The Snowdonia Killings by Simon McCleave
Publisher: Stamford Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by FernStarting a new life in Snowdonia was always DI Ruth Hunter’s dream. Until a twisted killer turned it into her worst nightmare.
Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. About to hit fifty, the veteran police officer trades in the crime-ridden streets of London for a more peaceful life in rural North Wales. But Ruth has barely settled into her new position in North Wales Police, when the body of a brutally murdered woman is discovered…with strange symbols carved into her skin. Teaming up with an obstinate deputy, Ruth struggles to eliminate anyone from a long line of suspects. When another slain victim is discovered with the same cryptic markings, she’s forced to re-think the investigation.
Has Ruth got what it takes to solve the case before the murderer attacks again?
DI Ruth Hunter is struggling with the pain of her partner’s mysterious disappearance. Burned out from the Met and unable to face the stalled, unsolved disappearance, she decides it’s time for a change and moves to rural North Wales hoping to begin her fifties with a clean start. Instead of the quiet life, however, a local school teacher is brutally murdered on Ruth’s first day, and the quiet idyl is shattered.
I was eager to try another Welsh police procedural style of novel. I’ve found Welsh writing to be a little more gritty and harder-hitting than regular British style and this book did not disappoint. Readers should be aware that the main characters have deep-seated, real kinds of issues and problems and this isn’t a fluffy or gentle story or read. I found myself impressed that the author didn’t shy away from making the characters and situation realistic but didn’t push the envelope so far as to try and be shocking just for the sake of it. I found both Ruth and Nick’s characters to be highly relatable and believable. I thought the tight balance between gritty and real, without being shocking or overly sensational just to get views or push the envelope was exceptionally written in this novel.
Readers looking for a strongly plotted mystery with slightly harder and more life-like characters should absolutely give this book a try. I also loved the setting of the Welsh countryside and found it highly atmospheric and virtually a character by itself.
A gripping murder mystery and different style of police procedural book – this was a great find. Recommended.
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