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The Unburied |
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 The Unburied byCharles Palliser Farrar, Straus and Giroux 400 pages, 1999 ISBN 037428035 Reviewed by Nancy Mehl Within the walls of a cathedral close in the town of Thurchester, lies a centuries old murder mystery. Dr. Edward Courtine, a middle-aged university historian, who is determined to clear the name of his long dead hero, Alfred the Great, receives an invitation to the close from an old school chum whom he hasn’t seen for twenty years. Knowing that in the cathedral library, the evidence he has been looking for might finally be found, he travels to Thurchester, hoping to right the wrong he believes history has done to Alfred. Instead, he becomes embroiled in murders that have remained unsolved since the 17th century. Then suddenly and without warning, he is thrust into the middle of a deadly conspiracy that results in a new murder and threatens to bring about his own destruction. His journey forces Dr. Courtine to face actual corpses that have yet to be interred as well as the rotting cadaver of a heart-breaking marriage that still lives in his own heart and mind and has never been laid to rest. The Unburied has all the right elements for a suspenseful Victorian mystery set in the 19th century, including archaic buildings, creaking stairs, gas lights, and lots of fog, as well as a cast of characters that all seem to be guarding sinister secrets. There’s even an ancient ghost that roams the close, seeking justice and retribution. I would have loved this novel had the main story line been revealed more clearly in earlier chapters Palliser puts most of his emphasis on Courtine’s investigation of Alfred the Great and the dark events that happened many years earlier. I found myself longing to get back to the current, much more intriguing mystery. Although Palliser has certainly captured the feeling of Victorian England, the story itself was difficult to follow. In fact, the actual solution to the 19th century mystery was finally solved only through reading the editor’s remarks after the novel was completed. Pallister is a master of twists and turns and his understanding of 19th century England is remarkable. History buffs and those who have a greater capacity for details will enjoy this book immensely. |
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