This is such an absorbing read. DI Ivan Winterman has returned to his home town in East Anglia still mourning the loss of his young son in the Blitz. Set in the winter of 1947 against the backdrop of a country suffering from post-second world war austerity and the coldest winter on record Winterman is investigating the discovery of the mummified remains of one, two and then three small children. It isn’t clear where these bodies have been or why they have now appeared in various locations in the town. When further contemporary murders are committed, Winterman, hamstrung by the deep snow and freezing weather, is desperate to uncover the motives for all the deaths. Deftly written with a real eye for detail and a sympathetic background, especially the cold and ice, I couldn’t put this book down. I really liked the character of Winterman and felt genuine concern for him and his loss. The narrative is taut and very engaging. All the characters were well drawn and I really did feel I was back in post-war Britain. The ending is clever and very disturbing. I seriously recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Alex.

This intriguing mystery heralds the start of a new series for the author. I’m a big fan of his DI Alec McKay books which are contemporary police procedurals. But here, he switches things up & delivers a story reminiscent of classic golden age mysteries. It’s 1947 & all across England, people are struggling to rebuild their lives. The war may be over but things like food, fuel & jobs are still scarce. DI Ivan Winterman was not a soldier. Instead he fought his battles on the home front. One of these left him persona non grata among colleagues in London & as the book opens, he’s been banished to a small police post in rural East Anglia. It’s not exactly a promotion to the big time. As the 2 local cops who have been holding down the fort fill him in, he realizes the most dangerous criminal he’ll run into will probably be a shoplifter. Well…you just know that’s going to change or we wouldn’t have a story. Body #1 is barely recognizable as a little girl. Years of being buried in peat on the fens has preserved the bones but not much else. Same with body #2. Then a local man is murdered in his back yard. And he won’t be the last. So much for a quiet life in the sticks. The first thing you need to know is this is not a flashy thriller. It’s a quiet, atmospheric police procedural that is richly evocative of another time & place. You get drawn into the lives of people who are dealing with the fallout of WWll. Like most insular communities, everyone knows everyone & their business. Or thought they did. As Winterman’s investigation progresses, the area is cut off by snow storms & the resulting isolation lends a claustrophobic feel which is hugely effective. Because of this, the story begins to read like a classic closed room murder mystery. The author does a great job of providing a slow drip of clues. It’s an intricate puzzle & as pieces from the past & present fall into place, a horrible truth emerges. It’s not just a case of finding a killer, it’s about unmasking those who have been hiding in plain sight. Tension rises as the coppers begin to realize what they’re dealing with & the pace picks up considerably as they battle weather conditions to solve the case. It will also prove cathartic for Winterman on a personal level as he begins to let go of the past & see the chance for a brighter future. It’s a smart, historical read that will especially appeal to fans of Agatha Christie or Anthony Horowitz’ “Magpie Murders”.