The Road of the Dead - Kevin Brooks

Just over 3 weeks ago, our librarian Mrs. Knapp gave our class a book talk about several stories that were a part of a couple popular book contests throughout the state of Washington. During this presentation, a couple books stood out to me, one being this one, "The Road of the Dead." The fact that this story held a plot line that was both mysterious and murderous, was what drew me in. So, being a non-fiction, mystery, I became immediately interested to learn more. Also, its title, "The Road of the Dead," is enticing and helped me make my choice for this project.

Ruben Ford, his brother Cole, their sister Rachel, and their mother, all lived together conservatively in an average home in Eastern London. The lives had been generally simple and untouched, that is, until one late summer night took Rachel's life. Since the day the children's father had left them, the three kids shared an incredibly tight bond and friendship with each other. However, sometimes it seemed too tight. Ruben had a special ability to feel what Rachel felt, if it was physical or mental, and he could tell the moment that she left him, and left the world. Having to find Rachel's murderer in order to have Rachel's body back, Ruben and Cole went to re-walk Rachel's last journey. With the police saying her body was found several hundred miles away, the two boys took "the road of the dead" to Lychcombe to re-trace her steps and solve her mystery. When finally arriving, the town of 50 people immediately recognized the two boys as being Fords, and the sons of Dan who was one of the gypsies living in this isolated village. Some were very happy to see them, for Dan was an idol among the gypsies, however, some men were the definite opposite. Four men: Red, Big Davy, Sim, and Nate, all knew very well about Rachel's death, and they also knew that Ruben and Cole were coming to find her murderer.

After uncovering secrets and finding parts of Rachel's "road of the dead," the two boys became a threat as well as a target among the people of the village. With a slight mistake by Ruben's older brother Cole, he was demanded to leave the town of Lynchcomb, but not with Ruben. Just minutes after, Ruben found himself being tortured in a rain-soaked barn on the edge of the village. Two of the four men: Red and Sim, knew that Ruben's advanced mind and knowledge was dangerous, so they were in the process of sending him out of town where he would be killed and never found again. However, with Cole's strength in fighting, and cleverness, he made the connections and found his brother Ruben as well as his sister's murderer. Getting information from one of Rachel's good friend's husbands who had associated with Rachel's murderer, Cole was led straight to John Stenler, who killed Rachel. In the end, after beating up all the men to near death, Cole and Ruben left town satisfied with John's dead body, and the ability for Ruben to let go of his sister forever.

So, as briefly explained, the title "The Road of the Dead" signifies the path that Rachel took to her death. However, on a more literal level, during the beginning of the village in the 15th century, a dirt road was created which was used to carry the dead bodies to their burial ceremony. This road was called Lychway, translating to "the road of the dead" and the village was named Lychcombe, translating to "town of the dead." So, as this road signified death, Rachel's body was found in the deep woods at the end of this road. So, literally, the two brothers traveled "the road of the dead" to uncover the murder of their sister.

I would ask Kevin Brooks:

"The gypsy character Jess is incorporated in the 'saving' of Ruben for Red and Sim. Why is she included, and what kind of connections did she have with Ruben's father?"

This question emerged right after I finished the book because she was a significant help in saving Ruben at the end of the book. However, she was never properly introduced, but just appeared in the story as a gypsy whose uncle knew Ruben and Cole's father. However, why did she help them? This would help uncover a lot about the ties that the Fords had with this village.

"Why was Cole forced to leave Lychcombe without Ruben?"

This was one of the only parts of the story that was confusing. The book stated that Cole's mistake sent him out of town, but it never explained why Ruben wasn't allowed to go with him. For some confusing reason, Ruben was forced to stay in Lychcombe without his brother. And lastly, Cole seemed okay with the fact that Ruben would be left there because he got on the bus back to London without a fight.

"Was this murder and family based off of a true story?"

The details in this book, such as "Lychway," the gypsies, and this forgotten village seemed too realistic to create from one's mind. So, I was wondering throughout the story if there really was a murder case in East London, and members of the family went to try and solve the mystery by themselves.


By: Evan Klein