Dark Skies

The DCI Ryan Mysteries, Book 7

By: LJ Ross

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Beware what lies beneath....

One fateful, starry night, three friends embark on a secret camping trip, but only two return home. Thirty years later, the body of a teenage boy rises from the depths of England's biggest reservoir and threatens to expose a killer who has lain dormant...until now.

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan returns from honeymoon to face danger from all sides. In the depths of Kielder Forest, a murderer has escaped justice before and will do anything to protect the secrets of the past. Meanwhile, back at Northumbria CID, an old foe has taken the helm as Superintendent and is determined to destroy Ryan at any cost.

Who will prevail in Ryan's most dangerous case yet?

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunit set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.

©2017 LJ Ross (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

Awesome read and Awesome narration..

Another great read in the DCI Ryan series. I just love this guy, as well as his new wife Anna, his partner Phillips and his fiancé MacKenzie, and I’ve always liked Lowerson until this book. He always struck me as a fun-loving good-ole-boy even if this is in England. Unfortunately, Jack Lowerson kind of lost his mind in this one and he still hadn’t come back around by the end of this story. That’s so sad.

This story was about a 30 year old murder of a 16 year old, committed by other teenagers. One of those teenagers had mental issues throughout life so the other killer had to commit another murder before they could say the wrong thing once the body of Duncan Gray was found. And another murder was committed out in the wood of a 21 year old student of Anna’s. AND another killer was found out and there was a chase on horseback to catch him, by Ryan and MacKenzie. Just one exciting this after another.

There never any sex in these books and the F-bomb is never used.

Of course, the killer got away so there’s the opening for the next book. And I sure hope Jennifer isn’t in too many more books. I cannot stand her, she’s evil.

As to the narration: Jonathan Keeble is amazing really. Could his women’s voices use a little practice? Yep, they sure could, but only a little. But his men’s voices are awesome and the distinction between them is incredible. You don’t even need to have the book tell you who’s talking, you just know by the voice Jonathan Keeble gave them in all 7 books.

In a way, disappointing

I listened to the audiobook (great narration, by the way) and when I saw that I had 25 minutes left I thought sure there was a Part 2 to the download. What I found out is that there's a Part 2 to this book (or so it seems.)

I love this series and I was super excited that my pre-order for this book came a day early. How wonderful! But now that I've finished it I feel that it was only half a book. So many storylines were left unresolved. I understand that things like that happen in a series but this left almost ALL the storylines open. The ending disappointed. The characters did not.

I hate being let down by a book I was anxiously awaiting. Let's hope there's not a long wait for the "second part" of this book.

another excellent story

Really enjoyable book, story intriguing and lots of intertwining stories within the main story am moving straight on to the next one as both the internal relationships with the new chief and the murders are being revealed.
This was an excellent book, good for anyone looking to read or listen to a darn good mystery.

good book

excellent characters

good story

well developed characters over this book and all the earlier books

Can't wait for the next one!

The ending being such that it is clear there will be more books to come in this series. PLEASE have the same narrator read them, as he just perfects the audio version of these books!
Audible addict,
Santa Fe, NM

DCI Ryan engages once again

Full disclosure- I’m a DCI Ryan fan girl. There is a primary reason; Louise Ross (pen name LJ Ross) writes well.

Her stories engage and, for me, always deliver the desired suspense that keeps me reading. Additionally, I am always disappointed when the story ends. Not disappointed by the story, but because I simply want more, and that leads to the realization that now I have to wait for the next installment.

Louise, please keep writing. And, thank you!

Ginny Barnhill

Love this series

I do love reading /listening to this series I’m excited every time I see one coming out. I just really hope that the story with Lucas isn’t dragged on too long I already hate Lucas and I just want to skip over every part she’s in. Great book great writing cannot wait for the next one. Hope it’s not too terribly long!

