Buried on Avenue B by Peter De Jonge

Darlene is a homicide cop who has seen ugly things and heard many stories, but she finds herself a bit incredulous about a murder that's a decade old and being reported by the caregiver of an old man with Alzheimer's.  Is it true or is it his imagination?

Harper allowed me to read this story for review (thank you).  It will be published in a week or so.  Check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Gus, the Alzheimer's victim, states he buried a big black man under a willow tree in the garden at Avenue B.  Darlene is still doubtful, but she begins to look into the matter.  The garden was there then, she's pretty sure she knows which tree it was, and now she's does some research to see who this man might have been and if he might really be buried there. There is a partner Gus had long ago and he seems to have disappeared when Gus got out of jail.  She finally gets enough facts that they decide to exhume the body that might be buried under the tree.  Then the case becomes really complicated:  The body under the tree belongs to a 9-year-old boy...

The search for his identity and why he got he killed at that age takes Darlene to some very strange places.  She finds the boy in artwork, talks to a bearded lady, walks among gypsies and skateboard riders, and keeps following the tangled weave and piecing the story together.

This story offers an interesting mystery that is filled with emotion and callousness both.  It is not a straight beginning to a logical end; it's full of several bonds between characters and unusual circumstances.  It's ending is also unusual.  You won't figure out the plot before you reach the end of this story.  That made it more interesting to read for me.

If you'd like my copy of this book, leave a comment here on the blog and email me at info at bookfaerie.com with your name and address and why you'd like to read it.  I'll give my copy away in about a week.

Happy reading.