The Deaths of December

The deaths of December by susi holliday.
It looks like a regular advent calendar.

Until DC Becky Greene starts opening doors...and discovers a crime scene behind almost every one.

The police hope it's a prank. Because if it isn't, a murderer has just surfaced - someone who's been killing for twenty years.

But why now? And why has he sent it to this police station?
An absolutely fantastic read. I loved becky. I had no idea who the killer was until susi revealed the killer. Highly recommended. 5*. Netgalley and hodder and stoughton.

Well, let's just say this, there ain't going to be any advent calendars adorning my house this year! What a macabre countdown to the festive period "The Deaths of December" provided when a homemade calendar lands on the desks of DC Becky Greene and DS Eddie Carmine. This isn't any ordinary calendar and there are no cute wee Christmas scenes awaiting behind the doors! Rather each door opens up to reveal a grisly crime scene, the thing is, these are not paintings, these are photographs of the real thing. Will Becky and Eddie be in time to save the last four potential victims and just who has the killer really got in their sights!

I always approach a new series by a favourite author with a sense of nervous anticipation, will it live up to my expectations, will I connect with this new cast of characters and will the narrative provide me enough of the heart-stopping moments that I look for? Well, have no fear, "The Deaths of December" certainly gave me it all in abundance! With a narrative cleverly divided up into an almost childlike "9 more sleeps" 'til Christmas countdown, the chilling scene is set immediately. This is not going to be a cosy Christmas feelgood read, that's for sure! Perfect for the crime lovers amongst us who prefer a little more grisly than cuddles and chestnuts by a log fire!

The story is told from the point of view of Becky, Eddie, Carly and The Photographer and once again Susi Holliday has created a cast of absolutely plausible characters. There is an ordinariness, a kind of "person next door" feel about them, I read them as though I knew them, I could see them all in my head which really helps me connect and engage with them all. We know from the beginning who is narrating from the killer's point of view and it was a brilliantly twisted approach to the book. I love getting to know new characters in a book and learning about them as each page turns and this book certainly gave me this experience and best of all it left me wanting more of them! (so I am hoping that Susi Holliday is currently penning another in the series!)

A twisted and deceptive plot provided me with enough clues and red herrings to keep my twisted imagination happy! The tension built as each chapter finished and by the end of the book I was wound up tighter than a corkscrew and having a few palpitations as I kept holding my breath! "The Deaths of December" is the perfect Christmas read for those amongst us who prefer our countdowns to be a little more terrifying than tinsley; those who prefer Krampus to Father Christmas! Why not pop this in your favourite crime thriller lover's stocking this year and give them the horror they crave!

Don't open the door and have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas!

DC Becky Greene and DS Eddie Carmine may just be my new favourite detectives. A world away from the Banktoun trilogy, the creepy, yet surprisingly festive Deaths of December may just be Susi’s finest novel so far.

'The Photographer' uses a 35mm camera, a nod to a dying art, or a clever way of attracting Police attention?

It’s a question that must be answered when an old fashioned advent calendar (the type with pictures only - no chocolate!) is sent to the police station where Becky works. Behind each window is a gruesome crime scene.

Addressed 'to a detective who knows what to do', at first it appears to be a sick joke, someone from scenes of crime having a laugh. Because no one in their right mind would send detectives evidence of their crime scene. Would they?

Becky’s colleague DS Carmine, wonders if it could be connected to a recent as yet unsolved murder, one he’s been asked to stop working on, as one of the windows looks like a familiar scene. He wants to continue with the investigation regardless, seeking justice for the victim.

Relatively new to the team Becky is quickly partnered with Eddie after suggesting some possible avenues for consideration. Her mind is sharp, her interest piqued and enthusiasm at its highest.

Perfect characteristics for a detective to solve a crime quickly.

Unless you are looking for a serial murderer who is seemingly Mr. invisible... Leaving behind a trail of physical evidence like the photographs, but no clues about who they themselves might be.

