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Cemetery #1
Welcome to Cemetery
Stephen King has Castle Rock. Josh Malerman has Goblin. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill. Now C. J. Daley welcomes you to Cemetery.
A strange town with a strange name, Cemetery, NY is filled with crime and secrets.
When a car accident one fateful night leads to a search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams – an almost-thirty year old with something to prove – and Ed Reyes – a jaded, senior officer with a career as long as his partner is old – set out to solve the latest mystery.
Before long, a string of missing persons becomes a collection of bloodless bodies that has even the police pathologist stumped.
As the bloodshed continues, it becomes clear that the gruesome killings plaguing the town of Cemetery may not be the handiwork of some shadowy figure but of something even more sinister.
As detectives Williams and Reyes start to question the world around them, can they learn to put their differences aside? Or will the investigation of a lifetime be the end of their lives?
In this fast-paced small town crime thriller, nothing is as it seems.
A strange town with a strange name, Cemetery, NY is filled with crime and secrets.
When a car accident one fateful night leads to a search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams – an almost-thirty year old with something to prove – and Ed Reyes – a jaded, senior officer with a career as long as his partner is old – set out to solve the latest mystery.
Before long, a string of missing persons becomes a collection of bloodless bodies that has even the police pathologist stumped.
As the bloodshed continues, it becomes clear that the gruesome killings plaguing the town of Cemetery may not be the handiwork of some shadowy figure but of something even more sinister.
As detectives Williams and Reyes start to question the world around them, can they learn to put their differences aside? Or will the investigation of a lifetime be the end of their lives?
In this fast-paced small town crime thriller, nothing is as it seems.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2025
6 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Daley
5 books136 followersC. J. Daley lives in New York. He is the author of Welcome to Cemetery, his full-length crime thriller debut, as well as a full accompanying short story collection, Tales From Cemetery. BestGhost was his first sampler on the road to release. He enjoys smaller pieces that give hints to his created worlds at large, and he loves blending genres with dark descriptors. He hopes this won’t be the last you hear from him, and if you enjoyed, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, BookBub, Goodreads, StoryGraph, Literal Book Club—or share with a friend.
Follow along for more news @ CJDsCurrentRead / @ CJDaleyWrites on social media
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 11, 2025
Welcome to Cemetery is a mystery set in the small town of Cemetery, NY. When a car accident leads to the search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams and Ed Reyes are thrown into a case filled with secrets and eerie twists.
I really enjoyed the small-town vibe and the dynamic between the two main characters, Williams and Reyes. Their contrasting personalities and strong partnership added depth to the story. However, the heavy dialogue slowed things down at times, and personally, I wasn't totally satisfied with the ending. It felt a bit rushed. If you’re a fan of small-town thrillers, this is still likely something you would enjoy.
I really enjoyed the small-town vibe and the dynamic between the two main characters, Williams and Reyes. Their contrasting personalities and strong partnership added depth to the story. However, the heavy dialogue slowed things down at times, and personally, I wasn't totally satisfied with the ending. It felt a bit rushed. If you’re a fan of small-town thrillers, this is still likely something you would enjoy.
February 23, 2025
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
2.5 stars (rounded up)
Set in a small town as creepy as its name, Welcome to Cemetery is a mysterious detective crime thriller with deadly high stakes. It’s got a string of bloodless bodies, an unlikely yet strong buddy cop dynamic, and tons of bloody action that will keep you glued to the page, if you can just turn off your critical brain and suspend your disbelief long enough.
After loving C.J. Daley’s supernatural horror novelette BestGhost (to which we get some fun little nods here), I was beyond excited to see his deliciously dark storytelling shine in a full-length novel. And honestly, the first few chapters lived up to my expectations and had me hooked; the scene is set, the stakes are raised, and the rapidly increasing air of mystery had me quite intrigued to figure out what the heck was really going on. Serial killers? Supernatural horrors? Something altogether more disturbing? Only one way to find out.
Welcome to Cemetery truly nails that ‘just one more chapter’ vibe, and I really appreciated how Daley was able to build and keep up the tension the entire way through. However, I have to admit that at some point I found myself turning the pages more out of sheer disbelief at all the unhinged actions and wildly ridiculous revelations rather than a true sense of investment in the plot and characters.
See, while I found it a refreshing choice to follow this story through the eyes of a young, queer female detective and her jaded Mexican senior officer as a partner, I personally never really connected to them. There are hints at deeper emotional backstories and lots of psychological depth for both of them, but because the pacing is so fast, the exploration of their harrowing personal journeys and the development of their complex dynamic just doesn’t get the time and attention it deserves.
There were a few moments in Welcome to Cemetery where we got to see the emotionally vulnerable ‘Abby’ instead of the tough, single-minded ‘Williams’ that I really enjoyed, and I while I was never expecting the wholesome and sweetly innocent queer romance to become my favourite aspect of this bloody crime thriller, I welcomed it with open arms. But then, the abrupt development and endpoint of their romance arc was not what I was expecting, which only added to my frustration during the rushed ending.
Ultimately, there’s no denying that Welcome to Cemetery succeeds in being an incredibly smooth, easy, and thrilling page-turner, but I was personally hoping to love it a lot more than I did. If you are intrigued by the premise and find yourself craving a popcorn read of a mystery crime thriller that you can easily devour in one or two days, then I would give this wild roller coaster a shot.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Welcome to Cemetery is scheduled for release on March 4th, 2025.
2.5 stars (rounded up)
Set in a small town as creepy as its name, Welcome to Cemetery is a mysterious detective crime thriller with deadly high stakes. It’s got a string of bloodless bodies, an unlikely yet strong buddy cop dynamic, and tons of bloody action that will keep you glued to the page, if you can just turn off your critical brain and suspend your disbelief long enough.
