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Buryin' Barry Mystery #6
Risky Undertaking
"The author offers insights into the political, economic, and cultural ramifications of Indian casinos, along with a large cast of believable characters with a wide emotional range." —Publishers Weekly
When Cherokee burial remains are unearthed on the site expanding a local cemetery, the dual occupations of Barry Clayton, part-time deputy and full-time undertaker, collide. Then, during the interment of the wife of one of Gainesboro, North Carolina's most prominent citizens, Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther leads a protest. Words and fists fly.
When Panther turns up executed on the grave of the deceased woman, Barry is forced to confront her family as the chief suspects. But the case lurches in a new direction with the arrival of Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkin's Army pal, Boston cop Kevin Malone. He's on the trail of a Boston hit man who arrived at the Cherokee reservation only days before the murder. Malone is convinced his quarry is the triggerman.
The accelerating investigation draws Barry onto the reservation where Panther's efforts to preserve Cherokee traditions threatened the development of a new casino, a casino bringing millions of dollars of construction plus huge yearly payouts to every member of the tribe. Leading an unlikely team—his childhood nemesis Archie Donovan and his elderly fellow undertaker Uncle Wayne—Barry goes undercover. But the stakes are higher than he realized in this risky undertaking. And the life of a Cherokee boy becomes the wager. Barry must play his cards very carefully...
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2014
8 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Mark de Castrique
30 books168 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 30, 2017
Totally enjoyable mystery. Even though it seems a stretch to insert Whitey Bulger into the mix, it does work. The writing flows easily and the characters are enjoyable. This is the first book I have read in this series and I was not disappointed.
December 1, 2018
3.5 stars. Enjoyable read. Likeable characters, a steady plot with a good dose of humor. I will keep this series on my radar.
March 12, 2021
The best one yet!
July 12, 2015
Barry Clayton wears two hats in his hometown of Gainesboro, North Carolina. He is a part-time sheriff’s deputy and a full-time undertaker. In Risky Undertaking his two professions are on a collision course that can’t be stopped.
At a friendly poker game, Barry hears of an expansion deal on the local cemetery owned by Mayor Whitlock. Whitlock has called in the press, already excited about the grand opening of the newly acquired land. Unfortunately, at the groundbreaking ceremony dirt isn’t the only thing found in the posthole digger’s claws – bits of pottery and what appear to be human remains are unearthed also. The land is close to the Cherokee Reservation and all digging must be stopped until they can determine if this was once a sacred burial site.
The hiccup in Whitlock’s plan could not have come at a worse time. The Cherokee are upset about the possibility of a new casino coming in owned by the Catawba tribe. There have been protests both for and against the Catawba Casino due to the amount of money the Cherokee may lose to the competition as well as the amount of money the contractors may lose from the casino not being built.
If that isn’t enough going on in the town, dead bodies start to pile up. First a prominent woman dies of natural causes, but then a body is found on her grave by unnatural causes. A Boston hit man is seen at the Cherokee casino and a young boy goes missing.
Can the boy be found before he dies or is killed? Why has someone stolen an artifact collection? Will Burin’ Barry end up in one of his own graves? Whew – it is hard to turn the pages fast enough to keep up with the action!
This is the sixth novel in this series. It reads very well as a standalone, there is just the right amount of back story to get a new reader up to speed, yet not too much as to bore readers of his previous novels. De Castrique also has another series which “explores the rich history of Asheville from Tomas Wolfe to Carl Sandburg” that sounds intriguing also.
I love the afterword which tells the reader the facts behind the novel. He explains there is a new casino coming in that will diminish the number of people visiting the Cherokee cultural centers as well as impact the much needed revenue to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. It saddens me to see what has happened to the native people in our country.
Even though the underlying cause and events are serious, this mystery is full of quips and smart dialog that make the reader smile and possibly chuckle out loud. Barry is an awful card player yet finds himself participating in several games. The Cherokee officer Barry is working with, Romero, calls the sheriff “Rooster” after Rooster Cogburn. It is a term of endearment, and amuses me – I think it will amuse you too.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Copyright © 2015 Laura Hartman
At a friendly poker game, Barry hears of an expansion deal on the local cemetery owned by Mayor Whitlock. Whitlock has called in the press, already excited about the grand opening of the newly acquired land. Unfortunately, at the groundbreaking ceremony dirt isn’t the only thing found in the posthole digger’s claws – bits of pottery and what appear to be human remains are unearthed also. The land is close to the Cherokee Reservation and all digging must be stopped until they can determine if this was once a sacred burial site.
