Audiobook Review: The Winter Killer By Alex Pine

Blurb: Christmas has arrived in Cumbria, and wedding bells are ringing.

But an ice-cold killer is waiting in the fells…

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, DI James Walker receives a phone call that puts paid to his Christmas break. During the wedding of the year at a lakeside hotel, the bride’s sister has vanished.

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…

Before the wedding night is out, the lake is being searched for a body.

Something old, something new. One guest is a killer. The question is: who?

Review: Following listening to The Killer In The Snow I almost instantly downloaded The Winter Killer. DI James Walker is back and this time his wife Annie is back with a baby girl. Christmas swings by without a murder, this time it’s New Years Eve when DI James Walker takes a call that will mean he won’t see in the New Year peacefully with his wife and daughter. His colleague Abbott is away at a wedding and when she calls he knows it’s not good news. This was an interesting story as we had a policewoman and her paramedic husband amongst the wedding party, throw in a family with secrets and a sister who has overdone it on the sauce to say the least. This is clearly a recipe for disaster but seeing how the story unfolded was the beauty.

As I said in the previous review this could be a TV Thriller. There was so much going on and so many secrets and red herrings. I guess weddings really do bring out the best and worst of people. In hindsight I should have seen it coming but I honestly didn’t and that was the beauty of it. Every single time I thought I knew who was responsible and why I was proved wrong and stumped. I almost inhaled this tale. The characters were complex with so many intricate details and additional secrets that kept me on my toes and eager for more.

DI James Walker and his team are a likeable bunch and it was another treat seeing where the story took them. I was in two minds about downloading and listening to the fourth instalment before the year was out. That wasn’t to be so hopefully by Christmas I’ll have two more DI James Walker novels to inhale.

November and December wrap ups…

Was it just me or did November fly by super quickly. So I didn’t do a November TBR as following the headaches I was advised to get new lenses in one eye. So during that time I only listened to audiobooks. Thankfully the new lenses have helped and the only time since I’ve had headaches was when I got a cold. Which I seemed to have picked up twice within a quick succession.

So let’s see what November looked like…

For some reason I did not share an actual review but I loved listening to this one.

My Review

This one was full of angst and sexiness yet I didn’t give it my full review. Once I finish the series I will definitely review This Girl. Watch this space.

Let’s move onto December now I had a few colds which gave me massive headaches so it was a bit of an in and out month to say the least. Alongside work, Christmas events and football too. December was a fully audiobook month – it was easier although there is a book I’m still to finish that is a great kindle read so watch this space for that in my January list.

The review for this is coming so watch this space. What I will say is BELIEVE the HYPE.

This book I can’t stop thinking about. You can read my thoughts here.

My Review

This is another one that’s almost sorted so watch this space.

This is a short audiobook but it was so empowering I listened to it a handful of times. So much so I’ve re borrowed it to listen once more before I share my thoughts.

I’ve already finished three books for January….so let’s see how many I can do this month. I’ve already read 2 audiobooks towards the #2024AudiobookChallenge.

Audiobook Review: The Killer In The Snow By Alex Pine

Blurb: The first fall of snow can be fatal….

A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season.

But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.

Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, 20 years earlier….

James knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold….

Review: Back in 2020 I read the first book by Alex Pine – The Christmas Killer. You can read that review here. As I stated in this review I’ve got into cop based Thrillers. I’ve listened to these two and also this year Nadine Matheson’s The Jigsaw Man. I’m yet to read the second in that series. So this is my second instalment of DI James Walker and once again it did not disappoint.

As this story started we are given a lot of information on the town and the people in it. Then we are subjected to the deaths and the intrigue as the events echo a similar tragedy in that same farm 20 years previously.

So not only does DI James Walker have a current case to crack he’s left with various questions from the old case. There are so many questions and so many suspects. As we are drip fed information I found myself doubting different people throughout leaving so much unspoken that kept me eagerly listening. I found myself listening to huge chunks at a time with many of the chapters making me say just one more to get a little more information. This tale took so many turns from mediums, to ex boyfriends and family secrets.