After loving C.J. Daley’s supernatural horror novelette BestGhost (to which we get some fun little nods here), I was beyond excited to see his deliciously dark storytelling shine in a full-length novel. And honestly, the first few chapters lived up to my expectations and had me hooked; the scene is set, the stakes are raised, and the rapidly increasing air of mystery had me quite intrigued to figure out what the heck was really going on. Serial killers? Supernatural horrors? Something altogether more disturbing? Only one way to find out.
Welcome to Cemetery truly nails that ‘just one more chapter’ vibe, and I really appreciated how Daley was able to build and keep up the tension the entire way through. However, I have to admit that at some point I found myself turning the pages more out of sheer disbelief at all the unhinged actions and wildly ridiculous revelations rather than a true sense of investment in the plot and characters.
See, while I found it a refreshing choice to follow this story through the eyes of a young, queer female detective and her jaded Mexican senior officer as a partner, I personally never really connected to them. There are hints at deeper emotional backstories and lots of psychological depth for both of them, but because the pacing is so fast, the exploration of their harrowing personal journeys and the development of their complex dynamic just doesn’t get the time and attention it deserves.
There were a few moments in Welcome to Cemetery where we got to see the emotionally vulnerable ‘Abby’ instead of the tough, single-minded ‘Williams’ that I really enjoyed, and I while I was never expecting the wholesome and sweetly innocent queer romance to become my favourite aspect of this bloody crime thriller, I welcomed it with open arms. But then, the abrupt development and endpoint of their romance arc was not what I was expecting, which only added to my frustration during the rushed ending.
Ultimately, there’s no denying that Welcome to Cemetery succeeds in being an incredibly smooth, easy, and thrilling page-turner, but I was personally hoping to love it a lot more than I did. If you are intrigued by the premise and find yourself craving a popcorn read of a mystery crime thriller that you can easily devour in one or two days, then I would give this wild roller coaster a shot.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Welcome to Cemetery is scheduled for release on March 4th, 2025.
March 17, 2025
I enjoyed this debut novel, Welcome to Cemetery. In the small town of Cemetery, New York, detective Williams and her partner detective Reyes investigate eerie deaths that have occurred in their town. They are stuck when they discover the cause of these deaths are on the verge of unbelievable and unexplainable. Even the medical examiner has his doubts as to how they are occurring, as it is simply making no sense. As their investigating moves forward, they uncover secrets, reveal frenemies and fight for survival in this engaging crime thriller! The last several chapters of this book made me feel as if I was watching an action packed film! Great read that I would recommend for fans of small town crime thrillers, with high tension moments.
March 11, 2025
YESSS A PROPER CRIME THRILLER IN BOOK FORM👹👹
February 9, 2025
Welcome to Cemetery is a solid crime-thriller and police procedural that follows Detective Abby and Detective Reyes (Ed Reyes, like me!) as they uncover a sinister plot in Cemetery's small town.
Daley brings the action, the heart, and complicated characters who want to win and do better and keep you guessing and wanting to know how it all wraps up.
Enter Cemetery now!
Daley brings the action, the heart, and complicated characters who want to win and do better and keep you guessing and wanting to know how it all wraps up.
Enter Cemetery now!
March 24, 2025
Well, that was creepy as hell!
Which is great thing, don’t get me wrong. It’s been a while since I’ve checked out a crime/horror story, and Daley’s Welcome to Cemetery certainly scratched that itch.
A small town in upstate New York (aka NORTH of New York City, I don’t care if it’s by 2 feet), Welcome to Cemetery is a gripping detective thriller with high-stakes tension. When a series of murders get brought into light, an unlikely yet strong duo of detectives is tasked with solving the case.
The first chapters definitely grabbed me right off the jump. They set the stage, raised the stakes, and introduced an intriguing mystery that made me eager to figure out what was really happening.
Welcome to Cemetery perfectly captures the small-town horror vibe, and I really appreciated how Daley maintained a rising sense of tension throughout the entire book. One of the few downsides was when the book hit its later stages, some of the plot twists and things took on a bit of a “wait that couldn’t happen” type feeling, although it didn’t make it less fun to read.
I think what tied it all in together was the strength of the main character, Abby. A queer female detective, she had some great banter with her seasoned, jaded partner, and although I didn’t quite identify with either them on a deeper level, they were fun to read along with on a surface level. There were a bunch of times when Daley started to peel back the curtain and give us insight into the emotional backstories and psychological depth for both characters, but because the pacing is so fast, it didn’t really feel as fleshed out as I’d have liked.
Overall though, Welcome to Cemetery is a fast-paced, thrilling page-turner. I think there are some aspects that could be improved upon to really bring any future stories in Cemetery up a notch, but if you want a creepy, thrilling and enjoyable story to binge read, I hope this scratches your itch like it did mine!
Which is great thing, don’t get me wrong. It’s been a while since I’ve checked out a crime/horror story, and Daley’s Welcome to Cemetery certainly scratched that itch.
A small town in upstate New York (aka NORTH of New York City, I don’t care if it’s by 2 feet), Welcome to Cemetery is a gripping detective thriller with high-stakes tension. When a series of murders get brought into light, an unlikely yet strong duo of detectives is tasked with solving the case.
The first chapters definitely grabbed me right off the jump. They set the stage, raised the stakes, and introduced an intriguing mystery that made me eager to figure out what was really happening.
Welcome to Cemetery perfectly captures the small-town horror vibe, and I really appreciated how Daley maintained a rising sense of tension throughout the entire book. One of the few downsides was when the book hit its later stages, some of the plot twists and things took on a bit of a “wait that couldn’t happen” type feeling, although it didn’t make it less fun to read.
