In an effort to revive their struggling marriage, Martin and Jo Harper decide to have a weekend away. The trip involves a night in a luxury hotel, but before that there’s a lengthy hike through the Northumberland countryside and an evening spent camping in the wilderness. Their fellow travellers seem a strange bunch, made up of a second couple and a single man, but their tour guide appears to be a trusted hand so they set off on the journey. Very soon they realise that they have no data or phone signal, but what the hell – they’re at one with nature. But after one of the members of the party dies in mysterious circumstances, and reports of a fleeting figure seems to indicate someone is following them, the remaining hikers must draw on all their survival instincts if they want to make it through the weekend…

A Killer Amongst Us is Mark West’s latest thriller, the fifth published by The Book Folks. Like his previous novels, this is a fast-paced suspense tale, populated by believable characters thrown together into an extraordinary situation. One of West’s strengths is his dialogue, and he quickly brings these characters to life. There’s a very contemporary feel to the novel – one of the characters is an online influencer, another is very much in touch with the pressures of modern life and the mental health onslaught that can come with it – and the way West strips them of their technology and throws them into a primitive survival battle is enjoyable and interesting. Threaded throughout the main narrative is a recent backstory that fills in details of some of the characters’ motivations, slowly revealing the truth which, when the moment arrives, comes as a hammer blow.

This is a realpage-turner, and cements West’s reputation – richly deserved in my opinion – as an author of distinctly readable thrillers, one with a bright future in the suspense genre. Highly recommended.