Fifth in a series of police procedural/crime novels billed as “The Norfolk Murder Series” by a well known writer whose previous DI Barton books were set around his native Peterborough but whose parents have a chalet near Cromer – hence inspiring this series.

The series features Detective Inspector Ashley Knight of a Wymondham based Norfolk Major Investigative Team and a group of colleagues around her who are now familiar friends to readers (such as Barry Hooper and the returning young Hector Fade.

This episode is set in and around Fakenham races and features a small group of people based in and around Fakenham races – racehorse owners, trainers, a bookmaker and retired jockeys (who between them end up as both the victims and suspects for a series of murders).

This was one of my favourite of the series to date – as well as the attacks there is a separate but related investigation into potential race fixing and the local colour on mid Norfolk is accompanied by some detailed writing on jump racing. Given how much of my time is spent either in Norfolk or around horses this worked particularly well for me.

I continue to enjoy this series and look forward to the next (and potentially last) in the series – the brilliantly titled “Death on the Norfolk Express”

Snow falls silently hiding the tracks of a killer.
Book five DS Ashley Knight.
The Norfolk murders investigation team.
Fakenham racecourse plunged Ashley into an investigation of a brutal attack.
When everyone is lying how do you catch a killer.
This book leads readers into a psychopathic killer on the loose, can the team get the murderer before it's too late and more bodies are found at the racecourse.
Dynamic, jumping, chills as once again this author has delivered what reader's love to read.
As we read heavy gruesome chapters in the deep snowy cold nights.
Loved it

<i> I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. </i>

A gripping police procedural - 3.5*

I was a little apprehensive reading this book because I've not read any in the series - but there was no need. This book can be read as a standalone: there's very little reference to the previous novels (which I am grateful for).

At the start of the novel, there's a huge list of characters which seemed daunting to begin with but Greenwood is very skilled in creating a range of deeply complex characters. From Ashley Knight herself to Barry 'Hoops' Hooper and even recently demoted Hector, these characters not only help advance the plot along but are also interesting and well-thought out characters. I was also deeply impressed with the complexity of the supporting characters (the suspects). 'Trust no one and remember everyone lies' should be a tag line for this novel. The book dealt with very deceitful characters well.

The structure of the police procedural helped jog my memory and honestly made me feel a part of the team as I joined Ashley Knight to solve who on earth completed these savage attacks. Now, I am no expert in horseracing, but neither were the team so it did feel like it was a team effort to solve the crime.

I will definitely be going back and reading the other novels in this series.