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Girl at the Grave
Winner of the Thriller Award for BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL.
Winner of the Whitney Award for BEST DEBUT and BEST YOUNG ADULT.
A richly atmospheric tale of murder, guilt, redemption, and finding love where least expected, set in 1800s New England.
As a child, Valentine saw her mother murder the wealthiest man in town and hang at the gallows. Neglected by her father, she’s learned to fend for herself in a crumbling estate that feels haunted by the past.
Now a top student at Drake Academy, she’s determined to overcome the shame of her mother’s crime. But when a new murder strikes the town, the daughter of a killer is the most likely suspect. Dark secrets are revealed, and a powerful enemy plots against her.
Valentine must hunt down the real killer before she’s arrested and hanged—and finds an unlikely ally in Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother murdered all those years ago.
For ages 12 and up, a murder mystery with deadly stakes, thrilling twists, and romance.
Winner of the Whitney Award for BEST DEBUT and BEST YOUNG ADULT.
A richly atmospheric tale of murder, guilt, redemption, and finding love where least expected, set in 1800s New England.
As a child, Valentine saw her mother murder the wealthiest man in town and hang at the gallows. Neglected by her father, she’s learned to fend for herself in a crumbling estate that feels haunted by the past.
Now a top student at Drake Academy, she’s determined to overcome the shame of her mother’s crime. But when a new murder strikes the town, the daughter of a killer is the most likely suspect. Dark secrets are revealed, and a powerful enemy plots against her.
Valentine must hunt down the real killer before she’s arrested and hanged—and finds an unlikely ally in Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother murdered all those years ago.
For ages 12 and up, a murder mystery with deadly stakes, thrilling twists, and romance.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2018
27 people are currently reading
4481 people want to read
About the author
Teri Bailey Black
2 books136 followersTeri Bailey Black grew up near the beach in a large, creative family, surrounded by books, art supplies, gardening, and California sunshine. Her debut, GIRL AT THE GRAVE, won the Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel and the Whitney Award for Best Debut and Best Young Adult General. She and her husband have four children and live in the rolling hills of Southern California. Note: The best place to follow her is Instagram.
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August 5, 2017
Absolutely fantastic! Official/fangirling review coming soon 😊
December 21, 2018
It's not often these days you pick-up a book and find it to exactly what you are expecting. Girl in the Grave was this for me. I wanted a easier to read (ie: YA, teen or romance) story that had some 'edge' (ie: horror, Gothic) to it and a strong female lead. I got everything I could have wanted and more!
It's Teen for Sure!
This is obviously written for the teen genre. Whether you like teen books because you are a teen or (like me) enjoy the style of writing that is common in them. Teri Bailey Black does a superb job of finding one voice in our lead teen girl and creating characters and situations around her that resonant with her lead gal and the reader.
So there are tropes like many teen books. A forbidden love, a (sort-of) love triangle, and of course the ever difficult to figure out moment of loosing ones virginity (be it kissing virginity or otherwise). So long as you go into this expecting those typical teen elements I think you'll find the rest of the book is really well done.
Atmosphere
Sometimes I just want to read or watch something for the atmosphere. It doesn't matter what happens or how, who is involved or when. Instead what matters is the mood, atmosphere and feel of the story. Black has done an excellent job of finding a Gothic voice (it's just occurred to me that her name is ironic given the feel of Girl at the Grave, lol). Set many years ago, in a small town we find creepy elements like old houses, houses with half the house burnt, small graveyards and out of the way forest sanctuaries. Black does an excellent job of creating a Gothic story without any ghosts. Weird right? No, just perfect in my mind. As a former (still wishes I was sometimes) Gothic teen of the 90's I felt like this book was something I would have cherished as a teen. It's like the despair, murder, secrets and hushed whispering is speaking to me directly and I know teen me would have been all over that.
Plot
There is actually a lot of plot going on in this story. Our lead gal had her mother murdered (hanging) because of a murder, the boy she starts hanging out with at school is in fact the son of her mother's murder victim, the townsfolk are ruled by the rich and male of the town, and so transgression like abuse are (more or less) acceptable if not obviously thrown in anyone's face. This all culminates in a murder mystery that tries to solve not only the murder of yore but murders that start happening right then in the line of sight of our lead gal. I didn't see some of the twists that happen but at no time felt like ANY of them were cheap. This is a very, very exciting thing for me as often I find murder mysteries to be one of two things; too predictable or too outrageous. It was lovely to read a Gothic teen story with a well done murder plot.
Overall
I really adored this book. I could absolutely see me revisiting it in the future to have a 'break' from more dense literature. It was wonderful to follow-up The Picture of Dorian Grey (which I found dense and ultimately boring) with Girl at the Grave as it helped me remember that you don't have to read a book written centuries old to get a darker feeling story.
Black connected with me as a reader on so many levels. I wondered at one point if her and I were sharing pieces of a brain as she would do something I would have done with a character (and do it so well!).
You just can't go wrong with this Gothic teen murder mystery.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
It's Teen for Sure!
This is obviously written for the teen genre. Whether you like teen books because you are a teen or (like me) enjoy the style of writing that is common in them. Teri Bailey Black does a superb job of finding one voice in our lead teen girl and creating characters and situations around her that resonant with her lead gal and the reader.
So there are tropes like many teen books. A forbidden love, a (sort-of) love triangle, and of course the ever difficult to figure out moment of loosing ones virginity (be it kissing virginity or otherwise). So long as you go into this expecting those typical teen elements I think you'll find the rest of the book is really well done.
Atmosphere
Sometimes I just want to read or watch something for the atmosphere. It doesn't matter what happens or how, who is involved or when. Instead what matters is the mood, atmosphere and feel of the story. Black has done an excellent job of finding a Gothic voice (it's just occurred to me that her name is ironic given the feel of Girl at the Grave, lol). Set many years ago, in a small town we find creepy elements like old houses, houses with half the house burnt, small graveyards and out of the way forest sanctuaries. Black does an excellent job of creating a Gothic story without any ghosts. Weird right? No, just perfect in my mind. As a former (still wishes I was sometimes) Gothic teen of the 90's I felt like this book was something I would have cherished as a teen. It's like the despair, murder, secrets and hushed whispering is speaking to me directly and I know teen me would have been all over that.
Plot
There is actually a lot of plot going on in this story. Our lead gal had her mother murdered (hanging) because of a murder, the boy she starts hanging out with at school is in fact the son of her mother's murder victim, the townsfolk are ruled by the rich and male of the town, and so transgression like abuse are (more or less) acceptable if not obviously thrown in anyone's face. This all culminates in a murder mystery that tries to solve not only the murder of yore but murders that start happening right then in the line of sight of our lead gal. I didn't see some of the twists that happen but at no time felt like ANY of them were cheap. This is a very, very exciting thing for me as often I find murder mysteries to be one of two things; too predictable or too outrageous. It was lovely to read a Gothic teen story with a well done murder plot.
Overall
I really adored this book. I could absolutely see me revisiting it in the future to have a 'break' from more dense literature. It was wonderful to follow-up The Picture of Dorian Grey (which I found dense and ultimately boring) with Girl at the Grave as it helped me remember that you don't have to read a book written centuries old to get a darker feeling story.
Black connected with me as a reader on so many levels. I wondered at one point if her and I were sharing pieces of a brain as she would do something I would have done with a character (and do it so well!).
You just can't go wrong with this Gothic teen murder mystery.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
July 24, 2018
Title: Girl at the Grave
Series: Standalone
Author: Teri Bailey Black
Release date: August 7, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
Girl at the Grave doesn't have any ghosts or scenes I would describe as horror filled. It's a pure murder mystery-suspense with a strong love triangle subplot. I'm not a fan of that romance trope, in fact I avoid it at all costs if possible. I can't say that I loved that aspect here and how it lingered for much of the book, but my enjoyment of the twisty and unpredictable mystery took center stage, winning me over. Early on I guessed a major twist in the book which made me think this would be pretty predictable. I was pleasantly surprised how much more there was in store, and how many pieces of the plot would be neatly tied by the end.
When she was six years old, Valentine's mother was hanged for murder. The town of Feavers Crossing turned their backs on her, not wanting to be tarnished by her now black reputation. People she once considered to be friends didn't hesitate to snub or insult her, so it was easier to retreat into her own private world. Though she and her father are poor, a mysterious benefactor has paid for her education at the exclusive school in town.
She's grateful for the opportunity to attend and doesn't squander it, but she has no friends except a boy who works there named Sam. Her best friend comes from a family with arguably an even worse reputation than hers, and maybe that's why they felt so comfortable around each other. There was no fear of judgement or hurt, and they accept one another unconditionally.
