Black Hearts

The Skelfs #4

by Doug Johnstone

Death is just the beginning…

The Skelf women live in the shadow of death every day, running the family funeral directors and private investigator business in Edinburgh. But now their own grief interwines with that of their clients, as they are left reeling by shocking past events.

A fist-fight by an open grave leads Dorothy to investigate the possibility of a faked death, while a young woman’s obsession with Hannah threatens her relationship with Indy and puts them both in mortal danger. An elderly man claims he’s being abused by the ghost of his late wife, while ghosts of another kind come back to haunt Jenny from the grave … pushing her to breaking point.

As the Skelfs struggle with increasingly unnerving cases and chilling danger lurks close to home, it becomes clear that grief, in all its forms, can be deadly…

Genres: Scotland, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Death

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2022

About the author

Doug Johnstone is a writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. His fourth novel, Hit & Run, was published by Faber and Faber in 2012. His previous novel, Smokeheads, was published in March 2011, also by Faber. Before that he published two novels with Penguin, Tombstoning (2006) and The Ossians (2008), which received praise from the likes of Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. Doug is currently writer in residence at the University of Strathclyde. He has had short stories appear in various publications, and since 1999 he has worked as a freelance arts journalist, primarily covering music and literature. He grew up in Arbroath and lives in Portobello, Edinburgh with his wife and two children. He loves drinking malt whisky and playing football, not necessarily at the same time.

Reviews

[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first three books, I've discovered I just can't get enough of Doug Johnstone's Skelf series. If anything, I found it even more enjoyable than the first three books, due to the fact that now I'm familiar with the characters, and they have become almost like friends. If ever there was a 'character-rich' series, this is it.

With a unique family dynamic, and an even more unique family business, this series had me hooked from the beginning. The Skelf women are memorable, moral, and authentic.

In addition to the family's personal stories, I enjoyed following the cases they were working on throughout the book, and how the women support one another.

The title of this book was perfect for the content. Black hearts both literally and figuratively abound.

"To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die."

Set in Edinburgh, the novel explores themes of empathy, loss, grief, guilt, and coping strategies.  The author's obvious affection for his home city permeates the entire novel - as does his love of music.

Written with empathy and skill, this crime novel displayed a richness in characterization along with unique and clever plotting that makes this series stand out from its peers.  The books read like a pleasing cross between crime thriller and literary fiction. I found the three strong female protagonists fascinating, and I am eager to read more about their lives and exploits in further books. Guess you could say I'm an ardent Skelf fan.  The ending of "Black Hearts" presents the reader with breathtaking tension.   Highly recommended!

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series about three generations of women running a funeral home/private investigation agency in Edinburgh, Scotland is fantastic. There's so much family drama and character development that keeps the key plot points flowing through each book and a new mystery or two to solve each time keeps things exciting!

Book four begins with a fist fight over an open grave, leading Dorothy to investigate a potential fake death. The relationship between Hannah and Indy is put to the test when a strange young woman appears with an unhealthy obsession with Hannah. A former funeral client becomes a PI client when an eldery man believes his late wife has come back to haunt him. Then, the body of Jenny's ex-husband washes up and brings danger instead of closure for the Skelf women.

I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series!

For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone is the fourth book in The Skelfs series and is published in paperback by Orenda Books on 29 September 2022.

For the past four years I've taken a short trip to Edinburgh. I've spent that time with the women of the Skelf family. I've visited burial grounds and police stations, mortuaries and walked the streets of the city. I've met wild animals, and even wilder humans .... and all from the comfort of my own sofa.


Black Hearts is number four in the Skelf series and once again, I've spent a thrilling, often chilling and always emotional time with these three women and their family and colleagues. Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah are three generation of the same family, they are undertakers and they are also private investigators.


I've never actually been to Edinburgh in real life, but oh my goodness, I do feel as though I know the place very well. The city is a character in itself as the women travel to every area; death and crime do not distinguish between rich and poor, so the reader travels to the most deprived areas, along with the very genteel.


The Skelfs have a messy and troubled history, and whilst the author is extremely skilled and the back stories are filled in cleverly, I would advise anyone to go back and read the first three books of the series. Not only will you learn more about the women, but you will have hours of reading enjoyment too.


Dorothy is presiding over the funeral of a middle-aged women when a scuffle breaks out at the graveside. It's a shocking scene that captures the strength of the rest of the book and made me gasp out loud. This author does not hold back, it's a little bit brutal. That fight leads to another job for Dorothy, when the son of the deceased asks her to find his father who disappeared some months ago.


Meanwhile, Jenny - Dorothy's daughter, is declining into a drunken, sometimes psychotic mess. Events from her recent past have come back to haunt her and she's really having trouble dealing with it, seeking solace in both the bottle, and risky sex. Sometimes it can be difficult to like Jenny at times, the author doesn't give her any slack, but underneath, she's just a woman whose had some pretty crap experiences and needs to work through them. Her choices are questionable at times, but she's a Skelf and made of tough stuff.


Young Hannah also has issues. She's gained a stalker who is pretty scary, but seems harmless ... at first.


At its heart, this is a story about grief and how different people deal with their own mourning. The book felt very personal to me, having dealt with the deaths of two of the most important people in my life recently. The wide and varying emotions felt by the characters within this story really helped me to understand my own personal feelings. Over the past few months, I had been questioning myself about my own grieving processes; almost feeling guilty at times that I had so many conflicting feelings. This book, these characters and this author really helped me.


Doug Johnstone packs a lot into his books. He touches on issues that many authors shy away from, whilst incorporating quite unusual themes too. His cultural references, not just to Scotland, but overseas too are a fine touch, and I especially liked the addition of some Japanese traditions within the story.


It's always a delight to meet up with the Skelfs once more, they are so relevant and have to deal with so many issues that are often only experienced by females, making life that little bit harder and more difficult than if they were male.


Whilst Black Hearts is, without doubt, crime fiction at its best, it is also touching and poignant. A story of family strengths, love and community. There's some black humour, a lot of physics and some jaw dropping moments that I didn't see coming at all. Welcome back Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah, I cannot wait to visit you again soon.

[Rich B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fourth entry in an enjoyable series, with an interesting premise and characters. Mostly enjoyed this, but at times, it felt like it was treading water in terms of overall plot development. A decent read, but not quite as good as previous books.

It’s a tale of 3 generations of the Skelf family - Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah - grandmother, mother and daughter. They run a combined funeral business / private investigation firm in Edinburgh. It’s mainly the cases of the latter, set against the backdrop of the former which drive the story.

We get a couple of different cases here. A missing father who the son believes isn’t dead. An old Japanese guy who claims the spirit of his dead wife is coming back to haunt him. Then, there’s a new weird stalker girl who suddenly appears and takes an overly strong liking to Hannah.

Then, we’ve also got the aftermath / ramifications of the end of the previous story, where Jenny had dealt with her murderous ex-husband. Jenny is not coping well with this and is clearly going through some sort of PTSD. She spends much of the book drinking too much and having a self-destructive relationship with her therapist.

We also get to meet her ex-husband’s mother and sister, and this doesn’t end well. This is all very dark and downbeat. The story doesn’t have a lot of more positive / hopeful beats to compensate for this though, so overall, it’s a very low energy read.

In fact, these almost feel like a series of short stories. This makes for an OK read, but feels like it’s missing an overarching plot to pull the whole thing together. So, it feels a little flat overall, as their lives don’t really move forward that much here.

It doesn’t help that a couple of the major secondary characters from previous books (the girl drummer the family had semi-adopted, and Jenny’s boyfriend Liam) are mostly dropped in this book, only briefly mentioned in passing.

There’s enough in this to make it worth reading, and the characters are still strong. But it feels like it needs a stronger, more compelling overall direction to keep the series interesting longer-term.

[Wendy Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these characters. I love the quirkiness of the backdrop. I love that this is a female centred, multi-generational story of funeral directors who double as private eyes.

What I loved less in this episode is how these women are subjected to ever more extreme, wacky and violent events. It certainly drives the page turning element but just felt that it didn't need quite so much drama thrown at the narrative

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone publishes September 29th with Orenda Books and is described as ‘warmly funny, nail-bitingly tense and deliciously dark.’

Black Hearts is the fourth book in this series featuring the Skelfs, following on from A Dark Matter, The Big Chill and The Great Silence.

Dorothy, Jenny, and Hannah – mother, daughter, and grand-daughter – share a surname, Skelf, a name synonymous with death and grief across Edinburgh. They are very well-established funeral directors with roots dating back years. They are now also private investigators. Dorothy, in her seventies, holds the family together through difficult times with her steadfast approach and her conviction in what she does. Dorothy carries a lot of respect for the role that is required of them, so even when things get awkward or challenging, she puts her professional face to the fore every single time.

Hannah, now married to Indy, lives away from the family but is drawn back daily. Indy works as a funeral director there and Hannah helps out with the investigations when her college schedule permits. As a family the Skelfs are very closely knit, yet Dorothy is all too aware that Jenny and Hannah need space to be the person they hope to be. Jenny’s husband, and Hannah’s Dad, Craig has been a constant source of terror in their lives in recent years. Now though, due to recent events, they are hopeful that this part of their lives can finally be put behind them.

Jenny drinks too much and is generally dissatisfied with life, finding solace where she can. She is bitter toward the cards dealt her in life and is angry, always angry. Dorothy worries for her, like any mother would, but ensures they are kept busy at all times with the business of funeral directing and investigating.

When Dorothy is at a local funeral a fist fight breaks out causing undue stress for the parties involved. Later on that day, at the afters of the funeral, Dorothy is approached to take on a case of a missing person. She accepts with slight trepidation not realising the hornets’ nest she is about to fall into.

Meanwhile Hannah is facing the real possibility of a stalker, as a young woman becomes obsessed with her every move. Initially Indy is sceptical and begins to question their relationship and marriage, but as the situation escalates and things take a very strange turn, Hannah and Indy realise that there is something very disturbing at play.

Dorothy is always one to help and support her clients so when she is approached by an elderly gentleman making some bizarre statements about his dead wife, Dorothy intervenes in her amicable and empathetic way looking into every possible reason behind his strange accusation. What transpires is tragic and very affecting, with Dorothy’s gentle approach providing the perfect antidote to the final result.

Jenny’s behaviour is quite erratic in Black Hearts. Her mind is not at work or at home and she dwells very heavily on her past and her relationship with Hannah. Jenny thinks she has fallen short as a mother and is very hard on herself, slow to accept help, constantly punishing herself for what she considers to be her failings. Her relationship with her ex Craig has left scars that run deep. She is emotionally fraught and always in a heightened state of anxiety.

Dorothy, Jenny, and Hannah are a feisty trio who have survived very dangerous and life-threatening situations over the years. They are tough women with an ingrained grit and a will to push forward. Their loyalty to each other is paramount, with Dorothy enveloping them with her love but also consciously aware that strings have to be loosened. Fantastic characters all, the Skelfs are like family to many readers at this point. We have been part of their lives. We have experienced their fear, we have witnessed their tragedies, we have felt their pain. These are hardened women, but also they have a very personable side that allows them to carry out their business in such a professional, yet humane, fashion.

Black Hearts is another stonker of a read from Doug Johnstone. His writing captures wonderfully the crackle of a frayed temper, the atmosphere that surrounds death, the pain of grief and, of course, the city of Edinburgh. The Skelfs are a brilliant concept and having a bunch of kick-ass women leading the charge is very refreshing and an absolute delight to return to. Accessible to all, this series is emotional, insightful and punchy, offering the reader a highly enjoyable experience, with the added bonus of Scottish dark sense of humour thrown into the mix.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so we come to the fourth instalment of Doug Johnstone’s superlative crime series featuring the Skelf family, navigating the daily trials and tribulations in their businesses as both funeral directors and private investigators, and their knotty private lives. Following on from the excellent Dark Matter, The Big Chill and The Great Silence the series continues in its typically flawless style in Black Hearts, where once again these formidable women are engulfed in personal troubles, murder and its attendant mayhem…

Dorothy, the matriarch of the family, is on a much more even keel in this one, although still touched by sporadic moments of grief at the loss of her husband, she appears more settled in her strengthening relationship with detective Thomas Olssen, the cases she becomes involved in are not without their own problems, again making her draw on her seemingly inexhaustible tenacity and strength. I like her personal adage that,

“You had to keep moving forward, that was the only way to respect those who had gone. Keep living your imperfect life.”

Next is Jenny, Dorothy’s daughter, who having survived the harrowing events of the last book to a less resilient degree to her mother, is spiralling into destructive behaviour both mentally and physically, and discovering that the apparent finality of her previously abusive relationship has some more unwelcome events in store from beyond the grave. Hannah, granddaughter and daughter, recently married, and endeavouring to apply herself more to her studies, finds herself in the unwelcome sights of a stalker, where some incredibly peculiar and dangerous happenings unfold.

I think the real magic of this series as a reader is the way in which, with each book, Johnstone so astutely adds another layer of vulnerability or, conversely, another layer of personal strength to each of his female characters, as these particular events they are consumed by unfold. Jenny, in particular, seems so at a loss with the world in this one, it is truly heartbreaking to see the effects of her trauma on her behaviour, and how this threatens to unmoor her from her family, and the security they can give her. However, at the core of their survival lies the bond to one another, which stretches and threatens to break at numerous points, but at its heart remains solid despite the pressures they place upon it, and themselves.

Although this series is so driven by the female trinity at its centre, I think it’s worth mentioning the two subsidiary male characters, Thomas Olssen and Archie, who bring a stability and understated warmth to the lives of these frankly, at times, chaotic women, “The Skelfs were magnets for weird shit and Thomas had to handle the aftermath”. Also, I particularly liked the way that Archie, as an employee of the Skelfs in the funeral business, is given a greater moment in the sun in this one, and the tentative chance of redemption and peace for Jenny he provides with his tender concern for her.

Black Hearts would not be complete without Johnstone’s thoughtful and perfectly placed interludes of not only the corporeal, but the spiritual and astronomical too, taking the reader on a series of interesting and enlightening diversions. He carefully positions the fragility of the human condition and the raw beauty of the natural world, alongside little flights into the other-wordly in a spiritual sense, and then…bam…firmly roots us and our meagre, inconsequential place in a sprawling universe, so much of it as yet beyond our own comprehension.

Another joy of this series is that as much as the plot and characters carry you along so sublimely, you also get some wonderful potted lessons in astrophysics, and the technicalities of musicianship, including the ‘big dick energy’ of jazz, (love that) as well as name checking some brilliant musicians too. Definitely more big bang and banging tunes for your bucks… I love this series, and cannot praise it highly enough. My name is Raven and I am a #Skelfaholic, and very proud to be one too. Astronomically highly recommended.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Hearts is the fourth book in Doug Johnstone's superlative Skelfs series and it's such a joy to spend time with these wonderful, multi-layered characters again. The overarching storyline that started in the first book in the series, A Dark Matter continues here and I would recommend reading the previous novels first, if possible.
Over a year has passed since the devastating events in The Great Silence but although life has moved on, the Skelf women are clearly still affected by the past. Dorothy is in a happy relationship with Thomas but increasingly aware of her own mortality, particularly when many of the people they arrange funerals for are younger than she is. Her care for others shines through but like everybody else, she has her share of regrets and guilt. Hannah and Indy are now married but their happiness is threatened by a young woman who appears to be dangerously obsessed with Hannah, while Jenny has understandably hit the self-destruct button. Jenny is arguably the most complex of the Skelf women; as both daughter and mother, she has been the nurtured and the nurturer but now she is in a mess and lurches from one drunken encounter to another.
As well as dealing with their own problems, the women have funerals to arrange and cases to investigate. One often leads to another; from a graveside fight over a missing father to an elderly Japanese man who believes his wife's spirit is unhappy, their apparently disparate two businesses – a family-run funeral directors and a private investigation firm – are actually frequently intertwined. They inevitably encounter some terrible tragedies but as well as the major, shocking incidents, there are the quieter examples too; grief and loss, of course, but perhaps even worse than losing a loved one, there's the aching loneliness of dying alone. It's a painful, melancholic read at times and Black Hearts is the perfect title; there is deep sadness here but there are also damaged, dangerous people whose unpredictable actions bring increasing tension and a terrible sense of foreboding to proceedings.
As with real life, there is dark humour to be found during these moments too. There are some dramatic, even outrageous scenes but Doug Johnstone also reflects real life with such empathy and compassion. The joy and pain of our complicated, connected, chaotic lives is explored throughout Black Hearts and it's impossible not to be moved and charmed as well as gripped by the compulsive, exciting plot.
The sense of place is impeccable throughout, of course and just as the people living in Edinburgh are brilliant and despicable, kind and cruel, connected and lonely, and everything in between, the best and worst of the city is depicted too. Hannah's PhD work in the exoplanet research group also irresistibly tempts us to consider what lies far away from Edinburgh and indeed, the Earth and I loved discovering some incredible facts – from a hot Jupiter in the constellation of Vulpecula, approximately 64.5 million light years away where it possibly rains glass to a super-Earth which is probably mostly made of diamond.
The famous line from Walt Whitman's Song of Myself is quoted and while it's definitely true for all of Doug Johnstone's beautifully rendered characters, it also perfectly describes the book itself; Black Hearts contains multitudes. This series keeps getting better and this is a very special read indeed.

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot tell you how excited I was to find out that there were going to be more books featuring the Skelfs and their investigations. I absolutely adored the first three books in the series, and I was eager to find out what book number four would have in store for me.

The story picks up months after the events of book three, but all the Skelfs are still reeling and trying to process it in their own ways. The story starts with a bang as a fight erupts at a funeral which leads Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah to investigate a possibly faked death. Of course, it's never that simple of the Skelf family as another case crosses their path of an elderly man who thinks he's being abused by the ghost of his wife. Hannah is dealing with a woman who seems to be stalking her, and Jenny is battling her own demons.

As usual, I found myself caught up in all the different mysteries and drama expertly woven through Black Hearts.

Jenny's point of view really stood out to me as she goes through it in this novel. I felt equal parts pity and annoyance with her, there were points where I wanted to give her a good shake and tell her to stop being her own worst enemy.

