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Bone & Cane #1
Bone & Cane
In Nottingham, 1997, Labour MP Sarah Bone celebrates a successful campaign to secure an appeal for convicted murderer Ed Clark. But she soon discovers that he might be guilty after all. Driven to uncover the truth about Ed, she also has to fight the most important election of a generation, one she is expected to lose. Nick Cane is also fresh out of prison. Working illegally as a cabby, he finds he's now a colleague to Ed Clark. And since he's seeing Polly Bolton, the sister of the man Ed is meant to have murdered, Nick needs to find the truth as much as Sarah does.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
18 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
David Belbin
67 books21 followersBelbin's work is known for breaking boundaries and dealing responsibly with difficult social issues that affect teenagers. He first attained success with a number of books for Scholastic's Point Crime series.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 1, 2012
This is a British political thriller and murder mystery combined set in Nottingham. A couple who were lovers at university have been separated by time and differing circumstances - Sarah Bone is now a Labour MP, Nick Cane is just released from a five year prison stint for growing and distributing dope. The murder mystery concerns a man acquitted after an appeal which Sarah helped to orchestrate, but who she discovers might be guilty after all. The story takes as its backdrop the 1997 General Election.
This is a strange book. It ought to be dull - nothing very much happens for a long time - but somehow I found it very readable. The characters are quite believable - not particularly original, just ordinary people getting by, although it has to be said that, for a man still on probation, Nick does some pretty stupid things - doing drugs, illegally driving a minicab and not mentioning the suspiciously large loan from an old friend. But for anyone looking for a high-action story, this isn't it. The political tension derives largely from whether Sarah will get re-elected and frankly, the result of the 1997 election isn't much of a secret (spoiler for the three people on the planet who don't know: there was an unprecedented Labour landslide). The personal tension centres on how long the author can have Sarah and Nick catch glimpses of each other or talk on the phone and even make dates without actually meeting up, and then, when they do get together, whether they will actually end up in bed or not.
There's actually more than one mystery burbling away in the background. The foreground one is the double murder of a policeman and his wife, for which local low-life Ed Clark was put away. It actually takes quite a long time before any progress is made on revealing what actually happened, or any other realistic suspects emerge. But in the background are two other mysteries: who sneaked on Nick's dope operation and got him imprisoned, and what is old friend Andrew Saint up to, lending Nick large amounts of money and cosying up to Sarah? Mind you, the snippets of tiny reveals that are dribbled through the book are overshadowed by the vast amounts of time given to the political situation (which would be mildly interesting if we didn't know everything that was going to happen), and the torrid sex lives of various characters. In the end, the solutions to the various mysteries are all a bit of a damp squib.
This is one of those books that has nothing particularly wrong with it - it's well written, well paced and reasonably entertaining - but there isn't anything particularly memorable about it either. Neither the story itself, nor the political background, are quite strong enough to carry it. There is a follow on book, so perhaps this is the first in a series, and it does have the potential to be something meatier. The two main characters are perfectly believable, and their relationship is complex enough to sustain a series. Some of the minor characters - the brother, for instance, and the friend in London - have potential, and the combination of a rising Labour politician with police connections and a brief involving prisons and a dope-smoking ex-con is one that has many possibilities. In particular, it would be interesting if a long-running series could comment on the Labour government, and the slow decline from landslide euphoria to - well, everyone will have their own views on what Blair's lot ended up as. Three stars for this one, but I'd be interested to see where the author takes the concept.
This is a strange book. It ought to be dull - nothing very much happens for a long time - but somehow I found it very readable. The characters are quite believable - not particularly original, just ordinary people getting by, although it has to be said that, for a man still on probation, Nick does some pretty stupid things - doing drugs, illegally driving a minicab and not mentioning the suspiciously large loan from an old friend. But for anyone looking for a high-action story, this isn't it. The political tension derives largely from whether Sarah will get re-elected and frankly, the result of the 1997 election isn't much of a secret (spoiler for the three people on the planet who don't know: there was an unprecedented Labour landslide). The personal tension centres on how long the author can have Sarah and Nick catch glimpses of each other or talk on the phone and even make dates without actually meeting up, and then, when they do get together, whether they will actually end up in bed or not.
There's actually more than one mystery burbling away in the background. The foreground one is the double murder of a policeman and his wife, for which local low-life Ed Clark was put away. It actually takes quite a long time before any progress is made on revealing what actually happened, or any other realistic suspects emerge. But in the background are two other mysteries: who sneaked on Nick's dope operation and got him imprisoned, and what is old friend Andrew Saint up to, lending Nick large amounts of money and cosying up to Sarah? Mind you, the snippets of tiny reveals that are dribbled through the book are overshadowed by the vast amounts of time given to the political situation (which would be mildly interesting if we didn't know everything that was going to happen), and the torrid sex lives of various characters. In the end, the solutions to the various mysteries are all a bit of a damp squib.
