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The Grave Diggers #2
Only the Dead Within
Between mysterious missing persons cases, unsolved murders, and the menacing specter of an eternally blood-thirsty grave digger’s ghost, the town of Gold Creek, Michigan, has a grim reputation, and so does the wealthy, ruthless Gold family, who run the local funeral home and cemetery—and may be behind it all . . .
Yet another teen has gone missing from the Gold Memorial Gardens, and Child Protective Services Investigator Claire Underwood isn't giving up until she finds him. For Claire, solving the case is more than business. Years ago, she lost a friend in that cemetery.
Over time, the authorities deemed all the disappeared teens runaways, while local legend blamed the ghost of the murderous grave digger—much to the satisfaction of the Golds, also known as the “Ghouls.” Claire has always suspected the Golds were involved, including in some recent murders among their own. She went to high school with Noah Gold. He was very quiet, and very intense. Like someone with something to hide.
Noah is sick of being cast in the same light as his conniving, money-hungry family. He’s still a bit anti-social, but he’s just as determined as Clare to unearth the truth—and finally bury the legend of the grave digger. With a common goal, he and Claire join forces, but it’s a quest that puts them in mortal danger. Only with the help of the local sheriff—whose own brother vanished years ago—do they have a chance of surviving. Yet, the truth that awaits them is more terrifying than any ghost . . .
Yet another teen has gone missing from the Gold Memorial Gardens, and Child Protective Services Investigator Claire Underwood isn't giving up until she finds him. For Claire, solving the case is more than business. Years ago, she lost a friend in that cemetery.
Over time, the authorities deemed all the disappeared teens runaways, while local legend blamed the ghost of the murderous grave digger—much to the satisfaction of the Golds, also known as the “Ghouls.” Claire has always suspected the Golds were involved, including in some recent murders among their own. She went to high school with Noah Gold. He was very quiet, and very intense. Like someone with something to hide.
Noah is sick of being cast in the same light as his conniving, money-hungry family. He’s still a bit anti-social, but he’s just as determined as Clare to unearth the truth—and finally bury the legend of the grave digger. With a common goal, he and Claire join forces, but it’s a quest that puts them in mortal danger. Only with the help of the local sheriff—whose own brother vanished years ago—do they have a chance of surviving. Yet, the truth that awaits them is more terrifying than any ghost . . .
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
About the author
Lisa Childs
377 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 53 reviews
July 29, 2025
Gravedigger’s Ghost!!
Creepy from the get go. This story is filled with danger and shocking revelations that will keep you guessing to the ending that you’ll never see coming.
Noah Gold is one of the more sane people in this family full of greedy backstabbing weirdos.
Claire is a social worker that has seen to many tragedies in her life. She has been disillusioned by the system she’s works for.
This whole story gives you a vibe of being watched by evil just around every corner. Not much of a romance but the amazing storyline makes up for it.
Grab your favorite beverage and cozy up with the lights on. You’re in for a treat!!
Creepy from the get go. This story is filled with danger and shocking revelations that will keep you guessing to the ending that you’ll never see coming.
Noah Gold is one of the more sane people in this family full of greedy backstabbing weirdos.
Claire is a social worker that has seen to many tragedies in her life. She has been disillusioned by the system she’s works for.
This whole story gives you a vibe of being watched by evil just around every corner. Not much of a romance but the amazing storyline makes up for it.
Grab your favorite beverage and cozy up with the lights on. You’re in for a treat!!
