The hunter is about to become the hunted…
Twelve-year-old Steven Lamb digs holes on Exmoor, hoping to find a body. Every day after school, while his classmates swap football stickers, Steven goes digging to lay to rest the ghost of the uncle he never knew, who disappeared aged eleven and is assumed to have fallen victim to the notorious serial killer Arnold Avery.
Only Steven’s Nan is not convinced her son is dead. She still waits for him to come home, standing bitter guard at the front window while her family fragments around her. Steven is determined to heal the widening cracks between them before it’s too late. And if that means presenting his grandmother with the bones of her murdered son, he’ll do it.
So the boy takes the next logical step, carefully crafting a letter to Arnold Avery in prison. And there begins a dangerous cat-and-mouse game between a desperate child and a bored serial killer . . .
I stayed up until 6am on a school night/day because I couldn’t put this down. Well, actually I had to put it down once because I needed to take a moment. I was so nervous about what was happening. Also!!! So beautiful. I need to go back and bookmark some of the passages that took my breath away. “Everyone should make his mark.” amazing. I will be starting Darkside in a few hours.
Blacklands – what an amazing read! I am working my way through the crime section at the library and happen to be on B. Can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you Belinda
I could not put this book down. Loved it.
Gorgeous book. I love the setup of the two characters having that dangerous back and forth game… It was a fast read, vivid and unputdownable. The setting really came to life; so did the characters. I’ve just read Darkside (and was terribly afraid more awful things were going to happen to Steven) and felt a sort of jolt at seeing a familiar name from the first book. I’m looking forward for the next.
Amreading this at the moment and finding it hard to put down.The tension rises page by page and I find myself fearing for Steven’s safety but hoping for his triumph.Brilliantly written and a plot that has engaged me from page 1.
Stumbled across “Blacklands” here in Michigan in the States while shopping at a local store. Its a very good read so far and has a good feel for what being a victim’s family of a terrible crime goes through. Will be on the hunt for your other works as well..
Like many I suspect, I recently ‘discovered’ Belinda through the Sunday Times Culture supplement feature and the somewhat sombre tone of subject matter appealed immediately. My usual reading matter of recent times is Rankin, Herbert (the better ones), Mankell etc and before you could say ‘Amazon Login’ I had bought both her books. Absolutely fantastic and, without sounding trite I hope, the reader really does feel deeply involved with the characters and their assembled situations from the outset. The insight into being a 12 year old boy (having been one myself some years back) is uncannily accurate – sometimes it’s the very small things that matter most…. I am already looking forward to the next book (sorry Belinda, I guess everyone says the same). Enjoy…..
Amazon rBooks Waterstones eBook:
Amazon rBooks Waterstones Audio CD:
Amazon Waterstones Hardback:
Amazon rBooks Waterstones
