DI Ruth Hunter Books In Order

Publication Order of DI Ruth Hunter Books

Publication Order of DC Ruth Hunter Murder File Books

The “DI Ruth Hunter” series are a set of police procedural novels by detective mystery author Simon McCleave. The author has always loved reading crime thrillers and mysteries ever since he was a child. He was a fan of the likes of “Famous Five and Secret Seven” by Enid Blyton and soon after he was reading Frederick Forsyth, Alistair Maclean, and the Bond novels by Ian Fleming. Simon McCleave was born in South London. In more recent times, he has been reading a lot of noir and crime form the likes of Mankell, James Elroy, and Graham Greene. As such, writing crime and mystery was a natural choice as he grew up watching TV shows and movies and reading in the genre. Growing up, the likes of Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese novels among other were among his favorites. He also likes TV shows such as “The Wire” and “The Sopranos.” Crime is his first love though in a deeper level he likes to write about the violence, or anger, vulnerability or emotions of his characters. He loves to examine the darker nature of humanity which most people will hide from the outside world.

When Simon McCleave went to college, he took a degree in television and film and proceeded to work in film and television development. He worked a variety of jobs as a Story Analyst in Los Angeles, Channel 4 producer, and Script Editor at the BBC. Some of the films that he worked in included “Between the Lines,” the BBC Crime Drama, and “The Full Monty,” the film. He then went on to become script writer and worked on “Eastenders,” “Silent Witness,” “The Bill,” “Murder In Suburbia,” “Attachments” and “Teachers.” He is also the writer of the critically acclaimed Channel 4 movie “Out of the Game.” “Snowdonia Killings,” his debut novel which follows the story of DI Inspector Ruth Hunter was published in 2019. The novel has topped Amazon bestseller charts and has more than 100,000 copies in print. He recently signed a deal with Netflix to turn his novels into a television series. Simon lives with his wife and two children in North Wales.

The “DI Ruth Hunter” series of novels tell the story of Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter, a veteran police officer from London. She has had enough of the mayhem and murder in the South London streets. She is about to turn fifty and seeks a more peaceful life working for the North Wales Police Department. But as soon as she arrives, she finds herself put in charge of a murder case given her experience in London. Some local school teacher has just been brutally killed and the killer has left a bizarre symbol carved onto the victim’s hand. To help Ruth at her new job is Detective Sergeant Nick Evans who has all the necessary local connections and knowledge. She also has a local team of industrious and competent police willing to follow her lead. It is a refreshing police procedural where the people in Ruth Hunter’s team get to work well together without any jealousy and tension. Ruth is a likeable protagonist who together with Nick and other police officers works to get the bad elements out of their society.

“The Snowdonia Killings” is a story set against the timeless land of Arthurian myth, folklore, and legend in the regal backdrop of Snowdonia. Detective Inspector Ruth Hunter is a big city detective transplanted into a small town where she has to solve a murder. She is still reeling from the unsolved and mysterious disappearance of her partner in London when she is thrust right into the action. She had been on the cusp of fifty when she decided to leave London and head for North Wales, looking to find some peace. But immediately upon arrival and starting in her new position, the local police discover the body of a woman that had been brutally murdered. The woman whose body was covered with bizarre symbols carved into the skin was later identified as the head master of a local school. Ruth teams up with Nick Evans an obstinate and alcoholic deputy as they work on a long list of suspects. Soon after another woman is discovered killed with the same bizarre markings and Ruth is forced to take another look into what they have been doing. Does she have what it takes to solve what increasingly looks like a serial killer case?

“The Harleach Beach Killings” by Simon McCleave is a novel set eighteen months following the violent death of a young man at Ysgol Dinas Padog. DS Nick Evans who had left the bottle has once again gone back to drinking after ten months of being sober. In the meantime, DI Ruth Hunter is angry at her phased return to detective work as she has been relegated to community liaison. All she wants is to do real police work out in the field, where she believes she can make a difference. Nick is frustrated by the invulnerability of Curtis Blake his long time foe. He is the top dog of the drug scene in Liverpool and wants to expand into Wales. Nick wants Blake either dead or imprisoned. When Ruth is sent out by her superintendent to check out a misper call, she could not be any more befuddled. It is only from the intervention of Assistant Chief’s Constable Beth Davenport’s ex husband Owen Ankers that she does not quit. But then the man turns up murdered and Ruth takes up the position of SIO and is now in charge of the investigative team. But the case progresses slowly and the witnesses they found do not seem to be so reliable. They have also found some clues linking the organic food business the victim ran with a drug courier scheme that Curtis Blake had also been involved with.

“The Dee Valley Killings,” the third novel of the “DI Ruth Hunter” series of novel opens to a town reeling from a deadly game of cat and mouse from a twisted serial killer. DI Ruth Hunter is charged with trying to find a deranged psychopath who seems set on destroying her while life. Ruth is hoping that her grief over a missing partner will be alleviated once she moves and settles in Snowdonia. She buries herself in her work but soon realizes that there is more to the missing person’s case. When they find the body of a man torn to pieces, the detective inspector realizes that her serial killer may be getting more deranged. Working with her usual partner, she soon realizes that they could be closer to catching the killer who always seems one step ahead of them. Things become very interesting when he claims a personal connection to her and now Ruth’s family is in the cross hairs.

2 Responses to “DI Ruth Hunter”

1. Maureen: 2 years ago

   I’m really addicted to these books and started at book 1.
   They are all a gripping read and hard to put down.

   I am now on book 13 which means I have 1 left after that.
   I really hope there might be more to come.

   I would recommend these books but it is a must to start at book 1.

   Reply
   • Len Jones: 8 months ago

     I have read every one of Simon*s books about Ruth Hunter but if he
     kills Ruth off in the next book I will be devastated.

     Reply