Every so often, I come across a book that completely captivates me, even if cannot pinpoint exactly why. We Are Always Tender with Our Dead, the first in Eric LaRocca‘s Burnt Sparrow trilogy, is just that type of book. It could be the unsettling sense of unease and dread or the strange horrors lurking in this hauntingly original town. Whatever it is, I was gripped.
The lives of those residing in the isolated town of Burnt Sparrow, New Hampshire, are forever altered after three faceless entities arrive on Christmas morning to perform a brutal act of violence—a senseless tragedy that can never be undone. While the townspeople grieve their losses and grapple with the aftermath of the attack, a young teenage boy named Rupert Cromwell is forced to confront the painful realities of his family situation. Once relationships become intertwined and more carnage ensues as a result of the massacre, the town residents quickly learn that true retribution is futile, cruelty is earned, and certain thresholds must never be crossed no matter what.
Eric LaRocca doesn’t tiptoe into a story, they dive in headfirst. Their voice is truly unmistakable and each time I read one of their novels I am all the better for it. We Are Always Tender with Our Dead is a gripping, atmospheric tale set in a small New England town, but that is only the beginning. This visceral horror story pulled me deep into the heart of Burnt Sparrow, chilling me to the bone, and lingered long after closing the final page.
LaRocca tells this story in their signature style, this time weaving in news articles, transcripts, recordings, and other media to tell the surrounding story and give depth to the narrative. Burnt Sparrow remains shrouded in mystery, but we’re given just enough to stay grounded. Something about LaRocca’s writing in this first installment fully transported me to the bleak, sorrowful town. Each time Rupert went out to the main part of town I had a strong vision of this community in my head. Those visualizations made the reading experience incredibly immersive.
While We Are Always Tender with Our Dead is the first in a series centered on the town of Burnt Sparrow, it’s the people within the town limits that truly shined. You can’t help but feel for Rupert and the weight of his ongoing struggle. The strange, unsettling behavior of the town’s elders and residents adds to the tension, making Rupert’s need to leave the community all the more urgent, and all the more heartbreaking.
We Are Always Tender with Our Dead exceeded all my expectations, a phenomenal start to the Burnt Sparrow series. If the next two are anything like this first installment, we are in for one hell of a ride. Every time I pick up a new Eric LaRocca story, they manage to outdo themself. We are Always Tender with Our Dead is an unsettling must-read horror.
We are Always Tender with Our Dead hits bookstores everywhere on September 9, 2025 from Titan Books. The audiobook, narrated by Tristan Wright, is available for preorder via Libro.fm!