Valentine hasn't had the easiest of lives, but that has only molded her into the self-reliant and mature teen that she is. I really enjoyed her character's sense of morality, courage, and determination to find answers. There were times when anyone else would have cracked under the pressure she was under, but it seemed to only harden her resolve. The murder than altered her life is only the first of many, and if she doesn't dig up the truth that has long been buried, she could suffer the same fate as her mother. She comes to realize that the town is loaded with secrets and lies, hidden like a land mine waiting to detonate with one wrong step. The question is...who can she trust? Who will trust her when everyone is prejudiced and quick to point fingers?
A good murder mystery will make you guess and then second guess every character's intentions, looking for a possible sinister motivation. Girl at the Grave accomplished that, and managed to pull the rug out from under me when the big reveal came. I can honestly say that I never could have anticipated how the . There wasn't much angst in the romance department because you pretty much realize from the start who she will end up with, only how it will manage to work itself out. There are huge and seemingly insurmountable roadblocks thrown in their way, and at times I wondered how they would find their happy ending. There was a fear that one or both of them would have to choose between their dreams and being together, but I was very satisfied by how it played out in the final pages.
If you're looking for a good atmospheric historical mystery, look no further. This was a big departure from what I normally read, but in a good way. It was refreshing, well plotted, and really fast paced. I will definitely be seeing what this fresh new author has to offer in the future.
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June 15, 2018
find my review on my blog as well!
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There are few things as disappointing as disliking a book that you’ve been anticipating. Especially one with murder! Girl at the Grave, I feel, had a lot of potential, and yet…
Here I am. Here we are. I am sad.
There are a few good things about Grave. The main character, Valentine, was well written. I liked her most times. The love interest—the main one—(take that how you will)—Rowan, was super sweet and I enjoyed the scenes he and Valentine shared. There was a convoluted history in their town that was messy and confusing and totally appropriate for a small town, and it really worked for the setting.
There are more bad things about Grave, which is unfortunate.
First being the romance. There is a love triangle, so I’m just getting that out of the way. There is boy one, Rowan, whose name—his full name—was said approximately four or five times in the first two pages of the kindle file. (So. You kind of knew who the love interest would be right away, if you didn’t read the synopsis.) There is boy two, Sam, who is Valentine’s best friend and in love with Valentine.
I’ll be honest, I don’t really mind love triangles. Shocker, since I complain about them all the time. What bothered me about this one was that, a lot of the romance, between… uh both? guys? happens during the middle of the book, at which just completely drags the novel. Hardly anything happens with the case or the murder midway. Instead, Valentine and Rowan spend time together. They get involved in romantic drama. Sam and Valentine get together. There’s that drama. It was a lot of back and forth and second guessing. I’m just—
It’s a lot of fucking drama and all of it is so annoying and so pointless. To add insult to injury: it’s quite obvious Rowan was going to be the guy, anyway. But then Sam was added to the pot, and instead of making him a kind guy who would stick with Valentine despite everything going on, he was a jealous asshole who never had Valentine’s best interests at heart. He said cruel things because she wouldn’t be with him when their drama was going down, so forgive me for not being really forthcoming.
The first murder created some action in the beginning, but it was slow going. I let that slide, because as I said in the beginning: there’s a complicated, messy history surrounding Valentine and some of that needed to be introduced. With what happened in the middle, the entire book suddenly felt less murder mystery and more modern contemporary with the relationship drama. When the other murders were discovered, there was just… no suspense. There was no danger or anything that really kept me hooked. By the end, the reveal was so lukewarm that I didn’t really care.
Overall, this was just a miss for me. I had high hopes for Girl at the Grave but alas. 2.5 stars.
---
There are few things as disappointing as disliking a book that you’ve been anticipating. Especially one with murder! Girl at the Grave, I feel, had a lot of potential, and yet…
Here I am. Here we are. I am sad.
There are a few good things about Grave. The main character, Valentine, was well written. I liked her most times. The love interest—the main one—(take that how you will)—Rowan, was super sweet and I enjoyed the scenes he and Valentine shared. There was a convoluted history in their town that was messy and confusing and totally appropriate for a small town, and it really worked for the setting.
There are more bad things about Grave, which is unfortunate.
First being the romance. There is a love triangle, so I’m just getting that out of the way. There is boy one, Rowan, whose name—his full name—was said approximately four or five times in the first two pages of the kindle file. (So. You kind of knew who the love interest would be right away, if you didn’t read the synopsis.) There is boy two, Sam, who is Valentine’s best friend and in love with Valentine.
I’ll be honest, I don’t really mind love triangles. Shocker, since I complain about them all the time. What bothered me about this one was that, a lot of the romance, between… uh both? guys? happens during the middle of the book, at which just completely drags the novel. Hardly anything happens with the case or the murder midway. Instead, Valentine and Rowan spend time together. They get involved in romantic drama. Sam and Valentine get together. There’s that drama. It was a lot of back and forth and second guessing. I’m just—
It’s a lot of fucking drama and all of it is so annoying and so pointless. To add insult to injury: it’s quite obvious Rowan was going to be the guy, anyway. But then Sam was added to the pot, and instead of making him a kind guy who would stick with Valentine despite everything going on, he was a jealous asshole who never had Valentine’s best interests at heart. He said cruel things because she wouldn’t be with him when their drama was going down, so forgive me for not being really forthcoming.
The first murder created some action in the beginning, but it was slow going. I let that slide, because as I said in the beginning: there’s a complicated, messy history surrounding Valentine and some of that needed to be introduced. With what happened in the middle, the entire book suddenly felt less murder mystery and more modern contemporary with the relationship drama. When the other murders were discovered, there was just… no suspense. There was no danger or anything that really kept me hooked. By the end, the reveal was so lukewarm that I didn’t really care.
Overall, this was just a miss for me. I had high hopes for Girl at the Grave but alas. 2.5 stars.
August 7, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult gothic fiction eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
The beginning of this novel was promising but it ended up being not to me taste. The positive things that made me finish the book were two-fold:
1. I liked the main character, Valentine. She was smart and resourceful.
2. I wanted to know how Valentine was going to prove her mother's innocence and find the true killer.
Unfortunately, there were several plot issues that made this an unlikable read for me.
1. The love triangle. This was the primary plot of the story. Who was Val going to pick? The angst drove me bonkers even though I liked both love interests for once. I just honestly didn't care who she chose.
2. The murders. Val did not really use her brain for solving the crime. She was too busy trying to decide who she loved. The "clues" were lackluster and Val admits to herself in the book that she was focused on boy problems and willfully ignored everything else.
3. The killer. The who-dunnit was so boring and not really fun. In fact I just sighed in exasperation about how reveal happened.
4. The scariness. Well there wasn't really any. I didn't really feel there was any suspense or danger or excitement.
5. The ending. It had a convenient plot "twist" to make Val's life magically get better in an instant.
Though the Gothic elements were technically there, the novel itself really had no Gothic feel in either writing style or plot. Most of it felt like a typical teen romance novel with a historical fiction veneer. I was disappointed in the plot in terms of the murder mystery element. The true version of events just felt convoluted and unexciting. Shame because I wanted to like this one. Unfortunately it must walk the plank! Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
The beginning of this novel was promising but it ended up being not to me taste. The positive things that made me finish the book were two-fold:
1. I liked the main character, Valentine. She was smart and resourceful.
2. I wanted to know how Valentine was going to prove her mother's innocence and find the true killer.
Unfortunately, there were several plot issues that made this an unlikable read for me.
1. The love triangle. This was the primary plot of the story. Who was Val going to pick? The angst drove me bonkers even though I liked both love interests for once. I just honestly didn't care who she chose.
2. The murders. Val did not really use her brain for solving the crime. She was too busy trying to decide who she loved. The "clues" were lackluster and Val admits to herself in the book that she was focused on boy problems and willfully ignored everything else.
3. The killer. The who-dunnit was so boring and not really fun. In fact I just sighed in exasperation about how reveal happened.
4. The scariness. Well there wasn't really any. I didn't really feel there was any suspense or danger or excitement.
5. The ending. It had a convenient plot "twist" to make Val's life magically get better in an instant.
Though the Gothic elements were technically there, the novel itself really had no Gothic feel in either writing style or plot. Most of it felt like a typical teen romance novel with a historical fiction veneer. I was disappointed in the plot in terms of the murder mystery element. The true version of events just felt convoluted and unexciting. Shame because I wanted to like this one. Unfortunately it must walk the plank! Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
September 20, 2018
“The whole head is sick. And the whole heart is faint.”
This book isn’t as exciting as I presumed. It’s a solid novel with a pleasant blend of murder and romance, but not much more. Although there is a love triangle, it’s executed well, and each character is fleshed out and realistic. The slow-pacing of the story is a tad tiring at times, but the simplistic writing is charming. Overall, I was quite satisfied with the ending of this novel, and admired the consistency and development of all three main characters. None of them are perfect and it’s nice how they each acknowledge one another’s mistakes and discuss how it affects their current relationship stances.
A love triangle with two valid contenders? Perhaps it was just me, but I thought it was blatantly obvious which male lead would steal her heart in the end. Although both interests and Valentine had moments where I wished nothing more than to sock them in the jaw, I didn’t mind the love triangle. The romance does intrude on the mystery more times than I would’ve liked, but this is the primary focus on the novel, so I suppose its understandable. The murders and mystery are founded on a sea of love and betrayal, so it’s befitting how the characters place an importance on where their heart is leading them. Nevertheless, the drama did feel periodically needless. I admired how all three of them were multi-dimensional and expressed genuine human emotions. My favorite of the bunch is Rowan, and I thought he was the sweetest pea ever. At first glance, I imagined I would dislike him, but this proved not to be the case as the story progressed.
The Gothic atmosphere is palpable. The best aspect of this book in my opinion, is the setting. Historical Fiction is a genre that has truly grown on me as of late. I love the way authors can forge their stories around historical events, or simply install them in previous time periods. I love the setting Black crafts, and the eerie tone to the story is tangible. How the atmosphere often changes to reflect the characters’ moods and excursions is also a nice addition to the writing. The pacing did drag a few times, but the writing is so amiable that I never felt bored.
Ultimately, this is a pretty satisfactory debut. The mystery, though it could’ve been less predictable and delved on more than the romance, is enticing enough. Valentine and her love interests are quite dynamic and the sinister atmosphere is engrossing. All the elements could have been executed a bit better, but none of them fell completely flat. I will definitely be looking out for future works by Black!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
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August 20, 2018
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult / Historical / United States / 19Th Century
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Girl at the Grave is the debut novel from author Teri Bailey Black. It is a Gothic tale of murder and romance set to the backdrop of 1850s New England (Feavers Crossing, Connecticut). The story's protagonist is 17 year old Valentine Barron Deluca. Val has spent 11 years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. When she was 6 years old, Isabella Deluca was charged with murdering a man and quickly hung after being found guilty.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult / Historical / United States / 19Th Century
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Girl at the Grave is the debut novel from author Teri Bailey Black. It is a Gothic tale of murder and romance set to the backdrop of 1850s New England (Feavers Crossing, Connecticut). The story's protagonist is 17 year old Valentine Barron Deluca. Val has spent 11 years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. When she was 6 years old, Isabella Deluca was charged with murdering a man and quickly hung after being found guilty.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
December 5, 2018
Find my review on my blog as well!
This was a book that I picked up on a whim, never having heard it hyped. I'll admit I was mainly drawn in purely by the gorgeous cover and the Connecticut setting. As a Connecticut resident, it's a weakness of mine: say your book is set here, and I'll probably read it. Some authors get it right, and some get it wrong. (Dear Morgan Matson: bears are actually extremely common here, to the point that they're a public annoyance! The more you know~~~)
Anyway, the first hundred or so pages were very strong and an engrossing read. The pacing was appropriately swift, and the two love interests for the obvious love triangle were both interesting choices, where neither one was the apparent slotted winner of the MC's affection.
The middle lagged, though, due to quite a lot of dialogue exposition. Everyone in the MC's life is suddenly willing to spill their deepest, darkest secrets to her at the barest prompting--I wish the MC had needed to be a bit more active in forcing these reveals. This in combination with the love triangle makes the MC come across as fairly Mary Sue-ish. She's beautiful, a valedictorian, and has two boys following her around like puppies. Add on the MC's focus on women's rights, which gives her a holier-than-thou feel in relation to the mid-18oos time period, and we get a character who comes across as entirely out of place and time.
I also had mixed feelings about the ending, which featured another onslaught of expository dialogue. The revealed web of secrets and influence was initially fun, but became a bit confusing for me--possibly just a me thing? I can forgive the wobbly ending, if simply because I don't normally read mysteries and I'm not experienced enough to say what makes a good or bad "big reveal." What I can say is that the final denouement is surprisingly well done--not too rushed, not too prolonged. All the threads come together, and we're not left feeling like the author might try to eke out a sequel for some extra bucks. My, how nice it is to read a true stand-alone.
So all in all, I'd say it's a decent read for anyone who likes YA mysteries, love triangles, or easy-to-read historical fiction. Nothing that I'll reread, but I don't regret picking it up.
This was a book that I picked up on a whim, never having heard it hyped. I'll admit I was mainly drawn in purely by the gorgeous cover and the Connecticut setting. As a Connecticut resident, it's a weakness of mine: say your book is set here, and I'll probably read it. Some authors get it right, and some get it wrong. (Dear Morgan Matson: bears are actually extremely common here, to the point that they're a public annoyance! The more you know~~~)
Anyway, the first hundred or so pages were very strong and an engrossing read. The pacing was appropriately swift, and the two love interests for the obvious love triangle were both interesting choices, where neither one was the apparent slotted winner of the MC's affection.
The middle lagged, though, due to quite a lot of dialogue exposition. Everyone in the MC's life is suddenly willing to spill their deepest, darkest secrets to her at the barest prompting--I wish the MC had needed to be a bit more active in forcing these reveals. This in combination with the love triangle makes the MC come across as fairly Mary Sue-ish. She's beautiful, a valedictorian, and has two boys following her around like puppies. Add on the MC's focus on women's rights, which gives her a holier-than-thou feel in relation to the mid-18oos time period, and we get a character who comes across as entirely out of place and time.
I also had mixed feelings about the ending, which featured another onslaught of expository dialogue. The revealed web of secrets and influence was initially fun, but became a bit confusing for me--possibly just a me thing? I can forgive the wobbly ending, if simply because I don't normally read mysteries and I'm not experienced enough to say what makes a good or bad "big reveal." What I can say is that the final denouement is surprisingly well done--not too rushed, not too prolonged. All the threads come together, and we're not left feeling like the author might try to eke out a sequel for some extra bucks. My, how nice it is to read a true stand-alone.
So all in all, I'd say it's a decent read for anyone who likes YA mysteries, love triangles, or easy-to-read historical fiction. Nothing that I'll reread, but I don't regret picking it up.
August 2, 2019
DNF at 62%. This girl is the worst protagonist. Weak, indecisive, passive as things happen around her.
There's the worst love triangle in here too. BOTH of the guys are unappealing and she makes awful, awful choices to lead both on. SMH.
"I should have been looking for a killer all winter, not flirting with Rowan" AND the other guy in the crappy love triangle, damn straight. I thought the gothic elements and time period would enable me to get through this, but nah.
There's the worst love triangle in here too. BOTH of the guys are unappealing and she makes awful, awful choices to lead both on. SMH.
"I should have been looking for a killer all winter, not flirting with Rowan" AND the other guy in the crappy love triangle, damn straight. I thought the gothic elements and time period would enable me to get through this, but nah.
July 27, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
No matter what Valentine does she cannot get away from her mother's grim legacy. When a new string of murders occurs in her small town, all signs seemingly point to the daughter of a murderer. Interestingly enough the son of her mother's victim is the only person on Valentine's side. Valentine plans on uncovering the real killer, but when she discovers the truth she will have to come to terms with her own secrets, even if it means losing those she cares about.
Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black is a debut Gothic-tinged YA historical mystery thriller. It was one of my more anticipated books of the season and while it was decent, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. My favorite aspect of the novel is Valentine herself. She hasn't exactly had an easy life, but that's shaped her into the independent and decisive character that she is. The only thing that she isn't decisive about is boys. There is a love triangle, which if you know me I'm not usually a fan. I preferred Rowan from the start - beyond that the drama with Sam is just too wishy-washy in my personal opinion. I will say though that the author does a very good job of creating drama in terms of the murders and the core mystery, especially with all the twists and turns to keep us guessing. Learning about the town history was also interesting, but sometimes things got bogged down with the details and complexities. The story is a decent murder mystery, but honestly I was hoping there was going to be more of a horror or paranormal element as well.
Overall, this debut thriller by Teri Bailey Black is a more than serviceable YA historical mystery thriller. There were a few elements that didn't quite work for me, but I still enjoyed following Valentine's atmospheric story. Personally, I was expecting a little more murder mystery and a little less love story, but maybe that's just me.
No matter what Valentine does she cannot get away from her mother's grim legacy. When a new string of murders occurs in her small town, all signs seemingly point to the daughter of a murderer. Interestingly enough the son of her mother's victim is the only person on Valentine's side. Valentine plans on uncovering the real killer, but when she discovers the truth she will have to come to terms with her own secrets, even if it means losing those she cares about.
Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black is a debut Gothic-tinged YA historical mystery thriller. It was one of my more anticipated books of the season and while it was decent, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. My favorite aspect of the novel is Valentine herself. She hasn't exactly had an easy life, but that's shaped her into the independent and decisive character that she is. The only thing that she isn't decisive about is boys. There is a love triangle, which if you know me I'm not usually a fan. I preferred Rowan from the start - beyond that the drama with Sam is just too wishy-washy in my personal opinion. I will say though that the author does a very good job of creating drama in terms of the murders and the core mystery, especially with all the twists and turns to keep us guessing. Learning about the town history was also interesting, but sometimes things got bogged down with the details and complexities. The story is a decent murder mystery, but honestly I was hoping there was going to be more of a horror or paranormal element as well.
Overall, this debut thriller by Teri Bailey Black is a more than serviceable YA historical mystery thriller. There were a few elements that didn't quite work for me, but I still enjoyed following Valentine's atmospheric story. Personally, I was expecting a little more murder mystery and a little less love story, but maybe that's just me.
July 3, 2025
Girl, just leave. That place is so toxic.
She really is kind of a passive character; she has too much faith in the law and a sense of justice, even after her mother was hanged. Also, why is everyone making her parents' drama her problem? 3 stars, I can appreciate how classically ya this was.
She really is kind of a passive character; she has too much faith in the law and a sense of justice, even after her mother was hanged. Also, why is everyone making her parents' drama her problem? 3 stars, I can appreciate how classically ya this was.
October 8, 2018
Okay I legit actually freaking LOVED this ending. Really good mystery and my guests were ALL wrong. The setting had some really wonderful dark elements and the story had some good use of mob mentality. I honestly thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Only draw back is that its pacing was sometimes too slow for my personal taste.
July 17, 2018
Going back and forth on 4 or 4 1/2 stars. RTC a bit closer to release date. I did really like this one.
Thank you to TorTeen and Netgalley for my copy for review.
Thank you to TorTeen and Netgalley for my copy for review.
August 4, 2018
I'm not gonna lie, I'm actually surprised by how much I liked this book. I was uncertain in the beginning, finding some things a little too coincidental, and the writing just ok. But then the story and the writing found its way, and I found myself not wanting to stop! *NOTE: neither the description nor the copy on the book (and not even the title!) really tells you what this is. It's a YA historical fiction novel with a little bit of a love triangle and a murder mystery. (AKA RIGHT UP MY ALLEY)
LIKED: This was a fast read, which also surprised me. Even though the text is a bit small and it's 336 pages, It took me a little over a day to read this. The story is intriguing, and there are a lot of surprises and scandals within that held my interest. The characters are good, although I would have liked a little more from Sam. Also, one very important thing for me, although the love stories happened quickly, it wasn't the "meet and declare love on the same day" kind of quickly. I enjoyed how the stories were built, and gives a credibility to Valentine and her feelings.
DISLIKED: The writing was good, could have been a little better. Sometimes the plot lines felt a little too convenient.
Overall, this was a great read. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, family dramas, love stories, and period stories. I'd read a sequel of this if there ever was one!
LIKED: This was a fast read, which also surprised me. Even though the text is a bit small and it's 336 pages, It took me a little over a day to read this. The story is intriguing, and there are a lot of surprises and scandals within that held my interest. The characters are good, although I would have liked a little more from Sam. Also, one very important thing for me, although the love stories happened quickly, it wasn't the "meet and declare love on the same day" kind of quickly. I enjoyed how the stories were built, and gives a credibility to Valentine and her feelings.
DISLIKED: The writing was good, could have been a little better. Sometimes the plot lines felt a little too convenient.
Overall, this was a great read. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, family dramas, love stories, and period stories. I'd read a sequel of this if there ever was one!
October 13, 2022
The mystery plot had me hooked. There are times where I felt like it was overshadowed by the basic love triangle plot. Overall the ending felt satisfying.
January 23, 2019
lthough I do read a fair amount of historical fiction, I don't really go into the paranormal/romance side of it often. Girl at the Grave has shown me that maybe I should.
I actually ended up really enjoying this book. This is probably going to be a bit of a polarizing read though, especially in the YA community. Girl at the Grave is not your typical YA novel, it moves at a very slow pace and is mostly character driven. It's probably going to be one that you get completely immersed in or DNF. Thankfully, I was drawn into the story early on.
The story focuses on our protagonist, Valentine - such a very romantic/Gothic name and I was completely feeling it for this story. Valentine's life has been almost ruined by having a terrible reputation because her mother killed one of the sons of the most reputable woman in the town. Her mother was promptly hung and her family was ruined. Valentine had thought she knew the whole story about what happened to her mother on that night, she finds out that things may not be as they seem and she is determined to get to the truth.
I really loved Valentine is a character, I'm not sure that the story would have kept me engaged enough if it hadn't been for the strength of her character. I also adored the character of Birdy. She is the sweetest woman ever and I just wanted to protect her. The friendship between Valentine was beautiful and felt very authentic. I also like one of the love interests in this one, Rowan. The cute banter between Valentine and Rowan was very sweet to read, but I was never really 100% on board with them.
I do have some things that I didn't love, the love triangle. Valentine leading two young men on at the same time was tiring and made me lose some respect for the character. I know she is young and the decisions were difficult because she came from a time where she should do certain things but her character was very head strong and it didn't really make sense that she dragged these guys on for as long as she did. It was very drama and it should've played out quicker. This isn't really a complaint but it was sometimes confusing, some of the choices that Valentine made. This was a time when women were fighting just to be able to go to school with the men but she seemed to be almost too progressive. She made choices that didn't make sense for the time era - it was almost wishful thinking. I would love to think a woman, without any financial means, could be as independent thinking as she is, but it doesn't really make a lot of sense.
I would recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and don't mind a book that is slower. If you are looking for something packed full of action, this isn't going to be for you. I know I'll be picking up Black's next book though!
I actually ended up really enjoying this book. This is probably going to be a bit of a polarizing read though, especially in the YA community. Girl at the Grave is not your typical YA novel, it moves at a very slow pace and is mostly character driven. It's probably going to be one that you get completely immersed in or DNF. Thankfully, I was drawn into the story early on.
The story focuses on our protagonist, Valentine - such a very romantic/Gothic name and I was completely feeling it for this story. Valentine's life has been almost ruined by having a terrible reputation because her mother killed one of the sons of the most reputable woman in the town. Her mother was promptly hung and her family was ruined. Valentine had thought she knew the whole story about what happened to her mother on that night, she finds out that things may not be as they seem and she is determined to get to the truth.
I really loved Valentine is a character, I'm not sure that the story would have kept me engaged enough if it hadn't been for the strength of her character. I also adored the character of Birdy. She is the sweetest woman ever and I just wanted to protect her. The friendship between Valentine was beautiful and felt very authentic. I also like one of the love interests in this one, Rowan. The cute banter between Valentine and Rowan was very sweet to read, but I was never really 100% on board with them.
I do have some things that I didn't love, the love triangle. Valentine leading two young men on at the same time was tiring and made me lose some respect for the character. I know she is young and the decisions were difficult because she came from a time where she should do certain things but her character was very head strong and it didn't really make sense that she dragged these guys on for as long as she did. It was very drama and it should've played out quicker. This isn't really a complaint but it was sometimes confusing, some of the choices that Valentine made. This was a time when women were fighting just to be able to go to school with the men but she seemed to be almost too progressive. She made choices that didn't make sense for the time era - it was almost wishful thinking. I would love to think a woman, without any financial means, could be as independent thinking as she is, but it doesn't really make a lot of sense.
I would recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and don't mind a book that is slower. If you are looking for something packed full of action, this isn't going to be for you. I know I'll be picking up Black's next book though!
August 2, 2019
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Portia Brown
A gothic murder mystery filled with suspense, Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black brings something new that I’ve never seen before. The twisted mystery is at the front and center of the novel, along with a brilliant love triangle subplot that enhances the mystery rather than taking away from it. This is Teri Bailey Black’s debut novel and I am always impressed when authors decide to write murder mysteries as their debuts because it really puts authors out there.
Girl at the Grave is about Valentine, a teenage girl whose past consistently haunts her. When she was six years old, her mother was hanged for murder and the two of Feavers Crossing turned their backs on her not wanting to be tarnished by her reputation. People she trusted or called friends didn’t hesitate to push her away or insult her so she remained in her own private world. Valentine and her father are poor, but she goes to an exclusive school as a mysterious benefactor paid for her whole education.
She attends this school and tries her hardest, but she only has one friend, Sam. His family also has a terrible reputation and that’s probably why they are so close, however, they have both accepted each other without fear of judgement.
Our main character Valentine is a self-reliant and mature teenage girl despite being in an age when girls were told more frequently they were so much less than boys. She is courageous and determined to figure out the truth about her mother’s death. She doesn’t crack under the pressure that everyone puts on her and instead digs up the truth that everyone around her has buried. She and the reader discover the town’s secrets and lies that will explode if they take the wrong step or route. She has no idea who to trust or if she can trust anyone so she keeps most of this to herself like she always has.
Valentine has no time to be smack dab in the middle of a love triangle and yet that’s where she finds herself. Sam, her best friend and someone who she loves unconditionally is sure that they will get married one day and is determined to make that a reality. But Rowan, a boy who’s hardly ever noticed her before this, steps into her life with his charm and high rank in society. Both of them were super sweet and totally in love with Valentine.
Girl At The Grave is a murder mystery that will make you second guess everyone’s intentions and look for the solution yourself. This book managed to pull many aspects from other good murder mysteries and incorporate them into an original novel that surprises and satisfies.
A gothic murder mystery filled with suspense, Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black brings something new that I’ve never seen before. The twisted mystery is at the front and center of the novel, along with a brilliant love triangle subplot that enhances the mystery rather than taking away from it. This is Teri Bailey Black’s debut novel and I am always impressed when authors decide to write murder mysteries as their debuts because it really puts authors out there.
Girl at the Grave is about Valentine, a teenage girl whose past consistently haunts her. When she was six years old, her mother was hanged for murder and the two of Feavers Crossing turned their backs on her not wanting to be tarnished by her reputation. People she trusted or called friends didn’t hesitate to push her away or insult her so she remained in her own private world. Valentine and her father are poor, but she goes to an exclusive school as a mysterious benefactor paid for her whole education.
She attends this school and tries her hardest, but she only has one friend, Sam. His family also has a terrible reputation and that’s probably why they are so close, however, they have both accepted each other without fear of judgement.
Our main character Valentine is a self-reliant and mature teenage girl despite being in an age when girls were told more frequently they were so much less than boys. She is courageous and determined to figure out the truth about her mother’s death. She doesn’t crack under the pressure that everyone puts on her and instead digs up the truth that everyone around her has buried. She and the reader discover the town’s secrets and lies that will explode if they take the wrong step or route. She has no idea who to trust or if she can trust anyone so she keeps most of this to herself like she always has.
Valentine has no time to be smack dab in the middle of a love triangle and yet that’s where she finds herself. Sam, her best friend and someone who she loves unconditionally is sure that they will get married one day and is determined to make that a reality. But Rowan, a boy who’s hardly ever noticed her before this, steps into her life with his charm and high rank in society. Both of them were super sweet and totally in love with Valentine.
Girl At The Grave is a murder mystery that will make you second guess everyone’s intentions and look for the solution yourself. This book managed to pull many aspects from other good murder mysteries and incorporate them into an original novel that surprises and satisfies.
August 23, 2025
Fantastic book! I love this book and HIGHLY recommend.
August 22, 2018
Review Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek
**** Thank you to Tor Teen for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****
**** Trigger Warnings: Violence, Death & Murder, Brief Mention of Physical Abuse, and Death of a Parent ****
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
I was expecting something very different given the synopsis but overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this one. Was it perfect? No. But it was an enjoyable read especially since I normally don’t enjoy historical fiction!
Plot
The story didn’t actually focus on the murders as much as I thought it would, which was slightly disappointing to me. It’s actually more of a character study than anything else so at times it felt slow but overall I was pretty hooked while reading so I would say the pacing was pretty in the middle. It also stayed consistent throughout the book as well. There were also quite a few twists along the way that I was NOT expecting so that was really fun. I think there was a lot more focus on Valentine’s love life than anything but really the mystery was well done too, just not as present as I would have liked. There’s also some bits of family drama added in that kept things pretty interesting. I really never felt that there any dull moments will reading, everything kept my attention very well.
The writing was also very nice, as I’ve already said it kept me interested and never bored. Which is actually pretty impressive since I don’t normally enjoy historical fiction and tend to get bored while reading it. I’m definitely curious to see what else Teri Bailey Black will be coming up with!
There is a bit of a feminist undertone to the entire story as well. Valentine, the MC, works very hard in order to make her attendance at a prestigious, formerly boys only, private school worth it. She believes women should be able to go to college and have the some of the same rights as men. There are side characters that feel the same way and work to help further women’s rights. I thought this was a nice touch to the book, personally, and I thought it was done very well.
Overall I felt it was a story that flowed very well, nothing ever felt abrupt or rushed.
The dialogue also never felt forced or choppy.
Characters
As I already briefly mentioned this is very much a character driven story with a focus on Valentine and her two love interests: Rowan and Sam. I actually thought everyone was very complex and well fleshed out, everyone had their flaws and grew as a character throughout the course of the book too. Sure there were some decisions that were made that may have not been the smartest but I felt this was more so due to the character’s realistic flaws than just a character being….well, dumb or annoying.
I actually really enjoyed all three of these characters, they’re all extremely sweet and adorable. Valentine is just one of those heroines you can’t help but root for, she’s just so down to earth and very caring towards others. I really enjoyed her friendship with her childhood friend, Sam. I kind of wished he hadn’t turned into a love interest but in the end I wasn’t complaining, he’s just so cute, although his temper was pretty unruly at times.
Rowan’s character was a bit of a surprise to me, he definitely wasn’t how I thought he would be. He’s the most popular guy at school and all the girls moon after him, however, he wasn’t arrogant in the least bit and I loved how hard he tries to help Valentine fit in and make her feel comfortable. He’s pretty swoon-worthy!
There are many side characters that get a lot of page time as well, I liked how in depth some of their roles were in the story. Especially where you weren’t expecting it!
Romance
Another thing I briefly mentioned, the romance. “Girl at the Grave” is a little more focused on romance than murder and mystery, which most of the time would bother me to no end. However, I could not help but be invested in the story regardless! There IS a love triangle in this book between Valentine, Sam her childhood friend, and Rowan the popular guy. This is one of the few exceptions I’ve made for the love triangle trope, I can handle one if I feel both love interests are genuinely fitting for the main character. Boy, oh boy, were these two fitting for Valentine! I couldn’t make up my mind half the time about which boy she should choose, it was madness! They were both so wonderful!
Although one thing I didn’t like was how Valentine kind of “settled” for Sam at one point, that’s just not fair to either party but especially him. I also didn’t really like how pushy Sam could be at times, let her decide in her own time!
In Conclusion
What I Loved:
Some nice, surprising plot twists
Evenly paced
Held my attention throughout very well
The writing was very good
Feminist plot elements
Everything flowed nicely
Characters were well developed and realistic
Love triangle that I didn’t mind
Love interests that were actually swoon-worthy!
What I Didn’t Love:
Plot focused more on the romance than the mystery
Valentine and Sam’s treatment of each other at times throughout
Recommend?
I know that this is more positive than negative and it seems like it should be a 4 or 5 star read but overall I walked away from this book feeling like it’s a 3.5. There wasn’t anything truly remarkable about the story but it was just an enjoyable read. I do recommend this to fans of historical fiction romances with a mystery twist!
**** Thank you to Tor Teen for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****
**** Trigger Warnings: Violence, Death & Murder, Brief Mention of Physical Abuse, and Death of a Parent ****
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
I was expecting something very different given the synopsis but overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this one. Was it perfect? No. But it was an enjoyable read especially since I normally don’t enjoy historical fiction!
Plot
The story didn’t actually focus on the murders as much as I thought it would, which was slightly disappointing to me. It’s actually more of a character study than anything else so at times it felt slow but overall I was pretty hooked while reading so I would say the pacing was pretty in the middle. It also stayed consistent throughout the book as well. There were also quite a few twists along the way that I was NOT expecting so that was really fun. I think there was a lot more focus on Valentine’s love life than anything but really the mystery was well done too, just not as present as I would have liked. There’s also some bits of family drama added in that kept things pretty interesting. I really never felt that there any dull moments will reading, everything kept my attention very well.
The writing was also very nice, as I’ve already said it kept me interested and never bored. Which is actually pretty impressive since I don’t normally enjoy historical fiction and tend to get bored while reading it. I’m definitely curious to see what else Teri Bailey Black will be coming up with!
