The story:
With barely a chance to draw breath after murder investigation Operation Eden, DCI Gardner, DI Riddick and their North Yorkshire team are thrown into a new case when the body of young woman Tia Meadows is found beside a lake. But this time an arrest is immediate, with loner Harvey Henfrey brought in for the crime.

But as the team investigate, they find there’s more to things than meet the eye, with DI Riddick even fearing a link to his tragic past and the possible involvement of DCI Gardner’s own brother. Will they be able to get to the bottom of events on the night of Tia’s death, and bring the killer to justice?

My thoughts:
Having enjoyed the first book in the Yorkshire Murders series “The Viaduct Killings” last year, I was looking forward to picking up the story of DCI Emma Gardner and team again; and I’m pleased to say, I wasn’t disappointed!

This book picks up immediately after the action of the previous book, and Gardner, along with the unpredictable DI Paul Riddick, are once again leading a murder inquiry. The case at first seems open and shut, with an immediate arrest of a local recluse, and things do look bad for him — the body is found near his isolated hut and the victim’s bag is found on his porch. But DCI Gardner’s instincts tell her Henfrey is telling the truth when he claims his innocence.

The case leads them in increasingly dark directions from a history of abuse in the pasts of some of the characters, to DI Riddick’s own tragedy that we learnt about in book one. DCI Gardner’s brother, who arrived back in her life recently with her young niece Rose in tow, is also in the picture, and she is forced to confront their difficult relationship — could he possibly be linked to the crime?

As with the first book, I really enjoyed the relationship between Gardner and Riddick. While Gardner is a by-the-book officer and Riddick is a maverick, they both seem to be better for working with each other.

With several feasible suspects in the case, the conclusion took me by surprise and kept me turning the pages until I knew what had happened! This is a great, fast-paced crime story, and I eagerly await the next instalment of the Yorkshire Murders series to find out what happens to Gardner and Riddick next!

This is the second book in the Yorkshire Murder series but can easily be read as a standalone as I did because all you need to know about the detectives from the previous book are revealed while reading. I love crime thrillers, but there are only a handful that grab my attention enough, so I readily search for the back catalogue as soon as I finish reading or browse for the next one. This is one of those.

DCI Gardner and DI Riddick are a complex police duo with messed up personal lives which engaged my attention just as much as the crime they were solving. With a psychopathic brother, a traumatised niece and a fellow detective dealing with his own turmoil, Gardner’s life is on a knife edge personally and professionally.

While the murder promised to be simple, the twists and turns kept me on my toes and turning the page to until the unnerving truth was revealed. The novel is chocked full of action, traipsing into the underworld of Knaresborough and looking at how the stigma of being seen as different, and vulnerable can lead to suspicions correct or otherwise. All the characters have depth and backstories which played into the current investigation and beyond.

The investigative team were well formed, with a strong chemistry and camaraderie that gives a good foundation for the in future books and scope for more drama, betrayal and fissions. Set against the backdrop of the stunning locations in Yorkshire, I’m eager to read the next one and was thrilled that my local library had the previous one, The Viaduct Murders available for loan. It was just as thrilling as this The Lonely Lake Killings adding to my conviction that this series will soothe my crime drama addiction now Happy Valley is over.

Author Biography

I recognize The Lonely Lake Killings (#2 in a series) and its predecessor get high marks, but it just didn't work for me. Too many references to things that happened in the first book - which, I know is necessary but the way it was handled was confusing. Also did not appreciate the italics and the asides. This was a DNF for me.

The lonely lake killings is the second instalment featuring DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick the dynamics are just as good as the first novel and I like the way they work together although Riddick is a man with his demons that still need to be tamed, hopefully as the series progresses he can become the police man he is meant to be. The story was good with plenty of twists & turns & not too many references of the first novel to become distracting. I look forward to instalment 3

The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin
The Yorkshire Murders #2

Dark, gritty, murder with plenty of red herrings, surprises, and characters that I had trouble relating to. I wondered if I had read the first book I would have known, liked and/or understood the main characters better. I wasn’t sure why Emma was working in a different town than her husband and daughter lived in and wondered what her relationship with colleagues was really like. Her brother was a bit of a mystery and it was difficult to understand him as well as how he and his daughter would play into Emma’s future. I guess I ended up with more questions than answers about the characters though the police procedural aspects did determine who had killed a few people in the story. I never really warmed up to Emma or Paul and may or may not read another book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin is a totally gripping crime suspense that I could not put down. It is the second book in The Yorkshire Murders series but can be read as a stand-alone.
I enjoyed meeting up with familiar characters. An unlikely detective pairing once more work together to solve the crimes.
Everyone has a past. Sometimes our pasts follow us into our present, influencing our lives. There are characters who cannot move forwards as they are forever inhabiting their pasts.
Grief does not improve with time. A character tries to function but finds himself slipping backwards. His coping mechanisms could destroy him as his grief runs deep.
Old crimes resurface as a father seeks justice for his daughter.
Justice means different things to different people. We see that when characters seek justice, sometimes the lines blur between good and evil.
We all face daily problems. No one has a perfect life. We witness the struggle to balance a work- home life.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The leading pair were likable and tenacious in their pursuit of the truth.
I am totally gripped by The Yorkshire Murders series. I think it would make a great Netflix series. Wes Markin certainly knows how to weave a marvelous tale.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Book 2 in the Yorkshire Murder series.

DCI Emma Gardner is settling in after her first big case since moving north.

When a young woman's body is found next to an isolated lake and her purse next to the only inhabited building for miles it seems to be an open and shut case.

But Emma isn't convinced the recluse who lives there had anything to do with the barbaric murder. Investigating more it seems there are secrets being kept in this community.

With her DI still battling his own demons and the complications in her personal life can Emma and the team find out the truth before anyone else is hurt?

I loved this book. It kept me reading long into the night. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

I have to confess that Wes Markin is a new name to me, despite the fact he has published several crime novels. The Lonely Lake Killings is the second book in his Yorkshire Murders and after finishing it, I really need to search out book one ‘The Viaduct Killings’ in order to get up to speed with the back stories on DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick.
I really enjoyed this read. A great story with solid characters, full of twist and turns that had me guessing all the way through. There were, of course, the usual red herrings, but as each one was discounted and the list of suspects shrank, I was still none the wiser. Like most crime novels, the main characters have their own emotional problems. Emma’s is her damaged brother Jack and his daughter, while Paul suffers from a past that the press, or shall I say one journalist in particular, seems to want to keep digging up.
Tracking down the killer of twenty year old Tia Meadows is a page turner. The type of story that stays with you well after you have finished it.
I would like to thank Wes Markin, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an ARC of The Lonely Lake Killings in exchange for an honest review.

Book Title: The Lonely Lake Killings
Series: The Yorkshire Murders #2
Author: Wes Markin
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: February 15, 2023
My Rating: 3.4 Stars

This is the second book in The Yorkshire Murders Series.

Story stars when Frank Dowson who calls himself an old man is heading to the lake to fish only he has to cross Harvey Henfrey’s land. Harvey is described as peculiar but Frank is willing to cross his land as it is 5:30 am. When he gets to the lake he sees a young girl facing a tree. This certainly seems odd and as he gets close he discovers that it is twenty year old Tia Meadows who works at the local bar and she is dead.
DCI Emma Gardner and her partner DI Paul Riddick are looking for her killer but everyone believes this is an open and shut case since she is on Harvey’s land and he is known as a local recluse and surely is responsible.
DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick are not as positive. Their investigation discovers that the Si Meadows her father is a wealthy local businessman who has some questionable acquaintances.

In the meantime, both detectives are dealing with personal situations which is making it difficult to think clearly - Riddick’s past (?) is catching up with him and Emma’s psychopathic brother is causing her worry
As the story unfolds, there will be more casualties, as the detectives uncover what really caused the young woman’s death.

However, anyone who enjoys police procedure will love this!

Want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 15, 2023

Gritty and fast-paced from the start, this police procedural set in Yorkshire is addictive reading. DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick are a powerful detective team with past tragedies that impede their current lives, especially in DI Riddick's case. This story explores the fallout after the gruesome murder of a young woman; it exposes the underbelly of abuse and crime with disturbing themes. The noir elements are well-written, showing that good people can do bad things given the right provocation. The dynamic between Gardner and Riddick is complex and engaging and looks like it will be severely tested in the books to follow. Gardner's personal life was left on a cliffhanger at the end of the first book in the series, and although this is explored in this story, it still feels like unfinished business.

