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Nora Gavin #2
Kalte Umarmung
Im Westen Irlands wird eine Moorleiche gefunden, die Spuren eines bestialischen Ritualmords aufweist. Kurz darauf taucht ein zweiter Leichnam auf. Wieder gibt es Hinweise auf eine rituelle Tötung. Doch zwischen den Morden liegen Jahrhunderte. Nora Gavin und der Archäologe Cormac Maguire suchen nach der Verbindung zwischen diesen beiden Menschenopfern. "Exzentrische Figuren, Aberglaube und unheimliche Schauplätze - eloquent spinnt Hart ihr spannendes Garn." The New York Times
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
58 people are currently reading
2019 people want to read
About the author
Erin Hart
18 books607 followersERIN HART'S archaeological crime novels are set in the mysterious boglands of Ireland. She introduced pathologist Nora Gavin in one of the most lauded mystery debuts of 2003: HAUNTED GROUND (2003), was a Booksense 76 pick, won the Friends of American Writers award and Romantic Times' Best First Mystery, was shortlisted for Anthony and Agatha awards, and translated into ten foreign languages. LAKE OF SORROWS (2004) was shortlisted for a Minnesota Book Award, and FALSE MERMAID (2010) was named by ALA/Booklist as one of the Top Ten Crime Novels of 2010. THE BOOK OF KILLOWEN is due out in March 2013. A Minnesota theater critic, a former communications director of the Minnesota State Arts Board, and a founder of the Twin Cities Irish Music & Dance Association, Hart received an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. Erin lives in Saint Paul with her husband, Irish musician Paddy O'Brien (http://www.paddyobrien.net), and travels frequently to Ireland.
Visit her website at http://www.erinhart.com.
Visit her website at http://www.erinhart.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
July 26, 2007
Lake of Sorrows, is Hart's 2nd novel with American pathologist Nora Gavin and Irish archaelogist Cormac Maguire. Lake of Sorrows once again takes the reader out to a mysterious peat bog where an ancient body has just been uncovered preserved. Dr. Gavin heads out to the bog to study the discovered body, and upon her arrival another body is found, this one from the 21st century. Thus the mystery begins....
Hart writes a great character driven mystery that is an easy read when you're looking for something light to read fast! It was a page turner that had me second guessing my own thoughts as to who the murderer might have been and what their motive was. I have enjoyed both of Hart's books. If you can I would begin with Haunted Ground just so that you can get the background on Nora and Cormac. It is also a great read and a great modern day mystery intertwined with an ancient one.
Hart writes a great character driven mystery that is an easy read when you're looking for something light to read fast! It was a page turner that had me second guessing my own thoughts as to who the murderer might have been and what their motive was. I have enjoyed both of Hart's books. If you can I would begin with Haunted Ground just so that you can get the background on Nora and Cormac. It is also a great read and a great modern day mystery intertwined with an ancient one.
September 3, 2007
LAKE OF SORROWS (Amateur Sleuth/Pathologist-Ireland-Cont) – VG
Erin Hart – 2nd book
Hodder & Stoughton, 2004 – U.K. Hardcover
Forensic pathologist, Nora Gavin, goes to an archeological site to investigate the finding in a peat bog of an Iron Age Body who seems to have been a human sacrifice having been slain three ways. Then a second, recent body is uncovered having been killed the same way. More, similar, deaths occur and Nora is nearly one of them.
*** I found myself thinking of this as a very "Irish" book, in that pace and mood seemed to reflect the Irish bogs. There are numerous characters lives are as intertwined as a Celtic knot. I found myself a bit annoyed at Nora at times, but not so much that it detracted from the story. While perhaps not as good as her first book, it still a very good read.
Erin Hart – 2nd book
Hodder & Stoughton, 2004 – U.K. Hardcover
Forensic pathologist, Nora Gavin, goes to an archeological site to investigate the finding in a peat bog of an Iron Age Body who seems to have been a human sacrifice having been slain three ways. Then a second, recent body is uncovered having been killed the same way. More, similar, deaths occur and Nora is nearly one of them.
*** I found myself thinking of this as a very "Irish" book, in that pace and mood seemed to reflect the Irish bogs. There are numerous characters lives are as intertwined as a Celtic knot. I found myself a bit annoyed at Nora at times, but not so much that it detracted from the story. While perhaps not as good as her first book, it still a very good read.
