The Groundskeeper's Daughter

Haunted for the Holidays

by Holly Knightley

The dead can’t hurt the living, or can they?

Molly Delray’s father is the groundskeeper of Smith and Stone Cemetery. When she returns home for Christmas after being away for over a decade, she forgets the rules and disturbs the ghost of Old James. When the ghost's living relative shows up at Molly’s doorstep, it’s up to her to solve a centuries old murder before the ghost kills again.

The Groundkeeper’s Daughter is the first book in the Haunted for the Holidays series. If you like books you can finish in one sitting that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then you will love this page turner.

Each novella is a standalone and can be read in any order.

Buy The Groundkeeper’s Daughter today and find out if a Christmas curse can be broken.

Genres: Horror, Holiday

97 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I was brought up on the belief the dead can’t hurt you, only the living can. Which was a good thing to believe when you grow up in a cemetery."




Story told from Holly's POV. Her father is the groundskeeper to Smith and Stone Cemetery and has been since she was born. Her parents got divorced and she moved with her mother to Mississippi, only seeing his father twice or thrice a year. She came to see her father again during winter break to care for him after his surgery. His father had his right hip replaced and had no one to care for him.
She forgot that she wasn't supposed to touch Old James's grave. Much to her father's dismay, not only did she put a gravestone blanket there but also a wreath. She also has been incessantly warned to stay away from Jay Smith - Old James's living relative and her father's boss - saying he is bad news.
But what’s Old James’s story? Why does the mention of his name make her dad angry and Jay Smith jittery? And why can't anyone care for old James's grave?”
This is a quick and perfect 'in between' read. Short, sweet and slightly spooky. When I grabbed this one, I was in the mood for a much darker read though. This is giving RL stine, Goosebumps, Fear Street and a little bit of Nancy Drew vibes.

Big thanks to the publisher, Booksirens for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤

3.45✨

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok Holly Kightley knows how to write the perfect creepy holiday story

Molly and James try to break his family curse before time runs out on Christmas Day !!

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet- well not sweet, more like spooky.

This is a perfect novella for the spooky season.
When Molly returns home, she knows the rules. Her father is the groundskeeper for a cemetery, so rules about disturbing the dead are well known.
But, Molly makes one simple mistake and is thrown into the supernatural suspense of solving a mystery before the ghost can kill again.

This novella was just enough pages to feel really well planned out but can also be read just before bed in one sitting. It was unexpectedly warm in the end, and gave some of the holidays feels I expect in December.

Don't worry, the spooky, supernatural vibes make it a great halloween read too, but I recommend reading at night to really envelope yourself in the atmosphere the author sets up so perfectly.

Thank you to BookSirens and to the author for the chance to read and review prior to release.

[Honey Dy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise this novella was, and thank you, Holly, again for proving that not all ghosts have a vendetta or just want to scare people out of their wits. It was such a warm Christmas story with a bit of a supernatural twist.

After having read the eye of athena, the killing tree, and now this im starting to think Holly is a master in her craft of creating chilling and atmospheric tales that combine both mystery with the supernatural

Not only was this novel eerie, but it held a lot of suspense, with a gripping murder mystery and an age-old curse that hooked me from the start.

Molly’s journey to uncover the truth while battling the supernatural gave this book a haunting edge. It's the perfect read for fans of ghost stories and historical mysteries, with a fast-paced plot that keeps the tension high.

With engaging characters and a mystery that unravels in unexpected ways, yes, there's a plot twist, The Groundskeeper’s Daughter will leave you guessing until the very end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and i am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Grada (BoekenTrol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book for free through BookSirens, with the request to leave an honest review.

When I came across this book, I initially hesitated. Should I read it, or not? My relations with short stories or novellas are not very positive in general, so I wasn't sure about this one. I didn't want to let that get in the way of a good read (theme wise) and deny the author from the start an unbiased opinion.

Having said that, I did read the book. It was a short story. And I liked it lots.
It was a bit of everything. A Christmas story, with ghosts, detective work and a bit of love as well.
It was an engaging adventure, that grabbed me from page one and didn't let go until the end. The fact that at Christmas something is about to happen is giving the story an urge. That also kept me reading, almost exellerating with every page, because I wanted to know how it ended.

Okay, it may have been a bit predictable from the love angle, but still I didn't feel sure. And that's what made this book a good ghostly, christmassy read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun YA book to read! I may be impartial but I love Holly Knightleys writing. I love how her writing is so smooth and flows so well. Something that rarely happens, is me, finding myself smiling while reading a supernatural book. I don't read smut or rom-coms just because it's just too cheesy and not for me. Holly snuck a little tongue-in-cheek love story into this supernatural suspense story that was so well done I'm not even mad about it. This was such a great Christmas-y spooky supernatural suspense that's a shory novella that holds your attention from the first page to the last.

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

'.... it’s best not to disturb the dead with change. Some souls have a hard time resting in the bed they made for themselves....' (Pg 10)

Holiday Paranormal Murder Mystery | Standalone in a Series | Christmas Curse | Instalove | HEA

'I was certain of the magic in this place where stones rose from the ground in unique shapes, cutting their own paths through the earth with the names of the dead carved into them like secrets.... Secret stories the living will never be able to share in.' (Pg 6)

Quick read with a little chilling suspense. Molly is determined to solve the murder mystery, and Jay is mostly resigned, though he perks up a bit when she turns out to have ingenious ideas.

The solved mystery was kind of cliché, but it was a sweet, kind of cozy romance type of read mixed into it.

'There was something inherently scary about the ghost being a dark shadow with no features—no eyes, mouth, or nose—just darkness.' (Pg 38)

eBook voluntary review.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this is an honest review. A very vibrant and imaginative story as Molly Delray's return home and back to the comfortable world of helping her father at a local cemetery gets a little crazy as the Christmas season unfolds. An ancient grave and an bizarre curse that could claim a man whose family it haunts, Molly finds herself chasing time to uncover the truth, save Jay's life and give a ghost the peace it should have.

Highly recommended.

[Lola Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

This book has me gripped from page 1. I’m a huge horror buff so nothing actually scares me anymore but there were a few parts in this that did make me feel very on edge. The curse is very unique in my opinion, I’ve never read or seen a horror story with similar plot to this. So it was a really fun read to try and figure out what was going on. And a bit of romance and holiday spirit made it the perfect read to get into the winter holidays feeling.

Definitely recommend this one!

[Kari Blocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

While short, this book was packed with plenty of suspense and emotion, along with a nice helping of holiday spirit. I enjoy short stories, especially ones that are well written and manage to put a great story into a small package. This was one of those. If you like your spooky season carried over into the winter holidays, this book is for you.

I received an ARC of this book. I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Shonna Mantle Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It was a quick read and I finished it in one sitting. I liked the characters and I could really feel what the main character was feeling. I'm all about a little bit of spookiness for ANY holiday. I did not anticipate the twist at the end, wasn't any of the multiple guesses that I can usually come up with! Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for the ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[AMBER CLARK]

Another short and spooky tale by Holly Knightley. A murder mystery, a chilling curse, and a ghoulish ghost. The tension is high as Molly solves a decades old murder and saves Jay's life. Definitely recommend.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story

There is a curse that needs to be broken before the next Smith dies on Christmas. Molly and Jay are determined to break the curse. Will they succeed, read it and find out.

[Kate Lorentzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second Holly Knightley book and they’re the perfect “in between” read. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Christina Frøkjær · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by The Groundskeeper's Daughter. Holly has once again proven her mastery of creating atmospheric tales that blend the supernatural with the every day. This heartwarming Christmas story, with its eerie undertones and gripping mystery, had me hooked from the start. Molly's journey to unravel the age-old curse is both suspenseful and intriguing. The fast-paced plot and unexpected twists kept me guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of ghost stories and historical mysteries, this book is a perfect choice.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The MC has a generational family curse that he learns of by being haunted by a scary ghost. Read to find out can this ghost be satisfied.

I really enjoyed the story and I highly recommend it.

[Anna fully.booked_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stopppp this was so good for a novella! I read it in one sitting and I loved it! I almost wish we got more of these characters!
I will be trying out her full length novels for sure!

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect short Christmas cosy spooky story! I was transported to a beautiful cemetery all covered in white and I could truly picture everything the author described.
This was also due to the great narration by Jess Trepanier, who was able to change the voices expertly depending on the character.

I found the characters loveable and I was hooked by the mystery surrounding Old James and his family.
I didn’t even mind the light romance throughout the book as I was absorbed by trying to solve the mystery.

If you love a well laid out mystery with a stunning background, alongside an emerging romance, then check this one out. It’s quick and effective!