July 29, 2025
The series of the Grave Digger continues with this book that gripped me in its clutches and just would not let go until I reached the satisfactory conclusion. The Gold family runs the local mortuary and the cemetery in the little town of Gold Creek. They are almost like a ruling family there, albeit a very strange and dysfunctional one. All of them are involved in the family business, and many of them have secrets that are dangerous to others. Noah Gold is the new grave digger, preferring to spend his time in the graveyard than with his macabre family members. When Child Protective Services worker Claire Underwood gets caught up in the family drama during one of her investigations, Noah is attracted to her, but mostly he wants to protect her from the unknown danger that seems to revolve around the Gold family. In investigating the disappearance of a teen, Claire unwittingly stirs up a hornets nest and unleashes a deadly battle between good and evil that affects most of the characters in the book. Sheriff Luke Sebastian is still trying to find his missing brother Michael who disappeared over a decade ago when he was supposed to meet River Gold and run away with her. River and her daughter Sarah want closure but what they are seeking is elusive and perhaps dangerous as well. The entire tone of the book is one of mystery and an eerie waiting for the next victim to be killed. A mystery that borders on horror with intense drama and propulsive thrills, this book included nail-biting suspense that was completely engrossing. The characters were realistic and unique, with complicated personalities and realistic flaws. This is a well-crafted and multi-layered story with head-spinning twists and revelations. The secrets and lies abound, adding to the mystery and the high tension that prevails throughout the novel. This is the second book in the series and I think the books need to be read in order so that all of the edginess and intrigue is fully understood. The drama is believable and the author did a masterful job of weaving all of the subplots together neatly at the end. I highly recommend this brilliantly written book that captivated me in the drama and kept me reading and guessing.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 5, 2025
ONLY THE DEAD WITHIN by Lisa Childs release date is
July 29 2025
This is the second book in the Grave Digger series.
I definitely feel that you should read the first book before reading this one. THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY this will give you a lot of the backstory and prepare you for the wonderful read of Only the Dead Within.
Claire Underwood used to be a foster child in Gold Creek Michigan. She is a child protective service agent was sent back to Gold Creek Michigan to investigate a teenage boy named Tyler. It is suspected that he is living in an abusive When her investigations leads her to Gold Memorial Gardens she is a bit uncomfortable because this place holds some memories she would rather forget!
Clair teams up with Noah Gold, in this investigation of Tyler and the disappearance of several runaways.
This story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Twist turns and suspense with a slight hint of romance.
Definitely hoping that there’s a book 3 as I don’t want the series to end. Hoping that Lisa, Childs and Kensington publication can make that happen.
Thank you too, Lisa Childs for trusting me with this ARC in return for my honest review.
July 29 2025
This is the second book in the Grave Digger series.
I definitely feel that you should read the first book before reading this one. THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY this will give you a lot of the backstory and prepare you for the wonderful read of Only the Dead Within.
Claire Underwood used to be a foster child in Gold Creek Michigan. She is a child protective service agent was sent back to Gold Creek Michigan to investigate a teenage boy named Tyler. It is suspected that he is living in an abusive When her investigations leads her to Gold Memorial Gardens she is a bit uncomfortable because this place holds some memories she would rather forget!
Clair teams up with Noah Gold, in this investigation of Tyler and the disappearance of several runaways.
This story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Twist turns and suspense with a slight hint of romance.
Definitely hoping that there’s a book 3 as I don’t want the series to end. Hoping that Lisa, Childs and Kensington publication can make that happen.
Thank you too, Lisa Childs for trusting me with this ARC in return for my honest review.
July 26, 2025
ARC via NetGalley.
I really thought the first book was a wild ride of motives and murder, but dang, this one really got me with shock at the end.
The main Gold in this book is Noah, the current caretaker of the Gold Memorial Gardens. When a teen boy he had a connection to shows up dead in the Gardens, a social worker and the local sheriff, who share a past connection in their foster parents, get wrapped up in the investigation. The bodies keep dropping and muddling everything, but it's the social worker Claire's absolute dedication and her own life experiences that get her to keep looking and keep asking questions. She also gets closer to Noah, both of them realizing they can't keep people away and fight feelings forever.
We get some INSANE lore about the Gold family and their connections at the end, and even if this murder is ultimately solved, the notion that the Gold family and their connections are far from safe is very clear. I have no idea where this series is going but I AM SAT.
I really thought the first book was a wild ride of motives and murder, but dang, this one really got me with shock at the end.
The main Gold in this book is Noah, the current caretaker of the Gold Memorial Gardens. When a teen boy he had a connection to shows up dead in the Gardens, a social worker and the local sheriff, who share a past connection in their foster parents, get wrapped up in the investigation. The bodies keep dropping and muddling everything, but it's the social worker Claire's absolute dedication and her own life experiences that get her to keep looking and keep asking questions. She also gets closer to Noah, both of them realizing they can't keep people away and fight feelings forever.
