Black Dog [Paperback]

The story is well-crafted and perfectly paced. The dramatic setting of the Peak District, and the dynamics of the relationship between Ben Cooper and Diane Fry (two constables working on the case) serve to compliment the central storyline - that of the murder of wealthy teenager, Laura Vernon.

A number of murder suspects are amassed throughout the course of the novel, and there are a number of twists along the way. The style of writing is simplistic, yet taut - and the timing is excellent.

The only reason I am not awarding this book 5 stars is down to a personal feeling that the ending was a little disappointing. I think the revelation of the murderer was done well, but there were not enough hints to their identity and I couldn't help but feel the criminal should have been someone else!

In summary, this is an absorbing and well-written murder mystery, and whilst I did feel a little let-down at the end, it was an impressive debut nonetheless.

Laura Vernon, fifteen years old and missing from home since Saturday night.

In the heat of the summer, in the Peak District, the search for Laura is underway. Ben Cooper along with every man in the line is equipped with a wooden pole to sift through the long grass and push aside the dense swathes of bracken and bramble.

Laura's parents Charlotte and Graham, appear at first, distraught at the absence of their daughter but gradually questions arise as to Laura's home life, the family situation, and the secrets they hold.

When Harry Dickinson out walking his dog, finds a trainer, why does he seem so determined to obstruct the police.

The new DC Diane Fry is fresh from Birmingham, determined to be noticed, ambitious and looking for fast promotion. Paired off with Cooper, who has known the villagers all his life, Diane finds herself in an alien world. It seems that erywhere she goes, she is with 'Sergeant Cooper's lad'. Both Diane Fry and Ben Cooper have emotional baggage, but both are suspicious of other people suspecting weakness, and have, each built a wall around themselves which has resulted in them both being locked up in their own world of pain.

This book is rich in emotion and complex relationships on several different levels. In fact the mystery can only be solved when the complexity of relationships are unravelled, much of which lies in the past. Even when the mystery was solved I felt that there was a great deal yet to be revealed in the human relationships of the main characters. I sincerely hope there is another book, as there is so much still to be said with the main characters, and I want to read more about them and how they each deal with the complex history that they both have.

The sense of place in this book was strong, as was the depth of feeling of small rural communities. For a debut novel, this is a wonderful book. Highly recommended.

Lizzie Hayes 2 May 2000

Black Dog is one of the most amazing books that I have read in a very long time.

Stephen Booth's characters come alive on the first page and only get better as you go through the book to the last page. He actually takes you through the entire story making you feel as if you are there. And the people are real.

Laura Vernon is missing. An innocent, well liked, quiet, and well mannered 15 year old girl, according to some. To others, who seemed to know her better, quite wild.

As the helicopters fly overhead, and the police look desperately for this young girl, an old man sits on a rock, at the edge of the dark woods of England's brooding Peak District, watching and listening to the activity overhead. Suddenly his black Labrador, Jess, comes running up with something in her mouth.

From this minute on you will not be able to put this book down. The object that Jess retrieves takes you into the lives of everyone in the village. Secrets are divulged that have been hidden for years. Just when you figure you have this whole story figured out, you are led down another path. And then another.

Stephen Booth has written a story that will grab you, and not let you go. The only thing bad about this book is that you don't want it to end. You want to know more about the people, their lives and what will happen to them. You will defiantly have "The black dog's on your back". And you will not want it any other way.

Susan Hartigan Riverside, California USA