There is a bit of a feminist undertone to the entire story as well. Valentine, the MC, works very hard in order to make her attendance at a prestigious, formerly boys only, private school worth it. She believes women should be able to go to college and have the some of the same rights as men. There are side characters that feel the same way and work to help further women’s rights. I thought this was a nice touch to the book, personally, and I thought it was done very well.
Overall I felt it was a story that flowed very well, nothing ever felt abrupt or rushed.
The dialogue also never felt forced or choppy.
Characters
As I already briefly mentioned this is very much a character driven story with a focus on Valentine and her two love interests: Rowan and Sam. I actually thought everyone was very complex and well fleshed out, everyone had their flaws and grew as a character throughout the course of the book too. Sure there were some decisions that were made that may have not been the smartest but I felt this was more so due to the character’s realistic flaws than just a character being….well, dumb or annoying.
I actually really enjoyed all three of these characters, they’re all extremely sweet and adorable. Valentine is just one of those heroines you can’t help but root for, she’s just so down to earth and very caring towards others. I really enjoyed her friendship with her childhood friend, Sam. I kind of wished he hadn’t turned into a love interest but in the end I wasn’t complaining, he’s just so cute, although his temper was pretty unruly at times.
Rowan’s character was a bit of a surprise to me, he definitely wasn’t how I thought he would be. He’s the most popular guy at school and all the girls moon after him, however, he wasn’t arrogant in the least bit and I loved how hard he tries to help Valentine fit in and make her feel comfortable. He’s pretty swoon-worthy!
There are many side characters that get a lot of page time as well, I liked how in depth some of their roles were in the story. Especially where you weren’t expecting it!
Romance
Another thing I briefly mentioned, the romance. “Girl at the Grave” is a little more focused on romance than murder and mystery, which most of the time would bother me to no end. However, I could not help but be invested in the story regardless! There IS a love triangle in this book between Valentine, Sam her childhood friend, and Rowan the popular guy. This is one of the few exceptions I’ve made for the love triangle trope, I can handle one if I feel both love interests are genuinely fitting for the main character. Boy, oh boy, were these two fitting for Valentine! I couldn’t make up my mind half the time about which boy she should choose, it was madness! They were both so wonderful!
Although one thing I didn’t like was how Valentine kind of “settled” for Sam at one point, that’s just not fair to either party but especially him. I also didn’t really like how pushy Sam could be at times, let her decide in her own time!
In Conclusion
What I Loved:
Some nice, surprising plot twists
Evenly paced
Held my attention throughout very well
The writing was very good
Feminist plot elements
Everything flowed nicely
Characters were well developed and realistic
Love triangle that I didn’t mind
Love interests that were actually swoon-worthy!
What I Didn’t Love:
Plot focused more on the romance than the mystery
Valentine and Sam’s treatment of each other at times throughout
Recommend?
I know that this is more positive than negative and it seems like it should be a 4 or 5 star read but overall I walked away from this book feeling like it’s a 3.5. There wasn’t anything truly remarkable about the story but it was just an enjoyable read. I do recommend this to fans of historical fiction romances with a mystery twist!
October 27, 2018
Valentine Deluca life is not an easy one. Eleven years ago, when she was six years old her mother was hanged for murder. The town of Feavers Crossing never let Valentine forget what her mother had done. Thanks to an unknown benefactor, Valentine was able to join a prestigious school, but she had no friends there other than Sam, who worked in the kitchen. One day in passing, the town reverend, Mr. Oliver let slip a really big secret concerning Valentine’s mother and the murder that occured years ago. This sets off a chain reaction leading to another murder with Valentine being in the center of it all. Valentine needs to find out the truth and she will stop at nothing to find out what happened now and all those years ago. But, there is a killer in the mist ready to silence Valentine once and for all. Will the truth ever come out in time to save Valentine?
When I first started this story I had every intention of reading the first fifty or so pages before I went to bed. Before you know it I surpassed what I wanted to read as I just could NOT put this book down at all. Right from the first page I was sucked in to Valentine’s story and found myself really feeling such compassion for this seventeen year old girl who grew up without a mother and forced to live in her legacy with the townspeople almost shunning her. Even eleven years later, the gossip is still alive and whispered throughout her community.
Valentine is such an easy character to love, she has a lot of heart and treats people with kindness, even Birdy, a local girl who people called simple minded. Valentine believes the best in people even though she treats herself harshly, blending into the background because she is afraid of what people think about her. Valentine’s only friend is Sam, whom she new since she was a child. Little did she know is that another boy in her school, Rowan, is interested in her as well. Rowan comes from an influential family, plus Valentine’s mother hanged for killing Rowan’s father. So Valentine could not see why Rowan would befriend her or show any interest. Stuck between both Sam and Rowen’s affection is such a strong dynamic for much of this story. I was pulled either way from Sam and Rowan as both were decent boys.
As I submersed myself deeper into the story there are a lot of loose ends and different subplots surrounding the murder mystery and I had a tough time figuring out who the killer might be. I can honestly say that Teri Bailey Black did such a wonderful job at keeping me guessing. She weaved such a wonderful tail pulling from different angles which wrapped up nice and neat at the end. I will also mention that I never guessed who the real culprit was right up until the final reveal.
Valentine really grew as a person from the start of this story right up until the satisfying end and in all honesty the ending could not have been any more perfect for me. In a way, Valentine learned a lot about herself and wanted the truth to come out even if it meant something bad for her. She was tired of hiding behind lies and just wanted her life back.
Girl at the Grave is a captivating and gothic murder mystery that takes us deep into a labyrinth of secrets and lies, a budding romance, and a girl who will stop at nothing to expose the truth. You will not be able to put this book down! I loved every minute of it and found myself sad that the story ended. One of my favorite gothic mysteries of the year!
When I first started this story I had every intention of reading the first fifty or so pages before I went to bed. Before you know it I surpassed what I wanted to read as I just could NOT put this book down at all. Right from the first page I was sucked in to Valentine’s story and found myself really feeling such compassion for this seventeen year old girl who grew up without a mother and forced to live in her legacy with the townspeople almost shunning her. Even eleven years later, the gossip is still alive and whispered throughout her community.
Valentine is such an easy character to love, she has a lot of heart and treats people with kindness, even Birdy, a local girl who people called simple minded. Valentine believes the best in people even though she treats herself harshly, blending into the background because she is afraid of what people think about her. Valentine’s only friend is Sam, whom she new since she was a child. Little did she know is that another boy in her school, Rowan, is interested in her as well. Rowan comes from an influential family, plus Valentine’s mother hanged for killing Rowan’s father. So Valentine could not see why Rowan would befriend her or show any interest. Stuck between both Sam and Rowen’s affection is such a strong dynamic for much of this story. I was pulled either way from Sam and Rowan as both were decent boys.
As I submersed myself deeper into the story there are a lot of loose ends and different subplots surrounding the murder mystery and I had a tough time figuring out who the killer might be. I can honestly say that Teri Bailey Black did such a wonderful job at keeping me guessing. She weaved such a wonderful tail pulling from different angles which wrapped up nice and neat at the end. I will also mention that I never guessed who the real culprit was right up until the final reveal.
Valentine really grew as a person from the start of this story right up until the satisfying end and in all honesty the ending could not have been any more perfect for me. In a way, Valentine learned a lot about herself and wanted the truth to come out even if it meant something bad for her. She was tired of hiding behind lies and just wanted her life back.
Girl at the Grave is a captivating and gothic murder mystery that takes us deep into a labyrinth of secrets and lies, a budding romance, and a girl who will stop at nothing to expose the truth. You will not be able to put this book down! I loved every minute of it and found myself sad that the story ended. One of my favorite gothic mysteries of the year!
June 22, 2018
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me an e-galley through netgalley!
Holy crap. This book was so freaking good. Part romance, part cautionary tale. All mystery. One little thing spurred so much in this story. Just when I thought it all figured out I'd be thrown through a loop again. This was probably one of the best books I've read this year. I set all my other books aside to read this one. I stayed up until 1 am knowing I had to be at work at 8 am. Why? Because I could not stop! Seriously add this to your TBR.
Holy crap. This book was so freaking good. Part romance, part cautionary tale. All mystery. One little thing spurred so much in this story. Just when I thought it all figured out I'd be thrown through a loop again. This was probably one of the best books I've read this year. I set all my other books aside to read this one. I stayed up until 1 am knowing I had to be at work at 8 am. Why? Because I could not stop! Seriously add this to your TBR.
July 24, 2018
Girl at the Grave is an atmospheric YA mystery set in the late 1800's. Reminiscent of Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter, it evokes gothic sensibilities, an underlying sense of unease, and the terrors of rural small-mindedness for women and those who were different. Valentine has spent her life being known as the daughter of a murderess and, despite her success in school, she can't seem to outrun her past or her poverty. New murders shine a spotlight on her as a suspect, but she is determined to find the truth. Meanwhile, Valentine is caught between her childhood friend and hopeful admirer - Sam, and the handsome, wealthy son of the man her mother killed- Rowan- who seems to be unexpectedly falling for her.
Love triangles are not always my favorite, but I actually thought this one was well-written and warranted given the circumstances. Valentine doesn't always make the best choices, but she wants to find the truth and do what is right. As the tension builds, things get creepier and I felt very scared for Valentine as things close in around her.
Valentine lives in a small, gossipy town full of dark secrets. We get some wonderful consideration of how people with differences are treated. Our heroine befriends a woman with mental differences and sees her value when everyone else assumes the worst of her. Women, especially poor women, are often not treated well and we discover that during this time, women could not attend universities and married women could not own property. These threads added depth and tackled important issues, without feeling separate from the main plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it if you want an atmospheric historical YA mystery. It's an impressive debut and I would definitely read more from this author. I agreed to review an early copy of this book received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Love triangles are not always my favorite, but I actually thought this one was well-written and warranted given the circumstances. Valentine doesn't always make the best choices, but she wants to find the truth and do what is right. As the tension builds, things get creepier and I felt very scared for Valentine as things close in around her.
Valentine lives in a small, gossipy town full of dark secrets. We get some wonderful consideration of how people with differences are treated. Our heroine befriends a woman with mental differences and sees her value when everyone else assumes the worst of her. Women, especially poor women, are often not treated well and we discover that during this time, women could not attend universities and married women could not own property. These threads added depth and tackled important issues, without feeling separate from the main plot.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it if you want an atmospheric historical YA mystery. It's an impressive debut and I would definitely read more from this author. I agreed to review an early copy of this book received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 21, 2018
4/5 stars
I found myself to really enjoy this book, despite not being the biggest fan of historical fiction. Despite that, I was actually glued to the book and couldn't stop reading. There was just so much mysery involving all the characters, where you think you understand them, but there's just a shred of doubt in each one. There were some moments that I felt were completely unnecessary or just too long of a scene, like when there's just so much angst or naivety happening where I just audibly say "oh come on". Luckily, there isn't too much of that, so I quickly got over it. I felt the plot was constucted amazingly, and it definitely didn't give itself away too easily. All in all, I thought this was really enjoyable and fun to read. If you're not into historical fiction, I would still give it a try because I was surprised myself at how much I enjoyed it. I feel like this is the type of novel that a lot of people can enjoy without having to be in love with this specific genre. Definitely recommended.
This is my voluntary and honest review. I was provided this ARC by NetGalley for my honest opinion. In no way have I been biased or persuaded in this review.
I found myself to really enjoy this book, despite not being the biggest fan of historical fiction. Despite that, I was actually glued to the book and couldn't stop reading. There was just so much mysery involving all the characters, where you think you understand them, but there's just a shred of doubt in each one. There were some moments that I felt were completely unnecessary or just too long of a scene, like when there's just so much angst or naivety happening where I just audibly say "oh come on". Luckily, there isn't too much of that, so I quickly got over it. I felt the plot was constucted amazingly, and it definitely didn't give itself away too easily. All in all, I thought this was really enjoyable and fun to read. If you're not into historical fiction, I would still give it a try because I was surprised myself at how much I enjoyed it. I feel like this is the type of novel that a lot of people can enjoy without having to be in love with this specific genre. Definitely recommended.
This is my voluntary and honest review. I was provided this ARC by NetGalley for my honest opinion. In no way have I been biased or persuaded in this review.
October 9, 2018
GIRL AT THE GRAVE is a small town, atmospheric novel full of dreary days and mysterious murders. While the title may imply a supernatural element, the only monsters in this story are human ones.
Valentine, isolated because of her mother's alleged actions and largely left alone by her father, has two love interests and no other friends. As such, the majority of the book is focused on developing her relationship with Sam and with Rowan. I would have loved for the mysterious deaths to take center stage. Instead GIRL AT THE GRAVE largely depends on relationship drama to pad out the pages; however, it's quickly determined which of the two boys is meant to be Valentine's true love.
In the end, I wanted more from GIRL AT THE GRAVE. While I was initially drawn in by Valentine's character, I quickly lost interest as Valentine remained passive and indecisive until the last pages. Readers who enjoy characters agonizing over the right love choice and gothic atmospheres will find more to like in GIRL AT THE GRAVE.
Valentine, isolated because of her mother's alleged actions and largely left alone by her father, has two love interests and no other friends. As such, the majority of the book is focused on developing her relationship with Sam and with Rowan. I would have loved for the mysterious deaths to take center stage. Instead GIRL AT THE GRAVE largely depends on relationship drama to pad out the pages; however, it's quickly determined which of the two boys is meant to be Valentine's true love.
In the end, I wanted more from GIRL AT THE GRAVE. While I was initially drawn in by Valentine's character, I quickly lost interest as Valentine remained passive and indecisive until the last pages. Readers who enjoy characters agonizing over the right love choice and gothic atmospheres will find more to like in GIRL AT THE GRAVE.
October 24, 2018
This was a fun little gothic mystery! I never did figure it out. This is more of a mystery than a thriller, but I really enjoyed it!
September 16, 2018
2.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/09/16/...
It is the mid-1800s in the small New England town of Feavers Crossing, and Valentine Deluca is a teenager who has grown up with the stigma of being a murderer’s daughter. It didn’t matter that Valentine was only six years old when her mother was hanged for the killing of Nigel Blackshaw, a local man from a wealthy and prominent family; towns like Feavers Crossing don’t forgive and forget easily, and people in power have a way of holding a grudge. Still, thanks to the financial support provided by a mysterious benefactor, Valentine is able to attend the most prestigious school in the area, even if her presence there is met with scorn and severe backlash. Valentine finds it hard to mix with her fellow students, who whisper vicious things behind her back. Even more awkward is that Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed, is also enrolled at the school.
Shockingly though, instead of blaming her for her mother’s crimes, Rowan sees in Valentine a kindred spirit. As graduation approaches, their friendship deepens into something more, much to the dismay of Rowan’s grandmother, the indomitable Mrs. Blackshaw, as well as Sam Frye, Valentine’s best friend who has loved her since they were both children. But then one day, new information comes to light on the murder of Nigel Blackshaw, turning Valentine’s world upside down. With equal parts terror and excitement, our protagonist realizes that what she has discovered may help clear her mother’s name, but fears that it might also mean the end of her relationship with Rowan, because surely the truth would break his heart.
I won’t lie; this book started off with a lot of promise, but sadly I felt that most of it was negated by the contrived storytelling and some really poor decisions on the main character’s part. Let’s start off with the elephant in the room: the dreaded love triangle. I know this is a contentious topic for a lot of readers. Some love them, others can’t stand them. Personally, I’ve had my issues with love triangles in the past, but for the most part, I can deal with (and even enjoy) them as long as 1) they are well written, and 2) they don’t get in the way of the main story.
Bearing these two points in mind, when it comes to Girl at the Grave, I truly cannot think of a book that needed a love triangle less. And it’s a shame, because it single-handedly sabotaged what I believe could have been a great YA mystery suspense. What I wanted was more examples of Valentine being strong, clever, and steadfast as she sought for answers and worked tirelessly towards getting to the bottom of her mother’s history. What I got instead was her bouncing between Rowan and Sam like some deranged ping-pong ball. Her character ended up embodying everything I despise about indecisive female leads, especially those who can only think about boys and kissing while other lives are at stake. In all fairness though, our lovesick Valentine did manage to pull herself together by the third act, but by then an undue amount of time had already been wasted dwelling on the love triangle theatrics.
To the novel’s credit, when you take away all the unnecessary romantic drama, the author does write a compelling mystery plot. The twists are slightly ill-timed and inelegant, but they work well in spite of that. A couple of the major reveals genuinely surprised me, which incidentally made me all the more eager to get past the love triangle and right back into the main story. The writing was also solid, though some word choices, descriptions, and dialogue probably could have been polished up or reworked to better reflect the setting in a historical context. The gothic-style atmosphere didn’t always come through, and sometimes the mid-nineteenth century setting felt only like a thin cloth draped over a modern teen novel.
In sum, Girl at the Grave held some true potential, and really, for a debut, it’s not bad. However, too many missteps and plot banalities like an annoying love triangle ultimately made this one a disappointment.
