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Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave
Born in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home, a girl who can see and smell the supernatural must solve the mystery of a priceless heirloom stolen from her family's business. Perfect for fans Netflix’s Wednesday and Beetlejuice!
13-year-old Mystery—who was abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home—is plagued by sleep paralysis and the smell of ghosts, but she's used to that. Even though her life might seem "strange" on the outside, she loves it.
That is until a priceless heirloom goes missing and her family's funeral home is in danger of being shut down. To clear her Tia's good name, Mystery embarks on an adventure to figure out what really happened to the misplaced necklace.
But to do so, she must contend with the angry patriarch of the town’s wealthiest family, a sleep paralysis demon, a graverobber, and the ghastly half-vampire, half-ghost that’s lurking in the Old Ellis Town Cemetery.
13-year-old Mystery—who was abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home—is plagued by sleep paralysis and the smell of ghosts, but she's used to that. Even though her life might seem "strange" on the outside, she loves it.
That is until a priceless heirloom goes missing and her family's funeral home is in danger of being shut down. To clear her Tia's good name, Mystery embarks on an adventure to figure out what really happened to the misplaced necklace.
But to do so, she must contend with the angry patriarch of the town’s wealthiest family, a sleep paralysis demon, a graverobber, and the ghastly half-vampire, half-ghost that’s lurking in the Old Ellis Town Cemetery.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 16, 2025
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433 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 16, 2025
“Since she was a little kid, Mystery had been forced to share space with the living and the dead.”
When thirteen year old Mystery James isn’t busy with cemetery chores or learning the grim trades of her aunt’s family-owned funeral home, she’s constantly plagued by the smell of ghosts. Yes, young Mystery has the clairvoyant ability to smell when ghosts are present. But she’s unprepared for the trouble that follows the disappearance of a wealthy client’s family heirloom, threatening the integrity of Garcia Graves & Funeral Home and putting Mystery in the path of some ghoulish characters—like a half-vampire, half-ghost! Eeeee!!!!
This middle-grade horror has corpses, grave robbers, ghosts, small town history secrets, and mischief! Mystery is an incredibly witty and lovable protagonist that readers will immediately fall in love with! Inside the book are also an illustrated map of the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery, and excerpts from Mystery's informative funeral-facts journal where she informs young readers about everything from embalming to epitaphs! Author Ally Russell has truly written this book as a love letter for the ghoul-gangs who love a good graveyard adventure! As someone who frequents beautiful cemeteries regularly and has always found solace amongst the tombstones, this book spoke to my inner (spooky) child, and perhaps it will speak to yours as well!
(Thank you to Delacorte Press and the author for my very rad review copy of this book!)
When thirteen year old Mystery James isn’t busy with cemetery chores or learning the grim trades of her aunt’s family-owned funeral home, she’s constantly plagued by the smell of ghosts. Yes, young Mystery has the clairvoyant ability to smell when ghosts are present. But she’s unprepared for the trouble that follows the disappearance of a wealthy client’s family heirloom, threatening the integrity of Garcia Graves & Funeral Home and putting Mystery in the path of some ghoulish characters—like a half-vampire, half-ghost! Eeeee!!!!
This middle-grade horror has corpses, grave robbers, ghosts, small town history secrets, and mischief! Mystery is an incredibly witty and lovable protagonist that readers will immediately fall in love with! Inside the book are also an illustrated map of the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery, and excerpts from Mystery's informative funeral-facts journal where she informs young readers about everything from embalming to epitaphs! Author Ally Russell has truly written this book as a love letter for the ghoul-gangs who love a good graveyard adventure! As someone who frequents beautiful cemeteries regularly and has always found solace amongst the tombstones, this book spoke to my inner (spooky) child, and perhaps it will speak to yours as well!
(Thank you to Delacorte Press and the author for my very rad review copy of this book!)
November 18, 2025
The first in a new duology about a girl who can smell ghosts and lives in a funeral home. A fun paranormal story for kids who enjoy spooky reads.
Full review below
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Full review below
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November 25, 2025Thank you PRH Audio for a copy of this audiobook!
This was a fantastic read! The narration was exceptional, and I loved this cast of characters. I just learned this is a duology and I’m so excited because there’s a question left open that I can’t wait to (presumably) explore in book two. If you or someone in your life is a MG Horror reader, you have to check this one out!
This was a fantastic read! The narration was exceptional, and I loved this cast of characters. I just learned this is a duology and I’m so excited because there’s a question left open that I can’t wait to (presumably) explore in book two. If you or someone in your life is a MG Horror reader, you have to check this one out!
October 27, 2025
Ally has done it again! I adored It Came from the Trees but this might be even more beloved. As a fan of The Graveyard Book, My Girl, and anything related to cemeteries….this was just made for my inner wee!Kendra.
I adored all the characters and the shenanigans Mystery gets into is a good balance of understandable but also inexplicable (because of crazy circumstances, okay?? 😆). I also enjoyed the journal pages or letters at the end of some of the chapters. Ally does a great job adding some ephemera to a novel for sure.
Can’t wait for the next Mystery James adventure!
I adored all the characters and the shenanigans Mystery gets into is a good balance of understandable but also inexplicable (because of crazy circumstances, okay?? 😆). I also enjoyed the journal pages or letters at the end of some of the chapters. Ally does a great job adding some ephemera to a novel for sure.
Can’t wait for the next Mystery James adventure!
November 15, 2025
Another great read from Ally Russel! Loved our characters! They’re smart, funny, and creative. The funeral home and cemetery lead to really nice atmosphere. Loved that we get ghosts and vampires in one book! An easy and cozy read for any age!
September 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
October 27, 2025
You couldn’t ask for a better story to read around Halloween! Full review to come.
