I bought this first in a series as a Kindle deal and wanted to read it this month, as the next few in the series are also on sale this month. I figured if I liked it enough to continue, I'd snap the others up. That won't be happening.

This mystery suffered from too many characters, flat writing, and too much information kept from the reader and then miraculously disclosed at the end. It's a lazy approach for a writer, but I might have forgiven it if the characters hadn't been two dimensional and boring.

2.5 stars ( )

A pretty good plot, but there was a lot of fluff around the characters that didn't really contribute to the story. Perhaps its a setup for the rest of the series, but I found it just distracted from the story. ( )

Easy read and a little light on plot but still a good bus trip book. some fun characters. loved the caving stuff. nice adventure and just near Dr herriott's location in the yorkshire countryside so easy descriptions of the geography. ( )

This story, the first of the Yorkshire Mystery Series, takes the reader to caves near the town of Skipton in the Yorkshire Dales. Cavers find the victim in one of many the caves beneath the Yorkshire Dales. It’s a good story that also highlights a very popular sport. DCI Oldroyd, a crusty workaholic, leads detective team based in Harrogate. Assisting him are DS Stephanie Johnson and DS Andy Carter. The mystery held my interest until the end. ( )

I was introduced to J.R. Ellis', "A Yorkshire Murder" mystery series through book number five in series, "The Nidderdale Murders". I was so taken by it, that I requested that my local library purchase this first book in series, which they have graciously done.

Again, I was captivated by the brooding and unrelenting environment of the Yorkshire countryside which plays a strong role in this murder mystery. This time, its the circuitous cave systems deep below the surface which capture the imagination. A body is found in one system, which has been dead a few days. Yet, cavers were just there a day or so ago and did not encounter it. How did it get there and who had it in for this unfortunate fellow? We soon learn that there are lots of folks with reasons to murder this wretched man. DCI James Oldroyd and his newly hired Detective Andrew Carter are soon on scene having been called out from the Harrogate Division of West Riding Police. Oldroyd is an old Oxford man who is deeply wedded to his job and the Yorkshire environs. He has a strong philosophical approach to his work and is highly respected. Carter recently left service in London but is soon taken under Oldroyd's wing.

Ellis does a fine job of fleshing out the series of characters in this book, laying out well the personalities of the detectives who serve throughout the series as well as the players for this particular story. He also does an excellent job of painting a landscape such that the reader sees it as if standing by the characters in the book. Makes this reader want to visit and hike the dales.

If a mystery set with country village charm appeals to you, then I highly commend this series to your reading pile. ( )