The Village Killer

Publication Date: 1 November 2024

Ross Greenwood

After three years behind a desk, Inspector John Barton wonders if he’s still got what it takes.
An opportunity arises to return to Major Crimes, so he jumps at it, after all he’s been around the block a few times. When he and his team are called in to investigate an attempted murder which seems to be linked to the case of a missing child, Barton is immediately thrust back into the life of a detective – early mornings, late nights and endless pressure to get to the truth.
Then a man dies.
Something deadly is going on behind the high walls and imposing gates of the mansions in the sleepy village of Castor. The locals are keeping each other’s secrets and if Barton doesn’t find out why soon, the bodies will start mounting up.

The Village Killer knows who’s next, and the clock is ticking…

My thoughts on The Village Killer

“The Village Killer” is an absolutely fantastic, edge-of-your-seat read that had me hooked from page one. Although it’s the seventh DI Barton novel by Ross Greenwood, you can easily jump in without reading the previous books and still fully enjoy the experience.

The story opens with DI Barton returning to Major Crimes after a few years behind a desk, where he was able to keep regular hours and focus on family life. Determined to prove he’s sharp and re-energized, he’s immediately plunged into two intense cases: the disappearance of a teenager and an attempted murder. Barton has no time to catch his breath, and neither does the reader! The stakes are high, and you can feel his urgency and pressure to solve both cases before things spiral further out of control.

What sets Greenwood apart is his crisp, engaging prose that masterfully builds suspense while maintaining a fast-paced narrative. Every chapter leaves you wanting more, and his vivid attention to detail creates an immersive atmosphere – you can almost feel the tension simmering beneath the surface. The psychological depth Greenwood brings to the plot is impressive, highlighting how fear and suspicion can shatter even the closest-knit communities.

If you love crime fiction with well-developed characters, plenty of twists, and a deeply atmospheric setting, “The Village Killer” is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Ross Greenwood for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Book

Title: The Village Killer (A DI Barton novel #7)
Author: Ross Greenwood
Publisher: Boldwood
Publication Date: 1 November 2024
Pre-Order Link: (Amazon)
ISBN: 9781805496939 (ebook)
Pages: 401

The Author

Ross Greenwood can be found on Facebook and Instagram and has an Author Profile on Amazon too!

The Publisher

Boldwood is an award-winning independent, global fiction publishing house launched in February 2019, with its first titles published in August 2019. The company has published over 900 titles, signed over 167 authors and sold 28 million books across the world.

Find out more online at Boldwood Books and on Facebook and Instagram

The Review

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood and Ross Greenwood for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I requested, and was granted, a digital arc of this novel in October 2024 and I read the book in less than a day.

I had the pleasure of being part of the blog tour for Ross Greenwood’s first DI Barton novel, The Snow Killer, back in 2019, and I absolutely loved it! I immediately bought the following books as they were published, but they’ve been patiently waiting on my Kindle. After diving into The Village Killer, though, I’ve moved them to the top of my list and can’t wait to devour the entire series this winter! (Click here to read my review of The Snow Killer.)

All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts thereof, may also be published on my social medial channels – find me everywhere as momobookdiary – and book websites (once published) such as Amazon, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Waterstones. All links are correct at the time of publication.

Tags: #TheVillageKiller #RossGreenwood #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks #fiction #mystery #thriller #crime-fiction

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