Alongside all of the mystery and intrigue we also have James’s wife Annie who is heavily pregnant in this instalment. Who is worried for herself, her husband and her unborn child due to different events that also add to the suspense in this novel. In listening to this story it honestly felt like a TV show and I lapped up every single aspect. Granted if I lived in Kirkby Abbey I would move as just like Eastenders there seems to be a death at Christmas.

The farm is so interesting with so many things not adding up and making you question anyone and everyone involved. The scenario that won out was heartbreaking in places as grief really does make people act differently in so many ways.

I’ve seen so many scathing reviews for this author but I truly loved both stories and I’ve just downloaded the third in the series. Which means my next audiobook maybe the continuation rather than the other festive treat I was going to listen to.

I also have to add a mention for Sid Sager’s narration, with thrillers I don’t always gel with the narrator but his narration was faultless as I say I’ve just downloaded book three The Winter Killer which I shall start later when I go out on my travels. There were a number of characters and his voice made it clear when another voice was talking and for that I am grateful and pleased. It made it effortless to listen to and really did add to my enjoyment of this novel. Can I squeeze in books three and four before the end of the festive season, now that is a question.

What I read In April…

So here we are the first weekend in a new month, but before we get too far ahead let’s look back on April. April felt a little weird, I didn’t read as much as I have in the last few months especially when I read 13 books in March.

I thought I would have got another book or two finished on the final day of the month but that didn’t happen. In April I read 8 books which isn’t awful but I felt I come up a bit short.

I also didn’t listen to many audiobooks when I had wanted to listen to 4 – with one a week being my aim. I finished Mike Gayle’s The To-Do List at the beginning of April and I listened to Cressida McLaughlin’s Cornish Cream Tea Christmas. Bringing my total to two – I did start Christina Lauren Love and Other Words.

My Review

My Review

So what else did I read…..

My Review

Buddy reads

My Review

I’m on the blog tour for this one so my review will be up this week.

What else did I read…

I haven’t penned my thoughts as yet. Watch this space – hopefully this week. My first Berts Book subscription book.

My Review

My Review

I also read the teaser sampler of this beauty that will be out in June.

My Review

Let’s see how I done against my April TBR you can read that post here. So I posted 8 books and these are the ones I haven’t read yet.

I had aimed to have read parts 1&2 there are now 3 parts available.

This is a NetGalley read and I had hoped to have read this alongside a lighter read. It will happen ASAP.

I have an ebook and audiobook. This will be my next audio read.

Now it wasn’t too bad considering but do I post a May TBR? As I would like to catch up on the Netgalley reads I should have read and I have a bunch I hope to get to this month. Let me know whether you want me to post a May TBR.

In some ways I like writing these posts even if they make me feel off if I don’t succeed. May will be a strange one as hopefully by the 19th I will be back at work, granted I will have break time and bus journeys to read.

Book Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas By Cressida McLaughlin

Blurb: Hannah Swan is looking forward to Christmas for the first time in years. Her new job as an eco-consultant is taking her – and her geeky colleague, Noah – to the beautiful Cornish village of Porthgolow for the first time.
They’re are helping the Crystal Waters Hotel to ramp up its green credentials, though after a bumpy journey, Hannah can’t shake off the feeling that Porthgolow is strangely familiar. Never able to resist a mystery, her interest is piqued when the hotel’s staff and customers report odd noises and sightings, believing the hotel to be haunted.
When bad weather cuts off Porthgolow, Hannah and Noah are looking at a Cornish Christmas. It gives them plenty of time to work out what is really going on, but will their yuletide escape send shivers up their spines? Or will it be as warm and toasty as a glass of mulled wine?

Review: I’m not usually one to read Christmas books out of season but I have had this book since it was released in parts and somehow it slipped by me during the festive season. Seeing as the next Cornish instalment is a wedding I needed to read this to join up the dots before I can get onto the first part. So Christmas in April it has been and what a journey I have been on with them.

I’ve wholeheartedly loved each and every segment of the Cornish cream tea series. I would never have imagined that Charlie and Daniel’s story would be joined by a few other couples that have well and truly stole my heart. In the instalment before this one I fell for Lila and Sam and I didn’t think Cress could top them until I met Hannah and Noah.

Hannah & Noah brought me back to when I first met Daniel and Charlie and wow. It honestly felt like that first time in the Cornish seaside town and it was just the escapism I needed without realising I needed it. There story from colleagues to friends to more gave me all the feels and some. Noah is very much like Daniel in the sense he was stubborn and a little standoffish until he met Hannah. I loved seeing this tale through and they sure had some twists and turns along the way. I have to mention Noah’s mum she was adorable and I loved her Cupid’s effort it really did make me chuckle and gave me such love.

Not only has Cressida McLaughlin created a truly gorgeous Christmas story that encompasses everything you could wish for from the season. From the food to the mulled wine, mistletoe and the most perfect music alongside the stunning location of Porthgolow. This time around we’re also given a heartbreaking ghostly story and a love story to warm your heart forever more. The sense of community spirit and how each and every person who visits feels a sense of longing. It’s like Porthgolow sparks creativity and love.

I will warn you Hannah is a self obsessed foodie and my did I get hungry listening to her talk of food. I absolutely loved finding out more about Hannah and her own history with the town. I look forward to seeing how she’s doing in the next instalments.

A stunningly festive read, that is just as loveable out of season. I have until now read the segments of this tale but this one was a gorgeous audio read that gave me the added Cornish accents which really made the listening.

Just when you wonder where the story will go next there’s another couple to warm your heart. I already have part one of the Cornish Cream Tea Wedding on my kindle and I believe part two will be on its way tomorrow so will have to slot those into my reading.

Buddy Reading…

Buddy Reading is one of my most favourite things to do. During 2020 I had the time and the pleasure to read a lot more buddy reads with Catriona. With her being in Denver and me in London it meant we were both mostly reading when the other was asleep and catching up in the interim with questions and more often than not OMG have you got to.

We read a lot of gorgeous books last year and we are now reading Love at First Swipe as our first of 2021.

Right I won’t necessarily go in order but our first buddy read of 2020 was the gripping Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman and you can read my thoughts here.

Our last read of 2020 was This Time Next Year and we actually went live on Catriona’s You Tube to live chat that one. My review is here. Here is the you tube Link.

The Switch By Beth O’Leary review.

The Secret Seaside Escape By Heidi Swain review – Heidi is definitely one of our mutual favourites. Neither of us can remember whether we actually read The Winter Garden together or if we just overlapped it Review.

Where We Belong by Anstey Harris Review – another author whose debut we both adored so it was a given we wanted to buddy read this one.

The Liberation of Brigid Dunne was both our first Patricia Scanlan read this is being repackaged this year as Family Reunion and you can read my review here.

The High Moments By Sara Ella Ozbek was a gorgeous debut from Simon & Schuster and you can read my thoughts here.

Mhari McFarlane is another author we both adore and we decided it was high time we read one neither of us had read. It’s Not Me, It’s You is one I’ve had on my shelf for ages. As I’ve mentioned before I love the look of hardbacks but hate carrying them around. You can read my review here.

The last two Isabelle Broom books we have buddy read I really enjoyed reading Hello Again with Catriona my review is here.

Here and Now was my first Santa Montefiore novel and Catriona hadn’t read one in a while and we were both intrigued by this one so….review.

Miranda Dickinson is a go to read for us both. We read The Day We Meet Again together so it was only natural we read Our Story together you can read my review here.

I’m not going to give every link as I could be here a while but we read through Paige Toon’s back catalogue Readathon until we got to The Minute I Saw you which you can read here. There were two or three that I still need to finish due to getting mad headaches so watch this space.

