I've read the previous books in this series and enjoy something different to the typical Christmassy romances I normally read leading up to Christmas. Poor DI Walker has yet another murder to investigate this Christmas 😂 you'd think he would have moved by now 😂

I’ve read all the books in this series but this one wasn’t as good for me. The storyline/plot wasn’t as intriguing as the others have been. It wasn’t as fast paced as previous books, I struggled to keep reading. I’m also beginning to dislike some of the main characters, especially Annie the wife. Disappointed with this one as the rest have been great.

I cannot get enough of this series. These books just keep on getting better and better.

Such easy to read writing but captivating from the first few pages. It was like a warm hug being with these characters again.

Great character development throughout the series and really endearing characters.

Another solid mystery for Alex Pine.

This book is great and I loved reading it. I read it constantly till I had finished. The author writes so well and absorbs you. Brilliantly paced and flows so well. Loved it and looking forward already to the next one.

The Killer in the Cold by Alex Pine

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Chilling truths are buried in this snow…

When a body dressed in a Santa Claus suit appears in the snow just outside a small village in Cumbria, DCI James Walker is the first to appear on the scene. Almost a year has passed since something so tragic has happened in the close-knit community, and James is hopeful that it’s just an accidental death.

But when he uncovers the body, he discovers something that chills him to the bone. The man, a former police officer, was murdered. And it’s not long before another body appears.

Time is ticking as James races to uncover the killer’s next victim, before they strike again. But can James find them before the snow washes away the evidence?

My Opinion

I have been reading this series since the very beginning and I always look forward to the upcoming releases. From the very beginning the reader is in the middle of the investigation. With short, snappy chapters this was a relatively quick read.

Kirkby Abbey is not a place I would recommend spending Christmas – there are just too many murders for my liking, but I would highly recommend reading this series.

Rating 4/5

The Killer in the Cold is the next amazing instalment in the DCI James Walker series. I really enjoyed this book and I love reading them around winter. The book starts immediately in the action of the crime and I was hooked from the start. The book has me guessing but I never guessed correctly.

The plot is fast paced as the police start their investigation on a body found dressed in a Santa costume. There are so many twists in this book but it is easy to follow. I enjoy reading about DCI James Walker and his team, it is nice to read about them as individuals. The short chapters make the book so quick to read and with some ending on cliff hangers, it made me want to continue on.

I definitely highly recommend this book and especially this series. The book doesn’t have to be read as part of the series, but I find the police team comforting to read about in each book.

Absolutely loved this book. The whole series is great and I highly recommend them! A great read cosy, winter season read.

The Killer in the Cold (DI James Walker Series, Book 5) by Alex Pine is a thrilling and expertly crafted addition to the series. Set in a frosty, tense environment, the novel follows DI James Walker as he investigates a chilling murder that seems to have no clear motive. Pine’s sharp writing and atmospheric setting keep the reader hooked from the first page, with twists that unfold at just the right pace.

DI Walker remains a standout character—complex, determined, and empathetic—while the secondary characters and their interactions add depth to the story. The plot is cleverly woven, with Pine skillfully leading readers through a maze of secrets, lies, and unexpected revelations.

The Killer in the Cold is a compelling, fast-paced thriller with strong character development and a satisfyingly tense conclusion. It’s a must-read for fans of British crime fiction and a great entry point for those new to the DI James Walker series. I was given an advanced copy of this book to review.

Another Christmas, another DCI Walker novel from Alex Pine… thank goodness! I was a little late reading the 5th book in this very popular series as although I was definitely having a quieter Christmas than DCI Walker and his long suffering wife Annie, I still didn’t have much time to read! And I was very frustrated as having started The Killer In The Cold just before the Big Day, I was desperate to find out who had murdered Santa.

This series really is at the top of my Christmas reading list. It’s cozy Christmas murder at its finest and is an easy and enjoyable read with plenty happening and an ocean full of red herrings. I do think at any other time of year, I would probably feel they are overly twee and DCI Walker a bit of a wimp with so many emotions going on whenever he talks or enters a room, but for Christmas I’m very willing to just go with the flow of a very popular series.

I’m very much looking forward to Mr Pine’s next Christmas offering and can’t wait to find out what’s happening with DCI Walker and his team.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an eARC of this book.

Fanatic read, and really kept me wanting to read more! I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

That time of year again – it’s basically tradition now for me to pick one of these up every December.

We have similar vibes as the others - police procedural, cosy mystery, short chapters, dead bodies and of course, a killer on the loose. The crime itself is a proper head-scratcher but, as always, everything gets tied up neatly by the end.

That said, I’ve got to be honest – this wasn’t my favourite of the series. It kicked off really well, but the middle dragged a bit. There was a lot of back a forth with Walker and his team and not many suspects to go around - so I worked out the whodunnit pretty easily.

Still, it’s a decent read, and you can bet I’ll be grabbing the next one when December rolls around again!

Ah, it's that time of year again to head back to Cumbria to see what wintery crime DI James Walker and his team have got themselves into this time. A body is discovered dressed in a Santa suit and he's quickly identified as a retired police officer. If that wasn't enough, a second body turns up. Pressure mounts for Walker and it is a race against the clock to find who the killer is.

The Killer In The Cold follows the tried-and-true formula from the previous books, meaning it's part police procedural, part cosy mystery with short quick chapters making it a quick read. The crime is a puzzling one but gets wrapped up nicely by the end of the book.

I'm going to be honest, this isn't my favourite of the series. It started off strong, but there was a significant lull in the action in the middle of the book. I felt we were watching Walker and his team going around and around in circles and there was a distinct lack of suspects, making it quite easy to guess whodunnit.

Despite this not being my favourite, I will, of course, be on the lookout next year for another book in the series!

If you love a wintery mystery set in a small, close-knit village and a cosy feel then I'd still recommend this to you.

I have to admit that I am a big fan of this series, and I always look forward to the next book coming out.
Alex Pine's latest edition does not disappoint. It is possibly my favourite so far.
It is worth noting that although this is part of a series, all of the books may be read as stand alone stories.
Set in Cumbria around Christmas time....an idyllic village setting, plenty of snow and all the festive trimming.... It is easy to get cosy and allow yourself to become lost in the atmosphere of it all. However, these stories go beyond the usual 'cosy crime' genre and have enough bite to keep you on your toes.

I've read a couple of Alex Pine's books & enjoyed them so when his latest book was available on NetGalley I requested it.

His books always follow the same format, sleepy little village, always snowing at Christmas & always a gruesome murder to solve. It is book 5 of a series but can be read as a standalone book (I read it straight after reading book 2 & I didn't feel like I was missing anything) Each book has a little run down of characters & a little catch up of what has happened inbetween books. It's an easy read & an enjoyable story but I was so fed up of reading the sentence ".... the terrible murders four years ago...." it didn't need to be mentioned as much as it was.

If you are in the mood for a cosy Christmas murder then I recommend reading it & the other books in there series too.

This is one of my favourite series. Every year I eagerly await for the newest release and it is fair to say that I am never disappointed.

This year's installment saw two ex police constables brutally murdered on Christmas eve and we follow James and his team as they look to solve this double murder case. I managed to guess the killer from very early on in the book, I have to confess, and that did spoil it a little bit for me. Although I wasn't disappointed, something about this book didn't seem to have the same grip factor that some of the others did.

I did however thoroughly enjoy it and as such have rated it 4 stars.

I do love a good Alex Pine book and again this one didn't disappoint. With a body dressed as Santa found just outside a small village DCI James Walker is on the case. But when more bodies appear Walker must find the killer and he must find them quickly. Set in a small village in the dead of winter this certainly is a chilling read which had me on the edge of my seat.

Alex Pine is a master of suspense and thrills and I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough. A well written novel that has it all and more. I couldn't put it down. The writing just reels you in and takes you on a wintery, chilling ride with a great setting and great characters. I enjoyed every minute of this book and look forward to seeing what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

A festive thriller full of twists and turns. A great read that keeps you hooked from the very first page.

In the fifth instalment of the DI James Walker series and is this the year he is finally going to get to have a peaceful Christmas with his family? Of course not!

When a dog walker finds a body dressed as Father Christmas, James finds himself at the middle of a double murder investigation. Not only are the victims neighbours and friends of James, they are also both retired police officers, so the investigation is extra personal for the team. With a long list of suspects, will they work out the who and why before someone else gets hurt?

Loved the character list at the front of the book! I am a regular to this series, but still as handy for me as to those who are reading as a standalone. Looking g forward to another one next Christmas, but will James and his family still be in Cumbria?!

If you want a change from the chick lit, romance, Christmassy kind of book. This is it.
Why not treat yourself to a whodunnit instead?

Set in a quiet town in Cumbria with scene setting Christmas and cosy vibes. Who knew a killer would be in the midst?!

On the other hand there is also the seriousness of detailed police procedures and suspense to make a great story.

This book is fifth in the series but can be read as a standalone with no problem too.
I now find myself wanting to read the others.

I would recommend.

I was really disappointed by this book, I am struggling to find a good Christmas thriller that keeps me hooked, it was enjoyable but just didn’t satisfy as much as I thought it would.