Rating: 
Summary: dont be misled by all the great reviews...
Review: ....becuase this is not an absolutely fantastic wonderful excellent book, as you might imagine when you read good review upon good review. indeed, just because it has many great reviews doesn't mean its any more of a great book than if it only had one great review... To be honest, i'm probably not getting my point across. Basically, what I'm saying is, this book is worth ive stars, because it is very, very good, but do not expect anything absolutely brilliant and awe-inspiring that concludes with a fanfare and a firework display. Because a plethora of good reviews is very misleading. This is a very good British police procedural (in my mind, it's a sort of cross between Reginald Hill and Peter Robinson, and is what every Elizabeth George novel wants to be), sure to appeal to ANYONE who loves that kind of mystery, because you're unlikely to find many writers able to do it better. Stephen Booth is clearly an exciting new talent. The basic plot goes something like this: There's a missing teenage girl, smart, very attractive. Her body does, eventually, turn up, found by an old man walking his dog. Parents claim she was paragon of virtue, other mutterings say otherwise. Local policeman Ben Cooper, knows village intimately, finds himself thrust into the investigation, up against a seeming wall of secrets and lies and darkness. Add to that the friction caused by the introduction of another officer, Diane Fry, from another division, into the local force, and Cooper finds himself in a very tough case that will effect him personally as well as professionally. It's written excellently. It's intelligent, occasionally humourous, and while the plot is not always flash-bang exciting, the style is easy to read and keeps you turning the pages (indeed, it did so to such an extent that I finished the book in a mere two days). Another remarkable aspect of the book is the atmosphere, and the description of the landscape. The Peak District, where the novel is set, takes on a very dark and sinister shroud, and seems almost to pulse beneath the story. The characters are also good (although not excellent, just good). Especially interesting is Booth's depiction and development of the various relationships and bonds of people within the story. Cooper and Fry are beginning to take on a fascinating relationship (sexual tension almost beginning to champ at the bit). The relationship between the three elderly friends is drawn EXCELLENTLY, and is possibly even one of my favourite things about this novel. Booth exmaination of friendship and loyalty and bonds and how far we will go for our friends is excellent. However, while this book is very good in very many ways, it is by no means perfect. To be honest, at the 400 page point, it began to feel a little drawn out, and only was saved from becoming "a little boring" by the numerous twists and turns which occur through the entire story. Still, I feel it was a little too long. Also, many things were captured very well, there was something about this book which just makes me think "well, the plot itself wasn't all that inspiring". There were aspects of it that were, certainly, but the bigger picture could be improved slightly. But, this is a first novel, so I'm sure it will be. So, I reccomend Black Dog to all fans of the Police Procedural and crime genre. I'm certainly looking orward to reading his next book, to see how Stephen Booth develops from here.
Rating: 
Summary: The Black Dog Experience
Review: Stephen Booth's BLACK DOG is peopled by physical, emotional, psychological, three-dimensional, characters the reader would recognize walking down the street. They are framed by settings the reader can see, feel, smell and hear in a story with an impossibly twisted plot that grips you like the black dog. Unlike the usual plot or character driven quick-read, BLACK DOG's steady tempo is carefully restrained, never hectic. Once established, the cadence never falters, but tugs the reader relentlessly toward the unexpected conclusion. A gripping novel that whet's the reader's appetite for more, BLACK DOG is not just a story, but a memorable experience. Stephen Booth is an author to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Black Dog is a really magnificent book!
Review: A body has been found in the Peak District in Northern England. It's the body of 15-year-old Laura Vernon. The only daughter of Graham and his wife, Charlotte Vernon. They're a rather odd couple, who live a life of luxury above the Village, in a big white house they call the Mount. They cause more questions in the investigation than they can answer. Add to that, Laura's rather angry and aggressive brother, Daniel, and you have the makings of a super exciting book, called Black Dog. Ben Cooper is investigating Laura's murder when Detective Constable Diane Fry joins his team. Dealing with family problems of his own, and trying to make rank, the last thing Ben needs to deal with is this odd woman. Diane's out to prove herself, and holding back plenty of secrets of her own. Ben has no choice, they have to work together, he knows all the areas they have to investigate, and all the people they have to talk to, and Diane is new to the area. While talking to retired miner, Harry Dickinson, who finds the body of Laura, while walking his black Labrador dog, on his property, Ben and Diane realize that Harry seems to be mocking them. This is only the beginning of a strange investigation that causes more suspicion in the people of the village than they care to deal with. Moving around the village, and talking to people Ben has known his whole life, leads him to question himself about whether he's ever really known them at all. It seems to him that the villagers are holding back secrets. He's at a loss as to what is going on, and where the few answers he has will lead him. Black Dog is a really magnificent book! Mr. Booth sure knows how to tell a story. He delves so deeply into each character that you find yourself really getting to know, and care about, them. The scenic descriptions are beautifully written, and make you feel apart of the story. I loved every minute of Black Dog, and enjoyed the ride around all the twist and turns that Mr. Booth took me. I had no idea who committed the murder of Laura Vernon, nor did I know why. Any author who can write such an in depth book, that holds your attention straight through, and doesn't let you see what's going to happen next, deserves big kudos'! Stephen Booth has definitely achieved this with Black Dog, and I can't wait to read more from this truly gifted author.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite Ruth Rendell
Review: A suspenful mystery, with role switching detectives: Ben is the "sensitive" one, Diane is cold and hard. We are given some cliche reasons to understand their attitudes: he is from a warm, close family, she was a foster child (and we learn toward the end, a gang-rape victim). There are some interesting characters, but may be too much emphasis on the attitude towards "comers-in" (i.e. outsiders) in an English village, not a new concept. Maybe there should have been some editing for the American version. I found somewhat laughable the envy of Diane for a wealthy woman's "self-defrost" refrigerator and "digital microwave". Clearly appliances in Britain are about 20 years behind those in continental Europe or the US. But the book did keep me interested, and the conclusion was fairly satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed Despite Good Reviews
Review: Although the reviews for this debut police procedural were glowing, I found myself disappointed. The author does a great job setting the scene and the local characters are believable. The dialog was also crisp and realistic. However, I could not connect with his protagonists. They both had so many hidden psychological traumas that it detracted from the main story. I found myself skimming the chapters devoted to them in favor of getting through the story! I was actually relieved when I reached the end. I don't think I will read the follow-up.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed Despite Good Reviews
Review: Although the reviews for this debut police procedural were glowing, I found myself disappointed. The author does a great job setting the scene and the local characters are believable. The dialog was also crisp and realistic. However, I could not connect with his protagonists. They both had so many hidden psychological traumas that it detracted from the main story. I found myself skimming the chapters devoted to them in favor of getting through the story! I was actually relieved when I reached the end. I don't think I will read the follow-up.
