First Sentence: "I want you to put me in jail."

Part-time deputy sheriff Barry Clayton locks his friend Archie in fake jail as a fundraising gimmick during the Apple Festival Parade. Things go wrong when the Grand Marshal, North Carolina's Secretary of Agriculture Graham James, is attacked by a gunman and Barry's Uncle Wayne is critically wounded and the gunman killed. When the license of the gunman is found, less than an hour later, in the pocket of a murdered convenience-store operator, Barry, Archie, and Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins end up working with federal agencies on a case much bigger than they first thought.

de Castrique truly captures the feel of a small town and picks up on the current crises being faced by farmers across the country. Archie is well used as a comedic element in a case that turns from being fairly light to much more serious. Tommy Lee is an excellent balance giving just the right touch of maturity and expertise. The vernacular used by the author helps reinforce the sense of place while avoiding "ah shucks" stereotyping—"I'll pray that God will be with you and that you'll prepare like He won't be."

There's a nice forensic twist. New clues are cleverly, but naturally, introduced. It's interesting learning how the food-stamp card scams work. Later, there is a very well-done circling back of the plot and inclusion of one of those wrinkles one should have seen coming but didn't. de Castrique is very good at tossing in twists without making them feel contrived.

Balancing the case with events in Barry's personal life provides an excellent sense of realism. He engages the full range of the reader's emotions.

It is very interesting how the author does a recap of the events of the case rather as a homicide team would by using a murder board. This technique gives the readers a chance to look at the pieces and come to one's own conclusions. The result is an explosive conclusion followed by a final twist.

"Secret Undertaking" is an enjoyable, and occasionally educational, story with a good blend of the criminal case and domestic events. And who doesn't like a happy ending?

SECRET UNDERTAKING (Pol Proc-Barry Clayton-Gainesboro, NC-Cont) – G+
de Castrique, Mark – 7th in series
Poisoned Pen Press, Sept 2018

I also really enjoy the Sam Blackman myatery series (beginning with Blackman's Coffin) and its emphasis on literature and historical locales or events. Until recently, I did not realize that author Mark de Castrique had another series (Buryin' Barry) which includes the newly released title SECRET UNDERTAKING. Here, the main character is Barry Clayton, undertaker and part-time deputy near Gainesboro, North Carolina. In this new mystery, Barry and Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins set out to solve two – then three – violent murders in the county which appear to be related to convenience stores and an organized food stamp scam, perhaps somehow involving witnesses under federal protection. If it sounds complex, it is; fans of police procedurals will especially like this story. Multiple levels of law enforcement (local, state and federal) are involved, often with overlapping jurisdictions and investigations. This makes it difficult for Barry to know whom to trust and for the reader to follow at times. The Sheriff and Barry cleverly hypothesized several connections, although not offering conjecture on some that I thought were fairly obvious. In any case, we were all fooled with an exciting, surprise ending! Overall, I enjoyed SECRET UNDERTAKING and despite slow development in some spots, I would recommend it, particularly for its likeable characters and folksy, small town charm.

Link in live post: http://www.markdecastrique.com/page0/

It was the first book I read in this series and it was a great read. It's a multilayered book with a main plot and some subplots.
I loved the characters and their personal history as well as I liked the mystery part.
The book's well written and the plot is engaging and unputdownable.
I will surely look for the previous instalments and look forward to reading the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC

Barry Clayton, funeral director and part-time sheriff’s deputy, is once again challenged by personal and professional issues in this seventh Buryin’ Barry Mystery.

First, Barry is approached by friend and insurance agent Archie Donovan to help stage a fund-raising event: Archie is held in jail until $10,000 bail can be raised as contributions to the Gainesboro Boys & Girls Club. Janet Sinclair meets with Barry to explore options for funeral arrangements in New Jersey when she and her husband Robert die. Then, Barry’s Uncle Wayne is injured when he stops Toby McKay’s attempt to murder NC Agricultural Commissioner Graham James during the Apple Festival Parade. Within an hour after the attack on James, kids find Rufus Taylor dead behind the counter of his convenience store with Toby McKay’s EBT card in his pocket. (Electronic Benefits Transfer is the new food stamps program) Sonny McKay, Toby’s son, is arrested that night for being drunk-and-disorderly and put in the cell next to Archie. Having trouble keeping up?

