I'm a hypocrite. A bad person. Who does NOT practice what they preach. I'm sorry. This is book 5 in this series and I have not read any of the previous books. Ooops. But I enjoyed this one oh so much that I have already queued up book one in audiobook and have the rest of the series on staggered reserve from my library!
So... We start with the brutal murder of a man in a Santa costume, discovered on Boxing Day on the road of a small village. On inspection, he is identified as retired cop Nigel Booth who was dressed in the Santa suit he had worn on Christmas Eve in the parade. DCI James Walker is swiftly called in to investigate, he lives in the same village after all and had actually seen Nigel during the parade. The first thing that confused him was that Nigel's wife Elizabeth hadn't yet reported him missing. The reason for this becoming evident when they go to the house and find her also dead.
And so begins another (if you have read the previous books) Christmas murder for James to investigate along with his able team. Setting up a satellite incident room in the village hall, they try and cut through the noise to find out who would have done this crime. Fingers start to point in various directions but nothing seems to stick one way or the other and, as time goes on, the villagers start to question the ability of the police...
This is your bulk standard Police Procedural. But it is a brilliant example of the genre, and, unlike most, it has a lead cop without any of the usual tropes so often used. He's a stand up family man, with a lovely wife and two young children who appear to put up with his hours. He drinks, but not to excess, and the only thing I could find remotely wrong with his lifestyle was that he could eat a bit better! The rest of the characters are all well drawn and all play their parts well. The story is compelling and held my attention all the way through, delivering me an ending which wasn't expected but which was wholly satisfying. Oh and with no superfluous waffle or padding, it also got on with itself very well indeed.
Bottom line, I loved this book. How on earth I have not read the previous books I have no idea! But, glossing over my heinous crime for a sec, I am sure glad I eventually made it. And I promise I will be all caught up in time for book 6.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I sometimes wonder whether Alex has an issue with winter or Christmas time haha. Or whether it just makes a really great spin to have a murder mystery for the season instead of good cheer!
I love the who Dunnit feel I always get with these books. Being kept on my toes with a few shady characters. One in particular man I wanted to do nasty(in fiction of course) things to.
Will our detective ever get a break? A holiday with presents not bodies to unwrap?
I do love how we have a new, almost sentimental knowing of what Alex's next book in the series might be about this time, though.

DCI James Walker is back on the case. Its Christmas so it must be murder time and the a Father Christmas is found dead in the snow.
He is an ex policeman and then his wife is found dead in the their house.
The community once again is on edge and can James bring the murderer to justice swiftly.

DCI James Walker is, for once, enjoying a quiet Christmas with his family. Until his peace is shattered on Boxing Day when a dog walker finds a dead body in the village where James lives.
Dressed as Santa the body has been stabbed and James recognises him, he was a retired police officer and James worked with his wife before she too retired.
When another body is found shortly after, fear and panic grip the village.
James and his team need to find the killer quickly, but the victims were loved and well respected members of the community, so finding someone who wanted them dead isn’t going to be easy.
With more twists and turns than a country lane this kept me guessing until the end. DCI James Walker is a brilliant character, and his team complement him perfectly. Throw in a snowy setting and you have the perfect Christmas crime story.
For me, it’s just not Christmas without an Alex Pine book, I look forward to them each year and they never disappoint.

I've enjoyed each of these novels since reading the first one on publication. This was no exception.

As always James festive season is somewhat marred by bloody corpses. Despite an element of gore these still have a feel of a slightly cosy, traditional thriller. More Midsummer Murders than The Killing.

The writing as always was well thought out and you happily trotted along for the ride encountering red herrings as you went.

I'm already looking forward to the next book. If I had a wish list it would be a tad more character development among the regular faces, and that James wife be a bit less wet.

You can read this as a standalone but I highly reccomend binging on the previous four first this month.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC which was very much appreciated.

Alex Pine does it again! I absolutely loved this book. I have read the previous 4 and i always look forward to this every autumn/winter. This is the 5th instalment of DCI James Walker. I don't want to give too much away but there is a murder and lots of twists and turns along the way. This book is the most cosiest of murder mystery's, and i am so looking forward to returning to Kirby Abbey for a 6th time fingers crossed. If you haven't already done so pick this series us it is fantastic, so well written and unputdownable.

The Killer in the cold is book 5 in the DI James Walker series. But you can read it as a standalone.
Di James Walker hopes this Christmas is different than the previous ones in the small village of Kirby Abbey in Cumbria that he lives with his wife Anne and their young daughter. But it is short lived when he gets a call to say that they have found a body dressed in a Santa costume not far from his home. When the identify the body, they find out that it I the body of retired Police officer Nigel Booth who they assumed that he was on his way to participate the Santa Claus parade.
When they visit the family home to pass the bad news to his wife Elizabeth, they find that she has been murdered too. She is also retired from the police. Who would want to kill this lovely couple? Was it someone that Nigel put away in his Police days? James are in a rush to find the killer encase they strike again.
This is another great episode in the series. Great characters, with loads of suspects and red herrings along the way. I was quite surprised when the author revealed the true killer right at the end. I didn’t see it coming. 5 stars from me.

In The Killer in the Cold, we are back wi DCI James Walker in his small Cumbrian village where once again a murderer strikes at Christmas. It’s the latest novel in Alex Pine’s series and I was booked from the start. It’s a fast paced, gripping thriller with a well thought plot that you will be unable to put down. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

Fans of this well crafted series know that Christmas always brings murder to Cumbria and that DCI James Walker and his team will be racing to solve them so that they can spend some time with their families. New readers - this will be fine as a standalone. This time out, a retired police officer and his wife also a retired officer, are the victims (and he was in a Santa suit!). But that's not all. The body count in the area over time has been high but James continues to be clever. And his wife Annie is a treat. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

This book can easily be read as a standalone but please note that it is book 5 in a series.

I eagerly awaited this book after devouring the rest of the series at the start of this year and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
It was very fast paced, full of twists and turns just like the previous books.
I didn't see the ending coming at all. I had no theories but did have some leanings.
I love these books as they are set in Cumbria, where I visit every year so a lot of the place names are familiar and some of them, places I've been. It really helps me form a picture in my mind whilst reading.
I really hope that there will be more books from this series in the future.
It's the perfect Christmas crime series.

Absolutely amazing! I've read all of Alex Pines books and this one didn't disappoint. I never guessed who it was so it was a surprise plot twist for me

I am a huge fan of this series and couldn't wait to read The Killer in the Cold. It exceeded expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait for the next installment.

The Killer in the Cold Alex Pine

5 stars

DCI James Walker, his wife Annie and their 2 small children have just spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together and James is looking forward to Boxing Day. For once it appears that nothing requiring his attention is going to happen this Christmas for the first time in many years and books!

How wrong can he be? He receives a telephone call regarding a body that has been found murdered very close to his house in Kirkby Abbey. When he investigates he discovers that it is his very good friend and ex-colleague, Nigel Booth, last seen taking part in the Santa Claus parade on Christmas Eve. He is still in his Santa outfit and concerned that his absence has not been called in by his wife Elizabeth, James goes to the Booth's house only to discover her body also brutally murdered. The couple have recently retired as police detectives and were very well regarded in the village.

The main suspect is their son, Liam, who has been arguing with his parents about their decision to retire to Spain and spend all his inheritance money. He has been bailed out many times by his parents but is still heavily in debt with a wife and small child to support,.Everything points to him especially when threatening messages to his father are found on his phone. However it could well be a previous criminal who had held a grudge against one or both of the Booths.

The fact that these brutal murders have taken place in the very community that James and his family live makes this case all the more difficult. There is no concrete proof to arrest Liam and the local people are getting more and more fearful and are demanding a solution to the crime.

There are various other characters that could be involved and James is under increasing pressure to find the killer. Of course, as in all good detective stories he does solve the case but I must admit the ending was totally unexpected. I look forward to next Christmas' murder!


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

I look forward to the latest of this series every year. This is a Christmas murder mystery series but it's not a cosy one. In this book two retired police officers are brutally murdered and DI Walker and his team are tasked with finding the killer.

I really enjoy this series and find the characters very likable especially DI Walker. The setting is always beautifully written and has you transported to the winter Christmas village. The storylines in this series are always cleverly written with lots of red herrings, but the main attraction of this series is the beautiful scenery.

This is book 5 in the DCI James Walker series. Winter is not the same with a festive offering from Alex with a DCI James Walker book. A body is found in a Santa Clause costume in the small village of Kirkby Abbey in Cumbria! DCI James Walker knew the him as a former police officer. It's a race against time James and his small team to find the killer, however, shortly afterwards, a second body is discovered and she is a former police officer too. I feel for James and Annie as they would love to spend time with their young family without something happening. The team dynamic is brilliant and the characters are well written. No spoilers but James and his team successfully found their person. All the sub plots tie up nicely to a Christmas wrapped conclusion with a few twists and turns and a handful of red herrings thrown in for good measure.

Daughter 1 and I look forward to the new book in this series every Christmas ever since I bought her the first book when it came out. It's now tradition to buy it for her and she won't be disappointed in this years installment, because I wasn't. The characters are easy to like and there are plenty of twists to keep the guessing going. I did actually have suspicions about the killer and was right, but not until near the reveal. I recommend reading this book, then, if you enjoy it, start from the first book. They have a little background in each so I don't think it's necessary to read it as a series.

The killer in the cold was my first James Walker Christmas based detective novel and it has certainly made me want to read the others. Not quite in the 'cosy' category the story was compelling enough to keep me interested. I didn't guess who dun it until almost the end, when to be honest there was no one else left! The characters seem well established and relate well to each other. If you're looking for a nice not too challenging mystery novel you can't go far wrong.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I love this series from Alex Pine, great storytelling with well described characters that always keep me involved in the storyline.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this great ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

DCI James Walker has spent a quiet Christmas Day with his family, thankfully that his Christmas has not been interrupted by work and murder. However, then his phone rings a body dressed in a Santa Claus suit has been discovered in the snow just outside his village. DCI James Walker is hoping that after what happened just the year before it will be an accidental death.