I think what tied it all in together was the strength of the main character, Abby. A queer female detective, she had some great banter with her seasoned, jaded partner, and although I didn’t quite identify with either them on a deeper level, they were fun to read along with on a surface level. There were a bunch of times when Daley started to peel back the curtain and give us insight into the emotional backstories and psychological depth for both characters, but because the pacing is so fast, it didn’t really feel as fleshed out as I’d have liked.
Overall though, Welcome to Cemetery is a fast-paced, thrilling page-turner. I think there are some aspects that could be improved upon to really bring any future stories in Cemetery up a notch, but if you want a creepy, thrilling and enjoyable story to binge read, I hope this scratches your itch like it did mine!
February 28, 2025
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
"Stephen King has Castle Rock. Josh Malerman has Goblin. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill. Now C. J. Daley welcomes you to Cemetery."
Well that certainly grabbed my attention. Although I confess I haven't read Malerman or Reyes, I am a big fan of Stephen King, so this sounded like it would be right up my alley..
"A strange town with a strange name, Cemetery, NY is filled with crime and secrets."
Intriguing, huh???
When a car accident one fateful night leads to a search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams – an almost-thirty year old with something to prove – and Ed Reyes – a jaded, senior officer with a career as long as his partner is old – set out to solve the latest mystery.
Before long, a string of missing persons becomes a collection of bloodless bodies that has even the police pathologist stumped.
Oooh.... and this was where the book got really good. I had no idea what to expect. I had plenty of theories.....and they were all wrong. So wrong. If you love a fast paced mystery/thriller/horror , then you should definitely check this out.
"Stephen King has Castle Rock. Josh Malerman has Goblin. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill. Now C. J. Daley welcomes you to Cemetery."
Well that certainly grabbed my attention. Although I confess I haven't read Malerman or Reyes, I am a big fan of Stephen King, so this sounded like it would be right up my alley..
"A strange town with a strange name, Cemetery, NY is filled with crime and secrets."
Intriguing, huh???
When a car accident one fateful night leads to a search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams – an almost-thirty year old with something to prove – and Ed Reyes – a jaded, senior officer with a career as long as his partner is old – set out to solve the latest mystery.
Before long, a string of missing persons becomes a collection of bloodless bodies that has even the police pathologist stumped.
Oooh.... and this was where the book got really good. I had no idea what to expect. I had plenty of theories.....and they were all wrong. So wrong. If you love a fast paced mystery/thriller/horror , then you should definitely check this out.
December 15, 2025
I read the author's novella a while back, which was a great taster to his work. I only kick myself for not getting to his other work quicker.
Welcome to Cemetery is the perfect example of small town horror. Some kind of grey and forgotten town where things just don't feel right. The author does a brilliant job of bringing this eerie atmosphere to life. His character development is similar to that of a Stephen King book. Their voices came out of the book, wanting to be heard. Getting into your head and staying there long after you've finished reading.
I really like that the mystery starts off pretty much immediately and leaves you wondering what has happened and what will happen. Everything is quite wild but that was part of the fun of reading. The author has an easy writing style that meant while I was getting all that I needed and wanted to know, I felt like I could devour it too!
I recommend to my usual horror / weird small town bookworm friends!
Welcome to Cemetery is the perfect example of small town horror. Some kind of grey and forgotten town where things just don't feel right. The author does a brilliant job of bringing this eerie atmosphere to life. His character development is similar to that of a Stephen King book. Their voices came out of the book, wanting to be heard. Getting into your head and staying there long after you've finished reading.
I really like that the mystery starts off pretty much immediately and leaves you wondering what has happened and what will happen. Everything is quite wild but that was part of the fun of reading. The author has an easy writing style that meant while I was getting all that I needed and wanted to know, I felt like I could devour it too!
I recommend to my usual horror / weird small town bookworm friends!
February 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It was a brilliant crime thriller and kept me guessing through out the entire book on who I thought could possibly be behind the awful crimes happening in Cemetery & I'm gutted to say, I did not guess correctly!
February 3, 2025
"Welcome to Cemetery"is a typical debut novel, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that it's dialogue-heavy, with strong characters and a tight plot (it even has a queer romance), yet it doesn't avoid some absurdities (especially about how police works), several unnatural-sounding conversations, and a rushed and unsatisfying ending. Admittedly, the writing is perfect for the subject-matter, and the pacing is generally adequate for such an action-oriented plot. But several times I felt this apparently X-Files/small town thriller mashup didn't deliver what it promised: there's so much indecision on the author's part where his book is going! I expected supernatural horror but all I got was an action movie/cop thriller mix, with very strong mystery and crime vibes.
January 12, 2025
Amazing! I was lucky to have received an advanced readers copy. Another story by CJD that I couldn’t put down once I started! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
April 1, 2025
I enjoyed this! There is some gore and a good mystery. The character development is good. The pacing is great and I was captivated until the end. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to C.J. Daley,Best Ghost Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2025
Cross posted from Cozy with Books!
To view more reviews, click [HERE!]
------
Disclaimer: An e-ARC of this was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you Connor for the copy! This does not affect my review and all opinions are my own.
------
Welcome to Cemetery starts off with a very nice introduction of the town. A small town that sat practically invisible amongst other villages of the Hudson River Valley. Not invisible in the sense that nobody sees it, just forgotten. You know, the kind that people usually skip when considering a place to make a pitstop…Cemetery is of average size, average townsfolk, average climate, and hell even an average unemployment rate. Everything’s average and fine and dandy…except the amount of unsolved crimes. That rate stands mockingly high and unpunished.
Then, the story opens up to the first chapter where our main character, detective Abigail Williams gets called out, in the middle of the night, to what at first appears to be an ordinary car crash. The kind of “ordinary” car crash that typically only the uniform cops would just handle and be done with. So, to have Cemetery’s only two detectives to both be called to the scene, it must be crazy right? It must be some form of double, triple homicide right? It must be the work of something so bad that the cops must call investigators like Williams to show up, but…
…it’s just an empty car. The glass is blown inwards and the driver’s missing. There’s no sign of a body, nor was the driver ejected because the police have already searched down the road. Coupled with “the math ain’t mathing”-ly little amount of blood in the vehicle, it’s just weird. In fact, there’s something eerie to this crime and when a body is found with grievous and twisted wounds, and as more bodies are found, it appears the call to summon both Abby and the Senior Detective Reyes, was the correct thing to do. This is just the start of something that will upturn the entire town.
I really enjoyed this book. I suppose reading it multiple times throughout the process can tell you that I really enjoyed this book. I loved the writing, starting from the intro. It gives a “once upon a time, long long ago” kind of vibe, but as soon as the “unsolved cases” piece of history is mentioned, suddenly this fairy tale of a campfire story takes a far more darker turn. Welcome to Cemetery has a captivating writing style that has charm and has the kind of writing voice where, if I were listening to the narrator tell this tale over a crackling fire, I’d be leaning in, gripping that log, and going, “and then…? And then what…?” The descriptions and imagery are on point, really putting you in the characters’ shoes, such as the first discovery of the body, the wounds seared into my mind. The car crash scene at the beginning? Eerie, goosebumpy. The writing is descriptive, vivid, but not too much and not taking away from the rest of the story.
The characters are great as well, and quite realistic. I love how certain characters are just lost like, “What now?” Ever see anime characters suddenly gain superpowers and already know how to wave their hands and cast a spell? Yeah, not here. They’re no superheroes here, only characters that try their best to solve an absolutely mind-boggling and bizarre case, who doesn’t know who they can trust anymore, and sometimes, not even know where else to turn after hitting dead ends. There are moments where characters get into physical altercations and come out with more than simply a few flesh wounds. Then, those same wounds, patched up, get mentioned from time to time afterward; the realism of remembering that an injured character shouldn’t be moving in certain ways to not tear open wounds.
Relationships are also nicely written and I loved Abby’s relationship with her love interest, Katherine, but the same goes for the relationship between her and Senior Detective Reyes. Katherine is so sweet, so understanding and patient and is the medicine and light to a desperate Abby. Practically the only normalcy that Abby gets through this chaos. Reyes’ dynamic works well with Abby’s too. The jaded detective who has seen some shit, who knows the world ain’t fair, and who knows that certain people just can’t be changed even if you save them. Vs Abby who is appalled at some of Reye’s views. The two fight over how to treat the victims in the case and there’s flaws all around to share amongst. Nobody is perfect and there’s growth of characters from beginning to end.
I enjoyed the plot too. I’ve read a lot of mysteries, and I have a fondness of mysteries that stand a little outside of the ordinary. There’s an element of horror to this book. Deep into this read, I’m still questioning myself if this crime is one person or one thing. With the killer’s twisted style/signature/M.O. and the wounds left on the bodies, you can’t tell if the ending is going to be human anymore. In Cemetery, you never know what the hell is going on and if you’re not vigilant, you’ll literally be blindsided by a bull of a plot twist.
Overall, a solid read. There’s so much thought that goes into each character. There’s the feeling of paranoia and distrust, which happened to be my favorite thing about this book. I felt like mind games were happening the entire time. Between arguments and sketchy humans throughout the town, you immediately already get the sense that something’s very eerie and wrong, and then throw on top a lingering sense of paranoia as well as an almost isolating feeling. The grey foggy kind. I’m a sucker for books that make me FEEL and so, if you’re down for a mystery book with bits of horror for flavor, or if you’re looking for a mystery thriller that keeps you guessing, it’s time to pick up Welcome to Cemetery. You’ll never forget them.
To view more reviews, click [HERE!]
------
Disclaimer: An e-ARC of this was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you Connor for the copy! This does not affect my review and all opinions are my own.
------
Welcome to Cemetery starts off with a very nice introduction of the town. A small town that sat practically invisible amongst other villages of the Hudson River Valley. Not invisible in the sense that nobody sees it, just forgotten. You know, the kind that people usually skip when considering a place to make a pitstop…Cemetery is of average size, average townsfolk, average climate, and hell even an average unemployment rate. Everything’s average and fine and dandy…except the amount of unsolved crimes. That rate stands mockingly high and unpunished.
Then, the story opens up to the first chapter where our main character, detective Abigail Williams gets called out, in the middle of the night, to what at first appears to be an ordinary car crash. The kind of “ordinary” car crash that typically only the uniform cops would just handle and be done with. So, to have Cemetery’s only two detectives to both be called to the scene, it must be crazy right? It must be some form of double, triple homicide right? It must be the work of something so bad that the cops must call investigators like Williams to show up, but…
…it’s just an empty car. The glass is blown inwards and the driver’s missing. There’s no sign of a body, nor was the driver ejected because the police have already searched down the road. Coupled with “the math ain’t mathing”-ly little amount of blood in the vehicle, it’s just weird. In fact, there’s something eerie to this crime and when a body is found with grievous and twisted wounds, and as more bodies are found, it appears the call to summon both Abby and the Senior Detective Reyes, was the correct thing to do. This is just the start of something that will upturn the entire town.
I really enjoyed this book. I suppose reading it multiple times throughout the process can tell you that I really enjoyed this book. I loved the writing, starting from the intro. It gives a “once upon a time, long long ago” kind of vibe, but as soon as the “unsolved cases” piece of history is mentioned, suddenly this fairy tale of a campfire story takes a far more darker turn. Welcome to Cemetery has a captivating writing style that has charm and has the kind of writing voice where, if I were listening to the narrator tell this tale over a crackling fire, I’d be leaning in, gripping that log, and going, “and then…? And then what…?” The descriptions and imagery are on point, really putting you in the characters’ shoes, such as the first discovery of the body, the wounds seared into my mind. The car crash scene at the beginning? Eerie, goosebumpy. The writing is descriptive, vivid, but not too much and not taking away from the rest of the story.
