The Christmas Killer

A new, twists-galore DI Barton thriller from bestselling author Ross Greenwood.

The winter holidays finally look set to bring a white Christmas, but the beautiful snow hides horrors beneath. When a man is found cruelly tortured and murdered, the Major Crimes team is already stretched thin through illness and stunned by an internal corruption investigation.

DCI John Barton hesitantly leaves his sabbatical to take the case, immediately confronting the same dark secrets that forced him away. The dead man was a loner and the perfect target, but when there is another savage murder, Barton begins to suspect that the killer is delving into the victims' pasts for a very specific, terrifying reason. And time is running out.

As the blizzard isolates the city, Barton realises they aren't pursuing a festive fanatic; they are hunting something far worse. With the department gripped by ice and paranoia, Barton knows he is getting closer to the truth, but will he be fast enough?

Because if he isn't, not everyone will make it home for Christmas.

Barton is Back! Ross Greenwood returns to his bestselling series, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin.

Readers love Inspector Barton:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘The plots in all Greenwood’s books are strokes of genius and you're left guessing until nearly the end as to the identity of the real baddie.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘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.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘What I really enjoy about this series is that the characters are so believable. I can hear Barton's knees cracking as he stands up, feel his tiredness trying to adjust to a new work regime and sense his distress when his case frustrates him… If you have not read these books yet, then please do. Highly recommended.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Love Ross Greenwoods work, and this one didn’t disappoint. DI Barton is a levelheaded, slightly overweight, thinking man, who has several linked crimes to solve alongside his excellent team. Excellent characters, brilliant storyline and well worth five stars. Highly recommended.’

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Loved this book, have read lots of other books by this author and they are all so good. Great characters and great stories. An insight into a completely different world. So well written. This is a must read thriller.’

Praise for Ross Greenwood:

‘Ross Greenwood is at the top of his game.' O J Mullen

'Move over Rebus and Morse; a new entry has joined the list of great crime investigators in the form of Detective Inspector John Barton. A rich cast of characters and an explosive plot kept me turning the pages until the final dramatic twist.' Richard Burke

‘Master of the psychological thriller genre Ross Greenwood once again proves his talent for creating engrossing and gritty novels that draw you right in and won’t let go until you’ve reached the shocking ending.’ Caroline Vincent at Bitsaboutbooks blog

'Ross Greenwood doesn’t write clichés. What he has written here is a fast-paced, action-filled puzzle with believable characters that's spiced with a lot of humour.' Kath Middleton