Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without an Alex Pine’s DCI James Walker crime thriller!

The Killer in the Cold is the fifth book in Alex Pine’s Walker/Christmas series. You can dip into the books at any stage, I would say. I came to the series at Book three and picked up the background info - largely that DCI Walker has relocated to Cumbria with his wife Annie having worked for the Met Police in London. They moved for a change of pace and bring up their children in Cumbria.

In this instalment two retired police officers are found murdered over Christmas week in the picturesque Lake District village of Kirkby Abbey. The village is rocked to its core and DCI James Walker is under pressure to find the culprit quickly.

Like other Alex Pine books, it was pacy and there were some twists and turns and some red herrings.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Avon Books UK, for making this e-ARC available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book 5 in this amazing series and I have enjoyed every single one. Plenty of twists as usual and wasn’t expecting the killer to be who it was. I also enjoy reading about Walkers personal life as well as the police procedural side. I can’t wait for the next book. A solid 4 stars

Book five in the D.I. James Walker series
It was a great read
Plenty of twists
Can’t wait for the next in this series
Thanks NetGalley

Found this as gripping as the first 4 in the series. I really did not expect the killer to be who it was, that was the last person I would have thought about. The twists in this book made it hard to put down.

Thank you Alex Pine, Avon and NetGalley for this ARC

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I’ve previously enjoyed the first 4 books in this series and the new book was just as good. A very easy to read, gripping story that kept me guessing throughout. It was nice to catch up with James and Annie again and also meet the new additions to the family. An engaging and enjoyable story that kept me entertained. I highly recommend reading this series in order to benefit from the experience of getting to know the characters and their development.

I have read all five now books in this series. I was really looking forward to reading this one but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I really enjoyed the other four but I found this one to be a bit too repetitive with the police procedures. I was also disappointed that James wife was always telling him how tired he must be and fussing over him when he got home from work, with two young kids to look after all day I would have expected some mention of how tired she must have been too. I did want to find out who the killer was so I did continue to read it all. I would still read another one in this series as I enjoyed all the others. A 3.5 for me.

Another great Christmas murder from Alex Pine, have read all his books and just gets better.
DCI James Walker is hoping to have a lovely Christmas at home with his young family when a dog walker finds a dead body dressed in a Santa's outfit and he is well known in the village, when they go to his house they find his wife murdered as well. Can Alex find out who murdered them and will there be more to come.
Love the balance between police procedure and his personal life, can`t wait for the next book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

This is #5 in the DCI James Walker series. It can easily be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the whole series.

DCI James Walker worked for the Met and lived in London with his wife, Annie, but she inherited the family home in the village of Kirkby Abbey so they decided to relocate. They now have a toddler daughter and a baby son.

For the first time since they moved to the village four years ago, James and Annie have managed to have a family Christmas Day, but it’s back to work on Boxing Day when a dog walker finds the body of Santa Claus. The village has a Santa parade on Christmas Eve so it looks as though the body has been there since then. Unfortunately, James and his team discover that the dead man was a retired police officer, known to all of them. The dead man’s wife was also a retired police officer but why hasn’t she reported her husband missing?

A brilliantly written, gripping read with lots of twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

It’s no exaggeration to say I am OBSESSED by this series. Would it even be Christmas without detective Walker shenanigans?
This book, like all the others is part of a series but also works perfectly as a standalone. DCI Walker has managed to spend Christmas with his family (for a change) by then on boxing day a body is found in his village and our journey begins. More bodies turn up, there’s a variety of suspects from the glaringly obvious to the obscure and where we end up is probably not where you’d expect.

The latest book in the detective James Walker Christmas crime series is another absolute cracker. I loved the storyline, the characters and the setting in the county of Cumbria. I read it over two days because I couldn't put it down. And there' a great ending that came as a real shock. Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of The Killer in the Cold.

A big thank you, to the Author, Publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of THE KILLER IN THE COLD in return for an honest review. All following review are my own honest opinions.

Based within a small village in Cumbria Detective Walker is getting ready to enjoy his first Christmas at home with this wife Annie and the couples two children. The first Christmas together without a crime taking place. This is shortly over once James (Detective) is called into work. The rest of the Christmas period has ended before it has even begun and DCI Walker has a double murder case to solve.

I thought this book was incredible, I didn’t realise that The Killer In The Cold is the fifth book in a series however, I have read this as a standalone and I still loved it. You do not have to read the series to understand the Characters as this book has some introductory pages of all the characters at the start of the book which described some of their background and who they were with a visible description - I feel all books in a series should have this! Especially if they could also be read as standalone books too. I for one will now read the rest if this series but I think I will be saving it until the winter!

