Ruth Sutton

I think what particularly appealed to me about this book was the setting and what was happening at the time it is set. Cumbria during the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001 provides a devastating backdrop to the story which revolves around the disappearance of a young girl.

Helen Heslop, aged 12, is the young girl. She'd been living away from the family farm because she was unable to risk spreading FMD by going to school and back. You can imagine the disruption this must have caused her, let alone being forced to live with relatives who are far from her favourite people. When she disappears, the local police are called in to investigate and look into who might have taken her and what secrets might be found at the family farm.

The police mainly consist of DC Maureen Pritchard, DS Anna Penrose and their boss, DI 'dinger' bell. I liked the two women. Despite being pitted against each other at a time when women were still expected to stick to the lower ranks, they learn to work together and use their strengths. Maureen has lots of local knowledge, but Anna's background in the Army stands in her good stead in other ways.

If you like a straight up and down police procedural then you'll love Burning Secrets. It looks at an interesting time in recent history, an awful and distressing time, and adds in many complications which hinder the police investigation. The setting is vivid and atmospheric - I could almost smell the burning pyres and the disinfectant, feel the worry, panic and fear of the farmers.

I think this is a very good crime novel. It's well plotted with some really interesting characters and plenty of secrets and lies for the reader to get their teeth into.… (meer)