This is a second in the DC Beth Young series and a great story. The body of an elderly woman is discovered and there are links to the charismatic local mayor. Beth’s individual strength is her analytical thinking, and she discovers three previous murder/rape cases in the area in the past few years. Bad news for previous investigators who should have found that link. The story is wide ranging, complex and interesting. Beth’s personal life is expanded upon in this book and she faces danger from more than one of the suspects. It’s an exciting, well-paced story that links cold cases with a current one. It left me breathless on a few occasions and I really look forward to more.

Well I loved the first book in the Beth Young series so this one had a lot to live up to and I wasn’t disappointed one one bit it excelled all expectations and this is a series that is right up there with my favourites along with Beth Young as a brilliant character. The book is set in one of my favourite places the Lake District with it’s beautiful scenery but the storyline is gruesome,disturbing and complex as Beth and colleagues investigate a new murder which also brings up some unsolved cold cases that have similarities to this new case. As always Graham Smith writes a gripping, fast paced thriller that grabs all your attention and doesn’t let go, it’s a real whodunnit and I would urge you not to miss it. Highly recommended ( I laughed out loud at the “what do you call a man” jokes) and a 5 Star read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

You really a get a sense of the surrounding area within this story. Somewhere that is usually a very scenic setting, is tarnished with violence and death and boy did I love every minute of it!

Whilst this may be the second book to feature Beth, there is enough background so that you can pick this one up without having read the first one in the series. You more than likely will want to though as this is an author who knows his crime thrillers inside and out. He is an author who just keeps on giving, giving everything that a true crime junkie wants and needs to satisfy that craving of thrills and chills.

The nature of the story line is one that is quite sombre. I didn’t envy Beth one bit working the case she is on. Not only does she have her work cut out trying to catch a killer, she has to deal with the mayor also. So not much pressure there then!

A Body In The Lakes is a dark and brooding read that totally held me captive. Parts chilled me to the core whilst other parts caught me off guard, causing an array of emotions. British crime writing at it’s best!

A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith
Genre: Fiction/Crime Fiction/Crime, Thriller & Mystery
BUG Rating: 4.5/5

Overall: Well paced book, with a lot going for it! The storyline, set in Cumbria, follows Detective Beth Young and her colleagues at Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) as they discover the body of an old woman, who has been disturbingly sexually assaulted, strangled and discarded, naked, by the lakes. The case also flags up cold cases in the same area with a similar MO - the killer never having been found. Beth is determined to resolve the puzzles of the past and present murders in order to bring peace to the victims and their families. Multiple storylines (some quite grisly) going on in this book, which all tie together perfectly, whilst allowing us to explore the great set of characters Graham has given us. If I was to sum up in 3 words: Exciting, Spine Tingling and Unpredictable. It had me on the edge of my seat at times, especially when we got a glimse into the killer’s mind, and it literally kept me guessing until the very end who they were!


Read my full review on my blog