The Graveyard Position

by Robert Barnard

From master of mystery Robert Barnard comes a brilliantly witty and piercingly observant new suspense novel featuring one of the most dysfunctional families ever to grace crime fiction.

Meet the Cantelos of Leeds, England. To call the Cantelos dysfunctional is actually a wild understatement. But is one of them also a killer?

Clarissa Cantelo, a skilled clairvoyant, apparently thought so. Believing that her sixteen-year-old nephew, Merlyn Docherty, was in peril, she sent him into hiding in Italy, far away from the rest of her family. She told them he was dead. It was safer that way.

Now Clarissa herself has died, and Merlyn, a successful lawyer and civil servant who still lives abroad, has returned to Leeds to claim his inheritance. First, he must prove his identity. Is he really Merlyn or, as some of his long-lost relations say they suspect, is he an imposter?

Merlyn doesn't mind confirming his identity, but he'd at least like to move into the house that Aunt Clarissa left him in her will while he gets to know some of his relatives. And the house may hold some clues to the Cantelos' past.

What is the dreadful family secret that has upset relations between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, filling even the youngest generation with fear? If Merlyn discovers the truth, buried under decades of deception, his life may once again be in danger.

Merlyn must start at the beginning if he is to find the answers. All roads seem to lead back to his grandfather, the formidable Merlyn Cantelo, renowned in the family as an object of both fear and loathing.

Though the old man who caused such pain to his family died years ago, his malevolence lives on. Somebody wants young Merlyn gone. With help from police detectives Mike Oddie and Charlie Peace, Merlyn must find that person before the Cantelo curse works its evil again.

Wickedly observant and full of his trademark sly twists, The Graveyard Position proves once more that Robert Barnard is in a class of his own.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2005

About the author

Aka Bernard Bastable.

Robert Barnard (born 23 November 1936) was an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.

Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College in Oxford. His first crime novel, A Little Local Murder, was published in 1976. The novel was written while he was a lecturer at University of Tromsø in Norway. He has gone on to write more than 40 other books and numerous short stories.

Barnard has said that his favourite crime writer is Agatha Christie. In 1980 he published a critique of her work titled A Talent to Deceive: An Appreciation of Agatha Christie.

Barnard was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2003 by the Crime Writers Association for a lifetime of achievement.

Under the pseudonym Bernard Bastable, Robert Barnard has published one standalone novel and three alternate history books starring Wolfgang Mozart as a detective, he having survived to old age.

Barnard lived with his wife Louise in Yorkshire.

Series:
* Perry Trethowan
* Charlie Peace

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Graveyard Position, written in 2004, is a fictional tale about a dysfunctional family called the Cantelos. The story begins at Aunt Clarissa's funeral, where her nephew (Merlyn) has returned after twenty years to claim his inheritance. This completely shocks the family because they all assumed Merlyn was dead.

In reality, Merlyn was sent away by his Aunt Clarissa when he was sixteen years old. She, being a fortune teller, believed that Merlyn's life was in danger and that someone in the family wanted to harm him. Now that he is back, Merlyn wonders if the person who wanted him dead still harbors the same feelings.

As he sorts through his aunt's things, he begins to find clues to another murder that happened in their family decades ago. Is the person who committed murder the same one who wanted to harm him twenty years ago? His quest to find this mystery person is a complicated one as the Cantelos are a chaotic bunch who tend to close ranks when they feel threatened.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Barnard never fails to entertain. He's always been interested in eccentric, dysfunctional families (witness his Inspector Perry Trethowan series) When I read the synopsis of this book to refresh my memory, I was struck by its similarities to one of Barnard's more recent books. He really seems fixated on this theme of the missing family member's return. But as long as he keeps writing the tales so well, I'll keep reading and not complain.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the age of 18 Merlyn Docherty is sent abroad by his Aunt Clarissa as she believes that his life is in danger, possibly from members of his mother's family, the Cantelos. Clarissa tells the other Cantelos that Merlyn has gone to India and later reports that he has vanished and is presumed dead. This causes more than a bit of awkwardness twenty years later when Merlyn comes back to Leeds after Clarissa's death to claim his inheritance. Not only must he prove his identity, he also needs to find out who is still out to murder him after all of these years. I really enjoyed the pace of this mystery and the unusual host of characters. As a long time mystery lover, I recommend it.

[Paulette Illmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted mystery

There is more than one murder plot in this family's history, but who, why, and how are what you need to unravel. Follow Merlyn as he returns from abroad, establishes his identity with family he hasn't seen in 20 years, and follows a trail of family secrets to discover the truth of what happened all those years ago to make his aunt Clark sea send him away and pretend he had died.

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved that it was set in my home town and I knew the places where it was set.
Merlyn Doherty returns for his aunts funeral after a 20 year absence, he is to inherit most of her possesions and the house but who doesnt want him to ?. Someone has something to hide the plot is set in present day and also the past and you get to know each member of the family.The person who is really causing the problems is not who you may think.
I enjoyed the book.

[Hennypenny]

Charlie Peace 7.5 - the list needs to be updated. And Bodies should be listed as 0.5 of the series.

Anyway, I love these books and am happily rereading using scribd.

[Lindsey Kirkland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. It never really got going.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extraordinarily old fashioned. Smug hero. Tiresome.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like so many of Barnard's mysteries, this one addresses issues of identity. A Charlie Peace novel that doesn't focus on Charlie, but brings him into an investigation of an attempted murder. His wife, Felicity, also figures in this one because of her interest in literature and libraries. Merlyn Cantelo, presumed dead by most of his family, reappears after the death of his Aunt Clarissa and the revelation that she has left most of her fortune to him. This brings out the worst in several of his relatives and inspires him to try to discern what has created such an antogonistic atmosphere within a large family.

[Marfita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reminded recently of what a good write Barnard is, so I picked this from the Large Print section. Sigh. Large Print. Gosh, I'm old.
Mervyn Docherty returns to the family home for his aunt's funeral to the surprise of everyone who thought he was dead. And now it looks like, if it's really him, that he'll inherit the house and much more. It seems like it's more than just the inheritance that has raised so much hostility. What deadly secrets could the Cantelo family harbor?
Barnard was doing pretty well until he gave us the explanation in monologue. Oh well.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This tale started off well - I noted several nice turns of phrase - and I always enjoy books based in Leeds as I know something of that City.
But the tale became too convoluted after about the half-way mark (120 pages) such that it required one of those pub conversations to sum up the reveal and tie up loose ends regarding motive, alternate suspects etc. In my opinion that is just lazy plot planning.

Wouldn’t be in a rush to read anything else by Barnard.

[Sandy Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merlyn the 2nd has morals

What a mixed up family. Like Clarissa, I feared for Merlyn’s safety. He questioned and thought hard about what had occurred in the past and who was involved. He made a good detective! I think he is safely back in Brussels, with a wife and kids. Good for him.

[Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found myself reluctant to pick up the book to read more, as it bored me.

Did not finish. On to books that grab hold and keep my attention!

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated it...

[Cassandra]

I DIDN'T CARE FOR ANYONE IN THIS FAMILY AT ALL THE COVER OF THIS EDISON MADE ME WANNA PICK IT UP SO GOOD JOB ON THAST

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more a study of a very disturbed family than a mystery. Although there is a 20 year old murder, the plot revolves around the attitudes of the family to Merlyn Cantelo, the recently returned heir to the family fortune. Barnard's recurring character Inspector Charlie Peace appears in this story but has only a supporting role in the overall plot as he helps Cantelo prove his identity in order to inherit.
This is another of Barnard's enjoyable, but light, books which can be read in an afternoon...... a satisfying read for Barnard fans.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable family intrigue. Merlyn Docherty, heir to the Aunt Clarissa Cantelos who raised him, returns to England after her death and quickly finds himself under attack from most of the Cantelos family. This is an interesting brew, from Merlyn's negligent father to multiple social snipers -- and are the nice ones really nice? Merlyn's grandfather raised a family of starlings in one nest.

[Lisa Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Servicable, but in the end nothing special mystery. I've read better and I've read worse. Certainly enjoyable, light fun, but not up to the standard of some of his more thought provoking mysteries such as Scandal in Belgravia

[Trawets · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Robert Barnard novel I've read, and I found it very enjoyable. The only murder took place over twenty years before and there is just an attempted murder currently. However Robert Barnard manages to produce a real page turner.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis is a tightly woven plot of intrigue--Aunt Clara dies and leaves her estate to a relative everyone thought was dead--because Clara said so...the story initially involves him proving his identity and moves on to more dangerous things--well constructed plot

[Mysteryfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one with Charley Peace as a sergeant (soon to be inspector). This one is a nice twist on the longlost heir. I didn't predict the killer but he did play fair with the clues. I like his characters.

[Judy Rushton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is truly dire. I cannot believe it was written by the same author as The Killings at Jubilee Terrace, which I read, quite enjoyed, and so found The Graveyard Position to read next. I have rarely read such drivel.

[Louise Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed other books by this author (a long time ago) but this one was dull.

Everyone seemed to know more than people do in real life and also to talk about it very fluently. It didn't seem realistic.

[Bonnie Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm about half-way through this but find I just don't care about any of the characters. The personality of the protagonist is undeveloped - he is a cipher - and the other characters and boring and unpleasant. Giving it up.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Graveyard Position is unique and disturbing. I really enjoyed it. I read it cover to cover in 24 hours. I will definately read more of his books.

[Emma Kaufmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful suspense story that delves into the repressed memories of childhood.

[Janet]

Not as good as his usual.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. A gentle mystery with a difference.

[Eloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good in-betweener and entertaining enough.

A mystery that feels like it doesn't last long, but oh well.

[Anne Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than A Cry from the Dark, yet still not as suspenseful as I would have liked.