The Burying Point
A Ray Hanley Crime Thriller
Horrifying circumstances once more beset Salem, Massachusetts, in the thrilling supernatural thriller The Burying Point.
A detective and his new partner race to find a missing woman amid a series of strange events in Derik Cavignano’s supernatural thriller The Burying Point.
Ray, a detective, is still reeling from the death of his former partner when he’s thrust into a high-stakes case by his captain. He has to investigate the disappearance of the captain’s niece, Cassie, in nearby Salem, Massachusetts. But Ray’s introduction to his new partner, Elena, a just-promoted detective who’s eager to prove herself, is marred by her resentment of his presence in her jurisdiction, making their partnership tense from the outset.
The discovery of a woman’s body in a local graveyard, with her heart removed and blood drained, raises fears over Cassie’s fate. Still, the detectives persist, exploring the possible connection between the two cases. After a series of unhelpful and suspicious interviews, they encounter Abby, a troubled friend of Cassie’s, whose mental state hints at darker forces at play. And with limited resources and a book of satanic rituals to guide their investigation, the detectives are made privy to a dangerous local group. With scant evidence pointing to a sinister event to take place on Halloween, the detectives race to uncover the truth.
Despite being a sequel, the novel stands on its own well, with enough insights into Ray’s past and a previous investigation to understand his story. And the book moves at a gripping pace between its chilling events. The detectives confront not only external mysteries but also internal doubts, questioning their perceptions in the face of Abby’s enigmatic condition.
The setting is immersive, with descriptions of the fall that amplify its atmosphere: “The wind off the harbor cut through the street as they approached Pickering Wharf, prying loose the fiery leaves of a nearby maple and scattering them to the wind.” The book is eerier as a result of such prose. Some geographical liberties are taken, though.
The evolving dynamic between Ray and Elena, which is devoid of romantic tropes, is genuine. Their friendship is forged amid shared struggles. Ray is a multifaceted hero, both sensitive and funny, while Elena starts out being edgy but softens, disclosing a complicated background. Their interactions are involving both because of their mutual revelations to each other and because of the moments of levity they share throughout their dark investigation.
As events get stranger and the detectives’ suspect list expands, so does the audience’s challenge of keeping track of the many characters. Occasional shifts in perspective across the chapters further complicate the story’s progression. There are also instances in which people are reintroduced. Still, the book moves toward a thrilling and horrifying climax in which the nature of Salem’s recent events is revealed.
The limits of faith and sanity are tested in a missing person’s investigation in the chilling thriller The Burying Point.
Reviewed by
Leah Webster
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