Pumpkin Everything was a book I came across on Facebook and in mentioning to Catriona. We were both eager to read it. We both have a soft spot for all things coffee with a syrup so this definitely fit the season. You can read my review here.

Dash & Lily’s Book Of Dares had been on my book shelf for a while. We had wanted to watch some of the Netflix series together so naturally needed to read the first book first. You can read my review here.

I don’t know about you but I’m intrigued to see what we can accomplish this year. More often than not I’m usually behind Catriona but with our first of this year I’m a little ahead.

What I read in December…

Firstly, I want to apologise for no blog post yesterday on the first Monday of the New Year. I had managed to get out on my first run of the New Year and I made a start on my second book of the year….

So before we continue with the now I want to take the time to look at how I finished the year. I read 12 books in December which I’m really pleased about – I had thought there would have been a little more but I had a headache early on and lost some reading time but I’m happy all the same.

I started the month with a Netgalley blog tour read.

You can read my review here.

I really enjoyed this anthology and I look forward to reading more from a number of these authors. You can read my review here.

This Time Next Year – is a book that will stay with me. I will read this again and I have just recommended to a friend who is also enjoying it. You can read my review here.

This was my second Patricia Scanlan book in 2020 and this was a gorgeous audio treat and you can read my review here.

This was another audio that I thoroughly enjoyed I borrowed this one from the library and you can read it here.

This was a blog tour for a simply gorgeous book and you can read it here.

This short story I really enjoyed – I’m looking at reading more Lee Child this year. My Grandad was a huge fan and I’ve inherited his collection so I’m looking forward to feeling closer to him. You can read it here.

Another novella that was an absolute treat – I’m grateful to Catriona for letting me know about this one. You can read my review here.

This debut I really enjoyed my only annoyance was that I hadn’t finished reading it ahead of publication day. You can read my review here.

I feel like I had this sitting on my kindle for ages. In December I paid the extra to listen to the audio and I truly loved this book I can’t wait to read the second in the Ivy Lane series. You can read my review here.

I read the third book in the Dash & Lily series – I had hoped to have read this on Christmas Eve but I actually read it on Boxing Day I loved this and you can read my review here.

My final book of 2020 was this glorious book from Milly Johnson.

You can read my review here.

That’s how December wrapped I’m already onto my second actual book and I’m 20% or so into my audiobook.

Book Review: I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day By Milly Johnson

Blurb: It’s nearly Christmas and it’s snowing, hard. Deep in the Yorkshire Moors nestles a tiny hamlet, with a pub at its heart. As the snow falls, the inn will become an unexpected haven for six people forced to seek shelter there…

Mary has been trying to get her boss Jack to notice her for four years, but he can only see the efficient PA she is at work. Will being holed up with him finally give her the chance she has been waiting for?

Bridge and Luke were meeting for five minutes to set their divorce in motion. But will getting trapped with each other reignite too many fond memories – and love?

Charlie and Robin were on their way to a luxury hotel in Scotland for a very special Christmas. But will the inn give them everything they were hoping to find – and much more besides?

A story of knowing when to hold on and when to let go, of pushing limits and acceptance, of friendship, love, laughter, mince pies and the magic of Christmas.

Review: I’m going to go in and say this could well be the Christmas book of all Christmas books. Milly Johnson is quite simply a queen and her festive offering is out of this world. I will definitely be thinking about this one for a long time to come. I also feel like I could well read this each year with a smile and a tear.

This is the book each of us have needed during this crazy year. Milly has a way with words she can delve into hard subjects with humour and grace – and there sure are some hard subjects in this novel.

What I really loved about this story was the eclectic characters a mixture of young and older people. Each of them added to the story – all of them with their own stresses and strains. I loved watching this one play out and I could definitely see this as a film.

