Book Review: Dead Man Walking by Paul Finch

Dead Man Walking (DS Heckenburg #4)

by Paul Finch

"Beware the stranger in the night…

Consigned to a remote valley in the Lake District, DS Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenburg is getting used to a quieter life – a far cry from the bloodbath of his former division, the Serial Crimes Unit. But wherever Heck goes, trouble is never far behind.

Unknown to Heck, ‘The Stranger’ has returned. Last seen on Dartmoor ten years earlier, this prolific serial killer has found a new home. As a dense, frozen mist descends on the Lakes, The Stranger returns to his old ways, starting with two young women lost high on the hills. Only one girl is ever found – barely alive – but able to confirm Heck’s worst fears.

As The Stranger lays siege to the remote community, Heck helplessly watches as the killer plays his cruel game, letting off his trademark call before viciously picking off his victims.

And with no way to get word out of the valley, Heck has no choice but to play ball…"

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This is the fourth outing for the main character, DS Mark “Heck” Heckenberg. Despite not having read any of the previous ones, it didn't matter as the author was adept at developing the characters and giving them real depth and bringing them to life and I don’t feel I lost out at all not having read any of the others.

The story is set in a small hamlet within the fells of the Lake District in Cumbria. I live close to the area in which it is set - actually only 6 miles from Great Langdale, 5 miles from Chapel Stile and 3 miles from Skelwith Bridge - and I have to say that the author definitely captures the essence of the area perfectly; the beauty but also the solitude. The lack of a mobile signal is very accurate and one which many won’t believe is true - it most definitely is and you don’t even have to be in the middle of a fell!

The main story begins when two young ladies get lost on the fell - inappropriately dressed and with no real idea of what they are doing … again, very accurate as this happens almost on a weekly basis up here and definitely keeps the Mountain Rescue Teams busy! The story becomes more sinister and menacing as it goes on and the way the author used the fog to create more atmosphere, tension and a sense of bleakness was exceptional. Although the description of the murders was graphic and stomach churning, it only added to the overall feeling of the book - fast-paced, claustrophobic, exciting and, yes I know it’s corny, but difficult to put down.

It is obvious to me that the author did his research on the area well however, there were a few errors that I found (and can remember) but that’s only because I’m a local and they certainly didn’t detract at all from the overall story. The first being that the ambulance crew wouldn’t have taken Tara to Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal, they would have taken her to Barrow as Westmorland General doesn’t have an A&E and haven’t done emergency operations for several years. The second I’m not too sure about but I don’t think Windermere have a CID, they would have to come from Kendal but I may be wrong on that. The third is the B5284 road (known locally as the Crook Road) heads towards Bowness and not Windermere but now I’m being picky ;)

Overall, I really enjoyed this book made all the better by being set where I live but also that one of the main characters bears my name (Hazel) and she is brave and feisty too!

I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a meaty, edge-of-the-seat thriller with blood and guts thrown in which is obviously well researched (mostly) and full of tension and disquiet.

Disclaimer: Thank you to www.netgalley.com and the publisher - HarperCollins UK, Avon - for sending me a copy in return for an honest review.

The Nightmare Dance: Guilt, Shame, Heroism and The Holocaust - Book Review

The Nightmare Dance
Guilt, Shame, Heroism and The Holocaust
by David Gilbertson

Description:

We all know the names of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler, but they weren’t the only people who played a key part in the Holocaust...

The Nightmare Dance by David Gilbertson tells the stories of 5 other individuals who were at the heart of these horrifying events. The accepted view is that the murder of at least 6 million Jews, and countless other Russians, Poles, gypsies, homosexuals, etc., was the result of a small band of madmen seizing control of an entire nation. The guilt or innocence of others is at best ignored and at worst denied.

Josef Blösche and Christian Wirth were psychotic killers, whose names are unknown to all but a handful of historians. One died a decorated war hero; the other was executed after being convicted before an East German court. Their crimes shaped millions of peoples’ fates. Stella Goldschlag, a young and beautiful German Jew, if she were alive today, would no doubt argue that she was as much a victim of the Holocaust as any Jew who ever passed through the gates of Auschwitz – but she would be lying. She willingly worked for the Gestapo and was responsible for the death of hundreds – perhaps thousands – of Jews.

Then there were the people who fought back: Janusz Korczak, whose life and hero’s death has ensured that he will always be seen by those who know his story as a secular saint. King Christian X of Denmark denied that his country had ‘a Jewish problem’. The actions of the King, and the Danish people, demonstrated the leadership and bravery of a nation pitted against an implacable enemy, as well as the unifying strength that comes from doing what is right.

The Nightmare Dance focuses on the people who have been forgotten, and how the Holocaust has largely – and wrongly – been confined to Germany, a few Germans and a short period in history. “Brought up as a Catholic, it was only in later life, following the death of my mother, that I discovered that I had Jewish roots and ancestry – a family secret concealed for many decades,”  comments David on the inspiration behind his book.

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Firstly, I would like to draw your attention to the cover of the book - the look on the little boy's face is haunting.  What threat is he? What happened to him? Who is the man behind the machine gun and why?  This book provides an explanation.

I don't think you could ever describe this book as enjoyable or a thrilling read because of the nature of its content, however it was well written and well researched although I am no expert.

I wouldn't say that I am fascinated by the horrors of The Holocaust but I am interested in how apparently "normal" people can end up committing such atrocities against fellow human beings and the reverse, how strangers put themselves at risk of certain death to protect others. This book gave good insight into both perspectives.

One gripe I have, and it's purely personal, is that there are a number of "big" and "complicated" words that are not in every day use which interrupted the flow for me at times. For example "on the basis of rival power-blocs and personal fiefdoms of byzantine complexity ...." what????? Why do this? I read it once, twice, three times to try and figure out what it meant but after that, I gave up and skipped it. I don't like having to have a dictionary with me when I read so having to skip sentences it a tad annoying but maybe it's just me and I'm a bit thick!

Would I recommend this to someone else? Yes - I know there are a lot of books out there that cover this very same subject BUT they are usually about the same people - as mentioned in the description.  So, if you are interested in reading about people not normally involved or highlighted in this context plus learn about some of the history behind the hatred of the Jews, then read this.

Thanks to www.netgalley.com and the publisher, Troubador Publishing Ltd for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.