I honestly love how original these stories are. I can't really name another thriller that has ghosts, stalkers and fake deaths all alongside the day-to-day business of a funeral director.

If you haven't read any of these original and addictive series, I highly recommend them all to you!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Edinburgh, this is a dark but heartwarming thriller. The Skelf family run a funeral directors and a private investigation firm - the head of the family is widowed matriarch Dorothy, assisted by her daughter Jenny, granddaughter Hannah and Hannah’s wife Indy. This is part of a series and, while it would definitely be helpful to have read the previous books as there are repercussions from previous events affecting this novel, I was quite happy to meet the Skelfs at this point in their journey and will be going back to fill in the gaps.

The family have to deal with a grief stricken Japanese widower, a missing person case, and a stalker. Meanwhile they have their own personal demons to overcome, particularly Jenny who is struggling to cope with the aftermath of a violent event in her past. It was really refreshing to read about these indomitable female characters and their close family bond, and the plotlines also offered plenty to think about.

Excellent and entertaining novel, I raced through this and enjoyed every minute, and I’ll be going back to pick up the earlier books in the series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth in the excellent Skelf series, Black Hearts, takes place around a year after the dramatic events of the last book.

Dorothy is outwardly pretty settled, but arranging funerals for so many that are younger than her is always niggling at her. Hannah and Indy are now married, but when an outside influence threatens their happiness, will there resolve be tested? And Jenny is not doing so great. Still in a downward spiral of after-effects from the past years events, she is barely keeping it together.
While dealing with their own issues, there is also the small matter of the two family businesses to keep afloat!

As well as the unique story lines following the funeral and PI businesses, a the heart of this is great tale of family, grief and coping with loss, all weaved together perfectly to make a compelling, yet easy-to-read page-turner. Plus the setting of Edinburgh feels like a character all of its own.

Very much looking forward to book 5!

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my review of the previous book in this series I mentioned that I felt that the author was allowing his characters to act out of character in order to create situations of tension. Annoyingly he has upped this in 'Black Hearts' and reduced strong, capable characters to wimjeps in order to create 'situations'. Given Hannah's experience would she really allow a stalker so much leeway? Would Jenny not suspect her assailant's motives much more quickly?
The sense of place is still strong - I read this book while in Edinburgh - and the writing still carries the reader along but I hope, in their next adventure, that the author brings back those strong, determined Skelf women.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I really like this series, but didn’t enjoy this one as much as the others. A little far-fetched with a couple of the situations.

[Gunnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neue Fälle für die Skelfs: Eine Frau wird beerdigt, ihr Ehemann ist verschwunden; ein japanischstämmiger Mann wird vom Geist seiner verstorbenen Frau verfolgt; Hannah wird von einer jungen Frau gestalkt, die mehrere Tage neben ihrer toten Mutter gewohnt hat; Jenny befindet sich physisch auf einem Tiefpunkt und nun taucht Craigs Leiche auf.

Eine großartige Krimireihe um drei Frauen (Großmutter, Mutter, Tochter), die in Edinburgh ein Bestattungsinstitut und eine Privatdetektei betreiben. Dies ist der vierte Band und hier rate ich unbedingt dazu, die Reihe von Beginn an zu lesen. Es geht um Trauer, Tod und Schuld, aber auch um Familie und Freundschaft. Großes Plus sind die wunderbaren Hauptfiguren und das tolle Setting in Edinburgh.

[Taco Beta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down. Entertaining but a bit over top for me. The skelf women call themselves magnets for weirdness and danger: this corresponds with the storylines but doesnt make all thats is happening less far-fetched. Still, a very enjoyable read with a lot of momentum and enjoyable characters.

[Stephanie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book four in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I hadn’t read any previous books so sometimes I felt like I was missing things but overall I did enjoy the book. A clever mystery that was well written

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Black Hearts, the fourth instalment in Doug Johnstone’s series about the funeral-directing and private-investigating Skelf family, all three generations are on the edge.

Dorothy continues to grieve late patriarch Jim; Jenny is drinking too much and out of control following the harrowing events of the previous book; and Hannah is being stalked by an intense young woman named Laura, affecting her relationship with wife Indy.

But life - and death - must go on. Laura actually requires the family’s services; the funeral side of the business feeds two new cases into the PI side; and the charred and bloated body of Jenny’s ex-husband Craig washes up, bringing his mother and sister out of the woodwork.

I’m a “Skelfaholic”, and I’m pleased to report that Black Hearts is a welcome, winning addition that features all the elements that I love about this ingenious book series.

First up, intriguing mysteries. This time around, the family are tasked with solving what at first seem like impossible cases: tracking down one widower who may or may not have faked his own death, and finding out who’s beating up another widower during the night (he believes it’s the angry ghost of his late wife).

As ever, I enjoyed watching the Skelfs at work, setting up state-of-the-art surveillance systems, reviewing recordings, and following and interviewing people who might know more than they’re letting on. There’s also the question of what the sinister Laura wants from Hannah, and this - like the other cases, and the arrival of Craig’s family - has an outcome I could never have predicted.

Secondly, fascinating insights into the work of funeral directors. I’m a bit of a paradox in the sense that I’m highly squeamish, yet I lap up books about what happens, and is done to, bodies after death. I’m pretty sure I learn something new from each Skelf book about the procedures funeral directors have to adhere to, and the requests they might encounter that make the ceremony a truly personal tribute to the deceased.

Another thing I love about this series is the dark humour - when you’re in the business of death, you need a bit of relief, after all. Even though the Skelfs are especially battle-scarred this time around, and you really worry and care about them after all you’ve been through by their side, there’s still ample space for slapstick and irony, in addition to ‘well, of course she would, wouldn’t she?’ choices on Jenny’s part.

Finally, there’s the exploration of human responses and behaviour that Johnstone does so consistently well. Black Hearts demonstrates how death can surface all sorts of strong emotions depending on the individual and the circumstances, with denial, anger, guilt, and bewilderment directing various characters’ actions.

I valued how Jenny was portrayed so realistically following her traumatic experience in the last book: neither bouncing straight back to the character she used to be, nor returning to business as usual as if nothing had happened, but barely functioning and causing friction in the family, even if it was sad to witness. I also appreciated the wisdom and philosophy Dorothy brought to the table as an older woman with a lot of experiences and mistakes under her belt.

