First Chapter ~ First Paragraph (December 13)

Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.

My opener this week is from The Facts of Life and Death by Belinda Bauer, the only one of this author’s books that I haven’t read, there is no reason, especially since I’ve owned my copy since February 2015. Anyway having enjoyed her latest book The Beautiful Dead so much, I decided it was high time I got around to reading it!

Blurb

On the beaches and cliffs of North Devon, young women have become victims in a terrifying game where only one player knows the rules. And when those rules change, the new game is Murder.

But a madman on the loose feels very far from the crumbling, seaside home of ten-year-old Ruby Trick. Instead she lives in constant fear of school bullies, the dark forest, and the threat of her parents’ divorce.

Helping her father to catch the killer seems like the only way to keep him close.

As long as the killer doesn’t catch her first. Amazon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro

1

It hadn’t stopped raining all summer, and the narrow stream that divided Limeburn ran deeper than Ruby Trick had seen it in all of the ten years she’d been alive.
The ditch that marked the crease in the gorge usually held a foot of tumbling, tuneful water. Enough to wet your knees but not your knickers.
But this summer was different. This summer the sun had only shone apologetically through short gaps in the Devonshire clouds, and the stream was fast and deep and dark. And although Adam Braund could still jump from one mossy bank to the other if he had a run up, the children all gathered to watch him now because if he fell in, it was just possible that he might drown.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I really think I’m going to enjoy this. Belinda Bauer has a brilliant way with words. I don’t know about you but I can picture that stream and can only wonder what will happen next to poor Ruby.

So… would you keep reading? Please leave your thoughts in the comments box below.