Blind To The Bones by Stephen Booth

 

Things have changed for Ben Cooper.  He has moved out of the family home and farm and now lives on his own.  He has a new boss, Diane Fry, who got the promotion he thought would be his and with whom he has a fraught relationship.  But some things never change when you're a policeman.  Crime is always there to be solved.

A young man, Neil Granger, has been found murdered.  He is part of a large family in a tiny village where those who built the tunnel system for the railway once lived.  The family is blamed for all the petty crime that occurs and for some reason are not being cooperative with the police investigation.  Fry's time is being taken up on a cold case.  Emma Renshaw disappeared two years ago and is considered dead by everyone except her parents.  Her cell phone has just turned up and has brought the case back into focus.  Then there is the crime ring that is stealing antiques, probably to sell overseas.  In the midst of this, Ben discovers a deep secret about Diane that will affect her whole life going forward.

This is the fourth book in this series.  Ben Cooper is the ultimate good guy, unassuming, easy to get along with and cunningly smart enough to solve whatever crimes he encounters.  Diane Fry is a more complex character, her unhappy childhood leaving her unwilling to trust anyone or have friends.  The tension between the two provides as much of the book's structure as do the crimes they solve.  This book is recommended for mystery readers who enjoy a long series.