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His Favourite Graves
Desperate for reward money – and to rescue his marriage – an embattled sheriff takes incalculable risks to find a missing boy. An edge-of-your-seat, twisted and twisty thriller from New Zealand's King of Crime.
Acacia Pines, USA. Sheriff Logan's life is falling apart – his father accidently burned down the retirement home, his wife has moved out, and his son is bullying other kids at school.
When high-school student, Ben Connor, is abducted, Logan sees a chance to get his life back on track – to win back his wife and scoop the reward money offered for Ben's safe return.
But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Logan's going to have to make the kind of decision from which there's no coming back … a decision with deadly consequences…
A furiously paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller exposing the dark underbelly of small-town life, His Favourite Graves is also a twisted and twisty story of father and son relationships, and the one last gamble of a desperate man to save everything…
Acacia Pines, USA. Sheriff Logan's life is falling apart – his father accidently burned down the retirement home, his wife has moved out, and his son is bullying other kids at school.
When high-school student, Ben Connor, is abducted, Logan sees a chance to get his life back on track – to win back his wife and scoop the reward money offered for Ben's safe return.
But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Logan's going to have to make the kind of decision from which there's no coming back … a decision with deadly consequences…
A furiously paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller exposing the dark underbelly of small-town life, His Favourite Graves is also a twisted and twisty story of father and son relationships, and the one last gamble of a desperate man to save everything…
321 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2023
45 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Paul Cleave
44 books863 followersPaul Cleave is an internationally bestselling author who is currently dividing his time between his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where all of his novels are set, and Europe, where none of his novels are set. His work has been translated into fifteen languages. He has won the Ngaio Marsh award for best crime novel in New Zealand, he won the Saint-Maur book festival's crime novel of the year in France, has been shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award in the US, and shortlisted for the Ned Kelly award in Australia. When he's not writing, he spends his time swearing on a golf course, swearing on a tennis court, or trying to add to his list of 25 countries where he's thrown his Frisbee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 11, 2023
EXCERPT: He takes the turnoff.
The road to the mill is curved and rutted with dips and troughs and made up of gravel pushed so hard into the ground by thousands of trucks that it doesn't make much noise driving over it. Soon the old mill comes into view, large cinderblock walls stained with exhaust, windows high up, some of them broken, a flat roof, some of it rusted, and large roll-up doors along the front, some of them dented, all surrounded by a sea of concrete which, in turn, is surrounded by an ocean of trees. He pulls up to the main door. He leaves the car running and gets out. He unlocks a small side door and steps through, then uses the chains to roll up the large ones. The rattling chains remind him of that Charles Dickens novel where Christmas ghosts preach doom and gloom to a man destined to die alone. Not that he read the book, but he has seen various versions of the movie.
He gets the door all the way open, and goes back to the car. A minute later he's parked inside and those chains are rattling again as the door closes. They're all alone. All alone in the middle of nowhere where nobody can hear a thing.
ABOUT 'HIS FAVOURITE GRAVES': Acacia Pines, USA. Sheriff Cohen's life is falling apart – his father accidently burned down the retirement home, his wife has moved out, and his son is bullying other kids at school.
When high-school student, Lucas Connor, is abducted, Cohen sees a chance to get his life back on track – to win back his wife and scoop the reward money offered for Lucas's safe return.
But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Cohen's going to have to make the kind of decision from which there's no coming back … a decision with deadly consequences…
MY THOUGHTS: His Favourite Graves is a twisted story of father and son relationships. It is also a fast-paced, cat and mouse thriller set in a small town. I was breathless and my heart pounding at the end of the first chapter. It is dark and disturbing, just as I have come to expect from this author. Probably even darker and more disturbing than anything else I have read by him, and I have read everything he has written.
The characters range from schoolyard bullies to a desperate sheriff, from a man who was abused as a child to an author who has set the wrong example for his impressionable son. But all are extremely realistic and believable - which is a worry. At one point, the streets are almost deserted as the locals stay home and drive their children to school while the abductor is on the loose. Even after he is apprehended, even though people are all out and about again, they are still wary, watching one another and wondering if the person they are looking at is going to be the next abductor. I have the feeling that next time I go out, my reaction will be similar. It's not a book for the faint-hearted.
The ending was not what I was expecting at all and sat me back on my heels. But it was perfect. Much better than anything I had imagined.
Despite the disturbing darkness, there are moments of humor - black, yes, but humor just the same. As in when a reward is posted for Lucas's abductor, who was last seen heading into the forest, and Lucas has been fantasizing about him being eaten by a bear, and then wonders if the reward would be paid to the bear. And moments of humanity as when the author reminds us that not only does dementia wipe out that person's memories of the past, but it wipes out our memories of the man he was, replacing them with thoughts of the man he is now.
I was just a little disappointed that His Favorite Graves isn't set in New Zealand, but the author explains his reasoning behind this in his acknowledgements, and I am happy with that. Mark Billingham, another author I admire, has written a stunning endorsement for Paul Cleave's work and I agree with every word - Most people come back from New Zealand talking about the breathtaking scenery and the amazing experiences. I came back raving about Paul Cleave. These are stories you won't forget in a while; relentlessly gripping, deliciously twisted and shot through with a vein of humour that's as dark as hell. Cleave creates fictional monsters as chilling and as charming as any I've ever come across. Anyone who likes their crime fiction on the black and bloody side should move Paul Cleave to the top of their must-read list.
One thing I would like to know, Mr Cleave - just what do you have against janitors? If you have read this author's earlier books, you will know just what I mean. If you haven't, read Paul Cleave's 'Cleaner' series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#HisFavouriteGraves @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
I: @paul.cleave @upstart_press
T: @PaulCleave @upstartpressnz
THE AUTHOR: Paul Cleave is an internationally bestselling author who is currently dividing his time between his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where all of his novels are set, and Europe, where none of his novels are set. His work has been translated into fifteen languages. He has won the Ngaio Marsh award for best crime novel in New Zealand, he won the Saint-Maur book festival's crime novel of the year in France, has been shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award in the US, and shortlisted for the Ned Kelly award in Australia. When he's not writing, he spends his time swearing on a golf course, swearing on a tennis court, or trying to add to his list of 25 countries where he's thrown his Frisbee.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The road to the mill is curved and rutted with dips and troughs and made up of gravel pushed so hard into the ground by thousands of trucks that it doesn't make much noise driving over it. Soon the old mill comes into view, large cinderblock walls stained with exhaust, windows high up, some of them broken, a flat roof, some of it rusted, and large roll-up doors along the front, some of them dented, all surrounded by a sea of concrete which, in turn, is surrounded by an ocean of trees. He pulls up to the main door. He leaves the car running and gets out. He unlocks a small side door and steps through, then uses the chains to roll up the large ones. The rattling chains remind him of that Charles Dickens novel where Christmas ghosts preach doom and gloom to a man destined to die alone. Not that he read the book, but he has seen various versions of the movie.
He gets the door all the way open, and goes back to the car. A minute later he's parked inside and those chains are rattling again as the door closes. They're all alone. All alone in the middle of nowhere where nobody can hear a thing.
ABOUT 'HIS FAVOURITE GRAVES': Acacia Pines, USA. Sheriff Cohen's life is falling apart – his father accidently burned down the retirement home, his wife has moved out, and his son is bullying other kids at school.
When high-school student, Lucas Connor, is abducted, Cohen sees a chance to get his life back on track – to win back his wife and scoop the reward money offered for Lucas's safe return.
But as the body count rises, it becomes clear that Cohen's going to have to make the kind of decision from which there's no coming back … a decision with deadly consequences…
MY THOUGHTS: His Favourite Graves is a twisted story of father and son relationships. It is also a fast-paced, cat and mouse thriller set in a small town. I was breathless and my heart pounding at the end of the first chapter. It is dark and disturbing, just as I have come to expect from this author. Probably even darker and more disturbing than anything else I have read by him, and I have read everything he has written.
The characters range from schoolyard bullies to a desperate sheriff, from a man who was abused as a child to an author who has set the wrong example for his impressionable son. But all are extremely realistic and believable - which is a worry. At one point, the streets are almost deserted as the locals stay home and drive their children to school while the abductor is on the loose. Even after he is apprehended, even though people are all out and about again, they are still wary, watching one another and wondering if the person they are looking at is going to be the next abductor. I have the feeling that next time I go out, my reaction will be similar. It's not a book for the faint-hearted.
The ending was not what I was expecting at all and sat me back on my heels. But it was perfect. Much better than anything I had imagined.
Despite the disturbing darkness, there are moments of humor - black, yes, but humor just the same. As in when a reward is posted for Lucas's abductor, who was last seen heading into the forest, and Lucas has been fantasizing about him being eaten by a bear, and then wonders if the reward would be paid to the bear. And moments of humanity as when the author reminds us that not only does dementia wipe out that person's memories of the past, but it wipes out our memories of the man he was, replacing them with thoughts of the man he is now.
I was just a little disappointed that His Favorite Graves isn't set in New Zealand, but the author explains his reasoning behind this in his acknowledgements, and I am happy with that. Mark Billingham, another author I admire, has written a stunning endorsement for Paul Cleave's work and I agree with every word - Most people come back from New Zealand talking about the breathtaking scenery and the amazing experiences. I came back raving about Paul Cleave. These are stories you won't forget in a while; relentlessly gripping, deliciously twisted and shot through with a vein of humour that's as dark as hell. Cleave creates fictional monsters as chilling and as charming as any I've ever come across. Anyone who likes their crime fiction on the black and bloody side should move Paul Cleave to the top of their must-read list.
One thing I would like to know, Mr Cleave - just what do you have against janitors? If you have read this author's earlier books, you will know just what I mean. If you haven't, read Paul Cleave's 'Cleaner' series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#HisFavouriteGraves @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
I: @paul.cleave @upstart_press
T: @PaulCleave @upstartpressnz
THE AUTHOR: Paul Cleave is an internationally bestselling author who is currently dividing his time between his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand, where all of his novels are set, and Europe, where none of his novels are set. His work has been translated into fifteen languages. He has won the Ngaio Marsh award for best crime novel in New Zealand, he won the Saint-Maur book festival's crime novel of the year in France, has been shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award in the US, and shortlisted for the Ned Kelly award in Australia. When he's not writing, he spends his time swearing on a golf course, swearing on a tennis court, or trying to add to his list of 25 countries where he's thrown his Frisbee.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 11, 2024
✰ 4 stars ✰
“Darkness is two hours away. It feels like a deadline, that if we don’t find Lucas before then we’re going to be too late. Pessimistic, sure – but optimistic too.
Optimistic because I’m hoping the things Grove is planning to do to Lucas Connor haven’t already been done.
I have to believe Lucas still has a chance to survive this.”
When a psychological thriller really thrills you, then you know that you've stumbled upon an unexpected winner. Fast-paced, well-written with a taut and disturbingly chilling plot, His Favorite Graves grabs you from the very first page I, honestly, was so afraid that the story was going to head in one direction that I really didn't want it to go in, but Paul Cleave exceeded my expectations. 👍🏻👍🏻 The story lasts less than four days in a small U.S town, but there is so much to unpack and uncover in those intense moments that I was glued to my sofa all morning till I finished it. That's good story-telling paired with sharp, solid writing - my mind was really left reeling and duly impressed, actually. It had plenty of shocking twists and reveals that I really didn't know what to expect next. 😰 It made for that much more of an engaging and compelling read for me - each time I thought I knew what was going to happen - the shock silently creeps up on you, but brilliantly done.
The story starts with Lucas, a young sixteen-year-old boy, trapped in a school locker; he's trapped, alone and afraid, until his cries for help are heard by the school janitor, Simon. When he doesn't return home at his normal time, his father, Peter makes a panicked and distressed call to Sheriff James Cohen to find his son before it's too late. If you think you know what's going to happen, think again, because phew - you may think you know what's going to happen, until you don't. 😦
“Not on the fact that my earlier thought about being a good man is complete bullshit, because a good man never would have done what I’m doing.
But surely I’m not a bad man either. Am I?”
It's not that the idea wasn't relatively new; the strength was in the way that it was portrayed. How it wasn't just a search for a missing child, the story delved into the personal lives of each character - painting a picture of emotional trauma, financial struggles, personal problems - that paved the way for why they behaved the way they did. ❤️🩹 Why the paths of their lives led them to this catalyst of wild and unhinged decisions. It makes you wonder who exactly is the enemy and who is the victim - who deserves the blame and who is on the right hand of justice. For even though I knew it was wrong, I still wanted some form of retribution to be done. 😔
It also sheds some light on some rather sensitive and heavy subjects - topics that are a bit dark and gruesome and sensitive to those of the faint-hearted. The school bullying aspect, in particular, was very painful to read through, and also the very creepy and troublesome moment when Simon abducted Lucas. 😥 Cautiously afraid, I was really worried about how the author would handle it. But, the writing keeps you just on the edge of what's to transpire before immediately plunging you into an even more impactful and dangerous twist that you're suspended in anticipation of what is to come next. 😟
The way the narrative is brought to light with three alternating perspectives that sheds light on why they're making these morally challenged decisions - ones that are as questionable as the acts that they are committing - that you can't help but sympathize with them, too. The pacing and tone of the story never shifts - it is focused and clear and you feel the impending danger mounting, the dreary undercurrent of something that is bound to happen and the surprises will literally catch you off-guard! 😯😯 And I savored it whole-heartedly!
“This is my son, and I can’t let anybody mess that up.
...
My son, despite all that.”
Very strong and solid writing - it does not hold back in heightening the intense emotions, providing enough detail to give you a vivid image - just enough to make you feel so uncomfortable and foreboding, but keeping it still light enough that you don't want to stop. 👏🏻👏🏻 I know I couldn't and didn't! It delves deeply into the relationship between fathers and sons, and how each of the characters face the difficult choices that center around it, making you sympathize and empathize with each of them - even the kidnapper! My heart hurt for Lucas, I pitied Sheriff Cohen, and even Simon - as horrible as a person he was, he didn't deserve what happened to him. 🥺 The depths of depravity and the path to justice is a hard-fought battle and a tough lesson here, for everyone involved. It is a credit to the author that he is able to bring about these feelings and still make it as wildly entertaining as possible rounding it off with a conclusion that is not only satisfying, but sadly and painfully bittersweet, too. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“Darkness is two hours away. It feels like a deadline, that if we don’t find Lucas before then we’re going to be too late. Pessimistic, sure – but optimistic too.
Optimistic because I’m hoping the things Grove is planning to do to Lucas Connor haven’t already been done.
I have to believe Lucas still has a chance to survive this.”
When a psychological thriller really thrills you, then you know that you've stumbled upon an unexpected winner. Fast-paced, well-written with a taut and disturbingly chilling plot, His Favorite Graves grabs you from the very first page I, honestly, was so afraid that the story was going to head in one direction that I really didn't want it to go in, but Paul Cleave exceeded my expectations. 👍🏻👍🏻 The story lasts less than four days in a small U.S town, but there is so much to unpack and uncover in those intense moments that I was glued to my sofa all morning till I finished it. That's good story-telling paired with sharp, solid writing - my mind was really left reeling and duly impressed, actually. It had plenty of shocking twists and reveals that I really didn't know what to expect next. 😰 It made for that much more of an engaging and compelling read for me - each time I thought I knew what was going to happen - the shock silently creeps up on you, but brilliantly done.
The story starts with Lucas, a young sixteen-year-old boy, trapped in a school locker; he's trapped, alone and afraid, until his cries for help are heard by the school janitor, Simon. When he doesn't return home at his normal time, his father, Peter makes a panicked and distressed call to Sheriff James Cohen to find his son before it's too late. If you think you know what's going to happen, think again, because phew - you may think you know what's going to happen, until you don't. 😦
“Not on the fact that my earlier thought about being a good man is complete bullshit, because a good man never would have done what I’m doing.
But surely I’m not a bad man either. Am I?”
