More than 20 years ago 2 young boys went missing and were never seen again. Since then, their teacher has been in jail, convicted of their murders. All these years he has refused to say anything about the crimes but suddenly he wants to tell his story but will only speak to Guy..You might want to have a large box of tissues nearby because this is an emotional read. And be prepared for a long night if.you're reading this in bed, there's no way you will be able to put this one down before the very last page.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

★★★★ 4.5 stars

The third in Kerry Wilkinson's new Whitecliff Bay mysteries series, THE ONES WHO ARE BURIED is so far my favourite of the three as each one has progressively gotten better. Maybe that's because the characters are evolving more and we are learning a little more about them or whether the mysteries are more interesting...I don't know. But this one also ended on something of a cliffhanger. And one I'm itching to find out more about...

Millie and Guy have been asked to accompany the police, a killer and the prison officers guarding him up to the moors in the hope that Kevin Ashworth will finally reveal the final resting place of the two boys he went to prison for killing nearly three decades before. He's never told them where they are buried and their bodies have never been found, leaving the families without closure. But now Ashworth wants to talk...but only to Guy Rushden.

Ashworth leads them to a remote clearing on the moors where a discovery is made. But not one they were expecting. Millie and Guy continue to ponder over the mystery and what this latest discovery means and if Ashworth will ever truly reveal the whereabouts of the missing boys' bodies.

Meanwhile, Guy and Millie have been tasked with a delicate investigation of sorts for a former girl band member, Zoe. It seems a very large and very revealing photo of her has been stolen from her house and Zoe doesn't want the police involved as that will surely mean publicity which is the last thing she wants. Guy doesn't do investigating, he reports but Millie steps up and offers to help find the missing photo. She keeps Guy updated but in the end proves her worth and that she really is a natural when she acts on a hunch which proves right. Well done, Millie!

The ongoing saga of Millie's acrimonious relationship with her ex Alex and his horrid fiance Rachel continues but in this installment they up the ante. Their wedding is finally going ahead...on Christmas Eve, of all days...and what a spectacular event that turns out to be! In more ways than one. But I can't help but feel things have only been made worse for Millie who, actually, hasn't done anything. Rachel is just purely spiteful for spite's sake and just couldn't resist having the last word which I fear will come back to bite Millie.

But in the midst of all this, Millie meets someone. Someone she thinks she could like...that she may even like, should she dare. Luke is down to earth, funny and isn't at all bothered by what other people think or what they think they know. He likes Millie, and it's as simple as that.

We see more of Jack and Rishi, who have now adopted a four year old boy Isaac...which comes with a whole new set of problems. And then there is the mystery of Millie's parents' suicide. Did they really make a pact? Or was Millie somehow involved? The water continue to be murky in this regard but more questions are raised leaving the reader pondering if she really is guilty or innocent. There are loads more secrets that we are drip-fed, including the cliffhanger ending. Didn't see that one coming...which totally blindsided the questions that were raised leading up to that moment.

So now having read all three books this one is my favourite of them so far. I love the character development between them all - the love, the hate, the laughter, the angst. And of course Kerry's witty prose keeps me coming back for more. I love that Guy featured more in this story. He really is a loveable character. While Millie is still an enigma.

For new readers, I recommend beginning with the first book "The One Who Fell" followed by "The One Who Was Taken" before delving into this one. While each one has a standalone story and mystery, the underlying themes throughout continue to develop and readers would miss that without starting from the beginning.

So now I have a conundrum. Do I move on to my next read (which is not by Kerry) or do I go with the fourth installment of this exciting new series (of which I do have a copy already)? And if I do, will I finish it in time before I need to finish my next read? Decisions decisions...

I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheOnesWhoAreBuried in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Review:

This is the third book in the series, and hats off to Kerry, he keeps ỏn surprising the reader with more revelations! I think it could be read as a stand alone, but, I think it’s such a good series, and to get to know all the characters it’s best to read ít chronically.

This time is about a teacher who is in prison for the disappearance of two boys and he’s never said where they are. He will only confide in Millie and Guy and along with another case that Millie is investigating it’s quite harrowing and of course close to home for Millie as she has a young son herself.

