Title: The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Historical (60s & 90s), Mystery, Suspense, Slight Occult Elements
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Sharon Bolton returns with her creepiest standalone yet, following a young cop trying to trace the disappearances of a small town’s teenagers.
Florence Lovelady’s career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Grassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago in a small village in Lancashire. Like something out of a nightmare, the victims were buried alive. Florence was able to solve the mystery and get a confession out of Larry before more children were murdered., and he spent the rest of his life in prison.
But now, decades later, he’s dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves. Is someone copying the original murders? Or did she get it wrong all those years ago? When her own son goes missing under similar circumstances, the case not only gets reopened… it gets personal.
In master of suspense Sharon Bolton’s latest thriller, readers will find a page-turner to confirm their deepest fears and the only protagonist who can face them.
Review:
Set in 1969 and 1999, The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton is an intriguing mystery with slight occult elements (witchcraft).
In 1969, WPC Florence Lovelady is the only woman on the Lancashire police force. She is working in the small village of Sabden where three teenagers have inexplicably gone missing. The latest young woman to disappear is fourteen year old Patsy Wood and Florence comes up with an innovative idea in hopes of receiving tips from the public. Florence takes matters into her own hands when Superintendent Stanley Ruston is slow to act and she makes a gruesome discovery. She is then assigned to work the case alongside DC Tom Devine and the rest of the team and Florence makes some startling findings that lead to the arrest and conviction of coffin-maker Larry Glassbrook.
In 1999, Florence is back in Sabden along with her fifteen year old son Ben for Larry’s funeral. Over the past thirty years, she has periodically visited Larry in prison and she is little troubled by something he said to her during their last conversation. Returning to his house, she makes a chilling discovery that raise doubts about Larry’s guilt. Turning to her old friend Tom Devine, who is still on the police force, they work together to uncover the truth about who might have been responsible for the kidnappings and murders thirty years earlier.
The narrative begins in 1999 then quickly shifts back to the investigation in 1969. Florence is new to the force but she has keen instincts that quickly turn up leads to follow. Not everyone is happy to work alongside a woman so Florence is also dealing with sexism from her older co-workers. She soon learns to not to allow their attitudes affect and she diligently works the case. Florence hears whispers of witchcraft and learns of a possible connection to the Stonemasons but does this information have anything to do with the missing teenagers?
The Craftsman is a fast-paced mystery with a chilling storyline and fascinating supernatural elements. The characters are multi-faceted and their attitudes are true to the time period. Florence is a sharply intelligent woman whose confidence in her abilities grows throughout the investigation. The kidnappings and murders are disturbing but this part of the storyline is tastefully handled. The witchcraft aspect is quite interesting and it is naturally incorporated into the story in a believable fashion. With absolutely stunning twists and startling turns, Sharon Bolton brings the novel to a jaw-dropping, shocking conclusion. I highly recommend this riveting mystery to fans of the genre.
