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Carry Me to My Grave
From New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden comes a high concept horror novel about a man trying to protect his dead mother's body from the evil that is hunting them.
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.
But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.
But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Christopher Golden
777 books3,164 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN has been called “the king of the horror-thriller.” The New York Times bestselling, multi-award-winning storyteller has made his mark in many mediums, as a writer of novels, screenplays, animation, audio dramas, and comics, and as an editor of landmark horror anthologies. His work has been published in dozens of languages around the world. Winner of the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Audie Award, he has been nominated for others, including the British Fantasy Award. His best-known novels include Road of Bones, The House of Last Resort, All Hallows, and his latest, Carry Me to My Grave. He lives in Massachusetts, where he watches too many movies and eats too much chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
July 21, 2026
“Carry Me to My Grave” by Christopher Golden is a horror novel that was so refreshingly unique, it completely blew my mind. This is the first time I’ve ever read Golden, and I’m genuinely impressed. His writing skills are exceptional, and this was one hell of a jam-packed read.
Before I dive into my horror book review, here are all the trigger warnings I found while reading:
- Parental abuse (physical)
- Self-harm
- Religion
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I loved how this book started off with a horror mystery right at the start. I had no idea what was going on, why it was going on, and what made one of the main characters, Mary Wise, so special. It added a nice element of suspense to the entire story, and my goodness, was it wild.
Don’t worry, no spoilers here, but this was one creepy as hell story. Golden sure knows how to write a killer story, as this was outstanding. I loved the cast of characters, villains, and everyone else in between. There was zero fluff here, and I couldn’t read this book fast enough since there was so much going on. Nothing was confusing or dragged on at all. It was just awesome, old-fashioned horror taken to the next level with familiar tropes, but written in a way that I guarantee you’ve never read anything like this.
For me, I love horror books that are one-of-a-kind. I don’t want the same tropes done for the billionth time, but something that stands out from the rest. This was a deeply unsettling book with an original twist, and horror events and situations that literally made me make weird faces while reading.
My goodness, Golden brought the horror big time in this one, in such a brutal, visceral, wild kind of way. I loved every moment of it, from all the gore, bloodshed, violence, and again, things I’ve never read before which made my horror-loving heart smile. Several of these scenes were action-packed and gave me a natural adrenaline rush from this epic journey across different places on a timer with the clock ticking.
Eventually, this journey would come to a bloody end in one of the most unpredictable and thrilling ways. I loved the climactic race to the end, especially when this massive horror mystery starts to finally unravel, and you get the true backstory that helped fill all the gaps. The clarity I got once things were revealed just left my jaw on the floor. The ending was incredible, satisfying, and Golden just earned himself a brand new reader in me. I plan to read more of his work in the future because this was a horror novel masterpiece.
I give “Carry Me to My Grave” by Christopher Golden a 5-Star rating out of 5. This has everything I look for in a horror novel, and then some. The storytelling, characters, plot twists, and horror are all top-notch. I regret not getting into Golden sooner, because this was a powerhouse of a read, and it checks all the boxes for a story horror readers will remember for many years to come.
Mary Wise will take your eyes.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Christopher Golden, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for review consideration. This horror book review reflects my honest, personal opinion.
Before I dive into my horror book review, here are all the trigger warnings I found while reading:
- Parental abuse (physical)
- Self-harm
- Religion
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I loved how this book started off with a horror mystery right at the start. I had no idea what was going on, why it was going on, and what made one of the main characters, Mary Wise, so special. It added a nice element of suspense to the entire story, and my goodness, was it wild.
Don’t worry, no spoilers here, but this was one creepy as hell story. Golden sure knows how to write a killer story, as this was outstanding. I loved the cast of characters, villains, and everyone else in between. There was zero fluff here, and I couldn’t read this book fast enough since there was so much going on. Nothing was confusing or dragged on at all. It was just awesome, old-fashioned horror taken to the next level with familiar tropes, but written in a way that I guarantee you’ve never read anything like this.
For me, I love horror books that are one-of-a-kind. I don’t want the same tropes done for the billionth time, but something that stands out from the rest. This was a deeply unsettling book with an original twist, and horror events and situations that literally made me make weird faces while reading.
My goodness, Golden brought the horror big time in this one, in such a brutal, visceral, wild kind of way. I loved every moment of it, from all the gore, bloodshed, violence, and again, things I’ve never read before which made my horror-loving heart smile. Several of these scenes were action-packed and gave me a natural adrenaline rush from this epic journey across different places on a timer with the clock ticking.
Eventually, this journey would come to a bloody end in one of the most unpredictable and thrilling ways. I loved the climactic race to the end, especially when this massive horror mystery starts to finally unravel, and you get the true backstory that helped fill all the gaps. The clarity I got once things were revealed just left my jaw on the floor. The ending was incredible, satisfying, and Golden just earned himself a brand new reader in me. I plan to read more of his work in the future because this was a horror novel masterpiece.
I give “Carry Me to My Grave” by Christopher Golden a 5-Star rating out of 5. This has everything I look for in a horror novel, and then some. The storytelling, characters, plot twists, and horror are all top-notch. I regret not getting into Golden sooner, because this was a powerhouse of a read, and it checks all the boxes for a story horror readers will remember for many years to come.
Mary Wise will take your eyes.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Christopher Golden, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for review consideration. This horror book review reflects my honest, personal opinion.
September 15, 2026
I went into Carry Me to My Grave expecting a creepy horror story, but I wasn’t prepared for just how chaotic, violent, and downright strange the journey would become. The premise alone is fantastic, getting a dead mother to her final resting place sounds simple enough, until everything that could possibly go wrong starts going wrong.
What I really enjoyed was the constant sense of urgency. There’s barely any time to breathe before something else goes horribly wrong, and Golden does a great job of keeping that momentum going. The horror is brutal, bloody, and occasionally disgusting, but it never felt like gore was being thrown in just for the sake of it. There’s a real story underneath all the carnage.
I also loved the mix of supernatural elements. Witches, vampires, strange creatures, old family secret, somehow it all comes together into this bizarre horror road trip that I genuinely couldn’t predict. The 1950s setting gave it an extra bit of atmosphere too, and I could picture this playing out on screen.
The family drama added tension that I wasn’t expecting. Beneath all the monsters and violence, there’s a story about promises, complicated relationships, guilt, and the things we carry with us long after someone is gone. I did think some of the character development could have gone a little deeper, and I definitely would have liked more of Maggie’s backstory because there’s clearly a much bigger story hiding there, maybe a prequal at some stage??
What I really enjoyed was the constant sense of urgency. There’s barely any time to breathe before something else goes horribly wrong, and Golden does a great job of keeping that momentum going. The horror is brutal, bloody, and occasionally disgusting, but it never felt like gore was being thrown in just for the sake of it. There’s a real story underneath all the carnage.
I also loved the mix of supernatural elements. Witches, vampires, strange creatures, old family secret, somehow it all comes together into this bizarre horror road trip that I genuinely couldn’t predict. The 1950s setting gave it an extra bit of atmosphere too, and I could picture this playing out on screen.
The family drama added tension that I wasn’t expecting. Beneath all the monsters and violence, there’s a story about promises, complicated relationships, guilt, and the things we carry with us long after someone is gone. I did think some of the character development could have gone a little deeper, and I definitely would have liked more of Maggie’s backstory because there’s clearly a much bigger story hiding there, maybe a prequal at some stage??
August 20, 2026
**4.5-stars**
Wow, this was excellent. A brutal and bloody road trip story that I never saw coming!
I'll be honest, I don't think I read the synopsis prior to picking this up. I see Christopher Golden's name on a cover, and that's enough for me.
I don't want to say too much about the plot either, as I feel like it's best just to be swept up into the story knowing as little as possible. However, I will give you a few key points in the hopes of intriguing you enough to pick it up.
This is set in the U.S. in the 1950s, and we follow Malcolm and his sister-in-law, Violet, after Malcolm's Mom, Maggie, passes away. On her deathbed, Malcolm promised her that he would see her body safely buried in the ground of the town of her birth, Shediak, Maine.
They have a timeline, a very specific and important timeline, and are to make their way to Maine via train, all the way from the middle of the country.
Maggie's death has awoken an ancient evil, buried in the ground. It's risen, with the sole aim of preventing Maggie's burial at Shediak. Needless to say, Malcolm and Violet's journey is not going to be an easy one.
By 25% in, my jaw was on the floor. What in the heck was going on? It was insane, but I was here for it. I popped my popcorn and settled in for the wild ride Golden was setting up to take me on.
I loved the historical setting and how we got to travel via train for a good part of the story. It also took modern tech, like cell phones and GPS tracking out of the equation, which was refreshing, IMO. I think Golden did a phenomenal job of setting the scene and sticking with it.
I became completely immersed in the story. The direction it went, I was not expecting at all. It was so good. I was feeling pretty bleak for a while for these characters, and upon completion, yeah, still sort of bleak, but I love the way Golden concluded it.
There were a couple of sections I felt dragged a little, and then towards the end, a couple sections that were so chaotic, I had a hard time picturing the action. Overall though, a very well-rounded, horrific story. I loved the level of blood and gore brought to the page, and how intense it felt.
Even in the quieter moments, there was an overriding sense of urgency due to the extremely high stakes. That made it a very fun reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Christopher Golden is one of my go-to Horror authors, and I love checking out his latest works.
You never know quite what you're going to get!
Wow, this was excellent. A brutal and bloody road trip story that I never saw coming!
I'll be honest, I don't think I read the synopsis prior to picking this up. I see Christopher Golden's name on a cover, and that's enough for me.
I don't want to say too much about the plot either, as I feel like it's best just to be swept up into the story knowing as little as possible. However, I will give you a few key points in the hopes of intriguing you enough to pick it up.
This is set in the U.S. in the 1950s, and we follow Malcolm and his sister-in-law, Violet, after Malcolm's Mom, Maggie, passes away. On her deathbed, Malcolm promised her that he would see her body safely buried in the ground of the town of her birth, Shediak, Maine.
They have a timeline, a very specific and important timeline, and are to make their way to Maine via train, all the way from the middle of the country.
Maggie's death has awoken an ancient evil, buried in the ground. It's risen, with the sole aim of preventing Maggie's burial at Shediak. Needless to say, Malcolm and Violet's journey is not going to be an easy one.
By 25% in, my jaw was on the floor. What in the heck was going on? It was insane, but I was here for it. I popped my popcorn and settled in for the wild ride Golden was setting up to take me on.
I loved the historical setting and how we got to travel via train for a good part of the story. It also took modern tech, like cell phones and GPS tracking out of the equation, which was refreshing, IMO. I think Golden did a phenomenal job of setting the scene and sticking with it.
I became completely immersed in the story. The direction it went, I was not expecting at all. It was so good. I was feeling pretty bleak for a while for these characters, and upon completion, yeah, still sort of bleak, but I love the way Golden concluded it.
There were a couple of sections I felt dragged a little, and then towards the end, a couple sections that were so chaotic, I had a hard time picturing the action. Overall though, a very well-rounded, horrific story. I loved the level of blood and gore brought to the page, and how intense it felt.
Even in the quieter moments, there was an overriding sense of urgency due to the extremely high stakes. That made it a very fun reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Christopher Golden is one of my go-to Horror authors, and I love checking out his latest works.
You never know quite what you're going to get!
May 30, 2026
Definitely a suspense filled page turner for sure.
As part of her last wishes, Maggie asks her son Malcolm to take her body to be buried in Maine. While at her bedside, Malcolm notices there is a strange person hanging outside his mother‘s bedroom. When he goes to confront said person, he is told to just leave her body and move on. Unwilling to do so and to honor his mother’s last wishes, he tells the stranger to get lost. Maggie passes soon thereafter, and Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet begin their trip to Maine to fulfill Maggie’s wishes. However, things take a sinister turn when Malcolm comes face-to-face, once more, with the creepy entity he met prior. It will do whatever it takes to derail Malcolm’s journey to Maine.
The suspense started out as a slow, dread-inducing creepiness that once it got going, did not relent. There was not one dull moment to be had. Along with the suspense, without trying to go into any spoilers, those who were trying to prevent Maggie’s burial were written perfectly. Scary, for sure! As for the characters themselves, I can’t say that they were super well developed, but I don’t know that they necessarily needed to for this type of novel. This was just a good old-fashioned good versus evil plotline. There was just enough backstory to make me feel satisfied, and the ending was resolved without any questions. The suspense had me flipping those pages continuously. No complaints here!
This is my first novel by this author and definitely won’t be my last. If you’re into highly addictive horror novels that keep you on the edge of your seat, give this book a try.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As part of her last wishes, Maggie asks her son Malcolm to take her body to be buried in Maine. While at her bedside, Malcolm notices there is a strange person hanging outside his mother‘s bedroom. When he goes to confront said person, he is told to just leave her body and move on. Unwilling to do so and to honor his mother’s last wishes, he tells the stranger to get lost. Maggie passes soon thereafter, and Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet begin their trip to Maine to fulfill Maggie’s wishes. However, things take a sinister turn when Malcolm comes face-to-face, once more, with the creepy entity he met prior. It will do whatever it takes to derail Malcolm’s journey to Maine.
The suspense started out as a slow, dread-inducing creepiness that once it got going, did not relent. There was not one dull moment to be had. Along with the suspense, without trying to go into any spoilers, those who were trying to prevent Maggie’s burial were written perfectly. Scary, for sure! As for the characters themselves, I can’t say that they were super well developed, but I don’t know that they necessarily needed to for this type of novel. This was just a good old-fashioned good versus evil plotline. There was just enough backstory to make me feel satisfied, and the ending was resolved without any questions. The suspense had me flipping those pages continuously. No complaints here!
This is my first novel by this author and definitely won’t be my last. If you’re into highly addictive horror novels that keep you on the edge of your seat, give this book a try.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Malcom and his sister-in-law, Violet, have been caring for Malcom's mom Maggie for years, but now it looks like their caretaker roles are at an end, as is Maggie's life. But Maggie, a rumored witch, has a few last words for her son: Take my body to my hometown and bury me there within 48 hours, or else. What does the "or else" mean? You'll have to read this to find out!
After a somewhat slow start the action ramps up and keeps up for almost the entire novel. The time constraint on Malcolm and Violet made their every move urgent and each time you are sure they will fail, they somehow make it through. I was a good way into this book before I even realized exactly what was going on and I love when that happens! Plus, who doesn't like horror on a train? LOL (The entire book doesn't take place on a train but a good portion does.)
Overall, Carry Me To My Grave was a lot of fun and a fairly quick read. Recommended!
*ARC from publisher
After a somewhat slow start the action ramps up and keeps up for almost the entire novel. The time constraint on Malcolm and Violet made their every move urgent and each time you are sure they will fail, they somehow make it through. I was a good way into this book before I even realized exactly what was going on and I love when that happens! Plus, who doesn't like horror on a train? LOL (The entire book doesn't take place on a train but a good portion does.)
Overall, Carry Me To My Grave was a lot of fun and a fairly quick read. Recommended!
*ARC from publisher
August 9, 2026
Fast-paced and dark, this story asks questions about family and loyalty that are engaging and fun. The premise of this story is great, and it lends itself to a number of wonderful action set pieces and a genuine sense of tension and dread. The pacing of the narrative itself, combined with switching POVs across chapters, gives the story a lot of momentum and a sense of being quite full and robust. The writing is descriptive and feels urgent, which I really enjoyed.
I think the shape of the characters and the world were great, but I wouldn’t have mind if they were a little more filled in. The story takes place in the 1950s but it only just barely feels like a historical piece. Yes, train options were different then, and the lack of cell phones is convenient, but other than that this could have taken place anytime, and the Korean War vet could have been an Iraq War vet and nothing would feel substantially different. Which is to say I would have liked the setting to play a more substantial role in the story telling, so I could really feel this needed to be set when it was. Similarly, the characters are interesting, on paper. The main characters and the handful of ancillary characters feel genuine and complicated, with lives outside of the page, so the vision of who these characters are is great. But in the context of the action of the story they don’t get much past the surface. There are a whole lot of emotional quagmires they navigate, the whole gamut from childhood trauma, familial obligation, and love to betrayal, rage, and disgust. Yet the story moves along so quickly we just get informed about them trying to deal with these emotions, they are never given real time to do so in any ways we can experience them along with the characters. That is all to say there is clever thought and intention between the world and the characters, but I feel like neither were built up nor utilized to the full potential.
