Grave Undertaking 
By Mark de Castrique

      In “Grave Undertaking,” author Mark de Castrique offers the second in a mystery series featuring reluctant sleuth Barry Clayton. When his father began showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (called “Old-Timers” by locals), Clayton left his job on the Charlotte, N.C., police force to manage the family’s funeral home business in Laurel County. Part of the book’s appeal is its presentation of the challenging-but-honest lifestyle in the rural Appalachians, though Laurel County is well-wired with modern mass media, plagued by reckless teens driving souped-up cars, and even here, murder sometimes happens.

       The mystery begins when Clayton supervises the exhumation of a 30-year-old grave in order to move the casket to the family plot. Though not routine, the job isn’t sinister until the gravediggers uncover skeletal remains buried in the same grave as its legitimate occupant. A search of the bones reveals a bullet hole in the skull, and the tattered clothing includes a wallet with ID and the photo of Dr. Susan Miller, who just happens to be Barry Clayton’s lover. The harsh light of suspicion falls upon Susan, Clayton, and maybe even local police as the mystery unfolds, with an attempted cover-up claiming two more victims. Meanwhile, an Atlanta-based funeral chain makes an offer for the family business, forcing Clayton to decide whether or not to trade in his down-home values for the promise of corporate security.

       “Grave Undertaking” provides some surprising twists and turns, along with a cast of characters who represent an interesting blend of city and country, but never cardboard stereotypes. Touches of both humor and tragedy highlight the story. Recommended reading for mystery buffs.