December 1, 2011
Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars
Good follow up to Hart's debut novel, Haunted Ground. I enjoyed the plot and pacing of this one marginally better then her first novel. The characters, while depressive, were well drawn, and the mystery itself was an intriguing one (it's always good to unearth more bog bodies...)
This is definitely a series with promise, and one I will continue with.
***
Also recommended for fans of Hart: the books of S.J. Bolton.
Good follow up to Hart's debut novel, Haunted Ground. I enjoyed the plot and pacing of this one marginally better then her first novel. The characters, while depressive, were well drawn, and the mystery itself was an intriguing one (it's always good to unearth more bog bodies...)
This is definitely a series with promise, and one I will continue with.
***
Also recommended for fans of Hart: the books of S.J. Bolton.
February 20, 2010
Thought it would be interesting 'cuz of its historical reference but was a bit too detailed which made it disconnect from the plot and characters. Before it was half done, I stopped caring about it and just wanted to finish it.
August 4, 2025
Painfully predictable and drawn-out. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone unless you're looking for something to piss you off or put you to sleep.
October 15, 2012
Lake of Sorrows is the second book in Erin Hart's mystery series featuring American forensic pathologist Nora Gavin and archaeologist Cormac Maguire. This time Nora, who is in Ireland doing research, is called to the scene of an excavation where a very well-preserved body from the Iron Age has been discovered in the peat bog. It appears to have been a human sacrifice--slain three ways: strangled, throat cut, and drowned. The area is close to the site of an extraordinary find of Iron Age artifacts found in the past. Perhaps the sacrifice was connected to the hoard. It isn't often that such a complete body is found and Nora can't afford to pass up the opportunity to examine the remains.
She barely has a chance to look over the Iron Age find when a second body is found. But this one is wearing a wrist watch and seems to have been buried about 25 years ago. However, when the man is removed from the bog, they discover that he bears the mark of the ancient triple death--just like the Iron Age remains. This makes the police wonder if there is a connection between the archaeological finds and the more recent death. But as the investigation continues more deaths occur--bearing the same signature marks. One of the victims is an old flame of Cormac's and suspicion falls on him. So, Nora and Cormac begin an investigation of their own to try and clear Cormac's name and Nora finds herself in danger when her questions bring her too close to the killer.
My take: This installment didn't hold my interest the way Haunted Ground did. The first book started out slow, but once it took off I could not put it down and even went to bed late in order to finish it. This one never did take off. I easily put it down and had to keep urging myself to pick it up again to finish it. Not the same gripping performance at all The story was okay. The developing relationship between Nora and Cormac was okay. But I didn't feel that same need to know what happens that kept me reading before. This one also felt a bit more scattered--jumping from character to character and following each one's movements for a short while before jumping to someone else. I don't remember the flow being quite so erratic before.
There are some very good moments: between Nora and Cormac and then with Cormac's friend Michael Scully; also between Detective Liam Ward and the pathologist Catherine Friel. So, some of the characterization was very good at times--just not consistent. The mystery itself was decent, maybe not quite as fairly clued as I'd like, but okay. So...for an overall okay experience...three stars.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
She barely has a chance to look over the Iron Age find when a second body is found. But this one is wearing a wrist watch and seems to have been buried about 25 years ago. However, when the man is removed from the bog, they discover that he bears the mark of the ancient triple death--just like the Iron Age remains. This makes the police wonder if there is a connection between the archaeological finds and the more recent death. But as the investigation continues more deaths occur--bearing the same signature marks. One of the victims is an old flame of Cormac's and suspicion falls on him. So, Nora and Cormac begin an investigation of their own to try and clear Cormac's name and Nora finds herself in danger when her questions bring her too close to the killer.
My take: This installment didn't hold my interest the way Haunted Ground did. The first book started out slow, but once it took off I could not put it down and even went to bed late in order to finish it. This one never did take off. I easily put it down and had to keep urging myself to pick it up again to finish it. Not the same gripping performance at all The story was okay. The developing relationship between Nora and Cormac was okay. But I didn't feel that same need to know what happens that kept me reading before. This one also felt a bit more scattered--jumping from character to character and following each one's movements for a short while before jumping to someone else. I don't remember the flow being quite so erratic before.
