Ice Into Ashes by John Carson

Ice Into Ashes by John Carson
Publisher: Amazon Kindle (Self-published)
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Time is a healer…unless you’re the one doing the killing…

DCI James Craig is heading home to Fife for a family funeral after the discovery of his wife’s uncle’s lifeless body at home, having fallen down the stairs. The incident was classified as a Sudden Death, attributing it to the man’s advanced age and fragility. Case officially closed.

Or is it?

Craig, inherently skeptical, approaches matters from a unique perspective, a skill honed on the streets of London. He hesitates to accept the neatly wrapped conclusion surrounding the old man’s demise.
As he contemplates letting the matter rest, certain details stand out, prompting him to reconsider the circumstances surrounding the death.

Craig reconnects with his former boss, now a Superintendent, from his probationary days in Fife. He requests permission to join the inquiry and is paired with DS Isla McGregor.

The two of them are soon caught up in a series of killings that stretch back years, back to the days when a young copper called James Craig was just starting out. A case that Craig remembers very well.

Because he almost caught a serial killer who was starting out on his own journey.

And now their paths are going to cross again.

DCI James Craig has returned for a week to Fife, Scotland from London with his wife Eve. Eve’s uncle tragically died falling down the stairs in what has been ruled an accident and they’re each taking a little time to arrange things including the funeral. But Craig spots a few odd items around Eve’s uncle’s home that has him quietly questioning whether this was an accident or something far darker. Calling in a few favours with his previous colleagues at the local precinct, Craig is determined to find answers – no matter where that might lead.

This is the first book in what I believe will be a new series for this author. I enjoyed the set up and found myself drawn into the deepening mystery as Craig uncovered more and more strange coincidences. While I expect this series will become more police procedural style this particular book wasn’t too heavily focused on that, partly I expect because Craig was away from his own turf of London and the Met, but equally because as the victim was his wife’s uncle this was an incredibly personal investigation for Craig. I found these two points made this an engrossing mystery, but since I strongly enjoyed the author’s prose and style, I expect I will be just as happy with a more regular police style investigation.

While the plot didn’t feel overly complicated to me, I was incredibly happy with there was quite the twist at the end – most of which I didn’t see coming at all. As an avid reader it’s not often a plot can so comprehensively turn on its head and retain all sense of logic. The author managed this admirably to my mind and it had me rechecking all the facts and hints for quite some time after I turned the last page.

I admit this author usually writes with a huge cast and while this book certainly wasn’t slim on the number of characters I was rather pleased the cast was kept well done in terms of size. I found this really helped me keep a handle on who everyone was and what their involvement was – particularly considering this was the first book. I feel readers absolutely should feel confident in picking this book up on a whim and using it as a tool to decide if they like the author’s style or not.

With a solid mystery and some enjoyable characters, I really felt this was a good book and I am pleased I gave it a try. I expect I’ll pick up the next book in the series fairly soon.