A pivotal case in Detective Paul Riddick's past returns to haunt him in this third book in the Yorkshire Murder series; a young boy is dead in a cave, and the detective is unconscious. Riddick's memories are vague, but he knows it has links to the case that started his detective career. DCI Emma Gardner has to work with a new partner, which has challenges, given that his father was the SIO in the historic case. The mysteries are twisty and woven with folklore and crime noir. There are many poignant and suspenseful moments in this police procedural. I like the detectives, the vibrant setting and the detailed investigation.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Another fabulous five star book from Wes Markin, (and I’m VERY stingy with my 5 star allocations!)

The Crying Cave Killings is the third in the fantastic Yorkshire Murders series and while it works fine as a standalone book, I would strongly advise readers to read the first two books to get the full backstories of DI Riddick and DCI Gardner, which will give a greater understanding of their actions in this book. 5*****

The characters are utterly relatable, the crimes obviously include upsetting situations but are dealt with sensitively and I can’t wait for the next instalment of this compelling series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Crying Cave Killings by Wes Markin is another fabulous crime suspense and the third book in The Yorkshire Murders series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the previous books first for maximum enjoyment.
I enjoyed being reunited with familiar faces who were once more relentless in their search for the truth.
The line between good and evil is blurred as a ‘good’ character is tormented by a terrible past event. The guilt over the choice made, and the path taken, continues to eat away.
There is the theme of identity. Some hide who they really are through shame of what others might think. There are some tragic decisions taken.
Family is important. Sometime we choose our family, at other times we are born into it. True family will always protect the vulnerable.
The reader enters the murky criminal underworld surrounding Knaresborough and Mother Shipton’s cave. The petrified objects add to the dark atmosphere as the scene is set. Mirrored by the petrified objects is a soul trapped inside itself.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. The reader admires those who seek justice within the law. We witness that even some of the criminals have compassion. Life is not always clear-cut black and white but varying shades of grey.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Crying Cave Killings. It was exciting and all consuming.
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.

I really enjoyed the previous book in the Yorkshire murder series by Wes Markin, so I was definitely intrigued to read the next book. In The Crying Cave Killings, DI Paul Riddick is facing another tough investigation, with the discovery of a murdered child, and this case has a huge impact on him, especially as he thinks there’s a connection to a previous case that took place twenty years earlier, with the discovery of a body in Mother Shiptons Cave. But the closer he gets to the case, the more his obsession makes him a suspect in the eyes of his colleagues.

I was really interested to see what was going to happen to DI Paul Riddick throughout the course of this novel. It is clear to see how personal this case is to him and he is also battling his own demons. You can see why he takes some of the actions that he does in the book, even if they aren’t the best choices for him to make, especially as it puts Paul’s career in the police force and his reputation at risk. He is also having therapy sessions. I was also interested in the scenes when he was together with his therapist, as there was chemistry between them, which I really liked. I’m looking to forward to seeing where Wes Markin will take this part of the story next.

There are some chilling and horrific themes that Wes Markin explores as the case into the murdered child develops. There are also some chapters which are told from the perspective of an unknown individual, and I thought these chapters were so intriguing, as we can see what a damaged person this individual is. I wanted to know what connection this person had to the killings that were taking place. Is this person the killer? It made for some tense reading as Wes Markin gets inside this persons head.

Wes Markin’s latest novel will chill you to the bone and keep you gripped. I’m really enjoying this series, and I am looking forward to the next instalment.

Wes Markin's, DCI Emma Gardner and colleague DI Paul Riddick (the detective with more lives than a cat) are back, fighting the crime in Yorkshire and it was great having a bit more insight into troubled detective Riddick’s back story.
he really is a man who needs love in his life, after losing his whole family. DCI Gardener has to go it alone though as he he ends up getting injured and shelved from the investigation although that won’t stop him.
As always Wes Markin leads us in a twisty winding road until the satisfying conclusion and I can not wait until the next instalment.

I'm so glad I discovered Wes Markin's Yorkshire Murder crime novels featuring DCI Emma Gardner and her partner DI Paul Riddick. I'm not usually a fan of crime, but have really enjoyed books 2 and 3 (Book 1 has been downloaded and waiting to be read). The Crying Cave Killings is yet another gripping read - which incidentally, can be read as a stand alone story. The past comes back to meet the present in two distinct cases. The former, which occurred when Paul Riddick was a young policeman, and the present where in trying to help a young boy, he ends up being found unconscious beside the boy's body. Riddick, we are told, is a great detective, but his tendency to go it alone, coupled with his inability to cope with the grief of losing his wife and daughters, always seems to lead him into trouble. This time is no exception as delving into the past he finds himself suspended. Meanwhile, as Emma and her team begin to piece together the boy's last moments, she also has unwanted domestic distractions in the form of her soon to be ex-husband. The case is a complex one, constantly changing, taking the reader in one direction and then another, with surprise after surprise. There are edge of the seat moments, and times when you wonder how this will all play out. There are two issues at the end of the book which point to unfinished business that will hopefully carry over into the next story. Cleverly written, great characters and a plot which keeps you turning pages, it's a well deserved five stars from me. I would like to thank Boldwood Books, Wes Markin and Netgalley for an ARC of The Crying Cave Killings in exchange for an honest review.