It's not that the idea wasn't relatively new; the strength was in the way that it was portrayed. How it wasn't just a search for a missing child, the story delved into the personal lives of each character - painting a picture of emotional trauma, financial struggles, personal problems - that paved the way for why they behaved the way they did. ❤️🩹 Why the paths of their lives led them to this catalyst of wild and unhinged decisions. It makes you wonder who exactly is the enemy and who is the victim - who deserves the blame and who is on the right hand of justice. For even though I knew it was wrong, I still wanted some form of retribution to be done. 😔
It also sheds some light on some rather sensitive and heavy subjects - topics that are a bit dark and gruesome and sensitive to those of the faint-hearted. The school bullying aspect, in particular, was very painful to read through, and also the very creepy and troublesome moment when Simon abducted Lucas. 😥 Cautiously afraid, I was really worried about how the author would handle it. But, the writing keeps you just on the edge of what's to transpire before immediately plunging you into an even more impactful and dangerous twist that you're suspended in anticipation of what is to come next. 😟
The way the narrative is brought to light with three alternating perspectives that sheds light on why they're making these morally challenged decisions - ones that are as questionable as the acts that they are committing - that you can't help but sympathize with them, too. The pacing and tone of the story never shifts - it is focused and clear and you feel the impending danger mounting, the dreary undercurrent of something that is bound to happen and the surprises will literally catch you off-guard! 😯😯 And I savored it whole-heartedly!
“This is my son, and I can’t let anybody mess that up.
...
My son, despite all that.”
Very strong and solid writing - it does not hold back in heightening the intense emotions, providing enough detail to give you a vivid image - just enough to make you feel so uncomfortable and foreboding, but keeping it still light enough that you don't want to stop. 👏🏻👏🏻 I know I couldn't and didn't! It delves deeply into the relationship between fathers and sons, and how each of the characters face the difficult choices that center around it, making you sympathize and empathize with each of them - even the kidnapper! My heart hurt for Lucas, I pitied Sheriff Cohen, and even Simon - as horrible as a person he was, he didn't deserve what happened to him. 🥺 The depths of depravity and the path to justice is a hard-fought battle and a tough lesson here, for everyone involved. It is a credit to the author that he is able to bring about these feelings and still make it as wildly entertaining as possible rounding it off with a conclusion that is not only satisfying, but sadly and painfully bittersweet, too. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
November 13, 2023
Yikes.
On a bike.
Make that several bikes.
This was my first Cleave novel, and I was excited to read it after seeing good reviews for his previous books.
Nothing could have prepared me for the content of this book.
The opening chapter immediately grabbed my attention, about a kid trapped in a locker after school finished, but I had no idea it would finish like it did.
There are differing POVs, which aren't explicitly told at the start of the chapter, but it's fairly easy to see who is in the spotlight.
This is a fast and dramatic book and I wish I could show a picture of my expression as I read the final few chapters! I may have nightmares...
If you love dark and disturbing, you will love this.
On a bike.
Make that several bikes.
This was my first Cleave novel, and I was excited to read it after seeing good reviews for his previous books.
Nothing could have prepared me for the content of this book.
The opening chapter immediately grabbed my attention, about a kid trapped in a locker after school finished, but I had no idea it would finish like it did.
There are differing POVs, which aren't explicitly told at the start of the chapter, but it's fairly easy to see who is in the spotlight.
This is a fast and dramatic book and I wish I could show a picture of my expression as I read the final few chapters! I may have nightmares...
If you love dark and disturbing, you will love this.
November 29, 2023
Gird your loins and prepare yourself for an extremely dark, pacey and claustrophobic small town thriller, with shades of Fargo, but at its very core, how far familial bonds ill cause individuals to act in increasingly more desperate ways…
I hadn’t read a Paul Cleave book for a while, so jumped at the chance to get involved in the blog tour for this one. Hopefully, like me, you will quickly get sucked in to this fast moving and compelling story, set over the course of a few days. Cleverly, Cleave pivots the action between the viewpoints of high school student Lucas Connor, Sheriff Cohen and the dastardly perpetrator of murderous crimes, so it is impossible to tear yourself away, as the story races towards its bloody and violent denouement. Talking of bloody and violent, there is plenty of that along the way too…
I would say that this is a tale of essentially good people acting badly, but Cleave muddies the waters along the way, so in the end you have extremely contrary views of the actions the characters take, or the situations they find themselves in. Cohen’s son Nathan is undoubtedly one of the nastiest and most spiteful adolescents you will encounter in fiction. Lucas is a seemingly shy and withdrawn kid, who suffers greatly at the hands of the aforementioned Nathan. Sheriff Cohen is reeling in the wake of his marriage break up and coping with the demands, both mentally and financially, of his elderly father who is in the grip of dementia. Throw into the mix a twisted child abductor, whose apprehension causes waves of visceral repercussions in Lucas’ and Sheriff Cohen’s lives, and giving rise to a whole host of surprises along the way, and you will find yourself completely sucked in to these characters’ lives.
At its heart lays a very honest and emotional look at what defines human relationships, particularly those between fathers and sons, leading to some heartfelt scenes where familial loyalty is tested to the extreme. There is an assured balance in this book between the need to keep the pace and tension spot on, as an essentially compelling serial killer thriller, and yet, to really humanise the protagonists, exposing the base human instincts of greed and revenge, and what can drive people to act in extreme ways to defend those they love, at the expense of others.
As I say, you will find yourself practically inhaling His Favourite Graves and coming out a little sweaty and breathless the other side. Which can only be a good thing, right? It’s dark and violent but neatly exposes both the glimmer of good and the pretty rotten bad sides of the characters too. A fast and satisfying read.
Recommended.
I hadn’t read a Paul Cleave book for a while, so jumped at the chance to get involved in the blog tour for this one. Hopefully, like me, you will quickly get sucked in to this fast moving and compelling story, set over the course of a few days. Cleverly, Cleave pivots the action between the viewpoints of high school student Lucas Connor, Sheriff Cohen and the dastardly perpetrator of murderous crimes, so it is impossible to tear yourself away, as the story races towards its bloody and violent denouement. Talking of bloody and violent, there is plenty of that along the way too…
I would say that this is a tale of essentially good people acting badly, but Cleave muddies the waters along the way, so in the end you have extremely contrary views of the actions the characters take, or the situations they find themselves in. Cohen’s son Nathan is undoubtedly one of the nastiest and most spiteful adolescents you will encounter in fiction. Lucas is a seemingly shy and withdrawn kid, who suffers greatly at the hands of the aforementioned Nathan. Sheriff Cohen is reeling in the wake of his marriage break up and coping with the demands, both mentally and financially, of his elderly father who is in the grip of dementia. Throw into the mix a twisted child abductor, whose apprehension causes waves of visceral repercussions in Lucas’ and Sheriff Cohen’s lives, and giving rise to a whole host of surprises along the way, and you will find yourself completely sucked in to these characters’ lives.
At its heart lays a very honest and emotional look at what defines human relationships, particularly those between fathers and sons, leading to some heartfelt scenes where familial loyalty is tested to the extreme. There is an assured balance in this book between the need to keep the pace and tension spot on, as an essentially compelling serial killer thriller, and yet, to really humanise the protagonists, exposing the base human instincts of greed and revenge, and what can drive people to act in extreme ways to defend those they love, at the expense of others.
As I say, you will find yourself practically inhaling His Favourite Graves and coming out a little sweaty and breathless the other side. Which can only be a good thing, right? It’s dark and violent but neatly exposes both the glimmer of good and the pretty rotten bad sides of the characters too. A fast and satisfying read.
Recommended.
September 7, 2023
Omg I wish I had popcorn. In no way did I predict anything past 40% in this book. Had me by the eyeballs. Spectacular ending!
November 22, 2023
This is my second read by Paul. The first being The Pain Tourist and it was a great read and this latest novel from Paul is just as good. Paul in his writing loves pushing the boundaries and his readers have no option but to follow him and enjoy the ride!
