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The Coffins: A Roanoke Island Suspense Novel
Drawing on her love of archaeology and the legends surrounding the Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island, author Deborah Dunn has woven a spell-binding murder mystery about a young archaeologist, Andrea Warren, who goes in search of why her father committed suicide as a young man while looking for the infamous coffins of Beechland, coffins the locals claim belong to remnants of the 117 men, women, and children who vanished without a trace in 1590. But what she discovers soon puts her life in danger. Who wants to stop her? And how far would they go to keep her from making one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island? Where did Virginia Dare go?
"Historical fiction as it should be written. Think Sue Grafton meets Ivor Noel Hume.
A true page-turning crime thriller. A great read!"
Dr. Charles Ewen, Dir., Phelps Archaeology Lab, East Carolina University
"Historical fiction as it should be written. Think Sue Grafton meets Ivor Noel Hume.
A true page-turning crime thriller. A great read!"
Dr. Charles Ewen, Dir., Phelps Archaeology Lab, East Carolina University
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 9, 2017
This review was originally published on NetGalley.
A great historical/mystery novel! It was the first time I read about the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke and it captivated me from the very beginning.
Andrea Warren is haunted by the suicide of her father while searching for the coffins of Beechland a group of 117 people that went mysteriously missing in 1590. Being a young archaeologist, Andrea takes on her father’s path only to discover that her attention is very much unwanted. Someone is trying to stop her from discovering one of the biggest mysteries of the American culture but with what purpose? Can she finish what she started without losing her life?
Deborah Dunn did a great work in presenting so much historical details and research throughout the novel. It fits perfectly with the story and it made it believable, especially when put together with her own opinion of what might have happened. The mystery that is built around the legend is solid and it kept me captivated all the way through. The approach the author takes in presenting past events through dreams and visions is brilliant. No questions are left unanswered and no strings are left loose.
The descriptions are amazing. The details are so realistic that I could actually see, feel and smell what Andrea sees in her visions. Furthermore, there are the descriptions of the landscape. North Caroline both in the present and the past were described in a way that made me want to visit. The images of the small towns along the coast are mesmerizing.
In the beginning, the reader is given a timeline with the known events and their dates of Roanoke; it gave me a first introduction to the theme of the novel. In the end of the novel, the author gives a clear image to the reader of what is real, what is fictional and a small bibliography if there is further interest, details that truly make the difference for me.
It’s an incredible, captivating and thrilling novel that I highly recommend to the fans of a good historical mystery.
A great historical/mystery novel! It was the first time I read about the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke and it captivated me from the very beginning.
Andrea Warren is haunted by the suicide of her father while searching for the coffins of Beechland a group of 117 people that went mysteriously missing in 1590. Being a young archaeologist, Andrea takes on her father’s path only to discover that her attention is very much unwanted. Someone is trying to stop her from discovering one of the biggest mysteries of the American culture but with what purpose? Can she finish what she started without losing her life?
Deborah Dunn did a great work in presenting so much historical details and research throughout the novel. It fits perfectly with the story and it made it believable, especially when put together with her own opinion of what might have happened. The mystery that is built around the legend is solid and it kept me captivated all the way through. The approach the author takes in presenting past events through dreams and visions is brilliant. No questions are left unanswered and no strings are left loose.
The descriptions are amazing. The details are so realistic that I could actually see, feel and smell what Andrea sees in her visions. Furthermore, there are the descriptions of the landscape. North Caroline both in the present and the past were described in a way that made me want to visit. The images of the small towns along the coast are mesmerizing.
In the beginning, the reader is given a timeline with the known events and their dates of Roanoke; it gave me a first introduction to the theme of the novel. In the end of the novel, the author gives a clear image to the reader of what is real, what is fictional and a small bibliography if there is further interest, details that truly make the difference for me.
It’s an incredible, captivating and thrilling novel that I highly recommend to the fans of a good historical mystery.
