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The Grave Diggers #1
The House by the Cemetery
Six Feet Under meets Succession with a gothic twist after the suspicious death of a midwestern funeral home empire’s wealthy patriarch in New York Times bestselling author Lisa Childs’ dark, twisty, horror-tinged new series for readers of Megan Collins, Samantha Downing, Stacy Willingham, and Rachel Hawkins.
In Gold Creek, Michigan, legend has that the ghost of a local grave digger still walks the cemetery, swinging his shovel, looking for his next victim to bury. But when the town’s wealthy undertaker dies, his estranged daughter must contend with the ghosts that haunt her own family . . .
After she left home at seventeen, River Gold swore she would never return to Gold Creek. Growing up at the Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens was a nightmare. Classmates constantly teased her for being part of the “Ghoul” family, while her own family denied that she was actually a Gold. Her father, undertaker Gregory Gold, certainly never acted like a father. He was far more interested in profiting off other people’s tragedies. But now Gregory has died. And River has surrendered to the pleas of her mother, Fiona, that she come back for his funeral.
But the mourning period is cut short when it’s revealed that Gregory died of poisoning—and Fiona is the number one suspect in his murder. Clearly, Fiona, his third wife and the funeral home’s cosmetologist, is being framed. There are plenty of more likely suspects, and River is determined to prove her mother’s innocence. That she’ll have to work with the sheriff—her high school enemy—is a small price to pay.
With a fortune at stake, River is sure the killer lies among Gregory’s first two wives, their children, and grandchildren. Yet soon, other discoveries will be made, and longstanding secrets unearthed. But when more people are murdered, the danger hits closer to home than River imagined possible. Drawn back into the lives—and lies—of the Golds—she’ll have to use her every resource to keep herself, and her loved ones, safe.
In Gold Creek, Michigan, legend has that the ghost of a local grave digger still walks the cemetery, swinging his shovel, looking for his next victim to bury. But when the town’s wealthy undertaker dies, his estranged daughter must contend with the ghosts that haunt her own family . . .
After she left home at seventeen, River Gold swore she would never return to Gold Creek. Growing up at the Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens was a nightmare. Classmates constantly teased her for being part of the “Ghoul” family, while her own family denied that she was actually a Gold. Her father, undertaker Gregory Gold, certainly never acted like a father. He was far more interested in profiting off other people’s tragedies. But now Gregory has died. And River has surrendered to the pleas of her mother, Fiona, that she come back for his funeral.
But the mourning period is cut short when it’s revealed that Gregory died of poisoning—and Fiona is the number one suspect in his murder. Clearly, Fiona, his third wife and the funeral home’s cosmetologist, is being framed. There are plenty of more likely suspects, and River is determined to prove her mother’s innocence. That she’ll have to work with the sheriff—her high school enemy—is a small price to pay.
With a fortune at stake, River is sure the killer lies among Gregory’s first two wives, their children, and grandchildren. Yet soon, other discoveries will be made, and longstanding secrets unearthed. But when more people are murdered, the danger hits closer to home than River imagined possible. Drawn back into the lives—and lies—of the Golds—she’ll have to use her every resource to keep herself, and her loved ones, safe.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2024
122 people are currently reading
25146 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Childs
411 books991 followersBorn one dark and stormy Halloween night, Lisa Childs was predestined to write suspense novels. She loves spinning dark and twisty stories that keep readers awake because they’re either too busy turning pages or too scared to sleep. Lisa Childs is the prolific author of more than seventy published novels. In addition to romantic suspense, she also writes women’s fiction, paranormal and contemporary romance.
Lisa loves to hear from readers who can contact her on Facebook or through her website.
Lisa loves to hear from readers who can contact her on Facebook or through her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
May 15, 2024
I am obsessed with books set in funeral homes. I worked at one back in the day while finishing my degree and it was the most fun job I've ever had. Seriously. I mean, sure, it's a little creepy when you're working late and everyone else has gone home for the night and you start thinking about all of the potential zombies downstairs in the cooler, but mostly it was just a riot. Who knew that funeral directors could be so much fun?? But anyway, I was super excited to read The House by the Cemetery not only because of the nostalgia, but also because it's compared to Six Feet Under in its blurb, which is one of the best TV shows ever.
And, well, it's definitely a quick and suspenseful read. I finished it in just over 24 hours and that's without even really trying. The “main character returns to the hometown that they swore they'd left for good” trope is one of my favorites, and I was immediately invested in finding out who had killed Gregory Gold. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable, but they're unlikeable in an entertaining (but exasperating) way. And, of course, the setting is great – a big creepy funeral home on the edge of a cemetery!
I did have two issues with this book, however, and the first is with the narrative. One minute you're reading from the perspective of one of the main characters, and then all of a sudden it shifts to the murderer's point of view, where attempts are made to conceal the sex and identity of the killer in a completely awkward way. It totally pulled me out of the story every time. And the bits from Fiona's point of view are grating – they're just so dramatically vague that I couldn't help but to roll my eyes whenever they popped up. Also, the dialogue is stilted at times – what exactly does the Gold family have against using contractions??
