A review by horrorqueen
Finders Keepers by Belinda Bauer
4.0
Finders Keepers is Belinda Bauer's third book, and the third with recurring characters, which is a feature I absolutely love. Not a straight character-led series, Belinda Bauer revolves her stories around one village on Exmoor, Shipcott, and several of the residents. Her writing is fast-paced but suspense-building, and the characters are wonderfully detailed and built up.
This particular book starts with the disappearance of a child, with a note left in her place stating "You don't love her". I'll just add though, you need to have read at least Dark Side (her second novel) and preferably Blacklands (her first) to really understand what is going on here. There is a lot of referring back to Dark Side in this book, and you wouldn't really know what was going on for a good deal of it if you come across this book first.
As the plight of the kidnapped becomes more desperate, we learn more and more secrets about the police and other Shipcott residents, until the book comes to its frightening and unexpected crescendo. The 'reveal' was done very well, and the subtle change in writing style after it was excellent.
The ending was odd. Interesting and chilling in a way, but definitely odd! Nevertheless, it has made me desperate to read her fourth book, although I fear it may be at least 6 months, probably more like over a year away.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much as her previous two, which is as good a recommendation as any because those two were excellent. Belinda Bauer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I cannot wait for her next book!
This particular book starts with the disappearance of a child, with a note left in her place stating "You don't love her". I'll just add though, you need to have read at least Dark Side (her second novel) and preferably Blacklands (her first) to really understand what is going on here. There is a lot of referring back to Dark Side in this book, and you wouldn't really know what was going on for a good deal of it if you come across this book first.
As the plight of the kidnapped becomes more desperate, we learn more and more secrets about the police and other Shipcott residents, until the book comes to its frightening and unexpected crescendo. The 'reveal' was done very well, and the subtle change in writing style after it was excellent.
The ending was odd. Interesting and chilling in a way, but definitely odd! Nevertheless, it has made me desperate to read her fourth book, although I fear it may be at least 6 months, probably more like over a year away.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much as her previous two, which is as good a recommendation as any because those two were excellent. Belinda Bauer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I cannot wait for her next book!