There are some very good moments: between Nora and Cormac and then with Cormac's friend Michael Scully; also between Detective Liam Ward and the pathologist Catherine Friel. So, some of the characterization was very good at times--just not consistent. The mystery itself was decent, maybe not quite as fairly clued as I'd like, but okay. So...for an overall okay experience...three stars.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
December 31, 2014
I enjoyed this book. The setting of Irish bogs is different from so many mysteries and adds a bit of interest because of the discoveries surrounding the prehistoric bog bodies found there. Forensic pathologist, Nora Gavin, has been asked to help with the discovery of another bog body who seems to have been killed in a prehistoric ritual “triple death.” When a more recent body turns up with the same “triple death” characteristics, the mystery widens. Is the ritual still being practiced?
-Archaeologist, Cormac MacGuire, is on the scene again too and he has the cottage where his mentor has lived when working on the bogs. Nora was invited to stay there and the two continue their relationship, but not without trials. Cormac knows that he loves Nora, but Nora is being pulled back to her home in the United States by the tragic and brutal death of her sister. When the identity of the second body is discovered, a cast of local characters are introduced and the link to their ancient roots is probed. As always, the colorful world of Irish music and dancing also adds to the feeling of the book
-Archaeologist, Cormac MacGuire, is on the scene again too and he has the cottage where his mentor has lived when working on the bogs. Nora was invited to stay there and the two continue their relationship, but not without trials. Cormac knows that he loves Nora, but Nora is being pulled back to her home in the United States by the tragic and brutal death of her sister. When the identity of the second body is discovered, a cast of local characters are introduced and the link to their ancient roots is probed. As always, the colorful world of Irish music and dancing also adds to the feeling of the book
September 25, 2014
My first venture into the books of Minnesota author, Erin Hart. I found Lake of Sorrows so interesting and engaging. Great writing. Interesting characters. Some history. A little archeology. Add in some ancient customs, a few murders and a romance. I truly couldn't wait to get back to reading it little by little each day. Set in the bog lands of Ireland, Nora Gavin an American pathologist, is called to help with an unidentified Iron Age body discovered in a bog. As that excavation begins, another more modern body is also discovered and thus launches the mysteries and subsequent murders all committed using an ancient triple killing technique. The bog also held Iron Age treasures that compound the whodunnit and give several characters murder motives. Who was responsible for each murder? Did someone still have part of the hoard that was discovered in the bog? There were some surprises when the pieces were finally fitting together to resolve it all. It was a very enjoyable read all in all. I am still intrigued with these bogs and their preservation qualities. On to the next book in the series for more.
January 31, 2011
This was an interesting story, though not as good as the first in the series. We get the discovery of a bog body at the beginning, then the book ends with the archaeologist on her way to find out who it was. In the first book, the bog body had a parallel storyline with the contemporary one. I liked that much better.
Most of the characters bordered on the unpleasant side this time round. Even the protagonist got on my nerves. During one glaring TSTL moment she rushes in to check to see if some clue was legitimate then will report to the police. Seriously?? I hate when an amateur puts themselves into this kind of situation. Makes the story really, really unbelievable.
I sincerely hope the next returns to the spirit and strength of the first book.
Most of the characters bordered on the unpleasant side this time round. Even the protagonist got on my nerves. During one glaring TSTL moment she rushes in to check to see if some clue was legitimate then will report to the police. Seriously?? I hate when an amateur puts themselves into this kind of situation. Makes the story really, really unbelievable.
I sincerely hope the next returns to the spirit and strength of the first book.
January 10, 2016
4 1/2 stars
February 15, 2025
I actually read the first Nora Gavin book way back in 2003. I really liked it. I'm a big fan of archaeology. I've long been fascinated by bog bodies. Combining the scientific archaeological aspect with a mystery is very effective. This one did not disappoint. I'm planning to get to the next book sooner than later.
April 17, 2019
Love this series. The locations are really interesting, in the bogs of Ireland, and the characters make it come to life, as well as the legends, and rituals still being used by individuals. Fascinating and hard to put down, type of read. Dr. Nora Gavin is called to work on the discovery of an Iron age bog man found, when another more recent body is discovered near by, but the deaths seem to follow the same pattern, can this just be by chance?
July 23, 2019
I'm really enjoying this mystery series, and learning about bog bodies and Irish history.