More characters are added to the mix as the NC State Bureau of Investigation initiates an investigation into the attack on Commissioner James. Sonny confides in Archie that some unnamed group is after him since Rufus has been murdered and he ends up dead within days. Collier Crocket, with FNS, is running an investigation into large scale EBT conspiracy and wants Sheriff Lee and Deputy Clayton to back off.
Barry’s mom, Connie, informs Barry that she and Uncle Wayne want to move from the living quarters at the funeral home into Alderway, a retirement community.

There are a lot of threads that Mark de Castrique deftly weaves into an engaging tapestry. Secret Undertaking is a richly layered mystery that is well-conceived and expertly crafted. A good steady pace that picks up as the complexity and suspense grow. As created by Mr. de Castrique, Gainesboro is a comfortable community populated with realistic characters, authentic dialogue and feels like a charming place to visit – especially on the written page.

3.75 stars

This series is quietly pleasurable to read. A lot of Carolina small town charm infuses the mysteries and the main character, Barry Clayton, is a decent and smart man with a lot of integrity.

Barry has an unusual split career: he is an undertaker (the family business) and a part-time deputy sheriff. He was a city detective but moved home when his family needed help. His relationship with his mom and his uncle underline his solid character.

The story begins with several murders in a row -- unusual for this small town. An apple farmer with a grudge tries to shoot a state agricultural official and is instead shot and killed by a brave bystander -- who happens to be Barry's uncle. Then the owner of a convenience store is found shot to death. Soon the investigation broadens into food stamp fraud, mob connections and a mysterious couple who are part of the federal witness protection program. The author does a good job of straightening out the jurisdictional challenges that such a case presents.

Although the plot itself is plausible, the real interest here is the character interaction and gentle humor that accompany the action and crime solving. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another great addition to the “Buryin’ Barry” series. Barry Clayton is a part time deputy sheriff and a full time funeral director. He left his job as a police officer in Charlotte to return home when his father became ill. His family has owned the funeral home in Gainesboro, North Carolina for years and he now takes care of his mother, his uncle and the town. A man is shot during the Apple Festival Parade and Barry’s uncle will be injured protecting the man from being killed. The shooter is killed and Barry and Sheriff Tommy Lee will begin investigating as to why the shooter, who was a member of the community, took this action. The investigation will widen as a store keeper is found murdered. Was the storekeeper involved in stamp card fraud? I have read all of the “Buryin’ Barry” stories and have found them to be enjoyable mysteries with a charming group of interesting characters and the down-home flavor of North Carolina. Mr. de Castrique also writes the “Sam Blackman” mysteries and they are great as well. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

procedural, law-enforcement, friendship, suspense, twisty, murder, the Mob, USA -----

He's a part time funeral director and part time deputy, husband, son, nephew, staunch friend. And he's got a whole lot of firecrackers to juggle. There's the murders, the uncle with a severe concussion sustained while saving a life at the parade, the good friend who gets people in trouble with his inability to keep his mouth shut, the mob, several federal agencies, and then there's the family funeral home. The publisher's blurb gives some more hints, but it's the compelling nature of the characters, the writing, and the suspense that keeps you reading too late. And the plot twists complete with red herrings! Excellent read!
I requested and received a free review copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley and now I have to go find more by this author!

Funeral director and part-time deputy sheriff Barry Clayton reluctantly works with insurance agent Archie Donovan Jr to create a unique fundraising float in Gainesboro's annual Apple Festival Parade. The parade's Grand Marshal, North Carolina Secretary of Agriculture Graham James, is attacked by a gunman and Barry's Uncle Wayne is seriously wounded while confronting the gunman who is killed. The body of convenience store owner Rufus Taylor is found an hour later with the gunman's food stamp card in his wallet. What is the connection between the two dead men? The body count rises as Barry and Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins' investigation draws them into the world of U.S. Marshals and their secretive Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). With the help of Archie, Barry and Tommy Lee go on a secret undertaking to try and find evidence behind a complex food stamp fraud scam and money laundering involving a couple under the WITSEC program.

Although this is the seventh book in the Buryin' Barry mystery series, it was the first book I have read and it was easy to follow the characters and enjoy the North Carolina rural setting.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.