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Jamie Mason

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Three Graves Full Kindle Edition

by Jamie Mason (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

3.7 462 ratings

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A Library Journal Best Book of 2013!
A Booklist Best Crime Novel of 2013!

There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard. But it could always be worse…

More than a year ago, mild-mannered Jason Getty killed a man he wished he’d never met. Then he planted the problem a little too close to home. But just as he’s learning to live with the undeniable reality of what he’s done, police unearth two bodies on his property—neither of which is the one Jason buried.

Jason races to stay ahead of the consequences of his crime, and while chaos reigns on his lawn, his sanity unravels, snagged on the agendas of a colorful cast of strangers. A jilted woman searches for her lost fiancé, a fringe dweller runs from a past that’s quickly gaining on him, and a couple of earnest local detectives piece clues together with the help of a volunteer police dog—all in the shadow of a dead man who had it coming. As the action unfolds, each character discovers that knowing more than one side of the story doesn't necessarily rule out a deadly margin of error.

Jamie Mason’s irrepressible debut is a macabre, darkly humorous tale with the thoughtful beauty of a literary novel, the tense pacing of a thriller, and a clever twist of suspense.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* First-novelist Mason hooks the reader with her first sentence, “There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard.” Mild-mannered widower Jason Getty is responsible for burying one body, but he’s shocked when two others are discovered in his yard and found to be the work of the home’s previous owner, Boyd Montgomery, who came upon his wife, Katielynn, in bed with Reid Reynolds three years earlier, just weeks before Reynolds was to marry his childhood sweetheart, Leah Tamblin. Getty, on tenterhooks, is massively relieved when police wrap up the latter two murders, until persistent detective Tim Bayard finds blood traces in Getty’s house that point to a third crime. As Getty prepares a cover-up, Tamblin comes looking for answers and resolution, and what seemed a closed murder case opens up again. Racheting up suspense is one thing, and Mason manages it masterfully, particularly as it concerns Getty’s fate. But portraying characters so well and so thoroughly, examining and explaining their motives even for murder, requires a level of skill that is rare, marking this as an astonishingly accomplished debut and Mason as a writer to watch very closely. --Michele Leber

Review

“Three Graves Full is something special - an offbeat, high-class, pacey mystery that blends black humor with dark lyricism, and deft, intricate plotting with dead-on psychological insight. This is a gem of a debut.”
—Tana French, author of In the Woods

"Three Graves Full is an astonishing debut novel, smart and stylish and wonderfully light on its feet. Jamie Mason writes crisp, surprising sentences, and this aura of wit infuses her lovely plot with an absolutely Hitchcockian menace. I think she was probably born to be a writer, and I eagerly look forward to whatever she will do next."

—Peter Straub, New York Times bestselling author

Mason’s quirky debut novel deftly weaves dark humor into a plot that’s as complicated as a jigsaw puzzle but more fun to put together...Mason’s written a dandy of a first outing with not a single boring moment. (Kirkus)

Mason strides confidently into Coen brothers territory with her highly entertaining, solidly plotted debut about loneliness and the need for companionship... With sly wit Mason tweaks genre clichés while respecting crime fiction tenets. (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

An extraordinary debut novel that ensnares the reader in its web of suspense and ratchets up the anxiety with each chapter...Three Graves Full is deep and dark, yet funny, a refreshing combination that snags the reader like a grappling hook—destined to become a success. (John M. Wills New York Journal of Books)

Filled with biting wit and great prose style, Three Graves Full by newcomer Jamie Mason may be the debut of the year. (Bookspan)

Mason's prose is at times as lovely as poetry, and wry humor deftly offsets her grim tale to devastating effect. This tale has more twists than a corkscrew and you'll find yourself surprised at nearly every turn... Mason has written a quirky and downright thrilling treat that is not to be missed. (Kristin Centorcelli Library Journal, Starred Review)

Not simply a great debut novel or a noble first effort; it is purely a wonderful book from beginning to end.... Pitch-perfect pacing, unforgettable descriptions, and quirky but realistic characters abound from page to page. It is a perfect one-sit read, not because there aren’t places where you can comfortably stop, but because you simply will want to keep forging ahead... Take the hint and read it. (Joe Hartlaub Bookreporter)

"A delightful frolic in a mysterious and unpredictable tour de force of horrific efforts by a debut author. When it gets really weird, it is like quicksand, sucking you deeper. Peppered with delightful asides that made me chuckle, no good deed goes unpunished. Great twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. " (Clay Stafford KillerNashville.com)

"...slick, fast-paced and moves to it’s conclusion with an inevitably that appears unstoppable." (Words and Pieces )

Portraying characters so well and so thoroughly, examining and explaining their motives even for murder, requires a level of skill that is rare, marking this as an astonishingly accomplished debut and Mason as a writer to watch very closely. (Booklist, Starred Review (A Top Ten Crime Novel of 2013))

"Jamie Mason wields a pen that magically blends beautiful prose with unrelenting thrills. Each page delivers something new and fresh; in her hands, even the mundane becomes extraordinary. Grab a chair with a comfortable edge, because Mason will keep you poised there until the final page."
—Alex Adams, author of White Horse

“Ripping good novel…Mason has a witty and wicked imagination, yet she’s also responsive to the pains of inarticulate people…” (New York Times Book Review)

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008J2AEQG
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books; Reprint edition (February 12, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 12, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4949 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,413,740 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #6,565 in Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction
- #12,078 in Murder
- #36,732 in Suspense (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
3.7 462 ratings

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Jamie Mason

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Jamie Mason was born in Oklahoma City, but grew up in Washington, D.C. She’s most often reading and writing, but in the life left over, she enjoys films, Formula 1 racing, football, traveling, and, conversely, staying at home. Jamie lives with her husband and two daughters in the mountains of western North Carolina.