September 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is pitched as Beetlejuice meets Wednesday. Going on vibes, I'd say that pitch is spot on. There's definitely room on the spooky MG shelf for this book. The cemetery atmosphere is nicely crafted and the way the supernatural elements are executed is quite enjoyable. But I found myself wishing for more...mystery? (No pun intended.)
I think this is a case of the back cover blurb not matching what's in the pages. The mystery promised to us seems to revolve around a missing heirloom, but the 'who' and the 'why' is solved almost immediately. The rest of the story follows a different "mystery" involving the supernatural but it's not one with a lot of clues to let the reader play along. Most of the conclusions Mystery comes to are due to things she's read/been told off screen before the book even starts. Hard to find that satisfying. And there are some loose ends that are left unresolved (mainly the story about Mystery's birth mother, I don't want to spoil but I expected a conclusion about the vision Mystery had).
That being said, I can still see this being a hit during Halloween season. And as someone who's adopted, I appreciate the way Mystery's curiosity about her birth mother is resolved at the end.
This book is pitched as Beetlejuice meets Wednesday. Going on vibes, I'd say that pitch is spot on. There's definitely room on the spooky MG shelf for this book. The cemetery atmosphere is nicely crafted and the way the supernatural elements are executed is quite enjoyable. But I found myself wishing for more...mystery? (No pun intended.)
I think this is a case of the back cover blurb not matching what's in the pages. The mystery promised to us seems to revolve around a missing heirloom, but the 'who' and the 'why' is solved almost immediately. The rest of the story follows a different "mystery" involving the supernatural but it's not one with a lot of clues to let the reader play along. Most of the conclusions Mystery comes to are due to things she's read/been told off screen before the book even starts. Hard to find that satisfying. And there are some loose ends that are left unresolved (mainly the story about Mystery's birth mother, I don't want to spoil but I expected a conclusion about the vision Mystery had).
That being said, I can still see this being a hit during Halloween season. And as someone who's adopted, I appreciate the way Mystery's curiosity about her birth mother is resolved at the end.
September 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, for a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I admittedly don't read a ton of middle grade horror (or horror, in general) but this was described for fans who love Wednesday and Beetlejuice, and I love both series and this novel truly fits the vibes. Also, anything with spirits or ghosts automatically has my attention, so to say the synopsis intrigued me is an understatement.
This was such an unique take on the whole seeing ghosts ability... Or should I say: smelling ghosts when they're near? (having ghosts have specific scents for Mystery to know when they were near was extremely interesting to read about). We follow Mystery James, who was abandoned and was raised in a funeral home by her aunt, Tia Lucy. We are thrust into a mystery where a family heirloom goes missing and the funeral home (specifically, Mystery's aunt: Lucy) is taking the blame for it. Mystery finds herself acting as an amateur sleuth to find out who took it, why they took it and most importantly: to clear her aunt's name. There is so much to unfold with this story from the mystery of the priceless heirloom, to the half ghost/vampire spirit named Baron that's haunting the cemetery.
Each of the characters felt like they had a purpose and were there for a reason. Although I personally would have loved to see more of Eliza (who felt like she got the short end of the stick. I know that things about her and her family had been revealed, but it would have been cool to see more of her friendship with Mystery develop), so I'm hoping that we get to see more of that in the second novel. If there is one? Which I'm assuming there might be as we still have some unanswered questions that need to be solved, especially regarding Mystery's family.
But I really enjoy this! It was a quick pace, easy read with just the right amount of spooky! And with Halloween right around the corner? This will fit right in.
I admittedly don't read a ton of middle grade horror (or horror, in general) but this was described for fans who love Wednesday and Beetlejuice, and I love both series and this novel truly fits the vibes. Also, anything with spirits or ghosts automatically has my attention, so to say the synopsis intrigued me is an understatement.
This was such an unique take on the whole seeing ghosts ability... Or should I say: smelling ghosts when they're near? (having ghosts have specific scents for Mystery to know when they were near was extremely interesting to read about). We follow Mystery James, who was abandoned and was raised in a funeral home by her aunt, Tia Lucy. We are thrust into a mystery where a family heirloom goes missing and the funeral home (specifically, Mystery's aunt: Lucy) is taking the blame for it. Mystery finds herself acting as an amateur sleuth to find out who took it, why they took it and most importantly: to clear her aunt's name. There is so much to unfold with this story from the mystery of the priceless heirloom, to the half ghost/vampire spirit named Baron that's haunting the cemetery.
Each of the characters felt like they had a purpose and were there for a reason. Although I personally would have loved to see more of Eliza (who felt like she got the short end of the stick. I know that things about her and her family had been revealed, but it would have been cool to see more of her friendship with Mystery develop), so I'm hoping that we get to see more of that in the second novel. If there is one? Which I'm assuming there might be as we still have some unanswered questions that need to be solved, especially regarding Mystery's family.
But I really enjoy this! It was a quick pace, easy read with just the right amount of spooky! And with Halloween right around the corner? This will fit right in.
September 25, 2025
so fun and creepy! can't wait til the next one!
