Book #29 Darkside

Darkside by Belinda Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has taken me over a week to read Darkside. Not because I did not enjoy the book, more to do with time taken up with garden maintenance and replacing fence panels. This thriller deserves better as I did struggle somewhat to remember who the various characters were. And that is a shame because this is my third read from Belinda Bauer - it's compelling, original and brilliant. Wonderful subliminal nods to her previous book Blacklands, characters turning up in cameo rôles. A great touch, although I understand that Darkside is the 2nd book in a trilogy known as Exmoor. The location is the same - the close-knit village of Shipcott and local policeman Jonas Holly is faced with his first murder investigation. This is handled however by detectives from Taunton under SIO Detective Chief Inspector Marvel, a nasty piece of work, an abrasive bully and a borderline alcoholic. He hates the village, he hates the locals and most of all he hates Jonas, despises him for what he sees as ineptitude. Jonas is soon distracted by an anonymous letter, accusing him of failing to do his job. Trying to cope with this and caring for his wife Lucy who suffers from MS is a strain that at times becomes unbearable. Bauer's use of counting down the days to the final denouement is relentless and if you guess the final outcome you are a better detective than me!

If you have read Blacklands you will enjoy this; if you haven't do read Blacklands first.

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Book #12 Blacklands

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having recently read The Shut Eye by Belinda Bauer (her 6th title) and thoroughly enjoying it, I bought a copy of this her first book, "Blacklands”, with which she won the CWA Gold Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year in 2010.

Much of the story is told from a child’s viewpoint, 12 year-old Steven Lamb who digs holes on Exmoor, looking for the remains of the uncle he never knew. It is widely believed that ‘Uncle Billy’ fell victim to the notorious serial killer Arnold Avery. Billy (William) disappeared aged eleven.

Bauer’s 12 year-old Steven has such a convincing voice that I really felt for the suffering of this boy in a sad family. His nan, who stands everyday at the window expecting her son to come home, his mum Lettie, who has sought solace with a number of ‘uncles’ and his younger brother Davey. The ‘lack of closure’ afflicts everyone, particularly Steven, who determines to find the body of long-lost Billy, first by digging almost at random on Exmoor and then.... by a much more dangerous stratagem. He contacts the man most likely to have been the killer.

The ability of Bauer to get under the skin of the murderer really chills the blood - I read the last 50 pages or so completely unable to put the book down. The fear created is palpable.

Bauer’s first novel is a terrific read full of menace. I loved it.

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