This isn’t my first Belinda Bauer novel. I read ‘Rubbernecker’ a while ago and whilst I did enjoy it, I couldn’t quite understand the hype (saying that, I tend to enjoy hyped up books but can’t quite understand why they are so hyped up…maybe it’s just me!!). However I think this, Belinda’s first novel, is head and shoulders above Rubbernecker.

It’s dark. It’s a game of cat and mouse where all you want the mouse to do is put down his blinking pen, run and hide! All Steven wants to do (in a beautifully selfless grown up way) is make his Nan happy so he comes up with a plan to change everything. Unfortunately that plan involves a serial killer….of children.

The book is set on Exmoor with a little bit of Dartmoor thrown in for good measure (why have one moor when you can have two?!). Beautifully written and very atmospheric. Arnold Avery is the epitome of evil. Enjoyable read and recommended.

Four out of five stars.

“A small, mean voice somewhere nagged that it meant nothing. It all meant nothing. But there was another, stronger voice in Steven. It had no answers, only another question, but it was this question that kept him digging until well after an unseen sun set in the invisible sky.
If it all meant nothing, why did it matter so much?”

About as bleak as an English fog sticking stubbornly to the morning, “Blacklands” pairs youthful perseverance with perverse abhorrence, bordering on repugnance, seemingly witnessed by the moors themselves. A startling, unique story, not new in regard to the crimes within but perhaps the delivery. Ultimately, “Blacklands” curtains to a frighteningly sad story about repair, and more than that, bravery.

Employing such an uncomfortable and alienating perspective could have gone sour and, I admit, did skeev me out more often than not but the story prevailed and I had to see it through to the ending.

3.5/5 The monsters hidden away in humans will always be scarier than goblins, ghouls, and ghosts.

What a brilliant book! I loved the characterisation of Steven and the serial killer was creepy as hell. It was just such a wonderful read and I polished it off in a couple of days. Highly recommended.

Obviously not a nice subject matter, but I didn't find that the author was able to capture my attention either. My mind was left wandering about everything but the book, hence the low rating. Sorry!

4.5 stars

Another creepy scary book

Very good thriller. I did find the ending a bit weak, but the characterization and plot were excellent.

I had never heard of this author or this novel when I picked it up, but found myself intrigued by the premise. I'm so glad I decided to take a chance. Bauer's writing is so clear and beautiful; she uses prose and language that elicit clear images in the reader's head, while keeping everything clear and concise.

She also managed to create an antagonist that was truly vile. Even during portions that dealt mainly with him, the fact he was a truly despicable person was never far from my mind. I appreciated he fact Bauer made him a villain, and a villain he shall remain; no redeeming qualities, no backstory to garner sympathy, just a "bad guy" for readers to despise.

The only drawback was I wished the backstory of the main character Steven had been more developed. There were interesting tidbits of history dropped along the way, and I wish more information had been provided, or at least incorporated in the narrative.

Overall, this was a great novel that I'm glad to have read. I will definitely look for more by Bauer in the future!

A slowly eked out story of an unlikable boy and family blighted by a historical child murder.

Het boek is wat langdradig het is wel een goed verhaal maar het is zeer voorspelbaar wat er gaat gebeuren