I like the detective team, the authentic setting and the twisty plot.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The second installment in the Yorkshire Murder series, The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin is a solid British police procedural. Featuring DCI Emma Gardner and her partner DI Paul Riddick, their past issues continue to haunt them and impact this latest case. When a young woman is found murdered by the lake, the isolated recluse is blamed and locals want swift justice. The recent arrivals of unwanted Travelers make for complications, as do past events, still impacting the present. As Emma and her team investigate, the local media’s sole focus is on the seemingly guilty troubled recluse. A solid British police investigation with interwoven crimes and local inhabitants’ historic choices, that make for a three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Boldwood Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

The Lonely Lake Killings is the second book in the Yorkshire murder series by Wes Markin, and the first book by Wes that I’ve read. Although it is the second book, I felt it could be easily read as a standalone, and I had no problem at all in getting into the story. Wes Markin has created a really intriguing mystery with the murder of a young girl, Tia Meadows, and there are plenty of interesting character’s who had me contemplating who could’ve killed her and why.

Wes Markin creates a fascinating backstory for the character’s, who are the central focus point in this book, and these backstories give the character’s all a potential motive for the murder of Tia, which creates a tense atmosphere. Tia appears to have been involved with a few people in the run up to her death, and this creates a lot of work for DCI Emma Gardener and DI Paul Riddick to sift through. Her father, a multi-millionaire, with a shady background, is distraught about her death. Wes Markin delves into his background as the plot of the novel progresses, and I found these scenes, especially as Wes explored his childhood, very intense.

It took me just a couple of sittings to finish this book. Rick has a very interesting and a heart-breaking backstory as well, and I felt I really connected to his character as I was reading. I could see how much pain he is still in from the horrific trauma he has suffered. I think this is where I may have benefited more from reading the previous book in the series, but Wes Markin does explain what happened to Rick very well for new readers.

There are some shocking reveals about Tia and her father, which deepen the mystery surrounding her death even further, which is part of what makes this story a real page-turner, and why I flew through it so quickly.

This is a series I’ll definitely be keen to return to.

Another fantabulous addition to the series. After having read the series debut a couple of months ago, I was eagerly waiting for the next installment.

I love the recurring characters' side stories as much as the mystery - I cannot choose a favorite between these two.

The Lonely Lake Killings begins with a murder near the 'Lonely' Lake. A recluse is arrested for the murder but he claims he's innocent. The victim's father is a well-known personality in Knaresborough and wants justice for his daughter. Meanwhile, there's a group of travellers in a rugby field nearby and the locals aren't happy.

As Emma and Paul start digging deeper into the victim's personal life, they learn a lot about her father. There's also an incident from the past which plays a major role in the story - a well-hidden secret which, if blown up, shall cause nothing but trouble.

The mystery kept me guessing till the end. Riddick faces another roadblock halfway through - just when he thought things were getting better, bang! Trouble! I couldn't help but feel bad for what Riddick was going through. He is a recovering alcoholic and is trying his best to make peace with the fact that he will never see his family again. Yet, there are a few who would love to destroy him.

This is a Wes Markin novel so it goes without saying that the storytelling is simply fantabulous. Excellent plot-to-story development. The mystery keeps one guessing till the end. The whole story is peppered with unexpected twists and turns. There's an unexpected development at the end. I didn't see it coming. Took me by surprise (in a good way.)

The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin is a completely gripping page turner. If you love police procedural, I highly recommend you to add this book (and the whole series) to your TBR. I cannot wait to see what's next for Emma and Paul. After all, the shocking development is sure to create some ripples in the pond.

This is the second in this spin off series and so only one book to play catch-up with! And I do recommend you do just that. In fact, you could do more than that and check out this author's previous series to see where DCI Emma Gardner stemmed from. Not obligatory, but all good reads, so...
We start with the death of a local girl. Found near an isolated lake. Nearby where an old recluse lives. Fingers point towards him straight away, his guilt cemented by the fact that her purse was found on his doorstep. But Emma and partner in crime DI Paul Riddick aren't so sure. Seems a bit cut and dried without a motive to them... So, they start their investigation in earnest. It's not long before they discover fear within the community and secrets they are trying to keep... And it's not going to be easy breaking down their defense to get to the truth...
As well as the crime, we also witness Riddick facing his pwn demons as well as Emma having to make some decisions of her own. Both I will leave you to discover as the author intends but suffice to say that both complement rather than distract from the main crime story being told.
The characters, and there are quite a few, are really what makes this book (and author) really pop. They are multidimensional and multifaceted rather than being just plain black & white. I often change my mind about them several times during a book as more of their personality and backstory is known. They are all east to connect to in some way or other, both positive and negative and all things in between.
And the story gets on with itself very well too, with scant waffle or padding, culminating in an ending which both satisfied and whetted my appetite for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of The Lonely Lake Killings, the second novel to feature DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick of North Yorkshire Police, set in Knaresborough.

When the body of a young woman is found near an isolated lake suspicion fall on the hermit who lives in a shack nearby, especially when the victim’s purse is found outside his front door. The community is convinced of his guilt, Gardner and Riddick not so much and when they dig deeper they uncover all sorts of secrets, some nearer to home than they would like.

The Lonely Lake Killings is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really like the author’s style of writing with its clear prose and ability to draw the reader in with strategic reveals and hints of more to come. On the other hand I felt that the middle of the novel was muddled and I really didn’t understand some of the motivations in some of the characters.

By the end of the novel I could see where the author wanted to go, but he took a circuitous route involving the victim’s father and Paul Riddick, who lost his wife and children in a car bombing. I understand loss, but I have absolutely no idea where they were coming from nor could I follow their thought processes. It felt weird in a crime novel. Still, the rest of the novel was interesting with various suspects and a reluctance to tell the truth. It’s not particularly propulsive, but it is thorough investigatively.

I must admit that I found Riddick’s disintegration difficult to read. For the first half of the novel he is a smart, focused detective, in the second he is a relapsed alcoholic with very poor decision making skills. It looks like it will be up to Gardner to save him and his job, while trying to salvage her own life. I feel quite sorry for her.

The Lonely Lake Killings is a solid read. 3.5*

A great follow up to The Viaduct Killings. I'm thoroughly enjoying this series featuring DCI Emna Gardner and DI Paul Riddick. A young woman is found murdered and automatically suspicion falls upon a man, a hermit, who lives nearby to where the body is found. Several suspects with different motives made for an intriguing plot. I was sure I had guessed the outcome, but I was wrong. What is also interesting is the backstory and personal lives of Gardner and Riddick. It certainly adds an extra element to this series . Looking forward to more in this series

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bolwood Books and Wes Markin for the opportunity to read an advance copy of THE LONELY LAKES KILLINGS, to be published 15 February 2023. This police procedural was the second book of the series of Yorkshire Murders but worked as a standalone. The two detectives worked well with each other despite their personal failings. The historical accounts of child molestation were difficult to get through. Despite that, the novel was a great police procedural that anyone who reads this genre should appreciate. #NetGalley. #BoldwoodBooks. #TheLonelyLakeKillings. #WesMarkin

Another brilliant book by this author.
I really like DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick they both have there demons but they help each other to stay strong.
This the second book in this series and was just as good as the first in fact even better it has a really good story, and look forward to reading more of these characters and see where they are going.

The Lonely Lake Killings is the second book in the Yorkshire Murders series. Markin sets the scene for another engrossing read where I found myself drawn in from the start. When we join DCI Emma Gardner and her Partner Paul Riddick on a case after a body of a young girl is found by an isolated lake. Exactly what the title says!

I am loving the characters Gardner and Riddick and in this book we explode them some more. I would recommend you read this series in order. There is some brilliant character build up going throughout the story/case.

I feel Markin has put plenty of thought into this story to make it what it is. What I mean by that is that I can see a massive difference between his Yorke series and this one. Yorke is dark and gruesome where this series is more about the characters which is cleverly woven into the plot.

The Lonely Lake Killings has plenty of twists and turns which will have you guessing until the end. I loved the setting of this story and the traveler community that is entwined.Not forgetting the ending.This is definitely a series that gets better and I can’t wait to see what Markin has in store for next.

Wow! What a rollercoaster of a ride this was featuring DCI Gardner and Paul Riddick. It's well crafted and plotted, has great characterisation, with suspense in bucket loads. There are twists, drama, tension and a completely unexpected ending which left me wanting just another chapter to follow on. I absolutely loved it. The author writes a blinding tale! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.