‘Grave Intent’ by Sarah Ward

Published by Canelo Publishing,
11 June 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-80436682-0 (PB)

The story opens in 1870 when Josiah is digging a grave for his wife Meg in their own grounds. The parson has refused burial in the cemetery.

Current day in New England, Professor Carla James is running a summer school at Jericho College, while the college is closed for the summer break. It is a week-long programme. Carla is archaeologist specialising in the study of burial. A group of 10 young enthusiasts are attending. Working with her is Professor Jack Caron. The first student to arrive is Riley Shawcross with a crate of beer and a case of wine. Carla is not too comfortable with this as two of the attending students are underage. He is quickly followed by Cai, a lawyer from Chicago, Trudy, Scott, Student’s Shawn and Lauren, clearly a couple, Ava and Tina, and Belle, grey haired with a no-nonsense manner.  Only Melissa Wilson is a no show. 

Carla checks into her room No 4 and finds on her wall a needlework in a heavy frame bearing the word, BEWARE.

On the first day Carla splits the group into three.  Shawn was unhappy that he had been placed in a different group to his girlfriend.  Carla tasks each group to find a piece of local Jericho history in the landscape they could use aa a case study for their week’s stay.

With still no sign of Melissa, Carla telephones the number on Melissa’s admission form. It transpires that she had left a few days ago to do a bit of sightseeing before she got to the college. Adele who shares her apartment with her said she was excited about the course, as she was fascinated by New England Folklore. 

Keen to get involved with local history, the students become fixated on the century-old grave of Meg Woodthorpe. Killed for being a witch. A single stone sits on the burial site supposedly to prevent her rising again. And excavations reveal she may have. Although a body is discovered it is not Meg’s. She has been replaced by a modern victim. With no one missing, Carla must work out who this is and where is Meg. 

The description of the body found in Meg’s grave is not for the faint hearted. Carla’s former mentor, pathologist Dr Erin Collins shows her the body that has been decimated by a claw hammer, which bears the words, ‘Anthology Department, Jericho College’.  Oops, a bit too close for comfort. 

Detective Baros is called to investigate, usually not someone Carla took to when she first met him, but he seems a lot nicer than she remembered. 

Apart from the mystery of the missing body of Meg Woodthorpe, there is still no sign of Melissa.

This is a tantalising mystery with many twists as more of the past is revealed. Complex and clever this intriguing mystery will keep you turning the pages. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Sarah Ward the author of four DC Childs novels set in the Derbyshire Peak District where she lives. The Birthday Girl is the first book in her series featuring Mallory Dawson. There are now five books in the series. She has also written Doctor Who audio dramas. She also writes gothic historical thrillers as Rhiannon Ward. Her most recent series features Carla James an archaeologist. There are three books in the series.  

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