I’ll admit that this isn’t my first trip to DI James Walker’s Lake District – I read and enjoyed ‘The Killer in the Snow’, the book prior to this one in the series, so I was pleased that NetGalley granted me access to this one.
As with the previous books, it’s winter and Cumbria is icy and treacherous – but the surroundings present minimal danger compared to the humans existing in the bleak landscape who have immense capacity to harm.
This book opens at a New Year’s Eve wedding at an exclusive hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere. DI Walker’s DC, Jessica Abbott, is at the event and witnesses some strange behaviour before the maid-of-honour seems to vanish between the ceremony and the speeches. Rachel, the sister of the bride, is nowhere to be found and the circumstances are suspicious – meaning that it’s time for DI Walker and the scenes of crime team to move in and find her.
I liked that this book takes place over a relatively condensed period of time – it felt like being immersed into a mystery and then being able to follow the police team through the crucial early days of the investigation when evidence is fresh and emotions are running high among the small field of suspects. In this sense, the book is a thorough and detailed police procedural with the focus very much on the intricacies of the investigation. This absolutely isn’t a fast-paced thriller with piles of twists, but more a well-plotted and methodical approach to crime fiction – with some surprises along the way.
DI Walker is a steady and reliable figure at the helm – his biggest personal problem is that his baby has a bit of a cold. This niggling worry is a relatable one, and I quite liked that James Walker is an everyman with a realistic family context. His relationship with his team is also quite gentle and without tension – nothing to distract from the actual policing, really!
Although this is the third book in the series, each of them can be read as a standalone.
This is a well-paced and character-driven police procedural. It won’t keep you on the edge of your seat with tension but it is entertaining and engaging. You’ll definitely want to know whodunit – and enjoy the path that takes you to the satisfying denouement.
If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, please use my affiliate link below – it’s a bit of a bargain in paperback at the time I’m writing. Thanks for supporting my blog with any purchases:
Header photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash
