This is a wonderful novel, full of great characterisation, and capturing the slightly stifling atmosphere of a small village beautifully. I don't want to provide any spoilers, but it also contains a stunning twist near the end that left me genuinely stunned. ( )

The Gravedigger is a love story wrought with emotion and the cruelty of life's plan. Raised by his widowed gravedigger father, Henry Bayles lives a solitary life, following in his father's footsteps. Considered the most reliable gravedigger in the village after his father's retirement, Henry begins to break free of his self-imposed confinement when the new permanent substitute teacher arrives in town. Beautiful, beguiling, and 17 years younger than Henry, Caroline ignites an enormous passion in Henry, and also an enormous fear--a fear of growing older and dying. Just as Henry comes to accept the good fortune life has laid at his feet, as Caroline accepts his marriage proposal, tragedy strikes, leaving Henry defeated and without hope.

Don't miss this quiet stunner. Author Rob Magnuson Smith carries his reader along, feeling the depths of Henry's story, and just when we're not expecting it--BAM! He throws us for a loop. Smith has crafted a well-written, engaging story that haunts the corners of the mind after the last page has been turned. I loved his adept plot twists and ability to instill his characters and story with realism and pathos. ( )