Haunted Ground [Import] [Paperback]

Erin Hart (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340827599
• ISBN-13: 978-0340827598
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

More About the Author

ERIN HART introduced pathologist Nora Gavin in one of the most lauded mystery debuts of 2003: HAUNTED GROUND was a Book Sense 76 Pick, a winner of the Friends of American Writers Award, a winner of the Romantic Times Best First Mystery Award, and a nominee for the Anthony Award and the Agatha Award for Best First Novel and Best First Mystery, respectively. Her second novel in the series, LAKE OF SORROWS, was shortlisted for a 2004 Minnesota Book Award. The third in the series, FALSE MERMAID, was released in March 2010, and received broad critical acclaim. A Minnesota theater critic, a former communications director of the Minnesota State Arts Board, and a founder of the Twin Cities Irish Music & Dance Association, Hart received an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Saint Paul with her husband, Irish accordion player Paddy O'Brien, and makes frequent visits to Ireland. Visit her website at http://www.erinhart.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Impressive Debut, August 2, 2003

By 

Gary Griffiths (Los Altos Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haunted Ground: A Novel (Hardcover)

I approached Erin Hart's "Haunted Ground" with some trepidation. First, this is a story of Ireland, written by Hart, an American from the Midwest, as well as a first novel. The pastoral Irish moor provides the backdrop for the teaming Cormac Maguire, a brawny/brainy Irish archeologist, and Nora Gavin, equally eligible American pathologist, providing all the necessary ingredients for a breathless "Harlequinesque" romance. Fortunately, my fears could not have been further off the mark. Rather, Hart demonstrates remarkable talents as a storyteller, lyricist, and historian in this unusual and captivating mystery.

While in the bog cutting turf for fuel, farmers find the severed head of an ancient red-haired girl, perfectly preserved in the damp, dark peat. Meanwhile, Mina Osborne, wife of local gentry High Osborne, and her toddler son have been missing for over two years. Husband/father Hugh is the prime suspect, but there are neither bodies nor solid evidence to convict him. Hart moves deftly between the twin plots of solving the circumstances behind the apparent execution of the red-haired girl centuries before, and those of the disappearance and apparent murder of the Osbornes. The author does a great job of capturing the culture and landscape of rural Ireland, building credible characters in believable situations. The rainy bogs and dark, decaying manors of central Ireland lend a spooky, gothic, air to the tale, which twists to a mostly unexpected and cleverly conceived conclusion.

"Haunted Ground" is a well researched, well written, and refreshing change of pace from the more-standard mystery fare. I would suspect that fans of Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child and Dan Brown would appreciate the history and science Hart blends with her fiction. I would also recommend Martin Cruz Smith's "Rose". In summary, a very impressive debut - I'll look forward to reading more from Erin Hart.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent First Book !!!!, May 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Haunted Ground: A Novel (Hardcover)

I have never written a review before. However, I hope this book will receive more attention from the publisher, reviewers and bookstores, who tend to promote books by their publicity, marketing and displays. I just happened upon this book at Books a Million. For some reason, this particular store, but not others, had the book on display, which grabbed my attention. I bought it and was thrilled to read it.

The other reviews tell the potential reader about the plot. I just want to reiterate how well this book is written. I would much rather see this book on the bestseller lists, than John Grisham. I mean no disrespect to Grisham. But, Erin Hart has written a superb mystery with an emphasis on science. The book is well researched and well done from beginning to end. I hope more people will read it and enjoy the suspense and human interactions of the book!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Mystery, Filled With Celtic Lore!, September 11, 2004

By 

Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haunted Ground: A Novel (Hardcover)

"Haunted Ground: A Novel" is one of the most original mystery-suspense novels I have read in a long while. Set against the background of contemporary Ireland, the complex, multilayered plot is filled with fascinating tidbits of Celtic culture, folklore, music and history. Indeed, the landscape of western Ireland permeates the plot and heightens the novel's haunting ambiance. Author Erin Hart brings her characters to life, giving them believable personas, feelings and motives. She captures beautifully the cadence of Irish speech, which gives the narrative a realistic lilt.

While cutting turf, a Galway farmer discovers the severed head of a woman in the ancient bog. Cormac Maguire, an archeologist and faculty member at the University of Dublin, is called in to investigate when the chief state pathologist determines that the grisly find appears to be centuries old, and not a recent victim. Assisting him is Irish-American archeologist and anatomy expert, Nora Gavin, who has a particular interest in bog bodies. Peat bogs preserve skin, hair, vital organs and even facial features. This particular head belonged to a young woman who had long red hair. The curious townsfolk begin to call her "cailin rua," "red colleen."

The archeologists search for clues in ancient records, folk songs, and local lore, trying to discover the story of the woman's violent death, a murder perpetrated in approximately 1660. Gradually the one investigation turns into a triple murder mystery. Maguire and Gavin are intensely involved with the ancient investigation. They also become more than curious about the recent disappearance of a local woman and her child in the same area where the head was found. The murders remind Nora of her sisters violent death. She believes that her brother-in-law is the killer, but the crime has never been solved. The weight of her sibling's death, along with the two other unsolved mysteries, sits heavily on her.

Maguire and Gavin are a wonderful pair with great chemistry, and soon sparks begin to fly. The suspicious villagers give a gothic feel to the story, as do the centuries old buildings, tower and priory. The secondary characters, with all their quirks, feuds and jealousies, are an interesting and realistic lot also.

I found myself glued to "Haunted Ground." It is a riveting read.
JANA