Review: The Murder Road – Stephen Booth

The Murder Road
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Sphere (July 16, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0751559946
ISBN-13: 978-0751559941
Order book here:

amazon

Order E-book here:
amazon

Synopsis:

A rainy night. A Dark road. A wrecked Vehicle. Murder. Ben Cooper and his team have their hands full in trying to solve this case, particularly against an entire small town unwilling to talk.

Characters:

Ben Cooper – Detective Inspector
Diane Fry – Detective Sergeant
Devdan Sharma – Detective Sergeant
Luke Irvine – Detective Constable
Carol Villiers – Detective Constable

Review

A Truck driver is stranded on a road when he’s attacked and murdered. A team of inspectors are pulled in to the investigation. This team headed by Ben Cooper is hardly the ideal team. One of the Detectives has trouble following through on tasks he’s given. Another is new to the department, and isn’t quite accepted. In the middle of the investigation, another man commits suicide. Are these two deaths connected?

I liked the story line of this. The characters were well developed. Some of it was a bit difficult, as I’m not always familiar with British police ranks, and some British terminology. That fact aside though, the story kept me involved to the last page. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep it exciting.

If I were going to rate it though, I’d rate it for older teens and adults due to subject matter. But if you enjoy good mysteries and thrillers, then check out Murder Road. Note that this is the 15th book in the Cooper & Fry series, so if you’re one that wants to read in order, you might want to start with the first. Though it seems each one can be standalone, I’ve found typically some events in previous novels (deaths, etc.) may be spoiled.

About the Author

Stephen BoothStephen Booth is an award winning British crime writer, the creator of two young Derbyshire police detectives, DC Ben Cooper and DS Diane Fry, who have appeared in thirteen novels set in England’s beautiful and atmospheric Peak District.

Stephen has been a Gold Dagger finalist, an Anthony Award nominee, twice winner of a Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel, and twice shortlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year. Ben Cooper was a finalist for the Sherlock Award for the best detective created by a British author, and in 2003 the Crime Writers’ Association presented Stephen with the Dagger in the Library Award for “the author whose books have given readers the most pleasure”.

The Cooper & Fry series is published all around the world, and has been translated into 15 languages. The latest title is ALREADY DEAD, published in June 2013.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Lucy at Harper Collins for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review. You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

Reply