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Thomas Berrington Tudor Mystery #3
The Hidden Dead
A mysterious relic. Bones that do not belong. A Church in chaos.
Settling into life near Ludlow, Thomas Berrington wants only to move the bones of his ancestors to land he owns. But while excavating them, Thomas and his children make a shocking discovery. Someone has already opened the graves and added the bodies of two children.
Seeking to make sense of the extra bones Thomas begins to investigate, only to be told to stop by the local coroner. When more bodies are discovered Thomas ignores orders and carries on. Only to come up against the might of the Catholic church.
Can Thomas discover who is behind the mysterious bones, or will he and his family join them?
Settling into life near Ludlow, Thomas Berrington wants only to move the bones of his ancestors to land he owns. But while excavating them, Thomas and his children make a shocking discovery. Someone has already opened the graves and added the bodies of two children.
Seeking to make sense of the extra bones Thomas begins to investigate, only to be told to stop by the local coroner. When more bodies are discovered Thomas ignores orders and carries on. Only to come up against the might of the Catholic church.
Can Thomas discover who is behind the mysterious bones, or will he and his family join them?
- GenresHistorical FictionCrime
415 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2023
212 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
David Penny
18 books122 followersBorn in London in 1950, David Penny began writing at a tender age after moving to Mid Wales. Initially obsessed with all things science-fiction he read avidly and wrote even more. His first publications came at the age of seventeen in small fanzines. At the age of twenty-three a short story was accepted by Galaxy magazine – his first payment for writing. This was followed by appearances in the UK magazine Vertex. At the age of 24 his first novel, The Sunset People, was accepted for publication by Robert Hale and David was taken on by the Leslie Flood Literary Agency. Three other science fiction novels followed: Starchant, Out of Time and Sunshine 43.
David enjoyed a dissipated and wasteful (but not wasted) youth, doing little other than writing, growing his hair (a pursuit sadly no longer available to him) and following an alternative lifestyle. Into such an idyllic existence real life rudely interrupted, and David spent the next 35+ years in a variety of jobs, eventually running his own software company.
As the years wore on he missed writing more and more, and eventually returned to it.
The Red Hill is his first novel in 35 years and introduces the surgeon-detective Thomas Berrington.
David enjoyed a dissipated and wasteful (but not wasted) youth, doing little other than writing, growing his hair (a pursuit sadly no longer available to him) and following an alternative lifestyle. Into such an idyllic existence real life rudely interrupted, and David spent the next 35+ years in a variety of jobs, eventually running his own software company.
As the years wore on he missed writing more and more, and eventually returned to it.
The Red Hill is his first novel in 35 years and introduces the surgeon-detective Thomas Berrington.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 28, 2023
WOW , I so enjoy reading about Tom an his family. To tell the truth about four or five months after I read the last book I go hunting for the next. There is so much detail in the telling of Thomas life, where he lives, his family an friends, how much they love each other. To top it all off the mystery that unfolds before them all.
David Penny all I can can say is BRAVO. Both series are outstanding. Bring on the next!
David Penny all I can can say is BRAVO. Both series are outstanding. Bring on the next!
April 10, 2023
Very interesting...
I know Thomas Berrington and crew must have a grand and gory adventure in every book And AND I so wish that our Mr Penny could spend a chapter or two each time on the relationships between the main characters . He has described Thomas's relationships just adequately but rarely gives us c a view if alk the other folks involved in all this! And where are Will and Amal's Grandfather and Grandmother???I mean really...Interesting story...wish there was a bit less dependence on the practices of Pagans to move the story along and nuns who sell their bodies...why must they be nuns first? That the Catholic church all around England approved of these practices makes them look and feel like liars in history. A difficult concept even for those of us who are lapsed Christians or aetheists! A complex story though a much faster read than usual for a David Penny book. I want these books to be as great as his previous series!!! Still, worth the reading...truly...with alk its faults I love it still...
I know Thomas Berrington and crew must have a grand and gory adventure in every book And AND I so wish that our Mr Penny could spend a chapter or two each time on the relationships between the main characters . He has described Thomas's relationships just adequately but rarely gives us c a view if alk the other folks involved in all this! And where are Will and Amal's Grandfather and Grandmother???I mean really...Interesting story...wish there was a bit less dependence on the practices of Pagans to move the story along and nuns who sell their bodies...why must they be nuns first? That the Catholic church all around England approved of these practices makes them look and feel like liars in history. A difficult concept even for those of us who are lapsed Christians or aetheists! A complex story though a much faster read than usual for a David Penny book. I want these books to be as great as his previous series!!! Still, worth the reading...truly...with alk its faults I love it still...
June 6, 2023
Part 3 and still as addictive a read as the other two in this Tudor mystery. I cannot praise David Penny enough for keeping me hooked on his every word. I really didn’t want the book to end, so slowed my reading down, but was still eager to see where the tale ended up.
David has a way with the characters that puts the reader at the heart of the story. I felt part of Thomas’s family and inner circle of friends. The tale takes place in and around Ludlow in 1502. Days pass slowly as Thomas attempts to find out what happened in the graves of his mother and brother, and who took their skulls, and why.
Who placed the little children in the grave. Where would this lead. The corruption of the church, the search for the Grail. Death and depravity. Superstition and spells, all abound in the tale.
I absolutely loved all three books. This one needs another to follow.
Please.
David has a way with the characters that puts the reader at the heart of the story. I felt part of Thomas’s family and inner circle of friends. The tale takes place in and around Ludlow in 1502. Days pass slowly as Thomas attempts to find out what happened in the graves of his mother and brother, and who took their skulls, and why.
Who placed the little children in the grave. Where would this lead. The corruption of the church, the search for the Grail. Death and depravity. Superstition and spells, all abound in the tale.
I absolutely loved all three books. This one needs another to follow.
Please.
September 13, 2023
Thomas Berrington has now settled back in Ludlow with his extended family, after all his adventures abroad. He now has the opportunity to transfer his parents' bones from where they were buried in the family home to his new home. However, on opening the graves he finds his mother and brother's skulls missing, and two children have been buried with them.
The story then takes us on a trail to discover who is burying children and stealing skulls - a trail that takes in relic collectors, corrupt religious officials and some very unsavoury characters. Tom is a good person, determined to find justice. His son's partner, Silva, is a bit strange and stretches my credulity a little, but otherwise its a cracking read, set firmly in Tudor England.
A great series.
The story then takes us on a trail to discover who is burying children and stealing skulls - a trail that takes in relic collectors, corrupt religious officials and some very unsavoury characters. Tom is a good person, determined to find justice. His son's partner, Silva, is a bit strange and stretches my credulity a little, but otherwise its a cracking read, set firmly in Tudor England.
A great series.
August 31, 2024
I would like to reward this read with more stars, but there are a number of unseemly passages that are hard to take in. I have read the other books in this series. Some extremely gross scenes could turn the stomach in this one. The earlier series featuring Berrington must have been easier for me to digest. This one has some fairly gross pagan rituals I would have rather not read about. Need to get outside and enjoy some Jazz Fest and see if that can lift my mood. Hope so!
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February 17, 2023
Thomas Berrington is back!
I couldn’t believe my luck when I found that this book had just been released as I’d been missing Thomas and his little band and often thought nostalgically of him and his adventures. So he’s back at long last and David Penny is now busy on the next book in the series. I can’t wait to read it!
I couldn’t believe my luck when I found that this book had just been released as I’d been missing Thomas and his little band and often thought nostalgically of him and his adventures. So he’s back at long last and David Penny is now busy on the next book in the series. I can’t wait to read it!
April 7, 2023
I am excited to finally get more intimate exchanges between Thomas and his sister and nieces. I thought that was missing from the previous books. As usual being reunited with Thomas and the rest of the family was a real treat. I love getting more of the way of life in England at that time. The mystery kept me engaged as well. So overall, I really enjoyed this installment.
March 12, 2023
A more mature Thomas
I feel a little sad that Thomas is growing older and the action found throughout the other books becoming less. I hoped his son Will would pick it up. It’s an interesting twist on an old tale but i missed the old THomas throughout the story
I feel a little sad that Thomas is growing older and the action found throughout the other books becoming less. I hoped his son Will would pick it up. It’s an interesting twist on an old tale but i missed the old THomas throughout the story
March 30, 2023
Excellent
Without fail once l start reading the brilliant characters and storyline are difficult to stop. The introduction of the historical period of that time is going to be fascinating, i.e Henry Vlll.
as a younhsyer
Without fail once l start reading the brilliant characters and storyline are difficult to stop. The introduction of the historical period of that time is going to be fascinating, i.e Henry Vlll.
as a younhsyer
April 25, 2023
wonderful book
I would recommend that you read all of the Thomas Berring books in order to get the most out of all of them. You will never regret as David Penny is a wordsmith extraordinaire.
I would recommend that you read all of the Thomas Berring books in order to get the most out of all of them. You will never regret as David Penny is a wordsmith extraordinaire.
June 5, 2023
Another great book!
Another great story in the life of Thomas Herrington and his family.the characters are wonderful and make the stories fun and somewhat endearing. The whole series is very much worth reading.
Another great story in the life of Thomas Herrington and his family.the characters are wonderful and make the stories fun and somewhat endearing. The whole series is very much worth reading.
July 28, 2025
A good tale
I enjoyed this Thomas Berrington adventure but feel David Penny lacked the passion and enthusiasm that I am used to in the Spanish based books. Time to let Thomas rest maybe?
I enjoyed this Thomas Berrington adventure but feel David Penny lacked the passion and enthusiasm that I am used to in the Spanish based books. Time to let Thomas rest maybe?
November 10, 2023
Latest in the series is very good
I loved the intricate plot. As usual the characters did not disappoint.
I would like more interaction between Tom and Catherine of Aragon.
I loved the intricate plot. As usual the characters did not disappoint.
I would like more interaction between Tom and Catherine of Aragon.
July 6, 2024
A good one
I really enjoyed this one! It’s nice to see Thomas opening his mind to new ideas! I am excited to see what transpires with Catherine.
I really enjoyed this one! It’s nice to see Thomas opening his mind to new ideas! I am excited to see what transpires with Catherine.
December 18, 2024
loved it
May 18, 2025
Quite a good read and we have thomas and his gang all in it, it involves some land thomas owns and some corpses(no spoilers).So just buy it and ENJOY.
October 26, 2025
Great story in a great series
Read
August 23, 2023The Hidden Dead (Thomas Berrington Tudor Mystery #3)
by David Penny
Thomas decides to retrieve the bodies of his Mother and Brother from the graves on the land of his old house and rebury them on his new property, when they open the graves they find bones of a child but the skulls of his Mother and Brother missing. Why? this is the question he must answer and it leads him into battles with the church.
by David Penny
Thomas decides to retrieve the bodies of his Mother and Brother from the graves on the land of his old house and rebury them on his new property, when they open the graves they find bones of a child but the skulls of his Mother and Brother missing. Why? this is the question he must answer and it leads him into battles with the church.
June 11, 2025
Review coming soon.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews