Fear in the Lakes (DC Beth Young #3) by Graham Smith
Genre: Crime Fiction, Police Procedural
Read: 12th July 2019
Purchase: Amazon
(release date: 12th July 2019)
★★★★ 4 stars
Beth is back in a new and exciting case! Beginning with a shocking scene, FEAR IN THE LAKES is the third installment in Graham Smith's DC Beth Young series. Set in the beautiful Lakes District in Cumbria in England, Beth is a detective constable with the Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT), a team of four detectives who tackle serious crimes throughout the county. Alongside the standalone mystery with each book there is also the ongoing backstory of Beth's injury and her search for the men responsible. This, and the relationships within the team, make this a good series to read in order.
A case with no leads.
A victim with no enemies.
A killer with no conscience…
The story begins with the discovery of James Sinclair by his wife, found clinging to life with virtually every single bone in his body shattered. A quiet mild-mannered man, James was head chef at the Fox and Hounds who kept to himself and even shied away from photos. The team can find no reason for this senseless attack but are soon suspicious when there appears to be no record of James Sinclair before the age of 18. Does his mysterious past hold the key to his attack?
Then the bodies of two low level crooks are discovered in Lake Ullswater with similar injuries...but this time, they're dead. Injuries, it appears, akin to the damage inflicted on Sinclair which seemingly confirm that both cases were the result of one villain. The one difference - apart from being dead - is that each man had a symbol carved into their skulls. What did this mean? Are the symbols a reference to something?
With the bizarre injuries on the victims, the precise and methodical technique, it is soon realised that the weapon of choice is a chisel - leading the team to discover they are on the hunt of a sadistic killer for hire hailing from London known as "The Sculptor".
It soon becomes clear that Sinclair had secrets when the team delve into his laptop and find a mailbox with encrypted messages between three people. Beth, who thrives on puzzles, is tasked with decoding them to discover what was so important that Sinclair had to keep it secret? Identifying his messages were paramount in determining their importance and once she had done so, Beth then worked her way through decoding the others. Why was Sinclair emailing coded messages to two other people? Who were they? Where did they fit in? And did it have something to do with Sinclair's attack?
Then someone posing as Sinclair begins sending messages to the other two. Still in a medically induced coma in hospital with two amputated legs, the team know full well that it isn't Sinclair. It can only be the killer. Beth decodes the messages. He is arranging a meet. But will the other two agree? And can the team get to them in time to stop what is inevitably a trap?
With a fierce snowstorm closing roads and preventing the team from following leads, Beth must listen to her inner voice and solve the puzzle before someone else gets injured...or killed! But the closer Beth gets, the closer she is to becoming the The Sculptor's next victim!
As FEAR IN THE LAKES is Beth's third outing I have to mention that I really like the way the backstory of her injury has developed. Her sideline investigation into Neck Kisses and learning his identity leads her to a discovery about him that is both surprising and tragic, prompting Beth to realise that some stories are not what they seem. With each book another chapter behind her injury is revealed with the door left open to continue and delve further into the next one.
I was also thrilled to see her pick up her relationship with paramedic Ethan that tentatively began in the last book. And I am even more thrilled that it is not the usual relationship that sees each party with their own agenda and always at loggerheads. I know police and paramedic shift patterns can make for difficulties with relationships, but Beth and Ethan seem to compliment each other. That, and they just seem so cute together.
The relationship of the team members are also an interesting backdrop. While we have yet to delve into O'Dowd and Unthank's private lives (we catch but a glimpse of Unthank's with a new girlfriend), we have seen into DS Frank Thompson's and are witness to his pain and grief, having lost his wife Julie to early onset Alzheimer's in the previous book. As this story unfolds, we see just how Thompson struggles during the early stages of the investigation - particularly when questioning a witness whose own loved one has Alzheimer's. He is soon place on paid leave and another more obnoxious DS is brought in as a temporary replacement. The sensitivity with which Smith deals with Alzheimer's throughout the story is admirable, keeping in mind that some of his readers may be facing their own loved ones with the insidious disease. There is an obvious awareness throughout and the understanding given to DS Thompson during his grief is exceptional. To watch a loved one suffer this disease is heart-wrenching but in someone so young it must be beyond unbearable.
I love the camaraderie between the team members. They all compliment each other and everyone works well together...with the exception of the temporary secondment in DS McKay, who was deserving of the several reprimands he received from O'Dowd as well as Beth's clever counter-blows in quiet retaliation. On the one hand I hope I don't see him return in the next book but on the other I would love to see him further put back in his place.
As for the team, I love how they interact and work together without one trying to outdo the other, as seen in other police procedural series. My only complaint is how often O'Dowd continually refers to Beth's "sideways brain" or similar. It's repetitive and I feel a litle unnecessary as we are all aware of the fact that Beth sees and thinks things a little differently than others.
I love Beth. She is personable and clever, battling her own demons whilst unraveling puzzles both on and off the case. This combination makes FEAR IN THE LAKES an even more riveting read. I do question why Beth is just a lowly DC when she is more obviously suited to the rank of DS. I would love to see her promoted as her talents are wasted, though not unrecognised, they could be under-appreciated at times.
As for the villain, who was truly creepy, it was enlightening to be privy to a killer's mind with a sprinkling of chapters here and there from the Sculptor's perspective. And I totally didn't see that twist coming!!
I have to mention that I love how Cumbria itself becomes such a prominent character with its treacherous roads, changeable weather and the isolation it brings to the story. How its sheer beauty can be transformed into an unforgivable monster. I often chuckle to myself in reading of the vast differences between the Penrith in Cumbria to the Penrith I know here in Australia.
FEAR IN THE LAKES is a riveting read and an enthralling addition to the series. It kept me guessing throughout and, while I had to, I didn't want to put it down. Smith is a superb writer and draws his readers into a web of mystery with a dark and chilling tale that will have you intrigued and then leave you wanting more. Whilst the attacks and killings are graphic in nature, Smith tells the story without any graphic content. I look forward to Beth's next outing and where Smith next takes us.
Another enjoyable read I highly recommend, though in order with other two first to fully appreciate Beth's journey.
I would like to thank #GrahamSmith, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #FearInTheLakes in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment