What do you think?
Rate this book
No Comfort for the Undertaker: A Carrie Lisbon Mystery
Undertakers know a lot of things...
Carrie Lisbon knows how to dress a body, what kinds of flowers to use in funerary tributes, and which embalming preparations are best. What she doesn't know is how to navigate the social strata of Hope Bridge, the small town she now calls home.
Looking to escape the outdated and elaborate turn of the century mourning rituals that do nothing but fuel her anger about her husband's passing, Carrie moves to a village dominated by a rickety covered bridge, a social scene bent on keeping the status quo, and a sense of lawlessness that undermines her frail equilibrium.
When she's called to lay out the body of a young woman, Carrie discovers brutal injuries that contradict the husband's story about his wife's death. Instead of being accepted as a professional, and as someone who knows what she's talking about, she's rebuffed by the town's undertaker, dismissed by the sheriff, and pursued by the dead woman's husband.
Desperate to clear a friend of murder, Carrie finds few leads, but uncovers Hope Bridge's sadistic family secrets. Thwarted by ambiguity and indifference, she struggles with a dubious telephone system, her newcomer status, and multiple town intrigues in order to gain her place and catch a killer.
Carrie Lisbon knows how to dress a body, what kinds of flowers to use in funerary tributes, and which embalming preparations are best. What she doesn't know is how to navigate the social strata of Hope Bridge, the small town she now calls home.
Looking to escape the outdated and elaborate turn of the century mourning rituals that do nothing but fuel her anger about her husband's passing, Carrie moves to a village dominated by a rickety covered bridge, a social scene bent on keeping the status quo, and a sense of lawlessness that undermines her frail equilibrium.
When she's called to lay out the body of a young woman, Carrie discovers brutal injuries that contradict the husband's story about his wife's death. Instead of being accepted as a professional, and as someone who knows what she's talking about, she's rebuffed by the town's undertaker, dismissed by the sheriff, and pursued by the dead woman's husband.
Desperate to clear a friend of murder, Carrie finds few leads, but uncovers Hope Bridge's sadistic family secrets. Thwarted by ambiguity and indifference, she struggles with a dubious telephone system, her newcomer status, and multiple town intrigues in order to gain her place and catch a killer.
246 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2022
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 17, 2022
Mrs. Carrie Lisbon has SPUNK !!! Readers are going to thoroughly love main character Carrie Lisbon in No Comfort for the Undertaker by Chris Keefer. No Comfort for the Undertaker is the first, of many I hope, in the Carrie Lisbon Mystery series and Keefer sets the stage remarkably.
Carrie Lisbon is a widow who leaves her hometown of Nanuet after her husband dies. She sells their home and undertaking business and moves to a much smaller town, Hope Bridge, to live with her husband's uncle, Sav Machin. Carrie isn't sure what she is going to do but she is quickly drawn back into caring for the dead when a poor gentlemen comes knocking on her uncle's door looking for someone to tend to his recently drowned little girl. Unfortunately doing this in the little town of Hope Bridge is no easy feat and Carrie learns a hard lesson in life and people.
However before Carrie can come to terms with that she is asked to assist Mr. Worley, the undertaker, in preparing a body. His wife usually does that but she is unwell and not up for the task. While preparing the body of Ophelia Morgan Carrie notices injuries that are not consistent with what the husband, Germond, says as to how she died. Sadly Carrie has tended women before with the same injuries and the final cause of death was murder. Unfortunately Carrie's findings are not taken well by Mr. Worley and telling the local sheriff of the county will be tough as he is Germond's brother.......
Besides murder No Comfort for the Undertaker is packed with a lot of drama and the small town of Hope Bridge is full of it !! There are a lot of secrets and Carrie is right in the middle of it all !! Readers will be on the edge of their seats while reading this story.....Keefer pulls you in and you are completely engrossed in the story ... you will feel like you are right there in Hope Bridge in the early 1900's.....and you won't want to leave until justice is served.
Carrie Lisbon is a widow who leaves her hometown of Nanuet after her husband dies. She sells their home and undertaking business and moves to a much smaller town, Hope Bridge, to live with her husband's uncle, Sav Machin. Carrie isn't sure what she is going to do but she is quickly drawn back into caring for the dead when a poor gentlemen comes knocking on her uncle's door looking for someone to tend to his recently drowned little girl. Unfortunately doing this in the little town of Hope Bridge is no easy feat and Carrie learns a hard lesson in life and people.
However before Carrie can come to terms with that she is asked to assist Mr. Worley, the undertaker, in preparing a body. His wife usually does that but she is unwell and not up for the task. While preparing the body of Ophelia Morgan Carrie notices injuries that are not consistent with what the husband, Germond, says as to how she died. Sadly Carrie has tended women before with the same injuries and the final cause of death was murder. Unfortunately Carrie's findings are not taken well by Mr. Worley and telling the local sheriff of the county will be tough as he is Germond's brother.......
