- Hardcover: 464 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins (23 May 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007172052
- ISBN-13: 978-0007172054
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 4.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 646,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Dead Place
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Product Description
Review
Praise for The Dead Place:
‘A dark Derbyshire mystery…not for the squeamish’ Daily Mail
‘A thoroughly enjoyable book from one of Britain’s best crime writers’ Sunday Telegraph
Praise for Stephen Booth:
'A leading light of British crime writing' Guardian
'Endows the traditional crime story with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck… He gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix' Independent
‘Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on’ Evening Standard
‘In this atmospheric debut, Stephen Booth makes high summer in Derbyshire as dark and terrifying as midwinter’ Val McDermid
‘Black Dog sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go … A dark star may be born!’ Reginald Hill
‘Best traditional crime novel of the year' Independent, Books of the Year
'Endows the traditional crime story with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck… He gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix' Independent
‘Stephen Booth creates a fine sense of place and atmosphere…the unguessable solution to the crime comes as a real surprise’ Sunday Telegraph
‘The complex relationship between [Cooper and Fry] is excellently drawn, and is combined with an intriguing plot and a real sense of place: Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on’ Evening Standar
Maxim Jakubowski, Guardian
'A leading light of British crime writing'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Another Fry and Cooper mystery set in and amongst the world of undertakers. Very morbid but still fascinating. The chemistry between the two leads in there for all to see, except the leads! The descriptions of the Peaks are evocative and imaginative, they feel claustrophobic and engulf everything and anything - excellent. Cant wait for the sixth volume in the summer
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I know full well, that the title of my review sounds like an ad for a brand of choc ice, but please rest assured dear readers that this novel is nothing even remotely similar to anything nice and tasty! But it is infact, very dark and full of intrigue. It is one of a series of the Peak murder mystery series featuring detectives Diane Fry and Ben Cooper. It is the first of the series that I have read. Although the first novel (Black Dog) currently sits upon my bookshelf unread I was immediately attracted to this one. The story is based upon a series of murders within the Derbyshire Peak District and a quite complicated investigation carried out by the aforementioned detctives and their team. If you really do like a bit of morbidity and you are not afraid to delve into the daily workings and the 'goings on' in the funeral parlour and crematorioum industry then this novel will be right up your street! To give you an idea of the subject matter, by chapter two alone we are already onboard with two undertakers as they proceed to perform a 'removal' (collection of a recently deceased person). All the gory details are provided even to the extent of the procedures which are undertaken within the 'cremation suite'.
I did find the investigation side of things a bit on the heavy side but then thats me, not the book. Those of you who like a good puzzle will appreciate that. I also enjoyed the characters involved not only the Detectives but also the characters that we happen upon as the investigations proceed.
Whilst primarily very dark throughout there are also one or two rays of sunshine where Mr.Booth does demonstrate that he can easily and skilfully inject some humour. Not to forget of course the wonderfull descriptions of the wild but beautiful peak district. Oh and by the way, the book does include some very grizzly websites including something called the Deathclock which following the input of some of your personal details will predict how long you'll live. What more could you ask for?! Enjoy the book!
I did find the investigation side of things a bit on the heavy side but then thats me, not the book. Those of you who like a good puzzle will appreciate that. I also enjoyed the characters involved not only the Detectives but also the characters that we happen upon as the investigations proceed.
Whilst primarily very dark throughout there are also one or two rays of sunshine where Mr.Booth does demonstrate that he can easily and skilfully inject some humour. Not to forget of course the wonderfull descriptions of the wild but beautiful peak district. Oh and by the way, the book does include some very grizzly websites including something called the Deathclock which following the input of some of your personal details will predict how long you'll live. What more could you ask for?! Enjoy the book!
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was very intruiged to read the synopsis of 'The Dead Place'on Amazon here. It sounded precisely the kind of mystery I like, and as I hadn't read anything by Stephen Booth before I thought I would give it a try.
I have been disappointed by a lot of crime writers for a long time - poor and contrived plots, and subplots; ludicrous, shallow characterisation; endings which make you wish you hadn't bothered wasting the time involved getting into the book; and increasing wariness (and cynicism) at overfabricated 'blurbs'. To be honest I was quite prepared not to expect very much.
But I was genuinely delighted by this book. A modern mystery with an old fashioned sense of place. There is real craftsmanship here. Booth provides an intellectual edge to the puzzle - and one learns a lot about the funeral business, both ancient and modern, to boot. The characters of Fry and Cooper aren't immediate - you realise it is a series - but by the end you want to know more about them.
'The Dead Place' became quite unputdownable. A satisfying, powerful, and at times surprisingly mystical, crime thriller. I am now going to get all of his remaining books. Can't wait.
I have been disappointed by a lot of crime writers for a long time - poor and contrived plots, and subplots; ludicrous, shallow characterisation; endings which make you wish you hadn't bothered wasting the time involved getting into the book; and increasing wariness (and cynicism) at overfabricated 'blurbs'. To be honest I was quite prepared not to expect very much.
But I was genuinely delighted by this book. A modern mystery with an old fashioned sense of place. There is real craftsmanship here. Booth provides an intellectual edge to the puzzle - and one learns a lot about the funeral business, both ancient and modern, to boot. The characters of Fry and Cooper aren't immediate - you realise it is a series - but by the end you want to know more about them.
'The Dead Place' became quite unputdownable. A satisfying, powerful, and at times surprisingly mystical, crime thriller. I am now going to get all of his remaining books. Can't wait.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
boring
What a boring book, it drags, the characters are not interesting,and the subject of death is not interesting,I will not be buying any of his books again
Published 2 months ago by mg
Size Matters
Sixth in the series of detective novels featuring DI Fry and DC Cooper set in Derbyshire.
An odd crime, the theft of a dead body, is investigated and it is suggested... Read more
An odd crime, the theft of a dead body, is investigated and it is suggested... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rotgut
The Dead Good
A deep dark mystery set as with all Stephen Booth novels in Derbyshire.
This one is not for the squeamish, yet again another great novel featuring Diane Fry and Ben... Read more
This one is not for the squeamish, yet again another great novel featuring Diane Fry and Ben... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2010 by Roy A. Lewin
The Dead (Boring) Place
This is my first ever review and I felt compelled to write it to save other readers from wasting their time and money on this rambling drivel about decomposing bodies in... Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by N. Brunton
book/author
the last in the series i needed! however, i did see it in a charity shop the day after i got it! if you're a pennine type, read this author, but I think the earlier ones were... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2009 by doody
Very put-downable
Didn't enjoy this one bit. I enjoy a good "murder" this being so there must be a dead body, however the grisly descriptions of decomposition and what the undertakers do was so... Read more
Published on 18 May 2009 by J. Long
NOT ONE OF THE BEST!
I am a great Peter Robinson fan who is always on the look out for new authors. I don't feel I found I found a substitute in this book. Read more
Published on 29 July 2008 by M. Savage
Some of the Best Crime Writing Around
A newspaper and magazine journalist for over 25 years, Stephen Booth was born in the English Pennine town of Burnley. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2007 by J. Chippindale
Some of the Best Crime Fiction
A newspaper and magazine journalist for over 25 years, Stephen Booth was born in the English Pennine town of Burnley. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2007 by J. Chippindale
Developing into one of the best....
Although slightly formulaic - lovely rural location, (in this case the Peak District), male and female "team", bosses too worried with internal politics etc etc, this... Read more
Published on 10 April 2006 by Mr. Stephen Edwards
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