Cheryl Rees-Price

Winter Meadows was raised on a commune, until events not fully discussed in this book led to him living in town and discovering the benefits of central heating and other comforts. The change didn't lead to him abandoning the beliefs he was raised with. Those beliefs didn't prevent him from becoming a police officer, and eventually a Detective Inspector, investigating a murder in a small Welsh town.

Seventeen-year-old Stacey Evans is found murdered, and a surprising number of people have show more potential motives for murder. She had recently dumped the teenage boyfriend her parents believe she didn't have. She had been involved with several married men in the village. She had mercilessly bullied and harassed another teenage girl, Erin Kelly, who committed suicide as a result. In Erin's case, it's not just her mother and father who might have wanted Stacey to pay for what she did. There's also Donald Hobson, another teenager, Erin's best friend, who has made no secret of blaming Stacey for her death.

The killer did leave a calling card, though. Written in marker on Stacey's body is REV17--Book of Revelation, Chapter 17. The Whore of Babylon. Surely this is a useful clue?

Unfortunately, as the investigation continues, instead of leading quickly to the killer, it connects Stacey's death to other deaths. A missing doctor is found dead, with another Biblical verse written on his body. An unsolved arson case with two deaths turns out to have a brick that was thrown through a window with a Bible verse written on it--and the two people killed are widely believed, despite lack of direct evidence, to be involved in the death of another young girl.

Yet in every case, as Meadows and his team identify the most likely suspects, each proves to have a seemingly ironclad alibi. They couldn't have committed the murders they're accused of--seemingly.

It's a nice, twisty plot, and the character development is excellent. Meadows himself is a likeable, interesting character, and I'm likely to be reading more books in this series.

The only real flaw I see here is the sloppy copyediting. That may have gotten corrected between the ARC and the published book. I hope so!

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily. show less

I became aware of “The Silent Quarry” by Cheryl Rees-Price through the review of my Goodreads friend Barry. If Barry rates a mystery, police procedural or thriller highly, chances are high I’m also going to enjoy it.

I was intrigued by the novel's premise of a woman, Gwen Thomas, who survived a brutal attack as a teenager that killed her friend, but lost her memory of the event. When she starts to remember what happened, she becomes a target again. Tempted by Barry and having been show more looking for the next good read, I basically pounced upon it and finished it in a few hours as it’s a bit on the short side of novels.

I immediately related to DI Winter Meadows, a perceptive but reclusive detective (my wife calls me a hermit…), who tries to find the identity of the attacker before it’s too late. Beyond Meadows’ professional interest he’s further motivated by his teenage-crush on Gwen and the mutual metaphorical sparks are still flying between the two of them…

I really liked Meadows because he's empathic and kind. He’s an interesting character with a lot of (as of yet mostly hidden) depth. I also liked his interactions with his colleagues and the locals. He has a good sense of humour and a sharp mind. His casual weed consumption put a big (and, of course, entirely innocent!) grin on my face.

»He plucked a book from the shelf and opened it. The inside was hollow and held a small bag of cannabis, a grinder, tobacco, and extra-long rolling papers. He rolled a joint, plonked himself down in the armchair, and lit up.«

I also enjoyed how compassionately, fairly and understandingly Meadows treated Edris. He saw Edris’ potential and gave him a chance to prove himself which the latter immediately proved worthy of.

Gwen Thomas was also a very interesting character: Rees-Price’s depiction of Gwen felt very authentic and disarmingly honest. Gwen is disgusted with her marriage, her jerk of a cheating husband and yet she does all she can to help. Even if it puts her in danger and potentially comes at great cost to herself. I admired her courage and determination to face the truth.

There were quite a few twists that, I have to admit, I saw coming but still enjoyed - except for one that left me feeling sad…

Speaking of sad: There were a few rough edges; the interesting setting of Wales doesn’t really play a role at all. Apart from the names of the villages, this could have played anywhere rural. Apart from Edris, all of Meadows’ colleagues remain underdeveloped, indistinct and flat.

There also are a few loose ends: What is Carl Perkins going to do? What is Ariana going to do about Edris?

Nevertheless, this was an engaging, suspenseful, intelligent police procedural and certainly a good entrance into this series.

Four out of five stars.

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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less

Whilst this story has some of the stock elements beloved by crime writers, the plot is unusual and contains plenty of red herrings. DI Winter Meadows returns to the town where he was brought up after winning his detective spurs in the city, creating resentment from the existing Sergeant, who expected to win promotion. Winter is unmarried and was bullied at school by some of those he must now investigate. He also had a passion for a girl, Gwen, who is now at the centre of his investigation, show more but married with children. Twenty years ago, Gwen was apparently attacked and a school friend murdered in a local disused quarry, but Gwen suffered amnesia afterwards as a result of her injuries. After making her first return to the scene, Gwen trips and some memories start to return. This sets the scene for those who don't wish her to remember anything, to try to prevent the truth emerging, but what is the truth? Clever twists and turns before the complex story finally emerges show less

In a residential home for adults with learning disabilities, the manager is found dead in a chest freezer. Detective Winter Meadows leads the investigation. Could one or more of the residents be responsible? It doesn’t seem possible. Delving into the history of the home and of the residents, Meadows finally discovers a connection. There is more than one crime, and more than one criminal. This well written and well thought-out mystery is quite intriguing. The setting of a residential home show more is also interesting, as are the likable people living there. The complex tale will have you flipping pages as the tension increases. Detective Meadows is a complex character, and his personality is becoming more solid as the series progresses. Perhaps he will even lose some of his shyness. It’s a great and entertaining mystery, for more than one reason. show less