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A Santero and Rein Thriller #2
An Unsettled Grave
In this brilliantly chilling follow-up to The Thief of All Light, veteran police officer Bernard Schaffer digs deep into the past--and the haunted psyches of the detectives who search for truth . . . at any cost.
"There's a thousand scavengers in these woods."
Before being promoted to detective, Carrie Santero was given a rare glimpse into the mind of a killer. Through her mentor, Jacob Rein--a seasoned manhunter whose gift for plumbing the depths of madness nearly drove him over the brink--she was able to help capture one of the most depraved serial killers in the country. Now, the discovery of a small human foot buried in the Pennsylvania woods will lead her to a decades-old cold case--and the darkest secrets of her mentor's youth.
"Nobody trusts an animal that tries to eat its own kind."
Thirty years ago, a young girl went missing. A police officer was murdered. Another committed suicide. The lives of everyone involved would never be the same. For three agonizing decades, Jacob Rein has yearned for the truth. But when Detective Carrie Santero begins digging up new evidence, she discovers some answers come with shattering consequences.
"There's a thousand scavengers in these woods."
Before being promoted to detective, Carrie Santero was given a rare glimpse into the mind of a killer. Through her mentor, Jacob Rein--a seasoned manhunter whose gift for plumbing the depths of madness nearly drove him over the brink--she was able to help capture one of the most depraved serial killers in the country. Now, the discovery of a small human foot buried in the Pennsylvania woods will lead her to a decades-old cold case--and the darkest secrets of her mentor's youth.
"Nobody trusts an animal that tries to eat its own kind."
Thirty years ago, a young girl went missing. A police officer was murdered. Another committed suicide. The lives of everyone involved would never be the same. For three agonizing decades, Jacob Rein has yearned for the truth. But when Detective Carrie Santero begins digging up new evidence, she discovers some answers come with shattering consequences.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2019
24 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Schaffer
87 books282 followersBernard Schaffer is an author from the Philadelphia area.
His acclaimed Santero and Rein Thriller series features Carrie Santero and her mentor, the troubled Jacob Rein. The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, are available from Kensington Books.
His western trilogy debuted in 2021 as part of the Ralph Compton imprint with Berkley Books. All three titles, Face of a Snake, Snake's Fury, and Hell Snake, were selected as Walmart paperback exclusives.
His acclaimed Santero and Rein Thriller series features Carrie Santero and her mentor, the troubled Jacob Rein. The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, are available from Kensington Books.
His western trilogy debuted in 2021 as part of the Ralph Compton imprint with Berkley Books. All three titles, Face of a Snake, Snake's Fury, and Hell Snake, were selected as Walmart paperback exclusives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 6, 2019
5 Shining Detective Stars/5!!
“An Unsettled Grave” is a crime fiction novel that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way till the end. I just loved everything about it! The well-developed characters, the never dull plot, and the captivating and descriptive writing. Bernard Schaffer is a master at writing crime stories and I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and the author, talented Bernard Schaffer, for giving me an opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“An Unsettled Grave” is a crime fiction novel that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way till the end. I just loved everything about it! The well-developed characters, the never dull plot, and the captivating and descriptive writing. Bernard Schaffer is a master at writing crime stories and I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and the author, talented Bernard Schaffer, for giving me an opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 31, 2019
I loved it!
An Unsettled Grave is the 2nd book in Bernard Schaffer's new detective series.
Once again Detective Carrie Santero and her mentor Jacob Rein star in this gripping story. The discovery of a small human foot in the woods leads Santero to a decades old cold case involving the darkest secrets of Jacob Rein's youth.
Author and a police detective for many years Schaffer gives us a insightful and mesmerizing read with realistic characters.
Highly Recommended!
Thank you to Bernard Schaffer and Kensington Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
An Unsettled Grave is the 2nd book in Bernard Schaffer's new detective series.
Once again Detective Carrie Santero and her mentor Jacob Rein star in this gripping story. The discovery of a small human foot in the woods leads Santero to a decades old cold case involving the darkest secrets of Jacob Rein's youth.
Author and a police detective for many years Schaffer gives us a insightful and mesmerizing read with realistic characters.
Highly Recommended!
Thank you to Bernard Schaffer and Kensington Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2019
In this second book in this series by Bernard Schaffer, Carrie Santero is a full-fledged detective after solving an incredibly vile case. Carrie then worked with a former detective, Jacob Rein, who remains her mentor, even though he is highly disillusioned and really down on his luck.
The case Carrie is working on is a cold one. A foot was found, and it looks like it might belong to a young girl who went missing thirty years ago. At first Carrie approaches Jacob for help, and then realizes she must head to a small town. In so doing, Jacob's past is unearthed. Carrie learns all about a young boy, J.D. Rein, and discovers the connection the little girl lost so many years ago.
Carrie leaves no stone unturned, and reveals some disturbing and shattering evidence. Discovering a connection between Jacob and the formerly missing girl raised a lot of questions. However, Carrie showed remarkable integrity and ingenuity in solving this case.
Even though An Unsettled Grave is the second book in a series, it does remarkably well as a standalone. However, I did read the first book, The Thief of All Light, first as I wanted to become familiar with the primary characters. I generally read books in one sitting, including both of these, back-to-back. I was thoroughly entertained, even with the often gritty delivery as things played out.