We get some INSANE lore about the Gold family and their connections at the end, and even if this murder is ultimately solved, the notion that the Gold family and their connections are far from safe is very clear. I have no idea where this series is going but I AM SAT.
June 4, 2025
Only the dead within.
if only the dead within could talk.
secrets that have been buried for years.
so many secrets, so many strange happenings at the gold memorial gardens and home and cemetery.
We have a missing teenager's
we have people that are being hurt.
strange things going bump in the night.
The child protective service investigator claire underwood. Once lived in this town as a child now back. She is doing what she can to help children because she knows what it was like to be mistreated and not cared for.
Things that happen bring back memories for her.. there's a killer on the loose. Will they catch the killer before more bodies Go missing.
Absolutely loved everything about this boo.
i would love to see another addition to this series.
if only the dead within could talk.
secrets that have been buried for years.
so many secrets, so many strange happenings at the gold memorial gardens and home and cemetery.
We have a missing teenager's
we have people that are being hurt.
strange things going bump in the night.
The child protective service investigator claire underwood. Once lived in this town as a child now back. She is doing what she can to help children because she knows what it was like to be mistreated and not cared for.
Things that happen bring back memories for her.. there's a killer on the loose. Will they catch the killer before more bodies Go missing.
Absolutely loved everything about this boo.
i would love to see another addition to this series.
August 3, 2025
Lisa Childs returns with a gripping blend of gothic horror, psychological suspense, and small-town secrets in Only the Dead Within, a chilling new installment in her growing legacy of dark, twisty thrillers. Imagine Six Feet Under colliding with Succession, then throw in a ghostly grave digger and a long trail of missing teens—you’ve got the eerie world of Gold Creek, Michigan.
At the heart of the story is Claire Underwood, a Child Protective Services investigator who’s seen enough tragedy to fill a cemetery—quite literally. When another teen goes missing near the infamous Gold Memorial Gardens, Claire is drawn back into a mystery that has haunted her since high school, when she lost a friend under eerily similar circumstances. Everyone else has written the teens off as runaways or victims of an old urban legend. Claire knows better—and she suspects the powerful and sinister Gold family may be behind it.
The Golds, who own the local funeral home and cemetery, are chillingly reminiscent of a gothic dynasty—cold, controlling, and hiding something unspeakable beneath their wealth and respectability. Enter Noah Gold, the brooding black sheep of the family, determined to break free from the “Ghoul” reputation and help Claire expose the truth. As old connections resurface and bodies—both literal and metaphorical—begin piling up, Claire and Noah must navigate family betrayals, supernatural legends, and their own haunted pasts.
Childs is a master of atmosphere. The setting oozes dread: misty graveyards, shadowy woods, and a funeral home that feels like it’s watching you. The supernatural elements—like the ghost of the grave digger—add an unsettling layer of horror, but the real terror lies in the human capacity for cruelty, cover-ups, and generational trauma. The slow-burn tension and dual narrative between Claire and Noah keep the stakes personal, while the plot races toward a final revelation that is both tragic and jaw-droppingly dark.
Pros:
• Atmospheric and gothic to the bone
• Strong, emotionally driven characters
• Blends horror and thriller with surprising finesse
• Twisty plot with solid pacing and a jaw-dropping climax
Cons:
• Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped
• A few tropes (small-town corruption, dark family secrets) feel familiar, though well-executed
Only the Dead Within is a tense, unsettling ride through the darkest corners of a town that’s been rotting from the inside for decades. Fans of Megan Collins or Rachel Hawkins will devour it, but it’s Lisa Childs’ ability to blend true crime grit with ghost story chills that makes this novel stand out. Whether it’s the ghosts or the Golds, something is definitely haunting Gold Creek—and you won’t be able to look away until the final page.
At the heart of the story is Claire Underwood, a Child Protective Services investigator who’s seen enough tragedy to fill a cemetery—quite literally. When another teen goes missing near the infamous Gold Memorial Gardens, Claire is drawn back into a mystery that has haunted her since high school, when she lost a friend under eerily similar circumstances. Everyone else has written the teens off as runaways or victims of an old urban legend. Claire knows better—and she suspects the powerful and sinister Gold family may be behind it.
The Golds, who own the local funeral home and cemetery, are chillingly reminiscent of a gothic dynasty—cold, controlling, and hiding something unspeakable beneath their wealth and respectability. Enter Noah Gold, the brooding black sheep of the family, determined to break free from the “Ghoul” reputation and help Claire expose the truth. As old connections resurface and bodies—both literal and metaphorical—begin piling up, Claire and Noah must navigate family betrayals, supernatural legends, and their own haunted pasts.
Childs is a master of atmosphere. The setting oozes dread: misty graveyards, shadowy woods, and a funeral home that feels like it’s watching you. The supernatural elements—like the ghost of the grave digger—add an unsettling layer of horror, but the real terror lies in the human capacity for cruelty, cover-ups, and generational trauma. The slow-burn tension and dual narrative between Claire and Noah keep the stakes personal, while the plot races toward a final revelation that is both tragic and jaw-droppingly dark.
Pros:
• Atmospheric and gothic to the bone
• Strong, emotionally driven characters
• Blends horror and thriller with surprising finesse
• Twisty plot with solid pacing and a jaw-dropping climax
Cons:
• Some secondary characters feel underdeveloped
• A few tropes (small-town corruption, dark family secrets) feel familiar, though well-executed
Only the Dead Within is a tense, unsettling ride through the darkest corners of a town that’s been rotting from the inside for decades. Fans of Megan Collins or Rachel Hawkins will devour it, but it’s Lisa Childs’ ability to blend true crime grit with ghost story chills that makes this novel stand out. Whether it’s the ghosts or the Golds, something is definitely haunting Gold Creek—and you won’t be able to look away until the final page.
August 4, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I try to review all the books I win as a way of saying thank you to the author and Goodreads. But that in no way effects my review of the book, good or bad.
I had never read a book by this author, and this one is the second book in this series but it can be read as a stand-alone. It references back to the first one quite a bit so I would encourage anyone who is interested in reading this one, to start with the first, although its not a must do.
After reading this book, I have a few thoughts I wanted to share. As stated before, I had never read a book by this author so I didnt know what the writing style would be like. Well its very repetitive. Im not sure why the author felt like she needed to keep repeating the same thoughts of the characters over and over but it was really annoying. I found myself actually knowing what was gonna be said or thought before actually reading it. It may have been because there were so many characters it was hard to keep straight who was who and who had done what and how everyone was related, but I dont think so. Im not sure, but it could have defintely been toned down a few notches. The book would have been shorter and actually better without all the wasted words. There are a lot of characters in this book. I appreciated the refreshers about who was who and how they were related though. That was my main complaint of this book, the overall repetitveness.
The twist of who the serial killer was is decent. I have to say, I didnt see that coming. My favorite part of the book was probably the grave digger ghost. This is more of a thriller type book but the grave diggers ghost adds a supernatural element that it so desperately needed. I would have gave 3 stars, but rounded up to 4 because of that. Its the little things!
I had never read a book by this author, and this one is the second book in this series but it can be read as a stand-alone. It references back to the first one quite a bit so I would encourage anyone who is interested in reading this one, to start with the first, although its not a must do.
After reading this book, I have a few thoughts I wanted to share. As stated before, I had never read a book by this author so I didnt know what the writing style would be like. Well its very repetitive. Im not sure why the author felt like she needed to keep repeating the same thoughts of the characters over and over but it was really annoying. I found myself actually knowing what was gonna be said or thought before actually reading it. It may have been because there were so many characters it was hard to keep straight who was who and who had done what and how everyone was related, but I dont think so. Im not sure, but it could have defintely been toned down a few notches. The book would have been shorter and actually better without all the wasted words. There are a lot of characters in this book. I appreciated the refreshers about who was who and how they were related though. That was my main complaint of this book, the overall repetitveness.
