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GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS
by Mark de Castrique
Poisoned Pen Press, May 2004
324 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 1590581164


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Barry Clayton, a former police officer, has returned home to help his parents run the family business. Clayton and Clayton is the town's funeral home and with his father's declining mental health, Barry must become the public relations person.

Barry has settled into the town pretty well. He has been dating Susan Miller and, excluding concerns about the business, seems to be rather happy. Things change one snowy day, as the removal of a coffin reveals an additional skeleton. This surprise body has a bullet hole through the skull and is not in a coffin.

The body belongs to Samuel Calhoun and there is a picture of Susan in his wallet. Calhoun disappeared several years before and his death threatens the security of the small town -- especially as the gun found near the body belongs to Susan's father. Barry must find the truth about Susan's relationship with Calhoun as this relationship plays a possible role in the murder. And he must also find the murderer before the local police arrest either himself or Susan.

In addition to the murder plot, there are several other subplots that take up equal time. Barry is made an offer on the family business and he must decide what he wants his role in the town to be. He and his mother must also deal with his father's wandering and other behavioral changes. Barry must decide what he wants from his relationship with Susan and whether he has the ability to trust her. And that's not to mention the political ramifications of a possible sex ring involving political figures and underage female prisoners.

GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS is a slow-paced mystery. There is a lot of character development and a lot of attention paid to the inner-workings of the characters' minds. This helps make the characters seem richer; however, it also makes the plot line drag at times. Luckily, the characters are interesting enough that you will continue reading to find out what happens next.

GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS is the second book to feature Barry Clayton.

Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, June 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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