Lady's Well: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries Book 20)

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In 2021, Ross set up the Northern Photography Prize for images captured in the North East of England, [18] as well as reading and writing challenges and prizes for adults and children. [19] Novels [ edit ] DCI Ryan Mysteries Series [ edit ] Lady’s Well, near Holystone village, Northumberland. Hallowe’en. Present day. LJ Ross’s Lady’s Well After the birth of her son, Ross wrote the first draft of Holy Island, having been inspired by the atmospheric beauty of Lindisfarne, an island off the northeast coast of England she knew well from childhood. [12] Following its success, she now writes full-time. The second book in her series of DCI Ryan novels, Sycamore Gap, is set in Hadrian's Wall country [13] [14] and subsequent DCI Ryan novels continue the Northumbrian locations, with stories set in Northumberland, County Durham and Newcastle. L.J. Ross is an English author made popular by her bestselling DCI Ryan mystery series of novels. Ross was born in Ponteland, Northumberland and attended the Darras Hall First School, Central Newcastle High and Dame Allans, before she proceeded to Kings College at the University of London to undertake a degree course in law. She wrote her first novel “Holy Island”, the first novel in her DCI Ryan Mysteries in 2015. Thinking of a creative venture that would take her away from her job, she fell pregnant with her son. Motherhood was a very exciting prospect for L.J. Ross, though she was still unsatisfied with her career that would not give her the flexibility she desired to have as a mother.

Set on the historic Holy Island otherwise known as Lindisfarne, “Holy Island” is a gripping novel that introduces Detective Chief Inspector Ryan. Ryan has retreated to Holy Island to recover from a tragic case that had a particularly bad effect on his psyche. A few days into his sabbatical, the tranquility is broken when the body of a young woman is discovered abandoned on the ruins of the nearby monastery buildings. LJ Ross is an internationally bestselling author, whose books have sold over 7 million copies worldwide. It's the latest in a line of books which showcase popular North East beauty spots, with the detective already having investigated crimes at Holy Island, Sycamore Gap and Penshaw Monument, among others. The next DCI Ryan novel is set in Bamburgh. To be honest, I'm not convinced. I guessed a fair bit of the mystery before I was halfway in, which was slightly disappointing. I love a good plot twist, and this book didn't really have one. Finally, LJ Ross has also published an anthology of short stories from various authors with the intent to inspire hope and happiness. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to Shelter. This is a charity that helps people struggling with homelessness and poor housing throughout Great Britain.Author notches up 100,000 book sales in just two years". Morpethherald.co.uk . Retrieved 2 February 2016. This book goes for the most part to the standard no major overlap with another book from the series, but if you did not read the previous two, I do strongly suggest to have a go before going for this one, or you will know one of the murders in this one. Also - mild spoiler - Gabrielle magically figures out whodunnit, seemingly out of thin air. There's literally no explanation, even afterwards. She even asks someone else why the person did what they did, so she didn't even know that, but somehow, based on... nothing.. she knows they were the one who did it. So that was kind of infuriating. Also, selective amnesia is a bit of a lazy plot point.

The other thing that irked was the book being so deliberately set in such a precise time. This is probably a matter of personal taste, but I disliked the constant references to Trump, Liz Truss, TikTok, influencers, etc. Granted, these are part of everyday life and so I can understand them being included, but it seemed a shame to me that, in a place of such amazing ancient history, these allusions to contemporary life were given so much focus. I would have liked to hear more about the Well, the village of Holystone, The ancient Pagan and Christian past, and the surrounding landscape. As I said, these are all there, but they seem to be somewhat eclipsed - or at least interrupted - by references to tedious aspects of modern life. The second book in the series follows Kate Irving, who arrives in Frenchman’s Creek with a small suitcase and her young son. She is escaping her past and wary of accepting new friendships, but soon finds herself embracing their kindness. Until tragedy strikes and her new friends are looking to her for answers. Midgley, Dominic. "50 Shades of self-publishers: Fame and fortune through publishing yourself online". Express.co.uk . Retrieved 2 February 2016.

NEWS & EVENTS

Her husband also has permanent recognition on every book cover in her choice of attribution as a tribute to his support. The second initial in LJ Ross stands for her husband James, while the first initial is for her first name, Louise.

With a passion for writing and reading, a writing career seemed the most plausible way to express her creativity. The idea for the first novel in the series came while she was traveling to Edinburgh with her husband. Gregory galivants across the world in this series, from Ireland to France to New York City and more. In this series Ross’s writing is described as her usual murder and mystery peppered with dark humour. This was the first proper detective novel I have read. I bought it after travelling through Northumbria, and seeing a sign for Lady's Well on Google maps. After reading a bit about the Well that day, I walked into Tesco and saw this book on a shelf. It was cheap, and the cover looked nice, and I had read about the Well so I thought I may as well read it.As of 2018, Ross lives with her husband and two children in Northumberland. [17] Philanthropy [ edit ] Lady's Well is book twenty in the DCI Ryan Mysteries Series by L. J. Ross. DCI Ryan and his team caught a mysterious case of Well turning red, and the entire village of Holystone suffered from poisoning, which caused an older man to die. During their investigation, DCI Ryan's team found many people with motives for the murder. DCI Ryan's team started to whittle down the list of suspects. The readers of Lady's Well will continue to follow DCI Ryan to discover what happens.

The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.With Denise threatening anyone and everyone in the building to not let Frank have any treats as he’s supposed to be on a diet, the wily ways of the two of them is something to behold. It is Christmas and Gabrielle Adams is on top of the world. She has the job she has always wanted in a field she is passionate about, and she is engaged to a man she loves. That world falls out from under her when she becomes a victim of the ‘Underground Killer’ who pushes people off the underground train platforms in front of oncoming trains. Though her broken, battered, and bruised body survives, her mind is in a much more delicate state. The doctors assure her the nightmares, OCD, PTSD, etc. will get better over time, but it has been six months and she is tired of the pity (and impatience) she sees in everyone’s eyes. Her fiancé Mark is having an affair, she can’t handle working – and – well – she’s just got to walk away from it all. So, she does. Thank goodness for Ryan and Frank, two of my favourite crime fighting duos. There were snorts galore here, I love the banter and camaraderie between these two. Before she became an author Ross was a practicing lawyer in London. She grew up in Northumberland, England — where many of her books take place — and attended King’s College at the University of London for her undergraduate and postgraduate in law. She also studied in Paris and Florence.