Haunted Ground: A Novel (Paperback)

~ (Author) "With a sodden rasp, Brendan McGann's turf spade sliced into the bank of earth below his feet..." (more)
Key Phrases: redhaired girl, site kit, conservation lab, Erin Hart, Hugh Osborne, Mina Osborne (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cutting turf in the peat bogs of his Ireland farm, Brendan McGann occasionally finds old oak beams, oxcarts or tubs of butter and cheese buried ages ago and forgotten. But he's hardly prepared for the gruesome discovery he makes one pleasant April morning: the perfectly preserved head of a woman. So begins Hart's debut thriller, which follows archeologist Cormac Maguire, maverick local detective Garret Devaney, and Nora Gavin, an American anatomist lecturing at Trinity College Medical School, as they investigate the farmer's grisly finding, which could date back quite far, given that peat bogs can preserve bodies for centuries. Cormac and Nora stay in the house of Hugh Osborne, the owner of a decaying manor who also happens to be the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of his wife and infant son two years ago. The accommodations are not quite the Ritz. Osborne's dour cousin, Lucy Osborne, is the housekeeper, and her son, 17-year-old Jeremy, who drinks too much, also lurks around the estate. Nora finds a filthy, dead crow on her bed, as well as broken glass littering her bathroom floor. What's going on in this malevolent household? In addition to a complex, multilayered plot that involves both contemporary and historical crimes, Hart's novel is rich in local color: evenings at the pub, the petty feuds and jealousies of the townspeople and the traditional music and folk culture of Ireland are evocatively rendered.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Two brothers "cutting turf" from a peat bog in the Irish countryside discover the head of a beautiful red-haired woman, decapitated and perfectly preserved in the decay-resistant bog. Who is she, and how long has her head been in the ground? Irish archaeologist Cormac Macguire and American pathologist Nora Gavin are summoned from Dublin to help answer those questions, but soon they are immersed in another mystery: Will the bodies of the recently disappeared wife and son of the local landowner, Hugh Osborne, also be found in the depths of Drumcleggan bog? And did Osborne put them there, as many local villagers suspect? First-novelist Hart follows her gripping set-piece opening (evoking the bodies-in-the-snow tableau from Gorky Park) with an utterly beguiling mix of village mystery, gothic suspense, and psychological thriller. Just as Macguire and Gavin are drawn into, first, the mystery of the red-haired girl and, second, the question of Osborne's guilt or innocence, so Hart draws us into, first, life in the small Galway village near where the girl was found and, finally, the insular world of Bracklyn House, family home of the Osbornes (think Manderley in Rebecca). Atmosphere is all in this detail-rich novel, from the traditional Irish music that not only plays in the background but also helps drive the plot (Hart is a founder of Minnesota's Irish Music and Dance Association) to the fascinating snippets of history concerning peat bogs, archaeological methodology, and the devastating effects on the Irish people of the Cromwellian resettlement in the seventeenth century. Simultaneously, Hart breathes life into local history the way Graham Swift did in Waterland; reinvents the du Maurier formula for gothic suspense; and brings new texture and psychological acuity to the usual suspects from the generic village mystery. In every way, this is a debut to remember. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (February 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743272102
• ISBN-13: 978-0743272100
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,112 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

15 of 16 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 (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

11 of 11 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!