Ultimately, I wish it could be Christmas Every day is a festive story at heart with an abundance of being grateful at the centre of it. None of the Figgy Hollow Six wanted to be stranded but they made the best of a bad situation- there were Christmas songs, carols, food, mulled wine/cider to name a few. Each of the six learnt a lot about themselves and ultimately about life. With Charlie’s words of wisdom there was a lot more live in the now in the later stages of this book.

I have to mention Radio Brian as he played such a part amongst the group on those festive days. This just shows Milly’s humour and heart. It’s definitely a book you will hug once you turn the final page it’s safe to say I did just that.

I adored every character I loved Charlie’s optimism and his heart. In some ways I relate to Mary. Robin, Jack and Bridge also gave me many smiles and tears.

This is a story I will remember for a long time to come. I read this just after Christmas although that didn’t take away any of the magic of it. It’s cold enough – many have seen snow but us in London have had none.

Milly has blown me away once again and I look forward to what’s next from her. What a way to end this crazy year with a double post day and my final review of 2020 being with Queen Milly.

Books of the year…

Now I’ve been meaning to pen this post for a while and now I’m finally doing so. As it stands unless I get anymore reading in I’ve read 107 books this year. I’ve finally hit my Good Reads target for 2020.

It’s been a strange old year in many ways but reading has been such a tonic. If I hadn’t had lost two weeks to headaches there could have been many more.

It’s been hard to get it down to ten reads so in no particular order.

Miranda is one of my most favourite authors and this book gave me all the feels.

Our Story Review.

My review will come shortly.

This Time Next Year Review

One By One Review

Discovering Dash & Lily made me smile.

Dash & Lily book one

Dash & Lily book two

Dash & Lily book three

Invisible Girl

In Case You Missed It

My One True North Review

The Minute I Saw You review

The Other Girl Review

One thing we can be sure of is there will be plenty of books in 2021. Let’s all look forward with positivity and hope.

Book Review: Mind the Gap Dash & Lily By Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Blurb: Dash and Lily are feeling closer than ever … so it’s too bad that they’re also an ocean apart. After Dash gets accepted to Oxford University and Lily stays in New York, the couple are struggling to make a long distance relationship work. And when Dash breaks the news that he won’t be coming home to New York for Christmas, Lily makes a decision: if Dash can’t come to New York, she’ll go to London. But will Lily pull off the ultimate surprise …?

Review: So here I am to gush about the third and at present final instalment of Dash & Lily’s tale. I had hoped to have read this on Christmas Eve but I found myself finishing a few other things. Come Boxing Day evening I delved into this gorgeous treat.

Now Dash & Lily have been dating for two years – they still love each other wholeheartedly, but Dash is now studying at Oxford whilst Lily is an Instagram sensation for her Dog business. They seem to be ships in the night missing each other more often than not. Being the bookworm and wordsmith that Dash is he’s really not one for technology so Lily decides to go to him.

This is where one of my favourite bookish couples start to frustrate me. As they haven’t communicated much there is a lack of communication that leaves them both feeling somewhat down. In saying that although at times they frustrated me I really loved this segment in there story as it’s in my beloved London.

What with Covid I haven’t experienced much of the joy of Christmas- so to live through Lily in the terms of Winter Wonderland, Panto and just the general festivities that we are used to. This warmed my heart but also made me super grateful of times gone by. I long to sit in a theatre and watch panto with friends and family with a mulled wine or too or even to see the lights. I know I could have seen my favourite tree in Covent Garden but with almost everything closed there really was no reason for me to.

Christmas and the end of the year always makes me feel hopeful and reflective and Dash & Lily really had me feeling that way. I liked seeing both of them look into their passions and in general what they are grateful for that gave me such love, hope and fire.

If this is to be the final instalment then it definitely went with a bang. Dash & Lily had looked into their futures and been truly honest with themselves and their loved ones. A book full of hope living in the now and learning what really matters in life. It’s really made me think during this most reflective time of the year.