The twist of who the serial killer was is decent. I have to say, I didnt see that coming. My favorite part of the book was probably the grave digger ghost. This is more of a thriller type book but the grave diggers ghost adds a supernatural element that it so desperately needed. I would have gave 3 stars, but rounded up to 4 because of that. Its the little things!
February 11, 2026
Time to solve where more missing people/runaways have ended up! Things don't seem to slow down in Gold Creek as the will of Gregory Gold the first is still in probate and there is another body in the graveyard. You can definitely feel the creepy atmosphere in this tale of dark crimes, murder, and a possible supernatural suspect amid the regular human ones.
I did like the new points of view of Claire and Noah so I was pretty sure I had some more people I could root for that were most likely not the serial killer, despite the job that Noah has as caretaker of the graveyard. I liked him quite a bit actually as I can attest to the loveliness of not being around others all the time. While trying to find out what happened to Tyler, I enjoyed the bigger search for all the missing teens over the years, from River's boyfriend to a friend of Claire's. There a whole bunch of suspects, some very disturbing people (not just the Gold family this time!), threats, murder attempts, and a twist for the killer that I did not expect but it worked.
I for one never want to visit or live in Gold Creek, Michigan, but I am enjoying this series and can't wait to see what happens next for the Gold family and those that live near them. I foresee more murders and hopefully one day all the killers will be caught! I am glad I got the chance to continue this series and can't wait for the next one.
I did like the new points of view of Claire and Noah so I was pretty sure I had some more people I could root for that were most likely not the serial killer, despite the job that Noah has as caretaker of the graveyard. I liked him quite a bit actually as I can attest to the loveliness of not being around others all the time. While trying to find out what happened to Tyler, I enjoyed the bigger search for all the missing teens over the years, from River's boyfriend to a friend of Claire's. There a whole bunch of suspects, some very disturbing people (not just the Gold family this time!), threats, murder attempts, and a twist for the killer that I did not expect but it worked.
I for one never want to visit or live in Gold Creek, Michigan, but I am enjoying this series and can't wait to see what happens next for the Gold family and those that live near them. I foresee more murders and hopefully one day all the killers will be caught! I am glad I got the chance to continue this series and can't wait for the next one.
June 29, 2025
I got this ARC through NetGalley.
Claire Underwood is a CPS investigator that has returned to her childhood home of Gold Creek, Michigan. A place where she never wanted to return. Yet teenagers keep disappearing from the cemetery. The same cemetery one of Claire’s friends disappeared from as well. Never to be seen again.
The Gold family has been around even longer than Claire’s and they run the local funeral home and the cemetery that holds all the stories yet untold. Noah Gold went to high school with Claire and is familiar with the tales of the local legend the “grave digger”. They never were close enough to be friends but Noah always seemed to know more than he should about the legend.
Together Claire and Noah team up to attempt to find the missing child before it’s too late and he’s just another story to tell. With the help of Luke the local sheriff they rush to get to the bottom of the legend. But will the truth set everyone free, or will it cause more harm than good?
This book had so many twists and turns! With enough mystery and intrigue to keep you guessing and wondering what lurks around the corner. The ending of the book! 😱 I can’t recommend this enough times to other readers that love a good dark who done it.
Claire Underwood is a CPS investigator that has returned to her childhood home of Gold Creek, Michigan. A place where she never wanted to return. Yet teenagers keep disappearing from the cemetery. The same cemetery one of Claire’s friends disappeared from as well. Never to be seen again.
The Gold family has been around even longer than Claire’s and they run the local funeral home and the cemetery that holds all the stories yet untold. Noah Gold went to high school with Claire and is familiar with the tales of the local legend the “grave digger”. They never were close enough to be friends but Noah always seemed to know more than he should about the legend.
Together Claire and Noah team up to attempt to find the missing child before it’s too late and he’s just another story to tell. With the help of Luke the local sheriff they rush to get to the bottom of the legend. But will the truth set everyone free, or will it cause more harm than good?
This book had so many twists and turns! With enough mystery and intrigue to keep you guessing and wondering what lurks around the corner. The ending of the book! 😱 I can’t recommend this enough times to other readers that love a good dark who done it.
