Book Review: Graves, Worms and Epitaphs

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Graves, Worms and Epitaphs     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
J. W. Kerr
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Series: Lt. Hilderbrand # 2

This is the second novel from the pen of J. W. Kerr, following the first
novel to star Lieutenant Anson Hilderbrand, 'The Devil & Lieutenant
Hilderbrand'. Here, Hilderbrand is trying to track down the people
responsible for the murder of his best friend, Herman Rathke, a fellow
officer. His quest takes him across America, only to discover that the real
danger was back in Houston.

As in his first novel, there is not a great deal of depth and the majority of the story is told through dialogue. It was nice to see Hilderbrand get out of Texas and head for California, which Kerr did his best to make feel authentic, although this is hard to do in the few chapters allotted to it.

The ending was unexpected and it seems as though Kerr, a professor who teaches law was using it to discuss some of the moral concepts that police officers face. He shows us something that we have seen many times before and allows his characters to discuss whether their actions are always the right ones. As I have said, this is not a new idea, but Kerr gives it enough depth to permit the reader to think about it more deeply.

Like his first novel, 'Graves, Worms and Epitaphs' is short and sweet, to use a cliché. He anchors his plot more firmly in reality than in 'The Devil & Lieutenant Hilderbrand' and this is a further positive point. It is worth reading the books in order, but 'Graves, Worms and Epitaphs' is better and this shows that Kerr is continuing to develop his writing talents. I look forward to his next novel.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
http://lukecroll.translatorscafe.com