Burial
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The disorganised private life of Nathan, luckless protagonist of Burial by Neil Cross, is not one that most of us would aspire to. Nathan, one of life's under-achievers, is chafing in a radio journalism job, and is stuck in a relationship that has run its course – mainly because of his own lack of drive and focus. He reluctantly goes to a party along with his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend; the host is his boss, an unpleasant right-wing radio host. Nathan shares some drugs with the slightly creepy Bob, a journalist who is given to some flaky beliefs in the supernatural. Both men encounter the equally stoned (and irresponsible) Elise, and all three participate in some sordid sex in a parked car. To Nathan's horror, the mini-orgy results in Elise's death (Bob was the last person to be alone with her). Nathan, much against his better judgement, is persuaded to dispose of Elise's body, and her death ends up in the 'unsolved' files of police registers. Time passes, and Nathan is racked with guilt. Then Bob makes an unwelcome reappearance and informs him that the woods in which they buried Elise are to be dug up for a social housing project. Nathan's life is soon in a desperately downward spiral. Burial, like earlier Neil Cross books such as Holloway Falls, is perfectly calculated to keep the reader on tenterhooks -- in all kinds of ways. When Nathan becomes friendly with the uncomprehending sister of the dead Elise and initiates a relationship, we are simultaneously pained at the deception – and worried for the screwed-up protagonist. As events move towards a grim and jaw-dropping climax, it's clear that once again Neil Cross has demonstrated he is the master of the uncomfortable, worrying suspense narrative. Burial is a queasy – but undeniably compulsive – read. --Barry Forshaw
Product Description
Can your guiltiest secret ever be buried? Nathan has never been able to forget the worst night of his life: the party that led to the sudden, shocking death of a young woman. Only he and Bob, an untrustworthy old acquaintance, know what really happened and they have resolved to keep it that way. But one rainy night, years later, Bob appears at Nathan's door with terrifying news, and old wounds are suddenly reopened, threatenening to tear Nathan's whole world apart. Because Nathan has his own secrets now. Secrets that could destroy everything he has fought to build. And maybe Bob doesn't realise just how far Nathan will go to protect them...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read the blurb on the back of the book, I thought this was going to be a fairly predictable read that followed pretty much the same basic plot as numerous other thrillers. Wow, how wrong was I ? It really kept me guessing right until the end and even then, I was way of the mark ! I loved the way the "good guys" and the "bad guys" were not totally clear cut and the interaction between the different characters. It reminded me a bit of the film "Shallow Grave" but with a much more realistic storyline - it gave me the shivers because I could really imagine being in that situation and trying to work out what to do, exactly like the characters in the book. Some of the descriptions were haunting (sorry, no pun intended !). I couldn't help thinking this would make a brilliant film or TV series so I was hardly surprised to read that Neil Cross is lead scriptwriter on 'Spooks' and other TV programmes. I whizzed through this book in a few days, reading way after I decided to stop every night because I always wanted to find out what was going to happen in the next chapter ! It's a real page-turner
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read my first Neil Cross book about a year ago, and since then have been seeking out other books by this remarkable writer. Neil Cross specialises in complex psychological novels in which ordinary people get involved in highly disturbing crimes. His ability to capture the horror of suburban man as he is sucked into unresolvable conflicts is second to none.
In Burial, a young man called Nathan goes to a party, where drink and drugs flow freely. Nathan is about to break up with his girl-friend and hooks up with Elise, an appealing and friendly young woman who seems to be happy take over where his previous girl-friend left off. Nathan also meets Bob, an old acquaintance who offers to drive Nathan and Elise out in his car to a remote spot where they can take more drugs and have what seems (mistakenly) to be a good time.
I have no intention of spoiling this book for other readers and must stop my description there. But it will do no harm to say that Nathan ends up years later with a horrendous situation to deal with involving the exhumation of an ancient corpse, the concealment of appalling secrets from his wife, and an attempt to sort out Bob, who now has a terrifying hold over him but has also degenerated into a shambling and confused wreck. Half-way through the book, the reader suddenly sees that the whole situation is so impossible for Nathan to deal with that there seems to be absolutely no resolution other than some sort of nuclear option. It is at this stage that the reader's late nights begin.
There is so much to this book. It deals with human behaviour under extreme pressure and Neil Cross seems to have got completely into his characters as he describes their torment. I can only recommend it to anyone who has got bored with more run of the mill books.
In Burial, a young man called Nathan goes to a party, where drink and drugs flow freely. Nathan is about to break up with his girl-friend and hooks up with Elise, an appealing and friendly young woman who seems to be happy take over where his previous girl-friend left off. Nathan also meets Bob, an old acquaintance who offers to drive Nathan and Elise out in his car to a remote spot where they can take more drugs and have what seems (mistakenly) to be a good time.
I have no intention of spoiling this book for other readers and must stop my description there. But it will do no harm to say that Nathan ends up years later with a horrendous situation to deal with involving the exhumation of an ancient corpse, the concealment of appalling secrets from his wife, and an attempt to sort out Bob, who now has a terrifying hold over him but has also degenerated into a shambling and confused wreck. Half-way through the book, the reader suddenly sees that the whole situation is so impossible for Nathan to deal with that there seems to be absolutely no resolution other than some sort of nuclear option. It is at this stage that the reader's late nights begin.
There is so much to this book. It deals with human behaviour under extreme pressure and Neil Cross seems to have got completely into his characters as he describes their torment. I can only recommend it to anyone who has got bored with more run of the mill books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I stumbled across a review of Burial a couple of weeks ago and thought it sounded like something I would enjoy. I was right - I couldn't put it down!
Nathan is an unambitous plodder who is stuck in a relationship he doesn't want to be in and a job he doesn't want to do. Talked into going to the Christmas party of his z-list celebrity boss (a once-famous radio DJ) with his girlfriend, Nathan slopes off on his own and ends up taking coke with someone he barely knows, Bob. As the night wears on they are joined by a young girl, Elise, who they discover sitting outside on their own and the three decide to go for a drive, resulting in some sordid goings on in the car. Returning to the car after leaving Bob and Elise in there for just two minutes, Nathan discovers that Elise has died from what appears to be a fit. In blind panic, the two men bury Elise's body in the woods and vow never to speak of it ever again. No trace of Elise was found and after some time the case is closed and forgotten about.....until 10 years later when Bob appears at Nathans door with the news that a housing estate is about to be built on the site of the woods.....
With its matter-of-fact narrative, this book was fast-paced and gripping and I found myself reluctant to put it down. I downloaded it onto my new Kindle (that I got for my birthday) as once I had read the review I wanted to read it right then rather than wait, and once I had started reading I even took my Kindle into the bath with me to read (although I must admit I was terrified of dropping it at first) but I couldn't bear to not be reading even for 10 minutes.
Highly recommended for fans of crime and mystery fiction.
Nathan is an unambitous plodder who is stuck in a relationship he doesn't want to be in and a job he doesn't want to do. Talked into going to the Christmas party of his z-list celebrity boss (a once-famous radio DJ) with his girlfriend, Nathan slopes off on his own and ends up taking coke with someone he barely knows, Bob. As the night wears on they are joined by a young girl, Elise, who they discover sitting outside on their own and the three decide to go for a drive, resulting in some sordid goings on in the car. Returning to the car after leaving Bob and Elise in there for just two minutes, Nathan discovers that Elise has died from what appears to be a fit. In blind panic, the two men bury Elise's body in the woods and vow never to speak of it ever again. No trace of Elise was found and after some time the case is closed and forgotten about.....until 10 years later when Bob appears at Nathans door with the news that a housing estate is about to be built on the site of the woods.....
With its matter-of-fact narrative, this book was fast-paced and gripping and I found myself reluctant to put it down. I downloaded it onto my new Kindle (that I got for my birthday) as once I had read the review I wanted to read it right then rather than wait, and once I had started reading I even took my Kindle into the bath with me to read (although I must admit I was terrified of dropping it at first) but I couldn't bear to not be reading even for 10 minutes.
Highly recommended for fans of crime and mystery fiction.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A corking good tale
A claustrophobic thriller about a death that literally haunts a young and relatively innocent young man and his hideous friend, a PhD student and paranormal investigator. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Book Critic
Short but not at all sweet
This is the first novel by Neil Cross I've read, and I found it very enjoyable. The subject matter is somewhat sordid but the author creates such a great what if scenario that you... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Charlie_Capo
Disturbing suspense thriller
A Party at his bosses house starts going wrong for Nathan with his girlfriend throwing herself at his minor celebrity DJ boss, it goes from bad to worse when he ends up in the... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Big Bertha
Brilliant
This is the best book I have read for months, this author is a genius. Once you have read the first page you cannot put it down, you have to keep turning to see what happens next. Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Mrs. Vivien F. Brace
Damp squib
This is the only Neil Cross novel I have read. It starts slowly, builds up a good pace, but fizzles out to a disappointing ending. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2010 by R. Grinney
Rather a let-down
This novel started promisingly enough, and was pacey and readable. But I agree with the reviewers who complained about the unlikeable main character, and his unlikely relationship... Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by F. M. M. Stott
Page Turner? Do me a favour
I eagerly awaited this book having been persuaded by the reviews. Far too little action and utterly predictable. I see some said that the book made him feel 'queasy' . . . Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by G. A. King
A good read
This creepy and sometimes shocking thriller is definitely worth a read, although it's very short, the large type set and spaced... out...chapters... make the book seem bigger! Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2009 by R. M. Elvidge
Creepy Occult Thriller
Bob sometimes turns up unexpectedly in Nathan's life over the years, right from when he was sharing a room in a run-down house full of ex-rock guitarists, bikers and doleys. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by Eileen Shaw
A disturbing but compelling quick read
Burial: After events at a party spiral horribly out of control, Nathan decides to bury the past and get his life in order. For ten long years, he believes he's been successful. Read more
Published on 1 April 2009 by iamza
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