Rating:
Summary: Good Start
Review: At the beginning of the novel, helicopters are searching the Peak District in northern England searching for missing 15-year-old, Laura Vernon. Detective Constable Ben Cooper is assigned to the case where it seems that the girl's parents are indifferent to their missing daughter. The townspeople are not much help, particularly Harry Dickinson who finds Laura's shoe and then her body. Cooper is trying hard to fight his father's ghost, a cop killed on duty, as well as other personal demons. He is teamed-up with Detective Constable Diane Fry, a newcomer to Cooper's police precinct. She is ambitious, headstrong and manages to take the case away from Cooper. They are opposites in personality and there are moments of friction between them in deciding how to investigate the case. It is a good start to what seems to be a promising new series. I would like to see a deeper exploration of Cooper's jealousy toward Fry. The ending in the book seemed a little forced. The guilty are charged and sent to jail but it almost seems like an afterthought. There is a theme of friendship and loyalty between two of the townspeople but I did not feel it while reading the novel. The book mostly explores the personalities of Cooper and Fry as well as the alienation they both feel with their lives. On another side, Laura Vernon's parents have a lot of secrets and it does not help that the townspeople do not like these newcomers in their village. I liked this book and I am looking forward to reading DANCING WITH THE VIRGINS, Booth's next novel.
Rating:
Summary: "Black Dog"
Review: Black Dog 5 stars (plus) Black Dog is one of the most amazing books that I have read in a very long time. Stephen Booth's characters come alive on the first page and only get better as you go through the book to the last page. He actually takes you through the entire story making you feel as if you are there. And the people are real. Laura Vernon is missing. An innocent, well liked, quiet, and well mannered 15 year old girl, according to some. To others, who seemed to know her better, quite wild. As the helicopters fly overhead, and the police look desperately for this young girl, an old man sits on a rock, at the edge of the dark woods of England's brooding Peak District, watching and listening to the activity overhead. Suddenly his black Labrador, Jess, comes running up with something in her mouth. From this minute on you will not be able to put this book down. The object that Jess retrieves takes you into the lives of everyone in the village. Secrets are divulged that have been hidden for years. Just when you figure you have this whole story figured out, you are led down another path. And then another. Stephen Booth has written a story that will grab you, and not let you go. The only thing bad about this book is that you don't want it to end. You want to know more about the people, their lives and what will happen to them. You will defiantly have "The black dog's on your back". And you will not want it any other way. Susan Hartigan Riverside, California USA
Rating:
Summary: Good British mystery
Review: Black Dog puts me in mind of books by some of my favorite authors--Barbara Vine,Ian Rankin and others. The plot keeps you guessing. Though the clues were all there, I didn't figure it out until the very end. The book is filled with images that stay with the mind--after you read the book "black dogs" may haunt your dreams for nights to come. I liked the character of Cooper, but had trouble with Frye until I began to understand her. I'm definitely going to read this author's next book--Dancing with the Virgins. My opinion--Stephen Booth is an up and coming star of the British mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Black Dog, an incredible mystery
Review: From the moment Detective Constable Ben Cooper finds young Laura Vernon's lifeless body his life goes steadily downhill. It doesn't help matters that the new woman on the force is somehow stepping in to fill his shoes and taking over the case. Diane Fry is ambitious, tough and just recovery from her own tragic set of circumstances. A woman alone, and unable to understand the needs of family and friendships as they apply to the small town she's now living in. But Diane learns that she can't go this one alone. As an outsider, she can't discount Ben Coopers expertise in the area and the people. This is Ben's hometown, the people are his people, and those of his father before him. Regardless of the pressure this puts on Ben, there's no escaping this fact. Village suspicions, family secrets, and loyalty forged in the fires of lifelong friendships blend together in a masters stroke in this wonderful mystery that spans such a range of human emotions as to leave you gasping as you learn who really killed Laura Vernon and why. The answers will surprise you as will the ending to this incredible mystery.
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