The Yorkshire Murders #3

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 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.

This is the first book in the series that I've read. This is a descriptively written, fast paced page turner. I was hooked after reading a few pages. The characters are well developed. There are lots of threads to this story which are all tied up by the end. The tension and suspense build throughout. Even though Riddick has been suspended from investigating the case of the murdered boy. he continues to undertake his own investigation. This book can be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #WesMarkin for my ARC of #TheCryingCoveMurders in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third in The Yorkshire Murders series, and the first I have read, and as someone coming in on book three, I believe the books should be read in order as the gaps in my knowledge were evident in places, although the author does give brief recollections of past important narration. And anyway, you really don’t want to miss out on what I can only assume are two other great reads!

It is clear that from the off that Riddick is a very damaged and broken character, which isn’t surprising given his past, he really is a bit of a rebel, and we all know they make the best fictional characters! I warmed to Emma immediately – another scarred individual, with issues both in and out of work. I echo what some other reviewers have said - there is a lot going on, but I do feel that the threads all come together so well that everything makes sense in the end. This book covers sensitive topics, and as such it makes for distressing reading at times; however, I do think the author handles these topics well and they are not included simply to shock and/or upset the reader.

All in all, this is well written police procedural with a host of strong characters, a gritty storyline, and some chilling moments, I very much hope there will be a book four.

This is the third in The Yorkshire Murders and it opens with a case from 2003 where a teenager was found dead in Mother Shipton’s Cave, beneath the Petrifying Well. Young PC Paul Riddick notices that a petrified bear is missing which help clear the case and find the murderer. But Riddick is not convinced that the real murderer was convicted. There are so many threads going on in this book, as well as carry over issues from previous books, so it was a tad confusing at times but everything is woven together so neatly it all makes sense in the end. This author really does write a good police procedural.

Briefly, 20 years later, following a teenager he believes to be in trouble, Riddick, now a DI, is hit over the head and when he comes around the teen is lying next to him, dead. Clearly he can’t be involved in the case but that isn’t going to stop him. DCI Emma Gardner is investigating the case but when Riddick tells her about the similarities to the 20 year old case she doesn’t see it.

Riddick is a very damaged and broken character, which isn’t surprising given his wife and two children were murdered and his retribution on the killer was brutal. He’s a loose cannon but one who is dedicated to finding the truth. Most of the investigations are centred around male youths and the problems they meet in their lives; drugs, sexuality, friendships, mental health, family to name a few, it makes for distressing reading at times. The resolution to the two cave deaths was very original, totally unexpected and that doesn’t happen often! There are also more shocking scenes before the end which was excellent but which leaves some tiny loose ends that hint at a book 4. I really hope so.

This is the 3rd in this series and, as usual, best read from the start and in order. You'll get the best from the characters if you do so.
In this book we start with DI Paul Riddick trying to come to the aid of a young boy when he is knocked out. When he wakes, the boy is dead and Riddick is witness at best, suspect at worst, so he can't be involved in the case. But he wants to be. He has to be. You see, this case, and the location in which it occurs, reminds him of a case from his past, some 20 years since. When he was a lowly, just starting out PC and, which was probably the case that kick started his own career.
So, whilst DCI Emma Gardner investigates the current murder, Riddick starts to look into the old case. Determined to link the two...
How Riddick is still a copper beats me, let alone a DCI. But art imitates life and, well, you've all seen the papers...! He really is a bit of a maverick though and they are always welcome characters in crime fiction! Other characters are just as well drawn and all play their parts well. Especially Emma and her troubles both in and out of work. In fact, having thought, the location could also almost be a character in its own right, so integral to the story it is. And how well described too.
If I have one small niggle is that it does get a bit muddled on occasion. There is a lot going on and a lot of voices which do take some concentration to keep straight. But I managed it... just!
But despite this, it dragged me in, held, me captive, and spat me out at the end satisfied and also a little shocked. I really can't wait to see where the author takes the characters next time...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is the third book in the Yorkshire Murder series and to be honest i can not get enough of Wes markins books.
I really like Paul Riddick with his many personnel problems and Emma Gardner with hers.
A great read in the series and can not wait for the next book to be written. Its a gripping book that has you reading to the end to see what happens.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book

Another fantastic read by Wes Markin. This is the third instalment in the Yorkshire Murders series and in my opinion just as good as the previous ones. This is multi layered but still easy to follow. Brilliantly written characters and a storyline that keeps you totally hooked. Dark, twisty and with some quite chilling moments this also covers some sensitive topics. DCI Emma Gardner and DI Paul Riddick are in the thick of it from the very start but this time Paul is haunted by a murder that took place twenty years ago alongside the current investigation. Riddick thinks there is a link but is anyone willing to listen to him? I would recommend reading the first two in the series, mainly to get an understanding of who’s who, but this could be read as a standalone. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

DI Paul Riddick is in trouble again. When he followed a terrified child hoping to save him from danger he didn’t expect to be assaulted and wake up in a cave next to the child’s body.
Riddick knows he did nothing wrong but being at the scene means he is off the case and under suspicion. DCI Emma Gardner also knows Riddick is innocent, but she has to clear him and try to keep him out of trouble while she does. Easier said than done when Riddick is chasing the shadows of a twenty-year-old case that everyone thinks is over and done with.
What lengths will Riddick go to, to right past wrings and what will it cost him and those close to him?
This third instalment in The Yorkshire Murders series is as brilliant and compelling as the previous two. You don’t need to have read those to enjoy this one, but I would recommend them. Riddick and Gardner are both strong characters, each with their own approach to policing but they complement each other brilliantly.

Another excellent read in the DI Paul Riddick series and it's a good one! The plot centres around teenagers, drugs and parenting and is very well written. I loved the characterisation and the setting of Knaresborough, which is described very well by the author. Riddick is a complicated, troubled character but I absolutely love him! Looking forward to his next adventure. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A slow burner which was convoluted at times. A good premise but is probably padded out too much for my liking.A few twists and turns which kept me reading. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This book is based in Knaresborough which for me is an added bonus, I love the area and know it quite well. The book is well written and gripping with plenty of twists and turns. Authority and Riddick is not a good combination, he trys his best to get away with murder, not literally of course, although in this book he is a suspect..Wes Markin deals sensitively with a gay relationship which has not ended well. All in all this is a brilliant read which I can highly recommend.

I have been following this series from the start. I love the setting, the characters, and the storytelling. In spite of a slow start, The Crying Cave Killings by Wes Markin is an engrossing and interesting addition to The Yorkshire Murders series.

One thing I liked the most about this installment is an old case and its supposed link to the present case. My only niggle was with the ending - the one related to the murder case. The other ending - pertaining to the recurring characters' (Emma and Riddick) personal lives - totally unexpected and shocking. It left me speechless. I am eager to see how this new change affects the two detectives in the next installment.

Absorbing police procedural.

Got to admit it took me a while to come to grips with this Yorkshire mystery. The past keeps intruding on the present (legitimately so) as the situation is set up, and for a while it’s chaos. DI Paul Riddick is a confused, complex character with the past bleeding into the now.
Twenty years ago a teenage boy is found dead at Mother Shipton’s Cave, beneath the Petrifying Well. A petrified bear is missing from the scene. The murderer is apprehended but Riddock always had doubts
Now another teenage boy is found dead in the same cave with a soft toy teddy bear in his backpack.
Riddick (now on leave) draws lines no one else does. He’s damaged, compulsive, intuitive and often out of control.
The conclusion is complicated, messy, unexpected, and I loved it!
Just how many lives does Riddick have? As many as a cat it seems, even if his landings are way past his ken.
I didn’t realize this is part of a series so obviously you can read it as a stand alone. Perhaps the earlier titles would give more background into the threads that weave throughout, but I was happy with the chaos.

A Boldwood Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

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

This is another good read in the authors Gardner and Riddick series. Gardner investigates a murder of a teenager with a new DI - who I didn't take to initially although he slowly grew on me as the book progressed. Riddick is sidelined on the investigation and sees a similarity to an old historic case and investigates on his own. This is a well written and absorbing read with lots of different threads that had me wondering how they would all come together. The story flows well and has a good believable plot line which is full of suspense and tension. I like the working and personal relationship between Gardner and Riddick and the small glimpses the author gives into their home and personal lives. The authors descriptions of Knaresborough and it's streets are really good and I can picture the characters and scenes in my mind when reading. I'd have liked Riddick to have had a bigger part in the story here though. Overall a good read which I did enjoy although it didn't quite wow me as much as the previous books, and I'll still want to read the next book in the series.

3.5 stars

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

DI Paul Riddick is trying to help a young boy who he thinks in trouble when he’s knocked out by a blow to the head. When he wakes up the boy is dead and he’s a suspect. He’s off the case and decides to investigate a similar murder from twenty years ago.

I didn’t take to The Crying Cave Killings the way I liked the previous novels. Paul Riddick is apparently nicknamed “Captain Chaos” by his peers and that just about sums up the novel. There are too many voices with their own stories to tell, including Riddick and his extremely poor decision making, to get a compulsive narrative. I found it an easy book to put down and never heard it calling me back.

To be fair, there are neat, outlandish and unusual solutions to the two cases, the current one and the old one, so kudos to the author for a fertile imagination, but I feel that the murder cases were not the destination of the novel, more a means to exploring other issues, like the troubles of teenage boys and the main event of Riddick’s troubled life. The reader is assured that he is a genius detective, but self destruction is his forte. To be honest I found the teenage boy part skimpy on depth and too much in all the scenarios. I really can’t be bothered with Paul Riddick and I wish he’d shut up and go away. It’s always all about him and he uses people, whether consciously or unconsciously I’m not quite sure and he’s not self aware enough to work it out. The latest mess he is in is all his own fault and once again he kicks Emma in the teeth.

The novel meanders through all sorts of events and not all of them are particularly relevant to the investigation. I didn’t feel that it was particularly focused.

The Crying Cave Killings is not for me.