This is one of those books that has nothing particularly wrong with it - it's well written, well paced and reasonably entertaining - but there isn't anything particularly memorable about it either. Neither the story itself, nor the political background, are quite strong enough to carry it. There is a follow on book, so perhaps this is the first in a series, and it does have the potential to be something meatier. The two main characters are perfectly believable, and their relationship is complex enough to sustain a series. Some of the minor characters - the brother, for instance, and the friend in London - have potential, and the combination of a rising Labour politician with police connections and a brief involving prisons and a dope-smoking ex-con is one that has many possibilities. In particular, it would be interesting if a long-running series could comment on the Labour government, and the slow decline from landslide euphoria to - well, everyone will have their own views on what Blair's lot ended up as. Three stars for this one, but I'd be interested to see where the author takes the concept.
August 2, 2023
I’d had this book recommended due to its Nottingham milieu which I ended up finding the most interesting part, ooh I recognise that place being my most common reaction. Story wise, though reasonably well written, I didn’t like it much at all. The plot was wafer thin and the denouement disappointing. For me the biggest negative was the misogyny on display, even though it is set 25 years ago the attitudes and behaviour of most of the male characters were severely discomforting.
September 13, 2019
A Good Read.
A very enjoyable read, that kept me hooked. I did guess part of the denouement, but not all of it. Well worth reading.
A very enjoyable read, that kept me hooked. I did guess part of the denouement, but not all of it. Well worth reading.
August 25, 2023
Ineluctable - unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
Ginnel - a narrow passage between buildings; an alley
Meh. I preferred his teen stuff - when I was a teen.
Ginnel - a narrow passage between buildings; an alley
Meh. I preferred his teen stuff - when I was a teen.
July 8, 2011
Reading for The Walk Cafe Book Club, meeting Thursday 28th July at 7pm.
Political crime thriller set in Nottingham, I don't do politics in books and really wasn't looking forward to this, however once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It's not necessarily gritty or fast paced as a crime thriller, however for me the character worked well, giving a sense of time, place and person.
Set against the backdrop of the 1997 general election where Labour won by a landlside majority, it tells the story of Sarah Bone, Nick Cane, and their inter-related pasts and presents to get to the bottom of who murdered a policeman and his wife.
I would definitely read more of Belbin's work, and am only hoping it is the first of others where we see more of the characters.
I am looking forward to the discussion at the end of the month...
Political crime thriller set in Nottingham, I don't do politics in books and really wasn't looking forward to this, however once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It's not necessarily gritty or fast paced as a crime thriller, however for me the character worked well, giving a sense of time, place and person.
Set against the backdrop of the 1997 general election where Labour won by a landlside majority, it tells the story of Sarah Bone, Nick Cane, and their inter-related pasts and presents to get to the bottom of who murdered a policeman and his wife.
I would definitely read more of Belbin's work, and am only hoping it is the first of others where we see more of the characters.
I am looking forward to the discussion at the end of the month...
February 27, 2014
This was on offer for £1 on Kindle. Was the first book I read on Kindle iPad app, and enjoyed the experience.
Liked the fact that I recognised a lot of the settings in the book (being a local lass), the book kept my attention and I stayed up later than I should in order to finish it. Didn't particularly warm to the characters, but overall a good read, and good value for money.
Not particularly interested in reading any of Belbin's other books.
Liked the fact that I recognised a lot of the settings in the book (being a local lass), the book kept my attention and I stayed up later than I should in order to finish it. Didn't particularly warm to the characters, but overall a good read, and good value for money.
Not particularly interested in reading any of Belbin's other books.
July 18, 2011
The Walk Book Club book for July 2011. Meeting on 28th July at 7pm.
I would have preferred it if this was just a crime novel. I found the election stuff boring. Liked reading about places that I know in Nottingham and the caves were mentioned. It didn't take long to read but I don't think I'll read more by this author.
I would have preferred it if this was just a crime novel. I found the election stuff boring. Liked reading about places that I know in Nottingham and the caves were mentioned. It didn't take long to read but I don't think I'll read more by this author.
April 16, 2014
I added this to my to-read list following a brief, but positive review in "The Times", but I was disappointed. To my mind the combination of politics and crime did not work well and although the basic premise was interesting neither the plotting nor the actual writing were strong enough to take it forward so as to be really interesting.
September 6, 2015
Read this book in a day, but it's not overly long. Gave it 3 stars. Yes I enjoyed it but felt the end left me a little cold. No real resolutions or outcomes. Well written and an easy read. Didn't quite get why some characters did what they did even though the author tried to round it all off. But all in all an enjoyable read.
July 1, 2012
Nicely written crime thriller; quite 'gritty' and very British. The politics angle gives it an extra edge, and the characters are interesting and well rounded. The setting - Nottingham, 1997, as Labour win a landslide - is particularly well done.
December 18, 2011
An enjoyable mystery set against the backdrop of the 1997 general election.
June 13, 2011
Good holiday read
Read
July 6, 2012Distressing, yet compelling read.
May 17, 2013
A gripping page turner.
December 22, 2014
Was a bit hesitant to read but once I started I whizzed through it and found it really good. I'm looking forward to reading the follow on .
November 19, 2015
Pretty good novel, a bit of an unsolved crime running through it but not really a thriller, some political context and old/new Labour background - quite enjoyed it
June 25, 2016
Reviews seem to be mixed. For me I really enjoyed the story and it kept me engrossed. Will look out for another story by David Belbin.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews