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Martha Crites
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Grave Disturbance Kindle Edition

by Martha Crites (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 86 ratings
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It is the rainiest year in memory when a homeless man, and a filmmaker are found murdered on the banks of the Snoqualmie River. Mental Health Evaluator, Grace Vaccaro, determines when a person is a danger to self or others and needs hospitalization. She just assessed the first man and let him go. Now he is dead. The filmmaker is her neighbor. Are the deaths related?

 

Grace's search for answers leads her from a Seattle homeless encampment to a pristine forest about to be lost to mining. A Native American elder conceals the location of ancestral gravesites where bones and artifacts were disturbed. And a pregnant woman Grace just evaluated is terrified. Are her statements delusional or does she have information leading to the murderer?

 

As Grace comes closer to the truth, her quiet home is invaded, and she is the next target. She must face the killer alone and learn how far she will go to protect herself and others.

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  1. Print length
    193 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Northwest Corner Books
  5. Publication date
    November 10, 2020
  6. File size
    1715 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A taut and intelligent whodunit, Crites’ first book thrives on its grim Northwestern atmosphere and dark contemporary themes. Grace Vaccaro lives in rural Washington state, where she works as a mental health professional. When local filmmaker Martin Hanish is found murdered, Grace faces several difficult questions: Why was his home ransacked? What did he discover while filming a documentary about local lands? And what secrets are Martin’s friends and colleagues harboring? Crites carefully lays out her clues and relationships and she even provides a convincing red herring. Most impressively, the author uses her own expertise in mental health to her advantage, probing suspects with the perceptive questions of a skilled therapist. The most vital information is embedded in the world of extreme mental illness, and it’s clear that only Grace can puzzle it out. Crites’ first-person descriptions are rich and believable. As the plot unravels, issues of greed and social justice intersect, touching particularly on Washington’s maligned Native American community. When the culprit is unmasked, the scene unfolds naturally, and it’s easy to see how a selfish personality could become a willing murderer. In this gothic environment, Grace’s only fault is her obsessive desire to help people, an impulse that has gotten her physically burned, manipulated, and attacked. Grace continues the tradition of smart professional women becoming accidental gumshoes, and she is a welcome addition to the club. One hopes for a sequel, although a married, mothering, gold-hearted protagonist like Grace could use a few more flaws to round out her character. A sharply written mystery introducing a new detective with a lot of promise

Review

"Grave Disturbance by Martha Crites is well worth reading."San Francisco Review of Books"Seattleite Martha Crites'debut, Grave Disturbance, is a dark and compelling story set mainly in the Cascade foothills. Grace Vaccaro isa mental-health evaluator (as is the author) caught up in bad business after a filmmaker, working on a documentary about native land rights, is murdered. Not surprisingly, one of the book's strongest elements is its protagonist's skill as a mental-health professional in teasing clues out of other people's heads." -Seattle Times"A taut and intelligent whodunit, Crites' first book thrives on its grimNorthwestern atmosphere and dark contemporary themes." -Kirkus Reviews "The heart of any novel is itscast of characters. Ms. Crites has developed a rich and varied ensemble."
Andrew MacRae, SuspenseMagazine December 2015 / Vol. 068 "Mystery... Pacific Northwest setting, two things that I always feel pair perfectly together. They made great partners in this debut novel by Washington State resident, Martha Crites."Long and Short Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08L1DXDCT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Northwest Corner Books; 2nd edition (November 10, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1715 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 193 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 86 ratings

About the author

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Martha Crites

Martha Crites

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Martha Crites worked in community and inpatient mental health for many years and taught at the Quileute Tribal School on the Washington coast. She lives with her husband in Seattle. When she isn’t writing, you will find her walking or volunteering on the Camino de Santiago, the medieval pilgrimage trail in Spain. Her first novel, Grave Disturbance, won a Malice Domestic Grant and was nominated for the Nancy Pearl Award. Danger to Others is the second Grace Vaccaro mystery.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
86 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bonnie Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed that, too--I've never been to the Pacific Northwest
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2016
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Other readers have already commented on the powerful sense of atmosphere the author creates in this suspenseful, well-crafted mystery. I enjoyed that, too--I've never been to the Pacific Northwest, but I felt I got to know it better. I was even more struck by the perceptive, often moving portrayal of the characters and their relationships. The protagonist is truly admirable--not too perfect to be believable, but intelligent and principled, fully committed both to her family and to her work. The portrayal of her family strikes me as searching and compassionate. The conflicts are real, and so is the love holding the family together. I was also impressed by the dialogue. In too many novels, the dialogue seems forced, artificial, or just plain boring. Here, the dialogue feels utterly natural, helping to move the plot ahead steadily while also revealing character. In all, Grave Disturbance is an excellent novel that should appeal not only to mystery fans but also to readers in general.
2 people found this helpful
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Anthony Valterra
4.0 out of 5 stars Intelligently and compassionately written
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2016
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Grave Disturbance is intelligently and compassionately written. While paced slower than a page-turner, the cozy aspects of this debut should earn Crites many new readers, especially for the relatable main character. I'm particularly impressed by the author's humane portrayal of mental illness. A recommended read, definitely!
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NW Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars When's the next one? What will Grace do next?
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2016
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You know how when you're reading a book and you start to figure out how it's gonna end and you wish you hadn't because that means it's almost done and you're having so much fun you don't want it to be over? Grave Disturbance is like that, without the run on sentence. There's brilliance, there's comedy, there's suspense, there's kindness, there's love. And there's a whole lot of rain. Crites not only nailed Washington winters, she nailed the conflicts that arise in a small town on the edge of becoming a bigger one. All in all, a great book. Thanks for the ride.
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mosaic
3.0 out of 5 stars A Suspense Novel Set In My Home Town
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2016
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I live in the Seattle area where this book is set. It was interesting to be able to visualize the characters' environment in my mind's eye. The book is a good first novel for the author. I look forward to reading future work by her.
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Pat Weber
5.0 out of 5 stars Northwest reflections
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2016
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I enjoyed getting to know the characters in anticipation of their roles in the plot. I feel like I understand a little better struggle of those with mental health issues and loved how it related so well to the story line. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the Seattle area. After living in the northwest for forty years, Martha brought me back home again. I felt like she was describing so many of the experiences there, minus the mysteries and drama of course. I am even familiar with Big Rock Road. Can/t wait for her next book.
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ridog
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2016
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This was a gritty, insightful read. I do wish the story had been through a firm final edit as there were many sections that could have been tighter. The details on mental health work were sobering and mesmerizing. I will be glad to read Crites next book.
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Y
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and vivid, beautifully written!
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2016
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While I have not spent much time in the Pacific Northwest, I felt like I did after reading this book. The descriptions of the mountains, the weather, and the scenery were very real. the story line was amazing and very gripping. I basically finished this book in three evenings and on the second evening I had a hard time putting it down even though it was 1 am and I needed to be up by 6! I can really see this novel being adapted into a screenplay. Curious who would play the lead!
2 people found this helpful
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Maryloup
4.0 out of 5 stars A Clash of Modern and Ancient
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2016
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Some people want to save the ways of their ancestors for their grandchildren and some want only to serve their own desires. This author's first novel examines these opposites and weaves the clash of cultures into a grand story of murder and intrigue.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kathy Kennerly
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy interesante y inteligente!
Reviewed in Spain on February 14, 2016
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Muy interesante este libro de Martha Crites. No pude dejarlo. Lo leí dentro de dos dias. Me gusto muchísimo. Inteligente!
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