Point of Graves: A New England History Mystery

by J. Dennis Robinson

Museum caretaker Levi Woodbury’s solitary lifestyle is shattered when reporter Claire Caswell enlists her ex-lover to unravel a mysterious death in a historic New England seaport. Could the dead man and his missing “manifesto” connect to growing fears that an ancient cemetery lies beneath the site of the city’s next high-rise parking garage? Set in historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Genres: Mystery

358 pages, Paperback

Published August 11, 2021

About the author

J. Dennis Robinson is the author of a dozen entertaining books about American history. He writes from a hideaway office in historic Portsmouth, NH near the swirling Piscataqua River. A popular and sometimes irreverent columnist and lecturer, he operates the award-winning website SeacoastNH.com. His latest book, MYSTERY ON THE ISLES OF SHOALS, is a thrilling nonfiction study of the infamous 1873 ax murders on Smuttynose Island. Yankee Magazine editor Judson Hale calls it "a superb piece of work" and Library Journal says "recommended for all true crime collections." His other page-turning history books focus on privateering, Jesse James, Strawbery Banke Museum, archaeology, Victorian hotels, Lord Baltimore, child labor, and more. As Robyn Dennison, the author has begun a genre-busting series of e-book novellas. The first, KILL ALL THE VAMPIRE WRITERS is available from Kindle Direct Publishing.

Reviews

[Linn Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Man Found Dead In Cemetery” –

It’s all here — weaving the suspicious death of the eccentric old codger slumped against William Whipple’s chest tomb (look him up – he signed the Declaration of Independence) and a missing manifesto, with the complexities of urban archaeology and a suspected Black burial ground at risk from a needed parking garage. Throw in small city politics, corporate tug-of-war, and a masked marauder bicycle thief for good measure. Plus there’s zealous newspaper reporter pitted against a stylish corporate PR maven, a reclusive handyman lodging at an historic house (with mysterious heartbreak in his own history), a 102-year-old Black landlord with two crazy and differently damaged old guys – one creepy and one just mysteriously odd – living in two rooms upstairs. All this plays out against the backdrop of the untalked about “secret” history of a colonial seaport. Historians – both professional and amateur – abound in this mystery novel taking place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Plenty of engaging local history abounds, too, both above and below ground.

Robinson’s characters speak from the pages like real people. They act like real people. And the author captures the Portsmouth obsession with the history buried just below the surface of the seaport town and the obvious architectural history everywhere one looks.

Full disclosure here: Portsmouth, New Hampshire has been my home away from home for over forty years. So part of my enjoyment of this book was reading about Portsmouth’s yesteryears and locations I’m well familiar with. It’s a deeply satisfying book and a well-crafted puzzle (actually several puzzles) that will keep the reader engaged and entertained in fitting the pieces together right up to the end.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many of Dennis Robinson's non-fiction books so I was excited to hear that he had a new novel -- especially one that combined threads of Portsmouth history with a fictional mystery. I'm also an archaeologist who works in Portsmouth, NH, so this was *right* up my alley. I always love reading a book that is set in a place I know well, and this book really came to life for me. Levi, Claire, and Casey were great main characters. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in New England history, Black history, or mysteries! Thanks Dennis!

[Terry Cowdrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect mystery story for anyone familiar with the NH Seacoast and anyone interested in New England history. The characters come alive on the page and the story blends past events with contemporary issues. Finishing the novel is satisfying yet left me wanting to read more stories by this author. Highly recommend!

[Carla Desrosiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well crafted story not only provides reading enjoyment, but also insights and history that will have you pondering and questioning what you think you already know about history and the characters who inhabit it. Because I live in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire I found the description of Portsmouth and its people both accurate and charming.

[Linda Marciniszyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great piece of writing by Mr. Robinson

Have thoroughly enjoyed all of Mr. Robinson's historical works so immediately purchased this novel. It does not disappoint. Love the connection to Portsmouth's actual history and it was a right good mystery!

[Barbara Dion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Point of Graves is a fun and informative "history mystery" loaded with historical facts about the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire including previously overlooked stories about its Black residents that date back to colonial times.

[Rebecca Rule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, history, local color--I loved this book. Great characters, beautifully described settings, a deft weaving of intriguing mysteries both in the moment and in the past. Well done. Looking forward to the next mystery by J. Dennis Robinson.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a lot of history in this book. I'm not originally from Portsmouth, or new Hampshire for that matter, so I found it especially interesting. It led me to look up the area I live in. I'm fascinated by the history!! New fan now, and I can not wait to get my hands on more books by this author!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently-written history/mystery. I love the combination of Portsmouth/New England history. It brought to life the home town of a line of my ancestors! I hope the author will continue to write more fiction.

[Gerri Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical mystery. Trace the places, pin them on a map, research the history referenced, and you will only want more detail. Great characters you can well imagine walking the streets of modern day Portsmouth! Leaves you wanting more!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who lived and worked in Portsmouth NH for many years, I found this historic mystery novel enjoyable to read. Although the main characters are fictional, the locale is very familiar. A fun read.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

good New England read

[Marga Coulp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Points of Graves

Loved it ,so much history. Couldn’t put it down. Cant wait to read the rest of your novels. Next is about the Isles of Sholes

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all New Englanders! The Portsmouth, NH backdrop for a fun, quirky mystery makes this required reading for anyone north of Coonscticut!

[Joni McNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great sense of place and characters.

[Dana Clinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Point of Graves (J Dennis Robinson). A mystery! I was excited that this was the book for the next Music Hall book club (which is two days away) just because it is my favorite reading material and I hadn’t read a mystery in quite a while. The author will be making a presentation to our group, followed by a question and answer session, which should be very interesting. We read another of his books some years back, a non-fiction account of the murders on the Isles of Shoals, well done and well-received. This is a good story set in the lovely old town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and it always adds a layer of enjoyment to recognize familiar names and places. For his first foray into mystery fiction, he has done a fine job. There are several threads to the tale, a good cast of characters and their backgrounds, and lots of history , much of which was new to me who lives twenty miles away, so less steeped in the town lore than I suspect many of my friends in the group are. A local odd character about town is found dead against the gravestone of William Whipple, one of the town’s most famous figures, ruled a suicide. For years he had been carrying around a manifesto he was working on, which was not on him at the time of his death. Ace Randall was known to be paranoid. He was living rent free along with another sketchy fellow named Roy as guests/companions of Cicero Ladd, a centenarian African American who becomes embroiled in a local hot-button issue: developers want to build a much-needed parking garage on land he claims is the site of a long lost African American cemetery. Levi Woodbury, local museum caretaker with a mystery in his own background, becomes involved with all these people, along with his own friends. Several red herrings and a satisfying ending. It is subtitled “A New England History Mystery “, so perhaps there are more to come.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been a huge fan of J.Dennis Robinson and anytime he publishes a new work, I immediately pick it up. With his new piece, Dennis has exceeded all fictional expectations in "Point of Graves." Though I am a Portsmouth native, any history and mystery fan is sure to enjoy the story and unique characters developed and residing in our charming seaside town. Hope to see more fictional works in his future!