This novel is told in three points of view, Sheriff Cohen is struggling to look after his father, who has dementia in amongst the debris of his marriage. Also his son is a bully. When a local teenager is kidnapped by a peadophile and is rescued by Sheriff Cohen who sees a his way out of financial problems by claiming the reward. But nothing is as easy as it seems.
Small town as Acacia Pines is, it has a dark side to it. An underbelly that finds those who are sworn to uphold the law are stepping into the dark side.
I love how this book is told from POV's of the Sheriff, Lucas and the peadophile. As this book progresses it gets more and more darker. You will wonder where it is going and nothing is as it seems.
Paul has written a dark, twisted and evil tale. Superb writing that keeps the reader hooked and congratulations again to both Paul and OrendaBooks for another great tale.
This novel is told in three points of view, Sheriff Cohen is struggling to look after his father, who has dementia in amongst the debris of his marriage. Also his son is a bully. When a local teenager is kidnapped by a peadophile and is rescued by Sheriff Cohen who sees a his way out of financial problems by claiming the reward. But nothing is as easy as it seems.
Small town as Acacia Pines is, it has a dark side to it. An underbelly that finds those who are sworn to uphold the law are stepping into the dark side.
I love how this book is told from POV's of the Sheriff, Lucas and the peadophile. As this book progresses it gets more and more darker. You will wonder where it is going and nothing is as it seems.
Paul has written a dark, twisted and evil tale. Superb writing that keeps the reader hooked and congratulations again to both Paul and OrendaBooks for another great tale.
December 6, 2023
Schoolyard bullies have nothing on Paul Cleave's imagination. Package up every high school bully you've ever experienced, then multiply that by three, and you still wouldn't have scratched the surface of the depravity of the bad guys in this book. Fortunately for the reader, that darkness is tempered by an abundance of twists, lucky saves, and well earned retribution, which will leave you as breathless as a kidnap victim running from their abductor.
And what an ending. Another excellent thriller from Cleave. I anxiously await the next one...
I purchased the ebook via Amazon.
And what an ending. Another excellent thriller from Cleave. I anxiously await the next one...
I purchased the ebook via Amazon.
November 1, 2023
Lucas Connor is a 16-year-old young man living in Acacia Pines, USA, with his alcoholic father and published writer, Peter. Lucas is relentlessly bullied by his peers and one day, they lock him in a school locker. When Lucas calls for help, he doesn’t expect that the person opening the door, his alleged rescuer, will be in fact his kidnapper.
Sheriff Cohen’s life is falling apart. He is knees deep in debt, his wife left him, his teenage son hates him, and his father has Alzheimer’s Disease. His father has to live with Cohen after being removed from he care home he was staying in, because he burned it down.
When Peter phones Cohen for help, the sheriff and his team are desperate to find the missing boy. After all, he isn’t the only missing child in the area – a boy called Freddy Holt disappeared a couple of months ago following a suicide of another teenager, Taylor Reed.
Are these events linked? Will Lucas be found?
What a story!!
I loved how it was written from the points of view of Lucas, the sheriff and the kidnapper. There are some horrific descriptions, but despite them, I got so engrossed in the narrative. There are so many layers to the characters, each and every one of them had (or still has) a difficult relationship with their father, and this shaped their actions and choices. At one point, I even felt sorry for the kidnapper, and I knew that was morally wrong, but he suffered terrible abuse at the hands of his foster father.
After about 40% (I read it on the Kindle), the book just takes a totally different, much darker turn. Expect the unexpected and to be shocked like you’ve never been before. Blooming brilliant!
Sheriff Cohen’s life is falling apart. He is knees deep in debt, his wife left him, his teenage son hates him, and his father has Alzheimer’s Disease. His father has to live with Cohen after being removed from he care home he was staying in, because he burned it down.
When Peter phones Cohen for help, the sheriff and his team are desperate to find the missing boy. After all, he isn’t the only missing child in the area – a boy called Freddy Holt disappeared a couple of months ago following a suicide of another teenager, Taylor Reed.
Are these events linked? Will Lucas be found?
What a story!!
I loved how it was written from the points of view of Lucas, the sheriff and the kidnapper. There are some horrific descriptions, but despite them, I got so engrossed in the narrative. There are so many layers to the characters, each and every one of them had (or still has) a difficult relationship with their father, and this shaped their actions and choices. At one point, I even felt sorry for the kidnapper, and I knew that was morally wrong, but he suffered terrible abuse at the hands of his foster father.
After about 40% (I read it on the Kindle), the book just takes a totally different, much darker turn. Expect the unexpected and to be shocked like you’ve never been before. Blooming brilliant!
January 6, 2024
This was dark, disturbing and quite graphic in places, with a feeling of foreboding and disaster throughout. It also had the unexpected happen again and again as in the other two books of the author I have read, which made it a twisted thriller I couldn't stop reading even as I put aside my snack which was impossible to stomach while immersed in the world of small town Sheriff James Cohen!
Mired in personal troubles, with a legal case hanging over his head because his dad burnt down the care home he was in due to his Alzheimer's, his wife having to leave and his son becoming snappy and rude, the Sheriff of Acacia Pines could use a break. When a teenage boy, Lucas, is reported missing, Cohen is determined to find him and get the prize money on offer on his abductor to help him with his money troubles.
This ulterior motive means his actions may not always be what they should be given his role and he spirals into one bad situation after another, trying to set things right. We have a couple of alternate POVs which throw light on dreadful abuse and school bullying that the characters have suffered and the ways in which it has destroyed them.
There's never a moment when the action lets up as the Sheriff tries to cope and Lucas, the abducted boy, struggles to survive. It's tense and uncomfortable throughout with some moral dilemmas for everyone involved.
Mired in personal troubles, with a legal case hanging over his head because his dad burnt down the care home he was in due to his Alzheimer's, his wife having to leave and his son becoming snappy and rude, the Sheriff of Acacia Pines could use a break. When a teenage boy, Lucas, is reported missing, Cohen is determined to find him and get the prize money on offer on his abductor to help him with his money troubles.
This ulterior motive means his actions may not always be what they should be given his role and he spirals into one bad situation after another, trying to set things right. We have a couple of alternate POVs which throw light on dreadful abuse and school bullying that the characters have suffered and the ways in which it has destroyed them.
There's never a moment when the action lets up as the Sheriff tries to cope and Lucas, the abducted boy, struggles to survive. It's tense and uncomfortable throughout with some moral dilemmas for everyone involved.
December 7, 2023
4.5⭐️
A dark gritty crime/ psychological thriller set in New Zealand.
In a small town Sheriff Cohen’s life is falling apart, his father who has dementia is living with him, as he managed to burn down the residential home where he was living. His wife has left him, his teenage son is in a rebellious phase bullying others at school. I really felt for his predicament which just seemed to keep getting worse.
It opens with a great hook with Lucas being bundled into a school locker at the end of the day and left there. It immediately grabbed my attention then Lucas then goes missing.
We get the story from several points of view, the main ones being the Sheriff and the antagonist. It’s told in an easy going first person narrative from the Sheriff.
It’s got some caustically dry humour from the Sheriff which is right up my street mixed in with some seriously badass characters.
The pace is full on with lots happening keeping me engrossed. Twists and turns had me oohing.
Just when I think I’ve read something that I think isn’t going to work, bam the author covers it. I wondered how on earth the author was going to conclude this story, and how I would feel about it. I felt that he handled it well, it’s got a fitting ending.
On finishing it, all I can say was that was quite a wild ride! It’s not often when reading a book I think this would make a great movie, this is one of those books.
I loved it, if you love dark and gritty and don’t have triggers I think you’ll love this. If you’re of a more tender disposition, save yourself some angst and pass this one by.
A dark gritty crime/ psychological thriller set in New Zealand.
In a small town Sheriff Cohen’s life is falling apart, his father who has dementia is living with him, as he managed to burn down the residential home where he was living. His wife has left him, his teenage son is in a rebellious phase bullying others at school. I really felt for his predicament which just seemed to keep getting worse.
It opens with a great hook with Lucas being bundled into a school locker at the end of the day and left there. It immediately grabbed my attention then Lucas then goes missing.
We get the story from several points of view, the main ones being the Sheriff and the antagonist. It’s told in an easy going first person narrative from the Sheriff.
It’s got some caustically dry humour from the Sheriff which is right up my street mixed in with some seriously badass characters.
The pace is full on with lots happening keeping me engrossed. Twists and turns had me oohing.
Just when I think I’ve read something that I think isn’t going to work, bam the author covers it. I wondered how on earth the author was going to conclude this story, and how I would feel about it. I felt that he handled it well, it’s got a fitting ending.
On finishing it, all I can say was that was quite a wild ride! It’s not often when reading a book I think this would make a great movie, this is one of those books.
I loved it, if you love dark and gritty and don’t have triggers I think you’ll love this. If you’re of a more tender disposition, save yourself some angst and pass this one by.
December 19, 2023
Expect the unexpected.
December 5, 2023
Wow, that was completely epic. It had all the right elements of gore, shock and backstory but also more twists and turns than the average rollercoaster.
It’s definitely one of those stories that almost overdelivers, each separate strand of the storyline would’ve been an excellent well rounded tale in its own right, but that’s by no means a criticism, it just makes it even more of a treat.
There aren’t any subjects the author is afraid to tackle, child abduction, abuse, domestic abuse, alcoholism, bullying…. I could write a really long list here but they all fit seamlessly into the narrative and are handled well. The worm angle was brilliant and fascinating, having written a dissertation on toxocariasis I love it when worlds collide and plausible science is injected into the mix. Trying not to give spoilers here.
Despite my degree in forensics there were times I was practically peeping nervously through my fingers, but, again that’s no criticism just fantastic writing. Hopefully you can tell I loved this book, will definitely seek out more by the author.
It’s definitely one of those stories that almost overdelivers, each separate strand of the storyline would’ve been an excellent well rounded tale in its own right, but that’s by no means a criticism, it just makes it even more of a treat.
There aren’t any subjects the author is afraid to tackle, child abduction, abuse, domestic abuse, alcoholism, bullying…. I could write a really long list here but they all fit seamlessly into the narrative and are handled well. The worm angle was brilliant and fascinating, having written a dissertation on toxocariasis I love it when worlds collide and plausible science is injected into the mix. Trying not to give spoilers here.
Despite my degree in forensics there were times I was practically peeping nervously through my fingers, but, again that’s no criticism just fantastic writing. Hopefully you can tell I loved this book, will definitely seek out more by the author.
December 16, 2025
4.5 big fat stars !!!
What the heck ! This was dark, and grim, and hopeless, and absolutely brilliant! I loved this novel. I think it's my favourite (or not, I said that about the last Cleave I read) !
Every time you think you met the worst, turns out there is worse. Every time you are convinced it's the last shock, you are proved wrong.
Emotional rollercoaster ✅
Darker that dark ✅
Beautiful writing ✅
Tortured main character that makes horrible. choices but still somehow very endearing ✅
Plot twists ✅✅✅
I absolutely recommend it to all my fellow crime fiction fans, you'll love it!
What the heck ! This was dark, and grim, and hopeless, and absolutely brilliant! I loved this novel. I think it's my favourite (or not, I said that about the last Cleave I read) !
Every time you think you met the worst, turns out there is worse. Every time you are convinced it's the last shock, you are proved wrong.
Emotional rollercoaster ✅
Darker that dark ✅
Beautiful writing ✅
Tortured main character that makes horrible. choices but still somehow very endearing ✅
Plot twists ✅✅✅
I absolutely recommend it to all my fellow crime fiction fans, you'll love it!
June 11, 2024
It’s no secret that I like dark and disturbing books and His Favourite Graves had been recommended to me as a particularly dark one, so I started reading it without even checking the blurb.. yup I know I’m such a rebel!
Set in a small town in the USA, Acacia Pines is a seemingly quiet and relatively safe place to live. However, Sheriff James Cohen is having a particularly difficult time at the moment. His wife has left him, his teenage son hates him and his father, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, has just been kicked out of the care home he was in for burning it down (accidentally) and killing a resident, but this is nothing compared to the day Lucas Connor is having.
Lucas is a student at the local high school, an outsider and often bullied by the other pupils, has been locked in a school locker at the end of the day and left. Hours later, the janitor hears him shouting and Lucas finally feels help is on it’s way and is being rescued. However, the janitor isn’t exactly a knight in shining armour, he’s a very troubled and dangerous paedophile and Lucas isn’t his first victim either.
Abducted from the locker and now at the mercy of this very sick individual it’s a race against time for Sheriff Cohen to find Lucas and rescue him.
I raced through this book, the pace was fast, the tension was tight and the plotline was flawless. I would describe this book as a “literary Russian Doll” as each chapter unveiled a new shocking revelation and was full of surprises and twists that I absolutely did NOT see coming.
It’s a very uncomfortable read with several trigger topics that some readers might not want to read about including child abuse, sexual abuse, murder and suicide. It’s possibly one of the darkest books I’ve read in recent years, but if this doesn’t bother you, then I would 100% recommend it to fans of dark, twisted and very, very disturbing thrillers.
Set in a small town in the USA, Acacia Pines is a seemingly quiet and relatively safe place to live. However, Sheriff James Cohen is having a particularly difficult time at the moment. His wife has left him, his teenage son hates him and his father, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, has just been kicked out of the care home he was in for burning it down (accidentally) and killing a resident, but this is nothing compared to the day Lucas Connor is having.
Lucas is a student at the local high school, an outsider and often bullied by the other pupils, has been locked in a school locker at the end of the day and left. Hours later, the janitor hears him shouting and Lucas finally feels help is on it’s way and is being rescued. However, the janitor isn’t exactly a knight in shining armour, he’s a very troubled and dangerous paedophile and Lucas isn’t his first victim either.
Abducted from the locker and now at the mercy of this very sick individual it’s a race against time for Sheriff Cohen to find Lucas and rescue him.
I raced through this book, the pace was fast, the tension was tight and the plotline was flawless. I would describe this book as a “literary Russian Doll” as each chapter unveiled a new shocking revelation and was full of surprises and twists that I absolutely did NOT see coming.
It’s a very uncomfortable read with several trigger topics that some readers might not want to read about including child abuse, sexual abuse, murder and suicide. It’s possibly one of the darkest books I’ve read in recent years, but if this doesn’t bother you, then I would 100% recommend it to fans of dark, twisted and very, very disturbing thrillers.
November 8, 2023
His Favourite Graves, the latest novel by Paul Cleave, is such an intense read, and it is definitely one of my favourite books of the year. The novel begins with a shocking opening chapter, as a young boy, Lucas, is abducted from school, and held prisoner. This is all after Lucas is found stuffed in a locker at his school. A massive police hunt is launched to find the boy, but things are certainly not all that they seem in this book.
There are so many twists and turns in His Favourite Graves, and the pace did not drop once. I could really feel the terror that Lucas was experiencing as he was being held captive, and I was rooting for him to escape. You can also see clearly the distress Lucas’ father is going through, as he anxiously waits for news of his son. Then there’s the detective, Sheriff Cohen, who is one of the most fascinating police detectives I’ve come across in crime fiction for a while. I was so intrigued in the decisions that Sheriff Cohen was making, as the police try to work out what’s going on, and if Lucas’s disappearance could also be linked to any other previous unsolved disappearances. The way Sheriff Cohen goes about this is really shocking, but you can certainly see why he chooses to go down this path, and you can certainly see why some people would want to applaud him, especially with the crimes he’s dealing with in this book.
I was totally hooked by this story. Paul Cleave has created some very complex characters and he tells the story from different points of view, from Lucas’, Sheriff Cohens’, and the person behind the crimes, and Paul handles the different perspectives really well. As we begin to understand what is really going on, I really wanted to see how Paul was going to wrap everything up, and he delivers twist after twist. Just as you think you’ve got everything all worked out, and that Paul Cleave has revealed all his secrets, he throws in another twist that really knocks you for six.
His Favourite Graves is one of the most engaging crime novels I’ve read this year. It is very dark, and Paul Cleave explores some heavy themes. I could really feel what the characters were feeling and going through in this book, and I wanted to find out what was going to happen to them. This is an outstanding novel; you will not want to put it down. I highly, highly recommend it.
There are so many twists and turns in His Favourite Graves, and the pace did not drop once. I could really feel the terror that Lucas was experiencing as he was being held captive, and I was rooting for him to escape. You can also see clearly the distress Lucas’ father is going through, as he anxiously waits for news of his son. Then there’s the detective, Sheriff Cohen, who is one of the most fascinating police detectives I’ve come across in crime fiction for a while. I was so intrigued in the decisions that Sheriff Cohen was making, as the police try to work out what’s going on, and if Lucas’s disappearance could also be linked to any other previous unsolved disappearances. The way Sheriff Cohen goes about this is really shocking, but you can certainly see why he chooses to go down this path, and you can certainly see why some people would want to applaud him, especially with the crimes he’s dealing with in this book.
I was totally hooked by this story. Paul Cleave has created some very complex characters and he tells the story from different points of view, from Lucas’, Sheriff Cohens’, and the person behind the crimes, and Paul handles the different perspectives really well. As we begin to understand what is really going on, I really wanted to see how Paul was going to wrap everything up, and he delivers twist after twist. Just as you think you’ve got everything all worked out, and that Paul Cleave has revealed all his secrets, he throws in another twist that really knocks you for six.
His Favourite Graves is one of the most engaging crime novels I’ve read this year. It is very dark, and Paul Cleave explores some heavy themes. I could really feel what the characters were feeling and going through in this book, and I wanted to find out what was going to happen to them. This is an outstanding novel; you will not want to put it down. I highly, highly recommend it.
November 24, 2023
Solid thriller from Cleave about a sheriff with money problems, a bully son, an estranged wife and a dad with Alzheimer's who must deal with a serial killer who abducts children. These issues lead to some questionable decisions and fateful actions in a way only Cleave can tell them. I've read all his books and this one continues the same style of over-the-top but highly enjoyable plots that never provide a dull moment and finish in grand style where happy endings don't exist. Entertaining as always.
April 11, 2025
Corrupte wetsdienaren en criminele plannetjes. Echt origineel is 'His Favourite Graves' (2023) misschien niet, maar de typische genre-elementen leiden tot een amusante achtbaanrit. Twee personages worden getergd door de klappen die het leven uitdeelt. Sheriff Cohen zakt steeds dieper weg in een giftige mix van alcoholisme, geldproblemen en fysieke verwondingen. Middelbare scholier Lucas wordt opgesloten in een locker, maar komt in een hachelijkere situatie terecht als de conciërge hem bevrijdt. Simple Simon verkracht en vermoordt namelijk jonge jongens. De twee antihelden smeden plannetjes om het vege lijf te redden of om wraak te nemen op de kwaadaardige kracht die ze tegenover zich hebben. Maar wat verliezen ze van zichzelf als ze besluiten om het recht in eigen handen nemen!?
In de geest van Elmore Leonard blijft ook Paul Cleave weg van een ouderwets moordmysterie. De lezer weet vrij snel hoe de vork in de steel zit en welke belangen er op het spel staan. Absoluut smullen als de kaarten opeens anders op tafel liggen wanneer slachtoffers daders worden. Qua thematiek is 'His Favourite Graves' (2023) geen diepgaande roman. Het snijdt wat aan over (online) pesten en de onmogelijkheid om anderen te doorgronden, maar uiteindelijk moet Cleave het toch vooral hebben van de grafische geweldbeschrijvingen en cynische sfeerschetsen. Op elke bladzijde staat wel ergens een misantroop zinnetje waarin naar voren komt in wat voor verrotte wereld de personages leven. Een goede hardboiled thriller brengt de mens immers terug tot egoïstische wezens die elkaar de meest verschrikkelijke dingen aandoen in hun overlevingsstrijd. Ik pak zeker nog wel eens een boek van hem op.
In de geest van Elmore Leonard blijft ook Paul Cleave weg van een ouderwets moordmysterie. De lezer weet vrij snel hoe de vork in de steel zit en welke belangen er op het spel staan. Absoluut smullen als de kaarten opeens anders op tafel liggen wanneer slachtoffers daders worden. Qua thematiek is 'His Favourite Graves' (2023) geen diepgaande roman. Het snijdt wat aan over (online) pesten en de onmogelijkheid om anderen te doorgronden, maar uiteindelijk moet Cleave het toch vooral hebben van de grafische geweldbeschrijvingen en cynische sfeerschetsen. Op elke bladzijde staat wel ergens een misantroop zinnetje waarin naar voren komt in wat voor verrotte wereld de personages leven. Een goede hardboiled thriller brengt de mens immers terug tot egoïstische wezens die elkaar de meest verschrikkelijke dingen aandoen in hun overlevingsstrijd. Ik pak zeker nog wel eens een boek van hem op.
April 1, 2024
A high school boy is kidnapped and found in the act of being strangled then the offender escapes and it is later found he is a serial killer. For the want of the reward money, the sheriff takes the law into his own hands. Both the sheriff and the victim see this as a chance to get their lives together in a positive manner yet things don't go the way they had planned.
Paul Cleave is an automatic read for me and he never disappoints. Raw, brutal, and real this book is a fast page-turner. None of the characters are likable but I felt the need to know how this high-energy book turned out. A great read; not my favourite but still a four star for me.
Paul Cleave is an automatic read for me and he never disappoints. Raw, brutal, and real this book is a fast page-turner. None of the characters are likable but I felt the need to know how this high-energy book turned out. A great read; not my favourite but still a four star for me.
December 10, 2023
If the adage, 'write what you know' applies to Paul Cleave - I can't help wondering what his experiences have been! I have just finished 'His Favourite Graves'; grittier, darker, more tension-ridden than his previous gritty, dark and tense novels.
The Sheriff's life is falling apart; troubles with his father's failing health, a wife who has left home, money worries, and a teenage son he discovers is bullying other kids. And then, a boy goes missing, and it seems the town has unearthed a serial killer. The sheriff makes several questionable decisions and moral ambiguities abound!
Recommended, but be warned; this is a tense and gruesome read.
The Sheriff's life is falling apart; troubles with his father's failing health, a wife who has left home, money worries, and a teenage son he discovers is bullying other kids. And then, a boy goes missing, and it seems the town has unearthed a serial killer. The sheriff makes several questionable decisions and moral ambiguities abound!
Recommended, but be warned; this is a tense and gruesome read.
December 30, 2023
What a fantastic book. I was not sure what I was expecting and thought what else could come after I thought some major plot twist happened already at the beginning. But this book was full of amazing twists and turns all along and kept me hooked the entire time.
Tough to stomach in between, especially if bullying triggers you.
Definitely a great book to discuss in a bookclub.
Tough to stomach in between, especially if bullying triggers you.
Definitely a great book to discuss in a bookclub.
July 9, 2024
Dark and gritty, this is another great thriller from Paul Cleave. You may think you know what's coming at you next in his books...you don't! Even when I think I have everything figured out, he manages to throw in one more of those, "Oh, he wouldn't go there, would he?" moments.
January 4, 2024
Excellent read. Lots of twists. I was hooked in the first couple of pages.
February 18, 2024
Cleave writes the most disturbing crime novels - and this latest novel is no exception!
Not for the faint hearted.
Not for the faint hearted.
June 23, 2025
#24hourread
November 25, 2023
His Favourite Graves
If you like your thrillers twisty, turny and highly stress inducing, this is definitely one for you.
Paul Cleave’s novel starts at a frantic pace and does not let up. Logan Cohen is the sheriff in a small town, his life is a mess - his dementia ridden father accidentally burned down his retirement home, leaving him with a huge bill and his father now living with him. His wife has had enough and moved out, and his teenage son seems to developed a very nasty streak.
When he thinks things can’t get worse, a teenager called Lucas is abducted.
Told in the first person by Logan and from a third person perspective from Lucas, this novel constantly flips up your expectations and beliefs and makes you look at everything again. I never knew what was going to happen next, or who to believe. It’s an absolutely brilliant book, it kept me reading far too late at night, desperate to know what happens next. Paul Cleave is very good at keeping you onside with some pretty damaged characters and His Favourite Graves is also a pertinent study of father/son relationships. How do you live with and love your own flesh and blood when they are morally reprehensible or no longer capable of managing their own lives?
If you like your thrillers twisty, turny and highly stress inducing, this is definitely one for you.
Paul Cleave’s novel starts at a frantic pace and does not let up. Logan Cohen is the sheriff in a small town, his life is a mess - his dementia ridden father accidentally burned down his retirement home, leaving him with a huge bill and his father now living with him. His wife has had enough and moved out, and his teenage son seems to developed a very nasty streak.
When he thinks things can’t get worse, a teenager called Lucas is abducted.
Told in the first person by Logan and from a third person perspective from Lucas, this novel constantly flips up your expectations and beliefs and makes you look at everything again. I never knew what was going to happen next, or who to believe. It’s an absolutely brilliant book, it kept me reading far too late at night, desperate to know what happens next. Paul Cleave is very good at keeping you onside with some pretty damaged characters and His Favourite Graves is also a pertinent study of father/son relationships. How do you live with and love your own flesh and blood when they are morally reprehensible or no longer capable of managing their own lives?
September 9, 2023
I've just got to say it - it's tough being a kid in Paul Cleave's world. They always seem to end up in some kind of bother. Bother being the euphemistic way of saying the words that are really in my head but too rude to commit to a review. In His Favourite Graves it's fair to say that Lucas Connor doesn't just end up in 'bother', he absolutely starts the whole book up to his neck in it. I really liked the opening to this book. It set up a million and one questions in my head, the author very cleverly misdirecting us before slowly revealing the truth of Lucas' situation. All in all, you can safely say the kid is having a pretty bad day. But then it's set to get a whole lot worse, with a shocking but not unexpected twist coming at the start of the first chapter which set us up nicely for all that is to come. Sort of ...
This is a police thriller. Of a kind. Not one particularly steeped in mystery - we know all of the major players, suspects, perpetrators, victims etc, very early on in the book. For us as readers, at least, there is never any doubt at all about who is ruining any part of Lucas' day. But then, as much as this is about Lucas and his abduction, it's also not. It's a far wider reaching tale than that. A series of events which are about to be revealed, causing shockwaves across the whole community of Acacia Pine - and us as readers too.
Despite a very dark subject matter at the heart of this book, and when all is said and done it is very dark, I found myself completely engrossed in the story and in the very complicated lives of Lucas Connor and Acacia Pines Sheriff, James Cohen. In their own ways they are truly compelling characters. Neither is quite what you expect and both had the capacity to surprise me. Both lead complicated lives, and although you might wonder how complicated the life of a High School student can be, you may well be surprised. To say that's Cohen's personal life is a mess would be an understatement, but it certainly makes for an interesting set of circumstances.
Paul Cleave has done a superb job, as always, of making us care about the characters, even in their most troubling moments, and I found I understood their motivations, if didn't quite condone their actions. Even the perpetrator of Lucas; abduction is perhaps worthy of a little sympathy, although that is on a very low quota. But the author portrays the complexity of the circumstances perfectly, pushing us to consider the nature verses nurture debate on more than one occasion. Then there is Deputy Lisa Hutchinson. She's a pretty straight talker and acts as Cohen's Jiminy Cricket. His moral compass. Which would be okay if he just once stopped to check his direction of travel ... I liked her, liked that she was always there, standing in not so silent judgment of hat was going on, asking the questions I wanted to ask. An anchor, as it were, in a sea of chaos
Pacing of this book is just right and I found myself powering through the book really quickly. The story is set over just a few short days, alternating between the points of view of Lucas, Cohen and the perpetrator, and this, and the sense of urgency and jeopardy that accompanies every step of the investigation, really drives the action along. An unexpected turn of events part way through the book really creates a new kind of tempo, and the further we travel into the mire, the quicker I found myself reading along. The author has managed to make the setting ooze authenticity, even if, on occasion, the story tends towards more of a Fargo-esque plotline. Small town USA seems a perfect location for this kind of madness, and I could see this translating perfectly to the small screen.
Expect the unexpected is all I can really say. Prepare to be revulsed, amused, surprised and stunned, but most of all prepare to be entertained. I love the tension, the pace and the occasional madness of this book. And the ending ... well, despite everything we are told throughout, I really didn't see that coming. And ewww. Definitely that. Most certainly recommended. Fans of the author will love it.
This is a police thriller. Of a kind. Not one particularly steeped in mystery - we know all of the major players, suspects, perpetrators, victims etc, very early on in the book. For us as readers, at least, there is never any doubt at all about who is ruining any part of Lucas' day. But then, as much as this is about Lucas and his abduction, it's also not. It's a far wider reaching tale than that. A series of events which are about to be revealed, causing shockwaves across the whole community of Acacia Pine - and us as readers too.
Despite a very dark subject matter at the heart of this book, and when all is said and done it is very dark, I found myself completely engrossed in the story and in the very complicated lives of Lucas Connor and Acacia Pines Sheriff, James Cohen. In their own ways they are truly compelling characters. Neither is quite what you expect and both had the capacity to surprise me. Both lead complicated lives, and although you might wonder how complicated the life of a High School student can be, you may well be surprised. To say that's Cohen's personal life is a mess would be an understatement, but it certainly makes for an interesting set of circumstances.
Paul Cleave has done a superb job, as always, of making us care about the characters, even in their most troubling moments, and I found I understood their motivations, if didn't quite condone their actions. Even the perpetrator of Lucas; abduction is perhaps worthy of a little sympathy, although that is on a very low quota. But the author portrays the complexity of the circumstances perfectly, pushing us to consider the nature verses nurture debate on more than one occasion. Then there is Deputy Lisa Hutchinson. She's a pretty straight talker and acts as Cohen's Jiminy Cricket. His moral compass. Which would be okay if he just once stopped to check his direction of travel ... I liked her, liked that she was always there, standing in not so silent judgment of hat was going on, asking the questions I wanted to ask. An anchor, as it were, in a sea of chaos
Pacing of this book is just right and I found myself powering through the book really quickly. The story is set over just a few short days, alternating between the points of view of Lucas, Cohen and the perpetrator, and this, and the sense of urgency and jeopardy that accompanies every step of the investigation, really drives the action along. An unexpected turn of events part way through the book really creates a new kind of tempo, and the further we travel into the mire, the quicker I found myself reading along. The author has managed to make the setting ooze authenticity, even if, on occasion, the story tends towards more of a Fargo-esque plotline. Small town USA seems a perfect location for this kind of madness, and I could see this translating perfectly to the small screen.
Expect the unexpected is all I can really say. Prepare to be revulsed, amused, surprised and stunned, but most of all prepare to be entertained. I love the tension, the pace and the occasional madness of this book. And the ending ... well, despite everything we are told throughout, I really didn't see that coming. And ewww. Definitely that. Most certainly recommended. Fans of the author will love it.
January 9, 2024
A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. As other reviews have alluded to this is a very dark book with some shocking moments but all adds to the excellent narrative. Dialogue is punchy, characters are believable and the story is terrifying, highly recommended.
November 14, 2023
This is probably one of the cleverest books I have ever read. Don’t imagine it’s a straightforward crime drama. It’s full of twists and surprises, at times veering towards the unbelievable, but it’s so convincing, that you go along with it.
Everyone has an agenda, and everyone is capable of the most heinous of acts if pushed far enough. But is your own behaviour justified when the victim is also a killer and abuser of the worst kind?
Recently, teenager Freddy Holt went missing and was never seen again. Then a boy named Taylor Reed threw himself off a roof and died. Ruled a tragic suicide, following constant bullying. Lucas Connor isn’t popular at school. People think he’s weird. So they stuff him into a locker and padlock him in. But instead of being rescued, he’s abducted. His father calls the police, but they are sceptical at first. Till they find the locker has been forced open.
Sheriff Cohen is there on the scene. He knows Lucas’s father Peter. Knows his once successful career as a writer is in tatters, his wife has left him, and he’s an alcoholic. Cohen’s wife has also left, but for other reasons. They are still friends. Cohen hopes that if he can find Lucas and find his abductor, he can scoop the reward money, pay off his debts and get his wife back. Police are not allowed to claim rewards, but he’s thought of a way round that. And if all that isn’t complicated enough, his father has dementia and burned down the care home where he was living, and his son Nathan is the worst kind of bully.
But that’s only a tiny part of it. No-one is who they seem. The main characters will shock you to the core. Just who are the victims and who are the killers? His Favourite Graves turns that on its head and back again. And some people can be both. An absolute corker and one of my top books of the year.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours.
Everyone has an agenda, and everyone is capable of the most heinous of acts if pushed far enough. But is your own behaviour justified when the victim is also a killer and abuser of the worst kind?
Recently, teenager Freddy Holt went missing and was never seen again. Then a boy named Taylor Reed threw himself off a roof and died. Ruled a tragic suicide, following constant bullying. Lucas Connor isn’t popular at school. People think he’s weird. So they stuff him into a locker and padlock him in. But instead of being rescued, he’s abducted. His father calls the police, but they are sceptical at first. Till they find the locker has been forced open.
Sheriff Cohen is there on the scene. He knows Lucas’s father Peter. Knows his once successful career as a writer is in tatters, his wife has left him, and he’s an alcoholic. Cohen’s wife has also left, but for other reasons. They are still friends. Cohen hopes that if he can find Lucas and find his abductor, he can scoop the reward money, pay off his debts and get his wife back. Police are not allowed to claim rewards, but he’s thought of a way round that. And if all that isn’t complicated enough, his father has dementia and burned down the care home where he was living, and his son Nathan is the worst kind of bully.
But that’s only a tiny part of it. No-one is who they seem. The main characters will shock you to the core. Just who are the victims and who are the killers? His Favourite Graves turns that on its head and back again. And some people can be both. An absolute corker and one of my top books of the year.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours.
September 15, 2023
A totally must read novel. This book had me at page one and never let go. It is full of twists and turns and plenty of "What the hell" moments and I didn't see that coming. A completely different take on a crime story but very enjoyable. Highly recommended
December 27, 2023
His Favourite Graves is the third book I've read by Paul Cleave and it cements my view that he is one of the most original, exciting current writers of dark crime fiction. This is an ingeniously complex, shocking novel portraying a host of morally ambiguous characters and consequently I am mindful not to risk any spoilers. This really is one of those books which needs to be experienced without any prior expectations – other than to be prepared for a storyline which, despite featuring some truly disturbing scenes and the worst of humanity, is a wildly entertaining, irresistibly compulsive thriller from start to finish.
The opening immediately sets the tone with high-school student Lucas Connor's already bad day soon becoming much worse. The fictional American small town setting of Acacia Pines lends itself perfectly to what follows, with the complicated lives of its residents colliding in almost unimaginably horrific circumstances. Sheriff Cohen leads the search for Lucas but he has his own issues to deal with too and between his increasingly crushing financial worries, his uncommunicative, mean-spirited teenage son and his father's worsening Alzheimer's, it shouldn't be surprising that he sees this case as a possible salve for at least some of his problems.
Of course, things don't go to plan but for reasons I could never have predicted. I read a lot of crime fiction and it's not unusual for me to figure out some of the revelations before they come to light but that was certainly never going to happen here! This is not a mystery – we constantly have the perpetrators, their motivation and their plans revealed to us and yet the shocks keep coming. The addictively pacy, multilayered plot is artfully constructed to unsettle and surprise with each new curveball that changes everything that seems to be taking place.
Sheriff Cohen and Lucas Connor are particularly impressive characters and the fascinating exploration of their respective father and son relationships is superb. Cohen has to endure the most troubling aspects of both roles here, as son to a father cruelly diminished by his illness and as a father who increasingly comes to question his parenting skills and the choices he knows he should make as the novel progresses. Meanwhile, Lucas's terrifying ordeal is perhaps even more tragic considering his alcoholic father and absent mother. The characterisation is outstanding throughout though and in a novel which includes acts of extreme brutality and torture, it's to Paul Cleave's credit that he ensures his cast remains believable and that we are able to understand the reasoning behind the behaviour of even the worst of them. For all their obvious and undeniable failings, these are, for the most part, people shaped by their often harrowing experiences. Not everyone is as tainted by this apparently toxic town, however, and the steadfast kindness of carer Deborah and the frank integrity of Cohen's deputy, Hutch provides a welcome contrast to the darkness which seems to pervade so much of Acacia Pines.
The descriptions of the setting throughout His Favourite Graves are exceptional; each location is vividly realised and Paul Cleave uses the isolation of small town America to stunning effect. The inherent horror of abandoned properties builds upon the oppressive sense of danger while the inclement weather adds further colour to the intensely dramatic scenes as the novel draws towards its exciting, nightmarishly chaotic conclusion.
Despite the horrendous, cruel deeds perpetrated throughout His Favourite Graves, the writing is never gratuitous, with readers often left to use their own imaginations regarding the most depraved and distressing acts. This is a novel which explores the darkest of topics but it isn't a heavy read and the more outlandish elements of this deliciously noirish plot are decidedly Fargo-esque. Packed with twists, turns and shocks, His Favourite Graves is a breathtakingly compelling thrill-ride and one of the most memorable books I've read this year. Very highly recommended indeed.
The opening immediately sets the tone with high-school student Lucas Connor's already bad day soon becoming much worse. The fictional American small town setting of Acacia Pines lends itself perfectly to what follows, with the complicated lives of its residents colliding in almost unimaginably horrific circumstances. Sheriff Cohen leads the search for Lucas but he has his own issues to deal with too and between his increasingly crushing financial worries, his uncommunicative, mean-spirited teenage son and his father's worsening Alzheimer's, it shouldn't be surprising that he sees this case as a possible salve for at least some of his problems.
Of course, things don't go to plan but for reasons I could never have predicted. I read a lot of crime fiction and it's not unusual for me to figure out some of the revelations before they come to light but that was certainly never going to happen here! This is not a mystery – we constantly have the perpetrators, their motivation and their plans revealed to us and yet the shocks keep coming. The addictively pacy, multilayered plot is artfully constructed to unsettle and surprise with each new curveball that changes everything that seems to be taking place.
Sheriff Cohen and Lucas Connor are particularly impressive characters and the fascinating exploration of their respective father and son relationships is superb. Cohen has to endure the most troubling aspects of both roles here, as son to a father cruelly diminished by his illness and as a father who increasingly comes to question his parenting skills and the choices he knows he should make as the novel progresses. Meanwhile, Lucas's terrifying ordeal is perhaps even more tragic considering his alcoholic father and absent mother. The characterisation is outstanding throughout though and in a novel which includes acts of extreme brutality and torture, it's to Paul Cleave's credit that he ensures his cast remains believable and that we are able to understand the reasoning behind the behaviour of even the worst of them. For all their obvious and undeniable failings, these are, for the most part, people shaped by their often harrowing experiences. Not everyone is as tainted by this apparently toxic town, however, and the steadfast kindness of carer Deborah and the frank integrity of Cohen's deputy, Hutch provides a welcome contrast to the darkness which seems to pervade so much of Acacia Pines.
The descriptions of the setting throughout His Favourite Graves are exceptional; each location is vividly realised and Paul Cleave uses the isolation of small town America to stunning effect. The inherent horror of abandoned properties builds upon the oppressive sense of danger while the inclement weather adds further colour to the intensely dramatic scenes as the novel draws towards its exciting, nightmarishly chaotic conclusion.
Despite the horrendous, cruel deeds perpetrated throughout His Favourite Graves, the writing is never gratuitous, with readers often left to use their own imaginations regarding the most depraved and distressing acts. This is a novel which explores the darkest of topics but it isn't a heavy read and the more outlandish elements of this deliciously noirish plot are decidedly Fargo-esque. Packed with twists, turns and shocks, His Favourite Graves is a breathtakingly compelling thrill-ride and one of the most memorable books I've read this year. Very highly recommended indeed.
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