You can imagine why this accommodation is the cause of the ceaseless bullying and mortician jokes that Alex is subjected to at school - where he's all but an outcast.
Business at the mortuary is going badly. Customers are being stolen by another new and flourishing company.
Noises frighten Alex at night, and checking always puts his mind at ease. This night, they are preparing for the burial of the wealthy Horace Grant. Alex is forced to check the corpse to establish that he is indeed dead and not a cause for concern.
As his anxious mind won’t let him rest, at the church the next day, Alex's suspicions are multiplied. The casket is closed but his artful mind finds a way to check the contents of the casket.
He is horrified to discover the body is nothing like the description of the man in the eulogy.
Who are they burying? Where is the real Horace?
When, during his investigations, Alex discovers several items used for embalming, he is determined to solve the mystery. Further evidence causes him to fear his mother may be involved in murder.
Together with his cousin Lexi (who works at the mortuary) and friend Jade, they embark on a gruesome adventure, following clue after clue to solve the mystery they believe will lead to a grand treasure.
I loved this book. It was a fantastic read with lots of twists and turns, completed in one sitting. Excellent characters and believable scenes that keep the reader riveted. All the family sees death and involved preparations as a game. That is why the dialogue throughout the book is unnerving and hilarious at once!
Although brusque in its descriptions, one learns about post-death preparations in this book. Also beautifully portrayed are the sad results of secrets kept within family circles, the angst and anger a child carries when bullied, and how explosive expression can sometimes be cathartic.
Business at the mortuary is going badly. Customers are being stolen by another new and flourishing company.
Noises frighten Alex at night, and checking always puts his mind at ease. This night, they are preparing for the burial of the wealthy Horace Grant. Alex is forced to check the corpse to establish that he is indeed dead and not a cause for concern.
As his anxious mind won’t let him rest, at the church the next day, Alex's suspicions are multiplied. The casket is closed but his artful mind finds a way to check the contents of the casket.
He is horrified to discover the body is nothing like the description of the man in the eulogy.
Who are they burying? Where is the real Horace?
When, during his investigations, Alex discovers several items used for embalming, he is determined to solve the mystery. Further evidence causes him to fear his mother may be involved in murder.
Together with his cousin Lexi (who works at the mortuary) and friend Jade, they embark on a gruesome adventure, following clue after clue to solve the mystery they believe will lead to a grand treasure.
I loved this book. It was a fantastic read with lots of twists and turns, completed in one sitting. Excellent characters and believable scenes that keep the reader riveted. All the family sees death and involved preparations as a game. That is why the dialogue throughout the book is unnerving and hilarious at once!
Title: Grave Robbing and Other Curiosities
Author: Joel McKerrow
Publisher: Larrikin House, $16.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781923345317
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction
Author: Joel McKerrow
Publisher: Larrikin House, $16.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781923345317
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction
