The Restless Dead
by Simon Beckett
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Pub Date 6 Apr 2017 | Archive Date 2 Jun 2017
Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam Press
Description
‘Composed of over sixty per cent water itself, a human body isn’t naturally buoyant. It will float only for as long as there is air in its lungs, before gradually sinking to the bottom as the air seeps out. If the water is very cold or deep, it will remain there, undergoing a slow, dark dissolution that can take years. But if the water is warm enough for bacteria to feed and multiply, then it will continue to decompose. Gases will build up in the intestines, increasing the body’s buoyancy until it floats again.
And the dead will literally rise . . . ‘
It was on a Friday evening that forensics consultant Dr David Hunter took the call: a Detective Inspector Lundy from the Essex force. Just up the coast from Mersea Island, near a place called Backwaters, a badly decomposed body has been found and the local police would welcome Hunter's help with the recovery and identification . . .
Because they would like it to be that of Leo Villiers, the 31 year-old son of a prominent local family who went missing weeks ago, and they are under pressure to close the case. Villiers was supposed to have been having an affair with a married woman, Emma Derby. She too is missing, and the belief is that the young man disposed of his lover, and then killed himself. If only it was so straightforward.
But Hunter has his doubts about the identity of the remains. The hands and feet are missing, the face no longer recognisable. Then further remains are found - and suddenly these remote wetlands are giving up yet more grisly secrets. As Hunter is slowly but surely drawn into a toxic mire of family secrets and resentments, local lies and deception, he finds himself unable, or perhaps unwilling, to escape even though he knows that the real threat comes from the living, not the dead.
With its eerie and claustrophobic sense of place, explosive heart-in-mouth moments, and viscerally authentic forensics and police procedural detail, coupled with David Hunter’s own uncanny ability to understand the living as much as the dead, The Restless Dead stands as a masterclass in crime fiction and marks the stunning return of one of the genre’s best.
A Note From the Publisher
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9780593063477 |
| PRICE | £12.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Featured Reviews
Wallace L, Reviewer
Another super tale in the David Hunter series. Atmospherically set in the Essex marshes this complicated story twists and turns like the said tidal creeks that form a large part of the adventure. Full of larger than life characters this grabs from the start and refuses to let go right up to it's shocking conclusion. Brilliant!
Graham R, Reviewer
After a long wait the 5th book in the Dr David Hunter series is here.All i can say is it was worth the wait ! Another gripping thriller that had me thinking throughout the book whodunnit ?? After his last didn't end well David Hunter is pleased to receive a phone call from DI Lundy to help in a case when a body is found in the Backwaters.All is not as straight forward as the police had hoped and as the case develops and more bodies are discovered Hunter is drawn into family secrets and long held feuds and mysteries that will eventually surface.A great 4 star read (not quite 5 stars because to much medical jargon,but that's just me !)After the ending which i didn't envisage there is obviously more to come in this great series,i just hope Simon Beckett doesn't leave so long for the next Dr David Hunter instalment.
Account D, Reviewer
Essex Police request the assistance of Dr Hunter in recovering the body of a man suspected to be the son of an important local landowner from the Saltmere estuary. It has been some time since Hunter was offered work as a police consultant so he is happy to help. However, identification of the body is not as straight forward as expected and matters are further complicated when more remains are recovered from the tidal waterways and ditches of the estuary.
This is another excellent book in the Dr David Hunter series and an exciting and absorbing story which kept me riveted to the last page.
Deirdre R, Reviewer
This was the first book of Simon Becketts that I have read which lead me to kick myself and think how have I missed this? But on the upside I now have a large back catalogue of books to get through.
This book is set in Essex known as Backwaters which as the book progressed seemed to take on a personality of its own thanks to the detailed and descriptive writing style of the author. The story builds quickly but with no motive and very few suspects you really get to invest in the details of the crime and the characters.
The book is full of twists and the plot is fantastically thought out. This was a brilliant read. The characters are very well thought out and you really get to know them, which makes all the twists turns and revelations complete jaw droppers. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!
Many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mike s, Reviewer
I have waited ages for Simon Beckett to bring out a new David Hunter book, and looked forward to reading The Restless Dead. I was not disappointed. From the first page the story moved along at a good pace, keeping the reader gripped and wanting to read more. There were many twists and turns and the ending was good. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I just hope that Simon Beckett won't leave it so long before he writes another.
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