Stone Heart Deep by Paul Bassett Davies
When burned-out investigative journalist Adam Budd’s estranged mother dies, he inherits her estate. This includes Stone Heart House, a huge, ramshackle mansion on a remote Scottish island. He visits the island to sort out her tangled affairs, and at first it seems like a charming haven of tranquillity. But after he witnesses a strange accident, he begins to develop suspicions about the inhabitants.
Why does everyone seem so eerily calm, even under stress? What is stopping Harriet, the lawyer helping him with his affairs, from leaving the island when she so clearly wants to? Is he making a big mistake by falling for her? And why have so many children gone missing?
Stone Heart Deep is a compelling and claustrophobic thriller with a remarkable twist, as if Iain Banks had rewritten The Wicker Man.
About the author
Paul Bassett Davies worked in experimental theatre before moving to television and radio, where he wrote for some of the biggest names in British comedy. He also wrote his own radio sitcom, and scripted several radio plays.
He wrote the screenplay for the 2005 feature animation The Magic Roundabout and has written and produced music videos with Kate Bush and Ken Russell. He is a former creative director of the London Comedy Writers Festival.
His first novel, Utter Folly, topped the Amazon humorous fiction chart in 2012, his second, Dead Writers in Rehab, was published by Unbound in 2017, and his third, Please Do Not Ask for Mercy as a Refusal Often Offends, by Lightning Books in 2020.
Review
This was a captivating read from start to finish - I devoured it in one sitting. I love stuff like this, locked room mysteries, big house settings and weird islanders. I was enthralled with the setting, I could just imagine this so clearly in my mind.
Adam has inherited a house from his mother on a tiny island just off the coast of Scotland and decides to take an visit to sort out the affairs behind it. He is burnt out from an under cover investigation and decides he needs a break so it’s perfect timing. However, as soon as he reaches the island he is involved in an accident and the reaction of the islanders just seem strange. Very abrupt and aloof! Harriet is the lawyer helping him with the house and it’s obvious she doesn’t want to be on the island but has to stay there. As he gets to know her and her son it becomes clear that there is a high child morality rate and it sets his investigative spidey senses tingling!
I really enjoyed this book and especially the character of Adam. I can totally see this as being a film and for me it had vibes of Hot Fuzz mixed with The Wicker Man. Creepy doctor included - he was a great character. The showdown was full of tension and shocks right to the end. I loved the ‘interrogation’ scenes! I do wish there had been a little bit more exploration of Adam’s mother’s character as it would have been useful background. But that’s me just being nosey.
This was a hugely entertaining book to read! I really recommend it.