The mythology is a little threadbare, but the story itself allows for that, it makes sense narratively. What we get is inventive and terrifying. I have always found Golden to have creative mythologies and world-building in that regard, and while we he gives us in this story works for this particular story I would love a deeper dive into the lore and supernatural realities of the world. If you really enjoy that depth of lore, etc., don’t expect it here, it is efficient and leaves us as in the dark as the characters, which is narratively appropriate and helps elevate the tension, sure, but did leave me wanting more. I still had a lot of fun with this story; it really does capture the attention and really not let up once it starts moving. It allows a few chances to catch your breath, everything can slow down a little when the sun is highest in the sky and it feels like darkness will never fall again, but those are just brief respites to allow for a really energetic pace. The ideas and action are both top-notch, and the characters, world, and mythos are interesting (if not quite as in-depth as I might have hoped). This is a book that is on the move and reminds you why you should be afraid of the dark and maybe not trust your elders. It has a viciousness that pairs with a heartfelt emotionality, it is dark and moody, and it is hard to put down once you start.
(Rounded from 3.5)
I think the shape of the characters and the world were great, but I wouldn’t have mind if they were a little more filled in. The story takes place in the 1950s but it only just barely feels like a historical piece. Yes, train options were different then, and the lack of cell phones is convenient, but other than that this could have taken place anytime, and the Korean War vet could have been an Iraq War vet and nothing would feel substantially different. Which is to say I would have liked the setting to play a more substantial role in the story telling, so I could really feel this needed to be set when it was. Similarly, the characters are interesting, on paper. The main characters and the handful of ancillary characters feel genuine and complicated, with lives outside of the page, so the vision of who these characters are is great. But in the context of the action of the story they don’t get much past the surface. There are a whole lot of emotional quagmires they navigate, the whole gamut from childhood trauma, familial obligation, and love to betrayal, rage, and disgust. Yet the story moves along so quickly we just get informed about them trying to deal with these emotions, they are never given real time to do so in any ways we can experience them along with the characters. That is all to say there is clever thought and intention between the world and the characters, but I feel like neither were built up nor utilized to the full potential.
The mythology is a little threadbare, but the story itself allows for that, it makes sense narratively. What we get is inventive and terrifying. I have always found Golden to have creative mythologies and world-building in that regard, and while we he gives us in this story works for this particular story I would love a deeper dive into the lore and supernatural realities of the world. If you really enjoy that depth of lore, etc., don’t expect it here, it is efficient and leaves us as in the dark as the characters, which is narratively appropriate and helps elevate the tension, sure, but did leave me wanting more. I still had a lot of fun with this story; it really does capture the attention and really not let up once it starts moving. It allows a few chances to catch your breath, everything can slow down a little when the sun is highest in the sky and it feels like darkness will never fall again, but those are just brief respites to allow for a really energetic pace. The ideas and action are both top-notch, and the characters, world, and mythos are interesting (if not quite as in-depth as I might have hoped). This is a book that is on the move and reminds you why you should be afraid of the dark and maybe not trust your elders. It has a viciousness that pairs with a heartfelt emotionality, it is dark and moody, and it is hard to put down once you start.
(Rounded from 3.5)
May 31, 2026
I really don’t know why this is my first time dipping into Christopher Golden’s work. I’ve been meaning to, I just didn’t know where to start. With the publisher sending a gifted copy, it was just meant to be.
Maggie Wise has finally passed. Her last wishes are to bury her body to her birthplace and her family only has two days to do it. The problem? Evil forces will do anything to stop her burial.
Carry Me To My Grave was a real thrill ride! There’s top notch action (not normally my thing but I loved it) throughout it nonstop. Part vampires, part witches, and a bloodbath loaded with destruction. This is extremely gruesome and it never felt like it was just for shock value.
This would make a killer film, Christopher!! Just saying. I enjoyed the train ride to hell and definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading his backlist.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.
Pub date - 7/21/26
Maggie Wise has finally passed. Her last wishes are to bury her body to her birthplace and her family only has two days to do it. The problem? Evil forces will do anything to stop her burial.
Carry Me To My Grave was a real thrill ride! There’s top notch action (not normally my thing but I loved it) throughout it nonstop. Part vampires, part witches, and a bloodbath loaded with destruction. This is extremely gruesome and it never felt like it was just for shock value.
This would make a killer film, Christopher!! Just saying. I enjoyed the train ride to hell and definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading his backlist.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.
Pub date - 7/21/26
August 2, 2026
4.25 stars
Relentless, chaotic, brutal, and a good time
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTACHJhFY/
Relentless, chaotic, brutal, and a good time
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTACHJhFY/
September 18, 2026
Easily my favorite story from this author. The bar was preeeeetty damn low...but still- this was a fun, creepy and blood-soaked little ditty!
3 1/2 Gore-Smeared Stars
3 1/2 Gore-Smeared Stars
June 13, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the pre-release copy of Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden. Below is my honest review.
I really hate describing a book as "meh." As an aspiring (and imposter syndrome suffering) writer myself, I know how much of your heart and soul and sweat and tears get poured into every page, so it pains me to write that word in regards to someone's hard-earned page count.
But this? Meh. The concept was great, but I really didn't enjoy it executed this way all that much. The characters felt trope-y, and lacked a lot of real depth. Their behavior in every scenario was exactly as you'd expect or predict. The majority of the book felt like "oh we got away!" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" "oh we got away" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" over and over and over.
I very much enjoyed Golden's All Hallows and The House of Last Resort, so was very disappointed to find that, in my opinion, this one didn't live up to the quality of those.
But I didn't hate it. Like I said, the concept was interesting. And the monsters *were* creepy. I just couldn't love it either, because part of it felt... I dunno, phoned in?
Two and a half stars, but I'll round up.
I really hate describing a book as "meh." As an aspiring (and imposter syndrome suffering) writer myself, I know how much of your heart and soul and sweat and tears get poured into every page, so it pains me to write that word in regards to someone's hard-earned page count.
But this? Meh. The concept was great, but I really didn't enjoy it executed this way all that much. The characters felt trope-y, and lacked a lot of real depth. Their behavior in every scenario was exactly as you'd expect or predict. The majority of the book felt like "oh we got away!" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" "oh we got away" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" over and over and over.
I very much enjoyed Golden's All Hallows and The House of Last Resort, so was very disappointed to find that, in my opinion, this one didn't live up to the quality of those.
But I didn't hate it. Like I said, the concept was interesting. And the monsters *were* creepy. I just couldn't love it either, because part of it felt... I dunno, phoned in?
Two and a half stars, but I'll round up.
July 21, 2026
TW/CW: Child abuse, toxic family relationships, death of parent, cheating, language, sexism, misogyny, smoking, physical abuse
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 336
Rating: ⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Some parts were so good and creepy
What I Didn't Like:
1. Book feels redundant
2. The endless obsession with the love talk - I don't care
3. Everyone was so one dimensional
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Okay so Malcolm didn't kiss his brother's wife but I feel like touching foreheads and rubbing arms is kind of skirting the line between flirting. Oh and all in front of his dying mother.
Loving all the gore that's going on with the vampires.
I listened to the audiobook when I wasn't reading the physical book and it drove me up the wall that we had a female voice for Violet for her parts but from Malcolm's pov it was the narrator doing a woman voice. Same with Violet's pov having Malcolm not using a real man's voice. They already had the voice actors why not throw them in there too?
It's driving me up the wall that if it was so important that Maggie be buried in her town did she move so far away? I'm on page 200 and have yet to get a reason why she would move.
Checkmark we got our subtle hit of a gay character that will never be brought up again, but at least we know now.
It doesn't make any sense that Alfie would come into the police station and question Malcolm about if Violet has went ahead and took Maggie to her resting place when Benjy already was confronted by her. He didn't mention it when he was talking to Alfie? Since Alfie is under the control of Root he isn't able to send the message ahead that to him? Why did the Root not tell Benjy that Violet was hanging around and to tell Alfie?
Okay so in the next chapter we do find out that Root can talk to them telepathically but for some reason the chapter before Benjy had to go all the way down to talk to root. I don't get it. Root is talking to Alfie right now and telling him what to do.
I wish we understood how these vampires work because now somehow Root knows that they're on the run.
Final Thoughts:
I couldn't get it out of my head that this book is just Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but vampire edition.