I admire the writing style of Bernard Schaffer. His brilliance and honesty in the sometimes less-than-perfect police force shines. Another effective thing in this book was the determination showed by Carrie. I like how her character is written, and also how her past shaped her into the person she is now. I look forward to following this series in the future.
Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
The case Carrie is working on is a cold one. A foot was found, and it looks like it might belong to a young girl who went missing thirty years ago. At first Carrie approaches Jacob for help, and then realizes she must head to a small town. In so doing, Jacob's past is unearthed. Carrie learns all about a young boy, J.D. Rein, and discovers the connection the little girl lost so many years ago.
Carrie leaves no stone unturned, and reveals some disturbing and shattering evidence. Discovering a connection between Jacob and the formerly missing girl raised a lot of questions. However, Carrie showed remarkable integrity and ingenuity in solving this case.
Even though An Unsettled Grave is the second book in a series, it does remarkably well as a standalone. However, I did read the first book, The Thief of All Light, first as I wanted to become familiar with the primary characters. I generally read books in one sitting, including both of these, back-to-back. I was thoroughly entertained, even with the often gritty delivery as things played out.
I admire the writing style of Bernard Schaffer. His brilliance and honesty in the sometimes less-than-perfect police force shines. Another effective thing in this book was the determination showed by Carrie. I like how her character is written, and also how her past shaped her into the person she is now. I look forward to following this series in the future.
Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 9, 2019
This is the follow up from book one The Thief Of All Light which was my first read by this author. I went into this hoping that it was just as good as the first. It was. I really love the writing and the creativity in the plot once again kept me on the edge of my seat. Excellent crime fiction. I loved both of these books.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
June 20, 2019
5 fabulous stars. I loved everything about this book from beginning to end. When the remains of a little girl are found, she is believed to be Hope Pugh who disappeared thirty years ago. This story alternates between when the girl disappeared and the present investigation into her death. The book flowed brilliantly and there was never a dull moment. I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 24, 2019
TL;DR- If you like gritty police procedurals with well developed characters (think Tana French Into the Woods and Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke)- then give this a chance!
First of all, I would not recommend this for sensitive readers. Most of the violence happens off the page, but this is a gritty story. That said, I really enjoyed it. I went in with no expectations and was completely impressed. Throughout 5 sections, we follow 3 interlocking stories. The book opens with a young woman being raped by someone who appears to be a cop. When Detective Cassie Santero pushes to test the DNA of her fellow officers, the chief sends her off to do work on a cold case in a nearby small town. Turns out, her mentor Jacob Rein is intimately connected to the person whose foot they found in the Pennsylvania woods, making Cassie in danger of agitating both her recovering friend and her Chief. The third story is told via flashback, where we meet Jacob (then, J.D) as a kid and find out what really happened to the girl in the woods.
The stories seamlessly weave into one another and I never lost track of what was going on. (I hate when alternating stories are so far apart that you spend half the book trying to figure out how they’re connected, and we didn’t get that here). I loved Cassie as a Detective- you can tell the author has a lot of respect for women in law enforcement and for women in general. The police work was so authentic- which makes sense, as the author currently works as a Detective. The story was gritty and filled with tension and small town politics, but I thought it was very well paced. Without spoiling anything, I really liked the end of the story line in the flashback, despite how macabre it was. This reminded me of a blend of Tana French’s In the Woods and David Joy’s The Line That Held Us. My only regret is that I read book 2 first- although I will say, it does hold up as a standalone.
First of all, I would not recommend this for sensitive readers. Most of the violence happens off the page, but this is a gritty story. That said, I really enjoyed it. I went in with no expectations and was completely impressed. Throughout 5 sections, we follow 3 interlocking stories. The book opens with a young woman being raped by someone who appears to be a cop. When Detective Cassie Santero pushes to test the DNA of her fellow officers, the chief sends her off to do work on a cold case in a nearby small town. Turns out, her mentor Jacob Rein is intimately connected to the person whose foot they found in the Pennsylvania woods, making Cassie in danger of agitating both her recovering friend and her Chief. The third story is told via flashback, where we meet Jacob (then, J.D) as a kid and find out what really happened to the girl in the woods.
The stories seamlessly weave into one another and I never lost track of what was going on. (I hate when alternating stories are so far apart that you spend half the book trying to figure out how they’re connected, and we didn’t get that here). I loved Cassie as a Detective- you can tell the author has a lot of respect for women in law enforcement and for women in general. The police work was so authentic- which makes sense, as the author currently works as a Detective. The story was gritty and filled with tension and small town politics, but I thought it was very well paced. Without spoiling anything, I really liked the end of the story line in the flashback, despite how macabre it was. This reminded me of a blend of Tana French’s In the Woods and David Joy’s The Line That Held Us. My only regret is that I read book 2 first- although I will say, it does hold up as a standalone.
June 11, 2019
Once you start this book do not plan to do anything else except read. This was an ARC from the author and NetGalley and I just loved it. Believe the hype. I love detective stories and this one starts with a woman getting stopped by a police car (or is it?) and being attacked; then there is Hope Pugh who went missing, then a suicide (or was it?) and then there is a town that completely throws me off since you don't know who to trust...even the police.
There are so many characters and they intertwine with each other. And then there's Det. Santero who will straighten it all out for us. Because secrets are not forever. Release date coming July 30, 2019; place on your TBR list now.
There are so many characters and they intertwine with each other. And then there's Det. Santero who will straighten it all out for us. Because secrets are not forever. Release date coming July 30, 2019; place on your TBR list now.
June 4, 2019
This was a great follow up to The Thief Of All Light. They are standalone books but I personally liked reading them in order. You know who the characters are and what happened to them before.
This book was very hard to put down! I had a hard time functioning through life for the day and a half it took me to read this. (My poor kids...😂). It was great seeing into the past of Jacob Rein and seeing where he came from and what led him to be the detective that he was. I liked the fact that Carrie Santero was along and solved the missing person/murder that was 30+ years old. I have to admit that I kind of knew who the killer was and was glad to see that I was right in the end. I can’t wait for more in this series has definitely turned into one that I will follow to the end!
This book was very hard to put down! I had a hard time functioning through life for the day and a half it took me to read this. (My poor kids...😂). It was great seeing into the past of Jacob Rein and seeing where he came from and what led him to be the detective that he was. I liked the fact that Carrie Santero was along and solved the missing person/murder that was 30+ years old. I have to admit that I kind of knew who the killer was and was glad to see that I was right in the end. I can’t wait for more in this series has definitely turned into one that I will follow to the end!
June 7, 2019
One of the best books that I have read in a long time. At first I was trying to figure out how to tell the Author how bad it was and that I just couldn't get into it. There were times that I was lost with all the characters but man am I glad that I continued to read because I read it all in one sitting and was hooked! I want more more more! Everything comes together pretty quickly and it is a very enjoyable read. There are a few storylines that are within this book and I loved how it all came together. Can not wait to read more by this author. Received this book as an ARC and voluntarily gave my review.
June 2, 2019
WOW ! An awesome book . A first time read for me by this author ,can’t wait to read more by him ! catches you from the first page to the last ,couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!!
July 1, 2019
Wow! A true masterful storyteller of criminal acts. Once you get past the shocking first few pages you are engaged in heart pounding, nail-biting, page turning til the very end. This is the second book I have read from this author , I really like the characters Carrie and Reid , I look forward to more crime solving from these two.
June 3, 2019
An Unsettled Grave by Bernard Schaffer is a follow-up to The Thief of All Light. This is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely will not be my last. In fact I already ordered the first book. I did not read the first book but I don’t feel it made this book any less enjoyable. This can very well be read as a standalone. I was drawn in from the first page and I couldn’t stop until I reached the end. I received my book last night and I was unable to put it down. It kept me turning the pages well into the night. It is very well written, the characters are complex and realistic. The twists and turns and the alternating timelines from present to past will keep you on your toes. It is not at all predictable. I loved this book and can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next. I highly recommend this book it is a must read. Anxiously waiting for the third book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2019
I have thoroughly enjoyed Carrie Santero and Jacob Rein. An Unsettled Grave is the second in this series but is stand alone. This is a complex plot well concealed, a police procedural that takes place in the scarcely populated area where Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio come together. Lines for jurisdiction are vague, towns are tiny, and the farm-driven economy keeps everyone close to home. Sharing personnel, equipment, and blame across county boundaries and even state lines is the accepted norm. Carrie is a new recruit in the Vieira County detectives working under the aegis of the District Attorney's office. She is young, and female - the first in this position - and it is hard for the older residents and lawmen to accept that she got this rank, this job, on merit. She knows along with the learning curve there is also going to be the necessity to prove her worth in order to acquire respect.
Low man on the totem pole, she is into her fourth straight week on-call when she is sent to the neighboring town's hospital in the dark hours of the morning to handle a rape case, the perpetrator believed by the victim to be a policeman. She has made little headway on that case when a group of hunters finds the skeletal foot of a child and all Fire and Police personnel are involved in a search of the forested mountainside for the rest of the remains. Almost everyone is certain these are the bones of Hope Pugh, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared thirty years ago, the same week two of the towns lost their Chiefs of Police. And the disappearance of Hope is closer to the heart of the wide-spread communities than it first appears. Basically everyone still around is a potential suspect. That grouping would also include several of their men in blue. Even Jacob Rein.
I loved the little asides and snippets of police lore and even some unfortunate realities of the job included in this fine novel. Because he is on the job, there is an authenticity to this novel that shines through the work, but whatever the genre, Bernard Schaffer writes a finely honed tale that grabs your mind and involves your humanity in a way I found excellent. There is a reality here that you do not often find in this genre.
I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family. Schaffer is an author I will follow.
I received a free electronic copy of this police procedural from Netgalley, Bernard Schaffer, and Kensington Books. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.
Pub date July 30, 2019
Kensington Books
Reviewed on July 24 at Goodreads and Netgalley. On Aug 1, 2019, reviewed at SmileAmazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Kobo and Google.
Low man on the totem pole, she is into her fourth straight week on-call when she is sent to the neighboring town's hospital in the dark hours of the morning to handle a rape case, the perpetrator believed by the victim to be a policeman. She has made little headway on that case when a group of hunters finds the skeletal foot of a child and all Fire and Police personnel are involved in a search of the forested mountainside for the rest of the remains. Almost everyone is certain these are the bones of Hope Pugh, a 12-year-old girl who disappeared thirty years ago, the same week two of the towns lost their Chiefs of Police. And the disappearance of Hope is closer to the heart of the wide-spread communities than it first appears. Basically everyone still around is a potential suspect. That grouping would also include several of their men in blue. Even Jacob Rein.
I loved the little asides and snippets of police lore and even some unfortunate realities of the job included in this fine novel. Because he is on the job, there is an authenticity to this novel that shines through the work, but whatever the genre, Bernard Schaffer writes a finely honed tale that grabs your mind and involves your humanity in a way I found excellent. There is a reality here that you do not often find in this genre.
I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family. Schaffer is an author I will follow.
I received a free electronic copy of this police procedural from Netgalley, Bernard Schaffer, and Kensington Books. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.
Pub date July 30, 2019
Kensington Books
Reviewed on July 24 at Goodreads and Netgalley. On Aug 1, 2019, reviewed at SmileAmazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Kobo and Google.
June 2, 2019
A page Turner kind of book. A must read from this author doing such a great job keeping my eyes and mind into the story. Was such a great read I already order another book of his. Thank you for being a amazing writer because you dont disappoint the reader.
May 26, 2019
I have not read the first book in the series, but that was not a problem at all. This is a stand alone and let me tell you it STANDS ALONE, in the best possible way ever.
The story is told in alternating timelines between the present and the past, with multiple character perspectives which I really enjoyed. The past story from some 30 years ago was so engaging I couldn't put this book down. If your looking for a short read, this isn't it. The plot is well developed with intricate multi layered story lines.
The characters are well developed, complicated and some are likeable and some are not, which fits perfect into this genre.
I really enjoyed An Unsettled Grave
The story is told in alternating timelines between the present and the past, with multiple character perspectives which I really enjoyed. The past story from some 30 years ago was so engaging I couldn't put this book down. If your looking for a short read, this isn't it. The plot is well developed with intricate multi layered story lines.
The characters are well developed, complicated and some are likeable and some are not, which fits perfect into this genre.
I really enjoyed An Unsettled Grave
June 26, 2019
This is the second book that I have read by Author Bernard Schaffer and it has drawn me in further! In An Unsettled Grave, Detective Carrie Santero is trying to uncover the past while working a case where a child's foot has been found. There has to be more to this case then meets the eye. In this book, we find out more about Jacob Rein and his past. How does Jacob fit in to this current case? Will the truth finally be discovered that will put the painful past to rest? I am absolutely addicted to Author Bernard Schaffer 's books!
June 9, 2019
This is my second book by Bernard Schaffer that I have read. Although they are both stand alones they do use the many of the same characters. This author does such an amazing job of weaving a storyline. The growth of Carrie moves forward by leaps and bounds in this book. I love watching Jacob, making strides also in his life. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
June 4, 2019
This book was great to read! Loved the dialogue between Jacob and Carrie and how it gave insight to what Jacob's life was like as a child when Hope disappeared and his uncle Ollie died. Can't wait for the next book! One of the highlights for me and something I didnt expect was what Jacob's father Ben did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2019
I read this Santero and Rein Thriller out of order. I am sure the first in this series would have been great to have under my belt but.. it stood alone nicely. Schaffer tells this crime story in a back and forth now and yesterday method. I am not a huge fan of these but as the narrative progresses it is clear why this works so well for some stories. Carrie Santero is a newly promoted Detective of the DA's Office of Vieira County Ohio. Seeming to have superior smarts compared to her colleagues does not stop the jealousy and put downs of her fellow law enforcement officers. LOVE THE COVER ART - it just sets the theme of this novel and its chilling flavor. Each page brings the reader into the GOOD and the BAD characters involved. "A copy of this book was provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
April 18, 2019
A very good and gripping read. I haven't read the first book in the series, but I could easily follow the plot and main characters. And, speaking of the plot, that went down some creepy rabbit holes, loved it. Overall, I can't wait for the next book.
Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/book-revie...
Full review: https://mysterysequels.com/book-revie...
June 8, 2019
An Unsettled Grave (A Santero and Rein Thriller Book 2)
By Bernard Schaffer
368 pages
Before being promoted to detective, Carrie Santero was given a rare glimpse into the mind of a killer. Through her mentor, Jacob Rein—a seasoned manhunter whose gift for plumbing the depths of madness nearly drove him over the brink—she was able to help capture one of the most depraved serial killers in the country. Now, the discovery of a small human foot buried in the Pennsylvania woods will lead her to a decades-old cold case—and the darkest secrets of her mentor’s youth.
“Nobody trusts an animal that tries to eat its own kind.”
Thirty years ago, a young girl went missing. A police officer was murdered. Another committed suicide. The lives of everyone involved would never be the same. For three agonizing decades, Jacob Rein has yearned for the truth. But when Detective Carrie Santero begins digging up new evidence, she discovers some answers come with shattering consequences.
📗📘📙My Review📗📘📙
This is a great book. Fast paced, believable and keeps the reader turning pages.The characters are fantastic.The non stop excitement and anticipation makes you unable to put the book down. This story was a gripping, engrossing read, and I thought all of the characters were well-developed .This author really knows how to bring his characters to life & draw his readers completely into the story. I was hooked from the first page.I simply could not stop reading this book once I started it. It is just one of thoes books that you can not put down. You just keep turning page after page to see what is going to happen next. The whole book had a nice flow to it . Once you finished one chapter you had to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. This is a story that will keep you awake long into the night. I thought I would read "just one more" chapter, but it was almost impossible to put it down. I loved how the author perfectly described all of the characters and places . It was as if I was right there . This is my first book I've read by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much ! I am looking foward to reading more by this same author and looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Look for it when it hits the shelves in August
By Bernard Schaffer
368 pages
Before being promoted to detective, Carrie Santero was given a rare glimpse into the mind of a killer. Through her mentor, Jacob Rein—a seasoned manhunter whose gift for plumbing the depths of madness nearly drove him over the brink—she was able to help capture one of the most depraved serial killers in the country. Now, the discovery of a small human foot buried in the Pennsylvania woods will lead her to a decades-old cold case—and the darkest secrets of her mentor’s youth.
“Nobody trusts an animal that tries to eat its own kind.”
Thirty years ago, a young girl went missing. A police officer was murdered. Another committed suicide. The lives of everyone involved would never be the same. For three agonizing decades, Jacob Rein has yearned for the truth. But when Detective Carrie Santero begins digging up new evidence, she discovers some answers come with shattering consequences.
📗📘📙My Review📗📘📙
This is a great book. Fast paced, believable and keeps the reader turning pages.The characters are fantastic.The non stop excitement and anticipation makes you unable to put the book down. This story was a gripping, engrossing read, and I thought all of the characters were well-developed .This author really knows how to bring his characters to life & draw his readers completely into the story. I was hooked from the first page.I simply could not stop reading this book once I started it. It is just one of thoes books that you can not put down. You just keep turning page after page to see what is going to happen next. The whole book had a nice flow to it . Once you finished one chapter you had to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. This is a story that will keep you awake long into the night. I thought I would read "just one more" chapter, but it was almost impossible to put it down. I loved how the author perfectly described all of the characters and places . It was as if I was right there . This is my first book I've read by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much ! I am looking foward to reading more by this same author and looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Look for it when it hits the shelves in August
August 10, 2019
A solid police procedural, the book had me in its grips from the get-go. The story dealt with a cold case. 30 years ago, a girl went missing and a foot was found in the present times. Carrie Santero with her mentor Jacob Stein were back investigating the case which had haunted Jacob for decades.
My first book by author Bernard Schaffer, this was a follow up of the previous book, but I did not have a problem following the story. This was a new case altogether. The author had maintained the tension in the scenes so that kept my interest going.
Donning my Detective hat is always a favorite past time for me. This book too allowed me to look at everyone with suspicious eyes. The initial writing felt a bit choppy, but that could be because I didn't know the characters. The mystery was creepy, the perp anonymous. I went into the story blindly and found myself enjoying the ride into unknown territories of cops.
My first book by author Bernard Schaffer, this was a follow up of the previous book, but I did not have a problem following the story. This was a new case altogether. The author had maintained the tension in the scenes so that kept my interest going.
Donning my Detective hat is always a favorite past time for me. This book too allowed me to look at everyone with suspicious eyes. The initial writing felt a bit choppy, but that could be because I didn't know the characters. The mystery was creepy, the perp anonymous. I went into the story blindly and found myself enjoying the ride into unknown territories of cops.
June 8, 2019
This is a well told story with strong characters and a solid plot line.
If follows Detective Carrie Santero as she tries to solve several cases including an officer involved rape, and a years old missing child case.
Mr. Shaffer does not hold back. He takes us through the process of how a detective will try to solve a case, along with the lengths a department will go through to protect its reputation. Even if it means covering up for a bad officer.
If follows Detective Carrie Santero as she tries to solve several cases including an officer involved rape, and a years old missing child case.
Mr. Shaffer does not hold back. He takes us through the process of how a detective will try to solve a case, along with the lengths a department will go through to protect its reputation. Even if it means covering up for a bad officer.
June 10, 2019
An Unsettled Grave is a great thriller that I could not put down. It is the second in the series,but it could be a standalone. Wonderful characters and writing.
April 15, 2019
Fans of Schaffer's THE THIEF OF ALL LIGHT will find much to love about this worthy successor. Building on the background of enigmatic character Jacob Rein, the novel tells a multilayered story that spans decades, and concerns itself with a historic crime that had a major impact on Rein's life. For Carrie Santero, there are the challenges inherent in dealing with old evidence, and she aptly uses her agency (as she did in book 1) to dig down to the facts.
Schaffer is a real-life cop, and that unique experience and perspective is clear to see when reading AN UNSETTLED GRAVE. What he shares in common with the characters of Rein and Santero is a natural gift for uncovering what is beyond the dark: the light of incorruptible truth.
Schaffer is a real-life cop, and that unique experience and perspective is clear to see when reading AN UNSETTLED GRAVE. What he shares in common with the characters of Rein and Santero is a natural gift for uncovering what is beyond the dark: the light of incorruptible truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2020
An Unsettled Grave was a very well written and very detailed book that I enjoyed a lot I could read it over and over again.
