The Snowdonia Killings: A Snowdonia Murder Mystery Book 1 (A DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller)

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I didn't like the victims at all. They get what they deserved and so I really didn't care who killed them. Even the initial suspects are eternally unlikeable. The coppers don't have a clue until the very end when an accidental reveals all ends the mystery. What really annoyed me was the two victims were POC and so a lot of nastiness can be said about them to do with the colour of their skin. They were both English, what does it matter? Felt very pointed. Not kean on her attempt at Scouse accents though, but very few can get that spot on to a proper Scouser 😆 With such a complex case, and all the red herrings the author sends your way, guessing who the killer is turns out to be very difficult. The ending is surprising, moving and hard hitting. However, after the reveal there’s a long section of exposition which didn’t quite fit the rest of the storytelling. Perhaps Simon McCleave wanted to tie up as many loose ends as possible, but he could easily have left some of them hanging. I loved the way Simon put so much more into the story than a great plot, and well, developed characters. It explores the way alcoholics cope with daily life. He includes wonderful descriptions of Snowdonia and surrounding areas. I also loved how Welsh culture and folklore was integral to this story, even with the Welsh/English “racism”. The detail was impressive, it wasn’t just the obvious tourist highlights but obscure little snippets of information about its myths and legends that the author inserted.

Simon McCleave is a mystery author best known for his debut novel, The Snowdonia Killings. Born in South London, this talented author worked in television as a Script Editor with BBC and Channel 4 before switching to become a Story Analyst in Los Angeles. Some of McCleave’s outstanding works as a scriptwriter include Murder In Suburbia and Silent Witness series. His Out of the Game film with Channel 4 also earned him some recognition. Currently, McCleave resides in North Wales with his wife and their two children. All feature DI Ruth Hunter, whose character transferred to North Wales Police after almost 25 years with the London Metropolitan. Hoping to find the crime here less gruesome, and the politics less intense, DI Hunter was to be sorely disappointed: her first case involved the death of Ysgol Dinas Padog’s deputy head, a symbol carved into her hand.Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter lives with the pain of her partner’s mysterious and unsolved disappearance. About to hit 50, 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.

Any mistakes? Yes, of course, there are some, the main one is that the age of the teacher is first given as 53 by herself and later as 51 by the team. The reverse would be more likely unless she fibbed to the school. It may also be good to point out that acronyms as CPS have a completely different meaning in the UK than in the USA. Starting a new life in Snowdonia was always DI Ruth Hunter’s dream. Until a twisted killer turned it into her worst nightmare. It’s remarkable how many plot twists and new directions crop up in this novel. The police procedural aspect is strong, but using a huge variety of characters the author manages to drive the story in various directions. It’s complex but very believable. There are secrets galore, and often the characters have attitudes and issues that complicate matters for Ruth. As well as hate crimes, mental health problems, suicide and autism play a role – affecting the characters, the investigation and how it’s handled.I loved how Welsh culture and folklore was integral to this story, it gave such added value to this book. It was the quality of the detail that impressed me, it was not the obvious tourist highlights but obscure nuggets like the Demon of Cerrigydrudion. I loved the strong Welsh identity that this novel supported and shall ignore the little dig about the people of Cardiff. This debut novel is a wonderful introduction to what looks like being a great new series of murder mysteries. Set in Wales in the area around Mt Snowdon, the rugged and beautiful countryside is as much part of the novel as the characters. years after her partner Sarah disappeared from a busy train, DI Ruth Hunter is fed up with her life in London. The constant death, destruction and mayhem made her cynical and she’s more than happy to change the hustle and bustle of the Met for the peace and quiet of North Wales. That her daughter lives in Liverpool is also an advantage. To her surprise, the CID at the fictitious town of LLancastel is talented and committed.