Claws (Crime Express)

"The bones were tiny. They lay in his hand like a set of pearls, translucent and fragile. When he turned them to the light, he could see their fractured ends and hollow cores. They were light as a feather, as brittle as chalk. And as easy to break as a straw..." CLAWS is a short novella from award-winning British crime writer Stephen Booth, featuring one of his main series characters, Detective Constable Ben Cooper, on assignment to the Derbyshire Rural Crime Squad and tackling the problems of wildlife crime.In the wild crags of the Dark Peak moorland, a ruthless conflict has been raging for years. The discovery of an illegal haul from the bedroom of a terraced house is a clue to what might be at stake - perhaps the entire future of one of the most prized landscapes in the Peak District National Park.For Ben Cooper, his assignment to the Rural Crime Squad means stepping into the middle of the conflict, without being quite sure whose side he's on.The predators come in all shapes and sizes. And in this battle, not all the victims will be human...The Cooper & Fry series has won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, including two Barry Awards for Best British Crime Novel and the Dagger in the Library for "the author whose books have given readers most pleasure". Stephen Booth has also been a Gold Dagger finalist, an Anthony nominee, and twice shortlisted for the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year. DC Cooper reached the finals of the Sherlock Award for best detective created by a British author. There are 11 full-length novels in the series, the latest being THE DEVIL'S EDGE."Booth is a modern master of rural noir" - The Guardian"One of the elite British mystery writers" - Washington Times"There are few, if any, contemporary writers who do this as well as Stephen Booth" - Arena Magazine"Booth delivers some of the best crime fiction in the UK" - Manchester Evening News