‘The Bone Field’ by Simon Kernick

Published by Century,
12 January 2017.
ISBN: 978-1-780-89453-9 (HB)

Published by Arrow Books,
27 July 2017.
ISBN: 978-1-78475232-3 (PB)

D.C. Mason is contacted by Reedman a lawyer for Henry Forbes whose girlfriend disappeared in Thailand in 1990. He meets with them and is told they have important information about bones found in Buckinghamshire. Henry says they belong to Kitty his girlfriend but will not say any more until he is promised a new identity. He just insists that he didn't do it but knows who did and tells them that there is more than one body buried at the site.

Mason leaves them and goes outside to phone Olaf his boss for instructions. While he is talking to him three masked men arrive and shoot Reedman and Forbes dead. Mason unarmed dare not intervene.Then another body is discovered near to Kitty's and Mason is determined to find out the truth.

Meanwhile in France, a Charlotte Curtis is shocked to hear of the death of Henry as she went out with him many years ago. She was also friends with Kitty and very upset about the discovery of her body.

The plot thickens when she is paid a visit by a strange man in a fedora threatening her not to disclose anything of her knowledge of Kitty.

Back in England Mason receives information about gangland activity involving the smuggling in of young girls. Could this be connected?

Also what is the caretaker of the college in whose grounds the bodies were found keeping secret? Mason also wants to know the meaning of the strange symbol found on a wall of the folly in the grounds of the college and tattooed on the arms of many of the men connected to the gang involved. Together with a private detective, ex police officer Tina Boyd, Mason slowly unravels the truth not without many narrow escapes, leading to a surprising ending.

What a great read, it had me gripped from beginning to end.

Simon Kernick is a great favourite of mine, I can always rely on him to produce a book full of action and nail biting tension, and this certainly did not disappoint me.

I see from the cover that this is the first part of a new series. I can hardly wait to read the next one.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Simon Kernick is one of Britain's most exciting new thriller writers. He arrived on the crime writing scene with his highly acclaimed debut novel The Business of Dying, the story of a corrupt cop moonlighting as a hitman. However, Simon's big breakthrough came with his novel Relentless which was selected by Richard and Judy for their Recommended Summer Reads promotion, and then rapidly went on to become the bestselling thriller of 2007. Simon's research is what makes his thrillers so authentic. He talks both on and off the record to members of Special Branch, the Anti-Terrorist Branch and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, so he gets to hear first hand what actually happens in the dark and murky underbelly of UK crime. To find out more about Simon Kernick and his thrillers, please

visit www.simonkernick.com.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf  (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.