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First
Sentence: They called it Bloody Bridge.
It's
called Bloody Bridge because of its past. However, that past
has come forward into the present for Sebastian St. Cyr, when
a wealthy, prominent plantation owner is found there decapitated.
Near the body is an old coffin strap bearing the name of Charles
Stuart, the 17th century king who was beheaded. St. Cyr's
father in law has promised the Prince Regent that he may be
the first official witness to the newly uncovered tomb of
Henry VIII, Jane Seymour and the casket of Charles I. One
problem; someone broken into the Charles coffin and stole
his head. With the help of his wife, Hero; author Jane Austen,
and her brother, St. Cyr must make thing right before the
King realizes something is wrong.
Harris
really knows how to write a compelling first chapter. This
one is particularly good. Better, still, she starts off strong
and just keeps going.
There
are very good introductions to the various characters and
excellent descriptions which create a strong sense of time
and place. She has a wonderful diversity of characters, from
those in positions of power and wealth, all the way to the
poor and to those who work with the dead. In each case, Harris
gives us a good sense of who they are and who they each relate
to the story and to one another.
Harris
has a great voice. She creates wonderful analogies, "It
often seemed to Sebastian that trying to solve a murder was
sometimes akin to approaching a figure in the mist."
Her dialogue, occasionally imbued with a touch of humor, "Someone
cut off his head." "Good heavens. How terribly gauche."
"Frightfully so…." is a pleasure to read.
The story
contains fascinating historical references such as those related
to England's slave trade and their attitude toward it. Such
elements add veracity to the story. Through Hero, Sebastian's
wife, we gain a picture of the period and the live of those
just struggling to get by and do for themselves. "But
she knew now that she had never appreciated just how thin
the line between survival and starvation was for a vast segment
of London's population." The information on the costermongers
and the mentality of collectors, as well as that about the
deaths of past kings, is informative and educational, yet
seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story.
The characters
of Sebastian and Hero are rather romanticized and larger-than-life,
but the other characters, including Jane Austin and her brother
used in a very appropriate manner, balance them out nicely
and you're left truly with a mystery, rather than a romance.
Who
Buries the Dead is a very good read; with suspense,
history, and a touch of romance. It is a wonderful book in
a wonderful series.
Reviews
of other titles in the series
What
Angels Fear # 1
When
Gods Die # 2
Where
Serpents Sleep # 4
Where
Shadows Dance # 6
When Maidens Mourn #7 [review
1] [review
2]
What
Darkness Brings #8
Why Kings Confess # 9 [review
1] [review
2]
Who
Buries the Dead
#10 [review
1] [review
2]
When
Falcons Fall
#11
Who
Slays the Wicked #14
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