I really enjoyed the previous books in this series. But, this time, the story just didn't grab my attention. I'm not sure why. Hopefully I will love the next book.

A murdered child. A case from the past. A detective inspector with nothing to lose…

DI Paul Riddick is a man tormented by his own actions and determined to right the wrongs of his past any way he can. But when his instincts lead him to follow a child he believes to be in danger, Riddick gets in deeper than he ever imagined…especially when the child is found dead.

DCI Emma Gardner doesn’t believe Riddick has blood on his hands, but he’s off the case until she can clear his name. If she can clear his name. Because Riddick seems determined to chase ghosts that only get him into more trouble.

Riddick's certain he didn’t kill the kid in the cave. But he also remembers another case, twenty years ago, with shocking similarities…which means someone is trying to trap Riddick.

Can Riddick uncover the truth, or will this be the case that finally destroys him once and for all?

“The Crying Cave Killings” by Wes Markin is the third installment in The Yorkshire Murders series. The novel can be enjoyed as a standalone, but familiarity with the prior novels makes it more enjoyable.

The story unfolds with a chilling premise: a murdered child found in a cave, setting off a complex investigation that delves into past crimes and personal demons. DI Paul Riddick, haunted by his own actions, becomes embroiled in the case when his instincts lead him to follow a child he believes is in danger, only to find the child dead. This event triggers memories of a similar case from twenty years ago, suggesting a sinister connection.

As Riddick is taken off the case, DCI Emma Gardner works to clear his name. However, Riddick’s pursuit of justice is fraught with peril as he chases ghosts that threaten to lead him into further trouble. The narrative weaves through the murky criminal underworld of Knaresborough, with Mother Shipton’s cave and its petrified objects adding a dark, atmospheric backdrop to the unfolding drama.

The plot is well-constructed, with devious twists that kept me guessing. The characterisation is excellent, with each character presented as a realistic, flawed individual. The characters are compelling, from those seeking justice within the law to criminals who show unexpected compassion. Markin presents life not in black and white but in varying shades of grey. The setting of the novel is particularly noteworthy. The petrified objects in Mother Shipton’s cave mirror the petrification of souls trapped within themselves.

This was a super fun book to read! I was kept guessing throughout. The storyline moves quickly, and keeps the readers attention.

This is the third in the series and it works as a standalone. However I think it's better read in series order to give you an idea of just how troubled Paul Riddick is. The story flits between the current day and past events and it looks like history is repeating itself when the body of a young boy is discovered in a cave. Unfortunately Riddick is lying beside him. To make matters worse, his memory has gone in relation to certain parts of the night's events so he is off the case while the team investigate. When other kids go missing, Emma and the team have their work cut out for them.

Aside from the dead and missing boys, the story is mainly focussed on Riddick and his ongoing torment as well as his determination to right past wrongs. Emma has personal stuff also going on at home. It's a sad story overall and I found myself reading in anguish more than anything while also rooting for Milo. The ending makes me wonder what next for Emma and Paul and I want to find out now!

This was a good story which kept me turning the pages throughout the night. Great mystery, writing and plotting will recommend to all my friends who love this genre.

A third brilliant and gripping instalment. This has been a book that has been completely unpredictable and unputdownable.

This is a book that is dark, gritty and really given me a sense of unease as I’ve read this one.

This is a book I was unwilling to put down. This is perfectly paced, filled with twists and completely brilliant.

This is a truly brilliant read and a wonderful addition to the series. We revisit Paul Riddick who is still battling his own demons. The characters are strong and relationships add stronger.

The location of this is perfect and adds a haunting, atmospheric feel to this as a read. This is definitely a book that has sent chills through me.

This is a must for the TBR.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

There is lots going on in this book, which is set in Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, an area of the country that I know well. The book is told from different viewpoints and our main detective, Paul Riddick is out of the main investigation quite quickly in the book because he wakes up in a cave with the body of a child next to him. Emma, the main detective, has her own problems and does not really seem to have very many leads in the investigation where young boys seem to be at risk of being murdered and /or groomed for crimes. During his suspension, Paul is conducting his own investigations.
Despite the compicated plot, I liked this book a lot . Not all loose ends are tied up so I hope there will be future episodes
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Dark, gritty and hard-hitting, Wes Markin’s The Crying Cave Killings is a tense and twisted crime thriller that is not for the faint-hearted.

DI Paul Riddick’s past actions continue to weigh heavily on his mind. Determined to right old wrongs and to ease his conscience, when news reaches him that a child might be in deathly danger, Riddick does not hesitate to step in and help – even if it means putting himself and his career in danger. With his decision having far-reaching consequences for him, Riddick seems mired in hopelessness and despair. But DCI Emma Gardner refuses to believe that Riddick could somehow be responsible for the horrific events that have unfolded. She is determined to do whatever it takes to clear his name. But at what cost?

The discovery that the child he believed had been in danger had been found murdered shocked Riddick to his core. Despite the horrible accusations being thrown his way, Riddick is not guilty of this heinous crime he is being accused of. But this case has stirred up unpleasant memories for Riddick that remind him of a similar crime that had been committed twenty years ago. Is someone trying to trap Riddick? Can he uncover the truth in time? Or will this end up being the case that destroys him once and for all?

Shocking, unpredictable and chilling, my heart was in my throat the entire time I was reading Wes Markin’s The Crying Cave Killings. A compulsively readable crime novel that gets under your skin and keeps you fervently turning the pages, The Crying Cave Killings is a deftly written tale of insidious evil, dangerous secrets and overwhelming guilt that grabs you by the neck from the first line and keeps you hooked until the end.

Heart-pounding, nerve-jangling and unpredictable, crime fiction fans will be gripped by Wes Markin’s The Crying Cave Killings.

Another fast paced and tense addition to this excellent series. It kept me hooked and guessing, the solid plot is tightly knitted and gripping.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is book three in the Yorkshire Murders and it is easily read as stand alone though I highly recommend you read one and two to get a better feel for Riddick and Gardner's back stories.
The story flows between the past and present when a boy is found dead in similar circumstances to a case Riddick worked on twenty years ago, the only problem is that Riddick was also found next to the boy - now we know he want responsible as he was simply following a s child he believed to be in danger and in doing so he ended up whacked on the head. Gardner needs to put him off the case and clear his name, but Riddick uses his time off to chase the ghosts from his past and that just gives Gardner even more of a headache to deal with as well!

Between Riddick going rogue, missing teenage boys as well as finding out who is responsible for the death of the young boy, Gardner is juggling a lot of balls and she is not without her own personal problems going on as well. I really love how raw, flawed and true to life these characters are and I really have to wonder what Markin has in story for Emma and Paul next.

4 stars

What can I say? Book 3 of The Yorkshire Murders Series, The Crying Cave Killings was one I have been waiting for so impatiently for months! This is one author who creates magic as he writes. Every book I have read by him, no matter which series it is, is just amazing.

I was so happy to be back with DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick. I love both these characters and the team that surrounds them. This story is told in the present day, with the discovery of a young boys body. We are also taken back in time with Riddick to a case when he was a young recruit. This is a case that takes all of Gardner and Riddicks attention, even though Riddick is off the case! I will say no more on that score! Read it to find out.

I advise anyone who fancies reading this book to read the full series in order. Number one, because they are all fantastic books and number two because its the best way to appreciate the characters development. They are all multi layered and have their own flaws which Wes Markin uses to their full potential. I feel like I'm returning to old friends now, evertime I read the newest in the series.

It's another dark and terrible case for the team. I will say that it may be dark, but if you are aware of Wes Markin and his other series, it's not that dark! We see both Emma and Paul struggle in this book, for their own reasons and I was backing them both to get to the truth, which they do in their own ways.

