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I absolutely loved the banter between Ryan and Phillips, and really enjoyed the way that Ryan supported the rest of his team and how they all came together to get this mystery solved. It’s just as well the characters are so damn loveable and, after 18 books, we’re invested in them, and the overall story so gripping you keep reading. This time the reader was well aware of who the murderer was which put a different slant on the story.
One of the previous books tried to clear the force, but still we found some rotten ones in the previous book. Don’t get me wrong – the writing is still good; the characters interact with each other in familiar and heart-warming ways, making the bonds they’ve developed over the years and many cases rock solid… or are they? However, there will be another story after this one so maybe that one will answer some of my lingering questions.
Meanwhile, after a recent revelation about her sister, DC Melanie Yates quest to avenge her death is becoming an obsession much to the concern of those around her. I liked the idea of having the main character of the author’s Alexander Gregory Thrillers series pop up in DCI Ryan’s latest cases. I thought this one was an improvement on the last which I didn’t really enjoy (the only one I wasn’t keen on).
The storyline has two threads going on, only one of which I have mentioned above as this is the major tagline. Optional extra – have your items hand wrapped in brown paper packaging tied up with string and with their very own North East tourist tip. Despite the plots becoming predictable and the characters unbelievable at times, I will keep on reading them because I feel I have already invested in the characters and quite enjoy an easy read every now and then. When a cantankerous old woman dies at her home in the sleepy, picturesque village of Bamburgh, DCI Ryan doesn’t think much of it except, that is, for the small matter of it having been his wife who happened to find her body. Then shortly after the party, Anna and Emma, Ryan and Anna’s young daughter, are visiting the village of Bamburgh and discover another body.This story legit had everything - memories, cameos (I see what you did LJ - and I am here for it), suspense (at one point I thought I was going to fall into the book I was so close to the page), and so much witty humour (there’s the bin, where it happened). The only reason I kept reading is because I think every book should be given a chance to redeem itself. Then another body turns up amongst the sand dunes at the base of the mighty castle fortress, and he decides it can't be a coincidence.
The 19th instalment in the DCI Ryan series, this fast-paced and punchy crime novel mixes a dark and emotional serial killer murder with an Agatha Christie-style cosy murder. There is a DNA match found for the murderer linking him to a very recent abduction and failed murder attempt so Mel is desperate to be involved and find her sisters killer.Anna, DCI Ryan’s wife, has all of DCI Ryan’s CID team at a masquerade party taking place in the King’s Hall at Bamburgh Castle which is being held to support the archeological dig at the castle when Chief Constable Morrison introduces the team’s new DCS - Andrew Forbes. What bothered me about this book (and I really loathe being critical because its so readable) is the fact it’s the third book in this fine series to use almost identical plot and character development to drive the story. There are some great twists along the way, and I also appreciated that the big reveal happened earlier on, allowing more progression regarding how this affected the characters involved, keeping you fully invested in their individual developments. As always there’s some great humour mixed in with the crime stories and this is one of my favourites in the series. Meanwhile, after a recent revelation about her sister, DC Melanie Yates' quest to avenge her death is becoming an obsession - much to the concern of those around her.
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