sandra_ruttan 's review for:

Grave Birds by Dana Elmendorf

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Grave Birds is a book that incorporates elements of multiple genres, which makes it feel fresh when reading it. I was intrigued by the original concept surrounding the grave birds, and how the author used the to introduce relevant information the protagonist needed access to to figure out what was going on. 

This book is one part mystery. There’s the mystery of what’s happening in the present and there’s the mystery surrounding prior events. Those mysteries go back to the protagonist’s childhood, and involve many people she’s known her entire life, so she has to go through the process of dismantling what she thinks she knows and reassessing people she’s known for decades.

The book is one part supernatural. The paranormal elements add to the intrigue as Hollis tries to figure out what’s going on and what it means.

The book is one part dislike to lovers. Hollis was planning to buy the property where she lives, but before her deadline to secure financing arrives, a wealthy outsider swoops in and purchases the property. The two are at odds initially, but they gradually forge a friendship and there’s definite chemistry between them.

Still, with all the strange events occurring in town ever since the day Cain arrived, and with the growing revelations about people she thought she knew, Hollis doesn’t always open up right away. Plus, it’s clear Cain has a secret, and that makes it hard for Hollis to trust him with everything. 

I enjoyed the growth in the relationship as well as the investigative aspects and the supernatural elements. This book had me scrolling through the e-arc I received from the publisher as fast as I could to find out what happened. Definitely an intriguing story filled with Southern culture and charm, and a lot of people who are not what they seem.