The other issue I had is that THE MAIN CHARACTERS DON'T ACTUALLY SOLVE THE MURDER. They're searching for clues and interrogating suspects and such, and then the murderer just kind of reveals him/herself in a dramatic way without Luke or River having ever really figured out anything on their own, other than that .
But still, The House by the Cemetery is a suspenseful and decently entertaining read despite its flaws. It's not an Agatha Christie-tier murder mystery, but it'll still keep you guessing right up until the end. And speaking of endings, this book definitely has a surprising one. I mean, I kind of expected the plot twist, but I expected it to happen much earlier in the story, not in the last couple of pages. I'm guessing that there's maybe a sequel in the works? If so, I'll be more than willing to give it a read when it's released.
My overall rating: 3.45 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 20, 2024.
And, well, it's definitely a quick and suspenseful read. I finished it in just over 24 hours and that's without even really trying. The “main character returns to the hometown that they swore they'd left for good” trope is one of my favorites, and I was immediately invested in finding out who had killed Gregory Gold. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable, but they're unlikeable in an entertaining (but exasperating) way. And, of course, the setting is great – a big creepy funeral home on the edge of a cemetery!
I did have two issues with this book, however, and the first is with the narrative. One minute you're reading from the perspective of one of the main characters, and then all of a sudden it shifts to the murderer's point of view, where attempts are made to conceal the sex and identity of the killer in a completely awkward way. It totally pulled me out of the story every time. And the bits from Fiona's point of view are grating – they're just so dramatically vague that I couldn't help but to roll my eyes whenever they popped up. Also, the dialogue is stilted at times – what exactly does the Gold family have against using contractions??
The other issue I had is that THE MAIN CHARACTERS DON'T ACTUALLY SOLVE THE MURDER. They're searching for clues and interrogating suspects and such, and then the murderer just kind of reveals him/herself in a dramatic way without Luke or River having ever really figured out anything on their own, other than that .
But still, The House by the Cemetery is a suspenseful and decently entertaining read despite its flaws. It's not an Agatha Christie-tier murder mystery, but it'll still keep you guessing right up until the end. And speaking of endings, this book definitely has a surprising one. I mean, I kind of expected the plot twist, but I expected it to happen much earlier in the story, not in the last couple of pages. I'm guessing that there's maybe a sequel in the works? If so, I'll be more than willing to give it a read when it's released.
My overall rating: 3.45 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 20, 2024.
October 18, 2024
As I was reading this one I was confused that I had heard it was a start to a new series and until the very end it didn’t feel like a start to a new series. There were things I didn’t love about the end, but overall it was an enjoyable mystery. I liked the creepy setting with the entire family staying at this giant home at the cemetery. River Gold ran away as a teenager and hasn’t been home despite her parents’ efforts and bribes since. But her father has been killed and while the family has always accused her of not truly being a Gold biologically due to her mother’s deception she comes home bringing her teen daughter with her. But the drama hasn’t died down with the death of the family’s patriarch and soon it seems clear that someone is killing off members of the Gold family and River and her daughter seem to be in danger. There was also a cool side story about a myth of the gravedigger who still haunts the cemetery and sometimes makes kids disappear. Overall it was a light, quick, fun read.
June 22, 2024
It was written like a 14 year old wrote it. So many times I couldn’t tell who was talking. Also way too many people were introduced in the beginning it was just way too confusing.
The main character and her daughter’s relationship was weird and unrealistic.
The point of view was weird, and the book never even had an end…? They never caught the definite killer and made it seem like everyone did the killing, like what. I’m more confused at the end than when 20 people were introduced in two pages.
Also the epilogue was stupid.
The main character and her daughter’s relationship was weird and unrealistic.
The point of view was weird, and the book never even had an end…? They never caught the definite killer and made it seem like everyone did the killing, like what. I’m more confused at the end than when 20 people were introduced in two pages.
Also the epilogue was stupid.
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this spooky family drama and locked room murder mystery thriller. Told from multiple entertaining POVs, the author drops interesting breadcrumbs along the way with red herrings. It’s hard to tell which characters are trustworthy. The setting of the mansion/funeral home surrounded by a graveyard lends to a fun spooky atmosphere. All in all, I recommend this one for fans of slightly spooky mysteries.
August 22, 2025
I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this even though it's not exactly what I expected. I thought it would have more of a scary, horror flavor. I'll probably read the sequel because I'm interested in what else can happen.
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If you love active book communities, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh Book Club (on Facebook)! Games, giveaways, discussions, reviews, bingo, swaps, traveling books, and a lot more!
May 8, 2024
A million thanks to Lisa Childs for including a family tree because I would have been so lost without it! The Gold family is a huge family, with many secrets and lots of drama, and I loved every second of it!
Gregory Gold runs Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, a funeral home and cemetery in Gold Creek, Michigan. He is the undertaker there and has earned himself quite the life. Then, he suddenly dies. Even at the age of 85, his family knows it's not due to natural causes. Someone is after the inheritance. Gregory's 3 wives, 5 children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren all come together to grieve their family patriarch and also find out what happened. There are many secrets within this family, and when more Gold members start dying, it becomes obvious that someone is trying to their hardest to keep them hidden. And as if an unknown killer in the house isn't enough, the cemetery is home to the ghost of a past grave digger, one who still walks the cemetery at night, digging holes for his next victim.
I really enjoyed reading this book! There are quite a few characters to keep up with, but everyone plays their part by the end. No character is unnecessary. The extensive family just adds to the family drama, and boy is it great in this book! There are many suspenseful parts, many jaw-dropping parts, and the epilogue is as spine-chilling as it gets! 4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Lisa Childs for such a captivating read!
Gregory Gold runs Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, a funeral home and cemetery in Gold Creek, Michigan. He is the undertaker there and has earned himself quite the life. Then, he suddenly dies. Even at the age of 85, his family knows it's not due to natural causes. Someone is after the inheritance. Gregory's 3 wives, 5 children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren all come together to grieve their family patriarch and also find out what happened. There are many secrets within this family, and when more Gold members start dying, it becomes obvious that someone is trying to their hardest to keep them hidden. And as if an unknown killer in the house isn't enough, the cemetery is home to the ghost of a past grave digger, one who still walks the cemetery at night, digging holes for his next victim.
I really enjoyed reading this book! There are quite a few characters to keep up with, but everyone plays their part by the end. No character is unnecessary. The extensive family just adds to the family drama, and boy is it great in this book! There are many suspenseful parts, many jaw-dropping parts, and the epilogue is as spine-chilling as it gets! 4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Lisa Childs for such a captivating read!
August 20, 2024
Talk about creepy never guess the ending mystery suspense. Yep this is it. That ending makes me wonder if this is a stand alone or if this is going to be a series because OMG!!
There were a lot of characters. So many that it’s overwhelming with suspects everywhere.
This was an outstanding story. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
There were a lot of characters. So many that it’s overwhelming with suspects everywhere.
This was an outstanding story. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
July 19, 2024
See my full review on www.mysteryandsuspense.com
River Gold left home as a pregnant teenager, desperate to raise her child away from the presence of the Gold family. As the namesake behind the highly successful Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Gold Creek, Michigan, the Gold family’s influence was felt everywhere, and she needed to escape it- even if the Gold family refused to accept her as one of their own. Now, River is called back to Gold Creek when her father, the elder Gregory Gold the first, dies in mysterious circumstances. The local sheriff is convinced that someone in the Gold family was behind the murder and his investigation reaches a new high when other bodies start piling up. Then, of course, there’s the old urban legend about the gravedigger who haunts the cemetery on the property. Would the Gold family actually kill one of their own? Or is there more truth behind the urban legend then everyone has been led to believe?
Lisa Childs is a multi-genre, bestselling author of over eighty novels. From contemporary romance, to women’s fiction to stories on the paranormal, there seems to be nothing that Lisa Childs can’t do. Her newest novel, “The House by the Cemetery” is part paranormal, part mystery, part family drama and completely engaging.
The Gold family is quite large, with the wives and ex-wives of the patriarch, as well as all of their combined children and grandchildren, so expect a large cast of characters. As powerful and rich owners of the only funeral home and cemetery in town, the Gold’s (most of them anyway) are shallow, vain and utterly intolerable, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to know who was killing them off, one by one. River is the protagonist, of course, but the novel also shares the perspective of Sarah (River’s daughter) and the local sheriff, as well as a few small passages from the unidentified murderer.
Due to the large cast of characters, there are infinite possibilities as to who (or what) is killing the Gold family members. After a constant journey of twists and turns, Childs delivers an ending that I didn’t see coming.
Toward the end of the novel, a second plotline is introduced, which has been hinted at throughout the novel, which surrounds the mystery of Sarah’s father and what caused his disappearance seventeen years ago. This plot angle is cleverly interwoven with the Gold family mystery, and Childs gives just enough of this one in the final pages to hint at another story with River and Sarah at the helm. I hope this is the case, as I enjoyed the mother-daughter dynamic and I would love to see more from them.
Lisa Childs “Cemetery” has exactly the right amount of intrigue, suspense, family dysfunction and murder, set in a large estate on a creepy cemetery. If you’re looking for a locked-in mystery with an extra dose of creepiness, “The House by the Cemetery” is the perfect choice!
River Gold left home as a pregnant teenager, desperate to raise her child away from the presence of the Gold family. As the namesake behind the highly successful Gold Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Gold Creek, Michigan, the Gold family’s influence was felt everywhere, and she needed to escape it- even if the Gold family refused to accept her as one of their own. Now, River is called back to Gold Creek when her father, the elder Gregory Gold the first, dies in mysterious circumstances. The local sheriff is convinced that someone in the Gold family was behind the murder and his investigation reaches a new high when other bodies start piling up. Then, of course, there’s the old urban legend about the gravedigger who haunts the cemetery on the property. Would the Gold family actually kill one of their own? Or is there more truth behind the urban legend then everyone has been led to believe?
Lisa Childs is a multi-genre, bestselling author of over eighty novels. From contemporary romance, to women’s fiction to stories on the paranormal, there seems to be nothing that Lisa Childs can’t do. Her newest novel, “The House by the Cemetery” is part paranormal, part mystery, part family drama and completely engaging.
The Gold family is quite large, with the wives and ex-wives of the patriarch, as well as all of their combined children and grandchildren, so expect a large cast of characters. As powerful and rich owners of the only funeral home and cemetery in town, the Gold’s (most of them anyway) are shallow, vain and utterly intolerable, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to know who was killing them off, one by one. River is the protagonist, of course, but the novel also shares the perspective of Sarah (River’s daughter) and the local sheriff, as well as a few small passages from the unidentified murderer.
Due to the large cast of characters, there are infinite possibilities as to who (or what) is killing the Gold family members. After a constant journey of twists and turns, Childs delivers an ending that I didn’t see coming.
Toward the end of the novel, a second plotline is introduced, which has been hinted at throughout the novel, which surrounds the mystery of Sarah’s father and what caused his disappearance seventeen years ago. This plot angle is cleverly interwoven with the Gold family mystery, and Childs gives just enough of this one in the final pages to hint at another story with River and Sarah at the helm. I hope this is the case, as I enjoyed the mother-daughter dynamic and I would love to see more from them.
Lisa Childs “Cemetery” has exactly the right amount of intrigue, suspense, family dysfunction and murder, set in a large estate on a creepy cemetery. If you’re looking for a locked-in mystery with an extra dose of creepiness, “The House by the Cemetery” is the perfect choice!
June 16, 2024
Disclosure: Free Goodreads Copy.
Just Awful.
A colossal disappointment from page 1, with zero redeeming qualities other than it's a quick (albeit painful) read. Written so badly as to almost be pulp. Yet written so badly that it would be disavowed by pulp writers and fans. If this were a first effort by a new writer, or even by a student, I could be more forgiving. But it's not, so I'm not. It looks like Childs churns out "books" like a fast food joint churns out burgers: all about speed and volume, but devoid of any flavor or quality.
Poorly written: The narrative is confusing, with on-the-fly dialogue, speaker and perspective changes that aren't easily apparent to the reader. The entire reading experience is just hard to follow.
A fairly poor/weak overall plotline, yet one that becomes increasingly convoluted but in a way that is only messily confusing, not "excellent mystery plot twist complex".
The storytelling is very undeveloped, lacking detail to provide sufficient reader context, while at the same time seeming to rush forward at a confusingly fast pace.
Too many characters and too little character development.
While it never quite stumbles onto a MacGuffin, this one repeatedly dances close to that edge through bad narrative and sudden plot development. Ironically, it might have been a better read if it HAD a MacGuffin.
Everything about this book fails: plot, writing, structure, dialogue, character development (i.e. none), plot 'twists, and the ultimate Whodunnit Revelation. It just universally fails in every dimension.
Just Awful.
A colossal disappointment from page 1, with zero redeeming qualities other than it's a quick (albeit painful) read. Written so badly as to almost be pulp. Yet written so badly that it would be disavowed by pulp writers and fans. If this were a first effort by a new writer, or even by a student, I could be more forgiving. But it's not, so I'm not. It looks like Childs churns out "books" like a fast food joint churns out burgers: all about speed and volume, but devoid of any flavor or quality.
Poorly written: The narrative is confusing, with on-the-fly dialogue, speaker and perspective changes that aren't easily apparent to the reader. The entire reading experience is just hard to follow.
A fairly poor/weak overall plotline, yet one that becomes increasingly convoluted but in a way that is only messily confusing, not "excellent mystery plot twist complex".
The storytelling is very undeveloped, lacking detail to provide sufficient reader context, while at the same time seeming to rush forward at a confusingly fast pace.
Too many characters and too little character development.
While it never quite stumbles onto a MacGuffin, this one repeatedly dances close to that edge through bad narrative and sudden plot development. Ironically, it might have been a better read if it HAD a MacGuffin.
Everything about this book fails: plot, writing, structure, dialogue, character development (i.e. none), plot 'twists, and the ultimate Whodunnit Revelation. It just universally fails in every dimension.
October 7, 2024
A thrilling and engaging mystery that explores themes of family loyalty, betrayal, and the haunting effects of the past. It's a perfect choice for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of the supernatural. Just when you think you've uncovered all the secrets, Childs throws in a surprise that keeps you guessing until the very end. Highly recommended!
July 9, 2024
This is one of those messy, toxic family books.
I did like our plot and, toxic or not, loved some of our family members. These people were bold and held nothing back.
I was definitely kept guessing about the truth, but found myself a little more into the family dynamics than solving our mystery.
A good read!
• ARC via Publisher
I did like our plot and, toxic or not, loved some of our family members. These people were bold and held nothing back.
I was definitely kept guessing about the truth, but found myself a little more into the family dynamics than solving our mystery.
A good read!
• ARC via Publisher
October 12, 2024
I got this book for free after winning a Goodreads Giveaway. When I received it in the mail, there was also a piece of paper asking me to share that I got the book, to post my thoughts on social media as I read, and then to write a review when I was done. Well, the first two aren't really my style. And I don't think this is really the review they had in mind. Oops.
This piece of paper also described the book as "a chilling blend of family saga and gothic mystery that evokes the darkly rich narratives of [other authors who I don't know and don't want to drag into this]." I've never disagreed with anything more. This book is a quick(ish) and badly written mystery that didn't have ANY atmosphere, much less one that is gothic, chilling, or darkly rich. It felt like a cash grab attempting to vaguely check off certain boxes in order to complete a book that can somewhat be considered a horror/mystery book without any love or care for the genres.
If I sound annoyed, it's because I am. It's annoying to feel like I put more effort into reading this book and writing this review than anyone did into writing, editing, or publishing it.
The writing itself was bad. I wasn't counting, but I think this book had 1/3 of the amount of commas that it needed. There were so many run on sentences. I have kind of considered that I might've gotten an early copy: maybe the book wasn't quite out yet and would still undergo a lot of editing (I don't know how these things work). And that could be the case. I won this Giveaway on August 17 (although I didn't receive it until September), and the book came out on August 20. If this was the only problem, I would be more forgiving, even though it really took me out of the story. But since it was still an issue, I figure I should mention it.
The plot wasn't engaging at all. On Goodreads, this book is listed first as horror and second as mystery, but The House by the Cemetery fails in both aspects. For a book that praises itself for its dark vibe, it's not scary or tense at all because there's nothing actually happening. This book is a great example of telling instead of showing; characters kept telling me things were scary and tense, but that was about it. A new dead person would appear every few pages, sure, but when there's that many dead people it starts to just be funny.
Had The House by the Cemetery actually committed to being a mystery, it might've gone better. Multiple mysteries are set up — who killed the patriarch, what happens to the missing teens in the graveyard, is the ghost of the gravedigger real, etc. — but none of them came to a satisfying conclusion. The best wrap-up happens in a confusing scene that I still barely understand, and the worst isn't even revealed. Seriously, there's a whole epilogue that is seemingly there to just laugh at me for committing to the entire book and still not learning the answer.
Despite horror appearing first in the list of genres, it seemed like the book was intended to be a mystery, as one of the main characters was the sheriff and the other was the "black sheep" of the family (both in a good position to investigate and figure out secrets), but neither character did anything besides banter with the other. All of the "investigation" (if you can even call it that) involved the sheriff repeating "we need to solve this mystery before more people get hurt" while doing nothing but waiting for analyses to get back to him. And River wasn't much better: at about 250 pages in, she finally decides she's going to get involved because the sheriff is being slow, so she had three very short conversations with family members, then she decides its too dangerous so we just wait for the grand reveal. There were no clues or a gradual reveal of secrets, it was just the book telling me there was a mystery to be solved while doing nothing about it.
Since this book leans into being a "family mystery" (similar to something like Knives Out, where the family dynamics play a major role in the storytelling), the Gold family needed to be more involved. Other than River, her mother, her daughter, and her daughter's cousins, we didn't really get to know anybody. That sounds like a lot, but it's only five people out of 16, and that doesn't include how much time was dedicated to Luke and his foster kid (and other smaller roles). The whole book is about how one of the family members must be guilty, and we never really get to know any of the suspects. So, when the murderer was revealed, I just didn't care.
In fact, all the characters were painfully flat. They felt like poorly designed book characters instead of whole people with personalities. Dynamics, attitudes, and opinions would change based on what the scene needed, and none of the main characters stood out enough to carry the book. And nobody developed at all. I'm trying to write this review, and I can barely remember any of them to point out a specific example. Even when characters had experienced some horrible things, it was only ever mentioned in what can otherwise be read as a very casual conversation. It was the narrative equivalent of a character saying, "Oh, yeah, sorry I'm having a panic attack, it's because my PTSD is being triggered."
I couldn't be bothered to bring myself to care about this book. Every time I found myself engaging with it, I was inevitably let down within a few pages. The dialogue was bland and confusing. Half the narration was just repeating information we already knew. And, ultimately, I'm just glad to be done.
This piece of paper also described the book as "a chilling blend of family saga and gothic mystery that evokes the darkly rich narratives of [other authors who I don't know and don't want to drag into this]." I've never disagreed with anything more. This book is a quick(ish) and badly written mystery that didn't have ANY atmosphere, much less one that is gothic, chilling, or darkly rich. It felt like a cash grab attempting to vaguely check off certain boxes in order to complete a book that can somewhat be considered a horror/mystery book without any love or care for the genres.
If I sound annoyed, it's because I am. It's annoying to feel like I put more effort into reading this book and writing this review than anyone did into writing, editing, or publishing it.
The writing itself was bad. I wasn't counting, but I think this book had 1/3 of the amount of commas that it needed. There were so many run on sentences. I have kind of considered that I might've gotten an early copy: maybe the book wasn't quite out yet and would still undergo a lot of editing (I don't know how these things work). And that could be the case. I won this Giveaway on August 17 (although I didn't receive it until September), and the book came out on August 20. If this was the only problem, I would be more forgiving, even though it really took me out of the story. But since it was still an issue, I figure I should mention it.
The plot wasn't engaging at all. On Goodreads, this book is listed first as horror and second as mystery, but The House by the Cemetery fails in both aspects. For a book that praises itself for its dark vibe, it's not scary or tense at all because there's nothing actually happening. This book is a great example of telling instead of showing; characters kept telling me things were scary and tense, but that was about it. A new dead person would appear every few pages, sure, but when there's that many dead people it starts to just be funny.
Had The House by the Cemetery actually committed to being a mystery, it might've gone better. Multiple mysteries are set up — who killed the patriarch, what happens to the missing teens in the graveyard, is the ghost of the gravedigger real, etc. — but none of them came to a satisfying conclusion. The best wrap-up happens in a confusing scene that I still barely understand, and the worst isn't even revealed. Seriously, there's a whole epilogue that is seemingly there to just laugh at me for committing to the entire book and still not learning the answer.
Despite horror appearing first in the list of genres, it seemed like the book was intended to be a mystery, as one of the main characters was the sheriff and the other was the "black sheep" of the family (both in a good position to investigate and figure out secrets), but neither character did anything besides banter with the other. All of the "investigation" (if you can even call it that) involved the sheriff repeating "we need to solve this mystery before more people get hurt" while doing nothing but waiting for analyses to get back to him. And River wasn't much better: at about 250 pages in, she finally decides she's going to get involved because the sheriff is being slow, so she had three very short conversations with family members, then she decides its too dangerous so we just wait for the grand reveal. There were no clues or a gradual reveal of secrets, it was just the book telling me there was a mystery to be solved while doing nothing about it.
Since this book leans into being a "family mystery" (similar to something like Knives Out, where the family dynamics play a major role in the storytelling), the Gold family needed to be more involved. Other than River, her mother, her daughter, and her daughter's cousins, we didn't really get to know anybody. That sounds like a lot, but it's only five people out of 16, and that doesn't include how much time was dedicated to Luke and his foster kid (and other smaller roles). The whole book is about how one of the family members must be guilty, and we never really get to know any of the suspects. So, when the murderer was revealed, I just didn't care.
In fact, all the characters were painfully flat. They felt like poorly designed book characters instead of whole people with personalities. Dynamics, attitudes, and opinions would change based on what the scene needed, and none of the main characters stood out enough to carry the book. And nobody developed at all. I'm trying to write this review, and I can barely remember any of them to point out a specific example. Even when characters had experienced some horrible things, it was only ever mentioned in what can otherwise be read as a very casual conversation. It was the narrative equivalent of a character saying, "Oh, yeah, sorry I'm having a panic attack, it's because my PTSD is being triggered."
I couldn't be bothered to bring myself to care about this book. Every time I found myself engaging with it, I was inevitably let down within a few pages. The dialogue was bland and confusing. Half the narration was just repeating information we already knew. And, ultimately, I'm just glad to be done.
August 27, 2024
Thank you to Kensington publishers for an early copy of this book. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNwLqkt5/
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNwLqkt5/
July 3, 2024
This was a good book. Didn’t get very interesting until halfway through the book. Was very glad that she put a family tree at the beginning of the book or I would have been even more confused. I love River, Mabel, Luke and Sarah out of all the other characters.
September 6, 2024
I won this book on Goodreads and was very excited to read it. It did not disappoint. The plot was a who-done-it, but the setting was crafted perfectly to fit the plot. Wonderful character development with very likable characters. It was thrilling and suspenseful and it left me excited to read the next one in the series.
August 17, 2024
This book was just not for me. It was ok...the plot idea here was interesting, but I felt that there was a lot of missed opportunity to give the story greater depth, and there were a lot of loose ends. There were also too many characters, and it was hard to keep them all straight. Some characters should have been more developed and included much more. The way these characters were included in the story earlier on made it strange that they didn't have more involvement later. Overall, I didn't feel like I really knew most of the characters well enough to care about them, or to understand them, or to feel immersed in their story. There were also a lot of unnecessary repetitions throughout the book that just felt like fillers. The writing felt flat and choppy much of the time. It did not flow very well for me, and I was unable to get pulled into the story. This was my first book by this author, and I think her writing style is just not for me. If you know you enjoy this author's writing, or if you've never read her books, then maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did! Publication date in the U.S. is 8/20/24. Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for this opportunity.
July 4, 2024
The House by the cemetery.
Lisa Childs.
I've been waiting for this book.
