This is not a novel that will set the pulses racing as its tone mirrors the lead character, DCI James Walker. It is calm and methodical with no drama, except the final showdown, but even that has little tension. But were they just hiking? They have a history of fox hunting and it appears they take no notice of the legal ban. A very touchy subject the author is not shy at exploring. As Christmas day arrives a photograph is received of the body of one of the four and the race is on to try and find this body and prevent the murder of the three other men. As in all good thrillers there are many suspects and twists to the plot and I enjoyed this book however it did not grip me as much as others that I have read in this genre. It will be interesting to see if DCI Walker takes up his new job offer and moves to pastures new. I will be reading the next book wherever he finds himself.

I certainly couldn't predict who the killer was and I enjoyed how the story concluded, but I was just expecting more blood and more snow, so it just wasn't as exciting as the previous two instalments in the series. When I selected this book, I wasn’t aware that this was the 3rd volume in a series, but thankfully there is an intro chapter which gives an overview on who the characters are, what their relationship is, some non-spoiler highlights from the previous books and it makes the listener / reader feel confident to continue without having all the details. I think the synopsis from the cover gives just the right amount of info, so I’ll include it below for reference: It was hard not to feel frustrated by the pace at which things happened here. This is not a criticism. We follow each moment of the case and see in detail just how difficult the job can be. The dedication the police show to their cause shines through from start to finish, and the pressure they are under by the increasingly social-media focused world it’s hard.This is book four in the series, and this time we see newly promoted DCI Walker and his very able team investigating four men who are missing after they headed off on a hike in heavy snow in the Lake District. When a picture of a body is sent to news outlets with the phrase ‘let the hunt begin’ we know there’s more to this story. It’s not long before the police recognise they’re no longer looking for survivors, but their hunt for the murderer/s is not an easy one.

I would definitely still recommend this book, especially if you want an easy thriller to read over the colder months. But if Pine intends to write a fourth book, I just hope he gets a little more daring. What is clear is that this is a very controversial topic, and I don't think I liked a single person that we came across in the investigation. Much like the previous book, I enjoyed the police procedural aspect of this book and I found it entertaining without being so heavy that I had to concentrate too much. I liked this balance and I think that the author has definitely found their groove with the tone of this series now.

DCI Walker continues to shine as a compelling character, possessing the invaluable qualities of level-headedness and composure, especially in the face of crisis. These attributes contribute significantly to his appeal and the narrative's coherence. A wedding couldn’t be more beautiful in an idyllic winter setting. But unfortunately, the ending is splashed by murder.

Overview: This was a great festive read with my reading buddy. I read the first two books in this series last December so was excited to see that this came out last month. As usual I didn't guess the killer. I never do with these books because the author is very clever at throwing numerous red herrings and constantly throwing new suspects into the mix. Having come up with thoughts along the right lines i.e. that the killer was hiding amongst our cast of characters, I still managed to miss identifying precisely who, though I'm still wondering why Rebecca avoided my suspicions right till the end. I think in part I was bought by the text messages, which reflects precisely what the detectives were described as experiencing in the book, so I thought the author did brilliantly there .The four missing men are all pro foxhunting and even though it has been banned for years it is suspected that this is what they have been doing. The anti- fox hunters are very vocal on social media and the whole argument had started when one of the four had deliberately run into a young female protester 5 years before, he had always denied this saying she had stepped out in front of him. She had subsequently died of her injuries. Really looking forward to the next book in the series and catching-up on the previous two! Happy listening / reading! I haven’t been overly enthusiastic about this series so far, but I think that The Night Before Christmas is the best so far. The premise is intriguing, not just for the disappearance but for what might or might not be related events. I found it interesting enough to want to know what happened and why. I still think this book could be a good choice for readers looking for a light mystery which often has more questions than answers and is set at a captivating location. And it would be a nice way to spend a weekend reading. And what a case this is for DI James and his team, there are large numbers of possible suspects, and although at one point my mind did hit on the correct answer, I was completely stumped when it came to motivation. Although i did sort of guess the motivation but still not quite correctly.

I love this series, while I don't get excited about it the way I do with the likes of Washington Poe or Robert Hunter, somehow I find myself gravitating towards getting a copy of the latest book around Christmastime every year, and it's somewhat comforting returning to this Cumbrian universe. James Walker is a genuinely likeable guy, and while the cases aren't super complex the way some crime/mysteries are worked (these tend to be a single investigation narrated almost linearly), they are always clever and well thought-out. As DC Abbott is spending a relaxing New Years Eve with her fiancée Sean; attending the wedding of a mutual friend at a posh hotel on the shore of the gorgeous Lake Windermere. When she finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation after the maid of honour disappears during the reception and is later found floating in the lake. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I was totally hooked' NetGalley reviewer, The most chilling crime thriller you'll read this winter, perfect for fans of Catherine Cooper's The Chalet and Simon McCleave's The Snowdonia Killings - and anyone who prefers their mince pies with a side of murder.Traditionally, the 12 days of Christmas are celebrated as a season of joy and goodwill. However, James Walker's recent promotion to the position of DCI has failed to shake off the Christmas jinx that seems to linger over his team. This particular investigation promises to stretch their overtime budget as they toil through long hours during the holiday season. With excellent characters, a perfect setting and an intriguing plot, The Night Before Christmas is one to be added to anyone's reading list for the upcoming festive season ... or for any time for that matter! The book was well written. However, it took me a little while to get into the story, but when I did, I was keen to follow it through to its conclusion and discover who had been responsible for such carnage. I have to say, I had my mind made up about the perpetrator, and didn’t anticipate that final unexpected twist.