Besides murder No Comfort for the Undertaker is packed with a lot of drama and the small town of Hope Bridge is full of it !! There are a lot of secrets and Carrie is right in the middle of it all !! Readers will be on the edge of their seats while reading this story.....Keefer pulls you in and you are completely engrossed in the story ... you will feel like you are right there in Hope Bridge in the early 1900's.....and you won't want to leave until justice is served.
April 26, 2023
I purchased this book on a whim from the author at an event at my local library. All I can say is that I sure hope there is a second book in the series coming soon. Instead of reading a few chapters last night I plowed through the book in one sitting late into the night. Great characters (including a strong female protagonist), a solid mystery, and good writing make for a winning combination.
November 30, 2022
In 1900, the recently widowed Carrie decides to leave the city with all its memories and start again in the small town of Hope Bridge. She moves in with her Uncle Sav and hopes to start life afresh.
In the city, Carrie along with her father and husband had been an undertaker and it’s not long before her skills are called upon. With his wife unwell, the Hope Bridge undertaker asks for Carrie’s help with the body of a young woman apparently thrown from a carriage at high speed. Without a local coroner, the undertaker has been authorised to pronounce the cause of death and he registers it as “accidental.” However while she is preparing the body for burial, Carrie notices some inconsistencies with the story the husband told when he brought the body in. Why was she dressed the way she is and what are those marks around her neck? Carrie has seen similar marks before and she knows that they, along with other marks on the body, show that the young woman has been abused.
The trouble is that no-one will listen to her. Surely she can’t be accusing the husband of abusing his wife. Yes she is and what’s more she will tell the authorities of her concerns. However, the local Sheriff doesn’t accept her story either. It’s his brother that she’s calling a wife abuser.
Shortly afterwards he is also dead. Was Carrie wrong? Did someone kill them both?
Coming up against the prejudice and social structure of small town America at the turn of the twentieth century Carrie follows leads that not only eventually find out who was responsible for the deaths but also dark secrets buried just below the surface of civilised life.
Many thanks to the author publisher and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review..
In the city, Carrie along with her father and husband had been an undertaker and it’s not long before her skills are called upon. With his wife unwell, the Hope Bridge undertaker asks for Carrie’s help with the body of a young woman apparently thrown from a carriage at high speed. Without a local coroner, the undertaker has been authorised to pronounce the cause of death and he registers it as “accidental.” However while she is preparing the body for burial, Carrie notices some inconsistencies with the story the husband told when he brought the body in. Why was she dressed the way she is and what are those marks around her neck? Carrie has seen similar marks before and she knows that they, along with other marks on the body, show that the young woman has been abused.
The trouble is that no-one will listen to her. Surely she can’t be accusing the husband of abusing his wife. Yes she is and what’s more she will tell the authorities of her concerns. However, the local Sheriff doesn’t accept her story either. It’s his brother that she’s calling a wife abuser.
Shortly afterwards he is also dead. Was Carrie wrong? Did someone kill them both?
Coming up against the prejudice and social structure of small town America at the turn of the twentieth century Carrie follows leads that not only eventually find out who was responsible for the deaths but also dark secrets buried just below the surface of civilised life.
Many thanks to the author publisher and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review..
January 4, 2023
This is an absolute gem of a book! I was intrigued at the idea of an historical fiction/ mystery where the undertaker plays such an important role in identifying crime markers - we are way before DNA and scientific measures here.
When Carrie Lisbon's husband dies she moves away from everything she has known to live with her Uncle, Sav Machin. Before the truck is even unpacked she is called upon by a family who have lost their daughter and require the services of an undertaker. Carrie makes sure the child is buried with dignity - despite peoples reluctance to allow this to happen smoothly due to the families lack of finances. When a young woman from the village is later found dead, the town's official undertaker calls upon Carrie to help prepare the body - this is where Carrie discovers the injuries suffered are not wholly compatible with the cause of death that has been presumed.
I loved Carrie Lisbon, she had real grit and determination to bring justice, and to ensure the right person is convicted of the crimes they have committed. The book is well written, the characters are well formed and it flowed perfectly. I also totally loved Carrie for being progressive and way ahead of her time.
I really hope there will be more Carrie Lisbon mysteries to follow!
When Carrie Lisbon's husband dies she moves away from everything she has known to live with her Uncle, Sav Machin. Before the truck is even unpacked she is called upon by a family who have lost their daughter and require the services of an undertaker. Carrie makes sure the child is buried with dignity - despite peoples reluctance to allow this to happen smoothly due to the families lack of finances. When a young woman from the village is later found dead, the town's official undertaker calls upon Carrie to help prepare the body - this is where Carrie discovers the injuries suffered are not wholly compatible with the cause of death that has been presumed.
I loved Carrie Lisbon, she had real grit and determination to bring justice, and to ensure the right person is convicted of the crimes they have committed. The book is well written, the characters are well formed and it flowed perfectly. I also totally loved Carrie for being progressive and way ahead of her time.
I really hope there will be more Carrie Lisbon mysteries to follow!
