Paul Cleave: Cemetery Lake

Cemetary Lake by Paul Cleave, Book Review Murder In Common

Desperate times

Desperate measures

 

How much trouble can one ex-cop turned PI get into? Read Cemetery Lake to find out and you’ll shake your head. New Zealand’s Paul Cleave has created quite the character in the impulsive Theodore Tate. He keeps you busy wondering how things can possibly  work out and he does it with sardonic humour.

As Tate presides over an exhumation, the body of girl is discovered in the coffin belonging to a man. A torrential downpour on this scene turns into a horror show as bodies begin to pop-up in the lake steps away.

Tate is filled with guilt. If he had investigated the death of the man who was supposed to be in the coffin two years earlier, he is positive the circumstances evolving around him would be different. Now he drinks and stalks Father Julian, the Catholic priest that Tate believes knows who is killing people and refuses to break the confessional seal.

This is the third book in the Theodore Tate series preceded by The Cleaner and The Killing Hour. Now I have to go back and read these books and I suspect a few more.

Recognition for his work:

Ngaio Marsh Award, the Saint-Maur crime novel of the year, shortlisted for the Edgar, the Barry and the Ned Kelly.

 

 

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7 responses to “Paul Cleave: Cemetery Lake”

  1. Paul Cleave: The Quite People – Murder in Common

    […] reviewed Cemetery Lake by Paul Cleave in 2016, and you should check out the books of this accomplished writer here on his […]

    Reply
  2. Lynne Avatar
    Lynne

    Sounds like a good one, June…..I’ll add it to my list for Pierre. We’ve had a mixed bag of weather today, rain, snow freezing rain and ice pellets….it’s pouring just now. Imissed my gym and Aquafit because of driving conditions so made up for it by cleaning and baking. Two cranberry loaves are in the oven and the aroma is making me hungry. Love, # 2

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Reply
    1. June Lorraine Roberts Avatar
      June Lorraine Roberts

      Oh boy I can smell them from here! Hope you get a chance to read Cleave I think you’d enjoy his books.
      Love, #6

      Reply
  3. Sue Coletta Avatar
    Sue Coletta

    Sounds excellent. I’ve heard such great things this author, which is why I was especially interested on your view.

    Reply
    1. June Lorraine Roberts Avatar
      June Lorraine Roberts

      Have a peek at Craig’s informative comments on the character Theodore Tate. I know I have to read more of Paul Cleave but Craig isn’t making the choice easy!

      Reply
  4. craigsisterson Avatar
    craigsisterson

    Hi June, just an FYI that CEMETERY LAKE is Cleave’s third book, but actually the first Theo Tate book. Cleave’s first four books – including BLOOD MEN, which won the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award – were all standalones. But then Cleave started bringing Tate back (which is great, he’s a fab character), in COLLECTING COOPER, THE LAUGHTERHOUSE, AND FIVE MINUTES ALONE. The latter book won the 2015 Ngaio Marsh Award. Tate also makes a supporting cast appearance in JOE VICTIM, which is a sequel to THE CLEANER. Cleave is a great author. Hope you enjoy reading more of his work. CEMETERY LAKE was my first read of his too. I like it very much, but think many of his other books are even better, so that’s something for you to look forward to.

    Reply
    1. June Lorraine Roberts Avatar
      June Lorraine Roberts

      Thanks for this backstory Craig. Very helpful for everyone!

      Reply

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