Blood Relative by David Thomas (Quercus Books, £7.99) (From York Press)

Blood Relative by David Thomas (Quercus Books, £7.99)

9:10am Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Books By Bill Spence

PETER Crookham and his adored wife are architects based in North Yorkshire and have a successful business with a wealthy clientele.

Peter’s brother is, unusually, visiting but on the night of his arrival Peter has to make a phone call saying he is going to be late. His wife, Mariana, sounds strained and unusually devoid of affection; Peter knows something is wrong. What awaits him fills him with horror for his brother lies dead with multiple stab wounds and his wife covered in blood and in a complete state of shock.

Mariana is the only suspect and is sent to a secure hospital to await trial.

Peter knows it is not her nature to kill but discovers that his brother has been investigating his wife’s background and when he receives some medical facts from her doctor, realises that the answer to the killing lies in Mariana’s childhood in East Germany and so he sets off to Berlin. But he soon finds out there are some who are trying to stop him from uncovering a truth that will reveal horrors of the Cold War.

This is a novel superbly written with tension that keeps you guessing nervously as to what horrors will unfold. I found it difficult to put down and will certainly read another by the author. It is refreshing to find a thriller with a difference and of this calibre set in York and the surrounding area.