The beginning of the book was slow and I was getting bored and annoyed at the constant moments between Malcolm and Violet with their flirting. I was scared this book was going to start out saying it was horror but focus too much on the romance of our main characters. It does have some gory scenes and they were good. Unfortunately I have never read a more boring vampire book than this one. Yes, things happen but there is way more talked about than actually happening.
I didn't understand the point of so many povs. Violet's felt pointless when nothing happens on her end and she's just talking over and over about the boy and Malcolm. Yawn.
I didn't know vampires could be so boring.
I gave it 2 stars because there was a time around page 100 to 200 where we learn about the vampires and the parts with Root were creepy.
I also couldn't shake the feeling that this was a white person rip-off of the movie Sinners. Even the names where so close to Black people. I actually think I would have liked this better if a Black author wrote this with Black characters.
IG | Blog
Thanks St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 336
Rating: ⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Some parts were so good and creepy
What I Didn't Like:
1. Book feels redundant
2. The endless obsession with the love talk - I don't care
3. Everyone was so one dimensional
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Okay so Malcolm didn't kiss his brother's wife but I feel like touching foreheads and rubbing arms is kind of skirting the line between flirting. Oh and all in front of his dying mother.
Loving all the gore that's going on with the vampires.
I listened to the audiobook when I wasn't reading the physical book and it drove me up the wall that we had a female voice for Violet for her parts but from Malcolm's pov it was the narrator doing a woman voice. Same with Violet's pov having Malcolm not using a real man's voice. They already had the voice actors why not throw them in there too?
It's driving me up the wall that if it was so important that Maggie be buried in her town did she move so far away? I'm on page 200 and have yet to get a reason why she would move.
Checkmark we got our subtle hit of a gay character that will never be brought up again, but at least we know now.
It doesn't make any sense that Alfie would come into the police station and question Malcolm about if Violet has went ahead and took Maggie to her resting place when Benjy already was confronted by her. He didn't mention it when he was talking to Alfie? Since Alfie is under the control of Root he isn't able to send the message ahead that to him? Why did the Root not tell Benjy that Violet was hanging around and to tell Alfie?
Okay so in the next chapter we do find out that Root can talk to them telepathically but for some reason the chapter before Benjy had to go all the way down to talk to root. I don't get it. Root is talking to Alfie right now and telling him what to do.
I wish we understood how these vampires work because now somehow Root knows that they're on the run.
Final Thoughts:
I couldn't get it out of my head that this book is just Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but vampire edition.
The beginning of the book was slow and I was getting bored and annoyed at the constant moments between Malcolm and Violet with their flirting. I was scared this book was going to start out saying it was horror but focus too much on the romance of our main characters. It does have some gory scenes and they were good. Unfortunately I have never read a more boring vampire book than this one. Yes, things happen but there is way more talked about than actually happening.
I didn't understand the point of so many povs. Violet's felt pointless when nothing happens on her end and she's just talking over and over about the boy and Malcolm. Yawn.
I didn't know vampires could be so boring.
I gave it 2 stars because there was a time around page 100 to 200 where we learn about the vampires and the parts with Root were creepy.
I also couldn't shake the feeling that this was a white person rip-off of the movie Sinners. Even the names where so close to Black people. I actually think I would have liked this better if a Black author wrote this with Black characters.
IG | Blog
Thanks St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2026
When I reflect on my experience with Carry Me to My Grave, the phrase “popcorn horror” comes to mind. It has a fantastic premise, wastes no time getting the story moving, and delivers a couple of creepy moments. Beyond that, though, nearly every other aspect of this novel was cliché and lackluster to me.
My favorite part of the book was the brief POV from the Swickard family on their farm. It was mysterious, unsettling, folkloric—exactly the kind of atmosphere I was hoping the entire novel would embrace—but it also ended just as quickly as it began. I also liked the early body horror scene involving Elias on the train. Those two sections contained the strongest horror and were the only moments that truly worked for me. The other horror elements in the novel were fine, but after a while they became pretty monotonous and didn’t do anything for me.
I do consider myself a plot-driven reader, but that doesn’t mean I disregard character development and prose; the ideal horror novel excels in all three. Carry Me to My Grave does succeed in establishing an intriguing plot, but the overall execution left a lot to be desired.
The characterization and writing is what ultimately killed this read for me. The characters were so trite and archetypal that it was really difficult to care about what happened to any of them. Malcolm’s romantic relationship with Violet (who, by the way, is his sister-in-law!) was equal parts dull and discomforting to read. Their relationship seemed to be a major part of their respective characterizations, but I didn’t care about it, so I didn’t care about them either.
The writing is functional and straightforward—perhaps a little too straightforward—which only reinforced that “popcorn horror” feeling I have. It made me wonder how the execution would’ve differed had another writer tackled this premise—one that taps into more poetic, gothic descriptions alongside the gruesome imagery to craft something more immersive and foreboding.
I was not the right reader for Carry Me to My Grave, but I can see fans of Grady Hendrix and David Sodergren having a better time with it. While it wasn’t the execution I was hoping for, I think there’s still an audience that will appreciate what it’s doing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
My favorite part of the book was the brief POV from the Swickard family on their farm. It was mysterious, unsettling, folkloric—exactly the kind of atmosphere I was hoping the entire novel would embrace—but it also ended just as quickly as it began. I also liked the early body horror scene involving Elias on the train. Those two sections contained the strongest horror and were the only moments that truly worked for me. The other horror elements in the novel were fine, but after a while they became pretty monotonous and didn’t do anything for me.
I do consider myself a plot-driven reader, but that doesn’t mean I disregard character development and prose; the ideal horror novel excels in all three. Carry Me to My Grave does succeed in establishing an intriguing plot, but the overall execution left a lot to be desired.
The characterization and writing is what ultimately killed this read for me. The characters were so trite and archetypal that it was really difficult to care about what happened to any of them. Malcolm’s romantic relationship with Violet (who, by the way, is his sister-in-law!) was equal parts dull and discomforting to read. Their relationship seemed to be a major part of their respective characterizations, but I didn’t care about it, so I didn’t care about them either.
The writing is functional and straightforward—perhaps a little too straightforward—which only reinforced that “popcorn horror” feeling I have. It made me wonder how the execution would’ve differed had another writer tackled this premise—one that taps into more poetic, gothic descriptions alongside the gruesome imagery to craft something more immersive and foreboding.
I was not the right reader for Carry Me to My Grave, but I can see fans of Grady Hendrix and David Sodergren having a better time with it. While it wasn’t the execution I was hoping for, I think there’s still an audience that will appreciate what it’s doing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Want to Read
October 20, 2025OMG this cover is SO GOOD!!
I've loved quite a few stories from this author! Excited for 2026 to read this one!! 😍😍
Pub Date: July 2026!!!
OMG ARC REC'D THANK YOU!!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I've loved quite a few stories from this author! Excited for 2026 to read this one!! 😍😍
Pub Date: July 2026!!!
OMG ARC REC'D THANK YOU!!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 16, 2026
One of my most anticipated books of 2026 because the premise absolutely hooked me.
The beginning was genuinely intriguing, but unfortunately, I slowly lost interest. This really could’ve been 100 pages shorter. The pacing felt very slow, especially in the middle.
It’s not particularly gory, but it is action-packed, with that classic good-vs-evil setup. There’s a constant eerie, suspenseful atmosphere that I really enjoyed. I also loved the short chapters and the POV switches, which helped keep things moving.
The characters, unfortunately, were pretty one-dimensional, and I never found myself particularly invested in the family dynamics or the Malcolm/Violet relationship. I kept waiting for someone to really surprise me, but everyone mostly stayed in their designated character lane.
I also think I may have sabotaged my own enjoyment by overhyping this. Somewhere in my brain, I apparently decided this was going to be a full-blown chaos-fest à la Chuck Tingle. And when you expect unhinged, you’re bound to be disappointed by merely unsettling.
Ultimately, it was just okay for me.
The beginning was genuinely intriguing, but unfortunately, I slowly lost interest. This really could’ve been 100 pages shorter. The pacing felt very slow, especially in the middle.
It’s not particularly gory, but it is action-packed, with that classic good-vs-evil setup. There’s a constant eerie, suspenseful atmosphere that I really enjoyed. I also loved the short chapters and the POV switches, which helped keep things moving.
The characters, unfortunately, were pretty one-dimensional, and I never found myself particularly invested in the family dynamics or the Malcolm/Violet relationship. I kept waiting for someone to really surprise me, but everyone mostly stayed in their designated character lane.
I also think I may have sabotaged my own enjoyment by overhyping this. Somewhere in my brain, I apparently decided this was going to be a full-blown chaos-fest à la Chuck Tingle. And when you expect unhinged, you’re bound to be disappointed by merely unsettling.
Ultimately, it was just okay for me.
October 8, 2026
A fun, supernatural vampire, walking-dead romp about an ancient curse visited upon a family from Indiana.
Malcolm's mother, Maggie, has always been rumored to be a witch in her hometown in Indiana. As she is dying she makes her son, Malcolm, promise to bury her in Maine, (her birthplace) within two days of her death... No exceptions...
That's the set-up. What follows is a multi-state frantic chase story of Malcolm, his sister-in-law Violet and his sister Jenny trying to get Maggie buried in Maine while being chased by undead vampire ghouls who were released from an ancient curse with Maggie's death. These ghouls are determined to stop this burial so they can live forever and destroy the world as we know it... A lot of pressure for Malcolm, Violet and Jenny.
This is a high-octane, chase story involving trains, cars (mostly stolen) and boats-- with over-whelming odds favoring the ghouls who have supernatural powers, convert unsuspecting humans as allies and know exactly where our intrepid trio is headed.
What saves the book from being a cartoonish, silly narrative is some fantastic pacing, great characters (with back stories), good supporting characters, relentless blood-thirsty villains and a great plot. This book needs to be a movie.🎥
I've never read Mr Golden before and this book was a winner.
4 stars
Malcolm's mother, Maggie, has always been rumored to be a witch in her hometown in Indiana. As she is dying she makes her son, Malcolm, promise to bury her in Maine, (her birthplace) within two days of her death... No exceptions...
That's the set-up. What follows is a multi-state frantic chase story of Malcolm, his sister-in-law Violet and his sister Jenny trying to get Maggie buried in Maine while being chased by undead vampire ghouls who were released from an ancient curse with Maggie's death. These ghouls are determined to stop this burial so they can live forever and destroy the world as we know it... A lot of pressure for Malcolm, Violet and Jenny.
This is a high-octane, chase story involving trains, cars (mostly stolen) and boats-- with over-whelming odds favoring the ghouls who have supernatural powers, convert unsuspecting humans as allies and know exactly where our intrepid trio is headed.
What saves the book from being a cartoonish, silly narrative is some fantastic pacing, great characters (with back stories), good supporting characters, relentless blood-thirsty villains and a great plot. This book needs to be a movie.🎥
I've never read Mr Golden before and this book was a winner.
4 stars
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June issue of Library Journal.
Three Words That Describe This Book: race against time, family secrets, ancient evil
More words: sinister, mommy issues, grief, historical (excellent 1956 setting), violent, multiple povs, keeps the pacing up without having to sacrifice enough detail and increases suspense, well developed characters, thriller feel, chase novel.
Draft Review: It’s 1956 and Malcolm, a Korean War vet, youngest child of narcissistic Maggie, is in a race against time, to get his mother’s recently deceased body from Elkhart, IN to an island in Maine, buried safely in the ground before the sun rises in two days. Why a race? Well it seems that the local lore about Maggie being a witch was not too far off base as there are very real monsters, awakened by her death, who will do whatever it takes to stop Malcolm and his family from reaching Maine in time. From trains to fire trucks to a VW Bus and more, readers are on this terrifying, desperate ride, holding on for dear life, following the point of view as it ping pongs back and forth between characters, good and evil, supernatural and human, allowing all of the characters to develop fully. The motivations of the ancient evil are intriguing, but when balanced with the family members and their own complicated histories, the story blossoms from your average chase novel into a moving portrait of undying love.
Verdict: Intense, violent, nuanced, heartbreaking, and fun to read, Golden gives readers everything they want and need in a thrilling horror story. For fans of Tananrive Due’s The Good House and Nat Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home.
The set up is deceptively easy-- It is the Fall of 1956. As Maggie is dying, a strange man in a raven mask waits outside the house. She tells her youngest son Malcolm (a Korean War vet) that she will die at sunrise. He must call the funeral parlor then get her body to Maine and bury her in 2 days or else. The funeral director has directions and plans have been made for years. Malcolm and his brother's wife Violet start the journey but even getting to the train station-- people are trying to stop them. And it gets worse from there.
Maggie was not the easiest mom to grow up with and this is discussed and probed throughout. The other siblings do join him at some point but not int he ways you expect.
An ancient evil is awakening with Maggie's death. But why? And what happens if Malcolm can't get Maggie in the ground in time.
As much as this is an action forward, race against time horror story, it is dependent on its characters and their complexity. That is very hard to balance well, but Golden does an excellent job here. The action is great, the monsters and the ancient evil behind it, well done-- even as readers wait to know the origin, it is all believable in the world he has setup. But the characters are also well drawn. A lesser author would have slapped them together, but each builds throughout the story both when they have the pod and not. There are details scattered throughout that all come together as well.
It does bounce around a lot, which could be seen as jarring to a reader, but I would argue that it is necessary to convey the essence of the plot. As the characters are trying to go on this quest, Malcolm to fulfill Maggie's dying wish, getting chased by these very evil monsters and all the chaos that clearly Maggie knew this was coming. From horrific scene after scene, from Elkhart IN to an island in Maine. As people help and hinder them along the way....all of it is intense, exciting, violent, heartbreaking, complicated, nuanced, and a lot of horror fun.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy meets The Good House by Tananrive Due
Three Words That Describe This Book: race against time, family secrets, ancient evil
More words: sinister, mommy issues, grief, historical (excellent 1956 setting), violent, multiple povs, keeps the pacing up without having to sacrifice enough detail and increases suspense, well developed characters, thriller feel, chase novel.
Draft Review: It’s 1956 and Malcolm, a Korean War vet, youngest child of narcissistic Maggie, is in a race against time, to get his mother’s recently deceased body from Elkhart, IN to an island in Maine, buried safely in the ground before the sun rises in two days. Why a race? Well it seems that the local lore about Maggie being a witch was not too far off base as there are very real monsters, awakened by her death, who will do whatever it takes to stop Malcolm and his family from reaching Maine in time. From trains to fire trucks to a VW Bus and more, readers are on this terrifying, desperate ride, holding on for dear life, following the point of view as it ping pongs back and forth between characters, good and evil, supernatural and human, allowing all of the characters to develop fully. The motivations of the ancient evil are intriguing, but when balanced with the family members and their own complicated histories, the story blossoms from your average chase novel into a moving portrait of undying love.
Verdict: Intense, violent, nuanced, heartbreaking, and fun to read, Golden gives readers everything they want and need in a thrilling horror story. For fans of Tananrive Due’s The Good House and Nat Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home.
The set up is deceptively easy-- It is the Fall of 1956. As Maggie is dying, a strange man in a raven mask waits outside the house. She tells her youngest son Malcolm (a Korean War vet) that she will die at sunrise. He must call the funeral parlor then get her body to Maine and bury her in 2 days or else. The funeral director has directions and plans have been made for years. Malcolm and his brother's wife Violet start the journey but even getting to the train station-- people are trying to stop them. And it gets worse from there.
Maggie was not the easiest mom to grow up with and this is discussed and probed throughout. The other siblings do join him at some point but not int he ways you expect.
An ancient evil is awakening with Maggie's death. But why? And what happens if Malcolm can't get Maggie in the ground in time.
As much as this is an action forward, race against time horror story, it is dependent on its characters and their complexity. That is very hard to balance well, but Golden does an excellent job here. The action is great, the monsters and the ancient evil behind it, well done-- even as readers wait to know the origin, it is all believable in the world he has setup. But the characters are also well drawn. A lesser author would have slapped them together, but each builds throughout the story both when they have the pod and not. There are details scattered throughout that all come together as well.
It does bounce around a lot, which could be seen as jarring to a reader, but I would argue that it is necessary to convey the essence of the plot. As the characters are trying to go on this quest, Malcolm to fulfill Maggie's dying wish, getting chased by these very evil monsters and all the chaos that clearly Maggie knew this was coming. From horrific scene after scene, from Elkhart IN to an island in Maine. As people help and hinder them along the way....all of it is intense, exciting, violent, heartbreaking, complicated, nuanced, and a lot of horror fun.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy meets The Good House by Tananrive Due
Read
May 6, 2026*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC!*
Though I’ve not read near enough of Golden’s books (I think this is my 6th?), every book I have read has been a lot of fun. When the publisher sent me an email asking if I’d like a digital ARC, I jumped at the chance. I was very intrigued by the synopsis and considering ‘Road of Bones’ had a snow-skull cover and this one has a smoke-skull cover, I figured I’d be in for a fun ride.
What I liked: The story takes place during the mid-century, in the US. Malcolm is a Korean war vet, living back at home with his sister-in-law, Violet and his mother Maggie. Maggie has a reputation and there was a childhood rhyme about her – ‘Maggie Wise will take your eyes.’ Townsfolk believe she’s a witch. Malcolm always scoffed at those words and that thought, but right before she dies, she gives him specific instructions – bring her body back to Maine where she was born and bury her before sunrise within a few days or the world as we know it will cease to exist.
Golden takes us on a rampaging ride once Maggie dies. Strange figures appear and attempt to thwart Malcolm and Violet’s journey. They manage to get on a train with Maggie’s coffin, but still the bad guys arrive. And within all this, Golden introduces us to Root, a nightmarish creature hellbent on retrieving Maggie’s body before she can be buried.
I loved the action within this one. Each scene was vibrant and cinematic, and thankfully Golden doesn’t shy away from carnage and brutality. Nothing is watered down here and nobody is safe. As the book progresses, things get darker and darker and as the truth about Maggie is revealed and more of Malcolm’s family appear, things grow complicated. It’s within those complications that the emotional weight of the book exists and its those emotional weights that lift this book up a notch from similar books.
The ending works really well considering the journey the characters go on. Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of 300 pages to get to the climactic moment, only to have things wrap up in two paragraphs. Golden took his time finishing this one and this reader greatly appreciated it.
What I didn’t like: For me, I found one moment of slowdown that I wasn’t sure worked for me. It took place right after a train crash, where Malcolm and another character end up incarcerated for a brief time. As I was reading it, it kind of sucked some of the momentum out of the story for a short few chapters. That very well might’ve been Golden’s decision, to have a pause there considering the pedal-to-the-metal nature up to those scenes, but for me, it felt jarring.
Why you should buy this: This novel takes a really fun premise – bury a body to save the world – and then escalates the stakes within a few short chapters. Golden’s writing is world class and the pacing throughout was fantastic, practically forcing me to read ‘just one more chapter’ every night. If you’ve never read a Golden book, this would be a really great spot to jump in. If you’re a long time fan of his, you’ll be very happy with the book he’s delivered.
Though I’ve not read near enough of Golden’s books (I think this is my 6th?), every book I have read has been a lot of fun. When the publisher sent me an email asking if I’d like a digital ARC, I jumped at the chance. I was very intrigued by the synopsis and considering ‘Road of Bones’ had a snow-skull cover and this one has a smoke-skull cover, I figured I’d be in for a fun ride.
What I liked: The story takes place during the mid-century, in the US. Malcolm is a Korean war vet, living back at home with his sister-in-law, Violet and his mother Maggie. Maggie has a reputation and there was a childhood rhyme about her – ‘Maggie Wise will take your eyes.’ Townsfolk believe she’s a witch. Malcolm always scoffed at those words and that thought, but right before she dies, she gives him specific instructions – bring her body back to Maine where she was born and bury her before sunrise within a few days or the world as we know it will cease to exist.
Golden takes us on a rampaging ride once Maggie dies. Strange figures appear and attempt to thwart Malcolm and Violet’s journey. They manage to get on a train with Maggie’s coffin, but still the bad guys arrive. And within all this, Golden introduces us to Root, a nightmarish creature hellbent on retrieving Maggie’s body before she can be buried.
I loved the action within this one. Each scene was vibrant and cinematic, and thankfully Golden doesn’t shy away from carnage and brutality. Nothing is watered down here and nobody is safe. As the book progresses, things get darker and darker and as the truth about Maggie is revealed and more of Malcolm’s family appear, things grow complicated. It’s within those complications that the emotional weight of the book exists and its those emotional weights that lift this book up a notch from similar books.
The ending works really well considering the journey the characters go on. Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of 300 pages to get to the climactic moment, only to have things wrap up in two paragraphs. Golden took his time finishing this one and this reader greatly appreciated it.
What I didn’t like: For me, I found one moment of slowdown that I wasn’t sure worked for me. It took place right after a train crash, where Malcolm and another character end up incarcerated for a brief time. As I was reading it, it kind of sucked some of the momentum out of the story for a short few chapters. That very well might’ve been Golden’s decision, to have a pause there considering the pedal-to-the-metal nature up to those scenes, but for me, it felt jarring.
Why you should buy this: This novel takes a really fun premise – bury a body to save the world – and then escalates the stakes within a few short chapters. Golden’s writing is world class and the pacing throughout was fantastic, practically forcing me to read ‘just one more chapter’ every night. If you’ve never read a Golden book, this would be a really great spot to jump in. If you’re a long time fan of his, you’ll be very happy with the book he’s delivered.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 21, 2026
As a child, Malcolm had heard the whispers and the rumours around the town he grew up- that his mother, Maggie Wise, was a witch. Of course, he didn’t believe it, but his relationship with his mother was estranged for other reasons, such as her cold demeanor and the way she refused to show praise or love to her children; Malcolm, Jenny and Elias. Now, Malcolm’s mother has passed away and he is the only sibling who has returned to his hometown to sit by his mother’s deathbed. Then she makes a strange request- that Malcolm return Maggie to the island town of Shediak, Maine and bury her body there. Malcolm initially thinks it’s just the last utterances of a dying woman, until strange things start to happen and weird creatures start to emerge from the literal ground in what seems like a desperate attempt to get to Maggie before Malcolm can bury her. Now, on the run and afraid, Malcolm is left to wonder if the rumours about his mother all those years were actually true, before it’s too late.
Christopher Golden is a horror author who recently came on my radar and who I’ve followed religiously ever since. “The House of Last Resort” and “All Hallows” were deliciously spooky and his new novel, “Carry Me to My Grave” is just as terrifying. Dead bodies that come to life, curses, witchcraft and vampire-like creatures who consume the blood and entrails of the dead are just some of the haunting elements in “Grave” and somehow, Golden makes all of them blend together seamlessly in a page-turning, spine-chilling read.
Malcolm is the protagonist for most of the novel, although there are a few chapters that are narrated by different characters for various reasons. Malcolm is the prodigal son returned, the sole sibling responsible for disposing of his mother’s remains in the precise way she detailed, with only his brother’s wife (who also happens to be the love of his life) by his side.
I loved the spooky vampire-like creatures that Golden creates in “Grave”, menacing bloodsuckers that are older than vampires, but with many similarities. Golden has a way of creating and describing sinister, macabre creatures that make readers feel like they are reaching through the pages, which brings his horror writing to the next level.
Golden is one of those authors that now that I’ve read him, I will always be looking forward to his next book. As a long-time horror novel fan, I can honestly say that Golden delivers everything I want in a scary read, and so much more.
Expected publication date: July 21, 2026
As a child, Malcolm had heard the whispers and the rumours around the town he grew up- that his mother, Maggie Wise, was a witch. Of course, he didn’t believe it, but his relationship with his mother was estranged for other reasons, such as her cold demeanor and the way she refused to show praise or love to her children; Malcolm, Jenny and Elias. Now, Malcolm’s mother has passed away and he is the only sibling who has returned to his hometown to sit by his mother’s deathbed. Then she makes a strange request- that Malcolm return Maggie to the island town of Shediak, Maine and bury her body there. Malcolm initially thinks it’s just the last utterances of a dying woman, until strange things start to happen and weird creatures start to emerge from the literal ground in what seems like a desperate attempt to get to Maggie before Malcolm can bury her. Now, on the run and afraid, Malcolm is left to wonder if the rumours about his mother all those years were actually true, before it’s too late.
Christopher Golden is a horror author who recently came on my radar and who I’ve followed religiously ever since. “The House of Last Resort” and “All Hallows” were deliciously spooky and his new novel, “Carry Me to My Grave” is just as terrifying. Dead bodies that come to life, curses, witchcraft and vampire-like creatures who consume the blood and entrails of the dead are just some of the haunting elements in “Grave” and somehow, Golden makes all of them blend together seamlessly in a page-turning, spine-chilling read.
Malcolm is the protagonist for most of the novel, although there are a few chapters that are narrated by different characters for various reasons. Malcolm is the prodigal son returned, the sole sibling responsible for disposing of his mother’s remains in the precise way she detailed, with only his brother’s wife (who also happens to be the love of his life) by his side.
I loved the spooky vampire-like creatures that Golden creates in “Grave”, menacing bloodsuckers that are older than vampires, but with many similarities. Golden has a way of creating and describing sinister, macabre creatures that make readers feel like they are reaching through the pages, which brings his horror writing to the next level.
Golden is one of those authors that now that I’ve read him, I will always be looking forward to his next book. As a long-time horror novel fan, I can honestly say that Golden delivers everything I want in a scary read, and so much more.
August 14, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I feel that Golden's work just cannot live up to All Hallows. Every book just seems to be going downhill for me and this was no exception. While I usually like witchy books and more supernatural creatures thrown in, this was so slow paced I just could not keep myself engaged. The characters were not interesting, the dialouge between them drawn out. The setting was definitely eerie, but not enough to keep me fully engaged.
I feel that Golden's work just cannot live up to All Hallows. Every book just seems to be going downhill for me and this was no exception. While I usually like witchy books and more supernatural creatures thrown in, this was so slow paced I just could not keep myself engaged. The characters were not interesting, the dialouge between them drawn out. The setting was definitely eerie, but not enough to keep me fully engaged.
July 27, 2026
There's probably very little we wouldn't do for our family. For Malcolm, that means keeping watch beside his dying mother's bed during her final hours. Their relationship is...complicated, to say the least. Ask anyone in town, and they'll tell you she's a witch. Maybe that's why she's lived such an impossibly long life. Tonight, though, it's just Malcolm, his sister-in-law (his brother couldn't be bothered to show up), his dying mother, and the mysterious figure cloaked in darkness standing silently beneath a tree in the front yard.
As death draws near, Malcolm's mother makes one final request: take her body to her final resting place in Maine. There's a time limit, of course, and she warns that failing to get her there in time will have terrifying consequences. Malcolm isn't sure what to believe, but when strange things begin happening almost immediately after her death, he realizes he has little choice. Whatever his mother was, whatever she knew, her final wish may be the only thing standing between him and something far more sinister.
From its opening pages, Carry Me to My Grave immerses readers in a horror mystery shrouded in questions and unease. Who is this woman? Why is her death so consequential? Who is the shadowy figure waiting for her final breath? Christopher Golden poses these questions in a way that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. I found myself racing through the opening chapters, desperate to understand what was happening and why.
To Golden's credit, the answers are well worth the wait. As he's done throughout much of his career, he takes a familiar corner of the horror genre and finds a fresh angle into it. I won't spoil exactly what that angle is because discovering it alongside Malcolm is one of the novel's greatest pleasures. Better still, the horror is grounded by characters grappling with complicated family dynamics, giving the story an emotional weight that keeps it from becoming mere spectacle. While Carry Me to My Grave isn't my favorite of Golden's novels, it's another atmospheric, satisfying horror story from an author who clearly understands what makes the genre tick.
As death draws near, Malcolm's mother makes one final request: take her body to her final resting place in Maine. There's a time limit, of course, and she warns that failing to get her there in time will have terrifying consequences. Malcolm isn't sure what to believe, but when strange things begin happening almost immediately after her death, he realizes he has little choice. Whatever his mother was, whatever she knew, her final wish may be the only thing standing between him and something far more sinister.
From its opening pages, Carry Me to My Grave immerses readers in a horror mystery shrouded in questions and unease. Who is this woman? Why is her death so consequential? Who is the shadowy figure waiting for her final breath? Christopher Golden poses these questions in a way that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. I found myself racing through the opening chapters, desperate to understand what was happening and why.
To Golden's credit, the answers are well worth the wait. As he's done throughout much of his career, he takes a familiar corner of the horror genre and finds a fresh angle into it. I won't spoil exactly what that angle is because discovering it alongside Malcolm is one of the novel's greatest pleasures. Better still, the horror is grounded by characters grappling with complicated family dynamics, giving the story an emotional weight that keeps it from becoming mere spectacle. While Carry Me to My Grave isn't my favorite of Golden's novels, it's another atmospheric, satisfying horror story from an author who clearly understands what makes the genre tick.
July 28, 2026
They say 'Maggie Wise will take your eyes'.
It all starts when Maggie Wise kicks the bucket. She elicited a promise from her son, Malcom, to take her home to Shediak, Maine. They must bury her before the second sunrise, so the race is on. Those she had cursed, forced to burrow deep underground, are rising to make sure that doesn't happen.
The characters are well rounded and they will be tested.
A train wreck, a snowplow, a flying monster, creatures that refuse to die, and more are determined to rip the head off of Maggie and break the curse. It's like running through a swarm of zombies, they will rip and gnaw and tear you apart. The suspense is off the charts. The minute I think they can pause and catch their breath, another monster pops up, putting their lives on the line...again and again.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
It all starts when Maggie Wise kicks the bucket. She elicited a promise from her son, Malcom, to take her home to Shediak, Maine. They must bury her before the second sunrise, so the race is on. Those she had cursed, forced to burrow deep underground, are rising to make sure that doesn't happen.
The characters are well rounded and they will be tested.
A train wreck, a snowplow, a flying monster, creatures that refuse to die, and more are determined to rip the head off of Maggie and break the curse. It's like running through a swarm of zombies, they will rip and gnaw and tear you apart. The suspense is off the charts. The minute I think they can pause and catch their breath, another monster pops up, putting their lives on the line...again and again.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
July 21, 2026
Okay, so 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 basically forced me to re-evaluate my entire family tree. Not in a sweet, heartwarming way, but in a "are any of my family members witches and secretly piss off a bunch of ancient creatures and now I'm going to have to fight for my life" kind of way. Yes, this book really digs into how far blood ties can stretch before they violently snap, and honestly some of the people who share your past definitely do not deserve a spot in your future.
Christopher Golden really said, "What if the real monsters aren't just the ancient, blood-sucking nightmares you had as a kid, but also your family's unhinged generational trauma?" And by God he absolutely ran with it. The whole situation surrounding the family matriarch is so insanely messy. The rhyme goes “𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴," but honestly, she takes your peace of mind, too. Just ask her kids, who spent their entire lives wanting nothing more than her love and appreciation and got hit with mommy issues instead. Watching her long-buried secrets slowly unravel while the past and present collided was pure, chaotic entertainment. Plus, the folklore aspect gave the horror this super creepy, ancient vibe, like these nightmares have just been waiting around forever (see what I did there? 😉) to ruin someone’s day.
I originally picked this up because I wanted a horror adjacent adventure, but what I got is that 𝘢𝘯𝘥 so much more. Golden’s writing doesn't just let you sit and read comfortably on your couch or bed. You literally feel like you’re dragging yourself through the blood and snow with these poor characters by going through the motions of running for your life, trying to bury an undead witch in the backseat of a Frazer (before time runs out and the world ends), while trauma-bonding with them on top of everything else. Like, who doesn’t want to read a book with that type of depth?! 10/10, would suffer through all that sh*t again.
Also, this book has a ton of gore/graphic violence, and other themes that might be a lot to digest if you're sensitive to heavy stuff. Tread carefully.
(𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣’𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾.)
Christopher Golden really said, "What if the real monsters aren't just the ancient, blood-sucking nightmares you had as a kid, but also your family's unhinged generational trauma?" And by God he absolutely ran with it. The whole situation surrounding the family matriarch is so insanely messy. The rhyme goes “𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴," but honestly, she takes your peace of mind, too. Just ask her kids, who spent their entire lives wanting nothing more than her love and appreciation and got hit with mommy issues instead. Watching her long-buried secrets slowly unravel while the past and present collided was pure, chaotic entertainment. Plus, the folklore aspect gave the horror this super creepy, ancient vibe, like these nightmares have just been waiting around forever (see what I did there? 😉) to ruin someone’s day.
I originally picked this up because I wanted a horror adjacent adventure, but what I got is that 𝘢𝘯𝘥 so much more. Golden’s writing doesn't just let you sit and read comfortably on your couch or bed. You literally feel like you’re dragging yourself through the blood and snow with these poor characters by going through the motions of running for your life, trying to bury an undead witch in the backseat of a Frazer (before time runs out and the world ends), while trauma-bonding with them on top of everything else. Like, who doesn’t want to read a book with that type of depth?! 10/10, would suffer through all that sh*t again.
Also, this book has a ton of gore/graphic violence, and other themes that might be a lot to digest if you're sensitive to heavy stuff. Tread carefully.
(𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣’𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾.)
July 24, 2026
Carry Me To My Grave by Christopher Golden, There’s a guy Malcolm who’s in love with his sister-in-law Violet who’s married to is no good brother and Malcolm and Violet take care of his deathly ill mother Who they promise once she’s dead will bring her body back to Shediac Maine and stop the horrors Malcolm and his siblings have grown up with from nursery rhymes like Maggie wise will eat your eyes but right before her death a dark entity is awoken a nearby farm family is eviscerated only to be alive again and all the hunt for Malcolm and Violet because they’re now on a train heading to Maine with Maggie‘s body in a casket. Before she dies, Megan hires brothers from town to escort her body and Malcolm to the train Violet also goes because she too loved Maggie as a mother before they even get on the train they’re attacked by the guy who stalked their home once on the train multiple things go wrong and it is a fight to the finish to get to Shediac will Malcolm and Violet make it or will the appearance of his brother Ellis spelled doom for both of them and if not Ellis, the monsters who are trying to stop Maggie‘s demise. when I say this was a fight to the finish it was definitely a fight to the absolute end. Christopher Golden is one of those authors that makes you wonder why isn’t he more popular or just as popular as many other authors who write horrible books that are nowhere near as good as the ones this author produces. in any event slow and steady winds a race and although he may not have dozens of books published, but the ones he does have for public consumption are totally worth the read. Every book I’ve read by him has been a five star read and one I didn’t want to end. This book was no different throughout the whole book you feel the creepy Erie factor regardless of what they’re talking about or doing it seems to sit in the background like a gremlin waiting to pounce and when it does you just can’t look away. Where other authors rely on scare tactics and jump shots Mr. Golden slowly weaves a tapestry that wants clearly visual that’s when the viewer starts screaming OMG is that what that is? I love his books I cannot test to higher praise in the fact he is awesome I love to reread his books and gets so excited when a new one comes out this is a truly talented author who definitely deserves any hype gets. #NetGalley, #TheReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
September 4, 2026
"Maggie Wise will take your eyes."
Malcolm Wise has never believed the rumors that his mother was a witch. But as Maggie lays dying, she makes one final request. When she dies, Malcolm must take her body back to her birthplace in Maine and bury her there within two nights. Simple enough... except something has been waiting for Maggie to die. As Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet begin the thousand mile journey, ancient supernatural forces awaken and increasingly terrifying beings begin hunting them. What started as a promise to his dying mother quickly becomes a desperate race against something far older and more dangerous than they could have imagined.
I went into this one expecting creepy supernatural horror and I was not disappointed! I became completely absorbed in this weird, dark and terrifying journey, and by the time everything started spiraling I was invested! The 1950s setting worked so well. There's folklore, ancient evil, monsters, family secrets and everything comes together perfectly! And the atmosphere? Immaculate! Even in slower parts there was this constant feeling that something was very very wrong. Also, the gore! Golden definitely delivers for readers who like their stories bloody and intense! There were some sections that were a bit slower and then the end goes full on chaotic but overall I had a great time! If you're looking for atmospheric, old school supernatural horror with witchy folklore, monsters, blood, family secrets and a whole lot of dread put this one on your TBR!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Christopher Golden and St Martin's Press for this eARC!
Malcolm Wise has never believed the rumors that his mother was a witch. But as Maggie lays dying, she makes one final request. When she dies, Malcolm must take her body back to her birthplace in Maine and bury her there within two nights. Simple enough... except something has been waiting for Maggie to die. As Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet begin the thousand mile journey, ancient supernatural forces awaken and increasingly terrifying beings begin hunting them. What started as a promise to his dying mother quickly becomes a desperate race against something far older and more dangerous than they could have imagined.
I went into this one expecting creepy supernatural horror and I was not disappointed! I became completely absorbed in this weird, dark and terrifying journey, and by the time everything started spiraling I was invested! The 1950s setting worked so well. There's folklore, ancient evil, monsters, family secrets and everything comes together perfectly! And the atmosphere? Immaculate! Even in slower parts there was this constant feeling that something was very very wrong. Also, the gore! Golden definitely delivers for readers who like their stories bloody and intense! There were some sections that were a bit slower and then the end goes full on chaotic but overall I had a great time! If you're looking for atmospheric, old school supernatural horror with witchy folklore, monsters, blood, family secrets and a whole lot of dread put this one on your TBR!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Christopher Golden and St Martin's Press for this eARC!
September 17, 2026
Meh. Do not recommend.
March 10, 2026
Christopher Golden is like my Stephen King. He’s a comfort read and I know I’ll always enjoy whatever he writes.
When I need a slow burn with well fleshed out characters, Golden is who I turn to. And this one did not disappoint. The relationships between the characters are beautiful and complex. The setting moves throughout the story and I thought that added a fast paced element that kept the read interesting. This read is frightening, heart breaking, and suspenseful.
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for the eARC.
When I need a slow burn with well fleshed out characters, Golden is who I turn to. And this one did not disappoint. The relationships between the characters are beautiful and complex. The setting moves throughout the story and I thought that added a fast paced element that kept the read interesting. This read is frightening, heart breaking, and suspenseful.
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for the eARC.
July 27, 2026
Abandoned at 25%. It’s just not for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Malcom's family is... complicated. Becoming even more so when he is tasked with fulfilling his mother's death bed request. This request ends up taking him on a journey both literally and figuratively.
I loved this book. The story gripped me right from the beginning. I could not put this one down. It had a unique plot, was fast paced, and I enjoyed the new take on an old monster. I was rooting for Malcom the entire time. I thought the author did a fantastic job on the family dynamics. The fight scenes did become a little repetitive at the end but I didn't mind because I was so engaged with the story unfolding.
I admittedly haven't read many of this author's works. But what I have read has been great. He's definitely becoming an auto buy author.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. The story gripped me right from the beginning. I could not put this one down. It had a unique plot, was fast paced, and I enjoyed the new take on an old monster. I was rooting for Malcom the entire time. I thought the author did a fantastic job on the family dynamics. The fight scenes did become a little repetitive at the end but I didn't mind because I was so engaged with the story unfolding.
I admittedly haven't read many of this author's works. But what I have read has been great. He's definitely becoming an auto buy author.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2026
This was a high-speed thriller/horror novel with a lot of bloodshed and an interesting family love triangle. I definitely recommend this one for all your creepy Halloween reading! Enjoy!
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to the ARC for review!
I saw this one on Philip Fracassi's Instagram after he read and enjoyed it - so I ran straight to NetGalley to request it for myself! I had never read anything by Christopher Golden, but he's been recommended to me many times over the years.
The mystery and intrigue at the beginning caught me up in its snare immediately. Was Maggie Wise a witch? Who was the Raven waiting outside under the tree? What was this weird parent/son relationship dynamic between Malcolm and Maggie? And of course, the romance lover in me was very interested in Violet and Malcom's relationship.
I ended up DNF-ing this one about halfway through. There was a really weird jump in the chapter's around Benjy and his family (which could absolutely be ironed out before publishing) - the intrigue was just drawn out too long. I got bored and disinterested. Malcolm's siblings' arrivals felt forced, the actual premise started off interesting but the execution fell short.
I'm still going to try some other novels by this author - definitely not a one and done for me!
I saw this one on Philip Fracassi's Instagram after he read and enjoyed it - so I ran straight to NetGalley to request it for myself! I had never read anything by Christopher Golden, but he's been recommended to me many times over the years.
The mystery and intrigue at the beginning caught me up in its snare immediately. Was Maggie Wise a witch? Who was the Raven waiting outside under the tree? What was this weird parent/son relationship dynamic between Malcolm and Maggie? And of course, the romance lover in me was very interested in Violet and Malcom's relationship.
I ended up DNF-ing this one about halfway through. There was a really weird jump in the chapter's around Benjy and his family (which could absolutely be ironed out before publishing) - the intrigue was just drawn out too long. I got bored and disinterested. Malcolm's siblings' arrivals felt forced, the actual premise started off interesting but the execution fell short.
I'm still going to try some other novels by this author - definitely not a one and done for me!
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