Cemetery Plot

by Alex Granados

Vanessa Hawthorne is a zombie…at least, that was the plan. Miserable with her life, she agreed to participate in a fatal ritual that would transform her into one of the Living Dead. Instead, she wakes up decades later alive, unaged and living in a world overrun with graveyards. But when a real estate tycoon finds out about Vanessa, he will stop at nothing to discover how she cheated death. He hopes that this knowledge will give him the power to resurrect the dead. The money he stands to make is incalculable. And he is willing to do whatever it takes - kidnapping, assault and even murder - to get the job done. Luckily for Vanessa she has Mark Nimocks and his friend Emily to protect her, but at what costs?

A zombie apocalypse is in the works, and it will take a medium from the future to find a way to undo the end of the world. But can he actually help change the past? Or is the world fated to be destroyed no matter what?

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Post Apocalyptic

Audible Audio

First published October 18, 2012

About the author

Alex Granados is a producer for The State of Things on North Carolina Public Radio WUNC and the North Raleigh News Columnist for the regionally acclaimed News & Observer newspaper. Cemetery Plot is his first novel.

Alex received a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has a minor in philosophy, which basically means that he used to think he was really smart but realized he wasn't in time to switch majors.

Fishing, reading science fiction, watching crazy movies, walking his dog Zoey and late night dance parties with his wife are some of his favorite hobbies. Alex still doesn't know what he wants to be when he grows up, but he is holding out for astronaut.

Reviews

[Alexia Purdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. It was awesome!!

Whoa! What a mind bending trip of a read! Zombie stories are always on my to-read list and this one was not disappointing at all. Mesh some time travel, flesh eating zombies, mad scientists, zombie whisperers and crazy money grubbing tycoons and you get this hilarious, witty and sometimes scary storyline! I was sucked into every twist and turn, and there are loads of them in here to make you think. It follows Mark, Emily and Vanessa, an unlikely trio who meet in the weirdest way possible. Their story is told through the past and present as the zombie apocalypse grips the world around them and creates an unforgettable mess.

This book does have transitions from past to present and back again all through every chapter and can be somewhat confusing. But I found the characters to be fun and if not a bit insane at some parts. The writing was really engaging and does come to a harrowing conclusion which I won’t divulge but it was one that I was almost about to send the kindle across the room for. I was totally invested in the characters, some were downright annoying but some were pretty cool. But that ending, you won’t see that coming.

I would love to read more stories by this author, the writing was awesome. If you enjoy zombie novels, this one is a must read.

[Casey Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an early digital copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This book has a great plot and story, but I found myself skipping through some of the extra details, that to me personally, just were weeds to wade through. The characters are relatable, and have good substance. I just couldn't get passed the "weeds." This was one I had to push through to finish. BUT if you are a person that needs/likes lots of details and extra information, then this book is definitely for you. Giving this one 3 stars because the bones are fantastic. there was just too much extra for my liking.

[Two Nerds With Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Brittany
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Fairies
The beginning of this book was admittedly as confusing as all get out. There's three different perspectives here, two present and one past. I had to try really hard to focus on the switches so that I had half a clue about what was going on. As long as I focused, it was a pretty good story opening.

About halfway through the book, it started getting less confusing. Maybe it was because I was used to it, or maybe it just started to flow better. Regardless, I actually really started to enjoy Cemetery Plot. It has a little bit of romance along with some action as well. The past started to tie in with the present, and by halfway through, I started to see the whole picture making what I read even better.

I was reading along when then BAM! Everything I thought I knew about this book, changed. Job well done, Alex Granados. I definitely wouldn't have predicted the phenomenal twist! The story truly made a full circle, and because of that, my review jumped to 4.5 stars!

Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I might be a little biased because Alex is one of my dearest friends with whom I also had the pleasure of working back in my newspaper reporter days, but I really enjoyed his first novel. While zombie apocalypse stories aren't necessarily my go-to reading choices, I thought Cemetery Plot was a refreshing and bizarre take on the typical zombie apocalypse story line. Sure, there is a good bit of flesh tearing, zombie lumbering and grunting, but there were many other layers to this story that gave it a unique twist and kept my interest. Although I found myself getting lost a few times when the storytelling perspective changed from chapter to chapter, I later realized near the end of the book how it all came together. I won't spoil it, but there is a funny part involving a llama. That's all I'm going to say. :)

[Summer Hedrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

There is a good bit of flesh tearing, zombie lumbering and heads being shot off in this story, but is a good read. Nothing someone with a weak stomache couldn't read. Although I found myself getting lost a few times when the storytelling perspective changed from chapter to chapter, I later realized near the end of the book how it all came together.

It had a great story line, but I do however think it could have been written a little differently because of the fact that I couldn't figure out how things were playing out from chapter to chapter.

[Rebecca Gomez Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying the title is a clever pun, and I always admire puns. This is a novel set in two stages of the apocalypse, and death and the undying are on everyone's minds. The pace is fast and never lets up, though I did find myself wondering which timeline I was in at a few different points. Watching the timelines come together is rather satisfying, however. A mishmash of horror and science fiction tropes makes guessing what will happen next impossible, which keeps the reader on her toes. I especially liked the laissez-faire attitude shared by the characters throughout the book and their reticence, when death knocks on all their doors, to stop being bystanders and take action.

[Skyye Breeze · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this book at all it was all over the place..alot of back and forth and just confusing to me. I wasn't able to finish this book I got a few chapters in and had to quit.