September 10, 2025
I swore off rating books, but I have to make an exception and give Russell her flowers. This book is spectacular, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 29, 2025
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Mystery was abandoned as an infant and adopted by Tia Lucy, who runs the Garcia Graves and Funeral Home. She doesn't mind helping clean up the graveyard, although she and best friend Garrett sometimes get in trouble for accidental misbehavior. She struggles with nightmares, and has been able to smell ghosts for a while; whether this has anything to do with her unknown parentage is unclear. When Lady Ellis dies and her son contacts Tia Lucy for the funeral service, he requests that a necklace be buried with his mother even though one of his sisters would like it. Mystery herself puts it around the corpse's neck. When it shows up two towns away at an antique shop, Mr. Ellis blames Tia Lucy for the theft, even though other people were involved in getting the mother into the family crypt. Mystery, who has been bedeviled by sleep demons, is also haunted by the ghost of Lady Ellis, who tries to talk to her, although Mystery isn't quite sure what she wants. A granddaughter of the deceased, Eliza, is around, and Mystery would like to speak to her. WHen an even more frightening ghost/vampire, the Baron, shows up with hideous demands, Mystery has no choice but to help the ghoul find a "fresher" body, as well as his heart. Raymond, a local man who does odd jobs and occasionally helps Tia Lucy bury bodies, is also working with the Baron. Even though Raymond's involvement in these exploits could exonerate Tia Lucy and the funeral home from any wrong doing, Mystery doesn't want to bother her Aunt. Eventually, she goes to talk to Eliza at the Ellis mansion, and finds very interesting information about the Baron. The necklace was part of a binding spell to keep him contained, and when the necklace left the area, his spirit was set free. Eliza also identifies the Daddy Long Legs (whom Mystery has named Coffin) living in Mystery's hair as a "Harvestman". Sadly, once Mr. Ellis finds out that Mystery has visited, he forbids Eliza to see her again. With Garrett's help, Mystery manages to find that a large rock she's been trying to move is actually a gravestone with "May no place keep this foul soul and fiendish heart, 1863" engraved on it. This is where the Baron's body is, and Mystery manages to find cemetery records that indicate his heart is probably in the crypt with another Ellis. When the Baron taunts Mystery with information about her birth mother, will she be too weak to stop him from unleashing himself into the world? A sequel, Mystery James Returns from the Grave, is to be published in the fall of 2026.
Strengths: Russell's It Came From the Trees was a big hit with my students, with its mix off outdoor camping adventures and scary beasts kidnapping children. A look at a small town funeral home and cemetery will appeal to readers who are drawn to creepy things and love K.R. Alexander titles. It's good to see Garrett and Mystery work together, and to learn some ins and outs of funeral home life. The idea that ghosts not only have a semi-corporeal presence AND a distinctive, unpleasant smell was a nice twist on ghost lore-- after all, since they don't exist, authors can put their own spin on what ghosts are like. The Baron is fairly frightening, and the information from the 1860s was cool to read. For those who like low levels of gore, Mystery and Garrett do exhume a body and are surprised at how much flesh can linger on bones after 160 Plus years.
Weaknesses: I needed a LOT more information about the arachnid hiding out in Mystery's hair. It was just a bit odd, and I don't think an actual critter would be very comfortable there. The cover is somehow half a bubble off; maybe the Baron looks goofy rather than scary? There were some things that didn't make as much sense as I would have liked them to. For instance, if Tia Lucy adopted Mystery when she was an infant, why is she referred to as an aunt and not as a mother?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want graveyard related spooky tales like Smy's The Hideaway, Aldridge's Deephaven or Fournet's Brick Dust and Bones. There aren't as many Goth/Wednesday Addams wannabes as there were twenty years ago.
Mystery was abandoned as an infant and adopted by Tia Lucy, who runs the Garcia Graves and Funeral Home. She doesn't mind helping clean up the graveyard, although she and best friend Garrett sometimes get in trouble for accidental misbehavior. She struggles with nightmares, and has been able to smell ghosts for a while; whether this has anything to do with her unknown parentage is unclear. When Lady Ellis dies and her son contacts Tia Lucy for the funeral service, he requests that a necklace be buried with his mother even though one of his sisters would like it. Mystery herself puts it around the corpse's neck. When it shows up two towns away at an antique shop, Mr. Ellis blames Tia Lucy for the theft, even though other people were involved in getting the mother into the family crypt. Mystery, who has been bedeviled by sleep demons, is also haunted by the ghost of Lady Ellis, who tries to talk to her, although Mystery isn't quite sure what she wants. A granddaughter of the deceased, Eliza, is around, and Mystery would like to speak to her. WHen an even more frightening ghost/vampire, the Baron, shows up with hideous demands, Mystery has no choice but to help the ghoul find a "fresher" body, as well as his heart. Raymond, a local man who does odd jobs and occasionally helps Tia Lucy bury bodies, is also working with the Baron. Even though Raymond's involvement in these exploits could exonerate Tia Lucy and the funeral home from any wrong doing, Mystery doesn't want to bother her Aunt. Eventually, she goes to talk to Eliza at the Ellis mansion, and finds very interesting information about the Baron. The necklace was part of a binding spell to keep him contained, and when the necklace left the area, his spirit was set free. Eliza also identifies the Daddy Long Legs (whom Mystery has named Coffin) living in Mystery's hair as a "Harvestman". Sadly, once Mr. Ellis finds out that Mystery has visited, he forbids Eliza to see her again. With Garrett's help, Mystery manages to find that a large rock she's been trying to move is actually a gravestone with "May no place keep this foul soul and fiendish heart, 1863" engraved on it. This is where the Baron's body is, and Mystery manages to find cemetery records that indicate his heart is probably in the crypt with another Ellis. When the Baron taunts Mystery with information about her birth mother, will she be too weak to stop him from unleashing himself into the world? A sequel, Mystery James Returns from the Grave, is to be published in the fall of 2026.
Strengths: Russell's It Came From the Trees was a big hit with my students, with its mix off outdoor camping adventures and scary beasts kidnapping children. A look at a small town funeral home and cemetery will appeal to readers who are drawn to creepy things and love K.R. Alexander titles. It's good to see Garrett and Mystery work together, and to learn some ins and outs of funeral home life. The idea that ghosts not only have a semi-corporeal presence AND a distinctive, unpleasant smell was a nice twist on ghost lore-- after all, since they don't exist, authors can put their own spin on what ghosts are like. The Baron is fairly frightening, and the information from the 1860s was cool to read. For those who like low levels of gore, Mystery and Garrett do exhume a body and are surprised at how much flesh can linger on bones after 160 Plus years.