A fantastic series that I love returning to, time and time again. I do hope that Wes Markin has plenty of ideas for this series, because I really want it to be a 10 book at least!! I couldn't recommend this book or author any higher than I do. Everyone needs to read at least one book and then find themselves hooked!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn’t enjoy this book and found it really hard to actually finish it. I do think it’s because it’s part of a series that I haven’t rea d before.

I have to start my review by saying that this series is one of my favourites. I do love a good police procedural and this book along with the other two in The Yorkshire Murders series have been great ones. You also get the added bonus of some brilliant characters which which makes for a great combination. I do think at a push The Crying Cave Killings could be read as a standalone. However you are missing out on the other books and a greater feel for the characters and their lives.

Even though The Crying Cave Killings is book three it still feels fresh and interesting. Not just the stories but the characters too. In this book Paul finds himself in a tricky predicament and I was wondering how it would all turn out. Not only for him but for all of the characters. This story definitely took me on a journey, one with plenty of twists and turns as the case unfolded. I loved how I was kept on my toes.

The pacing is great and there were a few sub plots/threads but they all easily kept my attention. The determination of Paul and Emma to find the truth is a definite plus point. The thing is these characters do have flaws and aren’t exactly perfect but I think this gives them more depth and overall character. There is a realistic edge to this pair that makes me root for them even when they they might be making less than ideal choices.

The Crying Cave Killings was intriguing, had a brilliant setting and characters with strong personalities. This all combined to create a story I was so invested in. I probably say this every time but I can’t wait for the next book!

DI Paul Riddick is torn by his past. 20 years previously Riddock was on the scene of a young boy who had been found murdered, but now another young boy has been found murdered and there may be a connection.

This was another fantastic read by Markin and I think the best narrative yet. There are several narratives which all intertwine and which I did not seem coming together. This was a gripping read, and although the third in a series and can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the series.

Even though this is the third book in the series it can be read as a standalone which I am thankful for. DI Paul Riddick is haunted by his past and his need to right the wrongs of that past lead him to follow a child he believes is in danger. He is right when that child is found dead but the problem is the child’s death is very similar to one that happened twenty years ago. Now he is on leave and can’t work the case. However, DCI Emma Gardner can and she works to clear his name because she believes in him.

This is a fast paced book that will grab your attention right from the beginning. Riddick is like any good hero and still investigates even though he is off the case. After all he is the only one that truly clear his name. There is plenty of suspense and a lot of threads that get neatly tied up in the end. I found that I enjoyed Riddick as a character. The book is a good read all in all.

Once again DI Paul Riddick, instinctive and driven but often impetuous with a certain disregard for rules, is in the doghouse. Out walking at night to escape his demons he spots a distressed teenager near St. Robert’s Cave in Knaresborough but then suddenly he is knocked out and wakes up next to the boy’s dead body. Infuriatingly he cannot remember what he just saw which may be crucial evidence. Echoes of a case twenty years ago when he was a young PC taken under the then DI Anders Smith’s wing come flooding back to Riddick. Another boy, a different cave, a different bear. A visit to his old boss in prison confirms that he was not the only one to have doubts at the time about the conviction of the boy’s father but can there really be a link with this current death? As a key witness, Riddick won’t even be allowed to work on the case but that’s not going to stop him conducting his own inquiries. If there’s a child killer on the loose, how many more boys could be in danger? Meanwhile DCI Emma Gardner has problems of her own, with her estranged husband Barry moving in with her, at least ensuring she can keep custody of her psychopathic brother Jack’s daughter Rose, but then things get tricky when Barry’s new girlfriend turns up. Past events have seen Riddick use up more than his fair share of his nine lives. Fortunately Emma has recognised the good detective in him and helped him back onto an even keel after his tragic history and his drinking, but just how many times can she save him from himself?
Although this can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I would certainly recommend reading these books order to follow the character progression and history that has built up since the start. The friendship between Emma and Riddick is now a very strong one and, along with the other detectives, they are developing into a great team as they tackle their most grim and heart-breaking case to date. This story will appeal to readers who love a good solid police procedural with a clever and complex plot, lots of interwoven threads and some very likeable detectives. This is the third story in a great new series and I hope there will be many more.

This was a fantastic installment to the Yorkshire Murder series I think they are getting better and better. This story switches seamlessly between the past and the present, This is such a riveting read I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I can't say too much without spoiling the plot but if you love police Procedural then this a perfect read. I love the fact that we are given more about the characters pasts and personal lives and after that ending I NEED to know where this story is going.

The story:
In 2003, 15-year-old Graham Lock was found murdered in Mother Shipton’s Cave in North Yorkshire. A young PC, Paul Riddick was on the scene, and it became a case that defined his career, bringing him to the attention of his former mentor DI Anders Smith.

Now, 20 years later, Riddick discovers the body of young boy Stephen Best in St Robert’s Cave, and he immediately sees a possible connection to the former case.

But that case was solved and a man convicted — a man who later died in prison. Could the wrong man have been convicted? And if so, was it a mistake, or a cover up?

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series by Wes Markin (“The Viaduct Killings” and “The Lonely Lake Killings”), so I am delighted to report that this is probably my favourite instalment yet!

It is good to be back in the company of DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick, although in this story they spend most of their time apart… With Riddick involved in Stephen Best’s mysterious death (at best as a witness, at worst as a suspect), Gardner is forced to team up with newly promoted DI Phil Rice, son of DCI Derek Rice who closed the Lock case 20 years ago.

The story has several threads that the author weaves together well, from the past and current cases linked to the caves, to the parallel story of a drug dealer recruiting teens to work for him — a thoroughly unlikable character who knows more than Riddick would like about his own past mistakes.

Riddick is his usual complex, maverick self in this book, determined to find out the truth from 20 years ago. The link to the present day crime seems coincidental at best, but the more Riddick delves into the past, the more he comes to believe that justice hasn’t been served. Meanwhile, Gardner has her work cut dealing with the death of Stephen Best, a pretty unpleasant acting deputy, and her own personal issues with the breakdown of her marriage.

The various strands of the story are concluded in an exciting finale that took me by surprise, and once again set up further intrigue for the next book. This story could easily be read as a standalone, but I’d definitely recommend reading the others in the series to enjoy Gardner and Riddick’s story from the start!

‘The Crying Cave Killings’ was a riveting read that kept me up to the early hours! This is the third in the series of the ‘Yorkshire Murders’ but can easily be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading the first two books though as it really gives you a feel for the characters, in particular Riddick’s torment. But this is a self-contained narrative so new readers will have no problems getting to grips with the plot!

A murdered child. A case from the past and a DI with nothing to lose. DI Paul Riddick is a man tormented with the past and his own actions. When his instincts lead him to follow a child who is showing signs of being distressed it pulls him back into past and one of his first-ever cases. Riddick wakes up next to the child who has sadly passed away. DCI Emma Gardner doesn't believe that Riddick has anything to do with the death but he is off the case. But Riddick thinks it's linked the death of another child who was found decades ago in front of Mother Shipton’s Cave and is determined to investigate the link. Will this be the case that finally destroys him…

The location of Mother Shipton’s Cave creeped me out. Our school took us on a day trip there and I hated it! Don't know why, I just found it very scary. So these childhood fears permeated my experience of reading this book. I felt very uncomfortable the whole way through but that's partly due to the standard of Wes’s writing as I was able to visualise the scenes very clearly! I think when you are reading about a case that involves children you always ‘feel’ it more. I was rooting for all of them, especially Milo.

This was a gripping read that kept me up way past my bedtime. The unravelling of Riddick was hypnotising, you just couldn't put it down until you knew what happened! Gardner has her own personal problems going on and hopefully, there will be another book in the series to see how both characters are getting on!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

I read this as a standalone book, it is a fantastic gripping storyline set in a beautiful location. Although it flicks between past and present it is easy to follow. I will be seeking out the other books in the series.