The characters are great as well, and quite realistic. I love how certain characters are just lost like, “What now?” Ever see anime characters suddenly gain superpowers and already know how to wave their hands and cast a spell? Yeah, not here. They’re no superheroes here, only characters that try their best to solve an absolutely mind-boggling and bizarre case, who doesn’t know who they can trust anymore, and sometimes, not even know where else to turn after hitting dead ends. There are moments where characters get into physical altercations and come out with more than simply a few flesh wounds. Then, those same wounds, patched up, get mentioned from time to time afterward; the realism of remembering that an injured character shouldn’t be moving in certain ways to not tear open wounds.
Relationships are also nicely written and I loved Abby’s relationship with her love interest, Katherine, but the same goes for the relationship between her and Senior Detective Reyes. Katherine is so sweet, so understanding and patient and is the medicine and light to a desperate Abby. Practically the only normalcy that Abby gets through this chaos. Reyes’ dynamic works well with Abby’s too. The jaded detective who has seen some shit, who knows the world ain’t fair, and who knows that certain people just can’t be changed even if you save them. Vs Abby who is appalled at some of Reye’s views. The two fight over how to treat the victims in the case and there’s flaws all around to share amongst. Nobody is perfect and there’s growth of characters from beginning to end.
I enjoyed the plot too. I’ve read a lot of mysteries, and I have a fondness of mysteries that stand a little outside of the ordinary. There’s an element of horror to this book. Deep into this read, I’m still questioning myself if this crime is one person or one thing. With the killer’s twisted style/signature/M.O. and the wounds left on the bodies, you can’t tell if the ending is going to be human anymore. In Cemetery, you never know what the hell is going on and if you’re not vigilant, you’ll literally be blindsided by a bull of a plot twist.
Overall, a solid read. There’s so much thought that goes into each character. There’s the feeling of paranoia and distrust, which happened to be my favorite thing about this book. I felt like mind games were happening the entire time. Between arguments and sketchy humans throughout the town, you immediately already get the sense that something’s very eerie and wrong, and then throw on top a lingering sense of paranoia as well as an almost isolating feeling. The grey foggy kind. I’m a sucker for books that make me FEEL and so, if you’re down for a mystery book with bits of horror for flavor, or if you’re looking for a mystery thriller that keeps you guessing, it’s time to pick up Welcome to Cemetery. You’ll never forget them.
March 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this read, I found it engaging. I really loved how the storyline progressed and how the characters developed. I found myself falling into the story with great ease and an eagerness to find out the ending. The writing was gripping and really painted a picture and the pacing was great.
February 4, 2025
Welcome to Cemetery by C.J. Daly leans more into thriller territory than horror, but it's high body count and fast-paced action made it impossible to stop reading. About a third of the way in, I knew this was an action-packed mystery rather than a true horror novel—but that didn’t stop me. I was hooked, fully invested in unraveling the dark secrets buried within this story.
Set in a small town where the dead turn up in increasingly grotesque states—drained of blood, stripped of organs, hacked apart like a butcher's leftovers—the local detectives find themselves tangled in a case that defies explanation. The pathologist is baffled. The police are clueless. And as more bodies pile up, the web of conspiracies stretches wider, implicating nearly everyone in town.
That’s where things started to unravel for me. The sheer scale of the conspiracy requires a massive suspension of disbelief. When the mastermind is revealed, their motives feel flimsy, almost absurd given the reach of their influence. And the final act? It plunges headfirst into chaos, shredding any last grasp on reality.
It’s bloody. It’s fast-paced. It has moments of skin-crawling tension. Now the thing I wanted more of was dread, and lingering unease, a high-speed thriller with an over-the-top premise. If that’s your thing, you’ll have fun with it. But if you’re hunting for a story that will haunt you after dark, you might want to keep looking.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Set in a small town where the dead turn up in increasingly grotesque states—drained of blood, stripped of organs, hacked apart like a butcher's leftovers—the local detectives find themselves tangled in a case that defies explanation. The pathologist is baffled. The police are clueless. And as more bodies pile up, the web of conspiracies stretches wider, implicating nearly everyone in town.
That’s where things started to unravel for me. The sheer scale of the conspiracy requires a massive suspension of disbelief. When the mastermind is revealed, their motives feel flimsy, almost absurd given the reach of their influence. And the final act? It plunges headfirst into chaos, shredding any last grasp on reality.
It’s bloody. It’s fast-paced. It has moments of skin-crawling tension. Now the thing I wanted more of was dread, and lingering unease, a high-speed thriller with an over-the-top premise. If that’s your thing, you’ll have fun with it. But if you’re hunting for a story that will haunt you after dark, you might want to keep looking.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
February 4, 2025
Thank you to the author for this Advanced Reader Copy, in exchange for my honest review.
I will say, that I liked the idea of the book, and the possibilities of the town leading to a series of books. The town of Cemetery could be considered a character in itself.
I was hoping that there would be more paranormal aspect to the book, but can see that this might be fleshed out in the future.
I can appreciate the main characters. I think that the lead female character was a little stereotypical and might have fallen victim to the male author, writing a female pitfall. But it was not so glaring that it took away from the story.
I would categorize this as a thriller or crime drama more than paranormal.
I did enjoy the book and found myself wanting to know what was going to happen. And I will say that I had not figured out the direction of the story until near the end.
Overall, 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I will say, that I liked the idea of the book, and the possibilities of the town leading to a series of books. The town of Cemetery could be considered a character in itself.
I was hoping that there would be more paranormal aspect to the book, but can see that this might be fleshed out in the future.
I can appreciate the main characters. I think that the lead female character was a little stereotypical and might have fallen victim to the male author, writing a female pitfall. But it was not so glaring that it took away from the story.
I would categorize this as a thriller or crime drama more than paranormal.
I did enjoy the book and found myself wanting to know what was going to happen. And I will say that I had not figured out the direction of the story until near the end.
Overall, 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
January 17, 2025
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this ebook.
I really enjoyed this book until about the last 20% where the ending was completely rushed and left a lot of unanswered questions. The plot was very fast paced and kept me very engaged. I would have given it 5 stars, except I’m really unsatisfied with the ending. I believe the author wanted to give some mystery surrounding it, intentionally leaving some questions unanswered, but there were some plot lines with no resolution.
I really enjoyed this book until about the last 20% where the ending was completely rushed and left a lot of unanswered questions. The plot was very fast paced and kept me very engaged. I would have given it 5 stars, except I’m really unsatisfied with the ending. I believe the author wanted to give some mystery surrounding it, intentionally leaving some questions unanswered, but there were some plot lines with no resolution.
January 17, 2025
Fast paced with crazy action and such good horror descriptors.
So much better than the earlier versions of the novel!
So much better than the earlier versions of the novel!
January 16, 2025
I thought this was action packed and the character work was well done!
I loved seeing more of the town hinted at in BestGhost and I now know for sure I’ll never step foot there.
I loved seeing more of the town hinted at in BestGhost and I now know for sure I’ll never step foot there.
October 4, 2025
I really really LOVED this book! shout out to the author C.J. Daley for being one of the nicest people I have ever interacted with. The story is soo good and I can't wait to read tales form cemetery (already started it lol)
Abigail Williams our MC is written in such a beautiful way. She is this complex character with a traumatic childhood who tries to be better and tries to always be positive in such an inspiring way. She is always trying to help people daily and although she is not perfect, she always tries to learn from her mistakes. She is a badass character who doesn't need to prove her talent to anyone who doubts her. She quickly stole my heart and I love her so much. She is always driven, passionate and isn't afraid to ask for help.
Detective Reyes is someone who at first to be honest I wasn't really a fan of, he was stubborn and was always hard on Williams. However, 50% in and he became my favorite character in the book! He stole the show for me, he is such a good written character which honestly has way too many flaws to count and that's what made him so loved and human. We all have flaws and made bad decisions but what separates us from bad people is we always try our best, to be good, to make good decisions and try to take our bad choices and turn them into moments that we reflect on to help us grow into better individuals.
'“We protect our own, Chief,” Reyes yelled, his face purple. He edged his way in between the chief of police and his partner, protecting her.'
Detective Reyes and Williams are such a good duo, throughout the book you start to see the effects they have on each other, him being a father figure to her. They always rely on each other on so many different ways. Their banter always manages to make light of such dark times they are in and I honestly can't speak enough about how good of a duo they were.
“If something ever seems too good to be true, it most likely is. You nod your head along with whatever it is, and then you hightail it out of there immediately. Never trust the easy way out.”
The story was really gripping, you don't know who to trust, you don't know what to expect. The town itself is written in a way that makes it dark and mysterious without even anything happening yet. The author manages to make you care about EVERY.SINGLE.CHARACTER, whenever we think something happens to a character even if we saw them once you find yourself emotional and anxious because you want them to be safe. Writing was really easy to follow and this honestly got me out of my reading slump! Go check Welcome to Cemetery because Tales from Cemetery will be out on OCT 7th
Abigail Williams our MC is written in such a beautiful way. She is this complex character with a traumatic childhood who tries to be better and tries to always be positive in such an inspiring way. She is always trying to help people daily and although she is not perfect, she always tries to learn from her mistakes. She is a badass character who doesn't need to prove her talent to anyone who doubts her. She quickly stole my heart and I love her so much. She is always driven, passionate and isn't afraid to ask for help.
Detective Reyes is someone who at first to be honest I wasn't really a fan of, he was stubborn and was always hard on Williams. However, 50% in and he became my favorite character in the book! He stole the show for me, he is such a good written character which honestly has way too many flaws to count and that's what made him so loved and human. We all have flaws and made bad decisions but what separates us from bad people is we always try our best, to be good, to make good decisions and try to take our bad choices and turn them into moments that we reflect on to help us grow into better individuals.
'“We protect our own, Chief,” Reyes yelled, his face purple. He edged his way in between the chief of police and his partner, protecting her.'
Detective Reyes and Williams are such a good duo, throughout the book you start to see the effects they have on each other, him being a father figure to her. They always rely on each other on so many different ways. Their banter always manages to make light of such dark times they are in and I honestly can't speak enough about how good of a duo they were.
“If something ever seems too good to be true, it most likely is. You nod your head along with whatever it is, and then you hightail it out of there immediately. Never trust the easy way out.”
The story was really gripping, you don't know who to trust, you don't know what to expect. The town itself is written in a way that makes it dark and mysterious without even anything happening yet. The author manages to make you care about EVERY.SINGLE.CHARACTER, whenever we think something happens to a character even if we saw them once you find yourself emotional and anxious because you want them to be safe. Writing was really easy to follow and this honestly got me out of my reading slump! Go check Welcome to Cemetery because Tales from Cemetery will be out on OCT 7th
May 22, 2025
I sat down to read C.J. Daley's "Welcome to Cemetery" and was pleasantly surprised to find a lot to like. First off, I felt a lot of Dean Koontz similarities to his writing and where the plot was going, and for me, that's a good thing. For a good chunk of the book, there feels like the murders being committed in town are supernatural in some measure, but just like in many Koontz books, it's clear by the time we get to the climax of the story that evil is often simply mankind being truly horrible to one another without even needing ghosts, vampires, or the like.