It is the mid-1800s in the small New England town of Feavers Crossing, and Valentine Deluca is a teenager who has grown up with the stigma of being a murderer’s daughter. It didn’t matter that Valentine was only six years old when her mother was hanged for the killing of Nigel Blackshaw, a local man from a wealthy and prominent family; towns like Feavers Crossing don’t forgive and forget easily, and people in power have a way of holding a grudge. Still, thanks to the financial support provided by a mysterious benefactor, Valentine is able to attend the most prestigious school in the area, even if her presence there is met with scorn and severe backlash. Valentine finds it hard to mix with her fellow students, who whisper vicious things behind her back. Even more awkward is that Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed, is also enrolled at the school.
Shockingly though, instead of blaming her for her mother’s crimes, Rowan sees in Valentine a kindred spirit. As graduation approaches, their friendship deepens into something more, much to the dismay of Rowan’s grandmother, the indomitable Mrs. Blackshaw, as well as Sam Frye, Valentine’s best friend who has loved her since they were both children. But then one day, new information comes to light on the murder of Nigel Blackshaw, turning Valentine’s world upside down. With equal parts terror and excitement, our protagonist realizes that what she has discovered may help clear her mother’s name, but fears that it might also mean the end of her relationship with Rowan, because surely the truth would break his heart.
I won’t lie; this book started off with a lot of promise, but sadly I felt that most of it was negated by the contrived storytelling and some really poor decisions on the main character’s part. Let’s start off with the elephant in the room: the dreaded love triangle. I know this is a contentious topic for a lot of readers. Some love them, others can’t stand them. Personally, I’ve had my issues with love triangles in the past, but for the most part, I can deal with (and even enjoy) them as long as 1) they are well written, and 2) they don’t get in the way of the main story.
Bearing these two points in mind, when it comes to Girl at the Grave, I truly cannot think of a book that needed a love triangle less. And it’s a shame, because it single-handedly sabotaged what I believe could have been a great YA mystery suspense. What I wanted was more examples of Valentine being strong, clever, and steadfast as she sought for answers and worked tirelessly towards getting to the bottom of her mother’s history. What I got instead was her bouncing between Rowan and Sam like some deranged ping-pong ball. Her character ended up embodying everything I despise about indecisive female leads, especially those who can only think about boys and kissing while other lives are at stake. In all fairness though, our lovesick Valentine did manage to pull herself together by the third act, but by then an undue amount of time had already been wasted dwelling on the love triangle theatrics.
To the novel’s credit, when you take away all the unnecessary romantic drama, the author does write a compelling mystery plot. The twists are slightly ill-timed and inelegant, but they work well in spite of that. A couple of the major reveals genuinely surprised me, which incidentally made me all the more eager to get past the love triangle and right back into the main story. The writing was also solid, though some word choices, descriptions, and dialogue probably could have been polished up or reworked to better reflect the setting in a historical context. The gothic-style atmosphere didn’t always come through, and sometimes the mid-nineteenth century setting felt only like a thin cloth draped over a modern teen novel.
In sum, Girl at the Grave held some true potential, and really, for a debut, it’s not bad. However, too many missteps and plot banalities like an annoying love triangle ultimately made this one a disappointment.
December 5, 2018
Where to start with thoughts on Girl at the Grave? It might seem a little macabre, but I definitely picked this book up because of the promised blend of murder and romance. When those two things are well combined in a historical fiction novel, that's my perfect storm. I hoped for a dark and atmospheric story line, since Valentine's past was so riddled with mystery. For the most part, I was definitely given what I hoped for! I just had a few qualms, and I'll outline them below.
Before I say anything else, I should disclose that I am not a fan of love triangles. That's not to say that I don't think they're occasionally necessary for story movement, or acknowledge that others out there love them. It's simply my own personal preference that characters don't beat around the bush when it comes to love interests. So, take my opinions on the romance portion of this book with a grain of salt.
For the most part, I loved everything about our characters. Black does a superb job of fleshing out each one them, and making them feel as realistic as possible. They have real human emotions and, equally valid, evoked the same emotions in me while I read. Valentine's whole persona had me enraptured, and I honestly felt like she did a lot of growing as the story went on. Character growth, for the win! Which is why I was so annoyed by the whole whole love triangle aspect of her romantic life. It was pretty obvious to me who she would end up with, so it felt unnecessary and bogged down the story line. Again though, that's just me. You might love it!
While the plot here is admittedly slow moving, sometimes to a frustrating degree, I can say that it definitely allows the Gothic atmosphere to shine. It weaves an eerie aura around Valentine and her two love interests, and creates ample opportunity for what felt like realistic conversations between them. I would have loved a little more forward movement, but I can't fault the story for what it accomplished. This book is heavy on the tension, and that is enticing in itself. In fact, depending on what you tend to pick up books for, this story might actually appeal to a lot of historical fiction readers out there. The setting is vivid, and the characters are too. If only the plot had picked up a bit, it would have been perfection for me.
Overall, this was a really solid read. I enjoyed my time spent with Valentine, and unraveling the secrets of her past. I loved the atmosphere that Black created, and the character development that she so expertly executed. I give this story a solid three stars, and I'd definitely recommend it.
Before I say anything else, I should disclose that I am not a fan of love triangles. That's not to say that I don't think they're occasionally necessary for story movement, or acknowledge that others out there love them. It's simply my own personal preference that characters don't beat around the bush when it comes to love interests. So, take my opinions on the romance portion of this book with a grain of salt.
For the most part, I loved everything about our characters. Black does a superb job of fleshing out each one them, and making them feel as realistic as possible. They have real human emotions and, equally valid, evoked the same emotions in me while I read. Valentine's whole persona had me enraptured, and I honestly felt like she did a lot of growing as the story went on. Character growth, for the win! Which is why I was so annoyed by the whole whole love triangle aspect of her romantic life. It was pretty obvious to me who she would end up with, so it felt unnecessary and bogged down the story line. Again though, that's just me. You might love it!
While the plot here is admittedly slow moving, sometimes to a frustrating degree, I can say that it definitely allows the Gothic atmosphere to shine. It weaves an eerie aura around Valentine and her two love interests, and creates ample opportunity for what felt like realistic conversations between them. I would have loved a little more forward movement, but I can't fault the story for what it accomplished. This book is heavy on the tension, and that is enticing in itself. In fact, depending on what you tend to pick up books for, this story might actually appeal to a lot of historical fiction readers out there. The setting is vivid, and the characters are too. If only the plot had picked up a bit, it would have been perfection for me.
Overall, this was a really solid read. I enjoyed my time spent with Valentine, and unraveling the secrets of her past. I loved the atmosphere that Black created, and the character development that she so expertly executed. I give this story a solid three stars, and I'd definitely recommend it.
August 7, 2018
Girl at the Grave is different than what I had hoped for after reading the synopsis, but still a pretty good read. I appreciate the fact that the characters are well written, as is the history of the town and Valentine’s mom. The mystery is really what I loved about this book; I just wish there was more of it.
The story starts out very strong, full of mystery and intrigue, and then wanders off the beaten path a bit. I feel like too much of the book is centered around the love triangle subplot and not the murder mystery aspect, but that’s just my opinion. As many YA books are structured, there is a whole lot of drama mixed in with the main plot and storyline.
Overall, Girl at the Grave was a decent debut novel that I’m glad I was given the chance to experience.
The story starts out very strong, full of mystery and intrigue, and then wanders off the beaten path a bit. I feel like too much of the book is centered around the love triangle subplot and not the murder mystery aspect, but that’s just my opinion. As many YA books are structured, there is a whole lot of drama mixed in with the main plot and storyline.
Overall, Girl at the Grave was a decent debut novel that I’m glad I was given the chance to experience.
January 7, 2019
So...I’ve been reading YA for over a year now. So far, hardly any luck. I’ve pondered giving up on the genre numerous times. I have the worst luck liking, forget connecting with any of the characters.
With that being said...I think I have found my YA niche genre. I won’t be buying any new YA books till I read the horde I’ve foolishly collected over the past year. Cue eye roll.
But this book was fabulous!! I loved it! Everything was just the right amount and perfect. So I’m guessing historical YA is just my preference in the genre. What made this book work for me was it was a historical mystery set in New England...it did not feel like YA. It felt like a book that had characters in their late teens, and I greatly appreciated it.
With that being said...I think I have found my YA niche genre. I won’t be buying any new YA books till I read the horde I’ve foolishly collected over the past year. Cue eye roll.
But this book was fabulous!! I loved it! Everything was just the right amount and perfect. So I’m guessing historical YA is just my preference in the genre. What made this book work for me was it was a historical mystery set in New England...it did not feel like YA. It felt like a book that had characters in their late teens, and I greatly appreciated it.
March 7, 2018
Girl at the Grave is engrossing and atmospheric, it will keep you guessing until the very last page!
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