Guest Review: The Shrine by LJ Ross

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.

Review: The Shrine is book 16 in the DCI Ryan Mysteries Series from LJ Ross, a fantastic series of crime stories set primarily in the north east of England. I have read and enjoyed each and every book in the series and have finished each one looking forward to the next. All of the books can be read as a stand-alone, but I have enjoyed getting to know the returning characters and watching their relationships grow with each addition to the series.

In this story, DCI Ryan and his team are investigating two major crimes - an apparent terrorist attack on Durham Cathedral and the fatal shooting of a high ranking police officer in a nearby village. In the cathedral, a priceless artefact has been stolen under cover of the explosion, but the motive for the other incident and any connection are to be established. DCI Ryan has been personally affected by the event at the cathedral as his pregnant wife has been injured. As expected, the officers soon begin to unravel the cases amidst a trail of bodies, but can they discover the identity of the main protagonist?

Once again, LJ Ross has provided us with an intriguing case in a setting familiar to many readers. The story has added interest, having not one but two major crimes to solve, as well as associated affairs. I enjoyed following the investigations of Ryan and his team, wondering myself if they would be able to link the two incidents. Unusually, the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I only hope that there is a sequel on the way for those of us interested in who is behind the mysterious goings on.

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