But when he sees the body it is that of retired police officer Nigel Booth, and soon they discover a second body. Is another serial killer on the loose or are the killings connected to something in the dead man’s past. James and his team have their work cut out as the m snow destroys any evidence and the villages are fearful and demanding answers.

Very well written and a thrilling follow up to the previous Christmas murders for James Walker to solve.

When another book in this series comes up, I just have to read it. This could be read as a standalone but so much better as part of the series.

The pacing worked well as you are really drawn into the atmosphere of the village.
I snuggled down on a cold Sunday afternoon and read it in one session as I really wanted to find out who the killer was, and I wasn't disappointed.

"The Killer in the Cold," the fifth installment in the DI James Walker series, is a remarkable addition to an already phenomenal series. Having read all the books, I can attest that the series continues to improve with each book. The picturesque village setting in Cumbria is captivating, though it's so eventful I might consider moving if I resided there. The regular characters, particularly James and his wife Annie, are endearing. The plot's unexpected twists and the revelation of the murderer, whom I had not suspected, were complete surprises. I eagerly anticipate more books in the series and hope that James and Annie won't opt for a quieter life elsewhere.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book the story was gripping and I was hooked from the beginning. Alex pine is not a new author for me having previously read the winter killer. The thing I like about these books is that despite being a series they can be read as stand alones. The short chapters are a hit for me as I find I read quicker compared to long chapters. I hope we will see more from DI walker and that he doesn't relocate with his family. What's Christmas without a little murder?

I love this series and was totally excited to get this review.

Bring it on Alex Pine. Another fantastic book. Thank you for the opportunity to review

I love Alex Pine’s Christmas books set in Cumbria. Lots of snow, a murder or two and the local detectives trying to solve the murders. This is the fifth book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone book. Detective James Walker and his wife Annie are hoping for a relaxing Christmas with the children, It was not to be, as a dog walker discovered the body of a Santa Claus lying in the hedge covered in snow on Boxing Day. Even worse, it was a retired policeman. Why had his wife not reported him missing? James and his team interviewed many suspects, all of them seeming to have an alibi. I was trying to guess the killer the whole way through the book, but I was kept guessing until the end.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy of this latest book in the series. I can’t wait for the next one!

Another amazing book, let’s hope there is another one coming, always love reading these, it has everything in it, suspense and always a great ending AAA

This was a great story with so much going on, I wasn't convinced by any of the suspects but couldn't see options then a great curveball was thrown in!

The ‘ber’ months have officially started, this series is one I always look forward to, so I’m glad it has officially started my festive reads 😊

This is my favourite book in the series, I loved that it was based in Walker’s hometown and involved people he knew. For me, this made me feel more connected to the case.

This was so fast paced with so many suspects and red herrings, I really didn’t see the killer coming!! As always it was good to be back with Annie and James and the interactions between the police action give an enjoyable light relief.

You know winter is coming when the latest Alex Pine novel drops onto your kindle.
DCI James Walker is crossing his fingers that for the first time in a few years he get a Christmas with no drama. And having spent a lovely Christmas Day with his family he thinks finally things have changed, until he gets a call on Boxing Day. A murder has taken place only a few minutes from his house, and its shocking to discover its a retired police officer. Preparing to start a new life in Spain who could possibly want to kill Nigel.
I love this series, I like that James has a happy family life and tries to balance a work/life balance. There is a strong development of characters. I like how the author reminds us of the main characters at the beginning of the novel.
It's a stong detective series

This is the 5th book in the Walker series. They are all well written and this one is no exception. They can also be read as a standalone in my opinion. I recommend these books.

Walker is a great character and very human in his struggle to balance his career with his young family.
Murder happens on his doorstep at Christmas and the ensuing investigation has to focus on his friends and neighbours, leading to uncomfortable interviews, suspicions cast and desperate attempts to find alternative routes of enquiry.
Another fantastic book in this series.

Another in the James Walker detective thriller series. What a fantastic book so many red herrings definitely one to keep you on your toes! I would say it's an ideal book for anyone who loves to curl up with a good book. I don't want to give too much away but the killer is a surprise!
Many thanks netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book will be looking out for more in the series. Highly recommend.

Thoroughly enjoyed previous four books and this one was certainly a winner. Full of twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown in the mix. The killer was a complete surprise. A real page turner from start to finish. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

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

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.

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.

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.

You know Christmas is on its way when Alex Pine’s latest book is ready. I absolutely love these books and the characters are brilliant and like friends now there is several books about them. I raced through this book as the twists and turns developed, it is an absolute belter of a read.

This Winter, a brutal killer strikes again in a small village. DCI James Walker is on the case. But will he find the killer before they strike again?! Great read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had great suspense, intriguing, action, murder, mystery, fantastic characters, great who done it, and few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!