Winter’s Cry by Cheryl Rees-Price.

As a fan of this excellent series, I enjoyed being back with Winter Meadows and his team. Only he isn’t a part of the team this time, after a body is found buried in woodland. The land belongs to the commune where he’s spent much of his life. As the murdered man could be his father, he steps away from the investigation. But members of the commune still view him as a police officer and remain suspicious.

It’s the start of a twisting, baffling story that goes to the heart of the commune, the main players there and Winter’s family. Some people are not who they seem to be. Some people are keeping secrets about past events and crimes they committed.

But the danger is definitely in the present, as the death of a respected member of the commune causes more confusion and fear.

Could Winter also be in danger?

While more personal than previous books in the series, the insights into Winter’s life and past are fascinating. It develops into an intriguing read that builds from a gentle start into a complex story that keeps you guessing. With no real leads, and more questions than answers, nothing is as it seems until Winter’s own investigation makes the connections that lead to a solution.

If you enjoy crime stories that are a little different from the usual, take some time to get to know this series, which continues to entertain and intrigue with each book.

Highly recommended.

Description

The grim discovery of a body brings up a past that threatens to rip a community apart.

Whilst a farmer is tearing up trees near the boundary of a reclusive commune in the Welsh hills, he unearths the remains of a man, clearly buried years ago.

DI Winter Meadows grew up within this unusual community and uses the trust he has there to investigate the case. But he is knocked sideways when the body looks to be that of his father, who disappeared years ago when the detective was a teenager.

Taken off the investigation, he goes to stay in the village of tents and makeshift buildings, and makes informal inquiries. Reliving the time he last saw his father, he becomes convinced someone there knows what happened all those years ago.

But will the culprit want Meadows messing in their affairs? And if they get their way, will the truth remain buried forever?