November 14, 2018
An extremely well written/plotted atmospheric mystery. This had a lot of murders, both recent and an ages-old bog body but the subplots of the cast of characters is most intriguing.
November 26, 2022
I should have been all over this book. The premise was fascinating - an ancient bog body and a modern corpse stowed in the bog, both killed in the same ritual “triple death” manner.
But I couldn’t maintain interest. I picked the book up, read a bit, went off to do/read something else; picked it up, read a bit, put it down, picked it up…. So no spoilers, because I am honestly not sure what happened to whom.
The problem for me as a reader - which may not be a problem for someone else, and obviously other readers enjoyed it - was twofold. There were too many characters, almost all eccentric and/or unhappy, and it seemed that every one of them got a chapter from their POV with chunks of backstory.
The story began at a high emotional pitch and seemed to stay there, with very little gradation. Every time I opened the book up, I found a character who was anxious, frightened, resentful, angry, and had to share their relationship issues with me. It seemed that every character had A Past with at least one other character, sometimes explicit, sometimes hinted. I couldn’t keep track of the characters, let alone their connections, and certainly couldn’t keep track of whether any of it related to the mystery of the modern body. The bog body got even less attention - perhaps because it hadn’t been having an affair with anyone in the village.
The writing style, like the characters, is intense and dramatic. At times it verges on Cold Comfort Farm levels of overdone : “The long-dry lakebed of her soul was flooded with images…” Because of the style, I found it difficult to distinguish between the various character’s “voices” in their chapters, which didn’t help with keeping track of them or their threads.
Disappointing read for me, but perhaps my hopes were too high going in.
But I couldn’t maintain interest. I picked the book up, read a bit, went off to do/read something else; picked it up, read a bit, put it down, picked it up…. So no spoilers, because I am honestly not sure what happened to whom.
The problem for me as a reader - which may not be a problem for someone else, and obviously other readers enjoyed it - was twofold. There were too many characters, almost all eccentric and/or unhappy, and it seemed that every one of them got a chapter from their POV with chunks of backstory.
The story began at a high emotional pitch and seemed to stay there, with very little gradation. Every time I opened the book up, I found a character who was anxious, frightened, resentful, angry, and had to share their relationship issues with me. It seemed that every character had A Past with at least one other character, sometimes explicit, sometimes hinted. I couldn’t keep track of the characters, let alone their connections, and certainly couldn’t keep track of whether any of it related to the mystery of the modern body. The bog body got even less attention - perhaps because it hadn’t been having an affair with anyone in the village.
The writing style, like the characters, is intense and dramatic. At times it verges on Cold Comfort Farm levels of overdone : “The long-dry lakebed of her soul was flooded with images…” Because of the style, I found it difficult to distinguish between the various character’s “voices” in their chapters, which didn’t help with keeping track of them or their threads.
Disappointing read for me, but perhaps my hopes were too high going in.
January 18, 2010
2nd book featuring Nora Gavin
This is an Irish mystery that stands above the typical murder novel of today. The story is atmospheric, the writing so colourful it is easy to fall into a spell and feel we are with Nora every part of the way. The story is very exciting; we follow a delightful female protagonist and her passion investigating ritual murders that have been committed many centuries ago and some recently. The author has filled the story with neat twists to keep her readers wondering what will happen next, it is hard to foresee the next move.
The story opens when workers discover the remains of a man in the Loughnabrone Bog. Called to examine the well preserved corpse is American pathologist Nora Gavin. Preliminary examination of the body shows he may have been killed in a Pagan ritual manner known as triple death. As Nora reaches the crime scene, another victim who appears to have died under similar circumstances is unearthed. Why would someone come to this desolate place to hide their dreadful handiwork and does the Bog have any other victims to reveal? While there, it is brought to Nora's attention that a member of the team has suddenly disappeared...Is there a connection?
As Nora is pulled deeper into the mystery, her tumultuous love affair with archaeologist Cormac Maguire intensifies and the reader is plunged into a suspense charged thriller
This is an Irish mystery that stands above the typical murder novel of today. The story is atmospheric, the writing so colourful it is easy to fall into a spell and feel we are with Nora every part of the way. The story is very exciting; we follow a delightful female protagonist and her passion investigating ritual murders that have been committed many centuries ago and some recently. The author has filled the story with neat twists to keep her readers wondering what will happen next, it is hard to foresee the next move.
The story opens when workers discover the remains of a man in the Loughnabrone Bog. Called to examine the well preserved corpse is American pathologist Nora Gavin. Preliminary examination of the body shows he may have been killed in a Pagan ritual manner known as triple death. As Nora reaches the crime scene, another victim who appears to have died under similar circumstances is unearthed. Why would someone come to this desolate place to hide their dreadful handiwork and does the Bog have any other victims to reveal? While there, it is brought to Nora's attention that a member of the team has suddenly disappeared...Is there a connection?
As Nora is pulled deeper into the mystery, her tumultuous love affair with archaeologist Cormac Maguire intensifies and the reader is plunged into a suspense charged thriller
May 18, 2011
This book was such a disappointment after 'Haunted Ground' (the first of Hart's books re: Nora Gavin). The first half of the book is quite simply boring, and the second half is only marginally better. None of the characters are fully developed - there is no reason to care about any of them. I felt no sympathy for the murder victims, and so why care who killed them, let alone why they were killed? Had we not met Nora and Cormac in the first book there would be no reason to care about them either. I really didn't care about them even with my knowledge of them from the first book - both are lifeless, boring, and for two, supposedly intelligent people, both are totally clueless in this new story. Hart needed to re-establish Nora's and Cormac's relationship for her readers, she needed to flesh out her characters, she needed to create some relationships between these people - she needed to give them all some history and some reason to care about their lives. This feels like it was an outline for a story that was rushed to be published before it was completed.
April 13, 2012
What can I say? This book was even better than the first. It's delicious. It makes you want to eat it until the very last bite, and long for more :) I've had a hard week and really needed some sleep yesterday - but couldn't close my eyes until I read the last page.
Ireland. Mystery. A lot of mystery. Mysterious characters. Mysterious details.Bloody murders. Ancient history. Bog bodies. Romance. Suspense. On top of that, beautiful writing. What else can a person want from a good quality entertaining story?
Some books are destined to be made into films. This one is simply perfect to be made into a computer game. I can already see it: Lake Of Sorrows Quest - discover the murderer before it is too late! Beautiful graphics. You play both for Cormac and Nora, collect evidence, do research, interview people. If such game ever appears, count me in, I want to buy it!
Ireland. Mystery. A lot of mystery. Mysterious characters. Mysterious details.Bloody murders. Ancient history. Bog bodies. Romance. Suspense. On top of that, beautiful writing. What else can a person want from a good quality entertaining story?
Some books are destined to be made into films. This one is simply perfect to be made into a computer game. I can already see it: Lake Of Sorrows Quest - discover the murderer before it is too late! Beautiful graphics. You play both for Cormac and Nora, collect evidence, do research, interview people. If such game ever appears, count me in, I want to buy it!
July 6, 2012
Hart’s style and plotting truly improved in this sequel to Haunted Ground. The pacing was much more thrilling and the plot held some surprises. Unfortunately, the relationships between the characters felt even more unconvincing (and in some cases downright silly) here. The wishy-washy romance though was the most annoying aspect of the entire novel. It was so ridiculous and simply agitating (and not in a positive romantic-plot kind of way). And though it wasn’t as downright dull as the first book, I don’t think that the series has improved enough that I will be continuing on with it.
April 2, 2014
The beginning was very slow for me. Towards the end the story picked up for me and I couldn't put it down. Another couple of bodies are unearthed from a peat bog, so who better to call than Nora Gavin. One of the bodies is actually wearing a modern watch. This whole bog stuff is very fascinating, but a terrible way to die. I didn't suspect the killer was and the reasons behind it. Didn't hold my interest as much as Haunted Ground. The end leaves you wondering what will happen to Nora and Cormac next.
August 14, 2016
After reading False Mermaid out of order, I had to go back and read this one. Nora is back investigating bodies found in a bog. The difference is that one isn't hundreds or thousands of years old.
This one is packed with interesting characters and settings. Hart made me feel like I was there--in the small cottages, the vast bogland, and the magical hillsides of rural Ireland. It's an enchanting, but dangerous place to wander.
So glad that there are several more books in this series.
This one is packed with interesting characters and settings. Hart made me feel like I was there--in the small cottages, the vast bogland, and the magical hillsides of rural Ireland. It's an enchanting, but dangerous place to wander.
So glad that there are several more books in this series.
March 6, 2014
Lake of Sorrows
Lake of Sorrows
Excellently written book. I have come to expect the best from this author. She has kept me glued to these pages for the past two days. I recommend it to anyone who likes mystery and facts on Irish history.
Lake of Sorrows
Excellently written book. I have come to expect the best from this author. She has kept me glued to these pages for the past two days. I recommend it to anyone who likes mystery and facts on Irish history.
October 16, 2019
Un poco larga esta novela, pero el escenario que ha elegido su autora, mediante el artificio de que su protagonista, Nora Gavin, es una patóloga especialmente interesada en cuerpos que se conservan en las turberas, es muy subyugante.
No está mal.
No está mal.
December 18, 2009
Mine is the large print hardcover, unabridged, ex-libe. Bought for its reference to the sacrificial burials of prehistoric Europe.
March 24, 2011
Left me breathless! Builds slowly, but then I read the last half in one big gulp.
August 7, 2013
I really enjoy Erin Hart's books. This is my last one until she releases a new Nora Gavin novel and I already know I will miss the characters. .
October 13, 2016
3.5 stars
August 6, 2021
A riveting whodunnit involving bog bodies. The second in a series and A very good second at that.
July 4, 2017
Lake of Sorrows, Loughnabrone, does not appear to be a real place (at least it doesn’t exist beyond Erin Hart’s fictional novel) but County Offaly is, and I am going there in a few weeks. I reread this 2004 archaeological murder mystery in advance because I’m researching the landscape and Iron Age Ireland for a Hollystone Mysteries spin-off. Offaly is the omphalos of Ireland, lying as it does in the ancient province of Leinster, centred between Galway in the west and Dublin in the east. It is:
" …the ancient region known as the Mide, the centre. It was a place that had been ascribed all sorts of magical attributes, the powerful locus represented by the central axes of the crosses on Bronze Age sundiscs, from a time when the world had been divided up into four quadrants, North, South, East, and West, and a shadowy central place, which, because it was not There, had to be Here" (9)
It is a land of mountains, wild lands, and rivers, and also of bog. In fact, the Bord na Móna boglands figure into this crime novel, as do those treasures of the past that are occasionally unearthed by a turf cutter. Or by a couple of brothers.
Sometimes it’s treasure; sometimes it’s a body. In the case of Hart’s novel, the Brazil brothers, Dominic and Danny, unearth a large Iron Age hoard in 1977 while working at the Loughnabrone Bog: “numerous axe-heads, several amber bead necklaces, a scabbard and sword hilt, and twelve bronze trumpets” (15). (The Celtic tribes used to scare the bejesus out of their enemies by blaring trumpets in battle.) Complying with the laws of Treasure Trove, the appropriate people are notified and the treasure is shipped to the National Museum in Dublin. At least, most of it. When Danny leaves for Australia, not long after with his reward money, no one is suspicious; until, twenty-odd years later, his body is unearthed in the bog.
American forensic pathologist, Norin Gavin, is in Loughnabrone to examine an ancient bog body in situ. Strangled with a triple knotted leather cord, the man also had his throat cut, and was drowned. A ritual triple murder associate with Iron Age Celts? Most likely. Then, within minutes of her examination, Danny Brazil’s body appears:
"the skin was dark brown and the features slightly flattened, the nose smashed to one side, but the eye sockets, skull vault and jawline clearly marked it as human. One skeletal, clawlike hand was curled into a fist and raised above the head…wearing a wristwatch" (24).
Danny is clearly no Iron Age sacrifice, though he appears to have endured a ritual killing. Nora, and her lover, archaeologist Cormac Maguire, become embroiled in a complex murder investigation that involves, naturally, several other murders. Well-researched and crafted, what I am most curious about are the Iron Age references and the landscape of the bog. For example, Nora’s first experience on bogland–one I do not intend to replicate–is to be caught outside her car during a dust storm. Suddenly, a stop at the side of a country road turns sinister:
"The dust cloud engulfed her, along with the road and the vast expanse of bog on either side, closing her eyes, filling her nostrils and throat with stinging peat. Suddenly unable to guage any distance, she ran blindly until her right knee banged hard into the car’s rear bumper. The glancing pain took her breath away. She didn’t dare open her lips to cry out, but limped around to the driver’s side and climbed in closing the door against the dust that tried to follow her (10)."
