Different cover (british edition)

I do like Val McDermids books, though I have to admit that I liked her earlier books better than this one. I suppose that I like detective stories better than thrillers. That doesn't mean somebody else might not like it.

It is 1963, the Beatles are becoming wildly popular in England, and the Swinging Sixties are about to change the post-war Western world. But in the village of Scardale in the Peaks District of Derbyshire, a desolate area beloved of hikers and climbers, nothing has changed for hundreds of years. The village has remained small and insular--most villagers are related, and the most common second names are Carter and Lomas. When Alison Carter, aged 13, disappears while walking her dog, the case is given to a young detective inspector named George Bennett. As Bennett gets to know the families in the village and their concerns, he realizes that this case is not as simple as it first seems. The villagers seem to be closing ranks, and Bennett suspects they may be protecting one of their own. Central to his investigation are Alison's mother and her husband. When Ruth Carter remarried, she chose Philip Hawkin, an outsider who is now the current squire of the village. As Alison's stepfather, he raises all kinds of red flags for Bennett. But so does Alison's close relationship with her cousin Charlie who, too conveniently, it seems, finds a vital clue.

All this is complicated by the fact that the police and the villagers cannot find Alison's body; there are also other disappearances in the area which may or may not be connected. To reveal more about this riveting mystery would be to give too much away. McDermid takes the reader through a maze of conflicting facts and theories, and when Bennett, with the help of local police, solves the case, the real story is only just beginning--especially for Bennett, who will question not only his own part in solving this case, but ultimately the profession he has chosen.

I am planning to send this out as a bookray.

The rules are:

> the ray is open for everyone
> make a journal entry when you receive the book
> make a controlled release entry when posting it
> try to read and pass the book on within 4 weeks of receiving it
> when you're almost done, contact the next person on the list for their information.
> no response is received after two attempts and one week, contact me and then next person on the list.
> if there are any delays or changes please PM me
> have fun

Participants so far:

1. DianeO (UK) - post anywhere
2. Valnboys (UK)- post anywhere
3. 1972Galadriel (Netherlands) - post internationally
4. Morpha (USA) - USA preferred
5. Rrrcaron (USA) - post internationally
6. Ramya (USA) - post internationally
7. Fellraven (UK) - europe preferred, intl OK
8. Kislany (Cyprus) - europe preferred

Released on Thursday, May 20, 2004 at Surface mail in Controlled Release, Controlled Release Controlled Releases.

Posted to DianeO today.

Received today - thanks! I intend to start this tommorrow - and as I live in Derbyshire, I will be interested to see how true to village life this is.

Wow! I could not put it down, I was so completely captivated by this mystery (although the ending didn't really hold any surprises). For anybody that remembers the UK's 'Moors Murders' of the 60's, this spine chilling book will bring it all back. Her descriptions of growing up in a small Derbyshire village are totally accurate. Thanks for sharing!
Sending PM to valnboys.

Release planned for Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at Postal Release in Chesterfield, England United Kingdom.

To be sent to valnboys - enjoy!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, to the extent that I had to stay awake until 1.10am this morning to get it finished, as I was too near finding out the ending to leave it until morning!
Thanks to DianeO for passing it on to me (sorry I forgot to put a journal entry in when I received it), and special thanks to gerenggat for starting the bookray in the first place.

Released on Thursday, June 17, 2004 at post office in BOOKRAY, Bookray Controlled Releases.

Posted in Birtley, Tyne and Wear, today by surface mail - presumably will take some time to reach the Netherlands, but hope 1972Galadriel will enjoy it when it finally arrives!

Just got it in the mail. Thanks!

Just finished it..this was a good read! Its of to Morpha asap.

Uh,oh. I had better start this book on a Friday so I can finish it over the weekend and not take it to work for some sneak reading. Thanks!

This book, although well written, was a tad slow for me. Some of the scenes, particularly courtroom ones, drrrraaaggg on entirely too long.

Only toward the end did the pace pick up as the book came to a shocking conclusion that surprised even jaded ol' me.

I would definitely be interested in reading more books by this author. She reminds me a bit of Reginald Hill, but less haunting.

Sending off to Rrrcaron, next on the list.

Received this book in the mail today. I will be starting it soon!
Ruth

I loved this book!! I was caught up in it right from the beginning and had a very hard time putting it down. The ending didn't really really surprise me, because I kind of suspected the outcome from the start. However, it was a very well written novel and I highly recommend the read! Sorry I held it so long. Once I started, I read it in two sittings. It was just getting to it that took so long!Sending on to Ramya asap.
Ruth
Ruth

Received last week--might be a month or so before I get to this one. Thanks for sharing!

Every time I looked at this book on my shelf, the thickness put me off -- I've been very tired lately, and reading hasn't been easy. I was about to send it on unread, but then did start it -- and finished it in about 4 days! This was an attention grabber and very well-written. Gerenggat, you say that you like McDermid's earlier books better -- that suggests to me that I might have some more good reading ahead of me if I find some of them at the library! Thanks for sharing this.

I'll be sending this off to Fellraven on Saturday (surface mail).

Just confirming that this actually got out in the mail today -- 4-6 weeks by surface mail.

Received in this morning's post. I have one ring book ahead of this but hope to read it within a few weeks. Thanks, Ramya!

This is the first novel by McDermid I've read although I'm familiar with her writing, or at least her ideas, through the TV series "The Wire in the Blood" which is a great favourite.

Like Rrrcaron, I wasn't entirely surprised by the ending because that's always something you have to bear in mind when there isn't a body. It held the attention all the way through, and unlike morpha I wasn't bored by the courtroom scenes because I think that reviewed by the reader in hindsight at the end of the book they reflect a lot of light upon the behaviour of the villagers at the tiem of the investigation and during the trial.

Overall, a good escapist read and I'll certainly keep an eye out for more of McDermid's novels.

Posted to Kislany today.

Thanks a lot, received it this morning. As I am last on the ray, will read it and then most probably offer it on bookrelay, so the book continues its journey :)