Blacklands
- Average rating:
- Format:
- Paperback
- Product code:
- 9BLA
- Our price:
- £3.99
- RRP:
- £7.99
- SAVE:
- £4.00
About the book
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...
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Reviews
- Average rating:
- from 16 Reviews.
"A Gripping Read"
by Jacqui on 17/04/2010
Took this book on holiday and didn't think I'd finish it, but once I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down. I agree that the family situation could have been brought into the book more, but all in all a very good read.
"Good read"
by Leanne on 19/03/2010
I enjoyed this book and found that once I started reading it was difficult to put down. However, there were parts of the book that does let it down. I agree with what has been stated before about the scene with the soldier, it just seemed to come from no where and there wasn't much point to it. It did have a link to the killers past but served no purpose to the story. Overall though a really good and enjoyable book!
"Excellent"
by Julie on 17/03/2010
I found the book a very easy read from start to finish. Once you started the book you couldn't put it down. The characters were very well thought out and were very worked out along with the plot. I can highly recommend it.
"Excellent"
by Sally on 03/03/2010
I have just finished this book after reading very quickly, the story is very well crafted and I felt I understood and had an insight into the minds of both Steven and more worringly Avery. The author doesn't sugar coat the serial killers feelings and thoughts and they feel scarily accurate and are written in a very matter of fact way. As I was reading his chapters I wondered how she wrote Avery's thoughts and feelings, I couldn't ever comprehend such thoughts. Over all dark, disturbing but ultimately entertaining
Easy read but a bit dark
by Cat on 25/02/2010
From the start I was impressed with the descriptions the author uses to set the scene which draws you into Steven's world. It is a dark world that he lives and you have sympathy for him and moments where you feel his pain and can understand why he write to Avery. It then drags for a couple chapters while it gears up for the ending and along the way skips some opportunities for real anticipation. It implies about being set in 'today' but gives off more the impression of being set 20years ago as I felt some aspects were not realistic in today's environment particulally the school. It started well but later on I felt it was more of a rush to get through the plot rather than exploring relationships. There was lots of scope for expansion within the consequences in depth as there are a number of issues that could have been explored further to make it a really excellent read.
"Quick read, gripping towards the end"
by Carrie on 01/02/2010
Quick read. My heart was in my mouth in the last few chapters, but I agree with the review entitled 'Hit and Miss' below, where on earth did that solder come from, very random! I found the author's writing odd in places, I had to re-read some sentences and they still did not make much sense! It was a good story line, but I agree the family sitution could have been explored further. I did enjoy this book although found the subject matter very disturbing.
"Hit & MIss"
by Sarah Bentley on 27/01/2010
Elements of the book were fascinating but the relationship between the family didn't go deep enough. Finding oneself in the mind of a child serial killer was at times thrilling and other times disturbing. Unfortunately, the events on Dartmoor (the soldier) were too far fetched and contrived. Not bad for a first novel
"Recommended"
by Justine Hadcroft on 26/01/2010
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would when I read the blurb on the back, so don't be put off. I found parts of it funny - there's definitely some black humour in there. Jo Brand said she found the plot unbelievable: I agree but regular crime readers will be able to suspend their disbelief enough to enjoy it.
"Fab!!!"
by Heidi on 25/01/2010
Loved it. Once I started I couldn't put the book down. The author has completely managed to draw the reader in to the thoughts and feelings of the main characters which is amazing all be it slightly disturbing!
"Every parents worst nightmare"
by Dawn on 24/01/2010
When I started to read Blacklands I was sceptic of how good a read it might be. I couldn't put it down, every page was enthralling, it chilled you to your inner core. It kept giving me flash backs of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, and I could envisage Winnie Johnson standing at the window waiting for news of her childs body to be found. It's also a sensitive read for parents who have lost children this way, and I think the author has been insensitive and tried not to be similar to the Moors murders but it is.
"This is what I'm talking about!"
by Maxine on 24/01/2010
There is an element of bleak despair throughout the book which makes it unputdownable! The reader is in no doubt that tragedy can and will happen the plot is a disaster waiting to happen. A superbly written, thought provoking book.
"A powerful and evocative first novel"
by Samantha on 19/01/2010
This book simply took my breath away - it is one of the most intensely atmospheric novels I have ever read. The setting, the main character Avery, and the startling realisation of how the plot is going to turn make this a terrifying yet unputdownable read and put me in mind of Thomas Harris's Hannibal series. She perfectly captures the mindset of a 12 year old boy. I urge you to read this book, and can't wait to see what she writes next!
"A great read"
by Stuart M on 19/01/2010
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book as the cover doesn't give much away. I wasn't disappointed. It's a very well written thriller that sticks in the mind for a long time. Being a parent, I found it a bit tough reading the serial killer's chapters but they are very realistically portrayed by the author and don't feel gratuitous. Would highly recommend this book.
"Chilling!"
by Gemma on 18/01/2010
I thought it was unbelievably good!!! Brilliantly written, and the characters were strong and very real, with Steven evoking huge empathy from the reader. I really wanted to wrap him in a blanket and feed him stew. Such a unique story with enough parallels with true life crimes to make it eerily real and genuinely unnerving.
"Gripping and atmospheric"
by Lisa Buck on 18/01/2010
This is fantastic. Utterly compelling right from the very atmospheric opening, this is just brilliantly written. Young Steven is a wonderful character; his thought processes are touching and completely realistic. A truly horrific subject matter, and the suspense just doesn't let up. I think this is a really talented writer who has created a very chilling, disturbing psychological crime novel. Avery is so creepy and Steven is such a likeable character who has his reader instantly on side... I couldn't wait to finish it.
"A chilling, disturbing and brilliantly executed novel"
by Sophie on 18/01/2010
I was completely gripped by this unsettling novel from the start. It is very atmospheric and deeply disturbing - the author chillingly and realistically conveys the mindset of a serial killer, as well as that of a 12 year old boy. The tension keeps building until it is almost unbearable - and then it steps up another gear to leave you racing through the pages to find out what happens. The result is a very quick read but one that stays with you for a long time to come.