The hiccup in Whitlock’s plan could not have come at a worse time. The Cherokee are upset about the possibility of a new casino coming in owned by the Catawba tribe. There have been protests both for and against the Catawba Casino due to the amount of money the Cherokee may lose to the competition as well as the amount of money the contractors may lose from the casino not being built.
If that isn’t enough going on in the town, dead bodies start to pile up. First a prominent woman dies of natural causes, but then a body is found on her grave by unnatural causes. A Boston hit man is seen at the Cherokee casino and a young boy goes missing.
Can the boy be found before he dies or is killed? Why has someone stolen an artifact collection? Will Burin’ Barry end up in one of his own graves? Whew – it is hard to turn the pages fast enough to keep up with the action!
This is the sixth novel in this series. It reads very well as a standalone, there is just the right amount of back story to get a new reader up to speed, yet not too much as to bore readers of his previous novels. De Castrique also has another series which “explores the rich history of Asheville from Tomas Wolfe to Carl Sandburg” that sounds intriguing also.
I love the afterword which tells the reader the facts behind the novel. He explains there is a new casino coming in that will diminish the number of people visiting the Cherokee cultural centers as well as impact the much needed revenue to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. It saddens me to see what has happened to the native people in our country.
Even though the underlying cause and events are serious, this mystery is full of quips and smart dialog that make the reader smile and possibly chuckle out loud. Barry is an awful card player yet finds himself participating in several games. The Cherokee officer Barry is working with, Romero, calls the sheriff “Rooster” after Rooster Cogburn. It is a term of endearment, and amuses me – I think it will amuse you too.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Copyright © 2015 Laura Hartman
February 12, 2015
Mark de Castrique in his new book, “Risky Undertaking” Book Six in the Buryin’ Barry Mystery series published by Poisoned Pen Press gives us another adventure with Barry Clayton.
From the back cover: When Cherokee burial remains are unearthed on the site expanding a local cemetery, the dual occupations of Barry Clayton, part-time deputy and full-time undertaker, collide. Then, during the interment of the wife of one of Gainesboro, North Carolina’s most prominent citizens, Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther leads a protest. Words and fists fly.
When Panther turns up executed on the grave of the deceased woman, Barry is forced to confront her family as the chief suspects. But the case lurches in a new direction with the arrival of Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkin’s Army pal, Boston cop Kevin Malone. He’s on the trail of a Boston hit man who arrived at the Cherokee reservation only days before the murder. Malone is convinced his quarry is the triggerman. But who paid him? And why?
The accelerating investigation draws Barry onto the reservation where Panther’s efforts to preserve Cherokee traditions threatened the development of a new casino, a casino bringing millions of dollars of construction plus huge yearly payouts to every member of the tribe. Leading an unlikely team —his childhood nemesis Archie Donovan and his elderly fellow undertaker Uncle Wayne—Barry goes undercover. But the stakes are higher than he realized in this risky undertaking. And the life of a Cherokee boy becomes the wager. Barry must play his cards very carefully…
Barry Clayton works full-time as an undertaker. However business is a little light so he also works part-time as a deputy sheriff. That is quite a dual role to fill and in this story he really has his hands full. This is the sixth outing for “Buryin’ Barry” and I regret that I did not read the first five, a situation that I will be reversing soon stay tuned, however Mr. de Castrique does an excellent job of getting us right in with his characters so it feels as if we have not missed a thing. An Indian Casino, kidnapping and murders are all part of this plot and that is only some of what is in store for you. The story hums along at a fast pace as Barry is working to figure out just what is going on. There are fascinating characters that seem very real and a killer that seems impossible to discover. “Risky Undertaking” is loaded with twists and turns and red herrings that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. de Castrique has provided us with a fairly exciting book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: When Cherokee burial remains are unearthed on the site expanding a local cemetery, the dual occupations of Barry Clayton, part-time deputy and full-time undertaker, collide. Then, during the interment of the wife of one of Gainesboro, North Carolina’s most prominent citizens, Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther leads a protest. Words and fists fly.