I enjoyed the book, but did feel perhaps a little closer editing would be beneficial to the story and copy. In the end, I couldn't help but agonize over all the paperwork Detective Williams would have to fill out after ALL THAT BLOOD was spilled in Cemetery.
I enjoyed the book, but did feel perhaps a little closer editing would be beneficial to the story and copy. In the end, I couldn't help but agonize over all the paperwork Detective Williams would have to fill out after ALL THAT BLOOD was spilled in Cemetery.
March 15, 2025
WOW!
This was an absolutely phenomenal read. So many twists and turns I never wanted to put the book down. There’s nothing like reading a book by an Indie writer. you can tell how much love time and dedication was put into this read. I’m already buying copies for friends and family!! every single character was lovable and those who weren’t were very unlikable! Kept me guessing the whole entire time and the ending was something I didn’t see coming. All things that make an absolute wonderful thriller! Welcome to Cemetery will 100% be on my top book list of 2025! Congratulations Mr. Daley you hit this one out of the park.
This was an absolutely phenomenal read. So many twists and turns I never wanted to put the book down. There’s nothing like reading a book by an Indie writer. you can tell how much love time and dedication was put into this read. I’m already buying copies for friends and family!! every single character was lovable and those who weren’t were very unlikable! Kept me guessing the whole entire time and the ending was something I didn’t see coming. All things that make an absolute wonderful thriller! Welcome to Cemetery will 100% be on my top book list of 2025! Congratulations Mr. Daley you hit this one out of the park.
April 1, 2025
This book kept me on the edge of my seat til the very end! I really enjoyed the The main character, Detective Williams. The author did a good job, maintaining the storyline, while creating a relatable relationship with her partner, Sr Detective Reyes. Every time I thought I had it figured out- another person disappeared, another body was found, or another clue was uncovered... And I can honestly say, I DID NOT see it ending like it did!
March 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and BestGhost Books for the eARC!
This was a fun little mystery/suspense novel. Easy to like main characters. Fast paced writing. Intriguing story. Really good stuff!
Cemetery is a town to the north of NYC and lots of weird stuff happens there…stuff like strange deaths with missing body parts and no blood. Detectives Williams and Reyes try to find what’s going on, and they get sucked into a town-wide conspiracy.
Check this out. It’s a fast read and the pacing was strong throughout.
This was a fun little mystery/suspense novel. Easy to like main characters. Fast paced writing. Intriguing story. Really good stuff!
Cemetery is a town to the north of NYC and lots of weird stuff happens there…stuff like strange deaths with missing body parts and no blood. Detectives Williams and Reyes try to find what’s going on, and they get sucked into a town-wide conspiracy.
Check this out. It’s a fast read and the pacing was strong throughout.
March 22, 2025
Welcome To Cemetery by C.J Daley is a small town crime thriller that could easily be turned into a series.
Cemetery is a small town north of New York City and it is crime ridden and full of secrets. But is there something darker hidden among these streets? When Abby Williams and Ed Reyes are assigned to what was supposed to be a routine missing person's case, they suddenly find themselves knee deep in something more sinister. Completely bloodless bodies start showing up and the more Williams and Reyes investigate the more they know that something evil is lurking in their town.
This was action packed in the best way possible! Right away you are thrust into chaos and it takes an even more sinister turn. There were so many eerie twists and turns that I flew through this book in a day. Definitely recommend to fans of detective fiction with some supernatural elements and a crazy atmospheric setting.
Thank you to NetGalley, C.J Daley, and BestGhost Books for this ARC. Release day was March 4th 2025.
Cemetery is a small town north of New York City and it is crime ridden and full of secrets. But is there something darker hidden among these streets? When Abby Williams and Ed Reyes are assigned to what was supposed to be a routine missing person's case, they suddenly find themselves knee deep in something more sinister. Completely bloodless bodies start showing up and the more Williams and Reyes investigate the more they know that something evil is lurking in their town.
This was action packed in the best way possible! Right away you are thrust into chaos and it takes an even more sinister turn. There were so many eerie twists and turns that I flew through this book in a day. Definitely recommend to fans of detective fiction with some supernatural elements and a crazy atmospheric setting.
Thank you to NetGalley, C.J Daley, and BestGhost Books for this ARC. Release day was March 4th 2025.
January 20, 2025
~I received an ARC of this book~
Abby Williams is a detective in Cemetery, New York, investigating a string of murders that has plagued her town since the start of October. No matter what she or her partner do, they can't seem to make headway on an investigation that is becoming increasingly strange. Victims are found drained of their blood, oddly decomposed for how long they've been dead, and often missing organs. Stranger still, all the victims have had two small wounds around their collar bones, almost like needle pricks... or bite marks?
Okay, this book is extremely fast paced and easy to read. It keeps you captivated from the get go. The characters are all flawed and complicated making it difficult to figure out who you think is guilty when everyone has something to hide. I also loved how this book felt spooky and Halloweeny, often playing with classic horror tropes. Finally, this book contains a queer romance which is always a plus for me.
That being said, the dialog in this book was often overwritten, unnatural, or cringy. If you don't mind something like a Marvel movie, I don't think you'll mind this either--it's heavy on the snarky one liners. There were multiple times that I would stop reading and think "people don't talk like this in real life". Again, this may not be a problem for you, but I found it super distracting. My other qualm was that the police work and the capacity for the human body to tolerate injuries described in this book was a little fantastical. This is another issue that I found really distracting but might be fine for other readers. But there were multiple times when I thought someone was way too strong, or when I thought that everything they were doing was horribly illegal.
Overall this book was a miss for me, but with how fast and entertaining it was, I'm not mad about having read it.
Abby Williams is a detective in Cemetery, New York, investigating a string of murders that has plagued her town since the start of October. No matter what she or her partner do, they can't seem to make headway on an investigation that is becoming increasingly strange. Victims are found drained of their blood, oddly decomposed for how long they've been dead, and often missing organs. Stranger still, all the victims have had two small wounds around their collar bones, almost like needle pricks... or bite marks?
Okay, this book is extremely fast paced and easy to read. It keeps you captivated from the get go. The characters are all flawed and complicated making it difficult to figure out who you think is guilty when everyone has something to hide. I also loved how this book felt spooky and Halloweeny, often playing with classic horror tropes. Finally, this book contains a queer romance which is always a plus for me.
That being said, the dialog in this book was often overwritten, unnatural, or cringy. If you don't mind something like a Marvel movie, I don't think you'll mind this either--it's heavy on the snarky one liners. There were multiple times that I would stop reading and think "people don't talk like this in real life". Again, this may not be a problem for you, but I found it super distracting. My other qualm was that the police work and the capacity for the human body to tolerate injuries described in this book was a little fantastical. This is another issue that I found really distracting but might be fine for other readers. But there were multiple times when I thought someone was way too strong, or when I thought that everything they were doing was horribly illegal.
Overall this book was a miss for me, but with how fast and entertaining it was, I'm not mad about having read it.
February 2, 2025
C. J. Daley’s Welcome to Cemetery invites us into a town as eerie as its name—a place where things lurk in shadows, town secrets lie beneath the surface, and death leaves behind more questions than answers.
The main characters are Detectives Abby Williams and Ed Reyes, an unlikely pair forced to navigate both a complicated partnership and a case that defies explanation. Williams has something to prove and often clashes with Reyes, a seasoned officer hardened by years on the force. I was drawn to the town’s unsettling history, where every answer only led to more disturbing questions.The action sequences had you on your toes, rooting for Williams and Reyes and the pacing made you want to keep reading.
What truly sets Welcome to Cemetery apart is its ability to blend procedural crime fiction with supernatural horror. The mystery is layered with psychological depth, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare.
Welcome to Cemetery will leave readers questioning what lurks beyond the veil of the ordinary. If you are looking for a mystery where the antagonist isn’t easily determined, read this book.
The main characters are Detectives Abby Williams and Ed Reyes, an unlikely pair forced to navigate both a complicated partnership and a case that defies explanation. Williams has something to prove and often clashes with Reyes, a seasoned officer hardened by years on the force. I was drawn to the town’s unsettling history, where every answer only led to more disturbing questions.The action sequences had you on your toes, rooting for Williams and Reyes and the pacing made you want to keep reading.
What truly sets Welcome to Cemetery apart is its ability to blend procedural crime fiction with supernatural horror. The mystery is layered with psychological depth, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare.
Welcome to Cemetery will leave readers questioning what lurks beyond the veil of the ordinary. If you are looking for a mystery where the antagonist isn’t easily determined, read this book.
May 21, 2025
Abby Williams and Ed Reyes are detectives in the small town of Cemetery, New York. A car accident brings them out to find no one around, when there should at least have been a body somewhere closeby. Where did the driver go? How did they get out and away from the accident and why didn’t they wait for help? Soon after, more and more people, starting with teenagers (a group of friends), many of whom were involved with drugs (but these are small crimes), disappear and some are turning up drained of blood.
There was definitely a lot of action happening, spaced throughout the book. Initially, I didn’t take the book as horror, but more as a mystery/police procedural, and it ended up being that mixed with the gore (and “thrill”) of horror. As a librarian myself, I did like Abby’s new girlfriend, though I wasn’t sure about her at the start. It took a while to get used to the gruff Ed, but I liked him in the end, too. I am hoping this will continue as a series; it sounds like there is a book of short stories set to come out set in Cemetery, but I’m not sure if there will be more novels or not.
There was definitely a lot of action happening, spaced throughout the book. Initially, I didn’t take the book as horror, but more as a mystery/police procedural, and it ended up being that mixed with the gore (and “thrill”) of horror. As a librarian myself, I did like Abby’s new girlfriend, though I wasn’t sure about her at the start. It took a while to get used to the gruff Ed, but I liked him in the end, too. I am hoping this will continue as a series; it sounds like there is a book of short stories set to come out set in Cemetery, but I’m not sure if there will be more novels or not.
February 4, 2025
This book features heavy dialogue, a queer romance, and a supernatural theme intertwined with crime, all of which I enjoyed. However, I felt that the ending was rushed, leaving some questions unanswered. I gave it 3.5 stars. I appreciated the author's effort in crafting a narrative that explores the trauma, anxiety, and shyness experienced by Detective Abby, a female in a predominantly male police station. Despite the book's strengths, the rushed conclusion detracted from my overall reading experience.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this ebook!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this ebook!
February 21, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and BestGhosts Books for the eARC.
This book had a nice plot, well executed, with strong characters, but was way too heavy on the dialogue, which I didn’t care for.
It had sort of a spooky aspect to it, which I liked, but the ending was so rushed and I feel like I have so many questions and things were left unanswered.
Abby was a good strong character, which I respect, but I also feel she made some not so smart choices throughout the book.
Overall, I didn’t love it, but it wasnt horrible.
This book had a nice plot, well executed, with strong characters, but was way too heavy on the dialogue, which I didn’t care for.
It had sort of a spooky aspect to it, which I liked, but the ending was so rushed and I feel like I have so many questions and things were left unanswered.
Abby was a good strong character, which I respect, but I also feel she made some not so smart choices throughout the book.
Overall, I didn’t love it, but it wasnt horrible.
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