Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
I guessed pretty early on who the killer was, but that didn’t deter me from carrying on reading and exposing if my theory was right. I haven’t been overly enthusiastic about this series so far, but I think that The Night Before Christmas is the best so far. The premise is intriguing, not just for the disappearance but for what might or might not be related events. I found it interesting enough to want to know what happened and why.
The night before Christmas by Alex One is the fourth book in the DI James Walker series but can be read as a standalone. I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Avon and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased. I still think this book could be a good choice for readers looking for a light mystery which often has more questions than answers and is set at a captivating location. And it would be a nice way to spend a weekend reading. What looked foremost like a rescue turns into DCI James Walker most challenging case of his police career.
Based in Kendal, forty-one-year-old DI James Walker is on his Christmas and New Year Break in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey, Cumbria but it comes to a swift close when he takes a call from his detective constable informing him there is a matter needing his attention at The Fells Hotel, Cumbria involving new bride-to-be, Libby Elliott, who is marrying Greg Murphy. DC Jessica Abbott is the fiancée of the groom's good golfing friend, Sean and she is looking forward to meeting the happy couple. The couple marries but directly afterward, the bride's sister, Rachel is nowhere to be found, however, items belonging to Rachel are found by the nearby jetty on Lake Windermere which is overlooked by the hotel. As Christmas day arrives a photograph is received of the body of one of the four and the race is on to try and find this body and prevent the murder of the three other men. As in all good thrillers there are many suspects and twists to the plot and I enjoyed this book however it did not grip me as much as others that I have read in this genre. It will be interesting to see if DCI Walker takes up his new job offer and moves to pastures new. I will be reading the next book wherever he finds himself. Loved this festive crime thriller. Gorgeous Lake District setting but with a very dark storyline. Excellent characters and fast paced.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Four friends fail to return home after a trail hike in the Lake District on Christmas Eve. As the weather closes in, DCI James Walker and his team work with the Mountain Rescue teams to find them. It’s a race against time to trace the men before harsh winter weather arrives. But were they just hiking? They have a history of fox hunting and it appears they take no notice of the legal ban. A very touchy subject the author is not shy at exploring.
Thank you NetGalley and AVON/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. for a copy of "The Night Before Christmas" in exchange for my honest review. Much like the previous book, I enjoyed the police procedural aspect of this book and I found it entertaining without being so heavy that I had to concentrate too much. I liked this balance and I think that the author has definitely found their groove with the tone of this series now. This is not a novel that will set the pulses racing as its tone mirrors the lead character, DCI James Walker. It is calm and methodical with no drama, except the final showdown, but even that has little tension. After hours of searching, the first body is found… Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered and bearing a the real hunt has begun. This novel is a marvellous read – the pacing is comfortable, it is well-plotted and the story is intriguing.The most chilling crime thriller you’ll read this winter, perfect for fans of Catherine Cooper’s The Chalet and Simon McCleave’s The Snowdonia Killings – and anyone who prefers their mince pies with a side of murder. I raced through it this weekend. Such a smart twisty, warped, credible, brilliantly plotted and compelling. Deserves to be such a hit.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When Rachel left the wedding breakfast before her speech, newly-wed Libby was furious. But as the night went on with no sign of her maid-of-honour, Libby started to realise something was very, very wrong…*
The heavy snowfall hampers the search efforts, but eventually one of the dogs is found hiding, cold, and covered in blood. I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of The Night Before Christmas, the fourth novel to feature DCI James Walker of Cumbria Police. And what a case this is for DI James and his team, there are large numbers of possible suspects, and although at one point my mind did hit on the correct answer, I was completely stumped when it came to motivation. Although i did sort of guess the motivation but still not quite correctly.
Featured Reviews
When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall - when the temperature plummets. After hours of searching, the first body is found. Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered. As a snowstorm descends, three lives hang in the balance. But can the killer be caught before the trail goes cold?
Great Deal 
New Comment