When Panther turns up executed on the grave of the deceased woman, Barry is forced to confront her family as the chief suspects. But the case lurches in a new direction with the arrival of Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkin’s Army pal, Boston cop Kevin Malone. He’s on the trail of a Boston hit man who arrived at the Cherokee reservation only days before the murder. Malone is convinced his quarry is the triggerman. But who paid him? And why?
The accelerating investigation draws Barry onto the reservation where Panther’s efforts to preserve Cherokee traditions threatened the development of a new casino, a casino bringing millions of dollars of construction plus huge yearly payouts to every member of the tribe. Leading an unlikely team —his childhood nemesis Archie Donovan and his elderly fellow undertaker Uncle Wayne—Barry goes undercover. But the stakes are higher than he realized in this risky undertaking. And the life of a Cherokee boy becomes the wager. Barry must play his cards very carefully…
Barry Clayton works full-time as an undertaker. However business is a little light so he also works part-time as a deputy sheriff. That is quite a dual role to fill and in this story he really has his hands full. This is the sixth outing for “Buryin’ Barry” and I regret that I did not read the first five, a situation that I will be reversing soon stay tuned, however Mr. de Castrique does an excellent job of getting us right in with his characters so it feels as if we have not missed a thing. An Indian Casino, kidnapping and murders are all part of this plot and that is only some of what is in store for you. The story hums along at a fast pace as Barry is working to figure out just what is going on. There are fascinating characters that seem very real and a killer that seems impossible to discover. “Risky Undertaking” is loaded with twists and turns and red herrings that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. de Castrique has provided us with a fairly exciting book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 12, 2015
#6 in the Buryin' Barry series. I'm a fan of both of author de Castrique's series - undertaker/deputy Buryin' Barry and private detective Sam Blackman. This entry involves a cemetery but there is so little about the undertaking business that it could have been tailored for either series. In fact, it feels like an excuse to show off all of the author's research into Cherokee culture and casino gambling.
Buryin' Barry series - When Cherokee burial remains are unearthed on the site expanding a local cemetery, the dual occupations of Barry Clayton, part-time deputy and full-time undertaker, collide. Then, during the interment of the wife of one of Gainesboro, North Carolina's most prominent citizens, Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther leads a protest. Words and fists fly. When Panther turns up executed on the grave of the deceased woman, Barry is forced to confront her family as the chief suspects. But the case lurches in a new direction with the arrival of Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkin's Army pal, Boston cop Kevin Malone. He's on the trail of a Boston hit man who arrived at the Cherokee reservation only days before the murder. Malone is convinced his quarry is the triggerman. But who paid him? And why? The accelerating investigation draws Barry onto the reservation where Panther's efforts to preserve Cherokee traditions threatened the development of a new casino, a casino bringing millions of dollars of construction plus huge yearly payouts to every member of the tribe. Leading an unlikely team --his childhood nemesis Archie Donovan and his elderly fellow undertaker Uncle Wayne--Barry goes undercover. But the stakes are higher than he realized in this risky undertaking. And the life of a Cherokee boy becomes the wager.
Buryin' Barry series - When Cherokee burial remains are unearthed on the site expanding a local cemetery, the dual occupations of Barry Clayton, part-time deputy and full-time undertaker, collide. Then, during the interment of the wife of one of Gainesboro, North Carolina's most prominent citizens, Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther leads a protest. Words and fists fly. When Panther turns up executed on the grave of the deceased woman, Barry is forced to confront her family as the chief suspects. But the case lurches in a new direction with the arrival of Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkin's Army pal, Boston cop Kevin Malone. He's on the trail of a Boston hit man who arrived at the Cherokee reservation only days before the murder. Malone is convinced his quarry is the triggerman. But who paid him? And why? The accelerating investigation draws Barry onto the reservation where Panther's efforts to preserve Cherokee traditions threatened the development of a new casino, a casino bringing millions of dollars of construction plus huge yearly payouts to every member of the tribe. Leading an unlikely team --his childhood nemesis Archie Donovan and his elderly fellow undertaker Uncle Wayne--Barry goes undercover. But the stakes are higher than he realized in this risky undertaking. And the life of a Cherokee boy becomes the wager.