Sleazy and cheater page filler

I have liked several in this series a lot. This one isn't so much about a detecting puzzle as it is swimming around in the slime of diseased minds. I read detective/mystery fiction for the puzzles, for interesting characters, for ingenuity in solutions and for enjoying the teamwork of the people solving the case. This one mostly delivers salacious plotting and innuendo.

It Just Stops

I love this series, and I enjoyed this book until it just ended without resolution and with this whole Lucas thing hanging out there. I was afraid the Lucas issue would drag on, but not the primary murder investigation. So now we have two villains in play. I know the earlier books had some of this, but not the maliciously petty situation that is Lucas. Next book either resolves these or I am done. I need good endings. Otherwise, I could read a newspaper.

Ok. Not great

Not a real thinker of a story. Extraneous characters are 1 dimensional. I like Jonathan Keeble, but he only has a few voices. I like when the narrator makes changes that are subtle, but you always know who is speaking, no matter how many characters there are in the story.

Compelling DCI Ryan mystery...

Another great murder/mystery from LJ Ross, and the continuation of the DCI Ryan Series.
It was really interesting to see the status quo of the murder investigation team shaken up - with the introduction of Lucas, and clearly this is going to form an interesting plot line for future instalments. Equally clear is the further involvement of a new, shrewd adversary for Ryan to pit himself against.
The DCI Ryan Series is superbly enjoyable, and anyone who enjoys the murder/mystery genre will find these difficult to put down.
I'd recommend listening to the series in order, as much of the storyline benefits from prior knowledge, though LJ Ross does do a good job of succinctly filling in as the book progresses.
Super narration once again from Jonathan Keeble. Can't wait for the next one....!

Good but annoying

A well told story, probably one of the best in the series, except ... it is incomplete as others have said. A shorter book than usual, which I don't mind at all but it also serves to set the scene for the next book, leaving threads unfinished. Recommended with reservations.

Great characters and an excellent narrator.

Enjoying this series a lot, great characters and an excellent narrator, downloading the next one today. 🙂

my review

It was OK. Something that concerns me is what is the age rating. Anyway it was a great book.

Sleepless Night!

Just had to finish this book and couldn’t put it down. Obviously unfinished business so don’t delay with the next - please!

Such brilliant characters

Never wanted to continue a series so much. So well written, and wonderfully narrated. Its been great getting to know the characters, and as per usual, through the murders a splash of a hilarious comments. Loving getting to know more about the characters with every book.

What happened to the ending ?

What disappointed you about Dark Skies?

The ending there wasn't one ...

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Skies?

Usually excellent crime drama

What does Jonathan Keeble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Can't read book so only able to listen Good narrator

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Dark Skies?

None but I would send the script back so if could be finished !!

Any additional comments?

Just settling down to sleep with my bed time story ! And suddenly it ended .....

Good book that's enhanced by great narration

In common with many others, I'm hooked on the DCI Ryan books of L J Ross and read them as soon as they are published. A series that has well developed characters (I'm a little in love with Frank Phillips), plenty of action and who-dunnit, so what's not to like? OK, Lady Bracknell might have said that to have one bent head of CID is misfortune but to have two running looks like carelessness... but it certainly makes for some interesting plot twists. I particularly love the way they all concentrate around a genuine, well known, area. For this book it's Kielder Water, with a multi stranded plot reaching back 30 years..

So why, having read these books straight off, do I always rush to get Jonathan Keeble's narration immediately it follows on Audible?

Simply because however good the books are, he will always add another layer, and bring everyone - especially Maxwell Finlay Ryan - even more to life. Superb narration. I hope this series continues for a long time, and the narrator doesn't change. Highly recommended, but for those who haven't read any of the series before; start at Book 1. It will be worth it.

Brilliant as usual!

I love the DCI Ryan books. I've read them all so far. When is the next one???
Brilliant narration as well. FANTASTIC!!

The writing is so good, cannot wait for book 8

I feel I know all the team under DCI Ryan. The writing brings all the characters alive. Author is one of the best crime writers. The next book I await anxiously.