The Gravedigger's Song

by Martyn Waites

When his song is over, so are you Under a starless winter night in rural Cornwall, four killers dressed in bizarre folkloric garb brutally invade the home of the wealthy West family. They destroy the posh house and kill the terrified family. All but traumatized seventeen-year-old Simon manages to escape, fleeing through snowy woods. Later, fears that he's an active target of madmen or criminals lead the police to once more come knocking on Tom Killgannon's Will he watch over Simon until a more secure place is found for the boy? An ex-undercover cop now living in witness protection, Tom's turned his back on his violent past. Living in seclusion in his coastal cottage alongside his adoptive daughter, Lila, he also has a romance blossoming with local tavern owner, Pearl Ellacott. Tom's reluctant to shelter Simon, but the boy comes to stay, and villains are soon circling the cottage like vultures. When there's a break-in late one night, Tom must protect his own. The ensuing violence disrupts the household a rift opens up as Pearl fears a life with Tom will be forever plagued by violence. Meanwhile, a local by-election in this economically depressed part of the country arouses dangerous nativist sentiments. Simon falls into the clutches of a fanatical political cult that see a way to brainwash him and use him for their own ends. To save the boy, Tom must summon from within the violent man he once was, risking the new life he created to face down the most lethal of foes.

424 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 2022

About the author

Martyn Waites (b. 1963) is an English actor and author of hard-boiled fiction. Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, he spent his post-university years selling leather coats, working in pubs and doing stand-up comedy. After a stint in drama school, Waites pursued life on the stage, performing regionally in theaters across England. TV and commercial work followed, and he continued to act full-time until the early 1990s, when he began writing his first novel: a noir mystery set in the city of his birth. Mary’s Prayer was published in 1997, and Waites followed it with three more novels starring the same character, an investigative journalist named Stephen Larkin.

Since then he has divided his time between acting and writing. After concluding the Larkin series in 2003, he created another journalist, troubled reporter Joe Donovan, who made his first appearance in The Mercy Seat (2006). Waites’ most recent novel is Speak No Evil (2009). Along with his wife and children, he lives and works in Hertfordshire, a county north of London.

Reviews

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the other two books in Martin Waites’ series, however, I had no problem jumping into The Gravedigger’s Song. From the start to the finish, this book is gripping. The opening scene is eery and chilling. It is absolutely frightening without being graphic.

The writing is crisp and clean and the plot pace is excellent. I enjoyed that both the protagonists and antagonists are well developed. It is unusual to get such insight into the antagonist. I love the character, Tom, he is interesting and complicated.

Overall, this fast-pace novel had me glued to my seat reading, and although not my usual genre, I really enjoyed The Gravedigger’s Song.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at
www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com

[Keindra Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the author Martyn Waites for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Gravedigger’s Song is my first novel by this author and it did not disappoint. The characters are very well written and the descriptions are phenomenal.

What I liked best about this novel was how well written the villains were. Overall I would recommend this to readers.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another author who never disappoints, and as his books are only available to me online I find I have missed the ones at the beginning of this series. Enough is mentioned to let the reader follow the backstory but it has made me jump online and order the previous books.
Tom and Lila, a girl he took in after he caught her stealing from him (and a lot more but I will have to read the previous book to find out what) are living in a small village in England. Tom is in a relationship with Pearl, the lady who owns the local pub, Tom, an ex undercover cop, is also in witness protection. When he is asked to look after Simon, a boy who’s entire family had been murdered, he is somewhat reluctant to bring trouble to his door. Lila persuades him as she knows what it is like to need a safe place to be.
When there is a break in at their home, the violence inflicted drives Pearl and Tom apart. Simon left to his own devices ends up in the wrong hands and it is up to Tom once more to help out.
Waites writes unflinching prose and doesn’t shy away from the graphic imagery. His books hold no punches and the better for it.

#TheGravediggersSong. #NetGalley

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Gravedigger's Song is the third crime thriller in the Tom Kilgannon series by Martyn Waites. Released 30 Aug 2022 by Blackstone Publishing, it's 350 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a very well written and honestly gripping crime novel. The intro scene is horrifyingly brutal and creepy and involves a home invasion, torture murder, sexual assault (including an adult and a minor), and explicit on page descriptions of the crimes. Coming off a long stint of village cozies, it was difficult to read. The book does get easier to stomach, but the first 20 pages are a series of gut punches, and readers should be forewarned.

The plotting and action are very tautly controlled and well wrought. The author has a gift with description and the characterizations are believable. There is a thread throughout of the importance of found family which is uplifting and beautifully inclusive.

The language is rough in places (R - rated), and the descriptions are bloodthirsty. The climax, denouement, and resolution are very well written and (mostly) satisfying.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Rainelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the beginning of the novel I was definitely pulled into the story. The fact the Tom was working on himself and not with the government really touched on the heart of the realism to the story. It’s the villains of the story who I thought were written very well. They definitely played with the fear factor. I thought the book was good, but a little polishing up as this was an unedited ARC that I was reading.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written thriller.

[Ken Bruss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meandering mystery involving a family in witness protection’s involvement with a teenage boy whose family was also in witness protection. The boy’s father, stepmother and sister are savagely killed.