Weaknesses: I needed a LOT more information about the arachnid hiding out in Mystery's hair. It was just a bit odd, and I don't think an actual critter would be very comfortable there. The cover is somehow half a bubble off; maybe the Baron looks goofy rather than scary? There were some things that didn't make as much sense as I would have liked them to. For instance, if Tia Lucy adopted Mystery when she was an infant, why is she referred to as an aunt and not as a mother?
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want graveyard related spooky tales like Smy's The Hideaway, Aldridge's Deephaven or Fournet's Brick Dust and Bones. There aren't as many Goth/Wednesday Addams wannabes as there were twenty years ago.
August 20, 2025
Disclosure Statement: I received an ARC of this novel from the author. My thoughts and opinions of the book have not been influenced in any way by either the writer or the publisher.
I love a spooky middle-grade title, and Ally Russell is one of my favorite writers in the field right now. Following up on her incredible debut, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave opens up a new series for Russell to explore, and it's got everything I want in a middle-grade horror series.
Firstly, Mystery James is an immediately lovable main character. She's both no-nonsense and all nonsense, a girl of mishaps and adventures who just can't seem to stay out of trouble and yet all too aware of how much she needs to steer away from trouble. She's funny and weird, but also incredibly tender and stalwart in her affection for the people around her. Mystery is a perfect teen protagonist, full of complicated emotions and contradictory desires and impulses, and is just a delight to read.
Then there's Mystery's supporting cast, friends like charmer Garrett or the strange and intense Eliza, family like Tía Lucy, and a couple of other spooky weirdos and randos that help round out what Mystery is missing. They all play off each other really well, both highlighting all the things that make Mystery wonderful and all the things she struggles with. There's heart aplenty in this book, and Mystery's encounters with people around town or around her life all help hone in on some of the book's bigger themes about finding yourself and protecting what's important.
And lastly, there's the book's big villain, a ghost vampire named Baron who is, frankly, terrifying and awful. Russell's last book was absolutely frightening, and I'm so glad she doesn't cut any of that back for this series. It's not super often that a middle-grade novel sends chills up my spine, but Russell captures all of the creepiness of a villain like Baron and still manages to add some additional scares.
What works best is that I think Russell knows what it means to be afraid, and it's not just because of something like ghosts. Fear in this book is much broader, an unsettled feeling over getting in trouble or anxieties about stability, about belonging and having a place to call one's own. Russell gets what feels scariest in life, and it seeps into the book in so many of the little moments outside the main action. Whether it be sleep paralysis or worries over being unhomed, anxiety fills the corners of this novel.
I know a book like Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is only the opening chapter of a longer series and set of stories, but I am so invested in the long-term vision for this series. If this first book is any indication, Mystery James is set to be my next Evie von Rathe, a character I'd take a bullet for and will never get tired of reading. I cannot wait to see what comes next for her.
I love a spooky middle-grade title, and Ally Russell is one of my favorite writers in the field right now. Following up on her incredible debut, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave opens up a new series for Russell to explore, and it's got everything I want in a middle-grade horror series.
Firstly, Mystery James is an immediately lovable main character. She's both no-nonsense and all nonsense, a girl of mishaps and adventures who just can't seem to stay out of trouble and yet all too aware of how much she needs to steer away from trouble. She's funny and weird, but also incredibly tender and stalwart in her affection for the people around her. Mystery is a perfect teen protagonist, full of complicated emotions and contradictory desires and impulses, and is just a delight to read.
Then there's Mystery's supporting cast, friends like charmer Garrett or the strange and intense Eliza, family like Tía Lucy, and a couple of other spooky weirdos and randos that help round out what Mystery is missing. They all play off each other really well, both highlighting all the things that make Mystery wonderful and all the things she struggles with. There's heart aplenty in this book, and Mystery's encounters with people around town or around her life all help hone in on some of the book's bigger themes about finding yourself and protecting what's important.
And lastly, there's the book's big villain, a ghost vampire named Baron who is, frankly, terrifying and awful. Russell's last book was absolutely frightening, and I'm so glad she doesn't cut any of that back for this series. It's not super often that a middle-grade novel sends chills up my spine, but Russell captures all of the creepiness of a villain like Baron and still manages to add some additional scares.
What works best is that I think Russell knows what it means to be afraid, and it's not just because of something like ghosts. Fear in this book is much broader, an unsettled feeling over getting in trouble or anxieties about stability, about belonging and having a place to call one's own. Russell gets what feels scariest in life, and it seeps into the book in so many of the little moments outside the main action. Whether it be sleep paralysis or worries over being unhomed, anxiety fills the corners of this novel.
I know a book like Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is only the opening chapter of a longer series and set of stories, but I am so invested in the long-term vision for this series. If this first book is any indication, Mystery James is set to be my next Evie von Rathe, a character I'd take a bullet for and will never get tired of reading. I cannot wait to see what comes next for her.
September 8, 2025
Thank you Delacorte Press @delacortepress Random House Kids @randomhousekids #randomhousekidspartner Netgalley @netgalley and Ally Russell @onedarkally for this free book!
“Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave” by Ally Russell⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Middle Grade Horror. Location: Ellis Town, somewhere on the East Coast, USA. Time: November. NOTE: DEI inclusive.
THE SERIES: Mystery (13) was abandoned in the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery, and raised in the Garcia Graves & Funeral Home. She can see and smell the supernatural, but is plagued by sleep paralysis and the noxious smell of ghosts. Her life might seem strange on the outside, but she loves it.
THIS BOOK: An heirloom necklace is missing, and the funeral home is blamed. To clear her Tia Lucy's good name, Mystery needs to figure out what happened to the necklace. She deals with the angry patriarch of the town’s wealthiest family, a sleep paralysis demon, a graverobber, and the half-vampire, half-ghost in the cemetery.