This book is a fast read. I must say I enjoyed it Immensely.
The house by the cemetery, bodies began dropping like Flys. There's a killer lose.
Who will be next.
Sometimes, you think you see things in the cemetery late at night. Sometimes strange things happen within the house.
Overall, just a creepy house by cemetery.
With family, that's well a bit odd.
I personally loved this book. I'm excited for the next installment.
Lisa Childs.
I've been waiting for this book.
This book is a fast read. I must say I enjoyed it Immensely.
The house by the cemetery, bodies began dropping like Flys. There's a killer lose.
Who will be next.
Sometimes, you think you see things in the cemetery late at night. Sometimes strange things happen within the house.
Overall, just a creepy house by cemetery.
With family, that's well a bit odd.
I personally loved this book. I'm excited for the next installment.
August 20, 2024
This is a twisty and dark mystery/suspense in which the setting really makes the story. River Gold (love this character’s name) has never wanted to return home, but when the patriarch of the family dies, she returns to the Gold family estate, a mortuary with their home attached. Ooh, creepy! River reluctantly returns to console and be with her mother Fiona, only to find that her supposed father Gregory I may have been murdered and the sheriff is none other than the brother of her boyfriend who disappeared over a decade earlier. The creep factor ramps up as does the body count, and River is a believable and empathetic character. I also liked her daughter, Sheriff Luke, but the other characters, although believable, were not particularly likable. The plot moved along quickly as River gets more immersed in the mystery of who killed her father (and others) and as Luke gets more determined to find the killer. River seems to be in the crosshairs of the killer so Luke and River are thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, even though neither likes the other very much. Fiona, River’s mother, was the epitome of manipulation and greed, so she was one of the more despicable characters and hardly redeemable at all. However, her actions and interactions with the other characters gave insight and come clues about what was really happening behind the scenes. There were some characters whom I would consider minor ones, like Noah, River’s half brother, but we don’t learn much about them except whether River likes and trusts them or not. That fact did not detract from the story at all because they were minor characters, fill ins to complete the extensive Gold family. All in all, this book was mesmerizing and really reminded me of the old Victoria Holt books that I used to enjoy. Gothic type setting, damsel in distress and a swoonworthy hero all make this book a five star must read for fans of mystery and suspense.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from Fiction Addiction. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from Fiction Addiction. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
August 20, 2024
In Gold Creek, Michigan, there is a legend that tells of a grave digger who, after he died, he still haunts the area, digging graves for those who have died, and looking for victim's to bury. If you get caught in the grave yard alone at night, beware, because you might just become his next victim.
The main family in this story runs the funeral home that overlooks the cemetery. When the head of the family dies, and an investigation gets launched looking into his death, it is found that he was poisoned, and he did not die of his old age. River, the estranged daughter of the deceased, comes home for the funeral, and finds herself trying to prove her mother's innocence to those who believe her mother is the murderer, including the new Sheriff in town, River's old high school enemy, Luke. Follow along as the investigation unfolds and clues are uncovered as to who committed the murder, even as more people are dying.
Wow, wow, wow. This book was a nonstop roller coaster from beginning to end. Lisa Childs really knows how to keep a reader from putting her books down. The family politics did get old at times, it became repetitive. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, so much that I feel like I might have benefited from drawing out a family tree in order to keep track of everyone.
In the end, the reveal of the murderer was a bit lackluster, and for that, I must unfortunately deduct half a star. There was a huge amount of build up to get to the reveal of the murderer and why they did it, and I feel like it was all resolved so fast and I felt a little let down.
The epilogue broke me, even though I had a feeling of what had happened, it made me sad to know the truth, especially told from his POV of how excited he was and how he wanted to be better and prove everyone wrong. I am very curious to know when more books in this series will be released because I loved the grave digger concept and would love to read more books based on them.
Thank you to Lisa Childs, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
The main family in this story runs the funeral home that overlooks the cemetery. When the head of the family dies, and an investigation gets launched looking into his death, it is found that he was poisoned, and he did not die of his old age. River, the estranged daughter of the deceased, comes home for the funeral, and finds herself trying to prove her mother's innocence to those who believe her mother is the murderer, including the new Sheriff in town, River's old high school enemy, Luke. Follow along as the investigation unfolds and clues are uncovered as to who committed the murder, even as more people are dying.
Wow, wow, wow. This book was a nonstop roller coaster from beginning to end. Lisa Childs really knows how to keep a reader from putting her books down. The family politics did get old at times, it became repetitive. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, so much that I feel like I might have benefited from drawing out a family tree in order to keep track of everyone.
In the end, the reveal of the murderer was a bit lackluster, and for that, I must unfortunately deduct half a star. There was a huge amount of build up to get to the reveal of the murderer and why they did it, and I feel like it was all resolved so fast and I felt a little let down.
The epilogue broke me, even though I had a feeling of what had happened, it made me sad to know the truth, especially told from his POV of how excited he was and how he wanted to be better and prove everyone wrong. I am very curious to know when more books in this series will be released because I loved the grave digger concept and would love to read more books based on them.
