The Buried Circle
Published on 27. May 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-0-00-725123-0 (ISBN)
Description
A pacy literary thriller, 'The Buried Circle' is a gripping blend of fact and fiction, peopled with extraordinary characters.
The village of Avebury is one of the most mysterious places in the English countryside. Surrounded by ancient standing stones, crop circles and burial mounds, this is a place where all is not as it seems.
In 1938, the archaeologist Alexander Keiller - a millionaire playboy with a passion for ritual magic - plans to reconstruct the 5,000-year-old stone circle at Avebury. As war looms, Frannie Robinson and her boyfriend Davey are among those who fall under Keiller's spell, with fatal results.
Seventy years later, Frannie's granddaughter India, filming in the area, survives a helicopter crash. Devastated, she decides to move back to Avebury and to her grandmother, setting out on a quest to discover the truth about her family. But why is her grandmother so reluctant to talk about Keiller and the war? And exactly whose past is India unearthing...?
The village of Avebury is one of the most mysterious places in the English countryside. Surrounded by ancient standing stones, crop circles and burial mounds, this is a place where all is not as it seems.
In 1938, the archaeologist Alexander Keiller - a millionaire playboy with a passion for ritual magic - plans to reconstruct the 5,000-year-old stone circle at Avebury. As war looms, Frannie Robinson and her boyfriend Davey are among those who fall under Keiller's spell, with fatal results.
Seventy years later, Frannie's granddaughter India, filming in the area, survives a helicopter crash. Devastated, she decides to move back to Avebury and to her grandmother, setting out on a quest to discover the truth about her family. But why is her grandmother so reluctant to talk about Keiller and the war? And exactly whose past is India unearthing...?
Reviews / Votes
'Jenni Mills's second novel is outstandingly accomplished and gripping.' Jessica Mann, Literary ReviewPraise for 'Crow Stone':
'An addictive, high-quality psychological thriller.' Kate Mosse, author of 'Labyrinth'
'An amazingly accomplished first novel - intricately plotted and with a terrific, engaging protagonist. Anyone who has so much as a hint of claustrophobia or fear of pot holes should read it only in daylight with the windows open.' Jenni Murray, author and broadcaster
'Ingenious, well-plotted and...really holds the attention. It's a damn good read.' Susan Hill
'[A] taut archaeological thriller...Mills gradually leaches out Kit's unstable history which, combined with the fissured roof, conflicting loyalties and predatory men, keeps the adrenaline flowing high.' Financial Times
'The geological and archaeological background lends colour without overwhelming an elaborate, convincing plot, and the characters are really believable. This is a remarkably accomplished and well-written first novel.' Literary Review
'A compelling thriller...When Kit finds evidence of what could be an amazing archaeological discovery, the secrets of her past become caught up with the race to uncover the mystery hidden in the mines - which results in a chilling climax...Ingenious.' Editor's Choice, Closer magazine
'Nail-biting suspense.' Woman & Home
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 40 mm
Weight
365 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-725123-0 (9780007251230)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Jenni Mills has worked in broadcasting as a presenter and producer with BBC Radio Four, and in television as a director for both ITV and BBC, making award-winning programmes about human relationships, as well as several series on landscape archaeology and history. She lives in the West of England. 'The Buried Circle' is her second novel.