| Title | : | Heavenfield (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 266 |
| Publication | : | First published March 4, 2016 |
Already suspended from Northumbria CID, Ryan must fight to clear his name. But soon, more than his career is at stake when prominent members of the mysterious ‘Circle’ begin to die. Somebody wants Ryan’s name to be next on the coroner’s list and to survive he must unmask the devil who walks among them – before it is too late.
Unfortunately for Ryan, the devil looks just like everybody else…
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit from LJ Ross, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.
Heavenfield (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #3) Reviews
-
5 Words: Crime, family, love, betrayal, cult.
That was fantastic. This series is just incredible.
The thing that I love the most about this series is the evocative descriptions of the North East. More than the twisting, turning story, more than the intense chemistry between the characters, more than the amazing DCI Ryan, more than the history, it's the descriptions that have me coming back time and again.
Read a passage. Close your eyes. Get lost.
I love the historical influences in the story. I love how
L.J. Ross takes these dramatic landmarks and weaves a story around them, taking historical fact and adding in the ideology of a cult.
Aside from the wonderfully rich setting, you also have a steadily evolving set of characters. If you have followed the series from the start, the people you meet between the pages of this book are very different from those you met at the beginning of
Holy Island. How could they not be? This book has loyalties tested, romance strained, and shocking revelations.
I'd say that it's best to read the whole series in order (because it's bloody brilliant) but I suppose you could read them on their own, it just means you'll miss out on a cracking plot that arcs through the series as a whole and you'll miss the characters changing and growing.
A copy of this was provided by Booklover Catlady Publicity for review. -
HEAVENFIELD by author L.J. Ross is the third in the series (DCI Ryan Mysteries #3). I have read the previous two book in the series; Holy Island and Sycamore Gap, but I loved this one the best. I recommend reading these in order.
This is a fast paced crime thriller set in the North East of England. The plot is believable and the characters come alive in this setting.
“When a man is found dead at the remote church of Heavenfield, DCI Ryan is the only other person for miles around. The police have no weapon, no motive and no other suspects.”
“Already suspended from Northumbria CID, Ryan must fight to clear his name. But soon, more than his career is at stake when prominent members of the mysterious ‘Circle’ begin to die. Somebody wants Ryan’s name to be next on the coroner’s list and to survive he must unmask the devil who walks among them – before it is too late. “
Would Ryan be next…or will he unmask the devil?
I recommend the entire series for fans of fast-paced crime whodunit thrillers.
Many thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity who provided a digital copy. -
4★
The Circle. Weird, wicked and evil. As soon as the police plan to question someone, they turn up dead. One suspect is already in prison – couldn’t be him. Or could it?
The story opens with a chilling death, as Ross’s previous two books have. The location is equally scenic, and the beauty of the place makes the activities of The Circle even worse.
“The sun made its final descent into the horizon at its back, casting deep amber rays over the fields while stars began to pop high in the darkening sky above. Nature was the master here and all around her handiwork bloomed; a patchwork blanket of lush green grass, gorse bush and sprouting purple lavender.”
DCI Ryan has been ‘invited’ to meet his lovely girlfriend Anna’s mentor at a secluded old church. Of course, he’s immediately discovered standing, literally red-handed, over the old bloke’s body by a group of visiting pilgrims. Not a good day for Ryan, it would seem. Plus, he has to break the news to Anna that her beloved surrogate father has been shot to death, brains splattered on the old stone walls.
There is far less of the “chiselled-cheekbone” writing in this book, which I appreciated. As soon as I hit what seem like chick-lit bits in a book, I’m aware of being an audience instead of an engrossed reader. Ross is getting better all the time. We’re still reminded of people’s looks and connections, but I recall only one time Ryan wanted to gather Anna in his arms (or something similar).
