The Facts of Life and Death

Every time I read a Belinda Bauer novel, l am blown away by her understanding of human behavior. She gets inside the head of her characters. This story plops you down into the life of Ruby Trick, a ten-year-old girl living in a tiny community perched on the cliffs of North Devon. Many people in the town are unemployed after being laid off by what was the biggest employer, a shipbuilding company.

Ruby’s father, John, is one of the ones laid off. As a result, Ruby has only necessities, and her mom works in a hotel to keep the family going. Their home is a crumbling cottage overlooking the sea. There are bright spots in Ruby’s life. She has a friend in Adam a boy who lives nearby. Fortunately, she is an optimistic girl who fantasizes about having a pony.

Ruby idolizes her father who likes to play pretend games with her. In her favorite one, she is a side-kick to his rough Western cowboy. Every Friday night John Trick dresses as if he stepped out of Bonanza. He talks to Ruby for a few minutes then meets his friends, the Gunslingers who are similarly attired at the local pub where they have a few pints. This weekly meeting of the Gunslinger is routine until the town is rocked by several murders of girls who are walking home at night. The Gunslingers commit to helping the police by patrolling the community and giving rides home to women walking alone after dark. Ruby is thrilled when her father asks her to ride with him on his nightly excursions.

The mystery unfolds through the eyes of Ruby, the victims, and two policemen, DC Calvin Bridge, a rookie, and his DCI, Kirsty King. The characters are well drawn. I don’t think I’m providing a spoiler by saying that Ruby crosses the killer’s path. The climax is stupendous.

Bauer writes with wry humor, a deep understanding of people, and incredible pacing. She gets my vote as one of the best mystery writers out there. If you enjoy suspenseful stories and don’t mind a little gore, you should read this book.

Absorbing, gritty and exceptionally dark!

This is a compelling story set in North Devon, England and is told from the perspective of Ruby, an innocent 10-year-old girl who finds herself not only struggling with coming-of-age but with a family in turmoil and a village plagued by a serial killer.

The prose is direct and clear. The characterization is well done with a cast of characters that are troubled, raw and distinctive and a setting that is a character itself with its dreariness, history, rugged terrain and isolation.

This truly is an intelligent, atmospheric novel with a clever, meticulous plot filled with tension, danger, suspense, twists, intrigue and murder that delves into the murkiest corners of the human psyche and highlights how much rage and malice can actually exist in those you least expect.