Author Russell’s book calls to my eerie, spooky side. (as a lover of Wednesday and Lydia Deetz!) It combines supernatural adventure with a mystery, likable characters, and a quaint setting. Russell also focuses on friendship (Mercy’s bond with best friend Garrett, whose overachiever parents expect him to be perfect). Rather than using the racist default of assuming people are white unless described, Russell writes inclusively of “a white woman”, just like she writes “a brown-skinned woman” or “a black woman”. She calls her book a love letter to cemeteries, and I get that-I grew up playing tag in a cemetery owned by family friends. It’s creepy-cute and twisty, there’s a cemetery map, Mystery’s journal entries, a sequel coming, and it’s 5⭐️from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #allyrussell #netgalley #mysteryjamesdigsherowngrave
“Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave” by Ally Russell⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Middle Grade Horror. Location: Ellis Town, somewhere on the East Coast, USA. Time: November. NOTE: DEI inclusive.
THE SERIES: Mystery (13) was abandoned in the Olde Ellis Town Cemetery, and raised in the Garcia Graves & Funeral Home. She can see and smell the supernatural, but is plagued by sleep paralysis and the noxious smell of ghosts. Her life might seem strange on the outside, but she loves it.
THIS BOOK: An heirloom necklace is missing, and the funeral home is blamed. To clear her Tia Lucy's good name, Mystery needs to figure out what happened to the necklace. She deals with the angry patriarch of the town’s wealthiest family, a sleep paralysis demon, a graverobber, and the half-vampire, half-ghost in the cemetery.
Author Russell’s book calls to my eerie, spooky side. (as a lover of Wednesday and Lydia Deetz!) It combines supernatural adventure with a mystery, likable characters, and a quaint setting. Russell also focuses on friendship (Mercy’s bond with best friend Garrett, whose overachiever parents expect him to be perfect). Rather than using the racist default of assuming people are white unless described, Russell writes inclusively of “a white woman”, just like she writes “a brown-skinned woman” or “a black woman”. She calls her book a love letter to cemeteries, and I get that-I grew up playing tag in a cemetery owned by family friends. It’s creepy-cute and twisty, there’s a cemetery map, Mystery’s journal entries, a sequel coming, and it’s 5⭐️from me 📚👩🏼🦳 #allyrussell #netgalley #mysteryjamesdigsherowngrave
July 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book. Mystery was born in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home. Mystery is a strong and relatable heroine with a unique connection to the supernatural. The caretaker of the funeral home and cemetery raises her, and we as readers get an educational view of the inner workings of a funeral home. This unique setting for the book is what made the book stand out.
The author does a wonderful job of weaving in fresh ghost lore, particularly the idea that spirits have a distinctive, unpleasant smell, which adds a dimension to the haunting atmosphere. This is a second unique concept. The inclusion of sleep paralysis and night terrors provides an educational insight for middle grade readers without detracting from the suspense. It gave me chills reading about her sleep paralysis, and Mystery is such a strong character for what she goes through with that.
Mystery’s determination to clear her aunt’s name and save the family business gives a fast-paced plot filled with a graverobber and a chilling half-vampire, half-ghost. The third unique concept to the book is the half-vampire, half-ghost. The dynamic between Mystery and Garrett adds warmth and depth to the story.
This book is an engaging, quirky paranormal adventure with heart, perfect for middle grade readers who enjoy a spooky mystery with a strong female lead especially if you want to read about an author who has such an amazing imagination.
The author does a wonderful job of weaving in fresh ghost lore, particularly the idea that spirits have a distinctive, unpleasant smell, which adds a dimension to the haunting atmosphere. This is a second unique concept. The inclusion of sleep paralysis and night terrors provides an educational insight for middle grade readers without detracting from the suspense. It gave me chills reading about her sleep paralysis, and Mystery is such a strong character for what she goes through with that.
Mystery’s determination to clear her aunt’s name and save the family business gives a fast-paced plot filled with a graverobber and a chilling half-vampire, half-ghost. The third unique concept to the book is the half-vampire, half-ghost. The dynamic between Mystery and Garrett adds warmth and depth to the story.
This book is an engaging, quirky paranormal adventure with heart, perfect for middle grade readers who enjoy a spooky mystery with a strong female lead especially if you want to read about an author who has such an amazing imagination.
July 14, 2025
Thank you Ally for the ARC and swag for this book!
I’ve always been a girl who has been attached to characters and stories that revolve around the strange and unusual, so I can relate to Mystery. She’s a girl who was dropped off as a baby in a cemetery and lives there with her adopted aunt. She can smell and sense ghosts and always gets in tangled into trouble with her best friend Garrett.
This was a fun and fast paced story. Some of it I wasn’t sure got answered all the way, but the way the book says 1 there might be more? That would be exciting! Ally is such a good writer for middle grade horror and I can feel the goosebumps influences in her writing. I also love how brave her heroines are. From “It Came From the Trees” to this book, you get to see little black girls be brave and fearless. I love every second of it. Mystery just threw herself into every danger and situation. She befriended bugs and tried to fight vampires. I loved her. The mystery with her birth family and why they left her was interesting and I feel like there’s more to the story we just didn’t see. I really wanted her to know about her origins. This was a very good book for kids who enjoy horror without it being too gruesome or frightening. Thank you again Ally for thinking of me and sending me this book!
I’ve always been a girl who has been attached to characters and stories that revolve around the strange and unusual, so I can relate to Mystery. She’s a girl who was dropped off as a baby in a cemetery and lives there with her adopted aunt. She can smell and sense ghosts and always gets in tangled into trouble with her best friend Garrett.
