Sharon Bolton is one of my favourite authors and I’ve yet to be disappointed with any of her books. This one lived up to my usual expectations.
The interesting storyline involved remains buried at a children’s home . I found the story to be creepy at times but that didn’t stop me from not wanting to put the book down. It was easy to engage with the main characters.
There was lots of twists and turns along the way. Another enjoyable read form this brilliant author.

Thank you Orion Publishing and Netgalley and apologies for the delay in reviewing but I decided to sit down and read 3 of Sharon's books one after the other.
Let's start with this one!
This was a gripping and very addictive book which while I was reading I felt like I was watching the events unfold. A totally realistic and believable story and it will certainly send shivers down your spine.

I devoured this and could not predict what would happen next and then a total twist was thrown into the mix.

Highly recommended and can I please have Sharon's next book! .

This is tense, gripping and completely addictive. I have felt as though I have been watching the events of this one play out. This is realistic and believable, guaranteed to send shivers down the spine of the reader.

This has been completely unpredictable and been a book I have devoured. I literally thought I had this figured out then BANG, a twist thrown in that completely pulls the floor from under you.

As convicted serial killer Larry Glassbrook is coming to the end of his life, he’s visited by Florence Lovelady, the most senior serving policewoman in Britain. What could someone so high ranking want with Larry? Well, let’s just say he’s got one more thing to do before he concludes his time in prison (and on Earth): let Florence discover the identity of the remains discovered at children’s home Black Moss Manor. It’s a location that the policewoman knows only too well, it’s where she narrowly escaped with her life. Like Larry, will time run out for Florence to find out the truth? And when you’re forced to go back, what kind of effect can that have? This is a big read that is worth taking your time over, believe me. The writing is precise and it’s an extremely well plotted read. I’ve continually been impressed by Sharon’s writing so would recommend this and The Craftsman series.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Buried but that has in no way influenced my review.

The Buried is the much-anticipated sequel to one of my favourite books of 2018, The Craftsman. I say sequel but it's more of a prequel combined with a sequel. Which is a very impressive achievement! As soon as this book landed on my radar, I knew I had to read it. One of the things I loved most about the first book was the character of Police Constable Florence Lovelady. So the chance to be reacquainted with her and to return to creepy Sabden at the foot of the Pendle Hills, where witchy goings on were regularly reported, was an opportunity I could NOT miss!

Serial killer, Larry Glassbrook, has been in prison for thirty years for murdering three teenagers. The police officer responsible for his capture, Florence Lovelady, was a lowly probationary WPC and the first and only female officer working out of Sabden at the time. Now she's the most senior serving female officer in the Met and despite their history, Florence has been keeping in regular contact with Larry. But Larry is ill and is nearing the end of his life. With the discovery of children's remains near Black Moss Manor, a children's home that was closed in 1969, Larry has one last task for Florence. To discover the identity of the victims. Because according to Larry, the children buried near Black Moss died more recently than official channels are claiming. But to carry out Larry's final request, Florence must return to Sabden. The town that almost destroyed her...

A cleverly written police procedural told in the past and the present with a witchy twist. The Buried is everything I hoped it would be. It was a joy to be reunited with Florence Lovelady again - older, wiser and forever tied to Sabden, no matter what she does to sever that tie. Something I do need to say before I go any further though is that I strongly recommend you read The Craftsman before picking up The Buried. A lot happened in the first book and. whilst the author ensures the reader is briefed enough to follow the flow of the story, there were moments where I, as someone who read The Craftsman four years ago, found myself getting muddled. With hindsight, I wish I had re-read The Craftsman first before making a start on the prequel/sequel. Looking at other reviews, it seems other readers feel the same. But that does not take away from the fact that this is a cracking second book in the series and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. But please make sure you're familiar with the storyline of The Craftsman before making a start on The Buried. I enjoyed the dual timeline and hopping from the late 60s to the late 90s. The characters were once again expertly drawn, as I have come to expect from this author. The plot was well paced with an overarching feeling of dread permeating the pages of the book from the very start, all the way to the tense conclusion. The author excels at writing suspenseful plots which pull the reader into the narrative and keep them hooked, wanting to discover how the story will end. I truly hope this isn't the last we see of Florence and Sabden. I'm such a fan of this unique series and I find myself preferring the author's setting, plot and characters to more traditional police procedurals. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to crime fiction fans who are looking for something a little different. But make sure you read The Craftsman first! Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Buried. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

