Haunted Ground

It all begins when the head of a beautiful red-haired girl is found in a bog in western Ireland. Archaeologist Cormac Maguire and anthropologist Nora Gavin arrive at the scene to inspect the remains, trying to learn all they can about when and how she died, as well as the historical period she came from. This mystery of the past soon becomes linked to contemporary affairs: a local woman and her child disappeared two years ago, and her husband, Hugh Osborne, is the number-one suspect in their possible murder. Policeman Garret Devaney, who was taken off the Osborne case, nevertheless can’t get it out of his mind, and he teams up with Maguire and Gavin to solve this mystery as well. As the three investigators are drawn deeper and deeper show more into the case, they must come to terms with their own past secrets…but their own lives might also be in danger.

This book was actually about eight mysteries for the price of one. Who is the red-haired girl, and what happened to her? Where are Hugh Osborne’s wife and son? What happened to Nora’s own sister? Why does Irish farmer Brendan McGann hate Osborne so much? Who is the father of Una McGann’s child? As you can see, there are a lot of plot threads going on, and a lot of characters to keep straight. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book. There were a few flaws in the characterization, and sometimes I did feel like there was a little too much going on. But Hart created an absorbing world, and that’s what kept me reading – she depicted modern Ireland with such beautiful descriptions that I felt like I was there. I also really liked the way she wove history and culture into the story: the mystery of the red-haired girl turned out to be one of my favorite plot lines, and there are several wonderful scenes in which the characters play traditional Irish music. This was a very satisfying read, and it’s definitely something I plan on buying! Can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel, Lake of Sorrows. show less

adult mystery. I didn't like this one as much as False Mermaid (a later book in the series, where Nora does finally solve the mystery of what happened to her sister). Perhaps I'm just in a mood for more action right now; there wasn't anything necessarily wrong with this one--it is as layered and murky as it's Irish bog setting.

Haunted Ground is a complicated mystery; archaeologist Cormac Maguire and pathologist Nora Gavin get involved in trying to discover the stories behind a head found in an Irish bog, the disappearance of a wife and child, and other goings-on around the village and the manor house they're staying in. Plenty of suspense, puzzles, strange behavior, and some romance ensues, with Irish music and history thrown in for fun.

This was well written, fascinating, and the main characters (including the homicide detective Devany) were insightfully drawn and easy to care about. You don't have to be interested in Ireland, history, and archaeology to enjoy this book, so long as you like psychological studies and mysteries.

Bottom line: I'm checking show more another book in the series out from the library right away. show less

For being a first novel, this was a great book. The mystery was pretty convoluted, but satisfying. Description of the people and the environment was good.

An archaeologist and an anatomy lecturer investigate a redheaded woman’s head discovered in an Irish bog, and also become caught up in the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a local landowner’s wife.

I didn’t know about peat bogs and the way they preserved “skin, hair and vital organs [...] even subtle facial expressions”, nor the challenges this poses for determining how long a body has been buried. I’ve read a bunch of murder mysteries -- and this one is definitely different. It is so atmospheric, with a strong sense of place, history and mystery.

I intend to read more of these mysteries at some point. While I’m in no hurry to find out what happens to Cormac and Nora next (usually the motivating factor for binging show more murder mysteries), I enjoyed their company and liked how they had different skills and perspectives. show less

When the perfectly preserved head of a red-haired young woman is found in a in a peat bog on a farm in County Galway, Ireland, archaeologist Cormac Maguire and pathologist Nora Gavin are called in to consult on how long the head may have been there. Local police officer, Garrett Devaney, uses the discovery to resume his search for Mina Osborne and her son, whose disappearance two years ago still remains unsolved. Her husband, Hugh Osborne, has always been the main suspect and his land is located near the bog.

I wasn't initially gripped by the storyline but felt like the author did a good job of keeping the reader interested in the two mysteries: who does the severed head belong to and whatever happened to Mina Osborne? She switched show more between the two plots fairly seamlessly and her depiction of rural Ireland was believable and full of Irish folklore and superstition. This was the debut of a series featuring Nora Gavin and I will definitely try another one when I get the opportunity. show less

The Irish setting and the historical and archaeological details added to this read for me.
It opens in a peat bog in a small town and offers a peek into the lives of some of those who live there.
Tragedy and betrayal are part of the story, but so is love and hope.

A very enjoyable weekend read!