Wiki - Cumbria Crime Book 2 - The Mine

Plot:

The Mine follows Detective Inspector Zoe Finch as she investigates the murder of Bernard Dearborn, a wealthy retired miner and businessman in Whitehaven, Cumbria. The investigation uncovers a complex web of environmental activism, local politics, and long-buried secrets, culminating in a dramatic confrontation in an abandoned mine shaft.

The Crime:

Bernard Dearborn is found shot dead at the site of a proposed new coal mine. DI Finch and her team initially suspect environmental activists, including Ryan Tobin and Fatima Coutts-Brennand, who had vandalized security cameras at the site. The investigation reveals that Alice Winstanley, a local councillor and family friend of the victim, killed Dearborn after learning he had abandoned her father to die in a mining accident decades earlier. Winstanley uses Dearborn's own rifle, which she obtains by accessing his house with a spare key.

Sub Plots:

  1. DI Finch investigates potential corruption at the Port of Workington, involving businessman Myron Carter and possibly DI Ralph Streeting. This connects to the disappearance of a witness named Olivia Bagsby.
  2. DS Aaron Keyes secretly investigates the death of Victor Parlick, a port employee he had been cultivating as an informant. Parlick's death is initially ruled accidental but later proves suspicious.
  3. DC Tom Willis struggles with personal and professional issues, including a failing relationship with PC Harriett Barnes and an obsession with proving the guilt of suspects Ryan and Fatima.

Main characters:

  1. DI Zoe Finch
  2. DS Aaron Keyes
  3. DC Tom Willis
  4. DC Nina Kapoor
  5. Alice Winstanley
  6. Bernard Dearborn (victim)
  7. Ryan Tobin
  8. Fatima Coutts-Brennand

Relationship development:

  • Zoe Finch and Aaron Keyes: Develop a stronger working relationship as Keyes confides in Finch about his secret investigation.
  • Tom Willis and Harriett Barnes: Their relationship deteriorates throughout the novel, ending in a breakup.
  • Ryan Tobin and Fatima Coutts-Brennand: Their relationship is tested by the investigation, with Ryan attempting to protect Fatima.
  • Zoe Finch and Tom Willis: Finch mentors Willis, helping him overcome his obsessions and develop as a detective.

Police Corruption and Organised Crime investigation:

The novel hints at wider corruption involving the Port of Workington, businessman Myron Carter, and potentially DI Ralph Streeting. Zoe Finch receives a threatening phone call from her former boss, David Randle, who is in witness protection. This connects to the disappearance of Olivia Bagsby, an artist who witnessed suspicious activities at the port. The destruction of fake evidence planted by Finch suggests high-level involvement in covering up criminal activities. The novel ends with Aaron Keyes potentially locating Olivia Bagsby online, setting up further investigation into the corruption.

DI Zoe Finch:

Introduction:
Detective Inspector Zoe Finch serves as the protagonist and lead investigator in the Cumbria Crime novels.

Overview:
DI Finch is a seasoned detective who recently transferred from Birmingham to Cumbria. She brings her experience in handling complex cases to the rural setting, often navigating local politics and long-held secrets in her investigations.

Background:
Zoe Finch began her career in the West Midlands Police force, rising to the rank of Detective Inspector. She gained notoriety for her involvement in a major organized crime case in Birmingham, known as Operation Canary. This case resulted in the arrest of several high-ranking criminals but also exposed corruption within the police force, including her former boss, David Randle.

Role in this Story:
In the novel, DI Finch leads the investigation into the murder of Bernard Dearborn, a wealthy retired miner. She uncovers connections between the murder and historical mining accidents, local environmental activism, and potential corruption at the Port of Workington. Finch mentors DC Tom Willis throughout the case and builds trust with her team, particularly DS Aaron Keyes. She ultimately solves the murder and apprehends the killer, Alice Winstanley, in a tense confrontation in an abandoned mine shaft.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Zoe Finch
  • Age: Late 30s to early 40s (exact age not specified)
  • Place of Birth: Unspecified (likely Birmingham or surrounding area)
  • Current Residence: Whitehaven, Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: University degree (implied)
  • Occupation: Detective Inspector, Cumbria Police
  • Income Level: Middle class (based on occupation)
  • Relationship Status: In a relationship with Carl (works in Professional Standards)
  • Car: Mini
  • Height: Tall (specific height not given)
  • Build: Fit and athletic (implied by her ability to chase suspects and navigate difficult terrain)
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Not specified
  • Hair colour: Not specified
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: None mentioned
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned

DS Aaron Keyes:

Introduction:
Detective Sergeant Aaron Keyes is a fictional character in the Cumbria Crime series. He serves as a key member of DI Zoe Finch's investigative team.

Overview:
DS Keyes is an experienced detective with deep local knowledge of Cumbria. He balances his professional duties with personal challenges, including marital issues and a secret investigation into corruption at the Port of Workington.

Background:
Aaron Keyes grew up in Cumbria and joined the local police force. He rose through the ranks to become a Detective Sergeant, developing a strong understanding of the area's criminal landscape. Prior to the events of the novel, Keyes began investigating potential corruption at the Port of Workington, cultivating Victor Parlick as an informant.

Role in this Story:
In the novel, DS Keyes assists DI Finch in the investigation of Bernard Dearborn's murder. He provides valuable local insight and conducts interviews with key suspects. Simultaneously, Keyes pursues his own investigation into Victor Parlick's suspicious death, eventually confiding in DI Finch about his activities. He also creates an online persona, Marcia Amato, to search for the missing witness Olivia Bagsby.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Aaron Keyes
  • Age: Mid to late 30s (exact age not specified)
  • Place of Birth: Cumbria (specific location not given)
  • Current Residence: Unspecified location in Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: Police training (specific level not mentioned)
  • Occupation: Detective Sergeant, Cumbria Police
  • Income Level: Middle class
  • Relationship Status: Married to Serge, with a young daughter named Annabel
  • Car: Volvo
  • Height: Not specified
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Build: Not described in detail
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Not specified
  • Hair colour: Not specified
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: None mentioned
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned

DC Tom Willis:

Introduction:
Detective Constable Tom Willis is a fictional character in the Cumbria Crime series. He serves as a junior member of DI Zoe Finch's investigative team.

Overview:
DC Willis is a young, enthusiastic detective who often struggles with personal and professional challenges. He demonstrates a keen interest in technology and forensics but sometimes allows his emotions to cloud his judgment.

Background:
Tom Willis joined the Cumbria Police force as a constable and recently earned his promotion to Detective Constable. He completed advanced interview training prior to the events of the novel, indicating his commitment to improving his skills.

Role in this Story:
In the novel, DC Willis plays a crucial role in interviewing suspects and witnesses, particularly Ryan Tobin and Fatima Coutts-Brennand. He becomes obsessed with proving their guilt, even after evidence points elsewhere. Willis faces a life-threatening situation when Alice Winstanley holds him at gunpoint, but he manages to maintain his composure and assist in her capture. Throughout the investigation, he develops both professionally and personally under DI Finch's mentorship.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Tom Willis
  • Age: Mid to late 20s (exact age not specified)
  • Place of Birth: Unspecified (likely Cumbria)
  • Current Residence: Unspecified location in Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: Police training (specific level not mentioned)
  • Occupation: Detective Constable, Cumbria Police
  • Income Level: Lower middle class
  • Relationship Status: Complicated relationship with PC Harriett Barnes, which ends during the story
  • Car: Unspecified personal vehicle
  • Height: 5 feet 9 inches (mentioned in the story)
  • Weight: Described as having "hardly anything of you" by Alice Winstanley, suggesting a slim build
  • Build: Slim
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Not specified
  • Hair colour: Not specified
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: None mentioned
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned, but experiences claustrophobia during the mine shaft incident

DC Nina Kapoor:

Introduction:
Detective Constable Nina Kapoor is a fictional character in the Cumbria Crime series. She serves as a key member of DI Zoe Finch's investigative team in The Mine.

Overview:
DC Kapoor is a skilled detective who excels in fieldwork and interpersonal interactions. She balances her professional duties with a personal interest in environmental activism, which sometimes creates conflicts in her investigations.

Background:
Nina Kapoor joined the Cumbria Police force and quickly rose to the rank of Detective Constable. Prior to the events of the novel, she survived a life-threatening encounter with a killer, leaving her with a visible scar on her forehead.

Role in this Story:
In the novel, DC Kapoor plays a crucial role in the investigation of Bernard Dearborn's murder. She conducts interviews, analyzes evidence, and provides valuable insights into the local environmental activist community. Kapoor maintains a tracker on DC Tom Willis's phone, which proves crucial during his hostage situation. She also serves as a liaison between the detective team and the forensics department, often clashing with Crime Scene Manager Stella Berry.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Nina Kapoor
  • Age: Late 20s to early 30s (exact age not specified)
  • Place of Birth: Unspecified (likely Cumbria)
  • Current Residence: Unspecified location in Cumbria
  • Nationality: British (of Indian descent)
  • Education Level: Police training (specific level not mentioned)
  • Occupation: Detective Constable, Cumbria Police
  • Income Level: Lower middle class
  • Relationship Status: Single (no romantic relationship mentioned)
  • Car: Ford Fiesta
  • Height: Not specified
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Build: Not described in detail
  • Skin colour: Not specified, but likely brown given her Indian heritage
  • Eye colour: Not specified
  • Hair colour: Dark (implied by her ability to cover her scar with her hair)
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: A thin scar running along the side of her forehead from a previous case
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned besides the scar

Additional notable characteristics:

  • Wears her hair in an Elvis-style quiff as part of her amateur Elvis impersonator hobby
  • Demonstrates a keen eye for detail, often noticing things others miss
  • Shows a strong interest in environmental issues and has connections to local activist groups

Alice Winstanley:

Introduction:
Alice Winstanley is a fictional character in the Cumbria Crime series. She serves as a local councillor and environmental activist in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

Overview:
Alice Winstanley is a prominent figure in the local community, known for her passionate opposition to the proposed new coal mine. She maintains a complex relationship with the victim, Bernard Dearborn, who acted as a father figure to her after her own father's death.

Background:
Alice grew up in Whitehaven, Cumbria. Her father, Howie Winstanley, died in a mining accident in 1984. Bernard Dearborn, a friend of her father's, took on a paternal role in Alice's life following this tragedy. She pursued a career in local politics, becoming a councillor and a vocal environmental activist.

Role in this Story:
In the novel, Alice Winstanley initially appears as a grieving friend of the murder victim, Bernard Dearborn. She provides information to the police and seems cooperative. However, she ultimately emerges as the killer. Alice murders Bernard after learning he had abandoned her father to die in a mining accident decades earlier. She uses Bernard's own rifle, obtained by accessing his house with a spare key. The story climaxes with Alice taking DC Tom Willis hostage and fleeing into an abandoned mine shaft before her eventual capture.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Alice Winstanley
  • Age: Mid-forties (born in 1978)
  • Place of Birth: Whitehaven, Cumbria
  • Current Residence: Whitehaven, Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: University degree (implied by her professional position)
  • Occupation: Local Councillor and Environmental Activist
  • Income Level: Middle class
  • Relationship Status: Single (no romantic relationship mentioned)
  • Car: Unspecified personal vehicle (captured on ANPR camera)
  • Height: Tall (described as nearly as tall as DI Zoe Finch)
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Build: Not described in detail
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Brown, described as "large and open"
  • Hair colour: Dark, mid-length
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: None mentioned
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned

Additional notable characteristics:

  • Demonstrates strong empathy and emotional intelligence
  • Skilled public speaker and community organizer
  • Proficient with firearms, having been taught to shoot by Bernard Dearborn

Bernard Dearborn:

Introduction:
Bernard Dearborn is a fictional character in the Cumbria Crime series. He serves as the murder victim whose death catalyzes the main plot of The Mine.

Overview:
Bernard Dearborn was a wealthy retired miner and businessman in Whitehaven, Cumbria. He gained prominence through his successful haulage business and property investments, and became a vocal supporter of the proposed new coal mine in the area.

Background:
Bernard Dearborn began his career as a miner in Whitehaven. After the mine's closure in 1986, he partnered with Oliver Wearbridge to expand a small haulage business, Wearbridges. Dearborn rapidly grew the company through aggressive business practices. Following Wearbridge's death in an accident, Dearborn sold the company to Myron Carter for a substantial profit. He then focused on property investments and became involved in local politics, particularly advocating for the new coal mine.

Role in this Story:
As the murder victim, Bernard Dearborn's life and relationships form the central mystery of the novel. His death at the proposed mine site initially appears connected to environmental protests. However, the investigation reveals a complex history involving his abandonment of Howie Winstanley in a mining accident decades earlier. This act ultimately leads to his murder by Alice Winstanley, Howie's daughter, whom Bernard had mentored for years.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Bernard Dearborn
  • Age: 75 (born in 1948)
  • Place of Birth: Whitehaven, Cumbria (presumed)
  • Current Residence: Large house near Lamplugh, Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: Not specified, likely minimal formal education beyond school
  • Occupation: Retired businessman, former miner
  • Income Level: Wealthy
  • Relationship Status: Single, never married, no children
  • Car: Electric Jaguar
  • Height: Not specified
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Build: Not described in detail
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Not specified
  • Hair colour: Grey
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: None mentioned
  • Physical ailments or injuries: Post-mortem revealed liver damage consistent with heavy drinking

Additional notable characteristics:

  • Skilled marksman, owned multiple firearms including a rifle and shotgun
  • Described as gruff but kind-hearted by those who knew him well
  • Maintained a photo album chronicling his life and relationships

Ryan Tobin:

Introduction:
Ryan Tobin is a fictional character appears as an environmental activist and suspect in the murder investigation of Bernard Dearborn in The Mine.