DC Greene and DS Carmine must work quickly if they are to stop the advent killer before he strikes again. For there are empty windows on that advent calendar, and a killer who wants to fill them and get his Christmas off to a gruesome start.

This is such an intriguing book at the start, an Advent calendar delivered to a police station, but not like any sort we would be used to seeing.  Upon realising that the pictures are actual crime scene images, the hunt begins to identify the crime scenes and the bodies as well as the identity of the killer.  It is the job of DI Becky Greene and her boss DS Eddie Carmine to discover who is behind this macabre calendar, along with other members of the police.

Wow, what a concept, what a story, what a book! I loved the angle with the calendar and the fact that the story is told via four people, Becky, Eddie, Carly and the photographer.  As the story develops, so does that of the characters and who they are and what they do.  Only the photographer is told in the first person and this adds so much more to the character and what is in their mind and thoughts. It is well laid out so that when the story flits between the characters there is no confusion, they compliment each other.

Then midway through .......blindsided or what !?! I did not see that one coming.  Suzi has thrown in an amazing plot twist that actually made me shout, enough to make the dogs jump and get them barking, which in turn made me jump, scaring the hell out of me, talk about the unexpected plot twist !  What a beauty it is, a deeply twisted, festive murder, thriller, mystery with a good psychological twist to it.  

There was a lot I loved about this book, the dynamics between Becky and Eddie, as well as some of the other characters in the police station.  A glimpse into their individual families and a brief look at their own personal story.  There is the suggestion of there being more to these two particular characters than meets the eye, and I would be interested to read more about these two.  (HINT, HINT Suzi :) )

This is a deliciously deep, twisted festive delight.  A book that highly recommend to readers of thriller, crime, mystery, suspense and murder. 

Oh, almost forgot, I loved the TV show that is mentioned in the book.  I though t it was blooming brilliant.

As we drew ever closer to the end of 2017 I have seen dozens and dozens of Christmas novels being discussed and reviewed. None appealed to me. Crime thrillers tend not to be seasonal affairs and I don’t enjoy books like The Cozy Gingerbread-Latte Cafe on Mistletoe Lane (in Cornwall).

You do get plenty of crime books set in the winter months, the dark wet conditions seem perfect for masking foul deeds. However, there are not many crime novels which focus the plot around Christmas.

My Christmas book apathy soon changed when I first heard about Susi Holliday’s The Deaths of December. Once I had read the outline (as above) I could not wait for the chance to read TDoD. The police receive a homemade advent calendar. Behind the doors is a photograph of a murder scene – some are immediately identifiable to DS Eddie Carmine as they are investigations he as been working on. Is he being pranked by his colleagues? How would a stranger access what seem to be crime scene photographs? Only the police should have pictures of multiple murders no individual could assemble such a macabre collection of images – unless that individual was present at each murder. Could there be a serial killer at work?

Caramine and his colleague DC Becky Green must first try to establish the authenticity of the pictures, then identify where and when they were taken. As they start to pull together more information it becomes obvious they are facing a challenge quite unlike anything they have encountered before. It makes for totally engrossing reading!

I have enjoyed each of Susi’s previous novels and in 4 years of blogging she has consistently retained my vote for the best author at capturing the essence of characters. In her Banktoun Trilogy each character was wonderfully realised and that remains the case in The Deaths of December. Every person in TDoD feels important to the plot, their contributions seem natural and the dialogue between characters has an authenticity that many writes do not seem to be able to capture. These believable/realistic characters make it so much easier to fall into the story and be taken along with events – nothing seems forced or jarred.

Narration is handled by multiple characters and each contributor seemed to have a personal voice. The story flows really well and the moving viewpoint kept me turning pages. I do love a serial killer story and this one is a cracker (no Christmas pun intended).

With Christmas looming The Deaths of December should be required reading for the cold winter evenings. Loved this a lot and I am sure you will too.