What follows is an exciting plot, the outcome of which surprised me, and I did feel terribly sad by it all.

Then, we have the “wedding of the year” and what a laugh, I think I would have polished off the delightful Alex & Rachel myself, and I’m hoping as the series goes on, someone somewhere will get one over on this despicable pair.

I have to say, I’ve read all of Kerry’s books over the years, Jessica Daniel and Andrew Hunter being my favourites, but this series is excellent, and I’m hoping that there’s a lot more books being penned as it is just a fabulous series without being too gruesome

My thanks to Kerry, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Another great addition to the Whitecliff Bay series, in fact probably the best one yet. I like the main characters and their interaction with each other despite the big age gap they make a formidable duo. I really hope she gets her wish with Eric so they can be a happy family. Some twists and turns of sleuthing and family everyday life make for an enjoyable read. I can't wait to read the next book.

The third in the Whitecliff Bay Mysteries and for me the best so far. I have now got to know all the main characters who are all interesting in various ways. Their back stories are revealed gradually and leave you wanting to know more. In this story Millie and Guy find themselves involved in the disappearance of two boys that happened many years previously. Their notorious perpetrator is in prison but has never revealed where the boys are. He then asks to see Guy and to show him something buried on the moors. The request is granted and an unlikely group are shown to a spot where the digging starts. More questions than answers then begin a complex and frustrating investigation to finally uncover the truth. Meanwhile Millie has a mystery of her own when Zoe, a former pop star asks her to find a very personal item that has gone missing from her home. In the lead up to Christmas Millie especially has some difficult moments to deal with but seems to be growing stronger and more able to cope with all her previous traumatic experiences. This stand alone story should be read as part of the series to have maximum enjoyment but previous books are briefly referred to which makes it possible to read as a single book. However, I’m really enjoying these delightful new mysteries and can’t wait to read what Millie, Guy and the others get up to next time.

This is bt far the best of the series so far! It's fast paced and the mystery is intriguing. I love the character development of Millie. And for me Eric was the star of this one. I'm anxious for some karma to hit a particular character. I'm completely invested in the ongoing plot surrounding Millie's parents. By the end it felt like a lot of things are coming to a head and I can't wait to see how so many things play out!

Firstly I do recommend you start with The One Who Fell and The One Who Was Taken. All released at the same time.
If you haven't already read the previous books, or if you haven't read my reviews of them, I will repeat...
Warning! This publisher is renown for back filling books with ads etc. The copy I read ended VERY early. So you don't get caught out, I would really recommend that you find out where the story ends in the version you are reading before you start!
Also, this author has a passion for cliffhangers. I hate them, I see them as nothing but unnecessary blackmail and totally avoidable. But I also like his books so I guess I have to suck it up!
Right, that's that done.
The ongoing exploits of Millie. Book two has her rejoining society after being shunned - the MP thing. This time it is Guy who is really the focus of the story as it is he that currently incarcerated Kevin Ashworth has chosen to join in an outing to show where the bodies are buried. The bodies of the two young boys he is in prison for abducting and murdering. Although to this day, his motive remains unclear. Guy insists that Millie joins them, their partnership having grown since the opener. And so, off they all trek, Kevin, Guy, Millie and a whole cast of cops. But what they dig up confuses them...
As well as that confusion, we also have the ongoing saga of what happened to Millie's parents, the suicide pact, or did she have a hand in it. More secrets are being drip fed by the author. And we also have Millie's relationship with ex, his new partner, and her son.
And, included for comedy, and to showcase the author's excellent people watching and general observational skills, we have a pop star and a missing photo... chuckles all the way here - light relief from the dark main story.
Now I have read all three books I have received, the decision to carry on looms. It has pluses and minuses but, on balance, the author's style of writing wins the day and so, yeah, roll on book four please...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

WhiteCliff Bay Mystery Book 3

Up on the desolate moor, she tightens her coat against the bitter wind. The man she followed here points to a rock embedded in the mossy earth. "This is the place," But when they dig, what will they find?