February 15, 2015
In a small town everyone wears more than one hat. In a small town Gainsborro, North Carolina, Burying Barry is the town undertaker and a cop. What starts out as an ambush after a poker game with the Mayor as instigator ends up calling the entire cast of zany citizens into the latest Burying Barry Mystery. From the Town Sheriff Tommy Lee to the rogue FBI agent Kevin Malone each of the Law men is well drawn and plausible. Being married to a Lawman myself, I often find the cops to be written as unbelievably heroic or unbelievably dumb. Great book cops are a treat for me.
I had not read any of the previous six novels but this is a great stand alone mystery. The author brings you up to speed on each of the characters relationship with each other without belaboring the story or slowing it down. The glimpses of past stories intrigued me enough to go check out some of the earlier Burying Barry stories.
The story was well paced and had some great twists and turns throughout. Characters are believable and well defined. The story was engrossing and hard to put down. I loved the the book started and ended with a poker game and an ambush of Burying Barry
I had not read any of the previous six novels but this is a great stand alone mystery. The author brings you up to speed on each of the characters relationship with each other without belaboring the story or slowing it down. The glimpses of past stories intrigued me enough to go check out some of the earlier Burying Barry stories.
The story was well paced and had some great twists and turns throughout. Characters are believable and well defined. The story was engrossing and hard to put down. I loved the the book started and ended with a poker game and an ambush of Burying Barry
November 14, 2014
Book Review & Giveaway: I had never heard of Mark de Castrique when I decided to read his latest Buryin’ Barry mystery, Risky Undertaking, and I’m wondering now how I missed this NC author since he’s quite a prolific writer. All I really knew from the publisher’s blurb was that this latest mystery was set in the Great Smokey Mountains and involved a possible Cherokee burial site, along with a few other things that sounded really interesting. If you like Tony Hillerman’s Southwest police procedural mysteries, you’ll find a Southeastern equivalent in Risky Undertaking.
No worries if you haven’t read the prior Buryin’ Barry mysteries. I obviously hadn’t and I had no problems reading Risky Undertaking as a stand-alone novel. I love finding new favorite authors and I’ve found one in Mark, and I don’t mind one bit that it means my TBR stack is growing. Thanks to the publisher for giving us a copy to use for a pay-it-forward giveaway someone will win at http://popcornreads.com/?p=7890.
No worries if you haven’t read the prior Buryin’ Barry mysteries. I obviously hadn’t and I had no problems reading Risky Undertaking as a stand-alone novel. I love finding new favorite authors and I’ve found one in Mark, and I don’t mind one bit that it means my TBR stack is growing. Thanks to the publisher for giving us a copy to use for a pay-it-forward giveaway someone will win at http://popcornreads.com/?p=7890.
April 20, 2015
RISKY UNDERTAKING: A Buryin’ Barry Mystery by Mark de Castrique
Barry, funeral director and deputy sheriff, finds himself embroiled in a dispute between the Cherokee Indians, the Catawba Indians, the proponents of a casino and possible gangsters when a body turns up on the fresh grave of the mayor’s wife. The Ashville area, the Cherokee and a variety of law enforcement folk turn this enjoyable mystery into a page turner. Generous dollops of humor amid the increasing body count will make the “light” mystery fan happy. There are enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing until near the end.
This is the first “Buryin’ Barry “ mystery I have read and I found the various characters difficult to follow without jotting notes to remind who was who. Readers of the previous books in the series may not find this a problem.
A fun page turner with enough humor amid the mayhem to please both cozy and thriller readers.
4 of 5 stars
Barry, funeral director and deputy sheriff, finds himself embroiled in a dispute between the Cherokee Indians, the Catawba Indians, the proponents of a casino and possible gangsters when a body turns up on the fresh grave of the mayor’s wife. The Ashville area, the Cherokee and a variety of law enforcement folk turn this enjoyable mystery into a page turner. Generous dollops of humor amid the increasing body count will make the “light” mystery fan happy. There are enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing until near the end.
This is the first “Buryin’ Barry “ mystery I have read and I found the various characters difficult to follow without jotting notes to remind who was who. Readers of the previous books in the series may not find this a problem.
A fun page turner with enough humor amid the mayhem to please both cozy and thriller readers.
4 of 5 stars
December 6, 2014
This story takes place in North Carolina and features an undertaker/sherriff's deputy, Barry Clayton, who becomes involved in solving a killing of a Cherokee activist. The story centers around the mystery, but also tells of some of the political issues existing between whites and native Americans, reservations and state governments, gaming and preservation, etc. Though involving a murder, the story is presented in a sort of light-hearted, very readable way. The characters seem true to life, especially in their conversations with each other. I was kept wondering how the mystery was going to be resolved. That was good, since I'm always disappointed when I solve the mystery before the book does. This was an enjoyable book to read, and I will look for other 'Buryin' Barry' mysteries, especially for light summer reading.
January 14, 2015
Barry is a part-time deputy and a full-time undertaker. When Indian remains are found in part of an expanded cemetery, all kinds of nasty things start to happen. There are Indian protests and big money deals going down the drain because of it. There's murder, kidnapping and gangland conspiracy all rolled into one.
The problem is, I never really connected to Barry or anything that happened with the possible exception of saving the boy. I don't know if it was the writing or the characters, but it just didn't hold my interest as well as I thought it should have.
The problem is, I never really connected to Barry or anything that happened with the possible exception of saving the boy. I don't know if it was the writing or the characters, but it just didn't hold my interest as well as I thought it should have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2015
Barry Clayton is an undertaker and part time deputy sheriff. Barry is called to a new cemetary where some bones and pottery are dug up while putting in posts. Indians in the region want to make sure the bones are respected. A leader of the Indian group is murdered and laid on top of a grave belonging to one of the owners of cemetary's wife who has just died.Who murdered the Indian and why? Has this some tie with a new Indian Casino being built?
There are murders and a kidnapping and Barry ties it all up with a bow.
There are murders and a kidnapping and Barry ties it all up with a bow.
December 12, 2014
Barry Clayton doubles as undertaker and deputy sheriff in the little town of Gainesboro. When a Cherokee activist is killed in the cemetery, Barry is sure that the problem stemmed from disputes on the nearby reservation, which sponsors a profitable casino. But why is a Boston hitman in the vicinity, trailed by his boss's old Vietnam pal, a Boston homicide detective with a wild streak? Add political corruption, kidnapping, and another murder, and Barry is up to his neck in trouble.
February 23, 2015
Despite a cast of diverse characters led by the engaging Barry Clayton and the brisk pace of the narrative, there's something about this murder mystery that just doesn't click. The series as a whole is a strong one, and definitely worth following, but this latest entry isn't up the standard set by its predecessors. Read our full review, here: http://www.mysteriousreviews.com/myst...
April 28, 2015
I enjoyed reading Risky Undertaking. It was suspenseful and kept me guessing until the end. I particularly liked it because it takes place in North Carolina. The setting in Cherokee is of special interest to me since I wrote a vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, last year and did research about the Cherokee Indians. I look forward to Mark de Castrique's next book! In addition to being a good writer, he is an entertaining and personable speaker.
January 27, 2015
At some parts it seemed like there were a lot of extra characters, but by the time I finished I decided it helped make the answer less obvious. This is the only book in the series I have read, and that did not affect the individual book in ways other series do. This book has humor, drama, and most importantly a mystery to solve.
December 13, 2014
3.75 stars
Not the best in this series, but an enjoyable read. I found the plot to be needlessly complicated at times but spending time with Barry is fun.
Not the best in this series, but an enjoyable read. I found the plot to be needlessly complicated at times but spending time with Barry is fun.
Read
May 20, 2016A mystery series set in North Carolina. Part time undertaker and police detective solves murder mystery. Entertaining. It was fun reading a book set in NC.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews