Lady's Well: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries)

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Louise is a keen philanthropist, and is pleased to have supported numerous non-profit programmes in addition to founding several of her own, including the Lindisfarne Reading Challenge and the Lindisfarne Prize for Debut Crime Fiction. Another aspect I was initially concerned with was DCI Ryan's wife who has been known to take over the story and get too involved with police business (in my opinion). Again there is an interlude where she is seen at the local writer's club for aspiring author's and I thought this was going to distract from the plot. It does not. I think it is something that is being setup as a part of the next instalment in the series. Lady's Well is another fantastic addition to this tremendous series. I always enjoy engaging with the stories of L. J. Ross, and Lady's Well did not disappoint. I sometimes had to laugh with the characters and how they interacted throughout this book. I love L. J. Ross's portrayal of his characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. Lady's Well is well-written and researched by L. J. Ross. I like L. J. Ross's description of the settings of Lady's Well, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot. LJ Ross is an international bestselling author, best known for creating atmospheric mystery and thriller novels, including the DCI Ryan series of Northumbrian murder mysteries which have sold over 8 million copies worldwide. Though totally fictional the series is inspired by Ireland’s horrific history with the Magdalene Laundries and Mother & Baby Homes. How much did you know about these real-life events before taking on the role?

Ryan and Phillips are called to the small village of Holystone where a body was discovered after the water supply started running blood red. Since it is Halloween, one has to wonder if the red water is a prank. However, there is the matter of the body – was the man’s death natural or was it murder? He was an older man and there are no marks on his body, so perhaps it is a natural death.When the Kilkinure Convent finally closed its doors, a score of survivors were left suffering in its wake. Very few women were able to go on and lead relatively normal lives, and others, such as Lorna, were even less fortunate in their fate. One thing all survivors had in common, is that none of them would ever forget. Ryan and Frank are called out to Holystone when a man is found dead in his home. Has he died of natural causes or is something more sinister going on? Former Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu plays Lola Akande who is Colman’s adoptive mother. She showers him with love but can she help him come to terms with his childhood?

The series begins with him being the only member of an elite criminal profiling unit to escape from a storm of scandal and mismanagement. He is adamant he will begin a quiet life, but a murderer loose in the beautiful hills of County Mayo, Ireland draws him into the murder investigation to aid the Garda. Philippa Dunne, plays pregnant and determined Niamh, the local woman who is trying to get justice for Lorna and others who were sent to the Kilkinure convent. The readers of Lady's Well will understand the consequences of jealousy. Also, Lady's readers will learn about trauma's effects on law enforcement officers. Dermot Crowley plays James Coyle while Frances Tomelty is Sister Eileen (see picture below), the former Mother Superior who might be able to provide answers at the convent. Ardal O'Hanlon plays Dara O'Halloran (also pictured below) who has a criminal past and will do anything to rotect his ex-nun wife Aoife and their daughter.

One of the latest series from LJ Ross, the Summer Suspense Mysteries take place in the beautiful Cornish seaside. There will be a new publication each year. This book goes for the most part to the standard no major overlap with another book from the series, but if you did not read the previous two, I do strongly suggest to have a go before going for this one, or you will know one of the murders in this one. To be honest, I'm not convinced. I guessed a fair bit of the mystery before I was halfway in, which was slightly disappointing. I love a good plot twist, and this book didn't really have one. 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. Gregory galivants across the world in this series, from Ireland to France to New York City and more. In this series Ross’s writing is described as her usual murder and mystery peppered with dark humour.

The Woman In The Wall throws up a strange mystery. (Image credit: BBC) The Woman In The Wall cast — Ruth Wilson interview on playing Lorna Brady

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Struggling to find a killer that is hiding in plain sight, while navigating small town politics and pagan rituals that muddy the waters, romance is blossoming between the two tortured souls, threatening to slow down the investigation. “Sycamore Gap”, the second novel in the DCI Ryan series of novels is an excellent novel about the adventures of the handsome and troubled Detective Chief Inspector Ryan.

Daryl reveals: "In Bad Sisters, I played someone who was investigating a fraudulent insurance claim and for this series, I’m portraying a detective who's dealing with criminal activity – a murder. In Bad Sisters, that character was a musician who gets caught up in his brother's business, so he's a little bit more reluctant to go through the dealings and he's getting caught up in that world. Whereas for Colman, it's his job to solve cases and to meet them head on." With a passion for writing and reading, a writing career seemed the most plausible way to express her creativity. The idea for the first novel in the series came while she was traveling to Edinburgh with her husband. I always enjoy the author’s descriptive writing in this series, I like to take myself off to these wonderful parts of Northumberland in my mind. The Cove" (the first book in her new Summer Suspense Mysteries series) was released in 2021 and followed up by "The Creek" in 2022. This is a new series of standalone romantic suspense novels featuring strong female protagonists. "The Bay" will follow in summer 2023. LJ Ross is an internationally bestselling author, whose books have sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

DCI Ryan Series

Simon Delaney as Aidan Massey in The Woman in the Wall. (Image credit: BBC) Behind the scenes and Joe Murtagh on The Woman In The Wall The Woman In The Wall follows the horrors experienced by Lorna Brady (Ruth Wilson) is a woman from the small, fictional Irish town of Kilkinure, who wakes one morning to find a corpse in her house. The opening scene sees Lorna wake up lying in the road after sleepwalking and cows are sniffing at her. Was that challenging to film?