The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin

A lonely recluse. A missing girl and a community in fear.

When the body of a young local girl is found next to an isolated lake, the main suspect is the old recluse who has lived next to the lake for many years – especially when the young girl’s purse is found on the old man’s doorstep.

But DCI Emma Gardner and her partner DI Paul Riddick aren’t so sure. Why would the old hermit leave such an obvious clue? And who would want to set the old man up?

As they dig deeper into the murder they discover a community in fear, determined to keep hold of long buried secrets. And Riddick is convinced that his own dark past is somehow linked to this crime, too.

Gardner fears that she may never get the answers she needs, until a break leads her down a path she’d rather not face. One that runs directly to her own front door…

About the author

Wes Markin is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels, set in Salisbury. His new series for Boldwood stars the pragmatic detective DCI Emma Gardner who will be tackling the criminals of North Yorkshire.  Wes lives in Harrogate and the first book in the series The Yorkshire Murders will be published in November 2022.

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Review

‘The Lonely Lake Killings’ is a dark and moody book that hooks you in and doesn't let go! This is the second book in the ‘Yorkshire Murders’ series but can easily be read as a stand-alone, this was how I read it as I was new to the series. I will be going back though and reading ‘The Viaduct Killings’ as I'm intrigued by the main characters and want to know more of their backgrounds. This was the first book by Wes that I have read but it won't be the last as I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

When the body of a young woman is found one morning by the side of a lake, suspicion is instantly thrown to a local recluse who has lived by the lake for years. This is made stronger when the victims belonging are found in front of his house. Detectives Emma Gardner and Paul Riddick aren't so sure though and look into her life closely. What they find are long-buried secrets and a community in fear! Will they find the killer before something else happens?

I found this to be a very moving book. Every character can't be seen in black and white, including the police and it allows the readers to show the humanity and empathy that is on show throughout the narrative. It definitely deals with some emotive topics and it is handled with sensitivity but doesn't shy away from the darkness of it.

The main characters of Gardner and Riddick are an intriguing pair and I want to know more about them and see what is happening in their future! Riddick obviously comes with the background of the traumatic loss of his family, and his drinking but still is a man capable of decent actions.

I will be keeping an eye out for book 3!