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Where the Missing Gather
'Unputdownable... Helen Sedgwick saw into the future and that future is now! It's an incredible book! READ IT.' Lemn Sissay on When the Dead Come Calling Gone but not forgotten... An archaeological dig exposes a brutal history and a witness finally speaks. It seems the wickedness swirling in the harsh sea air of Burrowhead might be excised at last. But before DI Georgie Strachan can lift the veil of evil, a black horse is slaughtered on an altar in the woods and human remains begin to surface. Sinister rituals connect past and present but no one wants to see, or tell, or hear, the truth. Soon Georgie must face the where do the missing souls of the village gather?
- GenresCrimeContemporaryFiction
Audio CD
Published September 15, 2021
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About the author
Helen Sedgwick
17 books76 followersHelen Sedgwick is the author of The Comet Seekers (Harvill Secker, 2016) and The Growing Season (Harvill Secker, 2017).
Helen has an MLitt in Creative Writing from Glasgow University and has won a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award. Her debut novel has been published in seven countries including the UK, US and Canada, and was selected as one of the best books of 2016 by The Herald and Glamour. She is represented by Cathryn Summerhayes of Curtis Brown.
As a literary editor, Helen has worked as the managing director of Cargo Publishing and managing editor of Gutter, and she founded Wildland Literary Editors in 2012. Before that, Helen was a research physicist with a PhD in Physics from Edinburgh University.
Helen has an MLitt in Creative Writing from Glasgow University and has won a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award. Her debut novel has been published in seven countries including the UK, US and Canada, and was selected as one of the best books of 2016 by The Herald and Glamour. She is represented by Cathryn Summerhayes of Curtis Brown.
As a literary editor, Helen has worked as the managing director of Cargo Publishing and managing editor of Gutter, and she founded Wildland Literary Editors in 2012. Before that, Helen was a research physicist with a PhD in Physics from Edinburgh University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 28, 2022
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the author.
Where the Missing Gather is the second book in the gripping Burrowhead Mysteries series by Helen Sedgwick. This book picks up straight after book one with an even more gruesome and sinister case to be solved. Geoulrgie and her team have a slaughtered horse to investigate, which has them looking at a ritualistic, sacrificial killing to investigate. With the village divided over events and all having differing views and opinions, I enjoyed reading each person's perspective and learning more about characters who were in the background so to speak, in book one and how their own backstories relate and tie in with the current happenings and investigation. I especially enjoyed Rickys backstory and although he's not the most likeable character, I could understand how what he's experienced has made him who he is today. There was lots of creepy vibes in this book and its definitely not for the faint of heart. Throw in pagan rites, racist behaviour and exclusion to newcomers and this book leaves the reader claustrophobic and questioning everyone and everything going on. I can't wait to start book three straight away!
Where the Missing Gather is the second book in the gripping Burrowhead Mysteries series by Helen Sedgwick. This book picks up straight after book one with an even more gruesome and sinister case to be solved. Geoulrgie and her team have a slaughtered horse to investigate, which has them looking at a ritualistic, sacrificial killing to investigate. With the village divided over events and all having differing views and opinions, I enjoyed reading each person's perspective and learning more about characters who were in the background so to speak, in book one and how their own backstories relate and tie in with the current happenings and investigation. I especially enjoyed Rickys backstory and although he's not the most likeable character, I could understand how what he's experienced has made him who he is today. There was lots of creepy vibes in this book and its definitely not for the faint of heart. Throw in pagan rites, racist behaviour and exclusion to newcomers and this book leaves the reader claustrophobic and questioning everyone and everything going on. I can't wait to start book three straight away!
December 7, 2021
The second in the Burrowhead series, certainly not a distraction for me reading this as a first book.
Dark, disturbing & atmospheric. This was an utterly compelling read, which I found hard to put down.
Very well crafted with three dimensional characters, an intense plotline & an awesome ending.
Dark, disturbing & atmospheric. This was an utterly compelling read, which I found hard to put down.
Very well crafted with three dimensional characters, an intense plotline & an awesome ending.
September 15, 2022
Disclosure - This book was gifted to me by Love Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Where the Missing Gather is the second book in the Burrowhead series and in this one we return to the mysterious village of Burrowhead where we are thrown straight into the action when Georgie and her team discover a horse that has been slaughtered in what looks to be a ritualistic sacrifice in the woods.
Georgie is still full of anger as the underlying racism and prejudice that plagues Burrowhead has resurfaced, and she's determined to get to the bottom of what exactly is going on in this bizarre little village. Why are the villagers so reluctant to let "outsiders" in?
In this book we focused on some different characters, which I really enjoyed. Some of the more background characters came to the forefront in this story, and it was really interesting to read more about them and how their own personal stories tied in to the bigger picture of what exactly is going on in Burrowhead.
I particularly enjoyed reading more about Ricky Barr when the remains of a young child are found near his farm. Having had a negative picture built of him in book one, you instantly want to believe he has something to do with it, but as you dive further into Ricky's past, you start to realise that he wasn't always the person he has turned out to be.
Natalie was another interesting character, and although I didn't particularly like her, she was an integral part of the story, and she had a storyline I really enjoyed reading.
Ultimately, this book really delves into just how complex we are as humans. A divide amongst the villagers develops throughout the book, and being able to read from multiple perspectives, I could see where each side was coming from. Even when I didn't agree with their actions, I could still understand their thought processes.
Even though we have learned a little more about what is going on in Burrowhead, I still feel in the dark so I'm definitely keen to read the final book in the series and find out once and for all what the hell is going on!
And that final chapter! I was not expecting that twist at the end!!!
Where the Missing Gather is the second book in the Burrowhead series and in this one we return to the mysterious village of Burrowhead where we are thrown straight into the action when Georgie and her team discover a horse that has been slaughtered in what looks to be a ritualistic sacrifice in the woods.
Georgie is still full of anger as the underlying racism and prejudice that plagues Burrowhead has resurfaced, and she's determined to get to the bottom of what exactly is going on in this bizarre little village. Why are the villagers so reluctant to let "outsiders" in?
In this book we focused on some different characters, which I really enjoyed. Some of the more background characters came to the forefront in this story, and it was really interesting to read more about them and how their own personal stories tied in to the bigger picture of what exactly is going on in Burrowhead.
I particularly enjoyed reading more about Ricky Barr when the remains of a young child are found near his farm. Having had a negative picture built of him in book one, you instantly want to believe he has something to do with it, but as you dive further into Ricky's past, you start to realise that he wasn't always the person he has turned out to be.
Natalie was another interesting character, and although I didn't particularly like her, she was an integral part of the story, and she had a storyline I really enjoyed reading.
Ultimately, this book really delves into just how complex we are as humans. A divide amongst the villagers develops throughout the book, and being able to read from multiple perspectives, I could see where each side was coming from. Even when I didn't agree with their actions, I could still understand their thought processes.
Even though we have learned a little more about what is going on in Burrowhead, I still feel in the dark so I'm definitely keen to read the final book in the series and find out once and for all what the hell is going on!
And that final chapter! I was not expecting that twist at the end!!!
June 1, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Oneworld Publications for an advance copy of Where the Missing Gather, the second novel of a proposed trilogy set in the fictional northern English coastal village of Burrowhead.
DI Georgie Strachan has her hands full. Her husband is obsessed with an ancient archaeological site, a horse has been ritually murdered in the woods and old human remains have been found. And the villagers are saying nothing.
I knew what to expect from Where the Missing Gather as I have read it’s predecessor, When the Dead Come Calling, but it’s still a shock to the system. It is a compulsive, creepy read with a kind of stream of consciousness narrative style, where the various narrators tend to concentrate on their reactions and emotional response to events, rather than offering any objective comment. It’s all very nebulous and amorphous for the reader and takes serious effort to understand what exactly is going on.
So, add to this lack of clarity a preoccupation with old pagan rites, a clannishness that excludes incomers and foments racism and an almost unrecognisable insularity in these modern times and the reader gets an uncomfortable atmosphere where anything could happen. It’s claustrophobic and unsettling.
Despite all this the novel is strangely compulsive. A murdered horse isn’t the crime of the century, nor are 40 year old remains that might not even be a crime at all, but it’s what lies behind them that provides the mystery and the need to keep reading.
I know I said that I’d read the previous novel but it was so many books ago I’ve forgotten much of it and I felt it put me at a disadvantage in this one as there are so many references to it and it’s events. I would recommend reading them in order and fairly close together.
Where the Missing Gather will not be for every reader, in fact I think it will be love it or hate it with no middle ground. I enjoyed it so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
DI Georgie Strachan has her hands full. Her husband is obsessed with an ancient archaeological site, a horse has been ritually murdered in the woods and old human remains have been found. And the villagers are saying nothing.
I knew what to expect from Where the Missing Gather as I have read it’s predecessor, When the Dead Come Calling, but it’s still a shock to the system. It is a compulsive, creepy read with a kind of stream of consciousness narrative style, where the various narrators tend to concentrate on their reactions and emotional response to events, rather than offering any objective comment. It’s all very nebulous and amorphous for the reader and takes serious effort to understand what exactly is going on.
So, add to this lack of clarity a preoccupation with old pagan rites, a clannishness that excludes incomers and foments racism and an almost unrecognisable insularity in these modern times and the reader gets an uncomfortable atmosphere where anything could happen. It’s claustrophobic and unsettling.
Despite all this the novel is strangely compulsive. A murdered horse isn’t the crime of the century, nor are 40 year old remains that might not even be a crime at all, but it’s what lies behind them that provides the mystery and the need to keep reading.
I know I said that I’d read the previous novel but it was so many books ago I’ve forgotten much of it and I felt it put me at a disadvantage in this one as there are so many references to it and it’s events. I would recommend reading them in order and fairly close together.
Where the Missing Gather will not be for every reader, in fact I think it will be love it or hate it with no middle ground. I enjoyed it so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
May 5, 2022
This was such a good read. The writing was fantastic, the storyline utterly compelling and the characters well developed, so much so that they practically jumped off the page.
It was fast paced, dark, tense and creepy with supernatural elements woven throughout. I was gripped right from the very start and couldn't put it down. It was twisty and unpredictable.
It was fast paced, dark, tense and creepy with supernatural elements woven throughout. I was gripped right from the very start and couldn't put it down. It was twisty and unpredictable.
July 26, 2022
This is the second book in the Burrowhead Mysteries series, and it is absolutely terrifying. In the first book, something dreadful happened 2,000 years ago and, in this book, we find out what happened. The two books make it clear that the village and its surrounding area has been haunted ever since.
Most of the characters from the first book have returned, but obviously not Rachel, Pauly and Alexis whose horrific deaths were the centrepiece of “When the Dead Come Calling”. The book starts with the murder of a horse, possibly ritualistic, which DI Georgie Strachan has to investigate. She had her own backstory that affects her relationship with the villagers, being an outsider and black, from the American Deep South. Her husband, Fergus, has been made redundant and is interested in the local archaeology, particularly in a motte in the local area. Meanwhile, DS Frazer, also black, has been instructed to investigate the memories of a murder in a local hotel that has been reported to the police by an old woman in an old people’s home.
The other two characters are PC Simon Hunter and DS Trish Mackie, who both have issues of their own. Simon is still grieving the loss of his partner, Alexis, and has his suspicions, and possibly evidence, about what had been happening in the village. DS Mackie is concerned for her elderly Uncle Walt and wants to keep him out of anything that has happened.
From these bare bones, Helen Sedgwick constructs a police investigation story, a murder mystery, a story of family conflict and a horror story. It is an extraordinary exposition of the craft of storytelling. Each chapter is short, and to the point, leading quite naturally to the subsequent chapters. The book is a page turner.
It also does not shy away from subjects that haunt our English countryside, like racism, and xenophobia. There is also the deep despair of rural poverty, and the feeling of entrapment that people cannot escape. And underlying all this there is a deep connection to the Celtic past, where human sacrifice was a requirement to secure the safety of the village. When Uncle Walt talks of “the Others” he means the ancestors and they are not necessarily benign. They can be vengeful.
This is a book that is worth reading. It tells us something about the human soul.
Most of the characters from the first book have returned, but obviously not Rachel, Pauly and Alexis whose horrific deaths were the centrepiece of “When the Dead Come Calling”. The book starts with the murder of a horse, possibly ritualistic, which DI Georgie Strachan has to investigate. She had her own backstory that affects her relationship with the villagers, being an outsider and black, from the American Deep South. Her husband, Fergus, has been made redundant and is interested in the local archaeology, particularly in a motte in the local area. Meanwhile, DS Frazer, also black, has been instructed to investigate the memories of a murder in a local hotel that has been reported to the police by an old woman in an old people’s home.
The other two characters are PC Simon Hunter and DS Trish Mackie, who both have issues of their own. Simon is still grieving the loss of his partner, Alexis, and has his suspicions, and possibly evidence, about what had been happening in the village. DS Mackie is concerned for her elderly Uncle Walt and wants to keep him out of anything that has happened.
From these bare bones, Helen Sedgwick constructs a police investigation story, a murder mystery, a story of family conflict and a horror story. It is an extraordinary exposition of the craft of storytelling. Each chapter is short, and to the point, leading quite naturally to the subsequent chapters. The book is a page turner.
It also does not shy away from subjects that haunt our English countryside, like racism, and xenophobia. There is also the deep despair of rural poverty, and the feeling of entrapment that people cannot escape. And underlying all this there is a deep connection to the Celtic past, where human sacrifice was a requirement to secure the safety of the village. When Uncle Walt talks of “the Others” he means the ancestors and they are not necessarily benign. They can be vengeful.
This is a book that is worth reading. It tells us something about the human soul.
May 10, 2022
🔪 The book follows DI Georgie Strachan who is fighting against racism and is considered as an outsider in the village of Burrowhead. Her husband Fergus is obsessed with ancient archeological sites. When the dead body of a horse is found who has been murdered ritually, Georgie starts looking for answers. Soon human remains start surfacing out but none of the villagers is willing to talk. What secrets the villagers of Burrowhead are hiding? And who’s carrying out the ancient rituals in the village?
🔪 The start of the book left me totally confused. There were so many characters and every character had his own story and I had literally no clue what was happening. But then after finishing the book I got to know that this was the second book of the Burrowhead mystery series and me being the dumbass didn’t know this before. 🙈 That definitely gave me the answer to who’s to blame for the confusion.
🔪 But once I got hold of the story it was so gripping that there was no going back. It was one hell of a dark and creepy book and I simply loved it. At points the story did seem long and dragged specially when the characters were remembering their past but then the mystery element kept me hooked. I loved the lack of clarity throughout the book. It actually felt like that the author had provided us with the puzzle pieces and now it’s reader’s job to assemble them in order to get a clear picture.
🔪 The book can be read as a stand alone. But I would definitely recommend you to read them in order. And trust me if you love creepy stuff then you won’t be disappointed. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to the author for the Ebook in exchange of an honest review.
🔪 The start of the book left me totally confused. There were so many characters and every character had his own story and I had literally no clue what was happening. But then after finishing the book I got to know that this was the second book of the Burrowhead mystery series and me being the dumbass didn’t know this before. 🙈 That definitely gave me the answer to who’s to blame for the confusion.
🔪 But once I got hold of the story it was so gripping that there was no going back. It was one hell of a dark and creepy book and I simply loved it. At points the story did seem long and dragged specially when the characters were remembering their past but then the mystery element kept me hooked. I loved the lack of clarity throughout the book. It actually felt like that the author had provided us with the puzzle pieces and now it’s reader’s job to assemble them in order to get a clear picture.
🔪 The book can be read as a stand alone. But I would definitely recommend you to read them in order. And trust me if you love creepy stuff then you won’t be disappointed. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to the author for the Ebook in exchange of an honest review.
December 12, 2021
Where The Missing Gather is book 2 in the Burrowhead Mysteries series, and I was lucky enough to dive into it after the first novel. As with the first book, the story is fast paced from the outset and is set in against the eery and darkly atmospheric backdrop of Burrowhead; a village plagued by racism and prejudice and shrouded in secrets. The novel is unlike other crime fiction in that it has supernatural undertones that lurk just below the surface of the story without really coming to a head.
The author is skilled at creating a landscape and characters with such sharp observation that I felt I could visualise them. This weather plays an important part in setting the tone and in contrast to the dreary, gloomy rain and heavy cloud in the first novel, this time the unrest in the village is represented by the oppressive and stifling heat of an unseasonably hot Scottish summer.
In this story, the main character DI Georgie Strachan is struggling to trust anyone after the racial abuse she received and, despite living in the village, she’s still considered an outsider. I really felt for her as even her husband Fergus has begun to feel forgiveness for the villagers when she is struggling (very rightly) to do so. As the reader hears the story from her perspective it makes it brilliantly hard to know who to trust and I was left guessing right until the end when all of the threads of the stories tie together.
