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And oh.. how could I forget Doctor Alex Gregory. It was good to see you again. Only wish there were more scenes with him and Ryan. But it was equally good to see him and Mac working together.
I've only previously read the first book in this series and I wouldn't have described myself as a fan yet. But consider me converted, as I really loved this latest instalment. I also felt really at home with the other characters, too. 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. The crime and investigation didn't grip me at first, but what held my attention was the fantastic characters. While I enjoyed Holy Island, I wasn't sure how I felt about the romance aspect of the story as I thought it felt a little abrupt. But 18 books later, Ryan and Anna's relationship is still going strong and I began to enjoy their chemistry much more easily. Set on the historic Holy Island otherwise known as Lindisfarne, “Holy Island” is a gripping novel that introduces Detective Chief Inspector Ryan. Ryan has retreated to Holy Island to recover from a tragic case that had a particularly bad effect on his psyche. A few days into his sabbatical, the tranquility is broken when the body of a young woman is discovered abandoned on the ruins of the nearby monastery buildings.The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category. When I started this series, I loved how the books built up to be one big conspiracy, wonderfully connected.
Nonetheless, it is the vintage crime authors such as Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier, which have had the most influence on her work with her DCI Ryan Mysteries. After practicing law for nearly ten years in London, the stressful environment and the long hours began to take their toll. LJ Ross was only outsold by Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club and Matt Haig's Midnight Library, according to the BookStat top 25 for 2021.Sounds like a great route! Do you have one favourite shop or business you think everyone should know about? Cubby’s the newsagents in Seahouses. I go there every morning to collect the papers. Come rain or shine the people there are always happy to chat and smiley. My wife Claire and I like to eat at The White Swan at Warenford. It is very down to earth with good food and friendly people. The bar is always full of locals and visitors rubbing shoulders. It's the latest in a line of books which showcase popular North East beauty spots, with the detective already having investigated crimes at Holy Island, Sycamore Gap and Penshaw Monument, among others. The next DCI Ryan novel is set in Bamburgh. Walks in Northumberland – this great book of walks in Northumberland covers 100 walks up to 12 miles in length – from coastal and Northumberland beach walks to sections of Hadrian’s Wall. If you buy just one of the walking books in Northumberland, get this one. Great descriptions and easy-to-follow directions > buy this Northumberland walks book now.
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. Seriously. The ideas – the structure, the character, the psychopathy, the ability to fool peers and family for decades, everything, have been used not once, but twice before. In fact, when a new character was introduced, I had the fleeting thought, ‘oh, please don’t make this person behave like…’ Well, Ross did. I even eye-rolled when it became evident the storyline was the same. I mean, how many times can a small police station tolerate this kind of thing? Even one of the characters makes a joke about it towards the end. Not sure that lets Ross off the hook. 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. But I confess to feeling disappointed that, yet again, this particular plot device and type of character was used.
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 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… In this interview, Francis tells us about his childhood at Bamburgh Castle, his North East heroes, and more…
When an old woman dies at her home in the sleep village of Bamburgh, DCI Ryan doesn’t think much of it―except for the small matter of it being his wife who happened to find her body. Meanwhile, after a recent revelation about her sister, DC Melanie Yates’ quest to avenge her death is becoming an obsession. With a new DCS to contend with and hundreds of cold case files to sift through, the chances of uncovering a dormant killer seem unlikely. But as Melanie delves deeper into the secrets of the past to uncover the truth, she soon realises it lies much closer to home… Alongside her work as an author, LJ is behind Read Write Walk North East, the Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction and the Northern Photography Prize. 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 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…
It’s often said that the people and landscapes of the North East are full of ‘spirit’ and ‘heart’. Tell us, what do you love most about the region? Northumberland has it all. I love the mountains, the sea, the rawness and the diversity of it all. It’s like nothing else. The people are like the landscape – they’re resilient but there’s an openness and friendliness about them. Buy into the Water set in Northumberland here 5. Sharon Bolton – Dead Woman Walking – starts in Northumberland National Park
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