6
Dec312010
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Blacklands’ by Belinda Bauer
by Carolyn • Posted in 3 Star Reviews, Authors A-D, Book Reviews, Corgi, Mystery|Thriller|Crime, Reviews by Carolyn
Title: Blacklands
Author: Belinda Bauer
Publisher: Corgi
Publication Date: 2nd Jan 2011
Paperback: 346 pages
Genre: Crime
Source: Review Copy
Reviewed by: Carolyn
RATING: 6/10
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
A psychological thriller about the cat-and-mouse game between a boy desperately seeking the truth about this uncle’s murder and the murderer himself.
REVIEW:
‘Blacklands‘ is a debut crime novel that is very well written and immensely compelling. However, I can’t say I enjoyed it as ‘Blacklands‘ is a very bleak novel in its outlook and subject matter.
Steven is a twelve year old boy living in an unloving household with his brother, Davey. Many years ago, before he was born, Steven’s mother, Lettie, lost her brother Billy to a serial killer and pedophile. Lettie and her mother (Steven’s nan – Mrs Peters) never got to know where Billy’s body was buried and this inability to find closure made them very bitter, and to be honest, not very nice people. I didn’t like Lettie and Mrs Peters characters at all. I felt no compassion for them as they were just so nasty and spiteful. Although their lives had been filled with pain, I didn’t feel any tolerance for their behaviour towards Steven.
After Billy went missing Mrs Peters took out her pain on her daughter and now her daughter takes out her pain on her son. Steven has to deal with this on a daily basis. Unfortunately, I found this to be rather stereotypical characterisation. Everything possible was thrown at this family; a mother bringing up her children without a father; lots of different boyfriend or ‘uncles’ as Steven calls them; bitter mother, bitter nan and poverty stricken.
Despite Steven’s unloving family, who take their unhappiness and frustrations out on him, it’s a total surprise how he grew up to be such a loving, caring and empathic child, especially as he didn’t have anything remotely caring in his life as he grew up.
As well as having to deal with everything at home Steven also has a horridly selfish and not very nice best friend, Lewis, and is bullied badly at school by three boys he calls ‘the hoodies’. To be honest, it’s a wonder Steven can gather the will to actually leave his bed in the morning!
Although I liked Steven I did find some of his actions a bit beyond his years. At the age of twelve he decides to write a letter to Arnold Avery, the serial killer who killed his Uncle Billy all those years ago, with the hope he would tell him where his body was buried. The reason is the expectation that his Nan and mother would be so happy they would love him a bit more. His other pasttime is digging up the moors with the hope of finding Uncle Billy’s body. He’s been doing this for three years. This means he would have started this morbid activity at the age of nine. Really?
It’s difficult for me to believe that at nine years of age Steven came to the conclusion that by finding his Uncle Billy’s body would make his nan and mother happy and therefore they would love him more. I understand that some children can be astute but I felt that this was taking things a bit too far.
This book is incredibly disheartening and doesn’t contain an ounce of hope until the very end. It’s bittersweet for me as it only seems to materialise after the serial killer tries to strangle the life out of Steven back on the moors. Steven survives but it’s only at this point he receives the slightest bit of warmth from his mother and Nan. Isn’t it sad that it had to come to this, with only his possible death the catalyst for love.
The pacing in ‘Blacklands‘ is very good and each chapter drives you forward to read the next. The characters although unlikable, except for Steven, are all very well rounded. The story also jumps about a bit with the thoughts of Arnold Avery, the serial killer remembering past conquests and kills and then his thoughts jumping back to his present. It’s a testament to the authors writing skills that I didn’t get lost or confused and the story and plot were clear.
Arnold Avery is a very unsavoury character. Hearing his thoughts about the children he abused, raped and murdered made for uncomfortable reading but Ms Bauer wrote with conviction and I felt as though I really was in the mind of a sadistic serial killer and pedophile. His escape from prison and his journey towards Steven was chilling and suspenseful even if the ending was a little anti-climactic.
VERDICT:
So, did I enjoy this book – well, not really, but it isn’t because of how this book is written, as it’s written very well and with a certain amount of accomplishment, but I did find ‘Blacklands‘ to be very depressing and the characters too predictable and a bit cliched, although this may be due to ‘Blacklands‘ being the authors first novel. However, I will definitely be reading the Ms Bauer’s next novel, Darkside, published 6th Jan 2011.
You can find out more about Belinda online here:
6 Comments
Just popping in to wish you and your family a Happy New Year. May 2011 be filled with good books, good friends, good health and much happiness.
Sorry Blacklands didn't really do it for you. It does sound awfully depressing. Think I'll skip this one.
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Hi Kaye – Thank you! Happy New Year to you too. I hope you have a good one with your friends and family.
Yes, Blacklands is certainly depressing, but the writing is good so I will try another book from this author. Thanks for stopping by
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I'm not sure "enjoy" is the right word, but I did quite like this book. I guess a nine year old living with the knowledge that his uncle's body could be up on the moors might be tempted to find it.
Blacklands was Belinda Bauer's first book and her 2nd just arrived with me yesterday, so I can't wait to start that one.
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Hi Nikki-ann – I agree, "enjoy" is not how I would describe my feelings about this book, however, as I said it was compelling. I also have Dark Side on my shelf to review, so I will probably get around to it fairly soon
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I picked this book up a few months ago and it is currently in my to read pile so interesting to read your thoughts on it.
It sounds like the kind of book I like so looking forward to reading it. Hopefully int he not too distant future!
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Hi Lucie – It's very good for a debut, and it's well written but it's just so bleak and depressing I can't really say I "enjoyed" it but it was well done. I hope you enjoy it!
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