangups.

I enjoyed The Viaduct Killings, which is an eventful novel told at a fast pace. I liked that the author throws in a twist at the end as it seems a fitting end to everything that goes before.

The novel is mainly told from Emma and Paul’s points of view. They might not see eye to eye over interview technique, he wouldn’t know sympathy or gradual build up if they whacked him in the face, but they come to appreciate each other’s strengths and dedication. It looks to me that they could form an enduring and likeable partnership, one formed by personal trauma and a spirit of survival. There is much made in the novel about their emotional baggage and their attempts to deal with it, which seem to amount to drink more. It gives the reader an insight into their characters and a reason to keep reading in the case of Paul as his story is teased out over the course of the novel. Frankly I think it’s too much and detracts from the investigation.

The investigation is interesting. The team spend much of the novel searching for a motive and for a suspect in local criminal circles, but are also looking into an old death from a few years ago that may be linked, a case that brought Paul notoriety in the press and a certain ostracism in the workplace. It makes for an absorbing read and it held my attention throughout.

The Viaduct Killings is a good read that I can recommend.

I have always enjoyed this author’s books and was delighted to find this new series. I found it an easy read that kept me excited by the twists and turns of a thoroughly good plot. I have become attached to these new characters and will look forward to catching up with them and their lives in the next book. Would thoroughly recommend this and any other of Wes Markin’s books

Murder when a person operates outside the law, is soon a dead in case.
The place outside and inside was disastrous, crime and drugs a daily things
Witnesses didn’t want the law around even if in plain clothes, spelled trouble
for them afterwards. As it did for her partner, she still blames herself..
She was given thirty seconds to decide, it was already done, one year to get her
act together. New place and murder still happens, this time a young teen.
Emma has her work cut out for her, without the support of a partner and her family.
A new series that is a winner, and readers will enjoy.
Given ARC for my voluntary work for Net Galley and Boolwood Publisher.

Book 1 in a new series featuring DCI Emma Gardner.

On the first day of her new job Emma is called in after the body of a teenage hell raiser is found. Was it accidental or something more sinister?

Delving into the case she discovers links to a previous case her new DI investigated.

Still getting over an incident at her previous job can Emma get her head back in the game before anyone else dies?

Great characters and a fast paced plot kept me intrigued. I read this book in one sitting.

This is the first book I've read from this author but I enjoyed this so much I'll be adding his other series to my must read list.

I really enjoyed this book. Excellent read with great characters and a really good storyline. I would recommend this book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.

An excellent crime thriller that has everything a reader could want. Interesting storyline full of tension and twists, and two fully-fleshed out and believable characters investigating the murder. I haven't read this author before but am very impressed and looking forward to reading more.

Wes Markin's novel 'The Viaduct Killings' - Book 1 of his new series - 'The Yorkshire Murders' is sensational. Brilliant writing and an exceptional story that has everything a crime-thriller reader wants - tension, surprise, excitement and twists. The development of the main protagonist DCI Emma Gardner and her partner DI Paul Riddick is superb. I read the outstanding novel in one sitting - just impossible to put down and look forward to the next book of the series. Well done Wes Markin, Boldwood Books and all the team for a novel well worth five stars.

What an absolutely brilliant book! I’ve not read any Wes Markin books before but this definitely won’t be my last. This had me totally hooked from page one. Twists and turns all the way though and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen it changed direction. With great descriptive characters and locations this was meaty and touched on some very emotive and sensitive topics. One thing I really liked was how the characters all connected together and how the relationship between DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick developed. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, serial killers, great police work and a great who done it! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Mystery and intrigue.. characters who are into no good.. a novel with red herrings and secrets.
Friendship…family..this book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. I just could not get into the story totally…

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

I really enjoyed this read and think it had a great start which immediately grabbed my attention and interest. I liked the main character DCI Gardner who is seconded to Yorkshire Police and as soon as she arrives has a murder to investigate. I also liked her DI, he is troubled, flawed, his own worst enemy, has a tragic past and I found I had a lot of empathy for him. I think the author has created two characters here with good histories and has portrayed them very well making them realistic, relatable and believable. There were also some characters that I loathed, just absolutely loathed. When connections are found to a previous case DCI Gardner and her team are up against the clock to prevent more deaths. This book is written very well, it is an engaging and entertaining read which held my interest and attention from beginning to end. It flowed smoothly and I enjoyed the twists that certainly kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. Three quarters in and I still didn’t have a clue. There is a lot of action in the last part of the book leading to a final and surprising ending which I think sets up the next book very nicely. If you like police procedurals I’d recommend this and I will definitely want to read the next book in the series.

4 stars