July 9, 2017
Practically everyone has heard of the Lost Colony of Roanoke; one of the first and great myths in America’s historical journey to become its own country. Dunn has taken that well known mystery and built a novel around the what ifs and what might haves. Most of the novel is set in a modern day setting but there are a few chapters set back during the time of the Colony to help set her backstory.
Dunn did a great job with the research which showed not only throughout the story but at the very beginning and end. She starts off with a timeline of Roanoke’s history so you can see the evolution then after the story is over she provides a letter to her readers outlining what is known, the best books to get if you want more information and how she incorporated or altered historical facts into her story.
Her settings are so visceral you can practically smell the unwashed bodies, food and mold she describes along with feeling the mud splash against your legs as you follow her along on this journey through the past.
Dunn offers a reasonable plot explanation for what happened to the colonists of Roanoke. Some of what she’s done I’m not real sure how I feel about for example a character is essentially traded to be a sex slave yet somehow the character is okay with and even speaks lovingly of what was done to her. I know all of that should be taken within historical context but it’s still messed up.
The mystery aspect of it, trying to figure out what really happened to her father was interesting. That was slowly unwound and I really never saw that ending coming.
Dunn did a great job with the research which showed not only throughout the story but at the very beginning and end. She starts off with a timeline of Roanoke’s history so you can see the evolution then after the story is over she provides a letter to her readers outlining what is known, the best books to get if you want more information and how she incorporated or altered historical facts into her story.
Her settings are so visceral you can practically smell the unwashed bodies, food and mold she describes along with feeling the mud splash against your legs as you follow her along on this journey through the past.
Dunn offers a reasonable plot explanation for what happened to the colonists of Roanoke. Some of what she’s done I’m not real sure how I feel about for example a character is essentially traded to be a sex slave yet somehow the character is okay with and even speaks lovingly of what was done to her. I know all of that should be taken within historical context but it’s still messed up.
The mystery aspect of it, trying to figure out what really happened to her father was interesting. That was slowly unwound and I really never saw that ending coming.
August 7, 2017
The Coffins by Deborah Dunn was in a word...captivating. I did not want to put it down and finished it in two days. It is set in North Carolina, the outer banks' area and surrounds the archeology of The Lost Colony of Roanoke. Having grown up in Charlotte, my knowledge of the area and fascination with North Carolina history, I believe the author did a great job detailing the landscape and depicting the tone of the small towns along the coast.
It is the story of a girl, Andrea Warren, trying to make sense of the circumstances surrounding her father's suicide when she was only four years old. It is only after her ostracism from graduate school after making a career ending decision to expose unethical behavior, that Andrea decides now is the time to finally come to terms with his suicide and, in doing so, begins to uncover the mysterious events surrounding his death.
The author provides a plausible story combining the facts of the Lost Colony with the author's own speculation of what ultimately happened to them. Yes, this is historical fiction but I did not expect so much mystery and suspense. The vivid description of Andrea walking around the Montrose house had me on the edge of my seat. Truly difficult to put down. The author's note at the end of the book delineating the facts from the details she took liberty with, summed up the book nicely. And there's a sequel...a definite bonus!
It is the story of a girl, Andrea Warren, trying to make sense of the circumstances surrounding her father's suicide when she was only four years old. It is only after her ostracism from graduate school after making a career ending decision to expose unethical behavior, that Andrea decides now is the time to finally come to terms with his suicide and, in doing so, begins to uncover the mysterious events surrounding his death.
The author provides a plausible story combining the facts of the Lost Colony with the author's own speculation of what ultimately happened to them. Yes, this is historical fiction but I did not expect so much mystery and suspense. The vivid description of Andrea walking around the Montrose house had me on the edge of my seat. Truly difficult to put down. The author's note at the end of the book delineating the facts from the details she took liberty with, summed up the book nicely. And there's a sequel...a definite bonus!
