BLIND TO THE BONES

Stephen Booth

Harper Collins, £17.99 rel: April

Reviewed by Bob Cartwright

Catch up for those not already in the know. Stephen Booth is a Nottinghamshire based crime writer whose books are all based on the Peak District. His first book, Black Dog, was published in 2000, and introduced Detective Constable Ben Cooper, a native of the Peak District, and Detective Constable Diane Fry who has escaped to the Peaks from Birmingham. It was an inspiring debut and two more books added to Booth’s reputation as a crime fiction writer both in this country and in America, where he is increasingly popular.

Living in the Peak District, my own favourite is Dancing with the Virgins, the second in the series which excellently captures the magnificence of the White Peak. Blind to the Bones, the fourth in the series, is based firmly in the more moody Dark Peak and features the village of Withens, one of the least glamourous the Peak District has to offer. The village had its origins in a shanty town thrown up by railway navvies as they struggled to excavate the tunnels for lines linking Manchester and Sheffield. Those not killed in tunneling accidents tended to succumb to the frequent outbreaks of cholera. So the churchyard of the Withens is well populated with the pauper graves of the navvies. As well as the history, Booth also brings out well the traditions of the Peak District, the well dressings, and the folk dance groups, in this instance the suspiciously sounding Border Rats, and all have their part to play in the mysteries which variously bring Ben Cooper and Diane Fry (now Detective Sergeant ) to Withens.

Cooper is investigating a series of robberies in the village, which revolve around the Oxley family, and are probably linked to the murder of one of the Oxley brethren who is found on the moors with his skull caved in. Meanwhile Diane resurrects a two year investigation of the disappearance of Emma Renshaw who went missing while returning to the village from Birmingham where she was at art college. A subplot sees Diane continuing to reflect on the disappearance of her sister, the same sister who turns up on Ben’s doorstep pleading with him to put an end to Diane’s search. It all very easy on pace, much as you might expect of a book which stays close to the pace of life hereabouts. But as you concentrate on the plot, take note also of the Peak District itself in its dual role as hero and villain. Makes me wonder why more crime writers haven’t removed themselves to the Peaks in search of inspiration. But don’t all rush, it does get a bit crowded up here at weekends.