Death at Whitewater Church: Andrea Carter

When asked to accompany a land surveyor measuring the property of the Whitewater Church little did solicitor Ben O’Keefe know that what she would encounter would create havoc, discord and bring back memories that she would rather forget. The desecrated church is up for sale to an English couple named Kelly who would like to buy it and renovate into something that is livable. Imagine going down into what is the crypt of the church and finding the remains or skeleton of an unknown man. But, just who these remains belong to becomes more than a topic of discussion for the residents of Inishowen. Ben is a country solicitor and her law called Northerly Solicitor’s office in Ireland. Benedicta is her long name and Ben for short yet not who she really is as we learn when getting deeper into the novel. Living in this small community for six years with one close friend Mauve the veterinarian and her office manager and secretary Leah, plus Phyllis who runs the bookshop and someone that you will meet as the investigation moves along Tom Molloy whom Ben seems to fancy. But, let’s not forget her roommate Guinness, her black tomcat who seems to feel he runs the show at times. Before coming to this small town Ben, who is our narrator, lets us know that she worked in a law firm in Dublin and she is trying to mend herself from something that happened regarding her parents. Personal tragedies can leave scars and when Ben realizes that the body might be of a man named Conor Devitt who went missing on his wedding day six years ago, it’s assumed that the remains belong to him. Loss is sad and this family has had more than their share when the head of the family the father committed suicide after the IRA bombed a cargo ship. Now with the remains found and this child possibly dead and another turning up after a while quite drunk, it is up to the ME to determine who it might be but not before another family member is killed in a traffic accident.

We get to know Ben and Claire Devitt in their short and brief encounters as Ben tries to befriend this woman whose family is waiting to learn whether another member of their family is the one in the crypt. Conor was engaged to marry Lisa who is about to return from her honeymoon and this is where things get heated and interesting because Lisa wants Conor declared dead for her own purposes.

Things take on an ominous turn when we meet Daniel Devitt who seems to want to speak with Molloy but never gets the chance. Getting to know Conor we learn that he took over the responsibility of dealing with his Daniel and Claire after his father’s death and went to work for Mick Bourke as an apprentice. But, as a craftsman he was better. When the DNA tests come back the bones do not belong to Conor leaving everyone to ponder whom it might be. Getting to know Lisa we wonder why he ever wanted to marry her and her husband, Alan seems to have secrets of his own. Guilty parties, betrayals, deceits come through and Ben seems upset at seeing Molloy with the pathologist that might blow her identity and her past. Tom Molloy seems distant from her and in the Guard he cannot really share what is found but Ben seems to poke her nose everywhere and as a lawyer she questions it all.

Ben won’t back down and even though she encounters some obstacles and is not really informed by Molloy about the investigation, we learn about the death of Danny Devitt and we wonder what his role regarding the bones in the crypt but that remains hidden until the truth about who the person buried there is and the identity is revealed.

Claire seems disconnected at the wake and the funeral has been well planned out but the family is in disarray because of the way he was killed. Was it really an accident, suicide or is there more to learn? What happens when Molloy learns not only from Ben but also from one of his officers that Daniel wanted to speak to him and was at the station but he was never informed? Things get more sinister as homes are vandalized and belongings are taken and then the officer of the surveyor is broken into and his computer and other more are stolen. What about Lisa Crane the newlywed whose house was burglarized when she and Alan were on their honeymoon and then meeting with Ben you get a really cold hearted perspective of why she wants Conor declared dead. But, Ben is still under the trance of Molloy in some respects but when the pathologist goes to a play with him and then she still remains in town is it romantic or is this person triggering memories that she would like to keep stored in the recess of her mind never to be dealt with again?

As a lawyer or solicitor, she is working on selling Inishowen’s Whitewater Church and the buyers after all of this want to buy the church and the owners want to be rid of it.

Speaking with Phyllis we learn more about Danny and his behavior but no one thinks that he was drunk when he was killed and Ben would never find out why he wanted her services and what the problem was the he needed her to address.

The author shares that Ben’s sister, who was younger died an odd death and the pathologist is a deadly reminded that she wants things to remain buried.

Things spiral out of control as we get to learn more about Claire and her own relationship with Eithne and her strange way of changing into dress up dress wear at the wake and seeming extremely odd.

Court cases need to be addressed yet Ben is still heavily involved with the selling of the church, the surveying of it and asking to accompany Paul, she appears to be trying to become her own sleuth, following in the footsteps of Jessica Fletcher, Hetty Winthrop or even Miss Marple. But, will she succeed or will she be caught in a web of deceit, betrayals, and lies and learn some harsh realities about the people living in this small town and about herself?
Creating suspense and the unknown readers finally learn the identity of the person buried in the crypt. Stephen McFerry was taken from his grave and coffin and buried in a blanket with Daniel Davit’s DNA is all over it. Truths are hard to come by and the wake and funeral present different viewpoints as Molloy seem to want to avoid Ben at least for now.

Information related to the bones found and an investigation moved forward slowly, Ben seems to find herself at the crypt and notices something that might give the guards some answers.

Ben left her life and past behind after her sister’s death blaming herself and feeling her parents did too. But, the short visit was enlightening but Ben left early feeling unsettled and Work should have been the antidote. But, can she deal with the present and the legal audit and put it aside?

Then Mary Devitt befriended Ben at the funeral and we learn that McFadden told her Danny’s connection to the bones and she’s concerned he’ll be considered a scapegoat. Then Eddie Kearney appears at Ben’s office and what he revealed puts an entire new spin on Danny’s death. Dealing with another murder investigation wills Molloy go easy on Eddie and how what Ben learns next change things?

Then the unexpected happens and Conor returns but facts are sketchy and you wonder why? Threats are hauled at several, the Kelly’s receive bad news, things move fast and Ben tells all to Molloy but what will the end result be. Someone committed the robberies but who else was involved as author Andrea Carter keeps readers in suspense until the killer is revealed, the burglar meets justice and Ben decides whom she really is and comes to terms with the past.

When Ben reads some documents that she had filed away a harsh realization brings to light what really happened on the bombing of the Sadie, who was involved and just who someone close to the situation really was and has been hidden for years. Lives are at stake as Ben rushes to confront the two men that might have started the events from the Sadie, to the body in the crypt and the one person who manipulated it all and the final reveal you won’t believe. Lies, betrayals, greed, security, the truth about why Lisa’s wedding never took place, who killed Daniel and why and the dramatic ending that might cost Ben her life. The Church in Whitewater has a history that many might want to forget and others might remember for the tragedies that occurred there. Why did Conor return? What was the motive behind his leaving? Who is responsible for the Death at Whitewater Church? As Ben realizes the harsh truth and the reader reads the news article about the incident what will the future hold for this church and this town? What about her relationship with Molloy and what about coming to terms with what really happened to her sister and who she really is? Guilt plays a huge role with many of the characters but whose guilt is the strongest and who will remain to see the next chapter in the Inishowen Mystery series?