Instead, we are shown the connection between characters who have adopted each other into their own small-c circle and who worry and look out for each other. Detective Sergeant Frank Phillips and Detective Inspector Denise MacKenzie became an item in a previous book, and their relationship is affectionately portrayed. He performs at a popular karaoke spot, she rolls her eyes but can’t help smiling.
Later “He turned to look at MacKenzie, who was starting to show signs of strain. He took her elegant hand in his broad, knobbly fingers and smiled at the difference between them. . . Phillips gave her fingers a squeeze and looked down at their joined hands. It was enough, for now.
‘Come on, let’s go and find some killers.’
You’re such a romantic, Frank.’"
And I’m growing fond of slightly bumbling (but increasingly handy) Detective Constable Jack Lowerson, too. I expect to see more of him.
I have digressed from the plot, but I think it’s enough to say great setting, good story well told, and creepy enough murders (without too many grisly details) to keep us guessing. Intrepid detective with good mates, but nobody's above suspicion in these.
I don’t think you need to have read the first two in the DCI Ryan series to enjoy this, but I’m sure it would help. And reading this one first might spoil the fun of the first two if you backtrack. Heck, just read them all.
Thanks to the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity for my advanced reader’s copy for a review.
On to #4 please, Ms Ross! -
Will the Circle be unbroken? Or will DCI Maxwell Ryan finally split up the tightly twisted, tangled cult that has haunted Northumbria and eluded Ryan and his team for far too long. Wait! Ryan is still serving his suspension by Superintendent Gregson. Not only that, but when a man is found dead in the old Heavenfield Church, Ryan is the only person in the vicinity and finds himself involved in a scrum to clear himself of suspicion.
That puts DI Denise Mackenzie in charge of the case. It doesn’t take long for MacKenzie and her squad to become embroiled in not one, but multiple murders as presumed Circle higher-ups begin mysteriously dying.
Heavenfield: A DCI Ryan Mystery is the third in a series of DCI Ryan Mysteries by L.J. Ross, and I highly recommend that you read
Holy Island and
Sycamore Gap: A DCI Ryan Mystery before jumping into this one. Even having read the first two, I found myself struggling at times to remember some of the references to Circle members and racked my brain to anticipate who might still be a threat. Ryan – he never goes by Maxwell if he can help it – involves himself in the investigation, as does Anna Taylor, his girlfriend.
Beginning with the mysterious death at Heavenfield and adding on the subsequent attacks and deaths that stretch the task force to its limits, Ms. Ross has created a dark, suspenseful tale by drawing classic lines of good vs. evil. The first death occurs on St. Oswald’s Tide, a feast commemorating the saint known for defeating a pagan army. The problem is that no one knows exactly who all the villains are. He or she could be your next-door neighbor, your fellow police constable, a doctor, a researcher, or all of the above. The principals on either side of this battle are well defined. We know who they are; even the police seem to know who some of the Circle members are. The challenge is finding evidence to prove it. The author has done a masterful job of creating so much tension that I felt it in every page. It was apparent that the Circle members were falling like dominoes. The question was who would be next, and when? Who was behind it? I was right to some extent, but Ms. Ross had a clever revelation at the end that took me completely by surprise. It was a gutsy move, I thought, because the execution was risky business. But I loved it!
Everything that was building in the previous two books comes to a head in
Heavenfield: A DCI Ryan Mystery. This is my favorite of the three, and I enjoyed it tremendously. In the other books, it bothered me somewhat that there was so much emphasis on the Circle; maybe I liked this one so well because I could sense them all getting their comeuppance. That’s not the only thing to like, of course. Ms. Ross has researched the history and culture of the area and truly respects the past, as well as the beauty of the landscape. DCI Ryan, Anna Taylor, Phillips, and MacKenzie are characters I love, and I hope to see them in future adventures together.
I wish to thank Booklover Catlady Publicity and the author for providing me with a copy of Heavenfield in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
5 stars. -
.
Firstly I strongly suggest you read the first 2 books before this one.
Another excellent story in the series, more and more is revealed about the secret society and characters past.
Lots of action and gore, plus some historical facts.
On to book 4 now. -
This series is just on a winning streak and no wonder L.J. Ross is having so much success with it. It's just got so much going for it - great plot, memorable characters, nice twists, sexy intelligent detective, great location and setting, good writing. What more do you want right? Great fiction!
If you have not yet experienced this series you can pretty much start anywhere with it. I have also recently read book four and that one is bloody fantastic also. Of course starting at the beginning is never a bad idea, certainly to get to know DCI Ryan who is one of my favourite crime characters of any books around at the moment, but the books are clever in that you could read any as a stand-alone and not feel lost in the wilderness.
Yet again the book is set in the North-East of England which I am a bit biased about as that's where I live. It's great knowing where the places and locations are. I loved the pace of this book and it keeps you enthralled from beginning to end. For those who have been following the series you will enjoy this book especially as an ongoing situation comes to a grand finale (no spoilers!). Loved it!
L.J. Ross is a smart, savvy and talented author that writes books that people LIKE and LOVE to read, from the very first best-selling book to now I remain a faithful fan. Do check out my reviews of the other three books in the series if you fancy it - all highly recommended from this crime book lover. 5 stars (again) for Heavenfield. Let the books keep coming and let DCI Ryan keep getting more and more sexy.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team:
http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services:
http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
-
First let me thank Barbara Rogers for recommending me this book and since this a third one I just had to read from the start this series! :)
Oh, thank God!!! They've finally defeated the Circle (or did they?...)!!!
I wouldn't hold up my breath on that...
Still it seems that they did it! Yeah!
Here the action was lightning fast! Thing kept happening so fast that I could almost see the unraveling of Circle's main players!
Sometimes it seemed like it was happening almost too fast.
The last head of the Circle was such a stupid idiot that I suppose its predecessors were turning in their graves!
But still it was a satisfactory conslusion of the "cirle". LOL
I'll be reading the next books, but not right now! I have to take a pause... LOL -
This is third in a series featuring DCI Ryan. HOLY ISLAND and SYCAMORE GAP were the first two books .. I highly recommend reading these in order.
After receiving a text message that he should go to a remote church of Havenfield, DCI Ryan finds a dead body. The body of a man who has been involved with the Circle ... a satan-worshipping group of rich, powerful men and women. They will stop at nothing to protect themselves.
As luck would have it, local law enforcement walks in as Ryan is standing over the body, his hands bloodied. He's already been suspended and now it's going to be a battle to clear his name before he actually loses his job.
Prominent higher-ups in the Circle begin to die, one right after the other. And Ryan is next on the list.
This has been an intriguing series....made for anyone who loves suspense and thrives on a good mystery. The characters are believable, well-drawn. Action is fast-paced and the further into the book you get, the faster you read.
5 Stars for the series.
Many thanks to the author / Booklover Catlady Publicity who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. -
Tai trečioji serijos dalis apie inspektorių Rajeną. Vėl grįžaqu į vaizdingąjį Nortumbrijos kraštą Anglijoje, šįkart į Hevelfildą. Jei po pirmųjų dalių dar galėjau abejoti, trečioji pilnai užtvirtino tai, kad ši detektyvų serija puikiai tinka, kai norisi kažko lengvo, neįpareigojančio. Žiaurumų nėra daug, bet yra labai įtraukianti siužeto linija.
⠀
Detektyvui inspektoriui Rajenui nuolat trukdo šetono garbintojai, tiksliau sekta, kuri save vadina Ratu. Šioje sektoje žmonės turintys aukštus rangus įvairiose srityse, todėl jiems lengva nuslėpti tam tikrus įkalčius ar nusikaltimus ir trukdyti tyrimui. Tad įvykiai, prasidėję pirmojoje dalyje “Šventoji sala” po truputį narpliojami iki šios, trečiosios dalies, ir pagaliau sudedami visi taškai ant “i”.
