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Buryin' Barry Mystery #4
Final Undertaking
When Barry Claytonas father developed Alzheimeras, Barry gave up his career in law enforcement to return to the North Carolina mountain town of Gainesboro and run the familyas funeral home. But even a small town in the Appalachians is not immune to crime.
At a summer street dance, Barryas friend Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins is gunned down by an old man distraught at the death of his wife. To the dismay of Deputy Reece Hutchins, hospitalized Tommy Lee appoints Barry as the deputy in charge of the investigation. Who was the old man stalking? Why was a young woman who was wounded at the scene traveling with the intended victim?
What at first appears to be a case of a mentally unstable summer tourist quickly develops into a tangled web of deceit stretching from western North Carolina to the Florida coast. Someone is preying upon senior citizens....
Barry realizes Deputy Hutchins is undercutting his investigation, but as potential witnesses and informants begin to die under mysterious circumstances, Barry confronts a conspiracy that runs so deep he no longer knows who to trust. One false step, one betrayal, will make this case Buryina Barryas final undertaking.
At a summer street dance, Barryas friend Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins is gunned down by an old man distraught at the death of his wife. To the dismay of Deputy Reece Hutchins, hospitalized Tommy Lee appoints Barry as the deputy in charge of the investigation. Who was the old man stalking? Why was a young woman who was wounded at the scene traveling with the intended victim?
What at first appears to be a case of a mentally unstable summer tourist quickly develops into a tangled web of deceit stretching from western North Carolina to the Florida coast. Someone is preying upon senior citizens....
Barry realizes Deputy Hutchins is undercutting his investigation, but as potential witnesses and informants begin to die under mysterious circumstances, Barry confronts a conspiracy that runs so deep he no longer knows who to trust. One false step, one betrayal, will make this case Buryina Barryas final undertaking.
- GenresMystery
416 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2007
10 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Mark de Castrique
29 books166 followersMark de Castrique is an author, playwright, public speaker, and television producer living in Charlotte.
Through his company MARK et al., he writes, shoots, and edits projects for a variety of clients.
His work has earned CLIO, TELLY, and EMMY awards.
Mark has scripted stories aired on PBS and commercial network affiliates, as well as created video presentations for major corporations.
Through his company MARK et al., he writes, shoots, and edits projects for a variety of clients.
His work has earned CLIO, TELLY, and EMMY awards.
Mark has scripted stories aired on PBS and commercial network affiliates, as well as created video presentations for major corporations.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 8, 2007
FINAL UNDERTAKING (Police Proc-Barry Clayton-North Carolina-Cont) – Ex
de Castrique, Mark – 4th in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 1590582292
First Sentence: “The banjo’s bigger than the picker.” Susan laughed and set up her folding chair at the edge of the curb.
*** Ex-policeman Barry Clayton gave up his badge and moved back to a small town in North Carolina to take over the running of the family funeral home from his Alzheimer stricken father. At the first summer street dance, an old man in a wheelchair suddenly pulls a gun and shoots Barry’s girlfriend Susan, his friend the Sheriff Tommy Lee and a young woman who was thrown in the gunman’s path by a man running to get away. When the girl dies and with Tommy Lee injured after killing the old man, Barry is deputized to find out who was the girl and why the old man wanted her partner dead.
*** Sometimes an author has a single book which becomes pivotal in the growth of a series. I believe this is such a book. de Castrique enables the reader to become part of this town and it’s residents; the role faith plays in some of their lives and a view of those who run family-owned funeral homes in a small town. Barry is a wonderful character who, in a climatic point, must choose between his job and his family. The book is wonderfully and emotionally written but never loses sight of it being an exciting, suspenseful mystery as well. If you’ve not yet discovered this series; do start at the beginning. You are in for a real treat.
de Castrique, Mark – 4th in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 1590582292
First Sentence: “The banjo’s bigger than the picker.” Susan laughed and set up her folding chair at the edge of the curb.
*** Ex-policeman Barry Clayton gave up his badge and moved back to a small town in North Carolina to take over the running of the family funeral home from his Alzheimer stricken father. At the first summer street dance, an old man in a wheelchair suddenly pulls a gun and shoots Barry’s girlfriend Susan, his friend the Sheriff Tommy Lee and a young woman who was thrown in the gunman’s path by a man running to get away. When the girl dies and with Tommy Lee injured after killing the old man, Barry is deputized to find out who was the girl and why the old man wanted her partner dead.
*** Sometimes an author has a single book which becomes pivotal in the growth of a series. I believe this is such a book. de Castrique enables the reader to become part of this town and it’s residents; the role faith plays in some of their lives and a view of those who run family-owned funeral homes in a small town. Barry is a wonderful character who, in a climatic point, must choose between his job and his family. The book is wonderfully and emotionally written but never loses sight of it being an exciting, suspenseful mystery as well. If you’ve not yet discovered this series; do start at the beginning. You are in for a real treat.
November 15, 2018
When a stranger shoots sheriff Tommy Lee, a local girl, and a strange woman before dying himself, Barry Clayton must take over from his hospitalized friend and try to solve the crime. It was clear to both Barry and Tommy Lee that the shooter was aiming at another man in the crowd, but how can they find him? Barry tracks down the identity of the strange woman, but not before she dies in the hospital. Soon Barry has another loved one in the hospital, as the drug trade creeps into quiet Gainesboro. And before Barry can track down the culprits, he's forced to make some chillingly difficult decisions.
December 3, 2017
Beautifully written. Excellent audiobook narrator.
Too bad the other books in the series are not in audiobook form in my local library!
Too bad the other books in the series are not in audiobook form in my local library!
October 14, 2025
A decent mystery, but I don't think I should have started with #4 in this series.
May 10, 2015
#4 in the Buryin' Barry series. Barry Clayton, a Charlotte cop, returned home to his family funeral home business in Gainsville, NC after his father was stricken with Alzheimer's.
Barry Clayton is deputized when Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins is shot by an old man at a concert. The old man also shot a girl thrown in his path and was shot in turn by Tommy Lee. Red herrings abound. Barry has an intern working at the funeral home. Barry's father passes away.
Barry Clayton is deputized when Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins is shot by an old man at a concert. The old man also shot a girl thrown in his path and was shot in turn by Tommy Lee. Red herrings abound. Barry has an intern working at the funeral home. Barry's father passes away.
May 1, 2013
It's so nice to find a new author you really like to read.
I not only enjoyed the story but the male reader. (I don't normally enjoy male readers. Their female voices make me laugh. But William Dufris does a great job.
A former police officer, funeral director... returns to being an officer to help out his town sheriff who was shot by accident.
What a great concept.
I not only enjoyed the story but the male reader. (I don't normally enjoy male readers. Their female voices make me laugh. But William Dufris does a great job.
A former police officer, funeral director... returns to being an officer to help out his town sheriff who was shot by accident.
What a great concept.
February 11, 2010
Last book in the series, and I think it was the best one. I noticed in the last 2 books references to western PA. The 3rd book had someone from Beaver Falls and the 4th one had someone from Aliquippa. There must be some connection between the author and western PA.
January 13, 2014
This is such a well written series, I hope there are many more Buryin' Barry tales to be told. de Castrique's other series is just as tightly developed and written, but I have come to love the relational dymamics between the characters in Barry's small home town. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2015
This is the first book I've read in this series and I will definitely read more. Nice quick read with a good story. Best of all, it takes place near Asheville, NC and has Malaprop's Bookstore as a minor setting. Booktopians will appreciate this!
February 14, 2016
At a friday night street dance, two people are killed and the sherrif is shot. Barry is called on to solve the crime, while juggling the funeral parlor and a student intern. Sad but happy ending. 093007
July 24, 2009
Barry Clayton #4
October 23, 2014
I liked "Buryin' Barry," a NC cop-turned-undertaker, who plowed through a myriad of clues and false leads to solve the mystery.
July 26, 2016
Buryin' Barry is a winsome ex-cop, and his relationships with other characters in the novel make it a cut above the standard mystery.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews