The Burying Ground

1967, Cumbria.

There's a body in the village graveyard which doesn't belong there. And then it disappears.

Cordelia saw it. Felicity saw it.. The trouble is that nobody belies them....

A story about two women whose lives are poles apart and met under bizarre circumstances. The story takes the reader backwards and forwards between the two of them and evolves around the tragic events at the end of WW2 which happened during the Nazis final retreat. A really well crafted story, thoroughly enjoyable read. Well recommended

The Burying Ground by David Mark
5 Stars
I enjoyed the story - eventually. A fan of this author for some time, it was not in any way what I expected.... and that was my problem.

Starting in one time frame then harking back to earlier time frames, it was somewhat confusing. In many respects the story is a social commentary on life in a small village in post-war England.

Having been a young adult in the earlier period, it read like decades before the era I remembered. However, once I recognised the differences of my urban life and village life, the social attitudes had resonance.

For those who enjoy an insight into that period and the impact WW2 continued to have decades after it ended, this is a must read. I’m not sorry I have read this book but my preference is for the author’s contemporary offerings.

Cumbria, 1967. Grieving the loss of her son, Cordelia Hemlock is in a village graveyard when lightening strikes a tumledown tomb and gives her a glimpse of a new corpse that doesn't belong among the crumbling bones. But when the body vanishes, the authorities refuse to believe her. Cordelia persuades Felicity Goose to join her in her investigation into the missing corpse.

Felicity was the only person along with Cordelia to see the corpse. The villagers are not happy at Cordelia's interference and believe that the village secrets should be kept quiet. The pace is steady 8n this eerie twist filled read. It's descriptivley written. the characters are well rounded and and believable.. I quite like stories setcaround small villages where the locals all stand arm in arm against people trying to change their culture. I will be looking out for this author in future.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Black Thorn and the author David Mark for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.