Carrie Santero was a Detective that was a young a still learning.
Jacob Rein Detective good at his job but is on suspense.
Harv Bender Chief of the County Detectives.
Carrie was a detective who was sent to help solve a case because she was good at what she did. She was one who went where you sent her and had no complaints. She got a call about a lady being attacked by a cop and he raped her. So she did her job and asked the Sargent to get DNA samples of all the cops that worked that night.
Then she met with Jacob and tried to find out how he was doing when this emergency Alert came and asking for all available police enforcements to come and help. Then Jacob left in a hurry. Carrie when back to the Station because the Chief wanted to see her. He talked about the call he got from another department and told her never to do that again. He told her there was rumors about how she got to be there and that was by a major case and that they were sleeping together. So he was sending her out on a little assignment to get her away for a while. Then he gave her a file regrading the alert and ask her to go help them out. So she did and she was a lot of help actually because she did things that was never done because of what happened. There was a group of boys that caused trouble for Jacob and Adam. One day Fred caught Jacob and did a gross thing to him and pissed all over him. After that Hope Pugh stuck up for Jacob where Fred was concerned. That is where the first kiss came after she got him clean socks and sweatpants and a blanket and started to warm him up. It all started with a little girl coming up missing and Jacob was a young boy who had a father who was a drunk and a Vet. and he had and uncle who cared more for him than his father. Chief Ollie Rein was the Chief of Police when the little girl went missing. It messed Jacob up because he really liked her and they were both young. Chief Rein thought he found the girl but kept searching for her. He was bound to get her and find her. Carrie went through all the evidence and found that a lot wasn't really done. So she went back to her more files and was sent back and went back in time to where Chief Rein and Chief Auburn had worked on the case or was suppose to.
Carrie went and did a lot talking to the Chief of Police at the time. This was a book that you got the view of both sides of what happened.
Bernard wrote An Unsettled Grave and it was actually the way it was because he put the pieces together and went back and forth in time so you couldn't get lost. The description was awesome as the time changes and he did a really fabulous job writing this thriller.
Bernard I love this thriller and I and can't wait to read the next one.
Carrie Santero was a Detective that was a young a still learning.
Jacob Rein Detective good at his job but is on suspense.
Harv Bender Chief of the County Detectives.
Carrie was a detective who was sent to help solve a case because she was good at what she did. She was one who went where you sent her and had no complaints. She got a call about a lady being attacked by a cop and he raped her. So she did her job and asked the Sargent to get DNA samples of all the cops that worked that night.
Then she met with Jacob and tried to find out how he was doing when this emergency Alert came and asking for all available police enforcements to come and help. Then Jacob left in a hurry. Carrie when back to the Station because the Chief wanted to see her. He talked about the call he got from another department and told her never to do that again. He told her there was rumors about how she got to be there and that was by a major case and that they were sleeping together. So he was sending her out on a little assignment to get her away for a while. Then he gave her a file regrading the alert and ask her to go help them out. So she did and she was a lot of help actually because she did things that was never done because of what happened. There was a group of boys that caused trouble for Jacob and Adam. One day Fred caught Jacob and did a gross thing to him and pissed all over him. After that Hope Pugh stuck up for Jacob where Fred was concerned. That is where the first kiss came after she got him clean socks and sweatpants and a blanket and started to warm him up. It all started with a little girl coming up missing and Jacob was a young boy who had a father who was a drunk and a Vet. and he had and uncle who cared more for him than his father. Chief Ollie Rein was the Chief of Police when the little girl went missing. It messed Jacob up because he really liked her and they were both young. Chief Rein thought he found the girl but kept searching for her. He was bound to get her and find her. Carrie went through all the evidence and found that a lot wasn't really done. So she went back to her more files and was sent back and went back in time to where Chief Rein and Chief Auburn had worked on the case or was suppose to.
Carrie went and did a lot talking to the Chief of Police at the time. This was a book that you got the view of both sides of what happened.
Bernard wrote An Unsettled Grave and it was actually the way it was because he put the pieces together and went back and forth in time so you couldn't get lost. The description was awesome as the time changes and he did a really fabulous job writing this thriller.
Bernard I love this thriller and I and can't wait to read the next one.
July 25, 2019
An Uncommon Grave by Bernard Schaffer
Santero and Rein #2
Carrie Santero, recently promoted to detective is still not considered “equal” by the men she works with. Many assume she is not really capable and has achieved her promotion based on something other than her competency. In this book we learn more about Carie, the little girl in her life and how she goes about solving cases. We also see Jacob Rein again a few times both in the present and in a story line that takes us back thirty years to when he was twelve and living in a very dysfunctional family situation.
There are two criminal cases to be solved by Carrie in this book. One has to do with a rapist pulling women to the side of the road then violating them and the other crime is a missing person cold case that she picks up when the foot bones of a young girl are found in the forest. It is assumed the girl is Hope Pugh, missing thirty years, but then there is the mystery of how she died and what happened to her.
