Complicated, wide-ranging plot making good use of Peak District's geography and mining history, as well as the tensions of widespread eastern European immigration in old mining villages. ( )

Formulaic but entertaining series that keeps chugging along into its 17th iteration. As always the dark beauty of the Peak District is the major character, with DC Ben Cooper and DS Diane Fry filling in the details on another couple of cases. Ben is investigating the disappearance of a man who was accused of his wife's murder 10 years ago, while Diane delves into the deep and nasty world of white nationalism after a Polish immigrant is murdered. Their paths interact on a few occasions, but the friction of their relationship in the early books has largely dissipated. Booth knows his formula and sticks to it, letting the ageless and craggy mystery of the Peaks draw its own fascination for the reader, while leading his characters through well-worn paths that work well enough to keep the reader turning pages. There has been talk of a TV series for Cooper and Fry at least 5 years but nothing has yet eventuated, which is a pity, since the Peaks alone would be worth watching it for. No reason to stop reading these books, they are well-crafted and keep delivering, you know exactly what you are getting, and for me that's enough. ( )