Cuthbert's Way: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries Book 17)

Love the characters LJ Ross has created. The settings of the plot as usual is the North East of England and she highlights the beauty of this region. The reader always learns a lot of the history of the area as well as the strong story plot. Another brilliant read. Can't wait for the next new DCI Ryan book.

I am beginning to feel there is too much personal angst sneaking into these books. I will still finish series.

I’ve enjoyed all the books by this author, some more interesting than others but all well worth reading.

Enjoyed the whole Ryan series

Like the twists in the story

What another cracker. Picking up a few months after we leave the team in The Shrine a lot had changed for all of them. What hasn't is the case that they are working on, albeit on the quiet, that carries between the two stories. Ryan is determined to see the riddle solved and put the previous case to bed in spite of pressure from above to move on. It's not just for professional reasons that he wants to see the perpetrator brought to justice, but this becomes abundantly clear as the story progresses.What I love about this series is how it is about so much more than just the actual cases they are working on. Don't get me wrong - I love a good police based thriller. They are my absolute favourites. But LJ Ross has made this series as much about the people behind the cases as the actual mystery itself. From very early on I found myself completely drawn into the world of Ryan and the team and I love catching up with them on every new journey. now I'll be the first to say that I am as romantic as a cold sore, but seeing the love that has developed between Ryan and Anna, Frank and Mackenzie and all, and that whole sense of family that spans the entire team really adds something special to the stories. You get far more than just the science and psychology of the case, you get the emotion that is exudes from the characters, no more so than in this case which is rife with tense, emotional and breath-stealing scenes. We get to learn more about Ryan and his family this time around and it is beautiful to watch, to see the stoic stock from which he was born and raised and helping us to understand a little more of why Ryan gre to be a man of such integrity and resolve.For the mystery lovers out there. - do not despair. There is still a very intriguing, and slightly gruesome, case at the centre of this book. With missing artefacts, a macabre murder and a opening which takes readers right back to the 1500s and the dissolution of the monasteries, as readers we are treated to a tale which really pulls you in from the start and keeps you on the hook to the very last page. Pacing ebbs and flows and just as Ryan and the team think they have the perp in the hook, they run into just another roadblock - another hurdle to overcome. And one of those hurdles ... Blimey. It will have your heart in your mouth. I mean, you read it thinking 'she can't. She can't possibly. LJ Ross wouldn't be so cruel'. But as you go on reading you also can't help thinking that she bloody well might. Whether or not readers have anything to fear - well you'll have to read for yourself but by heck it's one rollercoaster of emotions at the end there.Accept no imitations. There is only one LJ Ross and only one DCI Ryan. I love these books. They bring me such entertainment, such an escape from the day to day (a deliberate covid free zone here - just saying) and they also bring a lot of joy. Brilliant characters, a setting which speaks for itself and which it is easy to tell the author loves so much, and stories that will take you right to the edge, they are all highly recommended. These are cosy mysteries - the violence is never gratuitous - but they do take an occasionally dark turn. They ar packed with emotion, tension but also with laughter. And yes - I do still chuckle when I see a certain name mentioned. Who wouldn't?If you love Ryan, Frank, Anna and co, you will love this book too. Just ... savour it. I'm going to have to wait a while for the next book and I'm not going to lie. That's gonna hurt.

I found the plot of this novel a bit beyond belief. However, it brought with it some fascinating historical insights as well as a lot more information about Ryan’s relationships with his family. An exciting and rewarding read

Excellent book. Lots of drama and family values. Shed a tear at one point. One of the best in the series.