Thank you to Lisa Childs, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
October 15, 2024
Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp for sending me a copy of The House by the Cemetery! I truly enjoyed this murder mystery. The family drama combined with the constant guessing of “whodunit” kept me engaged throughout. The characters were likable and relatable, even with the complexity of so many people in the mix. Fortunately, the author made it easy to identify each character, and the family tree included in the book was very helpful for keeping track of everyone.
The atmosphere Lisa Childs created really set the stage for the story’s unfolding. The eerie, mysterious tone of the setting fit perfectly with the unfolding events. While the book itself is quite simple and not overly intricate, it’s an enjoyable read that I found difficult to put down. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a straightforward yet captivating murder mystery!
The atmosphere Lisa Childs created really set the stage for the story’s unfolding. The eerie, mysterious tone of the setting fit perfectly with the unfolding events. While the book itself is quite simple and not overly intricate, it’s an enjoyable read that I found difficult to put down. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a straightforward yet captivating murder mystery!
September 21, 2024
Thank you to Kensington for the copy of this book. It was overall an enjoyable book full of mostly unlikeabke yet quirky characters. My only real issue is the multiple points of view. The story would jump from one perspective to another and it wasn’t always obvious that there was a change. They were very similar. I did enjoy the story and the suspense. I wanted to know who the murderer was and why. I liked that the epilogue opened up a whole new mystery.
March 6, 2025
Thank you to Goodreads for this giveaway win. Had a difficult time getting into this book. Too many characters introduced at the beginning and the character growth wasn’t believable and was shallow. Hard to tell at times who was talking. Plot was clumsy and convoluted. I was incredibly disappointed by the ending, until I realized that there would be another book (that’s what’s being hinted at here, anyway).
August 19, 2025
I decided to try this book since my husband is a cemetery sexton and handles the funerals too so it hit home in a lot of ways. I would love to have given this book a 3.5 but it’s not available.
It was a pretty good mystery set in the Funeral Home and Cemetery of the Gold family who are just as creepy as you would expect.
The author really kept me guessing till close to the end and I am going to check out the sequel to it.
It was a pretty good mystery set in the Funeral Home and Cemetery of the Gold family who are just as creepy as you would expect.
The author really kept me guessing till close to the end and I am going to check out the sequel to it.
December 8, 2024
I enjoyed this book. It moved well. There is a lot of murder and accusations. I was only going to give it 3 stars, but the ending...wow! Now, I am curious whether this will be part of a series? I think I know who it was in the end, but...
It's worth the read if you want something fast and easy.
It's worth the read if you want something fast and easy.
June 16, 2025
I really enjoyed the mysteries in this one. A major plot around who killed the head of the family. Several family subplots with family drama. That ending….loved! Great characters with unique personalities. Loved the writing with some twists and turns.
Read
December 2, 2024DNF at 13%
I started this book in September, then put it aside for other books. I'm finding myself not wanting to pick it back up so I'm moving on.
12/2/24
I started this book in September, then put it aside for other books. I'm finding myself not wanting to pick it back up so I'm moving on.
12/2/24
June 18, 2024
Big, old family saga where everyone hates the rich guy. Of course, his death is not natural. Was he poisoned? Through in a ghost with a lantern, swinging his shovel looking for the next grave to dig and you got yourself a "goodread."
August 1, 2024
River Gold returns to Gold Creek when her Father Gregory Gold dies and when she arrives
to find out he was murdered.Gregory owned a funeral home and all the Golds are after their inheritance and more murders are committed and Sheriff Luke suspects Rivers Mother Fiona and Sheriff Luke and River get closer since River had left Gold Creek pregnant with his brother Michael's child and her daughter Sarah is his niece.Then attempts are made on Rivrr and Sarah's life.Will Luke be able to keep them safe?
to find out he was murdered.Gregory owned a funeral home and all the Golds are after their inheritance and more murders are committed and Sheriff Luke suspects Rivers Mother Fiona and Sheriff Luke and River get closer since River had left Gold Creek pregnant with his brother Michael's child and her daughter Sarah is his niece.Then attempts are made on Rivrr and Sarah's life.Will Luke be able to keep them safe?
June 30, 2024
First of all, WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL?? The book ended and I want to know who the gravedigger really is!! Great story, hard to put down:-) thanks to the author, publisher, and Goodreads for the free copy!
May 26, 2024
This was described as partially paranormal but there truly was nothing paranormal about it---unless you count the thin ghost story that a few of the family tell but no one really believes. The end of the book also seems to be alluding the paranormal but it isn't developed enough to be any thing other than a cliffhanger for the next novel perhaps.
With stronger character development, the plot may have been easier to relate to and get invested in but there were too many characters to feel empathy for any of them.
It's a light read and not very scary.
With stronger character development, the plot may have been easier to relate to and get invested in but there were too many characters to feel empathy for any of them.
It's a light read and not very scary.
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