Overview

We are taken to the coastal village of Burrowhead, where a local psychotherapist, Alexis Cosse, is found murdered in a children’s playground. DI Georgie Strachan is tasked with investigating a crime that quickly exposes long held resentments, prejudice, and abuse within the community. As the case unfolds, links emerge to a cave beneath the cliffs and to events the village would rather forget. What seems like a single act of violence opens up something far deeper and more troubling.

Writing & Voice

We found Sedgwick’s writing measured and observant, with a strong sense of place running through every chapter. The crime is handled with clarity, while the surrounding landscape and social tensions add weight and unease. The pace is steady rather than fast, but the atmosphere never loosens its grip. The coast, the weather, and the village itself all feel quietly oppressive.

Characters

Georgie Strachan is a thoughtful and grounded detective, more concerned with understanding people than forcing answers. She moves carefully through a community that distrusts outsiders and resists scrutiny. The villagers feel complex rather than cartoonish, shaped by loyalty, fear, and silence. Burrowhead itself becomes a presence, influencing behaviour and shaping what people are willing to reveal.

Themes

This novel looks at what happens when communities protect themselves at the cost of truth. We see how prejudice and neglect can be hidden behind respectability, and how the past continues to shape the present. The land plays a key role, holding memory and history long after people try to bury it.

What Worked

• Strong atmosphere: The coastal setting feels bleak, isolated, and convincing.
• Social focus: Issues of discrimination and abuse are woven naturally into the mystery.
• Distinctive lead: Georgie’s calm, reflective approach sets her apart from standard crime leads.

Minor Quibbles

• Readers looking for overt supernatural elements may find them too subtle.
• The number of strands means the investigation sometimes feels loose rather than tightly plotted.

Final Thoughts

We found When the Dead Come Calling thoughtful, unsettling, and deeply rooted in place. It is as much about community and silence as it is about crime, and it leaves a lingering sense of unease.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)