Thanks to the author for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a haunting Christmas novella 🎄

Molly’s father is the caretaker of a cemetery. Molly, loved it as a child until her parents divorce and she moved across country with her mother. But she’s back to care for her father, whilst doing so,she tends to the gravestones, laying little wreaths and blankets on them. One such gravestone, hasn’t been cared for in a long time but she feels a pull towards it. A visitor arrives, Jay the son of the owners of the cemetery, from her on it they try to piece together a mystery that is haunting him. As they research together Molly feels a pull toward him but will their time run out?

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝.

A paranormal Christmas story, full of intrigue and spirits (not the alcoholic kind either 🤭). A quick read, which I really enjoyed given the supernatural aspect.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading some of Holly's books, I have to admit that this one surprised me with its ending. And in a way that left me shocked. But that's the point. You don't get used to the same endings. But after the second book in this series, I really expected a shocking ending. And it was. But in a positive way.

Molly returns home to her father, who is the keeper of the cemetery. Since she grew up next to the cemetery, it was never scary for her nor did she shy away from it. But when Jay appears at the door, whose family owns the cemetery, and she learns about the curse that has been cast on their family, Molly takes action to find out the truth and save not only the love of her life but also all of his future generations (male generations).

Another short story from Holly with a great balance of horror and holiday atmosphere.
The length of the story, which is limited to about 100 pages, is definitely a plus. It's a quick read, not boring, and provides all the necessary material to get the reader into the story, get an impression of what the characters are like, and not start yawning after 20 pages. I'm definitely looking forward to more stories in this series. Let's hope for a scarier tone.

Big thanks to the BookSirens for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful Christmas horror story of a family cursed for the sons to die on Christmas Day. The curse had been completed for generations and it was a truly heartbreaking scenario for the family. I cannot imagine knowing that a father, son, uncle and brother had to die because of a curse. On Christmas Day no less. I found it difficult that some of the men chose to have families knowing the future sons would be given a death sentence. This choice sounds selfish but what Jay says at the close of the chapter said it all, “I was trying to leave my mark on the world and that’s not what’s important. What’s important are the little moments with people you care about. I never understood how my father or brother could start a family with the curse looming over us, but now I know. I hadn’t met the right girl, until now. I wish we had more time.” This part was the lasting message I received from this book. Molly was such a brave young woman to want to sort the curse out. I think it would be horrible to meet someone you could love only to learn they were going to die. Her persistence in solving this mystery is what made the book so interesting. This author never disappoints with her novels.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

When I chose this, I was in the mood for a darker read, and as this was a novella, it was very easy to read in one sitting. I really enjoyed the dark atmosphere mixed with the festive vibes; death, ghosts and Christmas were all present themes in this story.

I connected with the protagonist, Molly; there was something about the way she articulated both her emotions, and the sensations that came with them, that resonated with me. Jay was an awesome character as well. This would be a great choice if you like to read spooky stories during the festive season.

Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.

[Norrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairytale-esque story with ghosts, a family curse and a centuries old mystery. We follow Molly, the groundkeeper's daughter as she sets out to find out about Old James whose ghost hasn't learned to chill over a hundred years. Based on the gorgeous cover I expected something much darker and more sinister. Instead this novella was rather cute with a dash of angst. Molly is eighteen years old, so that wasn't all that surprising. The story while set in our current time felt old-timey with the cottage, the decorated graveyard, nightgown wearing and the over the top swooning which overall gave it a charming vibe.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would've thought that I'd enjoy horror stories for Christmas but they have become some of my favorites. I love how stubborn and forceful Molly is in this story. Powerful women who know what they want and follow through with it is peak for me. She had ideas and plans and at no point was she letting anyone stop her. I really enjoyed the ghost story in this. Honestly, it really faltered me out a little before bed but isn't that what you want from a horror story? I loved it.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story that vividly reminds people to think of others before ourselves during christmas time all whilst breaking a century old curse upon an old, well connected family.

It was gripping and suspenseful from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery to the story as well as the sweet relationship between the two main characters.

[Birgit Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read, very well written and ideal for spooky season, or the beginning of the festive season. Likeable characters from opposing families coming together to solve an old family mystery. An atmospheric story with a lovely ending, wish it was a bit longer but loved every bit of it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sherry Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Could not put it down. The ending wasn't what I would of imagined it was going to be. It was creepy in parts, but not overly done. Great story! Looking forward to more, Please!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cover is sooo creepy but the book had a shockingly sweet ending.

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was really bloody creepy in places. A creepy good old fashioned scary graveyard story. Really enjoyed it. The ending was really sweet too.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great book!! Lo red reading this !!