The Graveyard Queen, Book 1
Synopsis: My name is Amelia Gray. I’m a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I’ve always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.
It started with the discovery of a young woman’s brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I’ve been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I’ve vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.
Review: When I had the possibility to read the second book of this series, I thought it was the moment to give a try to the first one that was lying in my TBR pile for a few months. I can say I didn’t expect anything about this volume, so it was a real surprise when I understand it was an amazing book. I get into the story from the start until the end and it was very difficult to put the novel down. This first volume is intriguing and mixes mystery, ghosts and feelings. What more can you ask for?
Amelia Gray has an intriguing job; indeed, she restores the graveyards like her father. What an original idea, mainly when we know that our heroine can see the ghosts and she tries to avoid them at all cost. But it’s finally a different way to live, and we learn to like her job with all the passion she has for it. I confess that now I finished that book, I’m very intrigued by this job; I’ve never read something about this one. But it was finally very interesting and I notice that we can learn a lot about this topic, more than I could know. I never really thought a lot about the symbolism but I think now I’ll pay more attention to it.
When a body is found in the graveyard where she works, she has to help the police to find the killer. But what can she do when this man who intrigues her, this policeman haunted by a woman and a little girl asks her for help. Even her father’s rules can’t protect her from this man who intrigues us a lot from the start. We try to understand him with Amelia, to know his dark secrets, and we wait, impatient, to learn some new elements she would find about him. So, we follow Amelia assiduously gleaning all the information we can learn all along the story. All of this allows us to understand many things but also to learn a little more about all the characters in the book.
We get very quickly into the book, trying to understand who the killer is, who the culprit is between all these persons who evolve around our heroine. And I can say I didn’t expect that at all, I suspected each character at least once, and everyone was a good killer for me.
Amanda Stevens succeeded to write a whole mystery we try with pleasure to understand about. A lot of points are introduced in this first novel and he hope we could learn more in the second volume. I confess I’m very happy to have the second one because I can’t wait to get into it, and I hope I’ll have some answers.
I read that the rights had been sold for a future TV show, I’m very curious to learn more about it!
Susan Francino
I’m interested to know where you got the “synopsis.” Just becuase I thought it was rare for synopses to be written in first person like this one is. Sounds like a fascinating read, though.
Melliane
it’s the one on my book… it’s the same for the second novel it’s in first person too. Yes it was really nice!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I agree with you. This one rocked. I didn’t know about the tv show. Hm… I’d be curious to see who plays what. Oh and I can’t wait to read the second one and see what you thought about that one! 🙂
Melliane
The second is even better I can’t wait to know your opinion I was so surprised! I’m sure you’ll love it!!! I would be very curious for the actors, mainly for Devlin lol
Brenda Demko
This sounds like another good book to add to the to be read list. Thanks!
Melliane
I hope you’ll like it it was a really good story if you like a great mystery with paranormal stuff in it.
Celine
Ooo I am really intrigued with this book! I can’t wait to read this. Must add it to my TBR. Awesome review, Melliane! ♥
Celine @ Forget-me-not
Melliane
I would be very curious to know your opinion about it. Thank you Celine! Now it’s so difficult to wait book 3!
Missie, The Unread Reader
It’s the best feeling to be surprised by a book. Good think you already have the second book in your hands. I haven’t read this one yet, but I keep reading amazing reviews for it, so I do want to try it.
Melliane
Yes, I’m a lot surprise by my books for now I think. I hope you’ll like it too. It changes a little to read this kind of books.
Kelly
Oh wow, this one sounds really good! I’m glad you enjoyed it, especially considering you already have the second one. Being a cemetery restorer must be so fascinating! We’ve got a couple of really old cemeteries next to my parent’s house, and I’ve always wondered what they would look like if someone were able to fix them up a little – so cool! Great review Melliane 🙂
Melliane
it must be a very intersting job, but I don’t think I could do it lol. It must be intriguing to really restore old cimeteries. It’s sad sometimes too see how they are now. Thank you!
Claire
Ooh looks like a good book. I’ve not heard of this so on the list it goes.
Melliane
I didn’t know it either but I saw it on some blogs and finally I’m very happy for getting it. It’s a really great book. I would be curious to know your opinion if you give it a try.
Shelleyrae
I liked the first so I grabbed this from Netgalley to read too
Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out
Melliane
I hope you’ll like the second as much as I do. Happy reading!