August 9, 2025
When a teen vanishes near a haunted cemetery in the eerie town of Gold Creek, Child Protective Services investigator Claire Underwood is drawn into a chilling mystery with deep personal ties. Teaming up with Noah Gold, a grave digger with secrets of his own, Claire must navigate local legends, buried family secrets, and rumors of a ghostly killer. As the past and present collide, Claire discovers that some horrors aren't only supernatural, they're terrifyingly real.
Only The Dead Within is the second book in the Grave Diggers series. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book to provide some background. This book is full of small town secrets, dark family legacies, and a spooky atmospheric setting. Claire is a strong and relatable main character and her personal connection to Gold Creek adds depth to the mystery. Fans of gothic thrillers will love the spooky graveyard setting and creepy folklore. My main critique is with the pacing. The book starts off strong but definitely loses steam midway through. A couple of the secondary plots felt a little underdeveloped but the ending still satisfies.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Childs, and Kensington Publishing this eArc! Publication date was July 29th 2025.
Only The Dead Within is the second book in the Grave Diggers series. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book to provide some background. This book is full of small town secrets, dark family legacies, and a spooky atmospheric setting. Claire is a strong and relatable main character and her personal connection to Gold Creek adds depth to the mystery. Fans of gothic thrillers will love the spooky graveyard setting and creepy folklore. My main critique is with the pacing. The book starts off strong but definitely loses steam midway through. A couple of the secondary plots felt a little underdeveloped but the ending still satisfies.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Childs, and Kensington Publishing this eArc! Publication date was July 29th 2025.
July 17, 2025
Loved this book. It surprised me that’s for sure. When CPS Investigator Claire Underwood comes back to Gold Creek she’s not sure she did the right thing. The only thing she does know is that she needs to find a teen that goes missing. He isn’t the latest teen to go missing either. She runs into the Sheriff who she knows from living in Gold Creek a long time ago. When she goes to the Gold Memorial Gardens since there’s information he was seen there last. She also sees Noah Gold. He also plays a part in the child’s life.
Noah Gold is really tired of being being cast as the bad guy because of his last name. He liked Tyler, and he even got a text from him. There was circumstances why he had to fire Tyler. So much loss as happened to his family, and now Claire Underwood is pointing the finger at him. He’s also had his life jeopardized. It’s bizarre that she and his sister River help him.
See what happens so much more to come.
I highly recommend this book and the first one.
The House by the Cemetery.
I hope there’s more to come. Plus the ending was just amazing.
As I said it surprised me a lot. One person and I won’t say who found out who was responsible. Happy Reading!
Noah Gold is really tired of being being cast as the bad guy because of his last name. He liked Tyler, and he even got a text from him. There was circumstances why he had to fire Tyler. So much loss as happened to his family, and now Claire Underwood is pointing the finger at him. He’s also had his life jeopardized. It’s bizarre that she and his sister River help him.
See what happens so much more to come.
I highly recommend this book and the first one.
The House by the Cemetery.
I hope there’s more to come. Plus the ending was just amazing.
As I said it surprised me a lot. One person and I won’t say who found out who was responsible. Happy Reading!
May 29, 2026
Gold Memorial Gardens and Cemetery has always been a strange place. Rumored to be haunted by Lyle McGinty, The Grave Digger, and a popular place for teens to 'hangout' several have gone missing throughout the years. Now, it seems another has; Tyler Hicks was last known to be in Gold Memorial Gardens. This time, though, the disappearance doesn't go unnoticed or ignored. Three people have vested interests. CPS caseworker Claire Underwood is assigned his case and is determined that another person is not going to get lost in the cracks like her childhood friend and fellow foster child did. Then there is the current caretaker, Noah Gold, who worked with Tyler over the summer and received an odd text from him sending him searching for the boy. Finally, the Sheriff Luke Sebastian, who had a brother go missing from Gold Memorial Gardens, wants answers. After all the tragedy recently in Gold Springs, nobody wants more death but the killer still has plans...and several people are in his crosshairs.
February 14, 2026
I feel that this book was even more repetitive than the first one. It also feels that whomever edited and/or printed the book did not do a good job. There were grammatical errors, words repeated as the paragraph dropped down and even wrong character name at one point. I had to re-read sentences to make sure I was understanding what the author was saying or which character was speaking.
That being said, I did enjoy the story line and the last few chapters where the killer is revealed did surprise me, just as the first book did. I have never read any books by Lisa Childs and I'm not too sure that I want to again. Personally, I wouldn't recommend these books to anyone. I wish editing would've been better.
That being said, I did enjoy the story line and the last few chapters where the killer is revealed did surprise me, just as the first book did. I have never read any books by Lisa Childs and I'm not too sure that I want to again. Personally, I wouldn't recommend these books to anyone. I wish editing would've been better.
August 13, 2025
Protective Services Investigator Claire Underwood has returned to Gold Creek, Michigan. Her current case involves a young boy who has gone missing from the Gold Memorial Gardens, and he isn’t the first. Claire is determined to find him but meets with resistance along the way. She feels she’s being watched and finds herself in danger numerous times. But who would want to harm her, and why?
Startling secrets are revealed, new friendships develop, and there’s a little ghostly assistance in solving the mysteries of those who went missing years before and were thought to be runaways.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Startling secrets are revealed, new friendships develop, and there’s a little ghostly assistance in solving the mysteries of those who went missing years before and were thought to be runaways.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 12, 2025
1.5*
Very good mistery, with lots of misdirection. Although, the clue to the killer is in the end of the first book.
Some parts of the book were dragging. And some parts were just plain stupid. For example: Claire thinks somebody is dying and goes to get help, and then they're wasting time with silly conversation.
Also, could Luke be any dumber. That man really shouldn't be a cop.
Lots if things left unexplained. Very interested in Wynn and Taylor and rest of the family. Some of them weren't even mentioned. Maybe there'll be anorher book.
Very good mistery, with lots of misdirection. Although, the clue to the killer is in the end of the first book.
Some parts of the book were dragging. And some parts were just plain stupid. For example: Claire thinks somebody is dying and goes to get help, and then they're wasting time with silly conversation.
Also, could Luke be any dumber. That man really shouldn't be a cop.
Lots if things left unexplained. Very interested in Wynn and Taylor and rest of the family. Some of them weren't even mentioned. Maybe there'll be anorher book.
March 30, 2026
I would suggest reading the first book before reading this one. I didn’t realize this book was part of a series when I bought it. Without having read the first one there was things I was confused about that I have no doubt wouldn’t be confusing if I had read the first one. Aside from my own mistake this book was really good. It kept me interested and guessing who was the most creepiest character. Every time I thought one character was suspicious another character even more creepy would pop up. Excellent read. I will have to go back and find the first book in this series and read it.
May 8, 2026
this was entertaining on some level but read like a bad soap opera, including the fact that they the characters all referred to Claire Underwood by her entire full name for the whole book despite being very much on a first name basis with her. also they gave a ridiculously obvious clue to who the murderer was halfway through the book and that ruined the entire “surprise” ending.
in my defense, i was headed somewhere and needed a book, but forgot mine at home. at 8am the only place open was a CVS with very few options…. this read exactly as one would expect a book bought at CVS to read.
in my defense, i was headed somewhere and needed a book, but forgot mine at home. at 8am the only place open was a CVS with very few options…. this read exactly as one would expect a book bought at CVS to read.
July 23, 2025
CPS worker Clair Underwood comes back to Gold Creek a teen goes missing and she first suspects Noah Gold but then others are missing. Sheriff Luke and River and her daughter Sarah are still trying to find out what happened to Luke's brother Michael when he went missing years ago.
This is the second book in the series and this book was hard to put down and with an unbelievable ending.Lisa Childs is the best.
This is the second book in the series and this book was hard to put down and with an unbelievable ending.Lisa Childs is the best.
September 1, 2025
Not for me. While there were plenty of suspects and some misdirection, for me this mystery failed to captivate my attention or keep me in suspense. The characters were flat, the pacing was slow, and the book was very repetitive. The same points kept getting repeated over and over, sometimes by different characters but often by the same character.
The premise was interesting, so maybe more heavy-handed editing can improve future books?
The premise was interesting, so maybe more heavy-handed editing can improve future books?
November 20, 2025
This is book two of the grave digger series. There is evil around every corner and so many shocking registrations that your head will spin.
I never saw the ending coming, and that's just the way I like it.
This is book two, but could be read as a standalone, however I strongly recommend you read book one first, it's just that good!
Just like book one of this amazing series, I couldn't put this book down until I had answers. Now I just hope I can sleep tonight!
I never saw the ending coming, and that's just the way I like it.
This is book two, but could be read as a standalone, however I strongly recommend you read book one first, it's just that good!
Just like book one of this amazing series, I couldn't put this book down until I had answers. Now I just hope I can sleep tonight!
November 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book and the different point of views. I will have to say that because I didn't read the first book in the series I was very confused with all the family members. In this case, the author should have included a family tree in the beginning so the readers could follow along more easily. Also, since so much was described in this book about the first, I'm not compelled to go back and read it since the killers and plot was revealed.
August 13, 2025
The eerie setting, a missing child, and the secretive Gold Family make for an entertaining and suspenseful read. Claire and Noah are great characters, but my favorite was the spectral grave digger. This series can be read as standalones, but the first book is worth reading as well. People looking for a spooky fall read, without delving into the realm of terrifying, will enjoy this one.
September 28, 2025
Wow. Did not see that ending coming. I did not know who the killer was until the very end, I was completely shocked by who it was. I hope that this series continues because I feel so attached to all of these characters.
March 7, 2026
I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. It was an easy read but so much of the story was repeated over and over. . I felt that it could have been 100 pages long if the repetitive verbiage was removed.
August 16, 2025
this was hard to put down.
September 8, 2025
Really enjoyed this! I did not expect this person to turn out to be the grave digger, quite the surprise.
September 23, 2025
I enjoyed the book, just didn't enjoy the several typos that messed with the flow.
December 27, 2025
Story has a good beginning, but too much repetition.
August 15, 2025
Never saw the twists and turns!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2025
Only the Dead Within continues Lisa Childs' Grave Digger series. This second book in the series is focused on Claire Underwood, a former foster child from Gold Creek, Michigan, who has returned home as a CPS investigator looking to help children who were like herself. Haunted by memories of her past, Claire is tasked with investigating a potential abuse case that puts her right back into the orbit of the eponymous Gold family. Noah Gold is content to be a grave digger, happy with his job as the head of maintenance for the cemetery that his family maintains. Like his predecessor, Lyle, Noah is at peace in nature, and finds comfort in the familiarity of the cemetery. Until one night a teen is found murdered in the cemetery. Suddenly, Noah is a target - but whether it's from a serial killer who has been killing since he was a teen, or one of his own family members who are looking to increase their share of the Gold family business, no one knows. Claire and Noah, with the help of Noah's sister River, and the newly elected sheriff Luke Sebastian must try to uncover the secrets of the cemetery, before someone is successful in keeping them a secret forever.
Readers should definitely read 'The House by the Cemetary' before reading this book. There's a lot of family lore referenced in this novel, as well as events that take place in the first novel that will be confusing for readers who have not read it. While there are hints of romantic interests between the characters, this book firmly falls into the suspense/thriller/mystery category. The twist at the end was unexpected, and definitely left me with the feeling that it doesn't explain everything that has been going on in the Gold household. Readers who enjoy face-paced, danger-filled mystery novels will enjoy Only the Dead Within.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Lisa Childs for an eARC of this novel to review.
Readers should definitely read 'The House by the Cemetary' before reading this book. There's a lot of family lore referenced in this novel, as well as events that take place in the first novel that will be confusing for readers who have not read it. While there are hints of romantic interests between the characters, this book firmly falls into the suspense/thriller/mystery category. The twist at the end was unexpected, and definitely left me with the feeling that it doesn't explain everything that has been going on in the Gold household. Readers who enjoy face-paced, danger-filled mystery novels will enjoy Only the Dead Within.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Lisa Childs for an eARC of this novel to review.
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