The Dead Place

Bones where there should be none and a chilling warning of an imminent killing lead Peak District detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry to a crypt full of skulls in the sixth novel from award-winning author Stephen Booth

‘It’s perfectly simple. All you have to do is find the dead place’

The anonymous caller who taunts the Police with talk of an imminent killing could be a hoaxer, his descriptions of death and decomposition a sick fantasy. But Detective Diane Fry is certain she’s dealing with a murderer. The voice – so eerily, shiveringly calm – invites the police to meet the ‘flesh eater’. Fry fears it may already be too late to save the next victim.

DC Ben Cooper, meanwhile, is looking into Derbyshire’s first case of body snatching. The investigation takes him into the dark, secret world of those whose lives revolve around the dead and their disposal – from funeral directors to crematorium staff and a professor whose speciality is the study of death.

Where is the dead place? And what terrible deeds are done there?

Short-listed for Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2007

“Praise for 'The Dead Place': 'A dark Derbyshire mystery...not for the squeamish' Daily Mail 'A thoroughly enjoyable book from one of Britain's best crime writers' Sunday Telegraph Praise for Stephen Booth: 'A leading light of British crime writing' Guardian 'Endows the traditional crime story with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck... He gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix' Independent 'Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on' Evening Standard 'In this atmospheric debut, Stephen Booth makes high summer in Derbyshire as dark and terrifying as midwinter' Val McDermid 'Black Dog sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go ... A dark star may be born!' Reginald Hill 'Best traditional crime novel of the year' Independent, Books of the Year 'Endows the traditional crime story with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck... He gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix' Independent 'Stephen Booth creates a fine sense of place and atmosphere...the unguessable solution to the crime comes as a real surprise' Sunday Telegraph 'The complex relationship between [Cooper and Fry] is excellently drawn, and is combined with an intriguing plot and a real sense of place: Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on' Evening Standar”

Praise for 'The Dead Place': 'A dark Derbyshire mystery!not for the squeamish' Daily Mail 'A thoroughly enjoyable book from one of Britain's best crime writers' Sunday Telegraph Praise for Stephen Booth: 'A leading light of British crime writing' Guardian 'Endows the traditional crime story with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck... He gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix' Independent 'Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on' Evening Standard 'In this atmospheric debut, Stephen Booth makes high summer in Derbyshire as dark and terrifying as midwinter' Val McDermid 'Black Dog sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go ! A dark star may be born!' Reginald Hill 'Best traditional crime novel of the year' Independent, Books of the Year 'Endows the traditional crime story with a literary strength that lifts it above the general ruck... He gives a satisfying read rather than a quick fix' Independent 'Stephen Booth creates a fine sense of place and atmosphere!the unguessable solution to the crime comes as a real surprise' Sunday Telegraph 'The complex relationship between [Cooper and Fry] is excellently drawn, and is combined with an intriguing plot and a real sense of place: Stephen Booth is an author to keep an eye on' Evening Standar

Stephen Booth is a journalist. This is his sixth novel in his Peak District series featuring Ben Cooper and Diane Fry.

Bones where there should be none and a chilling warning of an imminent killing challenge Detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry in their sixth novel. "This death will be a model of perfection. The details will be precise, the conception immaculate, the execution flawless..." When a caller taunts the police with talk of a 'dead place' and the threat of an imminent killing, most think it's a sick hoax. But Detective Diane Fry is sure there's a murderer at work. And when the voice calmly invites them to meet the 'flesh eater', Fry fears it may be too late. Meanwhile, her colleague DC Ben Cooper is investigating Derbyshire's first case of body snatching, entering the macabre world of those whose lives revolve around the deceased and their disposal. But does an obsession with death make for a killer? And what horrors will greet them when they finally find the dead place?

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