September 23, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Coffins can be described as a mystery with a bit of historical fiction thrown in the mix. It follows Andrea, a young archeologist trying to figure out her next path in life while unlocking the mystery of her family's past. Readers are provided with a history lesson of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. I found the book to be very drawn out. Too many words with not a whole lot to say at times. I had a hard time keeping interest and focus. Because i was curious about where the author was going with the mysterious coffins that supposedly harbor some of the Lost Colony's biggest secrets, i stuck with the story to the end. I felt like the end was a little rushed compared to the rest of the book. Interesting concept, but could have been carried out a bit better.
The Coffins can be described as a mystery with a bit of historical fiction thrown in the mix. It follows Andrea, a young archeologist trying to figure out her next path in life while unlocking the mystery of her family's past. Readers are provided with a history lesson of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. I found the book to be very drawn out. Too many words with not a whole lot to say at times. I had a hard time keeping interest and focus. Because i was curious about where the author was going with the mysterious coffins that supposedly harbor some of the Lost Colony's biggest secrets, i stuck with the story to the end. I felt like the end was a little rushed compared to the rest of the book. Interesting concept, but could have been carried out a bit better.
March 30, 2022
The coffins by Deborah Dunn.
Drawing on her love of archaeology and the legends surrounding the Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island, author Deborah Dunn has woven a spell-binding murder mystery about a young archaeologist, Andrea Warren, who goes in search of why her father committed suicide as a young man while looking for the infamous coffins of Beechland, coffins the locals claim belong to remnants of the 117 men, women, and children who vanished without a trace in 1590. But what she discovers soon puts her life in danger. Who wants to stop her? And how far would they go to keep her from making one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time: What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island? Where did Virginia Dare go?
An ok read. Slow but readable. 3*.
Drawing on her love of archaeology and the legends surrounding the Lost Colonists of Roanoke Island, author Deborah Dunn has woven a spell-binding murder mystery about a young archaeologist, Andrea Warren, who goes in search of why her father committed suicide as a young man while looking for the infamous coffins of Beechland, coffins the locals claim belong to remnants of the 117 men, women, and children who vanished without a trace in 1590. But what she discovers soon puts her life in danger. Who wants to stop her? And how far would they go to keep her from making one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time: What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island? Where did Virginia Dare go?
An ok read. Slow but readable. 3*.
October 28, 2018
Meh. I bought this book in our trip to the OBX this summer. I love a good mystery and the Roanoke Colony intrigues me. I was disappointed to only have a few chapters of anything pertaining to Roanoke at the beginning and end of the book. The main character drove me nuts with her inability to stay out of trouble and when her trusted professor turns out to be the bad guy and everything is intertwined to make up for the lack of premise throughout the book to explain it. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone and won’t be reading anything else from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2017
This is a book for people with the appreciation of historical facts and or theories.
The mystery surrounding The Lost Colony is approached with a different view and with new data collected in resents findings.
With a lot of references to native american tribes there is something to be learned in this pages.
Note: I received an ARC for review and an honest and unbiased opinion.
The mystery surrounding The Lost Colony is approached with a different view and with new data collected in resents findings.
With a lot of references to native american tribes there is something to be learned in this pages.
Note: I received an ARC for review and an honest and unbiased opinion.
September 5, 2017
I absolutely enjoyed this book. The Roanoke missing plus adventure and romance plus surprise ending
May 9, 2018
More!
This was gripping and entertaining! The mystery of the Roanoke and the surrounding tribes was masterfully woven through a great mystery! I can't wait for more!
This was gripping and entertaining! The mystery of the Roanoke and the surrounding tribes was masterfully woven through a great mystery! I can't wait for more!
Read
October 29, 2019I really liked this book! Am trying to find out about the sequel!
February 14, 2023
Interesting fictional take on the Lost Colony. Enjoyed the references to local places and the characters.
July 24, 2018
Two Thumbs Up!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews