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Grave Matters
Meet Tripp Clipper, army vet turned undertaker. He’s got an eye for spotting trouble; when a sweet schoolteacher lands on his embalming table after steering her car into a tree, he knows something is off. Why does the victim of a car wreck show signs of strangulation? Clip follows the clues--and the deaths--piling up. But when his girlfriend gets kidnapped, things get personal. Now he has to solve the mystery and save Paula before he’s the next one lying in the morgue.
Long Tripp Clipper is at the top of his profession as an undertaker. Whether it's serving a grieving family with compassion or embalming a tough case, Clip is ready to tackle it. But his latest body is different. This case of accidental death is really a murder.
Clip raises his concerns, but the coroner's office is unwilling to reopen the investigation. He's forced to let it go. But then the bodies begin piling up and Clip feels it's his duty to investigate. Trouble is someone doesn't want him poking his nose into these deaths. Clip isn't worried about his safety; as an army veteran, he's been trained how to handle himself in sticky situations. But when his girlfriend's safety is compromised, he has to make a choice between her life and the answers to his questions.
Praise for Mortuary Confidential
"These true mortuary tales are poignant--and suddenly, gaspingly, in-your-face funny." --Booklist
"Curious, wildly honest stories that need to be told, but just not at the dinner table." --Dana Kollmann, author of Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand
Praise for Over Our Dead Bodies
"It’s funny and poignant and, as you dig in, it’s very, very addicting. Once you’ve started “Over our Dead Bodies,” in fact, you’ll like it to The End." --Long Island Pulse
Long Tripp Clipper is at the top of his profession as an undertaker. Whether it's serving a grieving family with compassion or embalming a tough case, Clip is ready to tackle it. But his latest body is different. This case of accidental death is really a murder.
Clip raises his concerns, but the coroner's office is unwilling to reopen the investigation. He's forced to let it go. But then the bodies begin piling up and Clip feels it's his duty to investigate. Trouble is someone doesn't want him poking his nose into these deaths. Clip isn't worried about his safety; as an army veteran, he's been trained how to handle himself in sticky situations. But when his girlfriend's safety is compromised, he has to make a choice between her life and the answers to his questions.
Praise for Mortuary Confidential
"These true mortuary tales are poignant--and suddenly, gaspingly, in-your-face funny." --Booklist
"Curious, wildly honest stories that need to be told, but just not at the dinner table." --Dana Kollmann, author of Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand
Praise for Over Our Dead Bodies
"It’s funny and poignant and, as you dig in, it’s very, very addicting. Once you’ve started “Over our Dead Bodies,” in fact, you’ll like it to The End." --Long Island Pulse
474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2017
24 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 26, 2017
After two successful non-fiction books, author and funeral director Todd Harra has released his first foray into the world of fiction with his new book, Grave Matters. Known for his witty compilations about life as a funeral director, Harra's new mystery revolves around Tripp Clipper who happens to be, yep, you guessed it, a funeral director.
In Grave Matters, a school teacher arrives on his embalming table after a horrendous car accident and Tripp knows that something isn't right. When the local coroner rejects his suspicions, Tripp takes it upon himself to investigate. But as Tripp chases clues, the body counts begins to rise. Things get personal when his own girlfriend disappears, sending Tripp on a race to find her before she ends up being the next victim.
When I first picked up a copy of Grave Matters, I must admit that I was concerned by the girth of the book. At 472 pages, it's quite a lengthy book and felt like I was holding War and Peace. But, I was surprisingly delighted to find that the fast-paced story pushed any thoughts of the book's physical size out of my mind. Harra keeps the reader's attention solidly fixed on the story, and even does a nice job of weaving the details of an occupation that most readers would know nothing about into an enjoyable tale of suspense.
Harra doesn't hold back once the story gets moving, and the mystery is pleasingly complex and misleading. Even when the reader hits the proverbial "A-ha" moment, there is still another twist waiting just around the corner. Grave Matters acts as an excellent introduction to a character about whom I hope Harra plans to write more. By the end of the book, there was only one outstanding question. Considering how much chewing tobacco Tripp uses during the course of the book, I'm left wondering why he doesn't have gum or lip cancer.
Grave Matters is a great fiction debut for Harra, and worth the read.
In Grave Matters, a school teacher arrives on his embalming table after a horrendous car accident and Tripp knows that something isn't right. When the local coroner rejects his suspicions, Tripp takes it upon himself to investigate. But as Tripp chases clues, the body counts begins to rise. Things get personal when his own girlfriend disappears, sending Tripp on a race to find her before she ends up being the next victim.
When I first picked up a copy of Grave Matters, I must admit that I was concerned by the girth of the book. At 472 pages, it's quite a lengthy book and felt like I was holding War and Peace. But, I was surprisingly delighted to find that the fast-paced story pushed any thoughts of the book's physical size out of my mind. Harra keeps the reader's attention solidly fixed on the story, and even does a nice job of weaving the details of an occupation that most readers would know nothing about into an enjoyable tale of suspense.
Harra doesn't hold back once the story gets moving, and the mystery is pleasingly complex and misleading. Even when the reader hits the proverbial "A-ha" moment, there is still another twist waiting just around the corner. Grave Matters acts as an excellent introduction to a character about whom I hope Harra plans to write more. By the end of the book, there was only one outstanding question. Considering how much chewing tobacco Tripp uses during the course of the book, I'm left wondering why he doesn't have gum or lip cancer.
Grave Matters is a great fiction debut for Harra, and worth the read.
June 12, 2018
This was a fun read with a charming hero. The noir genre is not one I'd normally pick up but since I've heard Todd Harra read his work and I've met him in person a few times, I wanted to get to know his writing. The pace was quick and his writing engaging. My favorite element is the off-handed wit of the mortician turned detective. He's self-effacing enough to be adorable, but bold enough to take us on an adventure that did not disappoint. I also loved the unique opportunity to see inside the morgue and get a feel for the day-to-day operations of a place where death is the business. Fascinating and fun.
June 4, 2018
Sorry, I couldn't finish
The story concept and the actual story was fine. But all the references to chewing tobacco, spot cups, wads and spitting were too much and not related at all to the story. If the author felt he needed to add depth to his character, he could have definitely chosen a different approach.
All I can say is gross!
The story concept and the actual story was fine. But all the references to chewing tobacco, spot cups, wads and spitting were too much and not related at all to the story. If the author felt he needed to add depth to his character, he could have definitely chosen a different approach.
All I can say is gross!
September 5, 2018
I'm not typically a mystery reader but I really enjoyed this book. The objective, methodic recitation of mortician-speak interspersed with the suspense of a murder gave me a chuckle. I also like that all of the characters have a variety of qualities - shades of light and dark instead of all good or bad.
March 2, 2017
Good Read
Really good "who dunnit" from a very unusual perspective: an undertaker. Set in Charleston, it has a lot of Southern charm, engaging characters, plot twists and good inside info. Hope Tripp returns with another mystery.
Really good "who dunnit" from a very unusual perspective: an undertaker. Set in Charleston, it has a lot of Southern charm, engaging characters, plot twists and good inside info. Hope Tripp returns with another mystery.
November 13, 2023
Good dark humor
December 28, 2017
Who Knew That Morticians Were So Exciting?
I had no idea what to expect when I read this novel about Trip Clipper, a South Carolina mortician who gets involved in what appears to be a murder. An ex-medic, Trip recognizes that a newly dead body, one Chloe Maas, shows some unusual signs that point to murder. But her death was ruled an accident, caused by a car crash. Trip can't help getting involved, and this leads him into a tangle of murder, drug running, and mayhem. Flavored with wonderful local color, terrific characters, and great humor, Grave Matters ties together a complex plot that is exciting and fast paced. I enjoyed this immensely.
I had no idea what to expect when I read this novel about Trip Clipper, a South Carolina mortician who gets involved in what appears to be a murder. An ex-medic, Trip recognizes that a newly dead body, one Chloe Maas, shows some unusual signs that point to murder. But her death was ruled an accident, caused by a car crash. Trip can't help getting involved, and this leads him into a tangle of murder, drug running, and mayhem. Flavored with wonderful local color, terrific characters, and great humor, Grave Matters ties together a complex plot that is exciting and fast paced. I enjoyed this immensely.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews