This book sets off at a blistering pace with the discovery of two bodies. Detectives Stone and Oliver quickly become involved as the investigating officers. I loved the dual settings of Northumberland and Iceland, with their vivid descriptions. The plotting is intricate and clever, very gripping and well thought out. If you like authentic detective books, this is one which I would highly recommend. I really look forward to the follow up! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Number four in the Stone and Oliver series based in and around the glorious county of Northumberland. This book starts with a double murder investigation which Stone and Oliver and the MIT team are soon flying all over the county and Iceland trying to solve. The narrative is fast paced and the characters personal lives intermingle with the main story very effectively. I am a fan of Mari Hannah's books and this one certainly doesn't disappoint.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

4+
DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver #4

5 am call from Stone wakes Frankie, as a body floating in a barrel has been found in Kielder water, Northumberland. This is a gruesome discovery for an Icelandic visitor, Kristján Kristjánsson, skinny-dipping at dawn. A call later in the day reveals a second body. Are the victims connected?

This has a cracking start and I very much enjoy this latest addition to the series. The police procedure feel so authentic you could be a fly on the wall observing the team. They are all interesting, all well fleshed out, you feel the frustration of a difficult case and the competitive spirit between them which comes across in both dialogue and in actions. The standout characterisations are of Stone and Oliver both are complex and baggage is being carried. They are very intriguing and I love the way their relationship fluctuates rollercoaster style and this time that comes under attack. It’s a very good partnership and I like the way this ends as I’m keen to know what happens next for these two!

The settings for this novel are excellent and both the Kielder area and Iceland are used effectively in the storytelling providing some strong atmosphere to support a well thought out plot. The cases are perplexing, and complicated for the team to unpick the many strands. In Iceland DCI Anna Jonsdottir provides support, adding to the investigation. It’s exciting and gripping in several places, there is one very tense movie worthy scene towards the end which has you on the edge of your seat. The pace is fast and I like how the plot constantly changes direction and is unpredictable as suspicious actions, secrets and lies have to be disentangled.

Overall, if you like a police procedural with interesting central protagonists, these North East England based novels are highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Kielder water is a large reservoir in Northumberland near the Scottish border. It’s surrounded by Kielder forest, one of the largest man-made woodlands. Kielder Observatory at Black Fell is one of the most remarkable places in the United Kingdom for stargazing. It’s a stunning area to set a very good novel.