Excellent plot, gruesome bits - the stuff in the caves could be fun but only if you aren't afraid of the dark... ( )

In the Peak District area of the UK Mansell Quinn is let out of prison having served 14 years of a life sentence having been convicted of the murder of his lover. Originally he admitted killing her but changed his story whilst in prison, which most probably delayed his parole. Shortly after he is let out of prison his ex-wife is found murdered. Is Mansell Quinn guilty of her murder?

Ben Cooper, along with his boss Diane Fry, are sent to investigate the case. This includes Ben delving into the records of the old case, where he discovers his dad was the first police officer on the scene of the original murder. As they investigate the case they discover there are other targets out there, including possibly Ben because of his father's link to the original case. To add to this Mansell Quinn cannot be found...

This is a book with a lot of detail, and as you go through the book you find out more about the original case and all the people involved. At 646 pages it isn't a short read,but it is very comprehensive and was a very enjoyable read, not having read any of the other books in the series. I would be keen to read more in the series as this book left me with many questions about Diane Fry and the angst of her back story which is alluded to in the book without going into all the detail. I would also like to find out more about her relationship with her sister, and at times the antagonistic relationship with Ben Cooper.

For me the book was more enjoyable for being set around Castleton, in the Peak District, an area well known to me. The caves and caverns figure on more than one occasion in the story and re-told within the story was the death of a caver, Neil Moss, in 1958 which is rather a sad and heart-rending story.

The first book in the series is Black Dog. For anyone into police procedurals I would say they are well worth a read based on this book. I did want to keep on reading and find out who was responsible for the murder, was it Mansell Quinn or was it one of the other characters, it certainly keeps you guessing. ( )

A British police procedural, this was an interesting and a bit convoluted so kept me guessing as to who-dun-it. Although I enjoyed the story, I found it a bet tedious at times with all the descriptions of places. Possibly those who know the locale would have a better connection. The writing was well done and I was definitely surprised at the ending. I would recommend this book to those who like British procedurals. ( )

A tense, gripping thriller with flushed out characters in Booth's beautiful,up to the point prose. ( )

'It will use a lot of resources manning the phones and checking on sightings,' said Hitchens. 'But we need the help of the public. We've got to catch this man before he strikes again.'
'Strikes again?' said Jepson. 'Are you writing headlines for the newspapers these days, Hitchens? Have you taken a sub-editor's course at the Derbyshire Times? Are you going to start talking in words of one syllable?'
'Sorry, chief. I meant, we're gathering community-based intelligence in our efforts to establish the location of the principal suspect prior to a recurrence of his offending behaviour.'

A murderer is released from prison. The terms of his release don't allow him to return home to the Hope Valley, but he doesn't turn up at the hostel in Burton on Trent, and then his ex-wife is murdered. This is the start of a convoluted tale of murder and retribution, whose twists and turns lead up to an ambiguous ending.

When I was a child, British Rail used to run Ramblers' Specials from Nottingham to the Hope Valley on bank holidays, so I have walked between Hope, Hathersage and the other stations on the Hope Valley Line, and one bank holiday we walked up to Castleton, climbed the hill up to Peveril Castle and queued for the boat trip through Speedwell Cavern. I think I have been into one of the other caves too, but I don't remember seeing the ropemaker's houses, so I don't think it can have been Peak Cavern.

I liked the fact that I could visualise the scenery and Quinn's movements, and I found the parts set in the caves spooky and claustrophobic. So it was quite enjoyable overall. ( )