The first in a new series, Alex Pine has written a dark, atmospheric crime novel, set in a snowed-in Cumbrian village

Secret Santa

Received in a lovely parcel from my GB Not So Secret Santa. Thank you!

Unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. I think that because life has felt so unsettled over the last couple of years, I am more drawn to cosy mysteries than this type of crime fiction. However, all is not lost as I plan to pass this on to another Bookcrosser who always does a big themed release at Christmas, so it will continue its journey.

Passed on to Cassandra2020 for their annual Christmas / winter themed release.

Passed to me by Bookfrogster for my annual themed releases to my LFL and OBCZ.
(although I may be tempted to read this one first)

Thank You!

The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine - not great but readable

The first in my own bookish advent calendar(*) this year and I was a little dubious when I unwrapped it as in the intervening period I had heard that it wasn't very good. I really thought it would be my first DNF of the year, but when I looked up from starting it, I'd flown through 50+ pages so I persevered and ended up finishing it in two days.

DI James Walker and his wife return to her family home in Cumbria from London due to the stresses placed upon them by a newly released criminal he convicted. He's out for revenge and they just can't take it anymore.

Set in a pretty little village, they are preparing for a big family Christmas but there's bad weather ahead and concerns there might be heavy snowfall cutting them off.....and then he receives a threatening Christmas card featuring The Twelve Days of Christmas and promising twelve murders - they fear revenge has followed them. As the snow starts to fall the first murder occurs...

It's true, it isn't very good. It's like someone transplanted Midsommer Murders to Cumbria and forgot to add a detective with some brains. I worked out 'whodunnit' by the second murder, but there were plenty of other suspects thrown in to muddy the waters and there was the suspense of wondering who would be killed next (and when the penny would actually drop for DI Walker). There was far too much repetition going on. I got sick of every chapter recapping the initial card's contents and that they desperately wanted a baby. So much so that I began to wonder if the author was short on word count. It also needed a good editor/proof reader as the village moved from Cumbria to North Yorks and back to Cumbria amongst other errors.

Still it was trashy Christmas themed nonsense and didn't tax too many brain cells and that's just what I want at this stage of the reading year. I'll not be looking for the rest of the series though!


(*) every year I collect interesting looking Christmas themed books, wrap them up and then pick them at random during December. I never know what I'm going to get and I have some sweet treats wrapped for non-book days. Works for me!

#review

Although this book is registered at www.bookcrossing.com, you don't have to be a member. It's perfectly OK to just take the book and enjoy it. Of course, if you can visit the website and let us know that you've picked it up, that would be even better - you don't even have to join, you can add your comments anonymously - you can also post your review when you've read it, then return it or pass it on to someone else.

If you do join Bookcrossing, you'll be able to see what happens to it afterwards - for ever!

Retrieved from LFL

Although this book is registered at www.bookcrossing.com, you don't have to be a member. It's perfectly OK to just take the book and enjoy it. Of course, if you can visit the website and let us know that you've picked it up, that would be even better - you don't even have to join, you can add your comments anonymously - you can also post your review when you've read it, then return it or pass it on to someone else.

If you do join Bookcrossing, you'll be able to see what happens to it afterwards - for ever!

This one has been away for a few weeks and just returned. Retrieved for use next Christmas