Psychological Thriller - Rated 
A newspaper and magazine journalist for over 25 years, Stephen Booth was born in the English Pennine town of Burnley. He was brought up on the coast at Blackpool, where he began his career in journalism by editing his school magazine and wrote his first 'novel' at the age of 13.
Stephen gave up journalism in 2001 to write crime novels full time. He and his wife Lesley live in a former Georgian dower house near Retford, Nottinghamshire, in Robin Hood country.
The Peak District has always been a major attraction for tourists, but this particular summer a convicted killer with one thing on his mind, revenge. Fourteen long years ago Mansell Quinn was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his lover.
Now he is out of prison, under licence. The problem is nobody knows where he is and his ex-wife has been murdered. As they try to get a picture of where Quinn might be and what his next move will be detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry become increasingly frustrated and puzzled by the case. There are too many anomalies to the case, not least the fact that two of his friends refused to back up his alibi and for the last ten years of his sentence, not a soul visited him in jail There is a lot more to this case than meets the eye, but at the moment the pair are getting nowhere.
Puzzling and Frustrating - Rated 
I can honestly say that by the time I'd finished this book, I had not a clue what had happened in it. I'm a careful reader, and I usually manage to follow even the most complicated of plots, but at the end of this novel I didn't know who'd killed whom and why, and nor did I care. I spent some time trying to go over it all in my mind, but I couldn't make it add up, and I can't say I really enjoyed reading this book. There was something drab, squalid and depressing about the writing style, and Ben and Diane, the two police protagonists, made me want to sigh deeply every time they appeared. This is the sort of book that might have been written by one's long-winded and rather dull grandfather.
Another winning novel from Stephen Booth - Rated 
Another winning novel from Stephen Booth. I really enjoyed ONE LAST BREATH and in the 646 pages I thought it was great. For those who haven't read the book I won't give the plot away suffice to say that it really held me. Stephen has always been excellent at descriptions in his novels whether it be the Crime Scene or the descriptions of the Derbyshire Hills.
Diane Fry is a really good character and I like her tough no nonsense approach and she really means business in the novel as indeed she has meant business in previous books. Although she tells Cooper off I still think they are fond of each other but because of the profession and the situations they find themselves in they really cannot progress in a romantic sort of way. (Or maybe they can), it certainly would be interesting.
Fry's sister Angie I found a very intriguing character, I hope she features in Stephen's future books as I think she could surprise people.
Murfin I found was a very likeable police officer and I could imagine him sitting in the Squad Car eating his food, I think he brings humour to the book but I also think he is a character that stands no nonsense and can really get down to his work.
As I say a real winner. Congratulations Stephen on another fine piece of work, I really enjoyed it. For those of you who haven't read the book, two words: YOU MUST.
Long, boring, shallow ... - Rated 
I had been told about Stephen Booth some time ago and was looking forward to this the first of his books I've read.
What started off as an anticipated adventure with a new author turned into a boring marathon. A decent editor would have ditched 400 pages and the book would have been much better for it, we certainly wouldn't have been losing any 'purple prose'!
The characters were unsympathetically drawn, and there were too many of them. The 'action' was tedious and the plot tenuous. If this is typical of Stephen Booth's work I won't be rushing to read any more - sadly.
a superb read - Rated
This is by far the best book of the series so far. The opening chapters set the scene perfectly. Its a definite page turner that will keep you reading for hours. The exciting and thrilling plot will keep you on the edge of your seat
|