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3.7 out of 5

462 global ratings

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Karen L Dodge

booksonmymindlately.blogspot.com

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2013

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Jamie Mason's Three Graves Full is a complex yet fun read if you like the following: learning all aspects of the story from different characters' points of view, gore and creepiness interspersed with humor, page-turning mystery, great character development, interesting insights and a completely satisfying conclusion to many strange and mysterious events.

Mason starts with Jason Getty, whose crippling guilt over killing a man and burying him at the back of his own property has him worried about the lack of care to his lawn drawing unwanted attention. When he hires a gardening crew his spirits begin to rise as he sees the tidiness they bring and the brightly colored flowers they unload from their trucks to spruce up his front yard. He's even wondering why he's waited so long to do this.

Chaos and many bending turns of terror, humor and danger ensues when the lawn workers unearth not one but two bodies in the front flowerbeds right under Jason's front windows. Jason is dumbfounded as he knows nothing about these bodies.

The characters and relationships are very flawed but likable and humor helps in the goriest bits. I love this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for something different and thought provoking.

2 people found this helpful

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carolinagirl

Very enjoyable read

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2013

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I enjoyed reading Three Graves Full. The concept was fresh and kept my interest. I want to read more by Jamie Mason. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was for the simple reason that I didn't feel any sympathy or connection to the main characters. While I like the thought of main characters that are flawed in some way, I just didn't like either of them. So, I found myself not caring too much what happened to either of them. All in all a good spin on an imaginative story.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

The main character is pathetic and unlikable

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2017

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The main character is pathetic and unlikable. There is very little character development with any of the main subjects, so you get very little back story or context. The writing wasn't bad, I just felt like I was reading about uninteresting strangers. Story and plot were ok, not as good as I was hoping.

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Share The Horror

Fell short of its great potential.

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2014

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This book started off with so much potential...so much potential. Mason is a terrific writer, there's no doubt there. Some of her prose were down right breath taking and awe-inspiring. Everything was heading in so many possible great directions I couldn't wait to read more. And then, about halfway through, the story fell short of the promise. There was just enough for me to think, "oh, its coming back around...this is where it ...no." Still, even with the story weakening by the page, the faith and admiration Mason had earned in the first half kept me reading until the end.

I had some major story issues and also a POV issue that really tested my reading patience, but as I said, Mason's first half magic in Three Graves Full made me finish.

So I give the first half 5 stars and the second half a lot less.

3 people found this helpful

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BookAHolique

Tremendously Entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2013

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My Thoughts:
One of my all time favorite movies is Fargo, so when the synopsis made reference to this being similar to the Coen brothers, I knew I had to read it. This comparison to the Coen brothers would be a pretty tall order to fill and I have to say Ms. Mason did it quite handily.

Buckle your seat belts ladies and gentleman because you are in for one heck of a roller coaster ride. This book has it all, mystery, suspense, humor and absolutely delightful writing style. Such detail and description! It is truly magical how the author was able to take these different characters and weave them into this intricate and twisting story.

No way this is a debut, but that it is. Bravo Ms. Mason. And might I add, I want more!!!!! I hope it's not long before we get to see more of your writing.

I thank Gallery Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review

5 people found this helpful

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Kathryn B. Gurkin

Funniest book I've read in years!

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2013

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It's hard to believe that a debut novel could be this good, this funny and this perceptive about human (and canine)motivation. If you like Tana French's novels, imagine them with an off-the-charts sense of humor and a breakneck pace and plotting that grabs you and won't let go. Jamie Mason is that good and then some. If occasionally she gets carried away by the stream of language in full spate, she is still in control of her plot to the very end. Read THREE GRAVES FULL. I can't wait for her next roller coaster ride through the valley of the shadow of death.

One person found this helpful

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Queen E

Not the best book out there

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2016

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It was a decent book to fill the need to read itch. Not the best book out there, but entertaining enough. It started out being a completely believable plot then went way out of control into the realm of not even possible.

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Vincent Morrone

I give this book five graves!!! I mean stars!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2013

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There is very little peace for a man with a body buried in his backyard.

There's even less peace for someone who has started this book and has had to put it down!

Three Graves Full is a beautifully written book that isn't as much a who done it as opposed to a why'd he do it. You'll root for characters and at the same time want to slap them on the back of their heads.

Author Jamie Mason deftly weaves a tale, painted vividly for the reader to see, about killers, victims and those they left behind. The characters are realistic and there are no perfect hero's coming in to save the day.

This was a great read that I enjoyed though and through.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Story ok but struggled with the way it was written- just my opinion

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2023

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I read a LOT but if anything, this was over descriptive and hard to keep track of the plot - just my opinion.

zoezappagoreymuffin

Can Tana French be wrong. Buy this if you love black humor suspense!

Reviewed in Canada on April 2, 2019

Verified Purchase

For fans of the Coen brothers and Hitchcock or just a really good black suspense scenario read it. Loved it! I'd recommend it to anybody who isn't sure if the mystery/thriller genre is their "thing"- you'll enjoy this one. Deftly written and just enough "gore" - a truly page-turner plot with twists and much to contemplate about why we do what we do!

Louise

3 Graves Full

Reviewed in Spain on July 30, 2014

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I really enjoyed this book; it had some dark humour and suspense and showed a lot of imagination. The characters were interesting and the twists and turmoil kept me interested to the end.

Abby Normal

Interessante Idee, Umsetzung mit Schwächen

Reviewed in Germany on June 19, 2014

Verified Purchase

Beim Titel "Three graves full" dachte ich spontan an einen britischen Thriller mit typisch schwarzem Humor.

Nun, Jamie Mason ist Amerikanerin. Und auch ihr Schreibstil entpuppte sich sehr schnell als amerikanisch - was natürlich an sich nicht schlecht ist, aber eben nicht den typischen britischen Humor bietet, den ich zunächst erwartet hatte.

Die Story klingt spannend: Bei Gartenarbeiten werden zwei Gräber im Garten von Jason entdeckt. Vergraben, bevor Jason in das Haus einzog. So weit, so gut. Das kann ja mal passieren. Doch dummerweise schlummert an einer anderen Stelle des Gartens eine weitere Leiche, die Jason selbst dort verbuddelt hat. Dass die Polizei nun sein ganzes Anwesen umgräbt, gefällt ihm deshalb gar nicht...

In der Geschichte liegt viel Potential, doch Jamie Mason verschenkt einen Großteil davon. Sie beginnt mit schier endlosen, aber wenig interessanten Abschweifungen in die Vergangenheit der Figuren. Die Abschweifungen sind im Allgemeinen nicht einmal notwendig und dienen einfach nur dazu, einen vermeintlichen Cliffhanger hinauszuzögern. An sich ein probates Mittel, aber mit dem Meister der Cliffhanger Dan Brown ( Inferno ) kann sie natürlich nicht mithalten.

Insgesamt übertreibt sie es mit Abschweifungen in der ersten Hälfte des Buches. Bis dahin fand ich "Three Graves Full" zäh und langweilig. In der zweiten Hälfte nimmt das Buch endlich Fahrt auf und die Ereignisse überschlagen sich.

Doch leider setzt Jamie Mason sehr auf die Gefühle der Figuren und lässt dabei den schwarzen Humor, den ich bei solch einer Geschichte erwartet hätte, zu kurz kommen. Auch mit dem Ende konnte ich mich nicht ganz anfreunden. Zum einen Spielt ein Hund eine zweifelhafte Rolle, zum anderen wirkt das Ende etwas ideenlos.

Insgesamt bietet das Buch (zumindest in der zweiten Hälfte) Spannung und ausreichend Unterhaltung. Aber etwas besonderes ist "Three Graves Full" leider nicht.

-----

Passend zum Thema würde ich euch eine britische Reihe empfehlen. Die Geschichte wird erzählt von einem Türsteher, dessen Wege die ein oder andere Leiche pflastern... Allerdings solltet ihr für Charlie Williams wirklich gut Englisch können und euch nicht an Dialekt stören: Deadfolk (The Mangel Series)

Ein brillanter amerikanischer Bestseller-Autor, der mir zum Thema auch sehr passend erscheint, ist Christopher Moore. In seinem Roman A Dirty Job macht er einen ahnungslosen Mann wider seinen Willen zum Sensenmann.

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Whitestripe71

A great read! If you like your thrillers offbeat, tightly plotted, with a touch of macabre humour, then try this.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2014

Verified Purchase

A tightly plotted, offbeat, dark, quirky thriller with psychologically well-rounded characters. I found it absolutely gripping, hugely enjoyable, genuinely exciting, and very difficult to put down; and when I did, reluctantly, have to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. Yes, it did feel a touch overwritten at times, and there were times when I felt the writing could have been a little crisper and cleaner: there were some convoluted sentence constructions that I had to read back several times before I understood what was being expressed - but this never really detracted from my enjoyment of the novel, and overall I think the quality of the writing is very good. I'd much rather a book that aims high but is flawed, rather than one that aims low and gets everything right. This is a book with sparkle and fizz, with an undercurrent of macabre humour, and I never knew where the story was heading next. I particularly liked Mason's characterisation, and how every character in the book felt like a real, three-dimensional, flawed human being (or, in one case, dog), and it's the combination of the tight, exciting, frequently surprising plot, with the well-drawn and often morally ambiguous characters, that made this such a cracking and enjoyable read. I loved it, and whatever Jamie Mason writes next, I'll be sure to be buying it.

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