Dead and Buried

DS Ben Cooper is out on the moor on a routine patrol following a grass fire when firemen discover a nylon backpack buried in the peat.  It appears to have been buried for some time, also has what appears yo have blood stains on it.  It also contains a wallet with identification, pointing to two missing people.  This means major crimes will now be involved.  DS Diane Fry is assigned.

After the scene is secured, and Ben has gone home, Diane decides to check out and old abandoned pub.  There she finds a body of a recently murdered man.

The following day Cooper's team meets to discuss the missing persons case.  DC Gavin Murfin had been involved in the search two tears ago.  He is sure that the pair set themselves up with new identities and disappeared.  Fry scoffs at that idea.  The victim in the pub is identified as a teacher in nearby Edendale.  Coincidentally his name had come up earlier in the case of the missing persons.

Cooper and DC Carol Villiers are tasked with trying to retrace the last route of the missing persons while Fry works with DCI Mackenzie on the murder victim case.  Ben points out to Fry that the cases now overlap, but as usual she is not overly co-operative.  Later, two bodies are accidentally found, wrapped in plastic in an abandoned mine shaft.

Now that the bodies have been found, can the case be wrapped up?  Does the team have the evidence they need to jail the right people?  Author Stephen Booth wraps up this murder mystery in exciting and shocking fashion.  An excellent read, hard to put down.