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.

On Holy Island, everyone is a suspect…

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.