Where The Missing Gather is a dark, gripping, and twisty triller that had me enthralled until the last page. I can’t wait to read book 3!
The author is skilled at creating a landscape and characters with such sharp observation that I felt I could visualise them. This weather plays an important part in setting the tone and in contrast to the dreary, gloomy rain and heavy cloud in the first novel, this time the unrest in the village is represented by the oppressive and stifling heat of an unseasonably hot Scottish summer.
In this story, the main character DI Georgie Strachan is struggling to trust anyone after the racial abuse she received and, despite living in the village, she’s still considered an outsider. I really felt for her as even her husband Fergus has begun to feel forgiveness for the villagers when she is struggling (very rightly) to do so. As the reader hears the story from her perspective it makes it brilliantly hard to know who to trust and I was left guessing right until the end when all of the threads of the stories tie together.
Where The Missing Gather is a dark, gripping, and twisty triller that had me enthralled until the last page. I can’t wait to read book 3!
May 7, 2022
You would be forgiven for thinking the series name The Burrowhead Mysteries is set in a quaint little village with amateur sleuths like Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris solving the case of the missing apple pie, or the mystery of the disappearing milk bottles. You would be badly mistaken. Something much darker is happening here, including a horse sacrifice! I’m mindful of giving away details of this series that may ruin your enjoyment of these brilliant books, so I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers.
You can get away with reading this book as a standalone, but for better backstory, character development, and context, you would be much better served by reading its predecessor When The Dead Come Calling first. What I found here is a beautifully described landscape which at one moment feels majestically free, but the next feels ominously claustrophobic, and able to convey its own sense of disquiet and tension.
I liked Georgie more in this book than the last as you see more of what makes her tick. I should point out I liked Georgie a lot more than her husband Fergus. I find him disagreeable at best.
Other characters are very well written and credible and always add to the story.
Overall, I found this book to be compelling, spooky, thrilling, and the sort of book I would happily send a friend as a gift. So it goes without saying that I would of course recommend it to any readers of police procedural, crime thrillers, and supernatural mysteries. I ha Ave Where The Missing Gather, by Helen Sedgwick, five stars.
You can get away with reading this book as a standalone, but for better backstory, character development, and context, you would be much better served by reading its predecessor When The Dead Come Calling first. What I found here is a beautifully described landscape which at one moment feels majestically free, but the next feels ominously claustrophobic, and able to convey its own sense of disquiet and tension.
I liked Georgie more in this book than the last as you see more of what makes her tick. I should point out I liked Georgie a lot more than her husband Fergus. I find him disagreeable at best.
Other characters are very well written and credible and always add to the story.
Overall, I found this book to be compelling, spooky, thrilling, and the sort of book I would happily send a friend as a gift. So it goes without saying that I would of course recommend it to any readers of police procedural, crime thrillers, and supernatural mysteries. I ha Ave Where The Missing Gather, by Helen Sedgwick, five stars.
May 12, 2022
‘Where The Missing Gather’ is a dark tale that encompasses community, those who are considered outsiders, rampant inbred racism, the aspects of rural areas losing investment and infrastructures, the scourge of drugs and then those who are trying their best to live their lives free of fear. So not a lot then. But it is done with aplomb, empathy and realism despite the aspects of ritualism and the supernatural. I was engrossed from the start to the last page and this time I took my time to savour the fine writing and brilliant storytelling. I cannot help but rave about this series and it certainly deserves more recognition.
There is something about Helen’s writing that is profoundly unsettling. It makes my skin crawl with the emotions it conveys. It literally gives me goosebumps. As much as I enjoy this series and I love reading them, I am also glad to finish them as then there might be some answers. They are not books which you read and them you forget them. They linger in your subconscious, make your cogs whirl and settle in your soul.
The whole cast of characters are deftly drawn, not just the main players but all the side ones and in this book we learn more about Ricky Barr and Natalie. It helps to show us readers that everyone is multifaceted, has a background worth understanding. The same with Trish, who I have to say is my favourite character. You can just feel her anger and confusion radiating off the page.
Another triumph for Helen! Roll on the next and final chapter!!!
There is something about Helen’s writing that is profoundly unsettling. It makes my skin crawl with the emotions it conveys. It literally gives me goosebumps. As much as I enjoy this series and I love reading them, I am also glad to finish them as then there might be some answers. They are not books which you read and them you forget them. They linger in your subconscious, make your cogs whirl and settle in your soul.
The whole cast of characters are deftly drawn, not just the main players but all the side ones and in this book we learn more about Ricky Barr and Natalie. It helps to show us readers that everyone is multifaceted, has a background worth understanding. The same with Trish, who I have to say is my favourite character. You can just feel her anger and confusion radiating off the page.
Another triumph for Helen! Roll on the next and final chapter!!!
May 2, 2022
This is the second book in the Burrowhead trilogy, featuring DI Georgie Strachan, but my first read and I do think it would have improved my experience if I had read the first book. It’s very well written with short chapter, which I like, but there are a lot of references to the previous story which made it hard for me to get into the book. I should also mention there is an incidence of animal cruelty which is a bit of a no no for me but it was integral to the story. Told through multiple POV, and past and present timelines, linking the current investigation to historic crimes.
Briefly, Georgie’s husband, Fergus, is working in a supermarket but in his spare time has become obsessed with an architectural dig and their marital relationship is uneasy. Georgie is looking into the case of a black horse that has been killed in the woods when old human remains are discovered. Are the two events related? It is not easy to investigate when the villagers are suspicious of outsiders. It is clear there are hidden secrets to discover but can Georgie overcome the barriers she is faced with and solve the mystery?
Although the story is about pagan rituals and dealing with supernatural events there is a lot more than that to the book. It also deals with racism and other form of prejudice. This is quite a dark and chilling book and I did enjoy it but I would definitely recommend you go back and read book one first. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Briefly, Georgie’s husband, Fergus, is working in a supermarket but in his spare time has become obsessed with an architectural dig and their marital relationship is uneasy. Georgie is looking into the case of a black horse that has been killed in the woods when old human remains are discovered. Are the two events related? It is not easy to investigate when the villagers are suspicious of outsiders. It is clear there are hidden secrets to discover but can Georgie overcome the barriers she is faced with and solve the mystery?
Although the story is about pagan rituals and dealing with supernatural events there is a lot more than that to the book. It also deals with racism and other form of prejudice. This is quite a dark and chilling book and I did enjoy it but I would definitely recommend you go back and read book one first. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
October 13, 2021
The second in Helen Sedgwick's crime series, this was a wonderful continuation of the story of Burrowhead. The author communicates a sense of place that is remarkable and which really brought the story to life for me. I also loved the way Sedgwick gives us so much information about the characters through the way they carry out the simplest everyday tasks, even the way they put toast in a toaster! The author gives us clues as to what might really be happening between people by showing us, rather than telling us so the we have to work everything out for ourselves and this adds to the overall sense of mystery. Like the first in the series, the novel uses the weather to create a sinister atmosphere. In When the Dead Come Calling, it was the torrential rain of winter that created a claustrophobic feeling in the novel. This time it’s the sticky heat of a boiling hot summer and it works just as well. Highly recommend both books.
June 14, 2021
This book is deep and dark. Some things won’t stay buried and it’s not just the bodies.
Dealing with a range of important themes including trauma, racism, prejudice, family, community and the impact of the past, Where the Missing Gather is an intelligent, well-written and disturbing read.
The characters are well developed and you can see their progression from the first book. Georgie is struggling to come to terms with not only past trauma, but the consistently excused evil in the village where she and Fergus have chosen to make their home. It’s complicated and messy and there isn’t going to be a good ending.
A gripping story from start to finish. Intense and rewarding.
If you haven’t read the first book When the Dead Come Calling, I recommend you read this first. You won’t be disappointed with either.
Dealing with a range of important themes including trauma, racism, prejudice, family, community and the impact of the past, Where the Missing Gather is an intelligent, well-written and disturbing read.
The characters are well developed and you can see their progression from the first book. Georgie is struggling to come to terms with not only past trauma, but the consistently excused evil in the village where she and Fergus have chosen to make their home. It’s complicated and messy and there isn’t going to be a good ending.
A gripping story from start to finish. Intense and rewarding.
If you haven’t read the first book When the Dead Come Calling, I recommend you read this first. You won’t be disappointed with either.
December 14, 2021
Where the Missing Gather - Helen Sedgwick
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This is the second book in The Burrowhead mysteries and although it is a stand alone book I would definitely recommend reading book one in the series first, ‘When the Dead Come Calling’. At times I felt a little lost and struggled to follow the storyline as there are some references to book one. I feel I would have enjoyed reading this a lot more if I had read this as a sequel.
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That said, Helen’s writing is thrilling. I love a mystery crime novel and this just kept me guessing throughout and anticipating what would happen next. I found myself not trusting any of the characters. Helen also manages to create an eerie atmosphere which can give you goosebumps. I will definitely read more of this series, and really regret not having read book one first.
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This is the second book in The Burrowhead mysteries and although it is a stand alone book I would definitely recommend reading book one in the series first, ‘When the Dead Come Calling’. At times I felt a little lost and struggled to follow the storyline as there are some references to book one. I feel I would have enjoyed reading this a lot more if I had read this as a sequel.
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That said, Helen’s writing is thrilling. I love a mystery crime novel and this just kept me guessing throughout and anticipating what would happen next. I found myself not trusting any of the characters. Helen also manages to create an eerie atmosphere which can give you goosebumps. I will definitely read more of this series, and really regret not having read book one first.
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June 14, 2022
This book is creepy, atmospheric and gripping. The story flicks between a few past time lines and the present as DI Georgie Strachan tries to get to grips with some ritualistic crimes in the present that seem to be linked to the past. The villagers have closed ranks and she is treated like an outsider.
I enjoyed the book and it was hard to know who to trust as it seems everyone has a secret. I enjoyed the writing style and the book kept me guessing right until the end!
Although this is a stand alone book I did not realise this was book 2 in the Burrowhead series and as previous characters and crimes are mentioned in the book I would recommend reading When the Dead Come Calling first 😀
I enjoyed the book and it was hard to know who to trust as it seems everyone has a secret. I enjoyed the writing style and the book kept me guessing right until the end!
Although this is a stand alone book I did not realise this was book 2 in the Burrowhead series and as previous characters and crimes are mentioned in the book I would recommend reading When the Dead Come Calling first 😀
May 25, 2021
What an incredibly sinister book this is.
From the first page,all the way to the last ,it had me trusting nobody.
I've not read the book before,and this time around,I think it added to the tension of not quite being sure who were the good guys.
I'm definitely going to read it now.
For a book that's current crime involves killing a horse (and is that even considered a crime?),it's full of death,superstition and creepiness.
A nice team of central characters,that I hope show up again.
Very enjoyable.
From the first page,all the way to the last ,it had me trusting nobody.
I've not read the book before,and this time around,I think it added to the tension of not quite being sure who were the good guys.
I'm definitely going to read it now.
For a book that's current crime involves killing a horse (and is that even considered a crime?),it's full of death,superstition and creepiness.
A nice team of central characters,that I hope show up again.
Very enjoyable.
November 27, 2021
I found this really hard to get into. I didn’t know it was the second in a series and you really need to read the first book.
There are a lot of references to the previous storyline and without reading that I was lost a lot of the time.
I enjoyed the story line - however did find it all rather disjointed as well. There were flashbacks that weren’t identified as flashbacks so knowing whether it was past or present was difficult.
The writing style is good and the short chapters are always appreciated. I feel I would have enjoyed this so much more if I had read the first book.
There are a lot of references to the previous storyline and without reading that I was lost a lot of the time.
I enjoyed the story line - however did find it all rather disjointed as well. There were flashbacks that weren’t identified as flashbacks so knowing whether it was past or present was difficult.
The writing style is good and the short chapters are always appreciated. I feel I would have enjoyed this so much more if I had read the first book.
May 2, 2022
A big Thank you @lovebookstours for sending me this.
This is the Second book in the series which to some people is fine but for me I would need to read the first one. It does make references to the first book though.
I think if I had of read the first book first it would have made things easier to understand and I could gave given a higher rating. But I will read it again after I've read the first. The characters are interesting, the storyline is addictive and it wad hard to put down. The writer has done a fantastic job.
It was overall a really nice read, interesting dark and eerie.
This is the Second book in the series which to some people is fine but for me I would need to read the first one. It does make references to the first book though.
I think if I had of read the first book first it would have made things easier to understand and I could gave given a higher rating. But I will read it again after I've read the first. The characters are interesting, the storyline is addictive and it wad hard to put down. The writer has done a fantastic job.
It was overall a really nice read, interesting dark and eerie.
August 18, 2022
Helen Sedgwick shot into my top 10 authors with the first book in this series.
She done it again this time round the suspense is full on and the crimes are even more sinister.
I enjoyed getting to know some of the characters better that were in "When the dead come calling" who have a bigger role in this book. It was nice to have the continuous. The story line was once again brilliant and the historical details resulted in me googling for more information as I found myself so interested.
Can not wait to start "What doesn't break us" . Will be sad when this series is over.
She done it again this time round the suspense is full on and the crimes are even more sinister.
I enjoyed getting to know some of the characters better that were in "When the dead come calling" who have a bigger role in this book. It was nice to have the continuous. The story line was once again brilliant and the historical details resulted in me googling for more information as I found myself so interested.
Can not wait to start "What doesn't break us" . Will be sad when this series is over.
October 30, 2024
I don't know where to start..but will this the book is incredible the storyline ,the suspense, the way it has been written every thing is incredible. I truly enjoyed every moment of my time reading the book it is not a typical suspense, psychological thriller book but something with deep understanding and undertone. Helen has understood that and manifested it into creating and writing the book. A must read from an amateur but totally worth reading. This are such books which keeps you thinking about the next chapter.
Should be totally viral, the writer is impressive.
Should be totally viral, the writer is impressive.
July 15, 2021
I enjoyed this book until I got to the end and all I want to know is what happens next? However, now I realise this is in a series and is actually the 2nd book. That said I enjoyed it and don't think I missed anything from not having read the first book.
There are a lot of strands, the tensions between the police inspector and the villagers, their not wanting to let outsiders in and then the sacrifices. Well it is a very good read.
There are a lot of strands, the tensions between the police inspector and the villagers, their not wanting to let outsiders in and then the sacrifices. Well it is a very good read.
December 13, 2021
This is the first book I have read by Helen Sedgwick and was delighted to be part of the book tour for this. I really enjoyed the writing style and found my heart racing in places as it felt so real in my imagination! I think I should have read the first one first to get a better understanding as I got confused in places but I did enjoy the plot line specific to this book. I would recommend for people who enjoy a fast paced crime story…
October 23, 2021
The multiple points of view (as in the guest) and multiple time frames weaken the story telling, but the characters are interesting and the creepiness quite compelling. I want to continue to see where this goes.
April 20, 2023
The second book of the Burrowhead series was a bit disappointing for me. Too many points of view, too many unlikeable characters and a few loose ends. It is clear that there is going to be a third novel and that’s why I think that Where the Missing Gather seems unfinished. The end came - albeit too slowly - and left me confused.
August 30, 2021
Loved this book
October 25, 2021
Absolutely fantastic. Helen's writing is just so easy to read. Deals with a huge cast of characters adeptly and I was never lost. Can't wait for the next one!
December 2, 2021
Thoroughoy enjoyed returning to Burrowhead and the story didn't disappoint. Layers within layers, I love the quiet unravelling of this world and the ideas that lie buried within this community!
December 14, 2021
Thank you to @lovebookstours for my copy of this book.
This is the 2nd in the trilogy by Helen, and I’ve been lucky enough to read both. I enjoyed this as much as the 1st, whilst you can read this as a standalone there is a lot of references to the first book within this story. The revelations in the first are expanded on in this one, as well as the separate story that is going on.
I’m really starting to hate one of the main characters, they’ve become very annoying and a bit of a waste of space for my liking. I’m sure this is deliberate and am looking forward to the 3rd book to conclude everything.
Well written and a good middle book, some are just filler in a trilogy but not this one.
This is the 2nd in the trilogy by Helen, and I’ve been lucky enough to read both. I enjoyed this as much as the 1st, whilst you can read this as a standalone there is a lot of references to the first book within this story. The revelations in the first are expanded on in this one, as well as the separate story that is going on.
I’m really starting to hate one of the main characters, they’ve become very annoying and a bit of a waste of space for my liking. I’m sure this is deliberate and am looking forward to the 3rd book to conclude everything.
Well written and a good middle book, some are just filler in a trilogy but not this one.
March 20, 2022
I really tried to like this but I never quite got the hang of the story and there were very few likable characters. Elements hooked me in and then just rambled off to nothing...
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