A review by menfrommarrs
Haunted Ground by Erin Hart

4.0

In books with historical content, I need to trust that the author has done the research. I did look up a few things, but trusted [a:Erin Hart|145171|Erin Hart|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1358984626p2/145171.jpg] on several points. Being educated about Bog People and their preservation was really interesting. Considering the destruction of the peat bog in favor of a fuel source for personal use and profit versus the environmental impact of the harvesting of an un-renewable resource was also a thought provoking topic. I’m surprised more was not said about the flora and fauna. (Where would the Hound of the Baskervilles be without the moor?)☻

I really enjoy archaeological and anthropological mysteries, even hokey ones. The combination of forensics and folklore was appealing in [b:Haunted Ground|905451|Haunted Ground (Nora Gavin, #1)|Erin Hart|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412217096s/905451.jpg|240718].

I wasn’t very invested in the modern mystery. The character of the husband , Hugh Osborne, didn't make me very empathetic,

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and I guess he had to remain that way, since I was supposed to suspect him.

Jeremy, Lucy's son, appears to be vile.

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so much so, that even though I am later given excuses for his psychosis, I don’t care.

I didn’t worry too much about the missing wife and child either, they were not drawn in a sympathetic palette..

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Really, I neither remember one endearing trait described about the wife, nor one curling plump little pinkie on the child. Even the sister called them “The Wife and The Child, instead of by personal or pet names, which was appropriate for her character, but I think that I should have cared more.

I know, I know, I’m hard-hearted.

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and didn’t I just know that the perpetrator was the twisted wicked sister, Lucy?

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I wouldn’t mind traveling again with Nora and Cormac, they can verge on the bedside if they like, didn’t make a difference to me. But hey! I do need a scientist and an emotional educator to keep introducing plot points. I’d also like to again hear from homicide detective, Garrett Devaney; need his tenacity and humanity.

So now that I have managed to put thought to paper, I have decided that everyone was just how they were supposed to be! All characters, whether I liked it or not, belonged in this tale!

The mysteries of the "Cailin Rua" and the red-headed pate, now that was very intriguing. I cared about her reason for being bodiless in the bog

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and for her lover and inant.

Loved how each piece, which was gathered from folklore and music, fit into the puzzle, even though the puzzle piece was often times not in the same box and sometimes had to have an edge shaved in order to snuggle it in!