Book Description:
FROM THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF HOLY ISLAND AND IMPOSTOR
A murder for the history books…
After a long and eventful winter, DCI Ryan and his team are looking forward to the joys of spring. But, when one of their colleagues is shot dead on her own doorstep and the brass think it’s an inside job, Ryan finds himself drafted in to investigate.
He’s barely scratched the surface when reports flood in of a terror explosion at Durham Cathedral. Chaos descends on the sleepy, historic city and, when the smoke clears, they find a priceless artefact that once belonged to Saint Cuthbert is missing.
With tensions running at an all-time high, unable to trust the local police, can Ryan and his team bring a killer to justice — and restore Cuthbert’s cross to its natural resting place?
Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular landscape of County Durham.
My Thoughts:
Well I have to say this is an author who knows how to kick off a story! Word of warning, DO NOT start this if you are planning on reading for a little while before you go to sleep as that will not happen. I made this mistake and had to force myself to put it down when I got half way through as I was well and truly hooked. If it wasn’t for the need for sleep I would have read it in one sitting.
Lets just the say that the beginning of the story left my heart racing. It was powerful and definitely made an impact. If anything the pace was non stop, constantly making me want more. Ryan has personal reasons in why he wants this particular crime solving and they really don’t have that much to be going on with. The author shows where pure determination can get you as well as good old fashioned police work of using your gut instinct and your head.
The author has a wonderful knack of adding dashes of humour here and there that lighten the mood at times. Frank and Ryan are two characters that I absolutely adore for different reasons. Frank is the lovable and jovial one with a big heart. Ryan is the deeper more sensitive one as well as a bit of a heart throb. They make a great pairing and one of the reasons that keep me returning for more.
The Shrine is an addictive, page turner of a read. It literally starts off with a bang and kept me glued throughout. There was so much packed in that it demanded my focus and boy did it get it. The storyline sent my heart racing in more than a couple of places and the conclusion was every bit as climatic as I had hoped it would be.
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