Holy Island (DCI Ryan Mysteries, 1)

From acclaimed internationally bestselling author LJ Ross comes a chilling, atmospheric mystery steeped in ritual, secrets, and small-town tensions, perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and Louise Penny. Detective Chief Inspector Ryan retreats to the remote Holy Island seeking sanctuary when he is forced to take sabbatical leave from his duties as a homicide detective. But just days before Christmas, his fragile peace is shattered when the body of a young woman is discovered among the haunting ruins of the ancient Priory. Into this dark mystery steps Dr. Anna Taylor, once a local girl, now back as a police consultant. Her return stirs painful memories and unfinished business―and working alongside Ryan only complicates matters. Together, they must navigate small-town secrets, simmering tensions, and whispers of pagan ritual as they hunt a killer who may be hiding in plain sight. Set against the stark, windswept landscape of Lindisfarne―an island cut off from the English mainland by a treacherous tidal causeway―the case forces long-buried secrets to the surface. On Holy Island, the past is never truly left behind, and every stone has a story waiting to be unearthed.