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Ben Cooper & Diane Fry #14
The Corpse Bridge
The old Corpse Bridge is the route taken for centuries by mourners from villages on the western fringes of Derbyshire to a burial ground across the River Dove, now absorbed into the landscaped parkland of a stately home. When Earl Manby, the landowner, announces plans to deconsecrate the burial ground to turn it into a car park for his holiday cottages, bodies begin to appear once again on the road to the Corpse Bridge. Is there a connection with the Earl's plans? Or worse, is there a terrifying serial killer at work?
Back in his job after the traumatic events of previous months, Detective Sergeant Ben Cooper knows that he must unravel the mystery of the Corpse Bridge if he's going to be able to move on with his life. As the pressure builds, Ben doesn't know who he can trust and, when the case reaches breaking point, he has to make a call that could put everything - and everyone - at risk...
Back in his job after the traumatic events of previous months, Detective Sergeant Ben Cooper knows that he must unravel the mystery of the Corpse Bridge if he's going to be able to move on with his life. As the pressure builds, Ben doesn't know who he can trust and, when the case reaches breaking point, he has to make a call that could put everything - and everyone - at risk...
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
60 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Booth
54 books666 followersStephen Booth is the author of 18 novels in the Cooper & Fry series, all set around England's Peak District, and a standalone novel DROWNED LIVES, published in August 2019.
The Cooper & Fry series has won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, and Detective Constable Cooper has been a finalist for the Sherlock Award for Best Detective created by a British author. The Crime Writers’ Association presented Stephen with the Dagger in the Library Award for “the author whose books have given readers most pleasure.”
The novels are sold all around the world, with translations in 16 languages. The most recent title is FALL DOWN DEAD.
A new Stephen Booth standalone novel with a historical theme, DROWNED LIVES, will be published in August 2019:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drowned-Live...
In recent years, Stephen has become a Library Champion in support of the UK’s ‘Love Libraries’ campaign. He's represented British literature at the Helsinki Book Fair in Finland, appeared with Alexander McCall Smith at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival in Australia, filmed a documentary for 20th Century Fox on the French detective Vidocq, taken part in online chats for World Book Day, taught crime writing courses, and visited prisons to talk to prisoners about writing.
He lives in Nottinghamshire.
The Cooper & Fry series has won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, and Detective Constable Cooper has been a finalist for the Sherlock Award for Best Detective created by a British author. The Crime Writers’ Association presented Stephen with the Dagger in the Library Award for “the author whose books have given readers most pleasure.”
The novels are sold all around the world, with translations in 16 languages. The most recent title is FALL DOWN DEAD.
A new Stephen Booth standalone novel with a historical theme, DROWNED LIVES, will be published in August 2019:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drowned-Live...
In recent years, Stephen has become a Library Champion in support of the UK’s ‘Love Libraries’ campaign. He's represented British literature at the Helsinki Book Fair in Finland, appeared with Alexander McCall Smith at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival in Australia, filmed a documentary for 20th Century Fox on the French detective Vidocq, taken part in online chats for World Book Day, taught crime writing courses, and visited prisons to talk to prisoners about writing.
He lives in Nottinghamshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 3, 2019
SWEDISH REVIEW
Bron är den andra boken jag har läst i Cooper & Fry serien och det lustiga är att den andra boken jag har läst är den som kommer efter denna (The Murder Road) som jag läste på engelska i slutet av förra året. Men, att läsa från slutet till början är inte mina plan, det bara blev så. Ett plus är att böckerna är skrivna på ett sådant sätt att det går bra att läsa dem fristående. Men det var intressant att läsa denna bok då man fick en lite större insyn i Coopers liv och hans fästmös bortgång som nämndes i The Murder Road.
Cooper har som sagt förlorat sin fästmö i en brand och det har påverkat honom djupt men det gör honom inte oförmögen att arbeta som polis. Men, besynnerligt nog är Diane Fry där för att hjälpa honom med fallet, trots att hon är i beredskap att flytta, och byta tjänst. Fry verkar ha en special orska till att hjälpa till med fallet, frågan är vad? Jag tycker att något som gör denna bokserie så special är just Coopers och Frys partnerskap. De är väldigt olika och jag ser fram emot att läsa bokserien från början för att få läsa om hur de först möttes.
Fallet i denna bok var intressant och lite skumt, dock tycker jag att handlingen blev lite dryg fram andra halvan av fallet och upplösningen, själva lösningen av fallet var inte jättespännande. Dock räddas boken av att Cooper och Fry är så intressanta karaktärer och deras "relation" är intressant att läsa om.
Trots all tyckte jag om att läsa boken och jag ser fram emot att läsa restera böcker i serien, från början!
Tack Bokförlaget Forum for recensionsexemplaret!
ENGLISH REVIEW
The Corpse Bridge is the second book I have read in the Cooper & Fry series and the funny thing is that the other book I have read is The Murder Road that comes after this one. To read from the end of a series and backward is not my plan, it just happened. A plus is that the books in this series are written in a way that it's OK to read them separately. But, it was interesting to read this book because I got a bigger look at Cooper's life and his fiance's death that was mentioned in The Murder Road.
The fact that Cooper's fiance is dead isn't really affecting his work as a police, but of course, he is not the same man anymore. But, the odd thing is that Diane Fry is there to help him with the case, despite that she is in the middle of a move and is changing job. Fry seems to have a special reason to help Cooper with the case. The question is what? I think that the Cooper and Fry's special partnership is something that makes this book series very special. They are very different and I'm looking forward to reading the series from the beginning to read about how they met.
