A Carol for the Dead Book

December 16th, dead midwinter. A light dusting of snow is falling over Newgrange, an innocent white to cover the dark soil. A small group is huddled around a shallow grave, dug out of the earth, one of them reaching out to touch what lies inside...Archaeologist Illaun Bowe has been called to the find of many ancient bodies in this area of County Meath, but none quite as bizarre. There is the horrific manner of death, for a start: Illaun can see that its eyes have been gouged out, throat slashed, and there is a sprinkling of holly berries in the earth beside it. Who could have subjected it to such a grotesque and violent end? And then the murders begin. One by one, those who were with Illaun at the site are picked off: eyes gouged out, mouths stuffed with holly. It would seem that there are more than bodies buried in the ancient soil, but secrets too. And someone is prepared to go to any lengths to safeguard them...Read More