It was so interesting to learn about, and see characters using a wind phone. I found this really powerful and poignant, as well as a brilliant, unforced way of accessing and expressing (both for themselves and the reader) their continuing grief for lost loved ones.

Black Hearts is a dark, intriguing, and touching addition to a great series.

[Mary Picken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Just when you thought you couldn’t love the Skelfs more, Doug Johnstone finds a way to turn up the heat. I love this series and I adore these three generations of women who are both funeral directors and part time Private Investigators.

Things have moved on a little since we last met the Skelfs. One of the extended family is no longer with us. Hannah and Indy have cemented their relationship. Dorothy and Thomas continue to make each other happy and Jenny…well Jenny is a mess of unquantifiable proportions.

I’ve said before that these women are so beautifully and richly drawn that they feel real to me. They could be my friends and neighbours. These are women I care about and I understand them, have felt the way they feel. Their concerns are so universal and utterly believable we see ourselves in them.

Edinburgh too continues to be a terrific character and roots this story in superbly drawn time and place.

Black Hearts is multi-layered book with a number of cases running through the book. Dorothy is investigating a missing man; Hannah seems to have acquired a stalker and an elderly man believes his wife is hurting him. Jenny, meanwhile, is hurting so badly her self-destructive behaviour is worrying everyone; even her therapist.

There’s a very real sense of foreboding runs through this book, stemming from the death of Jenny’s late husband, Craig. It hangs over you and all the time I was reading I could feel the tension ramping up. It was as if there was a steel band around my chest, constricting every time I turned a page, making it harder to breathe. This is suspense that is truly palpable.

The cases in themselves are fascinating, especially so for Udo, the elderly man whose daughter, Willow has come to help him. But it is the sense of our place in the cosmos; the idea that there are so many things in the world and beyond that we have, as yet, no understanding of that makes this a special read. Life, love, death, science and belief all come together to create impact and resonance that engages the reader, brings empathy to the fore and really makes you care about the outcome for the characters.

Nothing here is easy; there are no pat answers. Life and death hurt and that pain is here on the page. But there is also love and joy and compassion and understanding. It’s easy to love these characters because you could be one of them.
Japanese wind phone

Terrific, layered plotting, fabulous characters, some big shocks that really create a sense of drama and an awesome sense of place all combine with great mysteries to bring an overwhelming sense that science and physics are helping us to understand how much we don’t yet know about the world we live in.

Verdict: I am running out of superlatives for this cracking, unmissable series. I adore the Skelfs, and am an unshamed #Skelfaholic (I even have the t-shirt). Black Hearts is outstanding. I loved it with a passion and Black Hearts is Johnstone’s best yet in this superb series which should be winning awards all over the place.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Skelf women, Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah, have had so much thrown at them by Doug Johnstone from the opening pages of A Dark Matter through The Big Chill to the close of The Great Silence, and have each changed even as they have endured; supporting each other even as they sometimes chafed at the roles they found themselves taking on. And now there's even more to deal with...
Black Hearts opens with a funeral, Dorothy walking through the cemetery in an almost pensive mood - rudely interrupted by a fist fight between two of the mourners that leads to a new case for the private investigation side of the Skelf empire. Meanwhile, Jenny is swimming off Portobello beach, still thinking of the events at the end of the previous book, in a scene that suggests the therapy Dorothy and Hannah have insisted on is more than necessary. Hannah and Indy are adjusting to married life and exploring the path between familiarity and getting into a rut.
There are funerals and investigations that weave their way through the novel. There's Laura, a student, who loses her grip on reality as she loses someone close to her. There's Danny, who mother died after his father went missing. There's elderly Japanese widower Udo, who thinks he is being haunted - though his bruises are all too real.
There are also faces from the past that are tough to deal with and turn downright dangerous. While Dorothy is keen to see another side to the story, Jenny is very much not, which become a cause of friction between mother and daughter. Jenny is grieving for someone she came to despise and cannot reconcile those feelings, let alone process the trauma that runs alongside. She prefers to block out the memories with gin than deal with them soberly in therapy; she's pushing people away and falling apart - and the discovery of a body on a beach might just be the last straw.
The idea that everyone grieves differently is given free rein here, with some extreme examples. But while parts of the plot set the heart racing, it's the parts in between that for me hold the greatest power; the introspective moments. It's a novel about pain, trauma and grief, but while that sounds miserable and depressing trust me it's not - it's darkly funny at several points, and it's quietly life-affirming too.
This novel is a masterclass in writing with empathy, especially when it comes to Jenny. The great thing about a series is that it allows you to see a character change in reaction to what the write throws at them, but I don't think I've ever read a depiction of the fallout from trauma that is as painful as the portrait of Jenny here. She is broken, bereft, barely functioning.
There are shocking, desperate, manic scenes as Johnstone essentially turns it up to 11 towards the end, but afterwards there's a quiet coda and a speck of hope for the future. Black Hearts may leave a trail of broken readers behind it, but I would not want to be without this absolutely exquisite novel.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skelf Summer continues with the fourth instalment in the series, and its the tensest one yet with a fist fight by an open grave, an investigation into a possible faked death, a widow who claims his late wife’s ghost is physically harming him, Hannah is being stalked and Jenny is pushed to breaking point by a ghost from her past. 


Chaotic, taut, immersive, and darkly funny, Black Heart packs a punch. Doug Johnstone gets better with each book and this was my favourite of the series so far. This is domestic noir at its finest, but with a scientific slant. Johnstone’s expert writing is filled with humanity, insightfulness, suspense and black humour that feels magnetic, drawing us into the strange and crazy world of the Skelf women. And, this time around, life for Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah is more turbulent than ever. I love reading about these extraordinary women and their unorthodox careers and how their jobs get more dangerous and bizarre with each book, keeping me glued to the pages and on tenterhooks as I read. But one of my favourite things about this series is the depth and introspection that is woven into the stories, adding a more serious and emotional layer that I love.


Atmospheric, entertaining and outrageous, Black Hearts is a must-read for all thriller lovers. And while it can be read as a standalone, I’d highly recommend reading the whole series. After all, who doesn’t want to read gripping thrillers about three compelling and brave women running a funeral business while also working as PIs. 

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the face of it a series about a family of strong yet very different women who run an undertakers and a detective agency shouldn’t work but this one does in spades. Black Hearts is the latest offering in the Skelf series and is probably the darkest one yet with Doug Johnstone somehow managing to put Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah well and truly through the emotional and physical wringer.
Jenny is really struggling with the aftermath of the events that took place in The Great Silence and as her past actions come back to haunt her she has set herself on a very destructive downward spiral that did at times make me want to smack her and tell her to stop being so selfish and sort herself out. Whilst I have no idea what she would be feeling mentally after everything there is still at times something of the spoilt child in her actions that you would not expect of someone of her age. At times it is as though her family do not matter and are not also dealing with the past events and only she is affected.
Hannah has always been quite independent, so it is hard to see her questioning everything as she deals with both the fallout of her mum’s behaviour and her own issues with a stalker that threatens her safety and her marriage to Indie. Usually, she can escape in her studies but even this does not give her the welcome distraction that she craves. What you do see though is her strong bond with Indie and the determination that with work they can overcome everything and become stronger than ever.
Dorothy’s compassion is as evident as ever as she takes on two cases that do not quite turn out as expected. It is her dealings with her one elderly client who is convinced that his wife is haunting him that show just how much she will take on to get to the bottom of things. From this case we get introduced to the “wind phone” which even to a cynic like me seems like a lovely way for people to be able to finally say goodbye to their deceased loved ones when they are struggling. Who knows maybe this idea could really catch on.
I really do love the Skelf series and Black Hearts is my favourite to date. If I am being honest I am not sure if it is because Doug Johnstone has thrown everything at Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah or if it because at the heart of it there is a strong sense of family, showing that together you can deal with grief in so many ways. I am so looking forward to the next in the series if nothing else just to see what is in store for the women and if finally they can have an easier time of things (although my money would be on probably not)

[Lynsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a welcome return to the women of the Skelf family! ‘Black Hearts’ was as warm as it was chilling, as funny as it was horrific and pretty much was an absolute joy to read. I am in awe of Doug as a writer as each time I sit down to read ones of his books I think well he can't top the previous one but he does every single time! This was the best in the Skelf series so far and yes I will stand up in the middle of a room and declare that I am a Skelfaholic!

Welcome to the world of the Skelf where three generations of women are funeral directors come private investigators. They live with death every day of their lives but their grief is making it hard for them to cope. Dorothy has to deal with a fistfight at an open grave which leads to her being tasked to find a missing husband, Hannah has a stalker which is putting pressure on her relationship with Indy. While Jenny is utterly unable to cope with life. Mix in a man who thinks he is being haunted and abused by his late wife and other ghosts appearing and it makes for an interesting time for the Skelfs!

My heart sings for these women. They are some of the most richly drawn and real female characters I have read in ages. Each very different but they feel tangible and I will admit I have walked along the Meadows thinking about how I would react if I bumped into them! I want Dorothy to be my Gran, Hannah to be my best friend and Jenny to be the Aunt you kind of ignore at parties. That is the beauty of Doug’s writing is that you feel as if you could be friends with these characters, you care about them and you would defend them and the decisions they make. Each reader will be able to relate to them and see aspects of their own lives and personality and that is very rare and special.

‘Black Hearts’ is an investigation into how death affects us all in a myriad of ways. Every single person is tainted with the grief of losing people close to them, they have different reactions to it and how they cope is shown on every page. Yes there is a pain but there is also love, without love, there can't be grief. It is the love we must remember.

The pacing of this book was superb. All the way through you could feel that there was this black cloud coming closer and closer and when the storm hit omg! In those last chapters, my heart was most definitely in my mouth.

Once again this was a triumph of a book and I can't wait to see what the Skelfs get up to next!

[Susan Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Hearts the fourth in the Skelf’s series is abundant proof of why author Doug Johnstone’s books not only appear on so many prize lists, but also why the series has been optioned for development into a TV series.

It is a thoughtful, touching book, full of moments of sorrow and excitement, all mixed up into one of the best drama’s available to read. Within it are three of the best characters in Scottish fiction, the very wonderful Skelf women. Working within the teaming community of Edinburgh, not only do they run a funeral business, but they also run a detective agency.

This original set-up creates a narrative that centers around the lives of these three women and the cast of characters that revolve in and out of their lives. The fact is that a book in which all the primary characters are female is still rare enough to make it incredibly special. For me to have followed a series around three generations of the same matriarchal family has been why I am such a massive fan. Take into account the superb stories that they inhabit, and you simply won’t find a better book to read.

The novel is made up of several intricate tales, there is murder, a mystery of a missing father, an old man crushed by the loss of his wife, who thinks he is being haunted and they come together perfectly to form a story that is impossible to put down. A heady mixture of love, loss, drama and family.

Many books feature these same elements, but what makes Black Hearts so brilliant, is its sense of family. Doug Johnstone gently layers it into all the stories, the connections good and bad formed within families and then showing us within an electrifying narrative, the utter destruction that can take place when the clan falls apart. By death, by abandonment, he takes the family dynamic apart and creates a story which is both heartbreaking, heartwarming and exciting, a heady mixture which forms the perfect story. Few writers can within a drama, break your heart, heal it and excite it like this author. He tests both them and us and this is why I love these women so much.

Even the pace of the narrative is perfect. Each story is given equal treatment and at no point does the story falter. From the quiet moments we are ambushed by sudden moments of excitment, fear even for the safety of the Skelf women. It delivers a quiet punch to the heart and left me feeling sad once again that my time with these remarkable women was over once again.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the Skelf series by Doug Johnstone, so I was really excited to hear that he was releasing a fourth book in the series. Black Hearts is the latest book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I finished it in a few greedy gulps. I’m always interested to see what the Skelf women are getting up to, the idea of meshing a funeral business, and a private detective agency, is an idea I’ll always love, and it’s part of what makes this series stand out to me, that, and the characters, and how Doug Johnstone brings Edinburgh to life.

Following the last three books in the series, tensions are still running high in the Skelf family, especially after what happened to them in the last book. You can feel the emotions they are experiencing following what has previously happened, and you experience the conflict and the guilt they feel. Doug Johnstone really knows how to draw you into the minds of his characters through their emotions, and this really makes you connect to them. I thought this particularly with Jenny in this book, as she definitely seems to be going through a tough time.

There are a few cases that the Skelf women become involved in, in Black Hearts. I particularly thought the case Hannah was investigating, was fascinating, after a grandfather, Udo, contacts her, who believes he is in touch with his dead wife’s spirit by using a Japanese wind phone. Spirituality is a key theme in this book and I liked how Doug Johnstone continued to explore this. I also liked how he explored Hannah’s line of work, and her interest in the universe further, which I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, is a topic I’m fascinated by. I particularly liked the scene when she was at a lecture focusing on exoplanets, and you can feel Hannah’s enthusiasm for the topic. Hannah is also facing difficulties with a stalker, which adds another layer of tension to the book.

This book does blend genres, and I think Doug Johnstone does this so well, by making me even more gripped by his writing and the lives of the Skelf women. I really hope that there a more books to come in this series, the writing is brilliant, and the characters will live in your mind long after you turn the final page. If you’re not yet reading this series, then you are really missing out on some of the best crime novels out there. I highly recommend them.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Edinburgh, the formidable Skelf ladies are back - grandmother Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah, three generations of women working together since Dorothy's husband Jim died. They run an odd combination of funeral parlour which has been in the family for generations and a private detective business from their home. Also still present are Schrödinger the cat, Dorothy’s boyfriend Thomas, the black Swedish DI who sometimes helps out Dorothy with cases and solid reliable Archie, a man coming to terms with suffering from Cotard's syndrome where he believes he is already dead, together with Hannah’s wife Indy who is now working for them as a funeral director whilst Hannah is studying for her PhD in physics at the university. The story begins at the funeral of Kathleen Frame where there’s a punch up at the graveside. Son Danny accuses his Uncle Mike of knowing where his missing (presumed dead) father Eddie is and later asks for Dorothy’s help in tracing him. Could it be a case of pseudocide? Also presumed dead is Craig, after he went on a murderous spree in the last story and was set alight by Jenny on a boat, and when a charred body is found it’s not long before it is identified. This should have brought closure but instead unleashes a whole new evil. An elderly widower is convinced his wife’s ghost is berating him from beyond the grave and Hannah seems to have picked up a strange stalker with plenty to hide. Indeed, the Skelf ladies do attract the weird ones!! As they go about their business, none of them could predict the outcome of any of these cases which culminates in an exciting and explosive ending.
There is an abundance of warmth and humour in this series which is as much about family relationships as it is about the investigations themselves. The main characters are well described and are very likeable, particularly the dependable Thomas and unique Archie, and Dorothy herself who holds everything together. The title for this story is perfect as some hearts are very black indeed, either through grief or malice. I love the idea of the wind telephone and the descriptions of exoplanets. Who knows what else is out there? I do hope there will be more books to follow featuring this great and slightly quirky collection of characters. 5*

[B.S. Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women of the Skelf family know grief. They live with ghosts, their own and the ghosts of others. Between running a funeral directors and private investigators together, they've all been to the ends of life and returned home again. But now, death might be circling too close.

What what seemed like a normal funeral, matriarch Dorothy finds herself witnessing a graveside brawl and taking on a new case to find someone presumed dead. Her daughter Jenny is trying to stay safe from the ghosts of the past that have resurfaced while the family take on a mysterious case of man being abused by his own ghosts. Hannah is the new obsession for a dangerous young woman who might just kill her relationship with her wife … or just kill her.

But with everything going on, there's one thing the family can agree on - darkness is closing in, and it feels a lot like death. And they'll need to work together if they want to outrun it.

"Grief came in infinite forms, there were was many ways to mourn as there were people."

The fourth instalment in the Skelf series, Black Hearts is actually my first introduction to the series but easily stands out on it's own merit as a standalone novel. We meet the three Skelf women, three generations each as strong and bold as each other with their own distinct voices that are developed instantly even if you've not read them before.

Each individual storyline ebbs and flows until they join together and we learn the sources of the Skelfs own grief and darkness, the reasons they watch over their shoulders. These different stories merge slowly together, first letting us get to know each person as they live their individual lives and try to help the tortured souls they find along the way.

This is gritty mystery full of crime, betrayal and fear - but it's also a remarkably told tale about the subtle and chaotic affects of grief and loss. Johnstone approaches the subject with sensitivity and elegance, seamlessly weaving together a tale that is both poignant but also morbidly funny and relatable at the same time. An electrifying mystery with a touching portrayal of the darker aspects of the human condition.

[UKDana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Skelf women, Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah, run a combined funeral business and private investigation firm. More often than not one arm of the business develops into work for the other side of the firm. In this fourth outing we see the women deal with a missing person case, a vengeful spirit and a stalker.

Black Hearts is set a year after the events of book three in the series, The Great Silence and the family are still trying to come to terms with what happened. Jenny, more than anyone, has been effected the most by what her ex-husband did. This has surfaced in self-destructive, risky behaviour. Readers of the series will be empathetic towards Jenny, knowing full-well the terror she faced and the actions she had to take. For the past year Jenny has been waiting for news, for confirmation, so that she can begin to let her guard down, start the healing process and learn to live again. Unfortunately someone has other ideas.

Dorothy, the matriarch of the family, plays a lesser roles this time around. Her Californian upbringing is reflected in her spirituality so it's not surprising that she is drawn to a case of a spirit haunting and physically hurting a widower.

Hannah, Jenny's daughter, discovers she has a stalker. I found this to be the most unsettling part of the story. We learn how easy it is for someone to gain access to your life through social media and how your life can be turned upside down by identity theft.

There are some lighter moments; the opening chapter features a family funeral which descends into a fight at an open graveside and ends with pure slap-stick comedy. However, it's the all consuming darkness of grief that is at the heart of each part of the story, as we discover that everyone handles grief differently.

If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/

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[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing this story of the three generations of the Skelf family, you are immediately back in their lives. Dealing with three generations, you are assured of a complicated layering of stories through their interests as Private Investigators and Funeral Directors. There are some moments of black humour, through the reactions of the characters and the almost slapstick events which sometimes happen. Dealing with the serious business of death, you are nevertheless shown a vibrant and connected family with vivid personalities.

The cases which are featured are quite a variety. Hannah fears she is being stalked. There is a missing man, presumed dead, and another elderly man who fears he is being assaulted by the spirit of his dead wife. The fallout from Jenny's husband's death continues with a degree of suffering for her. Personal traumas and mysteries to uncover means that the tension is always there are growing. This is more than a series of crime stories, woven together. Overlaying the stories is the universe itself, with its black holes and background radiation. It leads you to consider your place in the world, set against the greater cosmos. The Skelfs deal in death, aware of the grimmer side of living. It is their humanity which leavens their lives and breathes hope and life into the story.

In short: thoughtful, rich storytelling
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like matching books to genres and sub-genres, trying hard to shoehorn a book into a particular category of book just so that people have an inkling as to what the contents might be about. When it comes to Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone, that is a near impossible task and, to me, the only thing you need to know about the book is that it is excellent and a more than welcome addition to an already outstanding series of books. If you love The Skelfs, you will love this book too. How can you not, with this beautiful blend of melancholy, science, must, humour and above, all else, family?

Family is, in itself, perhaps the key theme of this book. The ties that bind, be they good or bad, and the overwhelming impact of loss upon those left behind. Grief is a powerful emotion, one that leads people to do the strangest of things, especially if the bearer is consumed by that other powerful, and truly negative entity - guilt. Family has always been at the heart of the series, largely because of the generational ties between out three main protagonists, matriarch Dorothy, her daughter, Jenny and granddaughter, Hannah. We have always had the exquisite exploration of of each of their personalities and how they rely upon each other, drawing strength from their bond and facing challenges and investigations that most people would baulk at. Funeral Directors turned Private Investigators, they are a unique trio, with Dorothy and Hannah perhaps with a more clearly defined sense of self, Jenny, the one who is somewhat adrift, uncertain of her future and with an exaggerated tendency towards self destruction, which is never more evident that in this book.

But beyond the Skelf women and their ongoing and highly charged backstory, which began way back in A Dark Matter, took and explosive turn in The Great silence and reaches new and truly dramatic heights in this book, Black Hearts also follows four very different family situations which link back to the Skelfs' business and, in one case, personal lives in unexpected ways. A son whose mother died following the disappearance of his father, a husband so lost in grief for his wife he believes she is trying to contact him from the other side, a woman who has noone to mourn her passing, and a young woman who cares too much and whose grief takes a very unhealthy, and potentially deadly, turn. |

There are some really strong emotions in play here, and Doug Johnstone captures the essence of each with absolute surety that my reactions went from sadness to incredulity to anger with the evolution of each new chapter. There is a beauty to the authors writing, the way in which he can so completely draw you into his narrative that at one moment you may be immersed in a seemingly complicated discussion about theoretical physics and astronomy, the next navigating the spirit world and joining the hunt in a missing person investigation, and yet each transition is seamless, and each manipulation of your senses so subtle that it's hard to know quite where the resultant manifestation of emotion came from.

The Skelfs are the stars of this series, without a shadow of a doubt, but Doug Johnstone creates such memorable situations and supporting characters that they remain etched in your conscious long after you close the book. This may have had a more sedentary opening that some of the previous books but trust me, that does not last long. There is a sense of calm from the familiarity of the chaos that accompanies the opening chapter, a feeling of coming home. That home may be fractured, some wounds taking a long time to heal, but The Skelf women, along with Thomas, Indie and Archie, have the strength to deal with all that comes their way. From moments of tension, to moments of quiet reflection, the ebb and flow of this book is pitched perfectly and I absolutely ate it up. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. Well ... aside from when you read that last page as that means we have to wait (almost) patiently for book five now ...

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I decided to pay another visit to the Skelf women (Dorothy, Jenny, and Hannah) to learn the latest about the goings -on in their Edinburgh funeral directing /private investigating business.

As in the previous three books in the series, the women are involved in several cases. Dorothy helps an old man who believes the spirit of his dead wife is abusing him and a young man who believes his missing father faked his death. Hannah is being stalked by Laura Abbott, a strange young woman who causes friction between Hannah and Indy. And Jenny must deal with Violet and Stella, her ex-husband’s mother and sister, both of whom are having difficulty coming to terms with Craig’s death.

Each chapter is from the point of view of one of the Skelf women. Jenny’s chapters were the ones I did not enjoy reading. She spirals out of control, engaging in increasingly self-destructive behaviour. I felt pity for her since she can never forget or escape from Craig, but I couldn’t help becoming impatient and annoyed with her. She seems so selfish; even Dorothy tells her, “’You have to try to imagine what it’s like to be other people.’” She acts like a teenager, not a woman in her forties.

The title is very appropriate. There is more than one seriously damaged person. Unfortunately, they cause some situations which I found extreme and far-fetched. Two individuals who are both damaged and dangerous are too extreme in their behaviour to be believable. I was troubled by the implication that mental illness of a type that causes violent reactions is genetic.

What also bothered me is that the characters do not behave in keeping with their traits which have been well established in the books. Hannah, for instance, mishandles the Laura situation over and over again, on one occasion not even mentioning something that would have helped her relationship with her wife. Considering her previous experiences, I believe she would be more wary and forceful. Likewise, Jenny, even after witnessing a person’s violent and duplicitous actions, doesn’t suspect any ulterior motives? These intelligent women seem to be much less so.

The novel examines how people respond to death and how they grieve: “Grief came in infinite forms, there were as many different ways to mourn as there were people. . . Some wailed and gnashed their teeth, others quietly sobbed, laughed nervously or openly, stood like statues, simmered like pressure cookers.” The opening with its physical fight over an open grave foreshadows that unhealthy grieving will dominate the narrative.

Of course, there is a positive note in the closing image of “the three of them, their roots and branches intertwining with each other, supporting and nurturing, forever interlinked.”

I enjoyed the book but not as much as the previous two. The Skelf women are placed in extreme situations designed merely to build suspense at the expense of character consistency.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).