The case in this book was interesting and a bit weird. However, I think that the story lost a bit of steam in the second half of the book and the ending, the conclusion of the case was not really that exciting. But, despite that fact that the case didn't rock my boat, did I find that Cooper and Fry were so interesting together, and reading about their "relationship" is what saved this book for me.
In the end, did I like the book and I looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series, from the beginning!
Thanks Bokförlaget Forum for the review copy!
Bron är den andra boken jag har läst i Cooper & Fry serien och det lustiga är att den andra boken jag har läst är den som kommer efter denna (The Murder Road) som jag läste på engelska i slutet av förra året. Men, att läsa från slutet till början är inte mina plan, det bara blev så. Ett plus är att böckerna är skrivna på ett sådant sätt att det går bra att läsa dem fristående. Men det var intressant att läsa denna bok då man fick en lite större insyn i Coopers liv och hans fästmös bortgång som nämndes i The Murder Road.
Cooper har som sagt förlorat sin fästmö i en brand och det har påverkat honom djupt men det gör honom inte oförmögen att arbeta som polis. Men, besynnerligt nog är Diane Fry där för att hjälpa honom med fallet, trots att hon är i beredskap att flytta, och byta tjänst. Fry verkar ha en special orska till att hjälpa till med fallet, frågan är vad? Jag tycker att något som gör denna bokserie så special är just Coopers och Frys partnerskap. De är väldigt olika och jag ser fram emot att läsa bokserien från början för att få läsa om hur de först möttes.
Fallet i denna bok var intressant och lite skumt, dock tycker jag att handlingen blev lite dryg fram andra halvan av fallet och upplösningen, själva lösningen av fallet var inte jättespännande. Dock räddas boken av att Cooper och Fry är så intressanta karaktärer och deras "relation" är intressant att läsa om.
Trots all tyckte jag om att läsa boken och jag ser fram emot att läsa restera böcker i serien, från början!
Tack Bokförlaget Forum for recensionsexemplaret!
ENGLISH REVIEW
The Corpse Bridge is the second book I have read in the Cooper & Fry series and the funny thing is that the other book I have read is The Murder Road that comes after this one. To read from the end of a series and backward is not my plan, it just happened. A plus is that the books in this series are written in a way that it's OK to read them separately. But, it was interesting to read this book because I got a bigger look at Cooper's life and his fiance's death that was mentioned in The Murder Road.
The fact that Cooper's fiance is dead isn't really affecting his work as a police, but of course, he is not the same man anymore. But, the odd thing is that Diane Fry is there to help him with the case, despite that she is in the middle of a move and is changing job. Fry seems to have a special reason to help Cooper with the case. The question is what? I think that the Cooper and Fry's special partnership is something that makes this book series very special. They are very different and I'm looking forward to reading the series from the beginning to read about how they met.
The case in this book was interesting and a bit weird. However, I think that the story lost a bit of steam in the second half of the book and the ending, the conclusion of the case was not really that exciting. But, despite that fact that the case didn't rock my boat, did I find that Cooper and Fry were so interesting together, and reading about their "relationship" is what saved this book for me.
In the end, did I like the book and I looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series, from the beginning!
Thanks Bokförlaget Forum for the review copy!
June 29, 2014
The Corpse Bridge marks the 14th outing in this Derbyshire set police procedural series featuring detective duo Ben Cooper and Diane Fry. Despite my preference for the more gritty or psychologically dark purveyors of crime fiction, this is a series that has remained firmly on my reading list. I find the experience of a new book from Stephen Booth is akin to pulling on a comfortable pair of slippers. His well crafted tales of murderous everyday Derbyshire folk are always entertaining, flecked with humour and, more importantly, expertly plotted.
Still visibly affected by events in the previous two books, DS Ben Cooper finds himself inveigled in the mystery of the Corpse Bridge. For centuries the bridge has been the route taken by mourners from outlying villages to a burial ground across the River Dove, now absorbed into the landscaped parkland of a stately home. When the landowner Earl Manby announces plans to de-consecrate the burial ground and turn it into a car park, bodies begin to appear once again on the road to the Corpse Bridge. Can they be linked to the Earl’s plans or is there a terrifying serial killer at work?
With his knowledge and manipulation of local folklore, and by setting the book around Halloween, the author heightens the feeling of sinister forces at work. Cooper knows that he must overcome his own personal demons to take control of the case, and navigate the class barriers that are fueling the local disharmony and protests. The wonderfully spiky detective Diane Fry, about to move back to the big city having been released from the chains of rural policing, is on hand to torment Cooper further. The unresolved tensions of their personal and professional relationship come to the fore.
Despite my long held affection for Booth’s novels, The Corpse Bridge has a frustratingly slow central plot line. Tension arises from Earl Manby’s suppression and abuse of the local serfs, but the development of this narrative is a little pedestrian and the outcome less than satisfying. On the plus side, the dispensing of one particular character may bring enormous cheer to someone with working class sensibilities, and the local folklore and superstitions are both central to the plot and enjoyable. Booth’s presentation of the Peak District is as heartfelt and beautifully realised as ever.
What I would focus on more is Booth’s superb characterisation of both Cooper and Fry, his police protagonists, which never fails to entertai. Having followed the peaks and troughs of their turbulent relationship for many years, I love the way that each book drives this peculiar relationship forward with a wink and a tease. I think the portrayal of Cooper’s road back from trauma, and the innate prickly, unforgiving character of Fry, are pitch perfect. Another highlight is the wry humour of this book. I may be wrong in labelling Booth a bit of a grumpy old man, but I always enjoy the little side-swipes at certain aspects of popular culture and modern living that he comes up with. They’re light relief beside the more serious issues that he addresses.
