I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley.

In this chilling Christmas thriller set in the fells of Cumbria, the usual hunters become the hunted. On Christmas Eve, four trail hunters mysteriously vanish, prompting a frantic race against time to locate them before nightfall, when the plummeting temperatures could prove fatal. The search efforts yield a grim discovery: the first body is not merely frozen in the snow but brutally murdered, signaling that a sinister hunt has begun. As a snowstorm descends, the lives of three individuals hang precariously in the balance. The pressing question remains: can the killer be apprehended before the trail goes cold?

This marks the fourth installment in the series, I missed out on the third book but I have read all of the other ones. I didn't feel like I missed anything by not reading the third book though.

DCI Walker continues to shine as a compelling character, possessing the invaluable qualities of level-headedness and composure, especially in the face of crisis. These attributes contribute significantly to his appeal and the narrative's coherence.

The storyline wasted no time in grabbing my attention right from the outset, immersing me in the investigation surrounding the disappearance of these men. As the plot unfolds, a striking revelation emerges: all the missing individuals are fox hunters. This adds a compelling layer to the investigation, raising questions about whether they were specifically targeted. The narrative maintains a fluid momentum, navigating a path replete with twists, turns, and an abundance of potential suspects. While I had my suspicions, Alex Pine managed to outmaneuver me again, leaving me delightfully baffled by who the killer was.

✨Book Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

A thriller that takes place at Christmas time? Yes, please! This is Book 4 featuring DCI Walker and this time, he and his team are searching for four missing huntsmen. They are facing brutal weather conditions and someone is taunting them as the search gets underway. Are they searching for more than the missing men?

This is a fast read and offers up plenty of suspects and mystery. The ending is epic and delivers a twist you will never see coming!

Alex Pine books do not have to be read in any particular order. They are great as a stand alone. Be sure to grab this one…you will not be disappointed!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for sending this book to me in exchange for my honest review.

Having read the other books in the series I was desperate to get into this new one.

I was not one bit disappointed. It was fast paced. Exciting. Great thriller. I found it hard to put it down.

Great to be back with DCI James and his team. Not forgetting his family Annie and Bella. This time the majority of the book was focused on his work life Which was great. But I missed the family and village aspect to this book

Great plot that played out very well. Lots of twists and turns right up until the end. Hard to believe it all took place on a week. Very well written.

Can’t wIt to find out what’s next for Janes. Will he take the new job?

This is the 4th book in the series, which I didn’t realise, but it can totally be read as a standalone. Although there wasn’t much Christmas content, there was plenty of murder, twists and turns. It’s out on 26th October 2023 and I definitely enjoyed and would recommend.

It's Christmas once again in the Lake District, and the weather is closing in. Detective James Walker is hoping that, for the first time in four years, he can actually spend a few days at home with his family. Unfortunately, once again, it's not to be. When a call comes in from a local woman unable to contact her husband out on the fells with three friends, James knows speed is of the essence. There is no doubt that, once again, Cumbria will be deep and crisp and even, with a blizzard induced white Christmas and all the danger that entails.

Things begin to unravel quickly when a ransacked farmhouse hints at something more complicated than just a missing persons investigation. With the temperature falling and rescue teams struggling, it becomes clear there is more in the backgrounds of the four friends than first met the eye. Soon the Internet is alive with accusations and counter accusations and, as the comments get ever more heated, and vicious, a body is discovered.

Book four in Alex Pine's excellent Detective James Walker mystery series is, to my mind, the best yet and I've loved them all! The investigation is detailed and difficult with a cast of characters who cover all aspects on both sides of the case and my only criticism would be that there are an awful lot of people in this story! The book is deceptive in that it seems to be a slow burner but actually something is happening all the time with hints and red herrings both helping and hindering in equal measure! Although this can be read as a standalone all four are definitely worth reading on a cold night maybe as the snow falls outside.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I love this series which has become required and much anticipated winter reading. Highly recommended.

This is the fourth instalment of the DCI James Walker series but can easily be read as a stand alone.
When four male trail walkers disappear on Christmas Eve DCI Walker and his team are asked to investigate. But on arriving at one of the missing mens homes to find it vandalised and all four cars meeting the same fate, the investigation turns up a notch especially when in one of the rooms a message had been painted with the words 'murder's ' across the wall.
Things also take a sinister turn when it looks like the four men weren't going on a hike but were illegal fox hunting.
When a message with a photo turns up and the local paper Walker knows he has a murder on his hands.
As tensions mount between anti fox protesters and the locals things start to turn political.
Can Walker and his team find the remaining three men before it's to late and who has a deadly secret to hide?
Another great outing for Walker and crew.

3.5 stars
After really enjoying the first 3 books in this series I was excited and looking forward to the latest release.
Sadly, this was the first book in the series that left me feeling disappointed.
The pacing was really slow, only for the ending to feel incredibly rushed.
This left me feeling incredibly frustrated as I was reading it.
There was quite a bit of repetition too.
It just didn't grab my attention the way that the previous 3 books did.
Sadly this wasn't a hit for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

12 Hours, 4 Captives, 1 Chance to save them.

When 4 friends fail to return from a Christmas Eve meet up a full scale hunt for them is launched. Worsening weather, remote settings and sinister warnings turn this into something far worse than anyone can imagine.

Although this is the 4th book in a series and despite me only reading the 1st it really didn’t matter. The setting was superb, I really felt like I was there and the pace of the story kept me engaged. For me I wish it had more of a Christmas link but that was just my expectation and no reflection on the story and when a load more characters were introduced about 40% through it did have me writing everyone down to keep track. Overall a good read and thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read it.

Publication Date - 26/10/2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheNightBeforeChristmas
#AlexPine
#NetGalley

This is the 4th book in the series about detective James Walker, but it can easily be read as a stand alone book.
I had read book 3 in the series and really enjoyed it, so I was delighted when NetGalley offered me a copy to read, Again it is set at Christmas time. On 24th December 4 hunters go missing in a blizzard. The weather is worsening and the reader realises all is not as it seems. When the police call at the home of one of them, they discover the place has been trashed and also their cars. Is this simply 4 men lost in bad weather conditions in Cumbria? Are they on a day’s hike, or are they out on an illegal fox hunt? I recommend you read the story and find out! My thanks go to NetGalley, Avon Books and Alex Pine for an arc of this exciting story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my approval to read and review this book.

This is the 4th book in the DI James Walker series.

It is really great to catch up with the team and see how there interact with each other in the glorious location of Cumbria and the Lake District in particular.

James is called in to start a search of 4 missing men who had set off on a hike on Christmas Eve. The team arrive to find the farmhouse and vehicles have been vandalised where the owner is one of the missing men.

Will the team find the missing men in worsening weather. It's a fast paced storyline with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing how it will come together. I will be recommending this book to read.

This is the 4th in the series with DI James Walker but can be read alone.
I found the previous books were addictive from the beginning but this one was a very slow burner and didn`t seem to get going till half way.
Four fox hunters have gone missing on Christmas Eve and the weather is getting worse then one body turns up with a warning sign on him, the anti fox hunters are the suspects but things are not as it seems with lots of twists.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

I struggled getting into this latest book by Alex Pine. I could'nt conect with the characters but I did read till the end but sadly this one just wasn't a hit for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

You can always rely on Alex Pine to deliver a festive murder mystery, and this fourth book in the D.I. James Walker series is no exception! Though it works as a standalone, I do think it is best read once you’ve got to know James and his team from their previous holiday homicide investigations, as this novel doesn’t contain too much character development.

I liked that the plot of this book focussed on the political issue of fox hunting, and the tagline “this Christmas, the hunters become the hunted” was ominous and intriguing. However, I wasn’t quite as gripped by this one as some of the previous instalments. I also noticed some repetitiveness in the middle of the story, but felt that the ending was rather rushed. The references to this being the fourth year in a row that the Christmas period had been blighted by murder started off as amusingly tongue-in-cheek but did begin to feel laboured later on.

A solid three stars from me as it was an entertaining quick read and I will for sure be interested in picking up Alex Pine’s next annual advent assassination analysis!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC of this chilling Christmassy crime caper!

I haven't read any of the previous books by Alex pine, this can be read as a standalone or as part of a series. It kept my interest long enough to finish it but just felt like something was missing. I didn't relate to any of the characters and the story line just felt a bit drawn out and unbelievable. Maybe if I had read the previous books I would have enjoyed it more but this one was not for me

Another festive murder spree from Alex Pine set in the heart of Cumbria. I was hooked from the start as we are on the trail for four hunters who have gone missing on Christmas Eve. As the weather closes in, Detective James Walker and his team race against time to find the hunters. A great place procedural that will keep you enthralled to the end. I would rate this book 4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley. Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

This is the 4th of Alex Pine's Christmas crime stories featuring DI James Walker and I had already read the other three which I enjoyed. Sadly, this is not a patch on the previous stories. There is very little character development and what there is is repetitious. This also applies to references to the weather. I lost count of how many times the author referred to the weather worsening again. The plot is also less than convincing; despite rescue services struggling to find 4 missing men who have gone hunting during atrocious snowy weather conditions, the police are able to drive straight to the first crime scene to view a body. It felt as though the writer was trying to stretch the story line to make the required number of words. I would recommend reading one of the other Alex Pine Christmas murders and avoiding this one.

DCI James Walker really needs to catch a break, for the past 3 Christmas's, he and his team have faced a hectic festive season with no let up in murder cases. In this 4th novel a call comes in on Christmas Eve to say 4 hikers have gone missing, and what begins as a search and rescue operation soon dissolves into another murder case, in what could be Walker's toughest case yet.
It's easy to say I've loved all of the previous novels in this series, this one, as the others, can be read as a standalone but I would advise readers to read them as they are so good. A great detective series.
With thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this gifted copy, I'm under no obligation to leave my review

When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall I raced through it this weekend. Such a smart idea. Twisty, warped, credible. Brilliantly plotted and compelling. Deserves to be such a hit.

Loved this festive crime thriller. Although it's number four in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Gorgeous Lake District setting but with a very dark storyline. Excellent characters and fast paced, I shall definitely be on the lookout for the next one in the series.

This is book 4 in the DI Walker series and I have read and enjoyed every single one. In my opinion the series just keeps getting better. A fast paced storyline set at Christmas is so enjoyable to read. I couldn't put it down. Although it can easily be read as a standalone I recommend reading the series from the beginning as they are all so good. I highly recommend this book and author.