This was a fun and fast paced story. Some of it I wasn’t sure got answered all the way, but the way the book says 1 there might be more? That would be exciting! Ally is such a good writer for middle grade horror and I can feel the goosebumps influences in her writing. I also love how brave her heroines are. From “It Came From the Trees” to this book, you get to see little black girls be brave and fearless. I love every second of it. Mystery just threw herself into every danger and situation. She befriended bugs and tried to fight vampires. I loved her. The mystery with her birth family and why they left her was interesting and I feel like there’s more to the story we just didn’t see. I really wanted her to know about her origins. This was a very good book for kids who enjoy horror without it being too gruesome or frightening. Thank you again Ally for thinking of me and sending me this book!
September 8, 2025
“If you pass a graveyard at night/ghost and ghouls may give you a fright/To avoid the hearse/ Remember this verse/And be sure to stay within the light.”
🪦
Mystery James was abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home by the woman who found her, Tia Lucy. Together with her best friend, Garrett, the two are always getting into mischief, even though Mystery is the one always getting caught. When a priceless heirloom goes missing from the richest family in town’s grandmother’s grave, Tia Lucy is suspect number one. Mystery knows she didn’t steal the necklace so she sets off to find who did, but along the way encounters a grave robber, a ghost, a half-vampire spector and a sleep paralysis demon. Can a girl catch a break?
💀
This was the perfect MG horror read by @onedarkally So many kids ask for scary books but aren’t quite ready for YA yet so this upper middle grade book is a just-right fit for them. Fans of Wednesday and Beetlejuice will absolutely adore Mystery James and I hope we get to see more of her. This title releases 9/16! Grab it for spooky season and I think I want to dress as Mystery for Halloween!
CW: parental abandonment, parental death (discussed), death of a grandparent, adoption, gore, body horror, theft
Left a few things unresolved and dragged just a bit 3/4 of the way through.
🪦
Mystery James was abandoned in a cemetery and raised in a funeral home by the woman who found her, Tia Lucy. Together with her best friend, Garrett, the two are always getting into mischief, even though Mystery is the one always getting caught. When a priceless heirloom goes missing from the richest family in town’s grandmother’s grave, Tia Lucy is suspect number one. Mystery knows she didn’t steal the necklace so she sets off to find who did, but along the way encounters a grave robber, a ghost, a half-vampire spector and a sleep paralysis demon. Can a girl catch a break?
💀
This was the perfect MG horror read by @onedarkally So many kids ask for scary books but aren’t quite ready for YA yet so this upper middle grade book is a just-right fit for them. Fans of Wednesday and Beetlejuice will absolutely adore Mystery James and I hope we get to see more of her. This title releases 9/16! Grab it for spooky season and I think I want to dress as Mystery for Halloween!
CW: parental abandonment, parental death (discussed), death of a grandparent, adoption, gore, body horror, theft
Left a few things unresolved and dragged just a bit 3/4 of the way through.
June 5, 2025
My rating: 4.5
Mystery James was found abandoned in a cemetery as a baby and adopted by the funeral home director, Tía Lucy. Somehow, her life has only gotten stranger from there. She can smell ghosts, is haunted by a sleep paralysis demon, and trouble always has a way of finding her.
When an important family heirloom goes missing from one of the recently deceased, Tía Lucy takes the blame. To clear her aunt’s name and keep from losing their home, Mystery sets out to prove Lucy had nothing to do with the theft. But strange things are happening in the cemetery – things that Mystery finds herself in the middle of.
I fell in love with Mystery. She is just the right mix of headstrong, clever, and delightfully unusual to get herself into plenty of trouble. Mystery makes a solid addition to the pantheon of strong, spooky pop culture characters, beside Wednesday Addams and Lydia Deetz. There are plenty of scares and a lot of fun information sprinkled throughout. I would absolutely recommend Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave for any young reader who enjoys a twisty, creepy mystery and a relatable heroine. I am impatiently awaiting the sequel and hope for more.
Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
Mystery James was found abandoned in a cemetery as a baby and adopted by the funeral home director, Tía Lucy. Somehow, her life has only gotten stranger from there. She can smell ghosts, is haunted by a sleep paralysis demon, and trouble always has a way of finding her.
When an important family heirloom goes missing from one of the recently deceased, Tía Lucy takes the blame. To clear her aunt’s name and keep from losing their home, Mystery sets out to prove Lucy had nothing to do with the theft. But strange things are happening in the cemetery – things that Mystery finds herself in the middle of.
I fell in love with Mystery. She is just the right mix of headstrong, clever, and delightfully unusual to get herself into plenty of trouble. Mystery makes a solid addition to the pantheon of strong, spooky pop culture characters, beside Wednesday Addams and Lydia Deetz. There are plenty of scares and a lot of fun information sprinkled throughout. I would absolutely recommend Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave for any young reader who enjoys a twisty, creepy mystery and a relatable heroine. I am impatiently awaiting the sequel and hope for more.
Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
September 18, 2025
3 stars!! ⭐️ We all know I still read and enjoy some middle grade books/series. I swear a part of me is healed with every single MG book I read. This one was fun and quick! I received this arc back in July and held onto it until the last second when the leaves started turning and the weather turned colder and I’m so glad I did!
We follow Mystery James, an adopted girl (and her pet spider, Coffin) whose aunt owns a funeral home and a story of a missing heirloom, a vampire, and some sleuthing around. This should have been a 5 stars for me however it fell a little flat for me due to solving the who and why of the missing heirloom extremely quick. We then kind of go on a side quest with another plot line of Baron, the vampire, so I was a little thrown off by that. Mystery is marketed as Wednesday Adams meets Beetlejuice… and I see the vision - but Mystery is much happier and spunkier than Wednesday by far. So I wouldn’t take that to heart.
However, younger readers probably won’t care about this as much and will get spooked by Baron and his antics so I would most certainly recommend this cute little read! 🧛🏼🪦⚰️🕷️🌙
We follow Mystery James, an adopted girl (and her pet spider, Coffin) whose aunt owns a funeral home and a story of a missing heirloom, a vampire, and some sleuthing around. This should have been a 5 stars for me however it fell a little flat for me due to solving the who and why of the missing heirloom extremely quick. We then kind of go on a side quest with another plot line of Baron, the vampire, so I was a little thrown off by that. Mystery is marketed as Wednesday Adams meets Beetlejuice… and I see the vision - but Mystery is much happier and spunkier than Wednesday by far. So I wouldn’t take that to heart.