Whilst exhibiting the normal endearing characteristics of his series so far, in both the realms of location and characterisation, I think that any perceived weakness in the plot can be overlooked, although it does raise some interesting issues of class and exploitation in this rural community. Tinged with both the darkness of local folklore, and lifted by the lightness of Booth’s comic touch, The Corpse Bridge offers much to entertain new and old readers alike.
Still visibly affected by events in the previous two books, DS Ben Cooper finds himself inveigled in the mystery of the Corpse Bridge. For centuries the bridge has been the route taken by mourners from outlying villages to a burial ground across the River Dove, now absorbed into the landscaped parkland of a stately home. When the landowner Earl Manby announces plans to de-consecrate the burial ground and turn it into a car park, bodies begin to appear once again on the road to the Corpse Bridge. Can they be linked to the Earl’s plans or is there a terrifying serial killer at work?
With his knowledge and manipulation of local folklore, and by setting the book around Halloween, the author heightens the feeling of sinister forces at work. Cooper knows that he must overcome his own personal demons to take control of the case, and navigate the class barriers that are fueling the local disharmony and protests. The wonderfully spiky detective Diane Fry, about to move back to the big city having been released from the chains of rural policing, is on hand to torment Cooper further. The unresolved tensions of their personal and professional relationship come to the fore.
Despite my long held affection for Booth’s novels, The Corpse Bridge has a frustratingly slow central plot line. Tension arises from Earl Manby’s suppression and abuse of the local serfs, but the development of this narrative is a little pedestrian and the outcome less than satisfying. On the plus side, the dispensing of one particular character may bring enormous cheer to someone with working class sensibilities, and the local folklore and superstitions are both central to the plot and enjoyable. Booth’s presentation of the Peak District is as heartfelt and beautifully realised as ever.
What I would focus on more is Booth’s superb characterisation of both Cooper and Fry, his police protagonists, which never fails to entertai. Having followed the peaks and troughs of their turbulent relationship for many years, I love the way that each book drives this peculiar relationship forward with a wink and a tease. I think the portrayal of Cooper’s road back from trauma, and the innate prickly, unforgiving character of Fry, are pitch perfect. Another highlight is the wry humour of this book. I may be wrong in labelling Booth a bit of a grumpy old man, but I always enjoy the little side-swipes at certain aspects of popular culture and modern living that he comes up with. They’re light relief beside the more serious issues that he addresses.
Whilst exhibiting the normal endearing characteristics of his series so far, in both the realms of location and characterisation, I think that any perceived weakness in the plot can be overlooked, although it does raise some interesting issues of class and exploitation in this rural community. Tinged with both the darkness of local folklore, and lifted by the lightness of Booth’s comic touch, The Corpse Bridge offers much to entertain new and old readers alike.
June 30, 2014
Cooper and Fry – I’ve been with them since the start, I adore these stories, their setting, the characters and the always compelling mysteries. This one was no exception, it hooked me in immediately, put me firmly in the Peak District (a place I have never visited which must be rectified) and gave me a lovely weekend read.
In this instalment Ben is coming to terms with a tragedy and Diane is looking forward to being back in a city environment – when a body is discovered near the Corpse Bridge she is drawn back to work with Ben once more.
The absolutely best thing about Mr Booth’s novels is the ongoing ever changing relationships of the people we meet each time – Diane and Ben have a quirky unusual relationship that is ever ebbing and flowing, it keeps things interesting throughout. Everyone surrounding them are equally intriguing, you are more than happy to keep having a peek into their lives. On top of that, the crime and mystery elements are always extremely intelligent and keep you on your toes. Atmospherically speaking the sense of place is perfect. I may never have visited the Peak District but I FEEL like I have. I also think when I do go that it will all be very familiar.
Any of these novels could be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order where possible – whilst each investigation is self contained the journey of the characters will pack a more emotional punch if you can see where they have been. The ending of this one was wonderful – I cannot wait for what comes next. The one issue of course when you read a book from a favourite series – there is always a seemingly endless wait for the next. Sigh. Chronic Impatience!
In this instalment Ben is coming to terms with a tragedy and Diane is looking forward to being back in a city environment – when a body is discovered near the Corpse Bridge she is drawn back to work with Ben once more.
The absolutely best thing about Mr Booth’s novels is the ongoing ever changing relationships of the people we meet each time – Diane and Ben have a quirky unusual relationship that is ever ebbing and flowing, it keeps things interesting throughout. Everyone surrounding them are equally intriguing, you are more than happy to keep having a peek into their lives. On top of that, the crime and mystery elements are always extremely intelligent and keep you on your toes. Atmospherically speaking the sense of place is perfect. I may never have visited the Peak District but I FEEL like I have. I also think when I do go that it will all be very familiar.
Any of these novels could be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in order where possible – whilst each investigation is self contained the journey of the characters will pack a more emotional punch if you can see where they have been. The ending of this one was wonderful – I cannot wait for what comes next. The one issue of course when you read a book from a favourite series – there is always a seemingly endless wait for the next. Sigh. Chronic Impatience!
June 3, 2017
This is volume 14 of a wonderful murder mystery series that takes place in the beautiful Peak District of England. I love the author's ability to transport you to the location and describe the natural surroundings, so you can picture it clearly in your mind. I find myself becoming fully immersed as I read and enjoy the history and folklore of the area that he weaves into the story. The characters are flawed and realistic, and the mystery is creative and interesting.
November 15, 2020
Ok, this book was good. But didn’t hit the spot entirely for me. Cantered along🐴but just didn’t have enough ooomph, if you know what I mean !
January 30, 2017
DS Ben Cooper and DS Diane Fry police procedural in the Peak District. On November 1 the body of Sandra Blair is found in a stream in the woods by the Corpse Bridge over the River Dove which separates two jurisdictions. Several people were in the woods that Halloween night and they come forward with their bits of the truth. Then it appears that witchcraft afficiandos are connected with the case. The town is dominated by the estate and castle of the local Earl, Walter Manby whose plans for his property are not popular with the town folk, 300 of whom are his employees. Very complex and interesting mystery.
September 14, 2019
Den här serien om Cooper och Fry hittade jag väldigt sent och hade ganska många delar att läsa ikapp. 2016 läste jag elva stycken på ett år, vilket nog tyvärr medförde att jag fick något av en överdos. Jag kände att jag inte alls uppskattade allt som jag egentligen borde. Nu, efter ett uppehåll på drygt 2,5 år så var Bron ett väldigt trevligt återseende och det gick förvånansvärt snabbt att hitta tillbaka till Peak District-sinnet. Läs mer på min blogg
January 28, 2016
When it comes to murder, nothing is sacred . . .
For centuries, mourners in Derbyshire have used the Corpse Bridge to cross the River Dove and reach their village burial grounds.
When a developer plans to deconsecrate the land by turning it into a parking lot for his resort cottages, bodies begin to litter the road to the Corpse Bridge.
Are these warnings to stay away from the sacred plots—or something much, much worse: a terrifying serial killer at work?
After recuperating from a traumatic event, Detective Cooper is finally back at work, and he knows that solving the mystery of the Corpse Bridge is exactly what he needs to feel like himself again.
But if Cooper can't overcome his own personal demons and focus on the case, he could put everything—and everyone—he cares about at risk . . .
This is my first encounter with, DS Ben Cooper & Stephen Booth.
This is a pleasant, yet, dreamy crime novel. Set on the western fringes of Derbyshire. I found the descriptions of the setting very atmospheric, which added a sense of mystique to the book.
Overall, the pace of the book was very slow. This added a little frustration when reading and the book only picked up any pace in the last 100 pages. I suspect this maybe his style of writing.
If I had to sum my thoughts up in one word, it would be OK!
For centuries, mourners in Derbyshire have used the Corpse Bridge to cross the River Dove and reach their village burial grounds.
When a developer plans to deconsecrate the land by turning it into a parking lot for his resort cottages, bodies begin to litter the road to the Corpse Bridge.
Are these warnings to stay away from the sacred plots—or something much, much worse: a terrifying serial killer at work?
After recuperating from a traumatic event, Detective Cooper is finally back at work, and he knows that solving the mystery of the Corpse Bridge is exactly what he needs to feel like himself again.
But if Cooper can't overcome his own personal demons and focus on the case, he could put everything—and everyone—he cares about at risk . . .
This is my first encounter with, DS Ben Cooper & Stephen Booth.
This is a pleasant, yet, dreamy crime novel. Set on the western fringes of Derbyshire. I found the descriptions of the setting very atmospheric, which added a sense of mystique to the book.
Overall, the pace of the book was very slow. This added a little frustration when reading and the book only picked up any pace in the last 100 pages. I suspect this maybe his style of writing.
If I had to sum my thoughts up in one word, it would be OK!
November 3, 2015
Yawn yawn. Determined to read through to the end but did not enjoy the experience. Lousy ending and characters who really do not drag you in to their story.
March 30, 2017
I have read only a handful of the Cooper and Fry books, of which 'The Corpse Bridge' is the 14th instalment, but that lack of familiarity with the characters was happily no impediment to my enjoyment of this book. They, and the story woven around them, was easy to access and I never felt as if I was missing something. The novel opens on Halloween, an appropriately spooky starting point, and the feeling that it evokes, of an unknown malevolence that is close at hand. never really lets up. Stephen Booth is good at creating atmosphere, helped along by the folklore that he sprinkled liberally throughout the plot, with the spectre of the corpse bridge itself looming over everything (and everyone). I really liked that aspect of this book, more so than the unravelling of the killings themselves, which were relatively straightforward in the end. Will definitely look for more in this series.
January 17, 2019
Detective Sergeant Ben Cooper is back in harness following the tragic death of his fiancee in the hotel fire. A body is found near an ancient bridge known locally as the Corpse Bridge as it lies on the routes that funeral processions once travelled to the church cemetery. Lots of old hatred connected with the feudal life of the big estates and the landed gentry. When a second body is found and threats are made to the Earl Manby the Major Crimes Unit is called in and inevitably Detective Sergeant Diane Fry makes her appearance. Ben still sees her as a threat to his position.
A well crafted plot with many characters that have built up through the series. Enough twist but also quite predictable but with a surprise at the end.
3 stars.
A well crafted plot with many characters that have built up through the series. Enough twist but also quite predictable but with a surprise at the end.
3 stars.
June 23, 2017
I do enjoy the Cooper and Fry books but often wonder if I should have read them in sequence. Having read a fair few though and finding I'm still so absorbed in the series regular characters, I'm beginning to think it's even more enjoyable reading them at random and having the satisfaction of filling in the gaps in their lives I've happened to miss by reading a later book. If you like detective novels, plausible, believable characters with the added bonus of a setting in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, very evocatively described, I would highly recommend these books.
July 25, 2020
Pitkät dekkarisarjat, joissa henkilöt ikääntyvät ja sarja vain jatkuu ja jatkuu...ovat monesti ongelmallisia. Ben Cooperin ja Diane Fryn hankala "suhde" on näiden teosten suola ja tässä sarjan 14. osassa Booth on antanut periksi hieman lukijoiden odotuksille ja Fry esiintyy muuttuneena? Vähän hämmentävää.
Pääosassa kuitenkin Peak District ja alueen ja luonnon kuvauksesta täydet pisteet. Rikosjuoni on näissä kirjoissa lähes merkityksetön. Joku piti kirjaa äärimmäisen hitaana, minusta tämä oli Boothin kirjaksi varsin vauhdikas.
Pääosassa kuitenkin Peak District ja alueen ja luonnon kuvauksesta täydet pisteet. Rikosjuoni on näissä kirjoissa lähes merkityksetön. Joku piti kirjaa äärimmäisen hitaana, minusta tämä oli Boothin kirjaksi varsin vauhdikas.
October 7, 2019
I always love the settings on these novels.
August 29, 2022
I got to page 150 and, other than the murder, nothing has happened. The blurb talks about a cemetery being closed but that hasn’t been mentioned. Also, one of the main characters, Diane, is so obnoxious I want to throttle her on every page. Normally I would put this on my DNF shelf but I figure after reading half the book I can count it towards my challenge.
June 18, 2014
I was very excited to get a review copy of this book and couldn't wait to get stuck in. There are a number of British crime authors whose books I eagerly anticipate each year and Stephen Booth is one of them. A lot of my crime fiction reads take place in London and the US but Booth's are set in the Peak District and are some of my favourites. He really captures his settings and is extremely knowledgable about what he's talking about. Often an author will set their book in a place and apart from a few place names it could be set anywhere. Booth knows his area and it's almost like you are there for real when you read the book.
Picking up a Cooper and Fry book is like getting reacquainted with old friends. After the events of previous books Ben is in a bad way and is trying to get his life back on track. Even the scenes of normality, him in his house for example reflecting on life are some of my most favourite. He's such a complex and intriguing character that it's fascinating to see what goes on in his mind. You know when you are reading a Booth novel, he has a very distinctive writing style. We see Ben at a crime scene with no build up or explanation, the chapter begins and he is just there. The crime scene is the body of a dead woman on the Corpse Bridge. These chapters were hugely atmospheric as they occurred on Halloween. Even though I was reading in the middle of the day is was very eery. Ben and his colleagues must find out who killed this woman and what the significance of the area is.
Where I think Booth excels over his colleagues is he goes into such detail and history about his scenes. It might not be to some people's tastes, often there can be too much detail but for me it adds depth and realism to the story and authenticity. I feel like I'm a little bit more cleverer after finishing a Booth novel (for about five minutes anyway...). I had no idea who had killed Sandra Blair or indeed why. Even after 200 pages I had no idea or how the story would progress. Usually with crime fiction you have a few ideas, well I had none here. The plot felt very 'human' if that's the way to describe it. It wasn't particularly over the top or sensationalist, just a brilliant story you could imagine happening in real life alongside some fantastic characters. The build up was just right and the last 120 pages or so had me hooked and finishing the book in the early hours.
One of my favourites in the book is DC Luke Irvine. Behind every good detective is a brilliant protege and for me that's Irvine. Also Diane Fry. Fry and Cooper together on the page is always brilliant. Both are fascinating characters and after 14 books are still intriguing me and keeping me interested. The series for me shows no signs of slowing down. Usually I am disappointed to finish a Booth novel however I ended this one just feeling excited about the future and the next book from this author. There are some huge developments for both Cooper and Fry but to say any more would ruin it. The book can be read as a standalone and whilst those new to the series may not have time to go back and read them all, it would be a good idea to at least go back a couple of books before reading this one. For Booth fans though this is one of his best books to date and I really can't see it disappointing you so do not hesitate to pick it up and devour it!
Picking up a Cooper and Fry book is like getting reacquainted with old friends. After the events of previous books Ben is in a bad way and is trying to get his life back on track. Even the scenes of normality, him in his house for example reflecting on life are some of my most favourite. He's such a complex and intriguing character that it's fascinating to see what goes on in his mind. You know when you are reading a Booth novel, he has a very distinctive writing style. We see Ben at a crime scene with no build up or explanation, the chapter begins and he is just there. The crime scene is the body of a dead woman on the Corpse Bridge. These chapters were hugely atmospheric as they occurred on Halloween. Even though I was reading in the middle of the day is was very eery. Ben and his colleagues must find out who killed this woman and what the significance of the area is.
Where I think Booth excels over his colleagues is he goes into such detail and history about his scenes. It might not be to some people's tastes, often there can be too much detail but for me it adds depth and realism to the story and authenticity. I feel like I'm a little bit more cleverer after finishing a Booth novel (for about five minutes anyway...). I had no idea who had killed Sandra Blair or indeed why. Even after 200 pages I had no idea or how the story would progress. Usually with crime fiction you have a few ideas, well I had none here. The plot felt very 'human' if that's the way to describe it. It wasn't particularly over the top or sensationalist, just a brilliant story you could imagine happening in real life alongside some fantastic characters. The build up was just right and the last 120 pages or so had me hooked and finishing the book in the early hours.
One of my favourites in the book is DC Luke Irvine. Behind every good detective is a brilliant protege and for me that's Irvine. Also Diane Fry. Fry and Cooper together on the page is always brilliant. Both are fascinating characters and after 14 books are still intriguing me and keeping me interested. The series for me shows no signs of slowing down. Usually I am disappointed to finish a Booth novel however I ended this one just feeling excited about the future and the next book from this author. There are some huge developments for both Cooper and Fry but to say any more would ruin it. The book can be read as a standalone and whilst those new to the series may not have time to go back and read them all, it would be a good idea to at least go back a couple of books before reading this one. For Booth fans though this is one of his best books to date and I really can't see it disappointing you so do not hesitate to pick it up and devour it!
