The setting is Sheffield, a city I know well enough to set the inner camera in motion while reading about it. The plot is quickly told: A young boy dies in an accident. His parents' marriage does not survive the traumatic event. The father's work as a Detective Inspector at first suffers, too - then he accidentally kills another man, and the life he knew until then is well and truly over. After four years in prison, Harlan Miller is released only to learn that the son of the man he killed has been abducted.
Trying to find the boy and bring him back to his mother becomes the only reason to live for Harlan.
The reader is taken along on the fast-paced search for young Ethan, which is at the same time Harlan's search for atonement. Of course, there are some dead ends and red herrings, and more than once, it seems impossible that Harlan should ever live long enough to succeed.
The characters appear credible, although I have no way of telling how realistic some of their thoughts and actions are, since I have never been in a situation even remotely similar - and hope I never will be!
The book is not just a modern whodunnit and how and when good will win over evil. It shows what many of us would rather not think about: The capacity for crossing the border between right and wrong, light and dark, and what that can do to a person.
"Blood Guilt" was first self-published by the author in 2011. Ben Cheetham has his own website here, but he is also right here on blogger. I think I want to read "Angel of Death", too - my edition of "Blood Guilt" contained the first chapter of that, and it promises to be just as gripping.
Hey! This sounds like a book of fiction that I might really want to read! I looked at his blog also, and he seems like a nice guy and you know, that is important to me.
ReplyDeleteActually, I would not expect you to like this book, Kay. It is rather violent in places and does not spare much detail. Normally, this is not the kind of reading I enjoy, but it is an integral part of the story and adds to the food-for-thought quality of the book.
DeleteThat sounds just what I want at the moment! Btw Meike, did you receive my email? We’ve had lots of mail trouble here. 3 hours on the phone haven’t sorted it yet...
ReplyDeleteIt is rather dark, Frances, if that's what you want right now.
DeleteNo, I have no email from you.
Just finished the Frances Garrood novel and really enjoyed it....Not so sure about dark and graphic at the moment. But I am cracking up because all the kindle free and cheap mysteries just now, around Halloween, seem to feature psychics or witches as the main characters.........Not for me either, usually.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know you enjoyed Frances' book, Kristi!
DeleteI am currently reading something definitely NOT dark and graphic; it is nice to have so much choice and pick our reading to fit in with our moods, isn't it.
I'm on board with this book ... ordered it from Amazon and will begin reading after I finish Elizabeth George's latest novel the Thomas Lynley series, which I've loved every single book! Oh my! that is a terrible sentence; sorry.
ReplyDeleteFor a while, I was rather "hooked" on the Lynley series, too, but then the books became a little too lengthy for my liking. I'd like to know what you think of Blood Guilt when you have read it, Jill.
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