When is a sequel not a sequel? When it’s also a prequel. Sort of … The Buried by Sharon Bolton, probably falls somewhere between the two, largely because of the dual timeline of both books, the two stories intertwined and intersecting, so much so that I would say you most certainly ought to read The Craftsman first if you haven’t already. You may even want to have a quick re-read of the book too as, whilst the author gives sufficient recap for this to stand alone as story, there is some merit in the memories of book one being fresh in the mind.

The Buried goes some way to explaining why Florence Lovelady was so adamant she needed to return to Sabden, and it wasn’t simply to see Larry Glassbrook laid to rest. There is something amiss in Sabden, something far beyond the notorious events of 1969. With unidentified remains being found, and Florence certain she has found a clear case of cover-up, there is no question of her not returning to the home of her first posting, even though those who read book one know just how dangerous that turned out to be.

What I really like about these books is the way in which Sharon Bolton has woven the local legend of Pendle Hill into the story, but done so in a way in which the more ‘mythical’ aspects of the case are there as a backdrop rather than sitting front and centre as the main theme of the story. Witchcraft informs the story, but the motives behind the heinous acts in this book are far more straightforward and altogether ‘human’.

I really liked the way that the author has chosen to build the two stories around each other. The Buried acts as both a prequel and sequel to Florence’s 1999 journey back to Sabden, and a sequel to the events of the summer of 1969. In that sense there are many characters we are already aware of, some of whom appear in ways you might not be expecting. Everything felt natural, even the more unusual scenes of the book, and whilst it took a little time for me to remember everything that occurred (see advice in paragraph one), as soon as I found my flow, everything came flooding back you can see how beautifully the whole thing works.

This can be a tough book to read, touching on some very difficult subjects, including a elements of child abuse, murder, obviously, and certainly an amount of prejudice, but that is better understood when reading the book. All of it is handled in a sensitive way, the author framing the story in such a way that it will elicit an array of emotions. From anger to sadness, and with an overwhelming need to see justice done, I really found myself echoing Florence’s emotions as I read, a tribute to how well the author has constructed the story.

Whilst this is not an action packed novel, the majority of action being based heavily in the past in a town with a very traditional way of life, it is not without its tension and moments of high suspense. There is an undulating sense of threat from the very start of the novel, and sometimes it is hard to see just where the real danger is coming from. Towards the end of the book the pacing really picks up and it is hard to see just how Florence can survive this final investigation into Sabden’s past and the powerful individuals who use dark forces to govern the fortunes of the town.

Dark, atmospheric, and riddled with a chilling tension, I think fans of The Craftsman and going to love this sequel and realise that the wait has definitely been worth it.

I’ve been waiting for this sequel to The Craftsman since 2018 and had almost given up hope of it ever appearing, but here it is at last. It was definitely worth the wait!

The Buried begins in the summer of 1999, with Florence Lovelady visiting Larry Glassbrook in prison. Florence, now a senior police officer with the London Met, was responsible for Larry’s conviction thirty years earlier for the murder of three teenagers in Sabden, Lancashire. Now the remains of four more children have been discovered and Florence is confused. Are these more of Larry’s victims or are the remains more recent, meaning that the real killer is still on the loose? Also, the bodies were found in the grounds of Black Moss Manor Children’s Home, which Florence had helped to close down in 1969 after finding evidence of neglect and cruelty. What does this mean and how can she discover the identity of the children?

Soon after Florence’s visit, Larry Glassbrook dies of cancer and preparations are made for his funeral. His daughter Cassie returns to Sabden after a long absence and immediately sets her sights on John Donnelly, whom she loved as a teenager and who is now a married man with children. Cassie herself has become a successful songwriter, but she has never quite managed to put the past behind her and still has questions about some of the things that happened in Sabden thirty years ago.

The first section of the book alternates between Florence and Cassie during the build up to Larry’s funeral and I have to admit, I felt very confused. I found that I’d forgotten most of The Craftsman and I kept coming across references to people and events I couldn’t remember at all. Who was Marigold? What was Florence’s involvement with Black Moss Manor? I had no memories of those things at all, but they were obviously important. Then I discovered that I wasn’t supposed to remember them as they didn’t actually form part of the plot of The Craftsman. I just needed to be patient because the second section of the novel takes us back to 1969 and my questions about Marigold and Black Moss Manor were answered. The shifting timelines with various parts of this book set both before and after the events of The Craftsman means it works as both a sequel and, in a way, a prequel.

The 1969 storyline (which forms the main part of the novel) is excellent – Sharon Bolton at her best. I was completely gripped by Florence’s investigations into the allegations of abuse at the children’s home and the obstacles she faces in trying to get anybody to take her concerns seriously. The 1960s setting allows Bolton to explore the sexism and misogyny Florence faces as she tries to do her work; the other police officers are exclusively male – local men from Sabden who resent Florence’s university education, southern accent and the fact that she is a woman doing what they consider a man’s job. Meanwhile, we get to know Sally Glassbrook, Cassie’s mother, who is struggling to cope after Larry’s arrest and imprisonment. As the family of a convicted murderer, Sally and her daughters are in a vulnerable position and find themselves having to fend off the unwanted attentions of Roy Greenwood, Larry’s former business partner.

Finally, I need to mention the supernatural elements! The way The Craftsman ended made me think these were going to be a major part of the second book, but things didn’t go quite as far in that direction as I’d expected and the crimes committed are all very human ones. We do see more of the coven of witches who are operating in Sabden (Pendle Hill, site of the famous 17th century witch trials, casts its shadow over the town), the influence of the mysterious and sinister group known as the Craftsmen, and Florence’s own seeming ability to communicate with the dead, but I didn’t think these elements dominated the story too much. However, they are there and won’t appeal to everyone. I would say these books are closer in tone to Bolton’s early standalones such as Sacrifice and Awakening than they are to the Lacey Flint novels or her other recent thrillers.

I loved this book once I managed to get back into the story, but I would definitely recommend reading The Craftsman first – or re-reading it if, like me, you read it several years ago and can’t remember the details.

Back in 1969 in the village of Sabden, Lancashire WPC Florence Loveday was responsible for the arrest of child serial killer Larry Glassbrook, now thirty years later and Florence, a high ranking officer with the Met, has returned to Sabden after skeletons of four children are discovered buried near the grounds of Black Moss Manor, a children's home that she was investigating back then and Larry, who is now dying, is insistent that these children didn't die before the home was closed down, so Florence decides to look into it herself. When Cassie Glassbrook hears of her father's death she's overjoyed, banished from the village all those years ago she can now return to rekindle the lost love of her childhood sweetheart John, but are either of these women ready for what awaits them?

The Buried is told from the perspectives of three of the main characters; Florence, Sally and Cassie. It's book two in the Craftsman series but in essence it's a prequel and a sequel and is very cleverly written by Bolton. The story begins in 1999, in the last days of Larry Glassbrook's life but then continues to go back and forth between what happened back in 1969 and the events happening thirty years later. This one is a slow burn and took me a while to get my head around as, having already read book one, The Craftsman back in 2018, the story seemed somewhat similar in parts, but that's where the prequel/sequel format shines through. The Buried is just as well crafted as book one, with the added details of the what, how and why of what went on back then and why the village is still largely being controlled all these years later. Once again there's a lot of witchcraft taking place, with supernatural elements too. As I got further into the book, things began to slot into place and make sense. This is another dark and twisted book in a series that really needs to be read in order and if you haven't read any of them yet, start with Alive which is a short story that gives you a taste of what's to come.

I'd like to thank Orion and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

A very interesting read! This book is the sequel to The Craftsman which came out a few years ago but in a way, it's also a prequel. Unfortunately, I think it is important to read The Craftsman first or reread it before you read this one. Because I've read it quite a few years ago I can't remember all the events so clearly.


Larry Glassbrook, the villain from the first book, dies in prison due to cancer. Before he passed away he made Florence promise him to take a closer look at the bones that has been recovered on the grounds of a former children's home. Authorities believe that it is ancient but maybe it is not as old as people believe. On the other hand, we have his daughter Cassie who is now finally able to return to Sapden so that she can be reunited with the love of her life.
But Sapden is not just an ordinary town, it is a town with a dark and sinister history. Is it all in the past or not.....

A very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Both sequel and prequel to the fantastic The Craftsman. Personally the reader has to read the first book otherwise it can get a little confusing. I loved everything about this book from the unfolding story and how Lovelady is determined to find out what happened to the children buried at the back of Black House Manor. Gripping, intriguing, disturbing and heartbraking. Another fantastic five star read from one of my favourite authors. A must read!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

The Buried by Sharon Bolton is a psychological thriller that deals with the aftermath of bodies being found in a children's home. A sequel and perhaps a prequel in one book, it builds on the events that happened in The Craftsman. It can be successfully read as a standalone, which is what I did.

The story starts with a bang straight away. No slowly building up the tension on this one. I don't normally read thrillers like this, but thought I'd give it a go. I'm sure it'll give me nightmares on sleepless nights just thinking about it. The characters are well drawn and there's a lot to draw you into the story, yet it left me a bit cold. I liked the writing style but didn't enjoy the story too much. I guess if you're into your psychological novels then this one will strike all the right notes, but for me was a little too much. I might however try Sharon Bolton's Lacey Flint series, as they might be more my cup of earl grey.

Thanks to Netgallery and Orion Books for the eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love Sharon Boltons novels, and this is no exception. A sequel, and cunningly a prequel to The Craftsmen, it would have been a help if I had reread the later to bring me up to speed with the plot.
Larry is dying in prison where he is serving a life sentence for the murders of 3 teenagers. Florence Lovelady was the final victim, she escaped from the grave from where he liked to bury his victims alive. She also was a police woman and ultimately caught and arrested him. Now bones have been discovered on the grounds of a former childrens home and Larry has called Florence to tell her they aren’t old bones, and more secrets need to be delved into, reluctantly Florence returns to the town that nearly killed her. It seems the Craftsmen are still powerful and still hiding their identities. While Florence looks into the origin of the bones, forces are already in place to stop her. Great read.

#TheBuried #NetGalley

I didn't realise this was the 2nd book in the series but read it anyway. A great dark creepy thriller that I enjoyed but I think it would have been better to read the first book in the series first. Although very different from the Lacey Flint series which I loved I still enjoyed it.

This was a very intriguing read to the extent that I found I needed to read the first book in the series The Craftsman. Well done kept me thinking for days.

The Craftsman #2
4+
This is both a prequel and a sequel which is pretty clever when you think about it! I decided to read The Craftsman again prior to reading this and the two dovetail well.

It’s 1999 and four child skeletons are unearthed in Sabden, Lancashire near Black Moss Manor a renowned childrens home which closed on 1969. The authorities believe these remains to be historic but from his confinement in prison serial killer Larry Glassbrook insists to Florence Loveday, now a high ranking officer at the Met and responsible for his conviction in 1969, that these are not skeletons from long ago but much more recent. Larry is in the final stages of cancer and has little time left and so his daughter Cassie, a well known, successful song writer, feels she can return to Sabden with the aim of winning back her teenage sweetheart. There are many questions still to answer in Sabden and most dangerous yet necessary action is to unmask The Craftsmen whose control of the area is deep with a rottenness at its core. Cassie and Florence return to the much changed Lancashire time that nearly destroyed them thirty years ago. Are they both straying into a lions den?

Don’t expect a Sharon Bolton novel to start with a whimper and end with a bang as it just keeps on coming! There are parts that are bone chilling and you most certainly feel the oppressive nature of Sabden. The writing is rich with imagery, I’m especially struck by those relating to the moon which are very powerful. Add in the local evocative parlance and looming over all are not only the secretive, elusive Craftsmen but also the history of witchcraft dating from the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. Pendle Hill and Forest are a permanent reminder and give some spine tingling Gothic vibes.

The characterisation is excellent and the impact of events of 1969 are well conveyed especially on Florence, Cassie and Sally Glassbrook. You feel the fear of The Craftsmen and not knowing who they are makes it much more scary. It builds and builds as dark forces amass, who to trust and who to fear? It’s a tough read in places especially events around Black Moss Manor which is a stinking pit of hell. A long overdue confrontation ensues with twist upon twist to compel you to read to the end.

However, you are filled with many questions about Sabden amongst other things and you do get some answers but there are still some unresolved issues to my mind. Are we left to make our own logical assumptions or will there be a number 3???

Overall, this is a terrific read and one the authors many fans will relish.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Brilliant. I normally would not read second in a series or a prequel. I however could not pass this up. This was brilliantly done and I highly recommend reading this one.

Hmm my mistake but I didnt realise this was a sequel to 'The Craftsman' and its very different from the usual Sharon Bolton police procedurals - so whilst I have really enjoyed her other books and the Lacey Flint series in particular, The Buried was not one for me. Too full of ghosts, witches and the supernatural to fit into my own personal tastes.
Having said that, it was very well written and completely gripping - starting with a newspaper article about children's bones being discovered in the groups of an old children's home, the story moves between the pov of Florence Lovelady and Cassie the adult daughter of murderer Larry Grassbrook. There is plenty to get your teeth into, and i imagine it will make a lot more sense if you'd read the first book!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read it

I loved this book. The second in the series although a prequel to the story. Dark, creepy crime thriller. Absolutely brilliant xx

Sharon Bolton writes this follow up to The Craftsman, both a sequel and a prequel, throwing new light on the past that readers will be familiar with, acknowledged here by the Lancashire Morning Post article by Abby Thorn. There are references to the past in Sabden's hunt for a child killer which led to the arrest of Larry Glassbrook in 1969, and to events in 1999, including the abduction of Florence's son, Ben. Florence Loveday, now a high ranking police officer in the London Met, had felt compelled to visit Larry regularly in prison through the years. Prior to his death, he tells her to look into the remains of 4 children found at the children's home, Black Moss Manor, closed down in 1989, run by Frederick and Judith Aster who had served 2 years in prison for their part in the cruelty and neglect of the vulnerable children in their care.

Initial inquiries by Florence suggest that these are old remains, something Larry disputes, saying he knows they are much more recent. The scene is set for Florence to return to the darkness and horrors of Sabden in Lancashire with its history of the Pendle witches, there is unfinished business that must be tended to, not to mention the fact that she has always been haunted by the disappearance of Marigold McGowan and her new born baby, after she had escaped the children's home. Also returning after 30 years is Cassie, Larry's daughter, wanting to ensure Florence's return to the town, and with her dark obsession of getting back together with her old lover, John Donnelly, now a married man with children. Florence is determined to deal with the evil that runs rampant in Sabden, trying to identify the remains of the dead children. This means that she has no option but to tangle with the dangers of taking on The Craftsmen.

Bolton once again immerses us into the darkness of Sabden, the ongoing practice of the dark arts by The Craftsmen, powerful men willing to do whatever is necessary to protect the Asters and the nightmare of what happened to the children at Black Moss Manor. The only help Florence gets is from Abby Thorn, the journalist, and Sabden's coven of witches, but is this enough? This is a chillingly disturbing read, that revisits a past where little was as it appeared to be, both for Florrie and Cassie. This is a terrific read, and it was a pleasure to return to the terrors of Bolton's Sabden, past and present, with its shocking twist after twist, I have no doubt it will appeal to the author's fans, old and new. However, on a personal level, I did not feel as comfortable with the book being both a prequel and a sequel, but this might just be me, it may have helped if I had reread The Craftsmen. Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.