January 14, 2015
The newest novel in the Ben Cooper and Diane Fry series opens on Halloween in Edendale, in the Peak District of England. DS Ben Cooper, of the Derbyshire E Division CID, in his 30’s, is going through a particularly bad time in his life, after his fiancée, Li z Petty, a civilian Scenes of Crime officer, had been killed when the premises they were investigating burned to the ground, costing Liz her life, and “snatched [Ben’s] entire future away.” On this night, he is called to the scene where a woman’s corpse has been found, ironically at a site colloquially known as The Corpse Bridge, crossing over the River Dove. Over many generations several “coffin roads” converged at that bridge before ending at their graveyards. Making the case more complex is the presence at the scene of an effigy, a noose, and a witch ball filled with curses.
The usual group of cops readers have grown to know and love are present: DCs Luke Irvine, Becky Hurst, Carol Villiers and Gavin Murfin (after 30 years now nearing the end of his time before retirement). Ben finds himself reunited with DS Diane Fry, who had transferred to the Major Crime Unit of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, and is about to move into an apartment on the outskirts of Nottingham. She had been back at Derbyshire’s E Division to cover for Ben when he was out on sick leave after Liz’ death, and is now called back there again to work the present case with Divisional CID. Her relationship with Ben reverts to its normal enmity-filled competitiveness, especially at a time when Ben is considering applying for a coming vacancy at inspector level or, in the alternative, getting out completely.
The writing is less action-filled than it is wonderfully descriptive, both of local atmosphere and geography, and including as it does a lot of fascinating historical lore. The author conjures up all the details of the countryside and its geography so that even one from “across the pond” can clearly picture them. He describes the hill country as “prehistoric anomalies . . . [which] belonged to a distant past. They shouldn’t exist here, in the twenty-first century. These strange hills were a fragment of some parallel universe, dropped into Derbyshire by a momentary connection between their two worlds. He was standing in reality, but looking at legend . . . one of those odd places the Peak District was full of . . . In this area you never knew what sort of place you were arriving in or what might lie behind its façade.”
As you can see, the writing is beautiful, and the novel is recommended.
The usual group of cops readers have grown to know and love are present: DCs Luke Irvine, Becky Hurst, Carol Villiers and Gavin Murfin (after 30 years now nearing the end of his time before retirement). Ben finds himself reunited with DS Diane Fry, who had transferred to the Major Crime Unit of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, and is about to move into an apartment on the outskirts of Nottingham. She had been back at Derbyshire’s E Division to cover for Ben when he was out on sick leave after Liz’ death, and is now called back there again to work the present case with Divisional CID. Her relationship with Ben reverts to its normal enmity-filled competitiveness, especially at a time when Ben is considering applying for a coming vacancy at inspector level or, in the alternative, getting out completely.
The writing is less action-filled than it is wonderfully descriptive, both of local atmosphere and geography, and including as it does a lot of fascinating historical lore. The author conjures up all the details of the countryside and its geography so that even one from “across the pond” can clearly picture them. He describes the hill country as “prehistoric anomalies . . . [which] belonged to a distant past. They shouldn’t exist here, in the twenty-first century. These strange hills were a fragment of some parallel universe, dropped into Derbyshire by a momentary connection between their two worlds. He was standing in reality, but looking at legend . . . one of those odd places the Peak District was full of . . . In this area you never knew what sort of place you were arriving in or what might lie behind its façade.”
As you can see, the writing is beautiful, and the novel is recommended.
December 31, 2014
What is Booth doing with the relationship between Fry and Cooper? It's... befuddling. There's no way Ben's over Liz' death, and last book had them at loggerheads, but by the end of this they're sharing champagne? Ooookay.
As for the plot, it's Booth's usual mix of local knowledge/mythology/tradition and modern motivations and murder. Is the Corpse Bridge a massive red herring, or is there a reason the bodies fall along the corpse roads? The reason for the bridge and roads in the first place is important, and I wish there'd been a bit more about them (ditto the witch bowls). And as usual, Ben's ties to the local terrain and all that goes with it leads him in one direction while the others feel that perhaps he's heading down the wrong path.
At the end of the last book, I wasn't sure I'd stick with the series. After this one? Can't wait to see what happens next.
As for the plot, it's Booth's usual mix of local knowledge/mythology/tradition and modern motivations and murder. Is the Corpse Bridge a massive red herring, or is there a reason the bodies fall along the corpse roads? The reason for the bridge and roads in the first place is important, and I wish there'd been a bit more about them (ditto the witch bowls). And as usual, Ben's ties to the local terrain and all that goes with it leads him in one direction while the others feel that perhaps he's heading down the wrong path.
At the end of the last book, I wasn't sure I'd stick with the series. After this one? Can't wait to see what happens next.
January 1, 2017
While the animosity and the weird relationship between Cooper and Fry still baffles me--and I still want to toss Fry off a bridge most of the time, I can't explain in any tangible way why this series still appeals to me so much. I whine about Fry's abrasive personality every time, and I bemoan the fact that Cooper too can be annoying....and yet...and yet. :)
I always learn something new, too. Who on earth knew what a "corpse bridge" was? Not me! I do now, though! Sometimes I manage to sort out who the bad guy is well in advance, sometimes not. The plots are always interesting and seriously twisty. In this particular book, I didn't guess, and was surprised/not surprised at the reveal. Booth's series is a series of contrasts, and that includes the emotions it evokes in myself. I absolutely love-hate it! Mostly love. :)
I always learn something new, too. Who on earth knew what a "corpse bridge" was? Not me! I do now, though! Sometimes I manage to sort out who the bad guy is well in advance, sometimes not. The plots are always interesting and seriously twisty. In this particular book, I didn't guess, and was surprised/not surprised at the reveal. Booth's series is a series of contrasts, and that includes the emotions it evokes in myself. I absolutely love-hate it! Mostly love. :)
July 27, 2015
Finally had the opportunity to read this book which I have been waiting for quite a while. It is a good book but it gets off to a slow start. More than a third of the way in the amount of plot that had been revealed would fit on the back of the envelope.
I have noticed that many readers have complained about the Diane Fry character. I have always found her interesting. She has sociopathic tendences but in this book is behaving more normally. Is is this an act (not with any malice) or is it her true self coming out? We will have to wait for future books to find out.
I have noticed that many readers have complained about the Diane Fry character. I have always found her interesting. She has sociopathic tendences but in this book is behaving more normally. Is is this an act (not with any malice) or is it her true self coming out? We will have to wait for future books to find out.
July 1, 2016
You always feel comfortable and in safe hands with a Stephen Booth book. No unnecessary gory violence etc just a cracking storyline with brilliant characters that comes together in the end perfectly. Stephen has a way of describing the geography of the location and the beautiful scenery that you almost feel transported to the area yourself! The Corpse Bridge has a touch of mysterious supernatural to it that keeps you engrossed from start to finish. This is my 4th Cooper/Fry novel and won't be my last. Would recommend!
February 28, 2015
Good to see Ben getting back on track with his life, he's still has his moments but who wouldn't.
As for Fry, she seems to be mellowing, though how she can still think Nottingham better than the Peak beggars belief.
Then there's the Peak District, these books make me want to get in the car in the summer and find the places mentioned.
As for Fry, she seems to be mellowing, though how she can still think Nottingham better than the Peak beggars belief.
Then there's the Peak District, these books make me want to get in the car in the summer and find the places mentioned.
January 27, 2016
I enjoyed this book in the Cooper/Fry series as much as I liked the others in the series. I thought the plot was interesting, and as usual I liked the descriptions of the countryside and the old industrial sites as well as examples of local folklore.
June 23, 2017
The Corpse Bridge by Stephen Booth
Cooper & fry series Book #14
4★'s
What's It About?
When it comes to murder, nothing is sacred . . .
For centuries, mourners in Derbyshire have used the Corpse Bridge to cross the River Dove and reach their village burial grounds. When a developer plans to deconsecrate the land by turning it into a parking lot for his resort cottages, bodies begin to litter the road to the Corpse Bridge.
Are these warnings to stay away from the sacred plots—or something much, much worse: a terrifying serial killer at work? After recuperating from a traumatic event, Detective Cooper is finally back at work, and he knows that solving the mystery of the Corpse Bridge is exactly what he needs to feel like himself again. But if Cooper can't overcome his own personal demons and focus on the case, he could put everything—and everyone—he cares about at risk .
What Did I Think?
I really enjoyed this one. There was so much history interwoven into the story about the Corpse Roads and how and why the people had to use them. It must have been hardship added to sorrow for these villagers. The history part never distracted from the story...if anything it added to it.
One reviewer said that they missed Diane Fry's appearance in the later books. For myself I enjoyed the book because she failed to appear except in portions of the story. Another enjoyable feature was the number of suspects that paraded the story...all with plenty of reasons to commit the crime. It gave the mystery added weight and made it difficult to figure out. I was only partly right...but I had a great time working on it. If you like Ian Rankin's Rebus or Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks, then you will diffidently like this series.
Cooper & fry series Book #14
4★'s
What's It About?
When it comes to murder, nothing is sacred . . .
For centuries, mourners in Derbyshire have used the Corpse Bridge to cross the River Dove and reach their village burial grounds. When a developer plans to deconsecrate the land by turning it into a parking lot for his resort cottages, bodies begin to litter the road to the Corpse Bridge.
Are these warnings to stay away from the sacred plots—or something much, much worse: a terrifying serial killer at work? After recuperating from a traumatic event, Detective Cooper is finally back at work, and he knows that solving the mystery of the Corpse Bridge is exactly what he needs to feel like himself again. But if Cooper can't overcome his own personal demons and focus on the case, he could put everything—and everyone—he cares about at risk .
What Did I Think?
I really enjoyed this one. There was so much history interwoven into the story about the Corpse Roads and how and why the people had to use them. It must have been hardship added to sorrow for these villagers. The history part never distracted from the story...if anything it added to it.
One reviewer said that they missed Diane Fry's appearance in the later books. For myself I enjoyed the book because she failed to appear except in portions of the story. Another enjoyable feature was the number of suspects that paraded the story...all with plenty of reasons to commit the crime. It gave the mystery added weight and made it difficult to figure out. I was only partly right...but I had a great time working on it. If you like Ian Rankin's Rebus or Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks, then you will diffidently like this series.
June 23, 2017
The Corpse Bridge by Stephen Booth
Cooper & fry series Book #14
4★'s
What's It About?
When it comes to murder, nothing is sacred . . .
For centuries, mourners in Derbyshire have used the Corpse Bridge to cross the River Dove and reach their village burial grounds. When a developer plans to deconsecrate the land by turning it into a parking lot for his resort cottages, bodies begin to litter the road to the Corpse Bridge.
Are these warnings to stay away from the sacred plots—or something much, much worse: a terrifying serial killer at work? After recuperating from a traumatic event, Detective Cooper is finally back at work, and he knows that solving the mystery of the Corpse Bridge is exactly what he needs to feel like himself again. But if Cooper can't overcome his own personal demons and focus on the case, he could put everything—and everyone—he cares about at risk .
What Did I Think?
I really enjoyed this one. There was so much history interwoven into the story about the Corpse Roads and how and why the people had to use them. It must have been hardship added to sorrow for these villagers. The history part never distracted from the story...if anything it added to it.
One reviewer said that they missed Diane Fry's appearance in the later books. For myself I enjoyed the book because she failed to appear except in portions of the story. Another enjoyable feature was the number of suspects that paraded the story...all with plenty of reasons to commit the crime. It gave the mystery added weight and made it difficult to figure out. I was only partly right...but I had a great time working on it. If you like Ian Rankin's Rebus or Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks, then you will diffidently like this series.
Cooper & fry series Book #14
4★'s
What's It About?
When it comes to murder, nothing is sacred . . .
For centuries, mourners in Derbyshire have used the Corpse Bridge to cross the River Dove and reach their village burial grounds. When a developer plans to deconsecrate the land by turning it into a parking lot for his resort cottages, bodies begin to litter the road to the Corpse Bridge.
Are these warnings to stay away from the sacred plots—or something much, much worse: a terrifying serial killer at work? After recuperating from a traumatic event, Detective Cooper is finally back at work, and he knows that solving the mystery of the Corpse Bridge is exactly what he needs to feel like himself again. But if Cooper can't overcome his own personal demons and focus on the case, he could put everything—and everyone—he cares about at risk .
What Did I Think?
I really enjoyed this one. There was so much history interwoven into the story about the Corpse Roads and how and why the people had to use them. It must have been hardship added to sorrow for these villagers. The history part never distracted from the story...if anything it added to it.
One reviewer said that they missed Diane Fry's appearance in the later books. For myself I enjoyed the book because she failed to appear except in portions of the story. Another enjoyable feature was the number of suspects that paraded the story...all with plenty of reasons to commit the crime. It gave the mystery added weight and made it difficult to figure out. I was only partly right...but I had a great time working on it. If you like Ian Rankin's Rebus or Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks, then you will diffidently like this series.
April 29, 2025
The Corpse Bridge is the book fourteen to feature DS Ben Cooper and Diane Fry. The story opens on Halloween where a group of residents are out in the area of the bridge and the Coffin path and a body is discovered.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Firstly for me as always I like to read books in order. I feel then that I can get to know the characters. Book fourteen is a long way down the line and a lot has happened with the characters. I do get to find out that Ben has lost his partner and he doesn't seem to have a good relationship with Fry. Previous books would explore this. However it didn't make much difference.
It books are set in Derbyshire and the Peaks and the author provided some wonderful descriptions of the area which gave a good sense of place, although at times it felt like a travel guide. There was also lots of folklore and traditions with the area which gave the story a dark feel. This for me was the best part of the book.
The plot and storyline was a little thin and not very thrilling which let the book down, at times quite boring. However I may read another by this author but perhaps not from the beginning.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Firstly for me as always I like to read books in order. I feel then that I can get to know the characters. Book fourteen is a long way down the line and a lot has happened with the characters. I do get to find out that Ben has lost his partner and he doesn't seem to have a good relationship with Fry. Previous books would explore this. However it didn't make much difference.
It books are set in Derbyshire and the Peaks and the author provided some wonderful descriptions of the area which gave a good sense of place, although at times it felt like a travel guide. There was also lots of folklore and traditions with the area which gave the story a dark feel. This for me was the best part of the book.
The plot and storyline was a little thin and not very thrilling which let the book down, at times quite boring. However I may read another by this author but perhaps not from the beginning.
September 14, 2018
#14 of the Ben Cooper and Diane Fry series from Stephen Booth. I have loved this series since I read Black Dog, the first in the series, and then we discussed that book with the Mystery Book Group. Besides, the author is such a nice person!
I seem to be on a 'catching up' binge, reading books I missed in some of my favorite series over the years. I think I've read all the advance copies I have of books to be published up to October, so thought I'd take a break since I'll be traveling in a week and not wanting to lug physical books along. I have lots of nook books already loaded on my mini and will read them all IN the order written! It's my way. This series is all about the character relationships as well as the wonderful plots so it would be puzzling to hop around. At least for me.
Toward the end of this read I was thinking it was wonderful, and then the end happened and I was so overjoyed by the behavior of one character that it made me applaud. Can't really talk about all the things that happen as the action is complex and scary and great but small things turn the focus one way or another. Just go read this book!
I seem to be on a 'catching up' binge, reading books I missed in some of my favorite series over the years. I think I've read all the advance copies I have of books to be published up to October, so thought I'd take a break since I'll be traveling in a week and not wanting to lug physical books along. I have lots of nook books already loaded on my mini and will read them all IN the order written! It's my way. This series is all about the character relationships as well as the wonderful plots so it would be puzzling to hop around. At least for me.
Toward the end of this read I was thinking it was wonderful, and then the end happened and I was so overjoyed by the behavior of one character that it made me applaud. Can't really talk about all the things that happen as the action is complex and scary and great but small things turn the focus one way or another. Just go read this book!
July 24, 2025
A very slow burn in Stephen Booth's Cooper & Fry detective series. Part of me wonders whether, at this point in his career, Booth actually wanted to write another Cooper & Fry novel; he seems to have felt more comfortable expounding and exploring his beloved Peak District countryside and its idiosyncratic landscape. The mystery elements are very slight and barely engaging; just when you think that the plot is going to go up a gear, it starts coasting again instead. It's a shame because these are great central characters, and the locations and settings are so evocative, but overall, this is an underpowered and underwhelming story.
© Koplowitz 2025
© Koplowitz 2025
June 17, 2017
Another Stephen Booth/ DS Cooper novel set in the Derbyshire Peak District. As always, the story draws heavily on Cooper's local knowledge which presumably is, in fact, that of the writer. It has a superb feels of place which adds immensely to the novel. Weird people, weird goings-on, a local titled landowner who is upsetting the natives and a final twist which has, perhaps, been presaged throught the series.
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