Scan barcode
downtown_kb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“But there were no ghosts in Oak Grove Cemetery. Even the dead didn’t want to be here.”
Amelia grew up around graveyards, her father was a graveyard restorer. She’s also no stranger to death and has seen ghosts since she was a child. Now grown, she’s followed in her father’s footsteps, but everything she knows about ghosts changes while she is in the process of restoring a historic cemetery and a murder victim is found. Her project is halted while the police ask for her assistance as they investigate the crime. But soon it seems the murderer is leaving messages just for Amelia to find and someone or something is stalking her.
This is really atmospheric and captures the deep south culture really well. The writing is really wonderful. But be aware, this story takes its time, until the end, even the pacing had a lazy-summer-in-the-south feel to it. And it's definitely got that Southern Gothic thing going for it. We get to explore the personal lives of several of the major players. It was throwing "midnight in the garden of good and evil" vibes, for sure.
The people were nosy and gossipy, especially Amelia’s friend Temple. And everyone seems to be hiding something. Amelia is a pretty blonde but she's also not without flaws and lives a very isolated life due to her secret ability to see ghosts. The slow unraveling of everyone's secrets is interspersed with some spooky encounters and happenings, including getting trapped in a tunnel underneath a mausoleum.
The romance is technically a slow burn and continues throughout the series. But in this book, while there is an element of forbidden, its mostly insta-love (and lots of insta-lust from Amelia) which is a bit frustrating. The MMC is the tall dark and broody-type, making only brief appearances. I didn't end this book feeling like I knew much about him at all, but neither does Amelia, they just have a very powerful "pull" towards each other. The mmc is a detective and a widower and I don’t know if it’s accurate to say there is OW drama when the OW is dead, but there was OW drama.
This was published in 2012 so some of the language is dated, overuse of the word “exotic” as a descriptor, for example, including a person wearing a yellow shirt? (But this drops off about halfway through the book and doesn't return.)
I ended this book hooked enough to the fmc’s storyline, I did really enjoy her character, enough to continue without hesitation. I really feel like we have barely scratched the surface and I have high hopes for how it will build from the bones that we have so far.
The audio narrator, Khristine Hvam, was wonderful and has a great southern accent to help set the tone. I recommend on audio for sure!
Amelia grew up around graveyards, her father was a graveyard restorer. She’s also no stranger to death and has seen ghosts since she was a child. Now grown, she’s followed in her father’s footsteps, but everything she knows about ghosts changes while she is in the process of restoring a historic cemetery and a murder victim is found. Her project is halted while the police ask for her assistance as they investigate the crime. But soon it seems the murderer is leaving messages just for Amelia to find and someone or something is stalking her.
This is really atmospheric and captures the deep south culture really well. The writing is really wonderful. But be aware, this story takes its time, until the end, even the pacing had a lazy-summer-in-the-south feel to it. And it's definitely got that Southern Gothic thing going for it. We get to explore the personal lives of several of the major players. It was throwing "midnight in the garden of good and evil" vibes, for sure.
The people were nosy and gossipy, especially Amelia’s friend Temple. And everyone seems to be hiding something. Amelia is a pretty blonde but she's also not without flaws and lives a very isolated life due to her secret ability to see ghosts. The slow unraveling of everyone's secrets is interspersed with some spooky encounters and happenings, including getting trapped in a tunnel underneath a mausoleum.
The romance is technically a slow burn and continues throughout the series. But in this book, while there is an element of forbidden, its mostly insta-love (and lots of insta-lust from Amelia) which is a bit frustrating. The MMC is the tall dark and broody-type, making only brief appearances. I didn't end this book feeling like I knew much about him at all, but neither does Amelia, they just have a very powerful "pull" towards each other. The mmc is a detective and a widower and I don’t know if it’s accurate to say there is OW drama when the OW is dead, but there was OW drama.
This was published in 2012 so some of the language is dated, overuse of the word “exotic” as a descriptor, for example, including a person wearing a yellow shirt? (But this drops off about halfway through the book and doesn't return.)
I ended this book hooked enough to the fmc’s storyline, I did really enjoy her character, enough to continue without hesitation. I really feel like we have barely scratched the surface and I have high hopes for how it will build from the bones that we have so far.
The audio narrator, Khristine Hvam, was wonderful and has a great southern accent to help set the tone. I recommend on audio for sure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
More...