Having enjoyed this series so far, I am delighted to be sharing my review of this, the third book featuring DC Beth Young. Huge thanks to Noelle Holten at Bookoutre for inviting me, and providing my review copy, which I received via Netgalley.
The Blurb:
A case with no leads.
A victim with no enemies.
A killer with no conscience…
When Detective Beth Young is called to investigate a victim with multiple broken bones, nothing prepares her for what she finds. James Sinclair is fighting for his life, and Beth can’t shake the idea that the nature of his injuries suggest someone with a personal grudge against him.
But James’s devastated wife Laura insists that her kind, softly-spoken husband is a man with no enemies. She was the one with the fiery temper, but James was so calm, she’d never once managed to provoke even a cross word from him in their eight year marriage. And he was the same with everyone – she can’t name one person who might want to hurt him.
But she knows virtually no details about her husband’s childhood or his life before he moved to the Lake District as a young man, and Beth feels sure that the key to finding James’s attacker is hidden in the secrets of his past. Who was he really? And what is the significance of the coded messages that Beth finds hidden on his laptop?
Then two more bodies are found in one of the deep, picturesque lakes that the area is so famous for, exhibiting similar injuries to the ones James Sinclair suffered. How are they connected? And how many more people are at risk?
Beth knows she is in a race against time to hunt a vicious killer who is both elusive and incredibly dangerous. A killer who knows what James did in the past. Who likes to be one step ahead. But who – if they realise they’re being hunted – might come for Beth next…
Fear in the Lakes was published by Bookoutre on 12th July 2019 and you can purchase it here.
My Review:
I have followed this series from the beginning, and you can read my reviews of Death in the Lakes (previously titled The Silent Dead) and A Body in the Lakes by clicking on the titles. I love Beth Young, and was delighted to see her back in this third adventure.
The victim of the first crime Beth has to investigate has suffered such horrific injuries, it's amazing he's still alive. But his life will be dramatically different and much harder going forward. The expertise of pathologist Hewson is called upon, and the discussion he has with Beth about the nature of the injuries made me quite queasy. The perpetrator is clearly very skilled at their craft. As is the author.
Nothing that Beth and the rest of the team learn about James Sinclair, the victim, moves them any closer to a solution, and when two other bodies are discovered with similar injuries, the waters just get murkier.
It's so great to see Beth back. I love her respectful but sparky relationship with her boss, Zoe O'Dowd. Her superior has recognised Beth's unique 'sideways-thinking brain' and the way she often sees things differently from others. And her talents are definitely called on here. And I have always enjoyed her exchanges with Hewson.
It's great to see some developments in Beth's personal life - I so want her to be happy! And there is also some movement in her overarching storyline - I'm really interested to see where that goes in future books.
The writing is great, with a fabulous cast of characters. They are very accessible, and very human, flaws and all. The pacing is great, moving towards a shocking denouement. This is probably my favourite in the series so far, so I'm really looking forward to seeing where Graham takes Beth next!
The victim of the first crime Beth has to investigate has suffered such horrific injuries, it's amazing he's still alive. But his life will be dramatically different and much harder going forward. The expertise of pathologist Hewson is called upon, and the discussion he has with Beth about the nature of the injuries made me quite queasy. The perpetrator is clearly very skilled at their craft. As is the author.
Nothing that Beth and the rest of the team learn about James Sinclair, the victim, moves them any closer to a solution, and when two other bodies are discovered with similar injuries, the waters just get murkier.
It's so great to see Beth back. I love her respectful but sparky relationship with her boss, Zoe O'Dowd. Her superior has recognised Beth's unique 'sideways-thinking brain' and the way she often sees things differently from others. And her talents are definitely called on here. And I have always enjoyed her exchanges with Hewson.
It's great to see some developments in Beth's personal life - I so want her to be happy! And there is also some movement in her overarching storyline - I'm really interested to see where that goes in future books.
The writing is great, with a fabulous cast of characters. They are very accessible, and very human, flaws and all. The pacing is great, moving towards a shocking denouement. This is probably my favourite in the series so far, so I'm really looking forward to seeing where Graham takes Beth next!
The Author:
Graham Smith is the bestselling author of four explosive crime thrillers in the Jake Boulder series, Watching the Bodies, The Kindred Killers, Past Echoes and Die Cold. Watching the Bodies spent over two weeks at number one in the Amazon UK chart and Amazon CA charts. Graham is also the author of the popular DI Harry Evans series and has collections of short stories and novellas. His latest novels with Bookouture are set in Cumbria and the Lake District, featuring DC Beth Young.
He is the proud father of a young son. As a time served joiner he has built bridges, houses, dug drains and slated roofs to make ends meet. Since 2000 he has been manager of a busy hotel and wedding venue near Gretna Green, Scotland.
An avid fan of crime fiction since being given one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books at the age of eight, he has also been a regular reviewer for the well-respected review site Crimesquad.com since 2010.
When not working, his time is spent reading, writing and playing games with his son. He enjoys socialising and spending time with friends and family.
Author Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrahamSmith1972
Website: https://grahamsmithauthor.com/
Great review! This sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's really good, the third in a great series, although each can be read as a standalone. x
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