I Think I'll Stay Away From Moors!

 

TITLE: HollowGround (Detective Jacob Knox Thriller #1

AUTHOR: Freya Wallace

PUBLISHER: Hamya Press

PUBLISHING DATE: February 17, 2025

PAGES: 244   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: In the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor, school teacher Sophie Parsons vanishes without a trace during a weekend trek. For Detective Inspector Jacob Knox, Sophie’s disappearance stirs unsettling echoes of a previous case involving another woman who vanished in the same desolate moorland six months earlier. 

As Knox delves deeper, he uncovers the complexities of Sophie’s personal life, including a secret affair with a charismatic colleague and a tense relationship with her long-term boyfriend, Peter. But Sophie’s tangled love life is just the beginning of Knox’s troubles. A local legend about a beast stalking the moors resurfaces, fueling public fear and media speculation. Is it just a myth, or could something more sinister be at play? 

With time running out and the possibility that two women have been claimed by the moor, Knox faces his toughest case yet—one that will test him professionally and personally. As the case unfolds, Knox realizes the dark truths buried beneath the surface of Sophie’s life may be the key to unlocking the mystery.

MY THOUGHTS: I wanted to read this book the minute I saw that handsome dog on the cover.  Well, I now know his name is Dylan and my instincts were correct.  

Jacob Knox relocated to Dartmoor following his divorce a few years back.  Since then, he has enjoyed a bit slower pace than his previous job but is still struggling with some aspects from his past. Out on a run one morning, Sophie Parsons vanishes.  As Knox and his team start investigating, they uncover some similarities between Sophie's case and an unsolved case from six months ago.  Knox learns that Sophie's life was a bit messier than anyone knew, which leads to more suspects each time he turns around.  He and his partner Ava work to connect the two cases and hopefully, find out what is really going on. 

Initially I thought Dylan was Knox's police dog, but he isn't.  Knox purchased Dylan for companionship following his divorce and move.  Dylan does play an adequate role in the book though as he helps Knox unwind and also helps him form a growing connection with his dog-sitter, Lucy. Knox is also battling some family demons as his brother, an active alcoholic, has resurfaced and Knox tries to help him clean up his life.  

The "thriller" part of this book was pretty solid as long as you enjoy police procedurals.  In fact, there were aspects that were pretty creepy at time, especially the few select chapters that were told from Sophie's POV.  Although I felt like the ending was a tad rushed, this was a great first installment from a debut author and I'm excited to see where the series heads.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS