"Blacklands"

Belinda Bauer, author of "Blacklands," is the winner of the Crime Writer's Association Gold Dagger Award for Crime Novel of the Year. The central character in "Blacklands" is a boy named Steven who lives with his mother, younger brother, and grandmother in a small English village. His family is haunted by the disappearance of his uncle, Billy Peters, who disappeared without a trace eighteen years ago and is presumed to be the victim of a child serial killer, Arnold Avery. Steven lives daily with the aftermath of that loss for his grandmother as well as the pain it has caused his mom to have a mother forever grieving the loss of her son. Billy's room is a shrine to be left untouched. Steven just wants his family to be happy -- to be normal. He believes he can heal his family if only he can convince Avery to tell him where his uncle is buried. He starts a correspondence with Avery in prison but hasn't a clue the danger that will open him up to. Bauer does an excellent job of setting the stage for this story's gripping ending. Although this is a well told story, it can be gruesome at times -- reading more like a true crime story -- so I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart.

There is author information and group discussion questions at the end of the book as well as an excerpt from Bauer's upcoming book "Darkside."

pazt