Laughing Boy (Charlie Priest, #8)

Title: Laughing Boy (Charlie Priest, #8)

Author: Stuart Pawson

Published in: 2002

Date read: 13th July 2010

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Laughing Boy" is a police procedural firmly set in Stuart Pawson's familiar Yorkshire landscape. The novel once again features Detective Inspector Charlie Priest, a pragmatic, often dry-witted, and thoroughly down-to-earth detective who navigates the complexities of crime in the fictional town of Heckley, and its surrounding moorland.

The plot of "Laughing Boy" revolves around a terrifying series of seemingly unconnected murders that begin to plague the community. The investigation kicks off with two chilling discoveries:

Laura Heeley, a thirty-something mother of two, is found brutally stabbed in the back on her way home from bingo. There appears to be no obvious motive or suspect.

Shortly after, the body of Colinette Jones, a popular, attractive, and intelligent student, is found half a mile from her home, strangled with a plastic clothesline.

As these initial cases come to light, DI Charlie Priest and his team, including his trusted colleague DS Maggie Salter, realize they are dealing with a serial killer. The killer seems to be escalating, becoming more audacious with each new victim, almost as if taunting the police. The moniker "Laughing Boy" for the killer implies a taunting or mocking element to their crimes, adding to the psychological pressure on Priest.

Adding a layer of complication to the investigation is the backdrop of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the region. This significantly restricts police movements, creating roadblocks and isolation in the already rural setting, making the hunt for the killer even more challenging.

Priest and his team must delve into the lives of the victims, searching for any common threads that might link them, beyond their untimely deaths. The cases are complex, with few clear leads, forcing Priest to rely on his keen observational skills, his understanding of human nature, and his persistent, methodical approach to detective work.

A curious element of the novel, as mentioned in some reviews, is a prologue concerning a 1960s American rock band and a violent incident involving its lead singer, Tim Roper. While seemingly disconnected from the main Yorkshire-based plot, this prologue eventually ties into the motive or identity of the killer, hinting at long-held grievances or unresolved issues from the past.

As the body count rises, the pressure on Priest intensifies. He faces a killer who is growing more daring, a community gripped by fear, and the limitations imposed by the rural environment and the disease outbreak. "Laughing Boy" is a classic Pawson procedural, offering a gritty, realistic portrayal of police work, strong character development (particularly for Priest and his team), and a tightly plotted mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the final resolution.

Comments:
First book by this author and I was very pleasantly pleased. Already have another on the go.

Books that we've read by Stuart Pawson (2):
Chill Factor (Charlie Priest, #7) (2002), Laughing Boy (Charlie Priest, #8) (2002)