Jacob Rein is a mysterious character that seems able to get into the minds of criminals in order to catch them. He has spent time in jail for something I have a feeling he has probably not done. In this book we learn more about his childhood, some of his childhood friends, a young girl that disappeared and of his father and uncle and their part in his life. At around forty-two years of age Jacob has a lot of years left to accomplish much so I am hoping he will get his life back on track so he can officially assist in finding more bad guys in the future.
I was definitely taken back in time by mention of the Vietnam War in which Jacob’s father and uncle both served. That the two men came out so different at the end of their time in the service probably has to do with the jobs they held. I believe the two men cared for one another more than either told the other. Their part in this book was...very interesting.
I came away from this book satisfied that the bad guys were eventually caught but still wanting to know more about Santero and Rein and that means I am eager to read more by this author as soon as a new book is available. I found myself thinking about how a person can be bigger than life to people in theirr community and yet in reality they are not heroes at all. This was a thought provoking book. It made me think of the cop that pulled me over and hinted at taking me on a date and of another story...one in which my sister-in-law was pulled over by a policeman on her way to Wyoming...on a stretch where women were going missing...and when my brother woke in the back seat the policeman who pulled her over let them drive on. I know there will soon be another crime for Carrie and Jacob to work on and look forward to finding out what it will be. I am also eager to find out more about the backstories of both characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Santero and Rein #2
Carrie Santero, recently promoted to detective is still not considered “equal” by the men she works with. Many assume she is not really capable and has achieved her promotion based on something other than her competency. In this book we learn more about Carie, the little girl in her life and how she goes about solving cases. We also see Jacob Rein again a few times both in the present and in a story line that takes us back thirty years to when he was twelve and living in a very dysfunctional family situation.
There are two criminal cases to be solved by Carrie in this book. One has to do with a rapist pulling women to the side of the road then violating them and the other crime is a missing person cold case that she picks up when the foot bones of a young girl are found in the forest. It is assumed the girl is Hope Pugh, missing thirty years, but then there is the mystery of how she died and what happened to her.
Jacob Rein is a mysterious character that seems able to get into the minds of criminals in order to catch them. He has spent time in jail for something I have a feeling he has probably not done. In this book we learn more about his childhood, some of his childhood friends, a young girl that disappeared and of his father and uncle and their part in his life. At around forty-two years of age Jacob has a lot of years left to accomplish much so I am hoping he will get his life back on track so he can officially assist in finding more bad guys in the future.
I was definitely taken back in time by mention of the Vietnam War in which Jacob’s father and uncle both served. That the two men came out so different at the end of their time in the service probably has to do with the jobs they held. I believe the two men cared for one another more than either told the other. Their part in this book was...very interesting.
I came away from this book satisfied that the bad guys were eventually caught but still wanting to know more about Santero and Rein and that means I am eager to read more by this author as soon as a new book is available. I found myself thinking about how a person can be bigger than life to people in theirr community and yet in reality they are not heroes at all. This was a thought provoking book. It made me think of the cop that pulled me over and hinted at taking me on a date and of another story...one in which my sister-in-law was pulled over by a policeman on her way to Wyoming...on a stretch where women were going missing...and when my brother woke in the back seat the policeman who pulled her over let them drive on. I know there will soon be another crime for Carrie and Jacob to work on and look forward to finding out what it will be. I am also eager to find out more about the backstories of both characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
July 15, 2019
5 Stars
Before you start reading this be aware this story from chapter to chapter will jump back and forth in time. Sometimes you will be seeing JD’s view of things as a kid or Sheriff Ollie’s view from the past. And then very quickly later be thrust back into present time with Carrie’s investigation.
This starts off with a gal being pulled over by a cop on a deserted road and raped. Carrie takes the call and wants to investigate but her boss accuses her of wanting to stir up a “shit storm” and reassigns her to a cold case from the past where new evidence has come to light. I don’t think her boss realized what the term shit storm actually meant. She went from a camp fire to a blasing inferno.
I was looking for more information about the present day JD/Jacob but found that sorely lacking from this book. I had not read book one where I figure all the info I desired lay. So you may need to read book one if you want a clearer picture of present day JD. But this book succeeds without it. Learning about young JD and his experiences is enough. JD is responsible for getting Carrie involved in the case since he knew the dead girl from when he was a kid.
I felt bad for both Hope Pugh and Sheriff Ollie. They both were on the brink of discovering a new and lasting relationship before their lives were quickly extinguished. I would have liked to see an epilogue where Sheriff Ollie and Auburn’s death were revealed to the public. And the entire situation explained in order for life to feel like it ended in some sort of order. But life is messy sometimes and I understand why it was left out.
The lives of the people in this book are screwed up. But justice is served in the end even if some people weren’t alive to see it. Check this book out. New author to me and I will definitely pick up book one in the series soon!
Highly recommended.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Before you start reading this be aware this story from chapter to chapter will jump back and forth in time. Sometimes you will be seeing JD’s view of things as a kid or Sheriff Ollie’s view from the past. And then very quickly later be thrust back into present time with Carrie’s investigation.
This starts off with a gal being pulled over by a cop on a deserted road and raped. Carrie takes the call and wants to investigate but her boss accuses her of wanting to stir up a “shit storm” and reassigns her to a cold case from the past where new evidence has come to light. I don’t think her boss realized what the term shit storm actually meant. She went from a camp fire to a blasing inferno.
I was looking for more information about the present day JD/Jacob but found that sorely lacking from this book. I had not read book one where I figure all the info I desired lay. So you may need to read book one if you want a clearer picture of present day JD. But this book succeeds without it. Learning about young JD and his experiences is enough. JD is responsible for getting Carrie involved in the case since he knew the dead girl from when he was a kid.
I felt bad for both Hope Pugh and Sheriff Ollie. They both were on the brink of discovering a new and lasting relationship before their lives were quickly extinguished. I would have liked to see an epilogue where Sheriff Ollie and Auburn’s death were revealed to the public. And the entire situation explained in order for life to feel like it ended in some sort of order. But life is messy sometimes and I understand why it was left out.
The lives of the people in this book are screwed up. But justice is served in the end even if some people weren’t alive to see it. Check this book out. New author to me and I will definitely pick up book one in the series soon!
Highly recommended.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
June 20, 2019
Wow, I don't know how I never heard of Bernard Schaffer and his unstoppable books. When I should have been sleeping the story just kept getting better. Bernard's detective experience definitely can be seen throughout the story. You cannot get a better story then from someone who lives through real life events. Bernard gave us a bad-ass lady detective named Carrie who works very hard to find the culprits and solve the murder mystery. She might be the envy of all the male policemen, but she is the detective you want solving crimes in your town. I was happy that a woman was the leading character in this story. I was utterly impressed with her forensics work when she was trying to get the fingerprints from a knife. She didn't have the tools needed so she created her homemade fingerprinting chemicals. Please do not try this at home.
I loved that Bernard added a couple of different cases which made you feel like you were in the story trying to fight the bad guys and solve the cases. The story goes back to 1981, when a child goes missing. Ollie was the Chief of Police and he was such a gem. He was the true hero in this story. He was determined to find the missing girl and make sure the culprits pay for what they might have done. Ollie's brother Ben was hardcore. That war scene will forever be engraved in my head haunting me.
Some people do not deserve the praise of being a hero. After Chief Auburn died he was praised for standing up to the bad guys and killing each one, but if only the town knew how that story really went. I truly enjoyed this nonstop roller coaster thriller. As I read I tried searching for the culprit who killed the little girl. I wondered who might be the cop rapist impersonator? This was a wonderful detective mystery thriller.
I loved that Bernard added a couple of different cases which made you feel like you were in the story trying to fight the bad guys and solve the cases. The story goes back to 1981, when a child goes missing. Ollie was the Chief of Police and he was such a gem. He was the true hero in this story. He was determined to find the missing girl and make sure the culprits pay for what they might have done. Ollie's brother Ben was hardcore. That war scene will forever be engraved in my head haunting me.
Some people do not deserve the praise of being a hero. After Chief Auburn died he was praised for standing up to the bad guys and killing each one, but if only the town knew how that story really went. I truly enjoyed this nonstop roller coaster thriller. As I read I tried searching for the culprit who killed the little girl. I wondered who might be the cop rapist impersonator? This was a wonderful detective mystery thriller.
June 20, 2019
Review of advance reader eBook
Carrie Santero, a detective with the District Attorney’s office, is used to receiving phone calls at all hours. Sent to investigate a savage rape, she soon finds herself caught up in a cold case involving a young girl missing for some thirty years, a police officer’s murder, and a police chief’s suicide. Will her investigation finally uncover the hidden truth?
Readers are likely to find this dark and gritty follow-up to “The Thief of All Light” difficult to set aside before turning the final page. Chapters set in the past tell Jacob Rein’s backstory and provide insight for readers while chapters in the present focus on Carrie’s investigation. The plot is complex, with secrets and lies woven into the tapestry of the narrative; unexpected revelations take the story in unexpected directions.
Well-crafted and populated with believable characters [although several are unlikable], readers who enjoyed the earlier “The Thief of All Light” will recognize some returning characters in this Santero and Rein thriller. The intricately-layered story keeps the reader guessing as the story unfolds; unfortunately, a much-overused and offensive expletive mars an otherwise intriguing, spot-on narrative.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Kensington Books and NetGalley
#AnUnsettledGrave #Net Galley
Carrie Santero, a detective with the District Attorney’s office, is used to receiving phone calls at all hours. Sent to investigate a savage rape, she soon finds herself caught up in a cold case involving a young girl missing for some thirty years, a police officer’s murder, and a police chief’s suicide. Will her investigation finally uncover the hidden truth?
Readers are likely to find this dark and gritty follow-up to “The Thief of All Light” difficult to set aside before turning the final page. Chapters set in the past tell Jacob Rein’s backstory and provide insight for readers while chapters in the present focus on Carrie’s investigation. The plot is complex, with secrets and lies woven into the tapestry of the narrative; unexpected revelations take the story in unexpected directions.
Well-crafted and populated with believable characters [although several are unlikable], readers who enjoyed the earlier “The Thief of All Light” will recognize some returning characters in this Santero and Rein thriller. The intricately-layered story keeps the reader guessing as the story unfolds; unfortunately, a much-overused and offensive expletive mars an otherwise intriguing, spot-on narrative.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Kensington Books and NetGalley
#AnUnsettledGrave #Net Galley
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