Ben and his immediate superior, Diane Fry are drawn into an unusual situation related to a crime that occurred fourteen years ago. Mansell Quinn is being released from the life sentence he was serving for the stabbing death of his lover, Carol Procter. Quinn has shown himself to be a violent man, having assaulted another prisoner without any explanation. According to the present law of the land, life doesn’t really mean life, and Quinn is being released subject to the conditions that he stays away from Derbyshire and report regularly to his parole officer. Because he is deemed no threat to the general population, he can free up valuable prison space and, hopefully, become a productive member of society.

The Derbyshire constabulary has been notified and alerted about Quinn’s imminent release. Detective Inspector Paul Hitchins believes it is inevitable that Quinn will appear shortly on his patch and contentiously brings Fry up to date on the original case. Cooper is very familiar with the case. In fact his father was one of the original investigating officers. Ben is at once eager to be involved in a case that was his father’s, but has an irrational fear that he will find out things about him that he would rather not know.

Quinn’s wife and children still live in the district but have changed their surname to Lowe to avoid dredging up old painful memories associated with the situation. Rebecca Lowe, the wife and mother is contacted by her now grown daughter, Andrea, reminding her mother to keep her doors locked and to take all sorts of precautions against Quinn’s appearance on her doorstep. Unfortunately, Rebecca soon becomes a strangulation victim. Was Rebecca strangled by her former husband, or is the case much more complex? After some years in prison, Quinn rescinded his original guilty plea. Why? What happened to cause him to change his mind?

One Last Breath is the fifth in a series of suspense novels written by Stephen Booth recounting the lives of the members of the Derbyshire Constabulary. Although there are ongoing problems among the police employees, each entry in the series has substantial merit as a tale in its own right. It is certainly more rewarding to know more of the back story to the relationship between Ben and Diane, but not at all critical to the understanding the plot of this novel. In fact, were one to read this novel first, it would undoubtedly peak one’s interest in the books that have preceded it.

Although this volume is marketed as a suspense novel, it has much more “meat” in it than a casual beach read. Booth has exercised considerable care in the development of his characters. They are fleshed out as real people with all the warts and moles that humans have. The interaction between Diane and Ben is thorny and not at all predictable. Because the characters are presented in numerous diverse scenes the plot develops slowly and it is important to remember the details of Mr. Booth’s description. His carefully placed clues make it possible to solve the mystery in the style of Agatha Christie, but it is not so glaringly obvious as to be an insult to one’s intelligence.

The reader is also treated to a vivid description of the Derbyshire terrain and tourist attractions. The geology of the region is discussed as well as a turn by turn account of Peaks Cavern. Spelunkers will be attracted to the cavern, while those with a dislike of being underground will only find their feelings justified and enhanced. The opening chapter which describes Ben’s adventure in the cavern is sure to elicit a reaction from any reader.

Booth appeals to the more intellectual reader as well citing Ben Jonson’s poem relating to the cavern. For the not so erudite reader he offers his explanation of how the poem relates to the situation described in his novel. At any rate, the reader has ample opportunity to exercise his intellectual muscles while being treated to an intricately worked mystery.

Several plot devices are utilized to connect the events of the original crime in 1990 with the present day (2004). Excerpts of statements made at the original trial of Mansell Quinn are set in different typefaces, and italicized portion indicate the thought processes of different (often unidentified) people. It is also interesting to note the difference in methods of criminal investigation that have taken place in a fourteen year period.

Stephen Booth has won several awards for this series featuring Ben Cooper and Diane Fry including two Barry Awards. Black Dog, the first in the series was nominated for an Anthony and the second, Dancing with the Virgins was nominated for A British Gold Dagger. It is easy to see why experts in the field of mystery fiction consider Booth one of the best British writers.

--Andy Plonka