⠀
Toks užsitęsęs veiksmas per tris knygas man labai patiko! Toks kaip mini serialas, tik knygos formatu! O ir visi įvykiai, sektos organizaciniai klausimai, meilės linija ir visos persipynusios paslaptys sužavėjo. Aš vienu metu nepasitikėjau nei vienu knygos veikėju ir absoliučiai visus įtarinėjau priklausant Ratui.
⠀
Šioje knygoje taip pat, kaip ir pirmose, yra ne tik romantikos, bet ir humoro, kuris man nei kiek negadino skaitymo. Dažnai nemėgstu didelių pašmaikštavimų, bet čia visiškai tiko! Ypač vienas veikėjas man prie širdies, kurio kaklaraiščių pasirinkimai visada kėlė šypseną. Dabar man net truputį gaila, kad visos Rato pinklės paaiškėjo ir nežinau, kas bus kitoje dalyje, bet ją tikrai skaitysiu!
⠀
Rekomenduoju ieškantiems lengvo detektyvo, kuriame nėra daug žiaurumų, tačiau labai vaizdingai aprašyta gamta, sektos apeigos ir kova dėl įtakos kitiems neleidžia nuobodžiauti! Tačiau šią seriją, mano manymu, būtina skaityti nuo pirmosios dalies (“Šventoji sala”), nes kitaip kils daugiau klausimų, nei atsakymų! -
Heavenfield is the third book featuring DCI Ryan and follows on from the events in
Holy Island and
Sycamore Gap: A DCI Ryan Mystery. These have been getting better and better. This one is definitely my favourite. The history that is weaved into the story and the atmospheric settings in the North East of England combined with the fast-paced, clever plot and the fantastic characters made this an excellent crime thriller. I would love to see Ryan, Anna, MacKenzie and Phillips investigating other cases in the future. These characters have really grown on me and it is nice to see how they are developing with each book.
I listened to the audio version again. Apologies to anybody who read my two previous reviews for this series, but I'm going to have to repeat it again. The narration by Jonathan Keeble is absolutely fantastic. He kills it with the different accents and I've been super impressed how consistent the different characters' voices have been across all three books. He has really brought these characters to life for me.
I would recommend the entire trilogy to all fans of fast-paced crime thrillers with believable characters. -
L.J. Ross knygos yra visiškas detektyvų makdonaldas: greitos, paprastos, skanios ir visada žinau ką gausi. To kaip ir užtektų, ką čia dar komentuoti?
“Hevenfildas” yra trečia serijos apie detektyvą Rajeną dalis. Visos knygos turi bendrus veikėjus ir net pagrindinį bendrą blogietį – Ratą. Ratas yra sekta garbinanti šėtoną ir apimanti nemažai įvairių, aukštas pareigas užimančių, žmonių, kuriems lengva kaišioti pagalius į nusikaltimų, kuriuos patys ir padaro, tyrimus.
Man šie detektyvai labai pagelbėja užėjus neskaitadieniams. Nereikia čia galvoti, nepaisant to, kad aukos žudomos, nėra tokios juodumos, kaip skandinavų detektyvuose. Veikėjai linksmi, nors autorius ir bando pripiršti praeities demonus. Tačiau, kaip jau sakiau – tai makdonalas. Nieko netikėto, nieko įmantresnio, nieko per daug stebinčio. Užbėgai, surijai mėsainį, užkandai bulvyčių ir leki toliau. Tik bėda, kad aš visai mėgstu greitą maistą. Kaip pliusą galiu įvardinti tai, kad veiksmas vyksta įdomiose vietovėse, apie kurias norisi pagūglinti ir pasižiūrinėti vaizdų. -
Tai jau trečioji knyga, kurios pagrindinis veikėjas yra detektyvas Rajenas. Perskaičiau pirmąsias dvi, tad su nekantrumu ėmiausi ir šios dalies 😎
Hevenfildo bažnyčioje yra aptinkamas lavonas. Taip jau nutinka, jog pirmasis įvykio vietoje pasirodęs žmogus - inspektorius Rajenas.
Paskutiniu metu Rajenui ir taip nelengvas metas.. Jis buvo kuriam laikui nušalintas laikinai nuo pareigų, o dabar jis aptiktas ir prie lavono.. Tai tikrai nežada nieko gero.
Šis vyras nori rasti tą, kuris atsakingas dėl visų beprasmių mirčių. Kyla įtarimas, jog ir vėl prie viso to prisidėjo "Ratas".
Rajenui laiko lieka vis mažiau..
Kas jau skaitėte bent vieną L. J. Ross knygą žinote, jog nuobodžiauti neteks. Gana įdomus bei dinamiškas siužetas, įtaigūs veikėjai bei nenuspėjami žudikai bei jų motyvai. Tačiau man ši knyga nebuvo tokia įdomi kaip pirmosios dvi. Labai bloga jos pavadinti negalėčiau, tačiau pačia geriausia irgi 🙈 Sakyčiau, jog man asmeniškai šioje dalyje pritrūko daugiau veiksmo. Nepaisant to, pats detektyvinis romanas tikrai tas, kurio puslapius versite to net nejausdami. Labai viliuosi, jog autorė mane dar nustebins. Tad tikrai skaitysiu ir kitą serijos knygą 📚 -
I read this some time in early November or late October. I've really been enjoying this series. DCI Ryan is suspended and in the doghouse at work but there are secret machinations behind the scenes as someone plots to take over the Circle - that secret and deadly, devil-worshipping organisation that has people in high places and exerts too much influence. As Ryan is a thorn in the Circle's side the aspiring new leader tries to eliminate him. Can Ryan clear his name and prevail against the unseen forces arrayed against him.
NO that's not the blurb but it might well have been. These books are compulsive reading! -
I have read the first two in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them, but this book was just not for me. The story felt like it dragged out, like it was being forced. The writing seemed to stall at critical times and I found myself looking back through the pages to see if I missed something. Don't get me wrong, L.J. Ross is a very talented writer and I would definitely read more from her in the future, this one just didn't do anything for me.
-
Another enjoyable read with DC Ryan and co
-
I had been saving Heavenfield since its release because I didn’t know when the next installment of the DCI Ryan series would be released. And then I saw the cover reveal on FB and it’s coming soon so needless to say I hopped onto my kindle straight away to get into it!
As you all know, I love a good series and LJ Ross’s books are no exception. Reading these books is like catching up with old friends. There’s comfort in picking up the books because you know you won’t be disappointed.
I don’t like spoilers, so I will try keep my review succinct as I don’t want to give away anything about the plot. I recommend you read the precious books before this one if you haven’t already.
Heavenfield opens with a shocker, and it snowballs from there. The pace of the book is just excellent. It pulls you in immediately and it will not let you go until the final chapter. The characters from previous novels are all there in various states of play. The plot is superb, it is all interconnected through the series and it just flows so well.
I genuinely can’t say more about it without opening my big mouth and spoiling something so all I will say is LJ Ross is an excellent author and storyteller. The DCI Ryan series is excellent, and it keeps getting better with every new release! Bring on Angel! -
An interesting continuation of a solid police-procedural/mystery read.
DCI Ryan is embroiled in a personal struggle to uncover the murdered in this book. There are a number of links back to the first two books and this was an enjoyable aspect of the book.
Ryan finds himself suspended from Northumbria CID and some inconsistencies with how this would play out, in reality, did spoil a few angles for me. 'The Circle’ features heavily in this novel and I found this really interesting but there was something missing in the believability stakes at times. Ryan, to me, seemed a little more arrogant than usual but at least things moved forward with Anna.
Murder and mystery are intertwined in a slower-paced whodunnit. -
If I told you that this was the third book in this series that I have listened in the space of a week, then you’ll probably be able to guess how much I am loving it. From that very first introduction to DCI Ryan and team up on Holy Island, I have been hooked and each story has been cementing my love more. After two cracking tales in Holy Island and Sycamore Gap, could Heavenfield keep the pace and my attention. Oh by ‘eck yes.
This instalment brings the reader and DCI Ryan full circle, back to the mysterious and dangerous ‘Circle’ who dominated the the story in that very first book. It is set to become Ryan’s most personal case yet as he falls victim to their plotting, while still trying to resolve lingering issues and concerns over his actions in the previous novel. There is no hiding who is part of the ‘Circle’, this is clear from the very first page and we are familiar with the names and faces from the first two books. And yet, as members are slowly but surely dispatch, it is not clear who the killer may be. Many seem to have opportunity and motive, Ryan included, but Ross manages to keep the reader guessing right to the last.
Being honest, and maybe because I was listening rather than reading, I really didn’t see this one coming. There were the odd moments when I thought I knew, when I gave myself a bit of a knowing smile as I drove along (I should explain I was listening to audio, not reading and driving) and then something unexpected would happen and I was smiling that same smile, not for me but for the author. Excellent work. I loved it.
As for the characters, Ryan is as formidable as ever. Serious and focused, his dry humour provides many lighter moments. Frank Phillips persists in wearing his colourful ties much to DI MacKenzie’s dismay. Gregson is still keeping secrets and Lowerson is as keen as mustard, now fully recovered from his ordeal on Holy Island. And the relationship between Ryan and Anna is settled, symbiotic. While he still drives her crazy, they understand each other, which is good because this case is very personal to both of them. It is a partnership that works and works well.
There are moments of real tension, where you know that something is about to happen and you wonder just how Ryan and the team will overcome it. There are also more subtle moments which creep up on you. The narrative moves between Ryan and his team, to members of the ‘Circle’, but does so smoothly. And we revisit some characters who we have met before, adding an interesting dimension to the text.
The story does provide some closure to the story which began on Holy Island, at least it felt like it did. Who knows quite how far the reach of this strange society extends. But I am glad to know that there are two more books in this series waiting on my kindle, books which I know are going to be a pure delight to read -
Pasiilgau gero, lengvo detektyvo, taigi džiaugiausi, kad lentynoje laukė inspektoriaus Rajeno serijos trečioji dalis. Iš tiesų labai malonu skaityti šios serijos romanus.
Šiame romane tęsiama istorija apie Ratą ir jos narius. Randamas negyvėlis nedidelėje bažnyčioje, o Rajenas tampa pagrindiniu įtariamuoju. Bet tai tik pradžia... Pasipila dar daugiau mirčių, bet kartu ima aiškėti ir dauguma paslapčių.
Rajenas - gražuolis, drąsus ir įžvalgus detektyvas. O veiksmas vyksta vaizdingose Nortumbrijos vietose: pilyje, saloje, miestuose... O kur dar subtilus humoras ir šioks toks skaitytojų vedžiojimas už nosies. Taigi, garantuotai gerai praleistas laikas.
Tiesa, romanas visiškai kitoks negu skandinaviškieji. Čia mažiau tamsos, žiaurumo ir kraujo. Vasarą būtent tokių knygų ir norisi. Tiesiog skaitinys vasaros vakarams ir rytams, išlaikantis įtampą iki paskutinio puslapio. -
Three words to describe the feel of this novel..... Evil, Paranoia and Triumph!
A simply stunning conclusion (I think) to the saga of The Circle, which has stealthily creeped across author LJ Ross' first three novels. I have read all three in quick succession; I couldn't get enough of Anna, Ryan and his team.
The books show extraordinary talent from a new author & each book has outclassed the previous in terms of exceptional writing, thrilling plots and characters that have such depth you can't help but feel you know them.
I have simply fallen in love with the character DS Frank Phillips! He's a rough, gruff teddy bear who's all puffy marshmallow on the inside. I adore his cheekiness & witty remarks! I literally had tears rolling down my face with laughter at his banter with DCI Ryan during the interrogation of former Detective Chief Superintendent Arthur Gregson, at the conclusion of this novel.
Without giving a spoiler away, I can't wait to read the recently released fourth book in the story, Angel, to see what's happening next in the character's lives. -
It was great to catch up with Ryan again. Even though he still very much has his demons to overcome, we certainly see a more lighter and a touch of the romantic side to him. This brought a whole new light to the story and made it even more enjoyable.
Theres a reference to Cabot Cove in the story which of course is where the famous Jessica Fletcher lives. (A big murder/mystery TV show in it’s day just incase you haven’t heard of it). Even though this series is very much one of mystery and suspense it certainly had that good old fashioned whodunnit feel to it.
As always the author keeps the reader fully engrossed in the story. From the fabulous setting to the great characterisation there is plenty to lose yourself into. The story line of the circle is one that has always fascinated me and this is one series I can’t get enough of.
Heavenfield is without a doubt a great read for lovers of mystery and suspense. Looking forward to more in the series. -
DCI Ryan finds the body of a man in a remote church at Heavenfield in Northumbria. So starts this third book in this series but I strongly advise that you read the other two books first.
I enjoyed reading Heavenfield and many things continue on from the earlier books. Same characters, more romance, further character development and raising it’s ugly head again is the Circle.
Although I think each book including Heavenfield is a GOOD 4 star read, for me the books get a little better each time. The reason for this is simple - the plot of each book gets better and more complex. Heavenfield is very clever and the story behind the body of the man found in the remote church is amazing. When I got to the end all those little details slotted together.
I find this series gets stronger with each book and although the author claims the Circle is fictitious, her writing makes you believe the conspiracy is real. I like the way L.J. Ross uses real locations for her stories and by coincidence one of my Facebook friends is on holiday in Northumbria with his French Bulldogs and has taken photos of the actual locations in these books. -
Stunning mystery...
Having read and enjoyed the first two books in the DCI Ryan series, I was thrilled when the author offered me an ARC of her newest instalment, Heavenfield, and as soon as I received it I started reading it straight away. And once again I found myself lost in beautiful Northumberland...
As a lover of history, I'm always keen to discover and learn about magnificent historical locations and buildings and ancient events and battles. And reading this author's books I always end up on Google as I feel the need to see the places mentioned, and every time, I realise that the online pictures are a mirror image of what I had imagined while reading the book. This shows the author's ability of vividly describing and bringing to life places and sceneries. This time I searched information about Heavenfield church and Bamburgh castle as these are the two focal points in this book.
But I don't want to give the impression that this is some historical fiction. No, this is a brilliant, modern day, blood-soaked murder mystery - the culmination of all events taking place in Holy Island and Sycamore Gap, the first two books, so I recommend readers to go through these books in the correct order.
This book starts with a bang...literally! A man is found dead in a church and Ryan ends up the prime suspect. But this will only be the first of many deaths in this book. In fact victims start dropping like flies! What these victims have in common is, that they are all connected to the mysterious Circle.
"Someone is ticking persons of interest off the list."
DI Denise Mackenzie leads the investigation and her first job is to clear her boss's name from the suspects' list. But someone sees Ryan as a stumbling block and won't rest until he has been eliminated. Who is behind all these murders? Who is acting like a vigilante? Who wants Ryan out of the picture? How will the other members of the Circle react?
The characters in this series are so realistic that it's as though I've known them for ages. Once again, through her excellent writing skills, and a balanced mix of suspense, humour and romance, the author has weaved yet another clever plot that kept me engrossed throughout. A dramatic scene towards the end left me gasp for air and I was on tenterhooks to see how it will all end. Who will die? Who will survive? I certainly wasn't expecting the ingenious (and believable) way in which the author ties up all loose ends at the end. Clever girl!
To those who have not yet discovered this author, I say one thing: You're missing out! Go grab the first book and a coffee and prepare to dive into this stunning mystery series. You won't be able to stop reading!
With thanks to LJ Ross for an ARC of this book. -
Trečioji dalis, gal kažkiek silpnesnė nei dvi pirmosios, bet susiskaitė labai greitai, man patiko. 4,5⭐
-
Spoilers, maybe.. but I doubt it..
This one started with a man being killed and Ryan being accused of killing him. That was a good start, I thought. And, wow, everything just went crazy in this book: Gregson going after Ryan, trying to get him thrown off the force, and the deal with Gregson’s wife, 2 prison/hospital deaths while they were already looking into another killer’s death.
And if some of you don’t know what I’m talking about and think I’m giving up spoilers I’m not, for those of you who read the first two books. For those who didn’t you might be lost. This was really a fascinating series.
It was just fabulous getting to know Ryan and Anna, and watching them fall in love. Loved Phillips and MacKenzie, and I absolutely love Phillips’s ties, what a quirky guy he was with his ties. Really liked Jack but I wasn’t really sure about him in the beginning. And, wow, wow, wow, what a trip that Jane was. She had a god-like attitude and thought the immediate world would soon be kneeling at her feet. Every one of these “Master’s” were totally insane killers, thinking they were doing Satan’s work. Every time one Master died another would take his place, until Jane was given the position as High PriestESS, after years of there being only Priests.
This was a truly great series and I’m sorry the story of “The Circle” had to end. But, boy, what an ending.
Again there was no sex in this book, not even a hint of it, but there was love and affection and that’s all I can ask for.
The was swearing and the F-bomb was used 12 times.
As to the narration: Again the narrator did a great job with his emotions while reading and the men had wonderful voices but the women’s voices still sucked, just like they did in the first two books. However, even with the women’s voices I’d still listen to the narrator again.
With the books being free with KU and the audibles only being $1.99 you really can’t go wrong. -
3.5 stars.
This series continues to be enjoyable. Well written with interesting cultural and law enforcement details, I never feel like the author is dumbing down things for the reader. The romance between the H and his lady love is still adult and surprisingly sweet. There is a moment when I thought the author was going to insert some unnecessary OP drama, but rest assured, that isn't the case. The crime element of this story is pretty dark, with but it's counterbalanced by the constantly shifting multiple povs that prevent the reader from focusing too much on creepy sadness.
The twist was surprising and I didn't see it coming. The mystery and suspense of this book was wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. It's a sign when I'm reading a perfectly enjoyable book and take a break to read another one of this series. -
Heavenfield by L.J. Ross
This is the 3rd book in the DCI Ryan Mysteries by Author L.J. Ross
“When a man is found dead at the remote church of Heavenfield, DCI Ryan is the only other person for miles around. The police have no weapon, no motive and no other suspects”
This series caught my attention, and I must mention that they are free to download on Kindle Unlimited
The history, and atmospheric dialogue is very appealing. They have wonderful deep character development, that just keeps getting better as the series grows.
The spectacular Northumbrian landscape is well visualized within the words, with a great storyline and characters you will empathise with -
L J Ross Heavenfield. 5*
Compelling from the first chapter, Heavenfield set in a Northumbrian church believed to be the site of a battle in 635AD. Again we have DCI Ryan and his team up against the dark forces who see him as a danger to them. Another excellent read from this author who is winning plaudits for her skill has a writer. Another great atmospheric book set in the wilds of the North East. -
...na gi, cia dar nepabaiga...ir nors atrodo, kad viskas jau graziai susideliojo i lentyneles...turiu nuojauta, kad dar laukia daug reikalu ...
