Mik lives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, but travels the length and breadth of the UK as a Project Manager. He's a long-time crime fiction fan, with bookshelves groaning under the weight of signed copies from some of the greats of the genre. He's also a reviewer, and an aspiring crime writer, with hopes of joining his literary heroes on a shelf near you in the not too distant future.
Alice Teale is a popular seventeen-year-old girl, who is seen leaving a school club late one day by Miss Pearce one of her teachers. Little does the teacher know that she is the last person to see her before she is kidnapped.
Fresh out of Police College Beth Winter is assigned to the case with Detective Sergeant Lucas Black. DS Black is notorious for killing a suspect in a botched operation and was consequentially demoted. Although difficult to work with initially, Beth Winter is keen to showcase herself in a high-profile case with strong determination. As the unlikely duo attempt to untangle Alice’s life they receive extracts from Alice’s diary which further complicates a difficult investigation. Trying to elicit the truth from those who knew Alice (closely), it becomes apparent that everyone has something to hide and the kidnapper is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep their secrets.
This is a well-crafted Police procedural from Howard Linskey who introduces two new characters who are stunningly delineated. Despite the initial friction the duo exhibit, this develops over the course of the story into a trusting relationship, one that enhances the narrative.
The cover-image suggests this is a standalone, but I sincerely hope we see the origins of a series, because the duo have the makings of a classic cop relationship.
The backdrop is a small former mining town in Northumberland called Collemby, and as always Linskey is able to capture and describe the area vividly.
The author has managed his research well, but done so with the eye of a local. Not only is this a cleverly written and complex case but as more pages of Alice’s diary turn up, so do the number of suspects.
It’s a very clever twist on the usual child abduction plot, and the author has expertly thrown in enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the emotionally charged ending; one the roars for more.
Howard Linskey is fast becoming a master of his craft, and who gets better with every book.