There is a lot of speech which I usually do not like too much in books if I feel they could have gotten away without it. The Killer In The Cold however has got the perfect amount of speech between characters as it builds and offers a detailed insight into police investigations, the DCI was so incredibly well written especially when it came to his internal dialogue with all the thoughts he had and all the emotions he had whilst dealing with an incredibly stressful case.

If you love Detective & Murder Mysteries along side Crime Fiction then this is certainly a book for you! It is set within the winter at Christmas time with snowy weather. I must admit it did make me laugh when I have read this book in the sun and warmth but it has made me so excited for the winter and dark evenings so that I can catch up with the rest of the series curled in a blanket and join the Cumbria Police on another intense case!

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Having read previous novels by Alex Pine, I was looking forward to reading his new book and the welcome return of DCI James Walker. I enjoyed the character development of DCI Walker and his team’s characters. They feel like old friends. The plot and writing style was satisfying and keeps you reading. The location is Kirkby Abbey and Kendal in Cumbria and the descriptions are atmospheric. I can visualise the locations.

The murders of two retired police officers takes place on Christmas Eve. The victims are both known to DCI Walker and he and his team are determined to find the killer quickly. There are twists and turns throughout the plot. I love the interactions of DCI Walker’s team and their determination and loyalty to find the killer. With twists and turns on each page the story is captivating, enjoyable and I would recommend this novel.

I give a 3 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED READING COPY OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. This is book four in the series and is just as good as the first, great characters and a strong story, I look forward to the next one.

I was really looking forward to reading this, having previously read 3 of the others in the series.
I was so disappointed.
This read like a cosy murder mystery. The writing was simplistic. Too much information.
Most of the characters were described as being in their fifties. Zelda fell into this category, yet later, she is described as an old lady. Really? Well, for us, that is in this age bracket. Thanks!
Would a detective as SIO really be telling his wife every detail of the investigation, especially as they live in the village. I lost count the number of times each day his wife had phone calls from neighbours and people knocking on the door for information.
I won't go on. I only read to the end to find out who the suspect was.
The location is beautiful, I have visited Cumbria, and I know it has stunning scenery, which, given the amount of snow, must make it picturesque.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the fifth DI James Walker series and he should have known that getting through part of Christmas meant he’d be rewarded for another festive murder case. In this instance, a killer has ended the lives of two well-liked locals, leaving a distraught family and community terrified at the thought of it happening again. Christmas deaths aren’t a new thing for James, though it does mean leaving his wife and two young children – again – while he and the team question suspects and answer to increasingly irate villagers. Will he be able to find the culprit before another body is located? If you’ve loved Alex’s other reads, you won’t be disappointed.

You know Christmas is around the corner when the new Alex Pine Christmas book is published. I've loved this series from the beginning, so I couldn't wait to jump in.

The murder of Santa and his wife (no names so no spoilers) sends shock waves around the village. I just loved everything about this book. I didn’t guess the killer.

The only downside is I now have a year to wait ....

My thanks to Alex and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Killer in the Cold in advance of the publication date.
This is the 5th book in the series but it can be read as a standalone book. It is an easy and enjoyable read as the reader is transported to the beauty of snow covered Cumbria.
For the first time in 5 years, DCI James Walker is looking forward to spending the festive season with his family.
However it is not to be when a dog walker reports finding a dead body in the snow….not just any dead body, but Santa.
Walker’s team set up a command centre in the village hall. As the body count rises and with many suspects but no evidence, it doesn’t take long for the neighbours to become confrontational.
The author has managed to weave current real life policing issues into the fictional story.

The Killer in the cold is part of a series by Alex Pine. This is the first book that I have read by the author and completely works as a stand alone read.

Another excellent book in the James Walker series although you can easily read it as a standalone. Good to see the main characters back and the ones for this book were enjoyable to read too. A great storyline that has you glued to the book until its finished - my sign of a good book! Highly recommended.

Season of Goodwill..?..
The fifth outing in the DI James Walker series, once again set against a wintry festive season. Despite the apparent season of goodwill, a killer lurks in a small village - they’ve struck once but can Walker prevent them from striking again? Another pacy and enjoyable murder mystery with a well developed cast of characters populating a fast moving and intriguing plot. The backdrop, as ever, is well done and bubbling with atmosphere.