Everyone in the small town of Whitecliff knows the name Kevin Ashworth. Two boys disappeared thirty years ago - and although local teacher Kevin never admitted to knowing where their bodies are, he's been in prison ever since. Now, Kevin is finally ready to talk, but only to amateur sleuth Millie Westlake and Journalist Guy Rushden. With the families of the boys desperate for answers, Guy and Millie are led to a lonely spot on the moors above Whitecliff.

Thirty years ago, Kevin Ashworth went to prison after two boys in his care went missing. Kevin was accused of murdering them even though their bodies were never found. But not all is as it seems when Millie and Guy get involved. They are the only people Kevin will talk to.

This was my favourite book of the series so far. The characters are well developed, and I've really liked getting a little more backstory in each new book. Millie is also helping a local celebrity find a missing print that important to her. This is a tense and thrilling read. The pace is fast, and I didn't want to put the book down. The story ends with a cliffhanger, which seems to be what going to happen in the series, but The Ones Who Are Hidden is out in May, so we don't have too long to wait.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #TheOnesWhoAreBuried in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Ones Who Are Buried’, the third in the Whitecliff Bay Mystery series written by Kerry Wilkinson, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Kevin Ashworth, teacher and sports coach, takes eight-year-old Wesley and Shaun to a football match in his car. When the boys don’t return home the police find Ashworth hiding on the moor but neither his car nor the boys can be found. Ashworth has now spent the last thirty years in prison and he’s now offering to say where the boys are but will only tell local retired news journalist Guy Rushden accompanied by his assistant Millie Westlake.

Having read the two previous books in the series I haven’t been disappointed with ‘The Ones Who Are Buried’ that has all the suspense I’ve been hoping for, and I’ve enjoyed once again getting involved with Millie and Gus who’ve somehow formed an unlikely investigative duo. I love the characters of Gus and Millie and the cases they’ve getting involved in, while meeting her friends Jack and Rishi’s adopted four-year-old son Isaac. This is another gentle and involving mystery novel that’s gripped me from page one and as there are still unsolved threads in the story I’m very much looking forward to the next in the series.

The Ones Who Are Buried by Kerry Wilkinson

Published: April 17, 2023
Bookouture
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 365
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Kerry Wilkinson is originally from the county of Somerset; Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel.' When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

“And they pretended everything was fine.”

Millie finds herself caught in another situation with Guy, but her perspective has shifted a bit. She also finds herself on the doorstep of a former pop star who has a delicate problem she needs help with. And Alex and Rachel’s wedding is happening. With all of this chaos, will the truth be discovered?

This book was wild. So much happened; we got more history and new situations.

I still really like Millie. She seems like such a genuine human, her compassion is beautiful, and she is likable. I enjoyed getting to know Eric more; he’s a great character. And I love that he is his mom's advocate.

We get more of Jack and Rish and, of course, Guy. The way this plot unravels is bananas. I love how Kerry tells a story. The descriptions are so beautifully done, and the scenery is so vivid. I could almost feel the cold breeze on the moor.

I am so invested in this series, and I am bummed I have to wait for book four. Kerry and Bookouture spoiled us by having books 1 through 3 ready simultaneously. This series is so wickedly addictive, with so many twists and turns. I cannot wait to see what book four has in store!

Setting the Scene; Two 8 year old boys disappeared 30 years ago, and local teacher and coach Kevin Ashworth has been in prison since. He has never disclosed what happened nor where the boys are, but now he wants to talk but only with Guy Rushden and Millie Westlake. Ashworth leads them on a strange journey out on the moors around Whitecliff Bay, but what they find leads to more questions.

What I Thought: After slogging through the first two books in this series, this one finally provided some respite from Millie's pathetic existence. There are signs that she may finally be ready to step outside of the bleak life in which she has existed for several years. Guy's escapades provide some mental stimulation and an almost parental relationship she never had. Her relationship with Nicola is developing, and there may even be a new guy in her life, maybe. The situation with her son remains much the same, but as Millie allows herself to enter the world of the living once again, perhaps that will change, as well. In this series, nothing happens quickly, by any means; and there may be new complications pertaining to her parents' suicide, alleged suicide (?). Millie's world seems to be one of one step forward, two steps backward. I don't know if I will read the 4th book when it is released. This series seems to have the same affect as watching a train wreck. You don't really want to watch but you feel compelled to do so. Having said that, this book is well written, and there are those to whom this book and series will appeal.

This is a series which keeps getting better with each book. I started this the day after finishing book 2 and again read it in one sitting.

Yet again Millie and Guy find themselves embroiled in something with links to the past. As they try to uncover the truth they have a lot to work through.

I honestly love this series, and the characters of Millie and Guy so much. I can’t wait for more.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Absolutely amazing. This series quickly became one of my favourites. The characters are simply perfect. The plot was a perfect combo of suspense, mystery and drama. This is one of those books where I am sad to get to the end. I’m glad to see more of this series will come. Wonderfully written and captivating. Twisty and turny with a dash of everyday life.

Still found this series hard to get into in places but am glad I read all the books in the series. Not real keen to read more by this author at this stage.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of The Ones Who Are Buried by Kerry Wilkinson in return for my honest review. This is the third book in the Whitecliff Bay Mystery series and my favourite one of the series so far, these books just keep getting better, I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next instalment. I highly recommend reading this series if you enjoy really likeable characters that start to feel like family members and intriguing stories.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Ones Who Are Buried, the third novel to feature dog groomer and occasional local news blogger, Millie Westlake, set in the fictional English coastal town of Whitecliff.

Thirty years ago two young boys disappeared, last seen with teacher and football coach, Kevin Ashworth. He was jailed for murder and has refused until now to reveal the location of the bodies, but he will only talk to journalist Guy Rushden and Millie.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Ones Who Are Buried, which is a story of secrets and sadness, with a dash of humour to lighten the load. It is told from Millie’s point of view so the reader can get immersed in the tale she has to tell and take her side in her tumultuous personal life, although not too much as she is still keeping secrets about her parents’ suicides. Half the town thinks she killed them and she’s not saying and if they’re not talking about that they’re talking about her very public affair and subsequent divorce.

The plot is relatively straightforward in that Kevin Ashworth has a story to tell, but he’s not giving it up without detours, so there are extra steps before the main event, which is easily guessable. That’s not the point though, as the novel is all about the people. It’s about Millie and her relationship with her son, it’s about her growth as a person and her acceptance of friends and it’s about Kevin Ashworth and the harm his silence did to the parents of the missing boys. It packs an emotional punch. Then there’s the side plot of a former pop star and her stolen photograph. That made me laugh, but it has a certain pathos with a young woman washed up before her 30th birthday.

The star of the show undoubtedly is Millie’s son, Eric, who has an indisputable skill for getting his own way in a very creative manner, the wedding debacle made me laugh after a moment of stunned horror. And no, I’m not going to explain that further because it would spoil the fun, but it’s worth the read.

The Ones Who Are Buried is a fun read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to bookouture and netgalley for letting me review an early copy of this title. I haved loved all 3 of the whitecliff bay series.
Two boys went missing nearly 30 years ago. Kevin Ashworth was in prison even though he had never admitted to knowing where the bodies were buried.. Kevin will only speak to guy and millie. Will kevin Ashworth take them to the spot on the moors? Did he do it? As the case unfolds, maybe the town of whitecliff have more secrets than first thought. Will guy and millie find the truth? Couldnt put this down. Highley recommend

Oh my goodness, these books are getting better and better. Another cliffhanger ending means I am desperate to read the next book. I am so invested in Millie, her friends and her son. Great book.

The Ones Who Are Buried is book 3 in A Whitecliff Bay Mystery series by Kerry Wilkinson.
This was a such a perfect follow up to the two previous stories.
I enjoyed everything this book had to offer.
The story is intriguing. The writing is great. The characters are well written.
And this mystery will have you up late wanting to see exactly how this story is going to play out.
A well-crafted mystery that keeps you guessing.
An addictive murder mystery that left me wanting more.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Great book and series! This book was awesome! It had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!