The Gardens of the Dead

Father Anselm Mysteries #2

by William Brodrick

A gripping new tale of intrigue from a “John le Carré in the making” (Daily Telegraph, London)

William Brodrick’s extraordinary new thriller, like its predecessor The Sixth Lamentation, focuses again on Father Anselm, a barrister turned monk who finds himself at the center of a mystery involving family, the long tentacles of deception and the healing power of retribution.

When Elizabeth Glendinning, Q.C., dies of heart failure while making a desperate phone call to the police, her colleagues and family are devastated and mystified. What was she doing in east London at the time of her death, and what was she trying to tell the police in her last phone call? After her funeral, her son, Nicholas, Inspector Cartwright, the officer she was trying to call, and Father Anselm, Elizabeth’s former colleague, all receive packages about a case from years earlier: Regina v. Riley. The package also includes mysterious newspaper clippings about the accidental drowning of John Bradshaw, who just happens to be the son of the principal witness in the case. Why is Elizabeth still following the case? And what does she want the three people to do with the information she has sent them?

The germ of the story lies in events that occurred many years earlier when Anselm Duffy, Q.C., had won a rather difficult case by asking a question of the key witness: the question, right in every aspect for winning the case, turns out to have been fatally, critically, the wrong one. The acquitted man wreaks havoc in a number of lives and his net finally enmeshes those who had so cleverly defended him in court. Anselm Duffy's own life is changed radically as he becomes aware of the full repercussions of his performance in court. His inner voice won't let him rest, finally nudging him to abandon the silk for the robe. It is Father Anselm, whose story is patterned on circumstances in the author's own life, who asks the riveting questions in the novel: What is justice? What is innocence? And what, ultimately, is evil? As Father Anselm’s begins to make sense of Elizabeth’s directives from her grave, as it were, he discovers the complexity of truth and its lethal power.

Psychologically complex and suspenseful, The Gardens of the Dead reveals the inner workings of the courts of England through the unfolding of a richly rewarding story, and through characters who become unforgettable in their struggles with evil and the possibility of redemption. BACKCOVER: Praise for The Gardens of the Dead
“Brodrick…weaves exciting shadowy drama with deep characterization.”
—GQ (UK)

“The Gardens of the Dead has gravity and grace, as well as a powerful atmosphere of creeping dread.”
—Time out (UK)

“A tense and compelling investigation into a mystery that ends up with answers far more revealing and profound than appear in most thrillers.”
—Gateway (UK)

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Religion, Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

William Brodrick was born in Bolton, Lancashire in 1960. Having lived in Canada since he was eleven, he went to school in Australia and England, and went on to take a BA in Philosophy and Theology, then a MTh (Master of Theology) and a Degree of Utter Barrister. Brodrick worked on a logging camp in British Columbia, Canada, before joining the Augustinian Friars (1979-1985). He began his life as a friar in Dublin, Ireland, based on a farm that deployed Iron Age techniques bringing him very close to nature. After several years as a friar, he left the order to help set up a charity at the request of Cardinal Hume, The Depaul Trust, which worked with homeless people. In 1991 he became a barrister. He holds British and Canadian citizenship and is married with three children with whom he lives in France

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Brodrick follows his brilliant debut novel, The 6th Lamentation, with another Father Anselm mystery, Gardens of the Dead. Before her untimely death, a former colleague of Anselm's, Elizabeth Glendinning, QC, reopened a case on which they both had worked a decade before. Glendinning left some rather cryptic instructions, along with a key, asking Anselm to complete her work. The case involved that of one Graham Riley, a shady wheeler-dealer who had been accused of pimping but was released due to lack of compelling evidence. Why Elizabeth chose to saddle Anselm with a blind investigation, rather than simply leave an account of what she had now turned up is a perplexing question, but on that fulcrum the plot revolves. What follows is a mystery that is equally perplexing, with several memorable characters who are both more and less than what they seem. The most interesting of these is Riley's wife, who has more heart and humanity than virtually anyone else in the book except Anselm. That is not to say that she is unflawed, nothing of the sort. But as a writer, Brodrick is outstanding in his ability to populate his complex plots with fully realized, genuine characters with all-too-human virtues and faults. While Gardens lacks the intensity of Lamentation, it has a moral and spiritual dimensions all its own.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like his first Father Anselm book, The Sixth Lamentation, the mystery is a vehicle for a much deeper exploration of sin and mercy. I admit I was perplexed for much of the book, and yet I resented every circumstance that made me put it down. Don't read this if all you want is a "cozy". Do read it if you are willing to reflect on good and evil, right and wrong, corruption and redemption.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still not sure what to make of this series. The books are not really mysteries or detective stories. The protagonist, Father Anselm, doesn't really do any detecting. He basically facilitates a heavily interwoven series of flashbacks that eventually narrate some event or events in the past. Interesting surprises are revealed along the way, but rarely because of detecting. So kind of odd, but still relatively entertaining.

But I still don't see the point of making the protagonist a monk. It adds nothing to the plot. The characters could have sought out a garbage man to unwind their troubles, and nothing would be different.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book. I think any Louise Penny fan will enjoy this book. You've got a good amount of mystery, back stories that are revealed as the plot develops, and all set in England. Absolutely loved it.

This book is the second in a series, and I did not start with book 1. The author (thankfully) did not reference anything that happened previously that I should know which I really appreciated. The book stands by itself. I do plan to read book 1 later and will update this review if I later feel that I would have been served by reading the books in order.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

While I did both enjoy and want to finish this book, it didn't blow me out of the water.

The second book in a series (although the kind of series where each story can be read as a standalone), the story follows a monk who used to be a barrister as he unravels an old friend's last wish. A crime thriller at heart, this book does have some good bits of story in it. However, it wasn't the protagonist's story I found most interesting. I actually found our monk rather boring to follow. The two storylines that kept me reading were those of George and Riley. Some sections of the writing I felt were bland, but that really comes down to personal taste.

Overall, there's nothing wrong with this book, it just doesn't stand out in the vast sea of mysteries/crime thrillers available out there.

[Javier Aguilera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excelente en el estudio de caracteres de los personajes involucrados en esta trama de misterio.
Antes de morir, una abogada deja ciertas pistas y tareas a personas allegadas a ella, tanto en el ámbito personal como profesional. La intención es resarcir a aquellos afectados por un actuar injusto de un caso, y las consecuencais que esta mala decisión dejó.
La historia se va desgrananado como las capas de una cebolla sin que sepas realmente las causas que orillaron a la liberación de un asesino, sino hasta la última parte del libro.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Naar dependance Roberts kruidentuin

[Annalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading many unfavourable reviews of this book, I braced myself for disappointment, but then I absolutely loved this book! I actually read it more slowly towards the end, because I wanted it to last longer. Wonderful, interesting characters - according to many reviews too many, but make notes if you have to, to keep track. This book really makes you think about our choices in life and the limitations our circumstances, talents and personality traits place on those choices. His views on the nature of evil, on forgiveness and revenge give further food for thought.
It's a pity that this book has been labelled "crime fiction" and a "murder mystery". It's just a lovely novel about interesting but flawed people who try hard to make the best of the lives in which they find themselves.

[Alan Marchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurbs for The Gardens of the Dead may mislead you into expecting a mystery novel or a legal thriller. But this is more basic novel and satisfying novel about human relationships. A dead judge has arranged for an apparently unconnected assortment of characters to persecute her antogonist. For most of the book, the multiple points of view create a Kafkaesque confusion. The weakness of the novel is a symmetrically structured underlying plot and moral (secrets are bad) that draw the story out to a somewhat stultifying conclusion.

Still, the Gardens of the Dead deserves high marks for a rich set of characterizations, deftly drawn. The setting is also engaging - a sort of noir underground of the British legal system, layered with references and idioms that emit a pleasant foreign bouquet for the American reader.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book while away on a day of quiet. It was an interesting companion to the other book I read at the same time: Becoming Who You Are by James Martin. The characters in Gardens of the Dead struggle to become who they are and along the way they ponder whether evil can be undone and whether we are all deserving of forgiveness.

The various strands in this book took a while to unravel and I was surprised by some of the revelations in the last thirty or so pages.

I enjoyed this book but it’s not a light mystery. The characters are complex and sometimes quite dark, the wounds are deep and unexpected. But if you want a book that will also make you think about deep faith questions, this one will.

[☆Ruth☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite frustrating. I think the author was trying to be clever by gradually feeding small bites of background into the story, presumably with the intention of building anticipation... but the only effect it had on me was increasing my confusion and irritation! In fact I didn't really find out what it was all about until the last few chapters, by which time what should have been compelling, intrinsic details, had lost most of their impact.
I kept on reading it because William Brodrick's writing is generally very good - its just the style he adopts in this novel that I personally dislike.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book. I got over halfway and just realised I didn't care what happened and I wasn't going to waste any more of my life forcing myself to read it. I just did not gel with the writing style at all. I found it hard to get into and then once I had got into it I found I didn't care about any of the characters or the plot. I think we'll just have to chalk this up to a clash of styles because I didn't think the writing was bad or the plot was particularly terrible, it just wasn't for me.

[Susan Wight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anselm, a former barrister, has his peace disturbed at the monastery by a visit from Elizabeth Glendinning QC who entrusts him with a key to be used if she should die. When she does die, Anselm is drawn into a case from many years ago in which he assisted as her junior in defending a guilty man. Elizabeth has devised a scheme to bring that man to justice but, in her absence, Anselm struggles to pull the pieces together and figure out exactly what she wanted of him.

This is one of several Father Anselm mysteries. A Whispered Name was excellent, this one certainly holds the interest also.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't label this a mystery (as the library did). Not much thrill or suspense. At first I didn't think I was going to like the book; I had a hard time making sense of the author's style of writing. I stuck wih it though. I'm still not sure if I liked the book or if I read it really quickly in order to make sense of it. It was a good read but I'm still confused about one thing...Riley. What happened to him at the end? I thought I had it figured out but not quite sure.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery with a twist. It's kind of psychological, but I liked the literary style. Here's a quote:

"…Father Andrew tugged at an eyebrow. 'I tried to comfort her, saying it's not the beginning that matters, but rather the undiscovered end, because it completely transforms our understanding of where we came from, what we've done, who we ultimately are…I said it was never too late, that even last words or a final act could bring about this fantastic change…that it was like magic. '"

[Su · Rating 1 out of 5]

This must be one of the worst mystery stories ever written. I wasn't even sure what the "mystery" was for the longest time, and when I did figure it out it was ridiculous. The author is British and made lots of references that went right over my head, but even that would have been okay if only the storyline and characters hadn't driven me nuts!

[Delany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved his first book (Sixth Lamentation) and I'm sorry to say I was disappointed in this one. Just, overall, not as good as his first in the series. I see now that he's got a third out, and I'll give it a try.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://okie-booklady.blogspot.com/200...

[Catherine Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this down. Well written and almost poetic in places. A well crafted mystery with interwoven threads that keep you guessing. I'm starting the third book now!

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently discovered William Brodrick's Father Anselm mystery series, when I read The 6th Lamentation. Father Anselm left his profession as a barrister to become a monk and William Brodrick was a monk who left to become a barrister. As the reader would expect we delve into law, religion and monastery life.

While Father Anselm is a complex and interesting character, the appeal of Brodrick's novels come form the intricately crafted and multi-layered storylines. There are so many shifts and turns and nooks and crannies within these mysteries that the reader wonders what is happening.

This is certainly true of my latest read, The Gardens of the Dead. In it a fellow barrister, Elizabeth Glendinning of Father Anselm has died of an apparent heart attack. She has left behind a number of instructions for Father Anselm as well as a certain Inspector Cartwright.

I confess to not knowing how the story would ultimately play out, but I was intrigued for the whole time.

This is not a book for those seeking a fast paced thriller, but rather a slow feed with crumbs to guide the reader along the way.

I look forward to my next Father Anselm novel.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Elizabeth Glendinning, QC, unexpectedly dies, her one-time colleague and now monk Father Anselm receives a key with instructions from her to help fulfill one last task on her behalf. Elizabeth’s son, Nick, a physician, is also given instructions from his mother, which apparently involve searching for a missing man who could help to bring down another man whom Elizabeth defended successfully years before but who she knew to be guilty. As the monk and the doctor follow the leads, the story becomes murkier and murkier, not to mention murderous…. Apparently this is the second novel in a series featuring Father Anselm, but I haven’t seen the earlier book. That said, Father Anselm is a very thoughtful, well-drawn character and his willingness to learn from others and to find ways to help them is quite touching. Unfortunately, I found that there were a few too many characters in this story, each one of whom had deep, complex histories that all needed to be thoroughly uncovered. As a result, there’s a good half-dozen individuals who require a great deal of the reader’s attention to understand, and that just felt like a few too many for me, even though all the disparate threads do come together in the end. I enjoyed the writing style and the British setting, I just felt a bit exhausted by the time I was done reading. Still, I may search out more from this author in the future.

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one you really have to concentrate on to follow and nobody is what they seem. Definitely one you need to think about rather than mindless entertainment. A man who should have been in jail for a very long time was let off by a well respected QC who does not want her own past to come to light and the people he victimised never found justice but upon learning that her own life is ending she wants to make amends and sends letters to her friends asking for their help and a long line of secrets are unveiled. Just how much does her husband know? Why has she kept her son at arms length for so long? Why does the witness not want to use his real name? and these are just some of the questions you need to answer in this book. It was interesting but not one of my favourite writing styles and probably viewed more pleasurably by those who like cryptic crosswords than those who like straight forward answers. The information is all there for those who care to look just not in the more person storytelling form that I prefer.

[Phil Lawless · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with lots of moral questions about justice, legalities, and mercy. It quickly becomes an investigation into what actually occurred in the recent and distant past, an investigation that continues till the very end. Strangely, redemption rears its head along the way, though never realized but just hinted. It is a very convoluted story with many contributors. I think in the end, it reminds me of a Graham Greene novel.

I had thought throughout that David's encounter with the people that kicked his brains to oblivion were also a result of his attempts to testify against his nemesis. This proved not to be accurate. It would have added to the mystery. Nonetheless, this novel heightens the problems of living with one who has limited contact that has happened a few moments before, as my wife does.

[Helen O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love these Father Anselm novels.Are they in the crime genre? Yes and no. Certainly there are grim deeds to be explained in this story yet it is the exploration of human frailties that kept me reading late into the night as I came to the final chapters. QC Elizabeth Glendenning has died suddenly and has left a locked box to the care of Father Anselm ( who was her junior in his time at the Bar) and her doctor son, Nick, who returns from outback Queensland upon the news of her death. I took awhile to really get hooked on the plot; I kept wondering why Elizabeth set the puzzle in this way. I cannot discuss the characters without revealing the various connections. Suffice it to say that there are tragic stories behind the three main characters & who of us really knows the anguished lives that people are leading or have run away from?

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father Anselm sort of solves a mystery from his past!

Following the sudden death of Elizabeth Glendinning QC, an old colleague of Anselm, the monk has to revisit and relive a disturbing case from a decade before. Glendinning's actions and requests following her death propel her family, friends, and colleagues towards the hidden truths she had so long kept secret.

William Brodrick's writing style is rather meandering at times and frustrating at other times. With the present becoming the past within a sentence. Once one gets used to this writing style, the fascinating story unfolds at pace. Characters are described sympathetically, and attachments are made as the story continues.

Despite Father Anselm being an observer rather than an instigator in the solving of the mystery, the other protagonists of the story keep you engaged in the story. A fascinating read.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whispered name van William Brodrick vond ik prachtig. Het mysterie ontvouwde zich langzaam en eindigde in een bijzonder ontroerende ontknoping waarin alles op zijn plaats viel.
Dit boek volgt hetzelfde stramien maar slaat de bal mis. Ik raakte voortdurend de draad kwijt, van sommige personages had ik geen idee wat hun rol was en de sprongen in tijd waren onduidelijk. De ontknoping was uiteindelijk ook te vergezocht.

[Fred Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series I have read. Both were structured the same. A small set of characters with interwoven stories and the book goes between present day and the past. It seems simple but I have really enjoyed both. The characters are complex, there are some deep moral questions, Father Anselm seems to have the right tone. It's an inner woven set of mysteries, the first one or two are easy to crack but like a Russian doll there are more remaining, until the last page.

[Stephen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a page turner of a philosophical thriller which slowly unravels. The scene setting, the description of characters and buildings is really well done in a way that you feel.you are being taken in to the lives of the characters and the world they live in.

At times it all becomes too slow and that's why I can't give it five stars.

This book wasn't flawless, but it was an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading the next Father Anselm mystery.

[Jenny Mackinlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reminded of that famous put down about Henry James' work: that when you approach the high altar you find a dead kitten, a broken egg shell, and a bit of string. If Henry James wrote murder mysteries . . . no, wait, I *like* Henry James, but I acknowledge he can be a bit unnecessarily convoluted . . . if Henry James on a bad day wrote a murder mystery. . . .

[Joyce Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of this series for me. I had a difficult time getting into the book. The story does get better as you continue to read and the final 50 pages are the most interesting. Will probably read at least one more of this series before I pass final judgement on this author.