Welcome to Day 10 of #12booksofchristmas. In case you have missed any, below is the list of the ones so far

• Day 1 - Winter Solstice by Elin Hildebrand
• Day 2 - Murder After Christmas by Rupert Latimer
• Day 3 - Under the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain
• Day 4 - Miracle on Ebeneezer Street by Catherine Doyle
• Day 5 - Keeping a Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas
• Day 6 - I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day by Milly Johnson
• Day 7 - Christmas is Murder by Val McDermid
• Day 8 - Little Women by Louisa M.Alcott
• Day 9 - The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories ed. by Jessica Harrison

I can't believe we are already at Day 10 of 12booksofchristmas. The time is flying. Today's book was recommended by another friend over on Instagram and is the first in a series of books which have become immensely popular. This is the first in the series, and I was delighted to discover it is set in the few days just before Christmas.

The Plot

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan retreats to Holy Island seeking sanctuary, when he is forced to take sabbatical leave from his duties as a homicide detective.A few days before Christmas his peace is shattered and he is thrown back into the murky world of murder when a yoiung woman is found dead amongst the ancient ruins of the nearby Priory.

When former local girl, Dr Anna Taylor arrives back on the island as a police consultant, old memories, swim to the surface making her confront her difficult past. She and Ryan struggle to work together to hunt a killer who hides in plain sight, while pagan ritual and small-town politics muddy the waters of their investigation.

Murder and mystery are peppered with a sprinkling of romance and humour in the fast-paced crime whodunnit set on the spectacular Northumbrian island of Lindisfarne, cut off from the English mainland by a tidal causeway.

My Thoughts

I have been recommended this novel by a friend on Instagram who read all the series. This delivered and even better I was delighted it was set in the immediate run up to Christmas. I knew I had to include this on my #12booksofChristmas list for 2022.

I loved it! First off, Detective Ryan is a cracking detective, recovering from a personal incident, he has sought sanctuary on Holy Island. He inspires with his leadership and has a fab relationship with his assistant Philips, who is gritty and down to earth.

Holy Island does come across a little bit like Midsomer Murders, not many people live on the island, but there is a high proportion of murders that take place, and an awful lot of murder suspects! It didn’t make me want to move there anytime soon.

But the landscape and sense of community were beautifully captured. All in all, this was an immensely satisfied read and I can see why my friend enjoys these books so much. Loved it.