October 18, 2022
This is everything that a period mystery should be! You are transported back to the last year of the nineteenth century in rural upstate New York. The story is engaging, rings true and is a good read. Period details and sensitive touches abound, and the author fully rounds out the main characters with skill and talent.
December 26, 2022
I so enjoyed this book. With a strong female and the fascinating world of preparing the dead plus a little mystery thrown in, and you're hooked.
The characters are so extremely well written that I felt like I could see them. They felt so real.
I literally inhaled this book and was thrilled to find out it's a series. This is in my favorite three books of the year.
The characters are so extremely well written that I felt like I could see them. They felt so real.
I literally inhaled this book and was thrilled to find out it's a series. This is in my favorite three books of the year.
December 26, 2022
I so enjoyed this book. With a strong female and the fascinating world of preparing the dead plus a little mystery thrown in, and you're hooked.
The characters are so extremely well written that I felt like I could see them. They felt so real.
I literally inhaled this book and was thrilled to find out it's a series. This is in my favorite three books of the year.
The characters are so extremely well written that I felt like I could see them. They felt so real.
I literally inhaled this book and was thrilled to find out it's a series. This is in my favorite three books of the year.
December 18, 2022
Wonderful story! I really enjoyed this book! Could not put it down! Very much worth the read! I highly recommend!
February 17, 2023
Good book - crime and period drama. Well written with the interesting plot. it was pleasure to read it and gain more knowledge of work of an undertaker at that times.
March 14, 2023
I enjoyed this book very much. Interesting story, interesting characters, interesting historical facts. ...And vey well written.
January 9, 2023
The uncommon setting, clearly-defined characters, and quick pace of Chris Keefer’s debut novel No Comfort for the Undertaker turn what might have been a middle-of-the-road historical cozy into something far more engaging and substantial. While the crime is satisfactorily solved by the end, the characters, setting, and tone are more likely to linger in my memory than the details of the plot. I’ll be looking forward to learning more about this intelligent, courageous protagonist and her personal and professional adjustment to life in a rural town at the very beginning of the 20th century.
As the story begins, we find our recently widowed protagonist moving in with her deceased husband’s uncle in a conservative village where new technology (like automobiles and telephones) are slowly catching on, but old ideas about women’s roles haven’t advanced nearly as much. Carrie Lisbon had worked alongside her undertaker husband for years, preparing bodies for funerals, creating floral arrangements, and taking photos of the deceased. Her arrival in the small upstate New York town of Hope Bridge coincides with the death of a local woman and Carrie is engaged to assist the local undertaker with preparing the body. In the course of her detailed, deliberate work, Carrie discovers physical evidence suggesting the woman was murdered. As a newcomer and a woman, however, Carrie struggles to convince the local authorities--including the sheriff whose ill-tempered brother was married to the dead woman--that the death should be investigated further.
The author orchestrates action, description, and dialogue quite well, keeping the pace brisk, but taking time to introduce sharply-drawn secondary characters, odd quirks about the small town’s social milieu, and a fascinating and well-researched look into turn-of-the-century funerary practices. Keefer’s portrait of this backwater town doesn’t tidy up the grit and coarseness of pre-modern rural life, nor does it gloss over the sexism, racism, vulgarity, and violence Carrie Lisbon would likely encounter there. The story of Carrie’s efforts to solve the murder makes for a fun read, but I suspect readers’ final opinions will ultimately depend on how they feel about the personal story beneath that mystery plot. I recommend this book for readers interested in this compelling tale of a grieving woman struggling to establish herself as a respected professional in a not-very-welcoming environment.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel for review.
As the story begins, we find our recently widowed protagonist moving in with her deceased husband’s uncle in a conservative village where new technology (like automobiles and telephones) are slowly catching on, but old ideas about women’s roles haven’t advanced nearly as much. Carrie Lisbon had worked alongside her undertaker husband for years, preparing bodies for funerals, creating floral arrangements, and taking photos of the deceased. Her arrival in the small upstate New York town of Hope Bridge coincides with the death of a local woman and Carrie is engaged to assist the local undertaker with preparing the body. In the course of her detailed, deliberate work, Carrie discovers physical evidence suggesting the woman was murdered. As a newcomer and a woman, however, Carrie struggles to convince the local authorities--including the sheriff whose ill-tempered brother was married to the dead woman--that the death should be investigated further.
The author orchestrates action, description, and dialogue quite well, keeping the pace brisk, but taking time to introduce sharply-drawn secondary characters, odd quirks about the small town’s social milieu, and a fascinating and well-researched look into turn-of-the-century funerary practices. Keefer’s portrait of this backwater town doesn’t tidy up the grit and coarseness of pre-modern rural life, nor does it gloss over the sexism, racism, vulgarity, and violence Carrie Lisbon would likely encounter there. The story of Carrie’s efforts to solve the murder makes for a fun read, but I suspect readers’ final opinions will ultimately depend on how they feel about the personal story beneath that mystery plot. I recommend this book for readers interested in this compelling tale of a grieving woman struggling to establish herself as a respected professional in a not-very-welcoming environment.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel for review.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews