REVIEW: ‘Be Buried in the Rain’ (1985) by Barbara Michaels

Genre: Gothic Romance

POV: 1st Person (from the heroine’s perspective)

Sensuality: Warm

Violence: Mild

My Grade: B

Be Buried in the Rain is the first book I’ve read by Barbara Michaels, who also writes the popular Amelia Peabody series under the pseudonym Elizabeth Peters. Be Buried in the Rain is a Gothic Romance/Thriller. Despite being written 25 years ago, it is surprisingly undated. Only the relatively young age of the heroine (23) and the lack of modern technology dates the book.

Medical student Julie Newcomb comes from an old but impoverished Virginian family. The Carr’s have lived on the now decaying Maidenwood plantation for centuries, and numerous fanciful legends surround it, including tales of virgin heroines and buried treasure. Julie has never paid great heed to the legends, and harbours no love for Maidenwood or its inhabitants. As a child, she was forced to live there for four years following her parents divorce, and Julie never wants to return.

When Martha – the family matriarch and current owner of Maidenwood – suffers a stroke, the family persuade Julie to spend her summer holiday at Maidenwood caring for her grandmother. Julie hates and fears Martha, and has no desire to spend her vacation catering to a tyrant. Caving under family pressure  - and promises of financial renumeration – Julie reluctantly agrees to go to Maidenwood.

Shortly before Julie’s arrival, the skeletons of a mother and child are found on a dirt track leading to the plantation. Due to Maidenwood’s illustrious history, a team of archaeologists are called to the scene and begin searching for the remains of a 17th Century settlement whose inhabitants were allegedly massacred during an Indian uprising. To further complicate Julie’s life, the leader of the excavation team is her ex-boyfriend, Dr Alan Petranek, a specialist in historic archaeology and even more devastatingly handsome than Julie remembered.

Both Julie and Alan suspect that the skeletons of the mother and child which were found on the estate are not from the 17th Century settlement, and they join forces to investigate the mystery. But someone – or something – doesn’t want them to discover the truth…

Be Buried in the Rain is written with the skill and assurance which is the hallmark of an experienced and prolific author. The characters feel real, including the tyrannical Martha. While the solution to the mystery was somewhat predictable, the compelling storytelling and engaging characters made it a pageturner. I read it in one sitting.

I particularly liked Julie’s character. She’s intelligent and courageous without venturing into reckless territory. Her no-nonsense attitude with Martha is commendable, especially in light of their mutual history. Julie is also well able to stand up to her cousin, Matt, who would be inclined to ride roughshod over her if she permitted him to do so.

The romance between Julie and Alan is obviously only seen from Julie’s point of view as the story is told in the 1st person. However, I appreciated the fact that Alan is not painted to be a perfect character. He’s ambitious, driven, and an exacting boss. He’s craved the opportunity to excavate at Maidenwood for years, and now that he has the chance, he’s determined to make a name for himself. Despite this, he feels genuine affection for Julie, and he values her sharp intellect.

I’m a sucker for stories featuring mysterious old houses and Be Buried in the Rain certainly delivered on that front. In addition, I loved the details on the archaeological excavation, and I would have liked even more.

Thankfully, Barbara Michaels has an extensive backlist as I intend to read more of her books.

Tagged as: B Reviews, Barbara Michaels, Gothic Romance, Thriller