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.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty low wattage
Review: Had to force myself to finish this leaden tome. Although the Peak District (Britain) environs and characters are nicely hewn, the tale is unstartling and tedious in the extreme: good-hearted (but troubled) local boy pairs up with baggage-laden witchy outsider to solve the case of the decade. Yawn. I did at least learn (in way too much detail) how to make a pig dung heap.Spend some quality time with great material like "A Small Death in Lisbon" and pass this over. One can only pray that this isn't a harbinger of a series as suggested by a previous reviewer.
Rating:
Summary: Great start, poor finish
Review: I am a big fan of British mysteries and really thought this one would go somewhere but I was mistaken. I sure miss the Morse series. Is British law enforcement this bad in real life? So politically correct? I guess liberal/labor government has really caused a change over there. The book started so well but then seemed to wander and not really go anywhere with the main characters. Get on with it! Ben Cooper starts out as a perfect lead character but then the author turns him into a dysfunctional wimp with the usual male stereotypical faults- concerns for his mommy, alcohol abuse, the inability to communicate and deal with his feelings, and the need for a woman to bail him out/protect him in the situations he has gotten himself into. He comes across as a mommas boy or a stupid plod. The female lead- Diane Fry is even worse. She is a cold, distant, career seeking maniac of a woman that has little in life besides her stupid karate- whatever- and cutting remarks. She cannot carry on a conversation without some form of insult or macho remark shooting out of her mouth. Difficult childhood? Who cares! Get over it! The dialogue between the two was terrible and by the end of the long book- too long- I was ready to toss it. I won't bother reading another in this series. It will take 10 books to get a relationship going with the main characters. Let's hope that they do not make a television series from these books.
Rating:
Summary: SOMETHING for the JADED READER
Review: I loved this book, because it gave me something that's been missing in a lot of recent Crime Novels. It has a setting that you are led into with incredible skill, one that reminds me of Sherlock Holmes novels set in the country. The second amazing part of this book, that kept me reading with such enjoyment, were the characters. Stephen Booth has created people that feel real, have unexpected flaws and strengths, and who you can't wait for the next time you meet. I am looking forward to the next book because there is real talent here.
Rating:
Summary: A quiet, richly detailed read
Review: I used to read British books a lot when I was younger, but hadn't picked one up as an adult until I read Black Dog. I'd forgotten how different the flavor of British literature can be, and I'm very glad I read it. Previous reviewers are right: this is a British book, through and through -- no American flash-bang plotting here. Why anyone thinks all books should be a scream a minute is beyond me. Black Dog takes you to the Peak District and deposits you there, drawing a strong picture of the places and people of the book. It's like taking a short vacation to a place where people live slower, more peaceful lives than Americans do. At least until the murder occurs. I enjoyed Black Dog a great deal -- as much for the quality of the words as for the pictures they drew in my mind, and that's not something you can say about many books these days.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: I'm not usually a fan of any of the 'series' detectives...and Black Dog appears to be the first in a series. But what a series it will be! Fascinating characters, not the same-old, same-old predictable crimes, emotions and drives...it's a terrific book! Am waiting eagerly for more from this author.
Rating:
Summary: A Remarkable Debut
Review: In Stephen Booth's debut novel, we are taken to the Peak District of England. It's in this setting that a 15-year-old girl, Laura Vernon, has gone missing only to be found later, murdered. She is from a wealthy family who are new to the district, and so are known as 'comers-in' by the locals, meaning they will consequently be treated as outsiders. It is because of this that the locals are not particularly helpful when questioned by the police. The beginning of the book is very reminiscent of A Place of Execution by Val McDermid. In both books a young girl is missing from a small rural community, the locals are not particularly helpful with the police and the detectives working on the case are young with their eyes cast to furthering their career. Mystery not only surrounds the murder of Laura Vernon, many of the integral characters in the book are harbouring secrets. The main character, DC Ben Cooper is dealing with his mother's schizophrenia, his new partner DC Diane Fry has just arrived in Edendale and has brought personal problems of her own. Laura Vernon's parents are both harbouring secrets that they are keen not to let out and Harry Dickenson, the man who found Laura, is being very close-lipped as well. Even Laura Vernon herself was leading a secret life that would have shocked her parents had they found out. The surrounding Derbyshire countryside of the beautiful Peak District is described with exceptional clarity giving us an insight into countryside that must be simply breathtaking to behold. Although not being overly dwelt on, scene after scene is given a wonderful backdrop of the surrounding land, which gave me a strong sense of actually being there. The local townsfolk are wonderfully portrayed with the standouts being the three old friends, Harry, Sam and Wilford who amuse each other and the reader with their wry observations of the police to one another. The mood of the story lifts each time one of these men is involved and at times, stole each scene they were involved in. The length of this review is testament to my enjoyment of this book. I'm usually a 3-paragraph per review man. A quick overview and my impressions usually suffice. This book moved me more than most and my feeling of satisfaction has been reflected here. I strongly recommend you read this book, if you're after a terrific police procedural I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: I read it again and it still is the worst I've read
Review: Okay, perhaps I was having a bad weekend when I first read Black Dog. I read the reviews, and thought that I had surely missed something. So, I looked for the fast paced, well-written and atmospheric novel, as well as the illusive 'aha' moments I'd missed the first time. When I had finished the second reading, I was surprised that the same shallow characters, flimsy plot, and adolesent wet dreams had not disappeared, nor had it reincarnated into borderline literature, or even pulp fiction fit for the loo. Believing my taste buds had died, I passed-on this book to friends as I do all thrillers and mysteries. I am pleased to report that the book has proved to be of some value, it has become a metaphor: 'a black dog' is anything not worth the space it occupies upon the earth. t
Rating:
Summary: Taut First Novel
Review: Stephen Booth has created a very taut psychological thriller in his first novel, Black Dog; thereby establishing himself as an exciting new British mystery writer. This book is a dark mystery with many dark secrets--both of the parents of a murdered girl and the inhabitants of Peak District where they live. Black Dog is the story of Detective Constable Ben Cooper, an English policeman who constantly worries that he will never equal his hero father. Diane Fry, an ambitious outsider, becomes his new partner, and they proceed to investigate the murder of a 15-year-old girl. Her parents, though, pose an obstacle. They are outsiders to the community and really do not seem anxious about finding the murderer of their daughter. Ah, but then there is the old man and his black dog who found the body. He is closed mouth giving the impression he may know more. But does he? What is the real story. It is up Ben Cooper to find out. This book is a great first mystery from Stephen Booth, and I look forward to reading more from him.
Rating:
Summary: Taut First Novel
Review: Stephen Booth has created a very taut psychological thriller in his first novel, Black Dog; thereby establishing himself as an exciting new British mystery writer. This book is a dark mystery with many dark secrets--both of the parents of a murdered girl and the inhabitants of Peak District where they live. Black Dog is the story of Detective Constable Ben Cooper, an English policeman who constantly worries that he will never equal his hero father. Diane Fry, an ambitious outsider, becomes his new partner, and they proceed to investigate the murder of a 15-year-old girl. Her parents, though, pose an obstacle. They are outsiders to the community and really do not seem anxious about finding the murderer of their daughter. Ah, but then there is the old man and his black dog who found the body. He is closed mouth giving the impression he may know more. But does he? What is the real story. It is up Ben Cooper to find out. This book is a great first mystery from Stephen Booth, and I look forward to reading more from him.
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