Risky Undertaking

In his sixth outing (after A Fatal Undertaking) ex-cop Barry Clayton, now a part-time deputy and a partner in his family’s North Carolina funeral parlor, is up to his neck in trouble. He’s investigating a case that pits modern casinos against Native American traditions. Cherokee artifacts are found during the expansion of a local cemetery and Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther leads a protest during the funeral of a prominent local citizen. When Jimmy is murdered, suspicions fall on the deceased’s family. Further investigation reveals that Jimmy’s activities threatened the development of a casino on tribal lands. VERDICT De Castrique’s latest mystery continues the irreverent wit and independent spirit that has marked the series thus far. The focus on the beautiful setting of western North Carolina and its Cherokee traditions is well crafted. While there are a number of other series featuring sleuthing funeral directors, this is a complex and well-executed police procedural as well. * Library Journal *
The planned expansion of Heaven’s Gate Gardens, a cemetery outside Gainesboro, N.C., causes conflict in de Castrique’s engaging sixth mystery featuring funeral director and deputy sheriff Barry Clayton (after 2010’s Fatal Undertaking). The discovery of Native American bones and artifacts at the site pits Luther Cransford, one of the project’s major supporters, against Jimmy Panther, a member of the Cherokee tribe. When Luther’s wife, Eurleen, suddenly dies, Panther leads what turns into a violent protest at her burial. Soon after, Panther’s body is found sprawled across Eurleen’s grave, and a potential powder keg is lit. Complications abound when a New Jersey hit man enters the scene, followed by a Boston cop. The kidnapping of a young Cherokee boy ratchets up the tension. The author offers insights into the political, economic, and cultural ramifications of Indian casinos, along with a large cast of believable characters with a wide emotional range. * Publishers Weekly *
Workers involved in expanding the Gainesboro, North Carolina, cemetery discover Cherokee remains, prompting Cherokee activist Jimmy Panther to lead a protest. When Jimmy’s body turns up on the dead woman’s grave the next day, Barry Clayton, Gainesboro deputy sheriff and undertaker, has a murder case on his hands. When Boston cop Kevin Malone, a friend of Sheriff Tommy Lee Wadkins, looking for a hit man who recently arrived on the Cherokee reservation, shows up, matters get more interesting, especially after the discovery that the dead man, a believer in preserving tribal traditions, had made enemies with his opposition to building a casino on reservation land. With the help of his elderly uncle, Wayne, and his childhood rival, Archie Donovan, Barry goes undercover to find the killer. An agreeable mix of suspense and social issues. * Booklist *
“Risky Undertaking” by Mark de Castrique is the sixth book in the Buryin’ Barry series. Barry finds himself using both of his roles as an undertaker and a deputy to solve a murder mystery. When a Cherokee’s remains and Native American artifacts are found at the site of where some white locals want to expand a cemetery, the drama begins. Jimmy Panther, an activist for the tribe, decides to stage a protest about the expansion on the day of the funeral and burial of a very important local wife. This does not gain him popularity with the town folk. When his murdered body is discovered on top of her grave shortly after the protest, Barry has to step in to help solve this mystery….The more Barry investigates, the more apparent it becomes that this is a very complicated case. In addition to the murder, there is a missing boy, missing artifacts, drama about building another casino, a visiting hitman and a Boston cop who is trailing him. Politics, preservation of Native American land and artifacts, money, and investors from both sides of the fence further complicate matters. Barry has his hands full and the missing boy appears to be running out of time….I really enjoyed “Risky Undertaking” by Mark de Castrique. It is the first book that I have read in this series, and I found that it stands well on its own. I never felt lost while reading, however, I did find myself wanting to get my hands on the other books in the series because I enjoyed this one so much. The characters are eccentric and highly entertaining, even if some of them weren’t very likeable! While I appreciated the author’s talent for being able to fully capture my attention with an interesting, fast paced story, I was also impressed that he incorporated actual issues that Cherokee tribe in this area are facing. I highly recommend reading “Risky Undertaking!” * Reader Views *

Mark de Castrique grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina where many of his novels are set. He’s a veteran of the television and film production industry, has served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte teaching The American Mystery, and he’s a frequent speaker and workshop leader. He and his wife, Linda, live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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