Take a photo of a barcode or cover
takethyme 's review for:
The Caged Graves
by Dianne K. Salerni
I read this young adult story expecting more.
More depth.
More engaging characters.
More excitement.
And if I was in the targeted age-bracket for this novel, I might have given it a higher rating. That said, I rarely feel my generation when I choose a book from this category. Hello. I even like to read good children's stories every now and then!
The caged or 'hooded graves' really existed in mid-nineteenth century Pennsylvania. Along with some of the characters from Ms. Salerni's mystery. The author embellished that piece of history with a 17-year-old young lady and gold.
The iron cage were called a mortsafe. It was invented in 1816 and designed to protect a gravesite from body snatchers. It was originally used in England and Scotland to keep riffraff from stealing deceased loved ones to be sold to medical schools. They were always in need of cadavers.
I was eager to see how the author was going to develop her version of this mystery.
Verity Boone was sent away to live with relatives as a young child when her mother died. She returned to her hometown for two reasons: to see her father and to marry. The betrothal was made by letter and Verity was in agreement.
I liked Verity's soon-to-be husband, Nate McClure. I respected Verity's father, Ransloe. I suspected they both had a story to tell. My issues were with Verity. One moment she was a typical 17 year old, the next time she sounded like a 13 year old and then she spoke with the maturity of a twenty-something woman. Needless-to-say, it was confusing.
I was almost halfway invested in the story when I realized I was reading the novel for its suspense; I no longer cared about Verity. Eventually, even the motive felt far-fetched. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book.
More depth.
More engaging characters.
More excitement.
And if I was in the targeted age-bracket for this novel, I might have given it a higher rating. That said, I rarely feel my generation when I choose a book from this category. Hello. I even like to read good children's stories every now and then!
The caged or 'hooded graves' really existed in mid-nineteenth century Pennsylvania. Along with some of the characters from Ms. Salerni's mystery. The author embellished that piece of history with a 17-year-old young lady and gold.
The iron cage were called a mortsafe. It was invented in 1816 and designed to protect a gravesite from body snatchers. It was originally used in England and Scotland to keep riffraff from stealing deceased loved ones to be sold to medical schools. They were always in need of cadavers.
I was eager to see how the author was going to develop her version of this mystery.
Verity Boone was sent away to live with relatives as a young child when her mother died. She returned to her hometown for two reasons: to see her father and to marry. The betrothal was made by letter and Verity was in agreement.
I liked Verity's soon-to-be husband, Nate McClure. I respected Verity's father, Ransloe. I suspected they both had a story to tell. My issues were with Verity. One moment she was a typical 17 year old, the next time she sounded like a 13 year old and then she spoke with the maturity of a twenty-something woman. Needless-to-say, it was confusing.
I was almost halfway invested in the story when I realized I was reading the novel for its suspense; I no longer cared about Verity. Eventually, even the motive felt far-fetched. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book.