Note to self: do not stop the rental on the side of a country road, no matter how pastoral it appears, or how long it’s been since the last pit stop!
" …the ancient region known as the Mide, the centre. It was a place that had been ascribed all sorts of magical attributes, the powerful locus represented by the central axes of the crosses on Bronze Age sundiscs, from a time when the world had been divided up into four quadrants, North, South, East, and West, and a shadowy central place, which, because it was not There, had to be Here" (9)
It is a land of mountains, wild lands, and rivers, and also of bog. In fact, the Bord na Móna boglands figure into this crime novel, as do those treasures of the past that are occasionally unearthed by a turf cutter. Or by a couple of brothers.
Sometimes it’s treasure; sometimes it’s a body. In the case of Hart’s novel, the Brazil brothers, Dominic and Danny, unearth a large Iron Age hoard in 1977 while working at the Loughnabrone Bog: “numerous axe-heads, several amber bead necklaces, a scabbard and sword hilt, and twelve bronze trumpets” (15). (The Celtic tribes used to scare the bejesus out of their enemies by blaring trumpets in battle.) Complying with the laws of Treasure Trove, the appropriate people are notified and the treasure is shipped to the National Museum in Dublin. At least, most of it. When Danny leaves for Australia, not long after with his reward money, no one is suspicious; until, twenty-odd years later, his body is unearthed in the bog.
American forensic pathologist, Norin Gavin, is in Loughnabrone to examine an ancient bog body in situ. Strangled with a triple knotted leather cord, the man also had his throat cut, and was drowned. A ritual triple murder associate with Iron Age Celts? Most likely. Then, within minutes of her examination, Danny Brazil’s body appears:
"the skin was dark brown and the features slightly flattened, the nose smashed to one side, but the eye sockets, skull vault and jawline clearly marked it as human. One skeletal, clawlike hand was curled into a fist and raised above the head…wearing a wristwatch" (24).
Danny is clearly no Iron Age sacrifice, though he appears to have endured a ritual killing. Nora, and her lover, archaeologist Cormac Maguire, become embroiled in a complex murder investigation that involves, naturally, several other murders. Well-researched and crafted, what I am most curious about are the Iron Age references and the landscape of the bog. For example, Nora’s first experience on bogland–one I do not intend to replicate–is to be caught outside her car during a dust storm. Suddenly, a stop at the side of a country road turns sinister:
"The dust cloud engulfed her, along with the road and the vast expanse of bog on either side, closing her eyes, filling her nostrils and throat with stinging peat. Suddenly unable to guage any distance, she ran blindly until her right knee banged hard into the car’s rear bumper. The glancing pain took her breath away. She didn’t dare open her lips to cry out, but limped around to the driver’s side and climbed in closing the door against the dust that tried to follow her (10)."
Note to self: do not stop the rental on the side of a country road, no matter how pastoral it appears, or how long it’s been since the last pit stop!
March 14, 2022
This was a murder mystery with all the main characters either working at an archeological dig at a Ireland bog or living around the bog. There were several murders in the area. One was an ancient murder and the others more recent. The mystery is the investigation into whether the murders are all related and/or done by the same person or persons. This story is the 2nd in the Nora Gavin series. I thought it was better than the first because I felt it wasn’t quite as morbid; although sad at times. Also, it had almost no profanity unlike the first book. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the Irish accents.
The only thing I did not like about the book was that one of the female characters walked away from her family in the process of committing a violent act. I felt she was a horrible abusive and neglectful parent and wife who was blaming all her problems on everyone else without taking any responsibility for her own actions. (Even though her husband committed a crime that did not justify her reaction and what she did. Two wrongs don’t make a right.) Since the author did not have any other characters say much of anything negative about the mother’s actions; it felt as though the author was condoning her actions or at least some of them. This really bothered me even though I realize it is just a work of fiction.
The only thing I did not like about the book was that one of the female characters walked away from her family in the process of committing a violent act. I felt she was a horrible abusive and neglectful parent and wife who was blaming all her problems on everyone else without taking any responsibility for her own actions. (Even though her husband committed a crime that did not justify her reaction and what she did. Two wrongs don’t make a right.) Since the author did not have any other characters say much of anything negative about the mother’s actions; it felt as though the author was condoning her actions or at least some of them. This really bothered me even though I realize it is just a work of fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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