‘Snow Kills’ by R.C. Bridgestock

 Published by The Dome Press,
3 October 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-91253408-1(PB)
The worst snow storm for years hits Harrowfield in Yorkshire causing the hairdressers where Kayleigh Harwood works to close early. Driving conditions are horrendous and it’s not long before Kayleigh's car comes to a standstill in traffic. She manages after waiting ages in a queue to drive it to the side of the road. She keeps the engine running to keep warm, but then the petrol runs out. To add to her predicament her mobile is dead, and she remembers she left the charger at work. It's not long before the snow starts to bury her car and Kayleigh fights her way out.

Days later she is reported missing by her mother Kim, who thought she was staying with Matt, her boyfriend. He stresses he thought she was at home with her mother. Then Kayleigh's car is found abandoned but there is no sign of her.

Detective Inspector Jack Ryan and his team are put in charge of the case and when items of her clothing are found near a local quarry, the search begins in earnest. A nearby lake is even dragged. Enquiries lead them to a very strange person living near where Kayleigh's car was abandoned, but is that too much of a coincidence? Just because they are weird doesn't mean they are automatically guilty does it?

Reports come in that on the same day two teenagers were seen banging on Kayleigh's car, can they have anything to do with her disappearance? One it is discovered had a crush on Kayleigh. Dylan then learns of two girls who went missing about twenty years ago and were never seen again. When two skulls are discovered both twenty to thirty years old whilst carrying out the search for Kayleigh, the team delve into the cold cases wondering if there can by any connection to the present disappearance.

Meanwhile unknown to Dylan, his wife Jen's ex-fiancé gets in touch with her and puts pressure on her to go back to him. Dylan can't understand Jen's strange behaviour as he knows nothing about him, and it adds to his frustrations. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it is really descriptive and gives a great insight into police procedure. The characters seem to come alive.

I note that R.C. Bridgestock is composed of more than one person and that they were consulted on the television programmes Happy Valley and Scott and Bailey, both of which I enjoyed immensely. No wonder both series were so good. A highly recommended book. 
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell 

R C Bridgestock
is the pen name of the writing duo Carol and Bob Bridgestock.
Carol and Bob were both born and lived in West Yorkshire until they relocated to the Isle of Wight in 2003. Between them they have a staggering 47 years employment with the police, Carol being a member of the Civilian support staff and Bob being a Senior Police Officer. As a career detective Bob worked in the CID at every rank. For over half of his service he was a senior detective, retiring at the rank of Detective Superintendent. As a Senior Investigative Officer (SIO) in charge of homicide cases he took command of some twenty-six murder investigations, twenty-three major incidents including shootings and attempted murders and over fifty suspicious deaths and numerous sexual assaults, some of which were extremely high profile in his last three years alone. In 1988 Carol commenced working for the Police as a member of the support staff in the Administration Department. As a supervisor she received a Chief Constable's commendation for outstanding work for her determination and drive creating a poster competition for an Autumn Crime initiative.
  

http://www.rcbridgestock.com/

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.