Pre-order the next DCI James Walker thriller now! Two women are discovered brutally murdered in a hot tub, their blood staining the water a vivid red. Nicola and Emily, friends taking a holiday break, have become victims of a frenzied attack. With no signs of forced entry and their phones missing, DCI James Walker is stumped. As he delves deeper into the case, James uncovers a tangled web of betrayal. Each new suspect he uncovers has a motive fit for murder, but can James unravel the mystery before there are more victims this holiday season? Readers can't put down Alex Pine's winter crime: 'You know winter is coming when the latest Alex Pine novel drops' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is my favourite book in the series' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'What a fantastic book…the killer is a surprise!' Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Praise for Alex Pine: ‘A real page turner … I am now a firm follower of DI James Walker’ NetGalley reviewer ‘A fast-paced gripping read with plenty of twists and turns . This series just gets better and better!’ NetGalley reviewer ‘I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I was totally hooked ’ NetGalley reviewer ‘ Impossible to put down ’ NetGalley reviewer the brand new winter thriller for 2026 Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds!