"An original spin on the crime novel in which the race to gain the rights to an author's backlist proves to be more head-scratching - and deadly! - than the plots in his books.

The Librarian
It's been two decades since mystery writer Duncan Torrens was last published. I should know, I was his editor. So why a blogger would turn up asking questions about the rights to his books is beyond me...

The Reader
That librarian Roly is a bit odd. You'd think he'd be happy with my blog's research into a largely forgotten author, but he's...resistant. If I can get into Duncan's home - and his mysterious garden shed - I know I'll find what I'm looking for...

The Publisher
Torrens' books are crying out for a revival. I just need that blogger, Jacon, to work out who holds the rights to his backlist. Then I can acquire them before Duncan's old publishing house realises they've missed a trick!

The Editor
I never worked directly with Duncan before he died, but if someone is sniffing round, there must be money involved. I just need to find out what's happened to the rights before they do...

The Writer
After twenty years, will the sudden interest in this author's forgotten mysteries reveal a dark - and deadly - twist?

Told from the point of view of five unreliable narrators, none of whom can be trusted - The Librarian, The Reader, The Publisher, The Editor and The Writer - this amusing and darkly intriguing novel is a refreshingly fun, subversive take on the crime fiction genre."

Technically there are two editors...

Like Anthony Horowitz's "Magpie Murders," "Buried Above Ground" is both a crime novel and a send-up of the publishing business. The genteel days of publishing at the London firm of Boothby and Briggs came to an abrupt end 20 years ago, when the company was absorbed by a giant conglomerate called Pabulator International. One of the casualties of the deal was Roly Wilkes, who lost his job as an editor and wound up working at a small library.

One day, a young man named Jake Philbin tracks down Roly in order to ask him about one of the authors he used to edit: Duncan Torrens, whose rather unremarkable run of crime novels has been out of print for years. Jake owns a company that buys the rights to forgotten old mysteries in order to publish them as ebooks, and his attempts to find who owns the rights to the late Duncan Torrens' intellectual property have finally led him to Roly. Unfortunately, Roly has no idea—Torrens died without leaving any heirs, and he left his home to charity—but Jake's search ultimately winds up bringing some old secrets to light... secrets that someone would kill to keep hidden.

"Buried Above Ground" features a revolving cast of narrators, some of whom are more reliable than others. Roly is first, followed by a blogger obsessed with "Golden Age" mysteries, a former colleague of Roly's at Boothby and Briggs, etc. The novel is great fun, even though I felt it lost a bit of steam in the final segment. Ripley is a witty writer whose over 30 years of experience as a published author serve him well in this clever and satirical novel.

Five unreliable narrators (Roland / Roly Wilkes, Jacon Archer, Stephen Crow, Robina Robinson, and Duncan Torrens) take the reader into the heart of modern-day publishing, where only the bottom-line matters and making a buck off an author, dead or alive, however they can, has nothing to do with ethical considerations or authorial proprietorship.

The tale progress as each of these seemingly unconnected narrators adds a little bit more to the overall plot-line, which is in no way broken or disjointed for doing so - these narratives compliment each other. However, as both we and our narrators near ever closer to the truth, things turn a little deadly, as long buried secrets (and the body count) are starting to rise.

A skillfully plotted mystery that at times leads the reader astray, yet the clues are there to be pieced together, revealing an surprising twist.

This book has a very unusual premise and style. There are five alternating, equally unreliable narrators. Each is interested in who holds the rights to a deceased and largely forgotten author’s crime series. The interested parties include the Librarian, the Reader/blogger, the Publisher, the Editor and, finally, the Writer.
As in real life, the competing narratives and goals of each person aren’t obvious at first glance but are made clear in a series of conversations, culminating in a very long confession at the end.
This book is for those interested in the background of writing and publication as the real life writer, Mike Ripley, has an extensive background in crime fiction critique for several English newspapers. While not of particular interest to me, the book’s execution was well done.

Kept me up all night! Such a great read. I loved the changing of the point of views which was done in. A really unique way.

Buried Above Ground by Mike Ripley

This story is so heavy on exposition that it feels like all exposition. All tell, no show. On one hand, I guess we need to be told so much because things get so intertwined, with so many of the characters wrapped up in other characters (there really aren't that many but it seems like there are too many), and over such a long timeline, that getting told can seem like a good thing. But being told so much keeps us at a distance.

The work of mystery writer Duncan Torrens means something to someone, to several someones, and someone else isn't liking it that someone is digging around and asking questions. Maybe if the story was told...actually SHOWN differently, it would have caught me up in it more. It can be clever with its tangle of twists and turns but by the time we get to the confessions, I've "heard" too much.

This story does make me want to be very wary of digging into books, their authors, whatever is behind the publishing of books, and those who might think they deserve more (money) when it comes to books. Greed can be at the bottom of a lot of things and just might be at the bottom of a grave, above or below ground. Things get messy when Torrens book(s) almost give away the plot of what is really happening in the story. You'll need to pay attention but there will be an appendix that will fill you in on some of what you missed. Maybe it will help if you are a really sharp mystery reader, I was feeling pretty dull reading this one. I read this story with Jayme so be sure to check out her thoughts on the book.

Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for this ARC.

I WISH I had found this book as entertaining as the premise- FIVE unreliable narrators, cooperating (or is that competing) to figure out WHO holds the rights to deceased writer Duncan Torrens crime series.

The Librarian, Rory who was once Torrens editor before his publishing house was acquired by another and his position made redundant.

The Reader/blogger, Jacon with a “c” who starts his research into whom holds the rights, by seeking out the librarian and showing him Torrens last, unpublished manuscript.

The Publisher who hires Jacon to do the research into the “rights” because Torrens books were never published in paperback, ebooks or Audiobooks so they could reach an entire new market of readers if they could obtain the rights.

The Editor who figures money must be involved wants to find out what’s happened to the rights before anyone else does.

The Writer who may be hiding a secret or two.

Who will solve the mystery?
Who will end up dead?

Advertised as a fresh take on crime fiction-this sounded like it would be so much fun-but unfortunately the execution consisted of a lot of lengthy conversations and ALL TELL-NO SHOW with one of those LONG CONFESSIONS at the end.

I didn’t find this style at all engaging, but I did enjoy the inside peek into the World of Publishing and the inner works of Libraries.

Mike Ripley is a “new to me” author but he is a respected critic of crime fiction writing for The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Birmingham Post and The Times who has called him England’s funniest Crime Writer, with several books under his belt.

So, perhaps you will disagree with me!

Expected Publication Date: September 2, 2025

Thank You to Severn House for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always-these are my candid thoughts!

Keenly Observed..
The Writer, the Librarian, the Publisher, the Editor and the Reader. Five wholly unreliable narrators. Who to believe, if indeed any, as the race to gain the rights to an authors backlist turns very deadly indeed. Witty and wry contemporary satire with more than a keenly observed nod to the industry, a deftly drawn cast and a frothy plot riddled with sharp observations. A delight.

My thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of “ Buried Above Ground” for an honest review.

I was drawn to read this from the intriguing book description, and the fact it wasn’t a conventional storyline.I enjoyed the beginning, also the references to other crime books and writers.Unfortunately as I got further into the book I lost interest
With the storyline and the different characters, and ended up skimming through.
Sadly just not for me .

This is an intriguing crime novel, where for a very long time you’re not even sure what crime – if any – is being investigated. I found it both amusing and absorbing.

Two decades after writer Duncan Torres was last published, there’s a sudden surge in interest in the rights to his books. Multiple people are concerned about this, not least because investigating who holds the rights to his books might also reveal a darker – and deadly – secret.

This is a novel with many a sly wink towards the publishing industry, and although many of the amusing moments can (and will) be appreciated by any reader, those with an interest in writers or the publishing industry will particularly enjoy this aspect. It’s cynical and acerbic, and I rather suspect there’s a fair bit of truth in it.

In fact, the resolution of the crime plot almost took me off guard. I’d become so distracted by the depiction of the publishing industry that I kinda forgot I was reading a crime novel. It’s a great blend.

This is a well written novel with an unusual angle. I found it a lot of fun – not something I usually say about crime novels. It’s a deceptively light read, with some thoughtful underpinnings.

Chapters are narrated by different characters, and Ripley gives us a strong insight into each through their voice. I was impressed by the strong characterisation, given it’s mostly achieved through what the characters tell us themselves – and it’s not always as positive as they think it is.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel with a clever plot and an extremely well executed narrative style. Highly recommended to those who like good writing, to crime readers, and to those with an interest in the publishing industry or writers.

The author (Mike Ripley) introduces the book and explains that it's 'not a conventional crime novel, rather a novel about writing crime novels.'

That's the best part - the insights into writing and publishing and the relationships between the people working in those worlds.

There are dozens of references and name checks for famous crime fiction authors, books and tropes. These have been weaved into the story and work best if you get the references. Some of them were obvious, but others went over my head.

But the story itself didn't work for me. It felt like a slow meander down a country lane with the destination right known from the start. I wasn't hooked by the story and didn't care what happened to the characters.

Thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

Buried Above Ground is smart, nostalgic, and a total treat for mystery lovers. The story unfolds through first-person accounts from editors, publishers, and readers as a long-buried manuscript comes to light and a new mystery surfaces. It’s layered, witty, and full of references to classic whodunits. The format is unusual but works. I loved being in on the clues, though I was never quite sure who knew what. A satisfying, clever read that should spark great book club debates.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC

I was intrigued by the blurb for this book, I love a good mystery, didn't know what to expect and honestly it was so interesting the multiple narrators all kind of unreliable with ulterior motives for trying to get what they want, it involves the booklist of a deceased crime writer Duncan Torrens who died some 20 odd years ago before ebooks and the like were common place so they are some who would like to tapped this as a viable money stream but some would like to keep in the past. There are two deaths in this book but a Span of time between them. I actually started to get ideas of what up near the end which normally I don't do but was surprised and liked the appendix game us some info to certain quote s and factoids. I'm going to to get this and also maybe the audiobook when it becomes available.

It's been twenty years since Duncan Torrens was last published.

So why is there a sudden intrest in his back catalogue?

Five people - none of whom can be trusted - are involved...

Brilliant

Thank you NetGalley and Seven House for the eARC.
What a terrific book this is, so.unique and great fun as well. I enjoyed it immensely, the Appendix as well. It reminded me of all the lovely books I read over my many years with all those writers ... quite nostalgia inducing.
I was proud of myself guessing the murderer too! Highly recommended, I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

I consider the author to be very underrated - all of his books are an excellent read and he really should be more well-known.
This particular book is very well written and well plotted - the ending fooled me completely. I really had no idea who the murderer was.
This book is well worth reading.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing change to other similar genre books. It is spilt into different parts which are written from each character point of view whilst helping the story along. I would say that none of the characters are particularly likeable but that doesn't distract from the book

Instantly engaging.
With a clever turn of phrase Mike Ripley takes us behind the scenes of the literary world to as a long dead mystery unfolds and a one appears.
The format of the book is a bit different. Each section is a first person account from a different point of view. Get into the mind of the editor, the publisher, the reader as the clues piece together. We know what the characters know - or do we?
Thoroughly enjoyed the journey, with lots of references to mysteries from the past that I love and some I need to explore.
Easy reading and clever with relatable characters. This is a mystery readers' mystery. The ending should give book clubs a lot to talk about!