Book Review: Blind to the Bones

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

[4 stars]

Blind to the Bones Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Stephen Booth
Class/Genre: Mystery Psychological Suspense Police Procedural
Series: Ben Cooper / Diane Fry # 4

Ben Cooper and Diane Fry return in Booth's fourth entry in this extremely satisfying series. They are police officers in the Peak District of England, an area popular with tourists and presenting special problems as a result.

Cooper is temporarily detailed to the Rural Crime Team, investigating a series of burglaries in which valuable antiques have been stolen. Fry remains with the Edendale force, and is called upon to open a long cold case when a cell phone is found which belonged to a young woman who disappeared over two years ago. The woman's parents have sunk into a kind of suspended animation - in which they imagine that each phone call will bring news of their daughter. They keep her personal possessions available on display, renew the licensing for her car, speak of her in the present tense, and buy gifts for her birthday and Christmas observances.

Cooper and Fry each encounter serious difficulties in communication - Cooper with the residents of a small enclave in the area where persons suspected of the burglaries reside, and Fry with the young woman's parents. And as their frustration mounts, another body is discovered on the moors, a young man who was a friend of the woman who disappeared.

Vivid imagery of death, decay, destruction, desolation abound in this tale. Although Cooper and Fry have been colleagues for some time, they still struggle to find a productive way to work together. This difficulty will be amplified in the books to come - Cooper becomes aware of a vital secret which will affect Fry's future.

Looking forward to the next book!

Woodstock - RAM

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