Overview:
Ryan Tobin is a vocal and confrontational environmental activist living in a commune near Whitehaven, Cumbria. He has a history of minor criminal activities and maintains a defiant attitude towards authority figures.

Background:
Ryan Tobin grew up in Cumbria and has a criminal record dating back to his youth. At 17, he received a conviction for burglary and served six weeks in a Young Offenders' Institution. In recent years, he has become involved in environmental activism, participating in protests and acts of civil disobedience.

Role in this Story:
Ryan becomes a primary suspect in Bernard Dearborn's murder due to his involvement in vandalizing security cameras at the proposed mine site. He faces intense questioning from the police and initially appears uncooperative. However, he later provides crucial information that helps the investigation. Ryan also attempts to protect his girlfriend, Fatima Coutts-Brennand, from potential charges related to their activist activities.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Ryan Tobin
  • Age: Mid to late 20s (exact age not specified)
  • Place of Birth: Unspecified location in Cumbria
  • Current Residence: Commune near Whitehaven, Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: Not specified
  • Occupation: Environmental activist
  • Income Level: Low
  • Relationship Status: In a relationship with Fatima Coutts-Brennand
  • Vehicle: Lives in a black Renault van (14 plates) with Fatima
  • Height: Approximately 5 feet 10 inches (described as "about five-ten, maybe")
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Build: Not described in detail
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Described as having "small eyes"
  • Hair colour: Dark
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: Broken nose from an altercation with PC Tel Cummings
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned besides the previously broken nose

Additional notable characteristics:

  • Described as having a "weaselly little face" by PC Cummings
  • Demonstrates a confrontational and defiant attitude towards authority figures
  • Skilled in organizing and executing protest actions

Fatima Coutts-Brennand:

Introduction:
Fatima Coutts-Brennand is a fictional character in the Cumbria Crime series. She appears as an environmental activist and suspect in the murder investigation of Bernard Dearborn.

Overview:
Fatima Coutts-Brennand is an intelligent and passionate environmental activist living in a commune near Whitehaven, Cumbria. She combines her academic background with grassroots activism to oppose the proposed new coal mine in the area.

Background:
Fatima originates from Surrey and graduated from Oxford University with an engineering degree. She abandoned a potentially lucrative career to pursue environmental activism. Prior to moving to the commune, Fatima worked for Jenson & Marley Offshore Services in Workington, where she and her partner Ryan Tobin engaged in an act of workplace sabotage as a form of protest.

Role in this Story:
Fatima becomes a suspect in Bernard Dearborn's murder due to her involvement in vandalizing security cameras at the proposed mine site. She faces questioning from the police and appears more cooperative than her partner, Ryan. Fatima inadvertently provides key information to the investigation when she reveals she told Alice Winstanley about the damaged cameras. Throughout the story, she struggles with the balance between her activist ideals and the legal consequences of her actions.

Basic details and Physical Attributes:

  • Name: Fatima Coutts-Brennand
  • Age: Mid to late 20s (exact age not specified)
  • Place of Birth: Surrey, England
  • Current Residence: Commune near Whitehaven, Cumbria
  • Nationality: British
  • Education Level: Oxford University graduate (Engineering)
  • Occupation: Environmental activist
  • Income Level: Low
  • Relationship Status: In a relationship with Ryan Tobin
  • Vehicle: Lives in a black Renault van (14 plates) with Ryan
  • Height: Not specified
  • Weight: Not specified
  • Build: Not described in detail
  • Skin colour: Not specified
  • Eye colour: Not specified
  • Hair colour: Not specified
  • Face shape: Not specified
  • Distinguishing marks: None mentioned
  • Physical ailments or injuries: None mentioned

Additional notable characteristics:

  • Described as more communicative and level-headed than Ryan
  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental causes
  • Struggles with balancing her activist ideals and legal obligations
  • Shows a tendency to follow Ryan's lead in confrontational situations