However, younger readers probably won’t care about this as much and will get spooked by Baron and his antics so I would most certainly recommend this cute little read! 🧛🏼🪦⚰️🕷️🌙
August 7, 2025
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC book.
Mystery James is such a great character. She's an outcast and a weirdo in all the best ways. She has an undeniable cool factor and just totally nails being the kind of Heroine I loved growing up on a steady diet of Goosebumps, Tim Burton, and all things spooky. I really enjoyed that she felt like a very classic character type while also bringing in her own story and modern appeal. I see this being a series that adults will really love reading along with their kids. I also really enjoyed that, while this book is fully Middle Grade appropriate, it also touched on some tougher topics in a thoughtful way that fit really well into the story. The elements of Mystery's own mysterious past and the current ghostly situation blended together so well and kept a great pace through the book. I really enjoyed this book and am dying to read the next one already!
Mystery James is such a great character. She's an outcast and a weirdo in all the best ways. She has an undeniable cool factor and just totally nails being the kind of Heroine I loved growing up on a steady diet of Goosebumps, Tim Burton, and all things spooky. I really enjoyed that she felt like a very classic character type while also bringing in her own story and modern appeal. I see this being a series that adults will really love reading along with their kids. I also really enjoyed that, while this book is fully Middle Grade appropriate, it also touched on some tougher topics in a thoughtful way that fit really well into the story. The elements of Mystery's own mysterious past and the current ghostly situation blended together so well and kept a great pace through the book. I really enjoyed this book and am dying to read the next one already!
September 16, 2025
Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave (by Ally Russell) is a great book to get you in the mood for spooky season.
Mystery was found in the cemetery when she was just a baby. Tia Lucy found Mystery and raised her in the Garcia Graves and Funeral Home. Mystery loves Tia Lucy, but she also wonders about the family that left her behind. When someone frames Tia Lucy for graverobbing, Mystery and her friend Garrett are determined to clear Tia Lucy’s name. But they run into some shady characters on their quest for justice, and Mystery has to be careful or she might end up digging her own grave.
Three things I loved about this book:
1. The spooky, cemetery setting.
2. The way that Tia Lucy was so respectful to the dead. She taught that to Mystery too.
3. Coffin the spider. (I like spiders, haha! And I liked that Mystery put Coffin on her shoulder and took him around with her)
Mystery was found in the cemetery when she was just a baby. Tia Lucy found Mystery and raised her in the Garcia Graves and Funeral Home. Mystery loves Tia Lucy, but she also wonders about the family that left her behind. When someone frames Tia Lucy for graverobbing, Mystery and her friend Garrett are determined to clear Tia Lucy’s name. But they run into some shady characters on their quest for justice, and Mystery has to be careful or she might end up digging her own grave.
Three things I loved about this book:
1. The spooky, cemetery setting.
2. The way that Tia Lucy was so respectful to the dead. She taught that to Mystery too.
3. Coffin the spider. (I like spiders, haha! And I liked that Mystery put Coffin on her shoulder and took him around with her)
September 21, 2025
I read It Came from the Trees and then saw this was set to be released soon! I got the ebook AND audiobook from my library the day it was released because I was first in line :p
I liked It Came from the Trees, but Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave was pretty unique and fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. Despite not being the target demographic for this book (middle grade), I didn't find it juvenile at all. I enjoyed that Mystery and Garrett were kids but not infantalized like some adult authors tend to do. They were well-rounded and I liked them as characters. Excited to see what Ally Russell comes up with next!
CAWPILE:
Characters: 8
Atmosphere/Setting: 7
Writing Style: 7
Plot: 9
Intrigue: 9
Logic/Relationships: 8
Enjoyment: 10
58/7 = 8.3 ~ 4⭐
I liked It Came from the Trees, but Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave was pretty unique and fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. Despite not being the target demographic for this book (middle grade), I didn't find it juvenile at all. I enjoyed that Mystery and Garrett were kids but not infantalized like some adult authors tend to do. They were well-rounded and I liked them as characters. Excited to see what Ally Russell comes up with next!
CAWPILE:
Characters: 8
Atmosphere/Setting: 7
Writing Style: 7
Plot: 9
Intrigue: 9
Logic/Relationships: 8
Enjoyment: 10
58/7 = 8.3 ~ 4⭐
September 18, 2025
Absolutely PERFECT spooky season read for tweens! Mystery is helping out at her aunt's funeral home when the business is accused of grave robbing! But when Mystery starts digging for dirt, it turns out an immortal vampire is searching for his heart and a new body to inhabit. Of course Mystery wants nothing to do with that until the vampire says he knows where her missing mother is. A perfect blend of light horror, who-dun-it, and spooky shenanigans follows that tweens will love this fall. Khaya Fraites's performance of the audiobook is phenomenal. She captures Mystery's optimism, friendship and family anxiety, and determination beautifully and really made me laugh-out-loud and gag as the story wove together the humor and gross outs that make middle grade horror so special. Highly recommend!!!
October 2, 2025
Mystery Jones has spent her entire life at Garcia Graves & Funeral Home. Ever since she was abandoned there as a baby. Mystery can smell ghosts which makes it interesting since she lives in a funeral home.
This book was so fun! It was the perfect amount of spooky and mystery. I loved our main character and her friendship with Garrett. And how much she loved her adopted aunt, Tía Lucy.
The story kept me hooked till the end. How could it not when a vampire ghosts involved.
Overall this was a great read! And I hope there are more Mystery Jones stories in the future!
Thank you to the published and NetGalley for the digital copy!
*I received a digital copy in exchange for a honest review*
This book was so fun! It was the perfect amount of spooky and mystery. I loved our main character and her friendship with Garrett. And how much she loved her adopted aunt, Tía Lucy.
The story kept me hooked till the end. How could it not when a vampire ghosts involved.
Overall this was a great read! And I hope there are more Mystery Jones stories in the future!
Thank you to the published and NetGalley for the digital copy!
*I received a digital copy in exchange for a honest review*
November 19, 2025
I think this is a great book for middle grade readers who are new to the spooky genre but might be a bit on the mundane side for those who are looking for really spooky.
Mystery James was abandoned at birth in a cemetery and raised by a woman who owns a funeral home, so she has grown up around death. She has the ability to smell when the spirits of the departed are nearby. One day when they are preparing a new body for their service Mystery sees the spirit and it's trying to tell her something. The departed's family heirloom goes missing and the funeral home is blamed for it. Mystery knows they didn't take it, so she asks her friend Garret to help her figure out what happened to it. They go to the cemetery to investigate and come across a grave robber and a half-vampire ghost who is looking for his body so he can find his heart to be able to find a new body to live again. He offers Mystery a deal to help find information about her birth mother but it's not the bargain she had hoped for.
It took me quite a while to read this book. It has a slower start, and the spooky stuff doesn't really start happening until almost halfway through the book. It's definitely more of a mystery story than spooky story in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. #MysteryJamesDigsHerOwnGrave #NetGalley
Mystery James was abandoned at birth in a cemetery and raised by a woman who owns a funeral home, so she has grown up around death. She has the ability to smell when the spirits of the departed are nearby. One day when they are preparing a new body for their service Mystery sees the spirit and it's trying to tell her something. The departed's family heirloom goes missing and the funeral home is blamed for it. Mystery knows they didn't take it, so she asks her friend Garret to help her figure out what happened to it. They go to the cemetery to investigate and come across a grave robber and a half-vampire ghost who is looking for his body so he can find his heart to be able to find a new body to live again. He offers Mystery a deal to help find information about her birth mother but it's not the bargain she had hoped for.
It took me quite a while to read this book. It has a slower start, and the spooky stuff doesn't really start happening until almost halfway through the book. It's definitely more of a mystery story than spooky story in my opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. #MysteryJamesDigsHerOwnGrave #NetGalley
May 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mystery James, you have my spooky heart!
🖤
This was such a fun and spooky read. Mystery (13yr old) was raised in a funeral home with her aunt (Tía Lucy). You could say Mystery is “weird and unusual” because she can see and smell ghosts!! She also spends a great deal of her time across the street at the cemetery. I don’t want to give away too much. But stop what you’re doing and preorder this Wednesday meets Beetlejuice children’s book 👻 there’s so much adventure, mystery and paranormal encounters. Ps. There’s also a cool map. Yall know I love a map.
✨Out September 16✨
🖤
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Mystery James, you have my spooky heart!
🖤
This was such a fun and spooky read. Mystery (13yr old) was raised in a funeral home with her aunt (Tía Lucy). You could say Mystery is “weird and unusual” because she can see and smell ghosts!! She also spends a great deal of her time across the street at the cemetery. I don’t want to give away too much. But stop what you’re doing and preorder this Wednesday meets Beetlejuice children’s book 👻 there’s so much adventure, mystery and paranormal encounters. Ps. There’s also a cool map. Yall know I love a map.
✨Out September 16✨
🖤
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.
June 24, 2025
Mystery, you in danger girl. So much constant danger. Can we talk about this cover? It's amazing and terrifying. The title is also very creative and really grabs your attention. Pre-teen Mystery works at her aunt's funeral home and cemetery. And she spends A LOT of time in the cemetery. Which is very cool. But I didn't like Mystery. She's irritating, ungrateful, and kind of dumb. I admired Tia Lucy and Garrett was a hoot. Taylor, who is barely in the book, is more interesting than Mystery. Baron was one nasty bastard for sure, definitely a scary character. This book will scare younger readers and they may not dislike Mystery's personality as much as me. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC
October 20, 2025
Russell’s writing is inspiring! She weaves together words and events so beautifully without it feeling overly done, and it’s perfectly on par with what middle graders would enjoy. The story of Mystery James is full of, well, mystery, as well as imperfect characters, both of the good and evil varieties. There’s a web of connections that need to be built together with both past events and current ones, and Mystery has to read between the lines. The characters/relationships are organic, the plot keeps you wanting more, and the writing flows like a beautiful brook. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
November 2, 2025
It is a horror super natural story that includes grave robbing, ghosts, vampires, and friendship. There are three mysteries that the main character Mystery has to solve, the first is a missing heirloom, the second is how to defeat a vampire ghost, and the third, what happened to her birth mom. Each of these mysteries intertwine giving the reader a full sense of the world that Ally Russell is writing about. I loved the fact that all the characters were very diverse. I also love how death and the dead are portrayed in this book. That death is something to be revered and not feared. Recommended for ages 10 and up by the SEPA Book Reviewers.
Read
September 17, 2025Visited some of my family members this weekend and realized how different the vibes are where they're buried (in Caguas, PR) vs the vibes in the most recent cemetery book I read 😅. Something about the sunshine and palm trees, maybe?
Anyways, Ally's books continue to be perfect for the horror-loving kids in your life, and they always include both Black and Puerto Rican characters 🤗. MYSTERY JAMES is out today, so go ahead and request it from your library or gift it to that one kid who would love to live in a funeral home. I know you know one 👀.
Anyways, Ally's books continue to be perfect for the horror-loving kids in your life, and they always include both Black and Puerto Rican characters 🤗. MYSTERY JAMES is out today, so go ahead and request it from your library or gift it to that one kid who would love to live in a funeral home. I know you know one 👀.
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