Synopses & Reviews
Funeral director and part-time sheriff Barry Clayton finds United States Junior Chamber (Jaycee) member Archie Donovan’s request absurd until he learns the casket will be the centerpiece of the Jaycees’ haunted house, a charity event with all proceeds going to the children’s hospital. But when the president of the Jaycees is murdered in the casket on Halloween, the national press descends upon Gainesboro to cover the bizarre crime. Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins assigns Barry to be the lead investigator of a case that presents no motive and no suspects. Then someone fires a shot at Archie Donovan, and Barry wonders whether the victim in the casket had even been the intended target. Barry finds his police work and personal life on a collision course as his ex-wife Rachel comes to town with high hopes of using the story to launch her TV network career. She begins prying into the lives of Gainesboro’s most distinguished citizens and creates a backlash that leaves another body in its wake. Old wounds are ripped open, family rifts exposed, and a criminal enterprise revealed that cuts to the heart of the community. Barry Clayton must follow a trail of clues as winding as a forest path. The unexpected destination: a mountainside of Christmas trees. Somewhere behind these symbols of peace and goodwill lurks a killer. Unmasking him will be a fatal undertaking.
Review
STARRED REVIEW“For readers who enjoy mysteries with a bit more depth, de Castrique offers original plots, strikingly human characters, and a heartwarming portrait of American culture. His writing is to be savored….” –Library Journal on Final Undertaking “De Castrique has married the complexity and fast pace of a police procedural with the folksy setting and lovable characters of a cozy.” Publishers Weekly on Final Undertaking “Strong characters and engaging setting add up to a thoroughly enjoyable yarn.” –Booklist on Final Undertaking
Synopsis
Funeral director and part-time sheriff Barry Clayton lends Jaycee member Archie Donovan a casket to be the centerpiece of a haunted house, the Jaycees’ charity event. But when the organization’s president is murdered in the casket on Halloween, the national press descends upon Gainesboro. The sheriff assigns the case to Barry. Then someone shoots at Archie Donovan, and Barry wonders if the murder victim was even the intended target. Barry must follow a trail of winding clues. The unexpected destination: a mountainside of Christmas trees. Somewhere behind them lurks a killer whose unmasking will be a fatal undertaking.
About the Author
Mark de Castrique writes the Sam Blackman series and Buryin’ Barry series set in the mountains of North Carolina. He has also authored two mysteries for Young Adults. He and his wife Linda divide their time between Charlotte and Asheville. Visit him at www.markdecastrique.com.