Who would say that such an unassuming book is such a delight? I was not ready for this underdog - based on a cover, I thought it would be a mediocre mystery. Yet this one is a fierce Ozarks noir, firing on all cylindres. A tough-as-nails heroine (and believable as such, which is not always the case!) with a hell of a personal story is fighting crime in her mountain county while meeting love after the long time of painful solitude. Yeah, I know - but this baby will fight your prejudices strongly and convert you into a fan quickly. In my case, it had me literally on the first sentence.
But, be warned - while this is a police procedural (and not bad), it is much more - a strong psychological story. Katrina´s own demons are realistic, her protective mechanisms are believable and all her tendencies to live under the weight of her past are so raw and conectable in their effects, that one can only admire the maturity and vulnerability of the author here for the understanding of the depth of the human soul. My respect.
And the lovely sidekicks of the Dad&Uncle team! And sheriff, Billy and all the community of the salt-of-the-earth people. While not a fan of Nelson much (or, more eloquently, the way he is written - he is simply in the shadow of Katrina, a manly "prop" of sorts, even if it is done smartly), I see how can he catch her eye.

All in all, this is a firestarter and now I am devoted follower of this series. Well done.

A LIVING GRAVE was extremely well thought out and the characters were very well developed. I really appreciated Dunn's character creations and how they stayed true to form. There were unexpected twists and turns to the storyline that made for an exceptional read.

A Living Grave was a pacy and considered thriller with a truly intriguing main protagonist in Katrina (known rather aptly as “Hurricane”) one I thoroughly enjoyed and was a great entry read into what is a three book series.

This is a story where the past comes back to haunt the present and the present ain’t that great either – it is a completely compelling read especially as you begin to realise the demons Katrina is facing. The cast of characters are all beautifully drawn, her relationships with those around her are engaging and the writing is gritty and realistic and cleverly immersive.

The mystery element is great – the author weaves the small town vibe around the central themes very well, Katrina’s issues are emotionally resonant and hard hitting, with an authentic edge that digs deep. Admittedly I was more taken with her back story and the current problems she is facing in relation to that than I was with the murder she is investigating – but that took a tumultuous turn that was absolutely riveting. The eventual resolution is cleverly heart wrenching so overall both strands of the story work well together to make a banging good read.

Yes I liked it. I’ll be reading the others as soon as I can find time..

Recommended.

I have been a fan of Robert E. Dunn's work ever since I discovered his alien abduction horror novel "Behind The Darkness" through Hunter Shea's blog. Since then I have gone on to read all of his other published works like
"Motorman" and "The Red Highway". One of the things that impresses me the most about Dunn's work is his versatility to write in multiple genres. He has already tackled horror and sci-fi and now with "A Living Grave" Dunn explores the mystery genre.

"A Living Grave" introduces readers to Katrina Williams, a detective for the Taney County Sheriff's Department who has demons lurking in her past. and struggles with PTSD from her time in the military. While attending mandatory therapy sessions and dealing with the fallout from her dismissal from the Army, she gets a case where a local girl is found brutally murdered. As she begins digging for clues, she comes across a criminal web with bootlegging, motorcycle gangs and a ton of other headaches. Katrina must race to untangle the mystery of what happened to the girl while avoiding the dangers swiriling around her at every turn.

In "A Living Darkness", Robert Dunn creates a memorable character in Katrina Williams. She is kind of a rogue, and occasionally takes justice into her own hands like when she beat up an abusive husband earlier in her career. She is a certified badass and that is what initially will draw readers in. However, you learn more about Katrina as the novel goes on and you connect with her on a deeper level when you see what kind of hellish torture she had to endure and how that has impacted her life. With every little step she makes in coming to terms with what happened to her, you can't help but cheer her on.

I also love Dunn's decision to set the story in the Ozarks and he uses rich sensory detail and extensive history to bring the town to life. While I can enjoy all types of settings in crime fiction, I tend to lean towards more rural-based settings and Dunn knocks this one out of the park. I also liked his nods to his horror works and the way he made the procedural parts of police work authentic. Great characters and an engaging, complex plot make this a series worth keeping an eye on!

A young girls body is found in the Ozarks and Detective Katrina "Hurricane" Williams is the one that is first called when the body is found.
Katrina has lots of back story in this book. She really doesn't like her nick-name of Hurricane..but my mind totally went here. (And yes I know that she is called that because of her first name..but I'm old. Humor me.)


Katrina has lots of issues. She was in the Army but some very, super bad, ugly stuff happened and now she isn't. The Army didn't believe her version of the events that traumatized her either. *insert bad word of your own choosing right here.*
She does like her job but is forced to go to counseling because of her past. Hurricane's past is shaping her future too though. She reacts with either drinking or beating the crap out of anyone that gives her grief.


Pure love for this character. There is a ton of backstory on her so you get to know her..kinda too much honestly because the talky-talky is high in this book. I did feel like it rambled on way more than was needed.

There is lots of juicy goodness besides the main character..like moonshine, bikers, and violence.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.