Graveyard Beat

The Girl Who Would Be Sheriff #5

by Alan Lee

Detective Stackhouse is demoted to a patrol car,
a political move to punish her for excellence.
Her first night back in a cruiser?
Halloween. The worst shift of the year.

Officer Stackhouse clocks in for her first shift on patrol in years. She's back in a squad car after drawing the ire of her police chief one too many times. She is paired with a rookie and told to train him, although she knows it's a set-up.

She radios in at six for the late shift, or the graveyard beat, and rolls into the jungle of Halloween.

By the time their shift ends at four in the morning, both she and the rookie will be pressed beyond their breaking point, and they’ll have learned that some allies are just wearing a deadly mask.

Ride along with Stackhouse from dusk till down, the entire wild night in one explosive book.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2025

About the author

Your favorite mystery author for the next twenty years.

Reviews

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I am such a fan of Alan Lee and the world be has created in Roanoke, Virginia. This book is part of a kind of "What happened before" series about one of the stars of the Mackenzie August / Manny Martinez series, to which I am quite addicted. Andie Stackhouse is an enigmatic, beautiful, strong woman who became a cop later than usual. Having sailed through every exam and test, she got involved very quickly in dangerous situations in which she triumphed and the media loves her. The station chief, having tried and failed to make sexual advances to her, is jealous of her success and fame. He can't fire her because she's universally respected and he'd lose all credibility. In the last book she was demoted (or moved sideways as she prefers) back from detective to a patrol car. But she's still a sergeant. The chief plants a rookie with her to report back to him every infraction, deviation from the rules she might make, on the promise of good things for his career. Terrible things happen on the graveyard shift on Halloween night. The way Alan Lee writes his stories really draws me in and I was quite ridiculously excited to get this book and read it in a day. Now I'm waiting impatiently for the next one. Two of the characters from the "present day" series, Marshall Manny Martinez and his co special operator, Noel Beck were left on a cliffhanger. So much to enjoy here!

[Bert Leysath · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action stacked 10 hour shift.

You can remove the woman from the detective division, but you can't remove the detective from the woman.

Annie Stackhouse, demoted from detective to the position of street beat cop by the Chief of police in order to neutralize the threat he perceived in her. If he couldn't make her quit or transfer by assigning demeaning tasks, his snitch recruits were tasked with reporting any infractions to fire her with cause. Chief Almond saddled her with field training a rookie on Halloween night and megachaos ensues. She must defer to her replacement, a detective right out of school on a murder case, which she doesn't (solving it herself), and handle mundane traffic stops, anything but mundane on Halloween.

All in all, a breakneck thriller you're sure to enjoy, probably in one sitting.

[Michael Garin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Lee's Best Book Yet

My reviews of Alan Lee's novels are getting highly repetitive. But that's only because each book truly is better than the last.
Having read his entire body of work, it's been a delight to watch Lee evolve into a polished, confident author unafraid to push his talent to the limit.
I doubt when he began the Makenzie August series that he understood just what a star Andy Stackhouse would become. Nor did he know that he would fall in love with her, just as his readers have.
I'm confident that the best of the series is yet to come.

[Colleen Slee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end of shift came too soon.

From start to finish the pages kept me engaged. Each scene adding to the next. Never distracting, each filled with enough description - your imagination can't help but piece the action as it unfolds.

No wasted words typed in this story! No unnecessary flashbacks to prior novels ( you want the back story - buy the series. Its worth it!)
My only complaint is the end came too soon.

[Dolores Guillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a wild night

This a non stop action crazy night shift. Andie is working the night shift on patrol! Stackhouse is training a newbie and he gets the full exposure to every kind of crime. This is Alan Lee at his best. Could not put it down.

[Al Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story

I am running out of superlatives. Finished this book a very short time. Love the 10 hour idea. Packing a lot of action in a short time frame. IT WORKS. What a rush. I feel like I know this character in real life. Great writing.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another day in the life of Stackhouse. Not just any day. It’s Halloween and all hell breaks loose. She handles it all like a pro. This book highlights her tough side and everything in between. I loved i!

[david marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graveyard Beat review

This book, like all the other Alan Lee books is riviting. Just can't guilt reading it. I want to read it slowly so it will last longer but I just can not stop myself from reading faster to find out what happens next!

[Martin 4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of it. Why did it end???
Love Stackhouse. Great character and interesting exciting night. How about one for Nrw Years Eve? Then, a lawyer. She’s needs protection.
Mr Lee…… write faster

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 in the series

Stackhouse is back on patrol duty on Halloween night graveyard shift. She and her new trainee have quite a night that brings out her best in several different incidents. A great story.

[Rick Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best of the Stackhouse books. You will not tax your brain trying to discern the deep philosophical meanings, you'll just have a non-stop rollicking good time without all the angst of prior books. Sit down. Relax. Let Stackhouse have all the mayhem

[Jim E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall. Annie is a very interesting character who tries to do the right thing no matter what the cost.Some of the scenes were expressed very vividly, and one was over the top. The book was too short though and ended abruptly.

[Debbie Reed]

Excellent book! Keeps you engrossed from the very beginning. By far my favorite Stackhouse book..
If you haven’t read these books, you are missing out.

[Mari Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect Stackhouse Halloween book

Love the latest Stackhouse book taking place during a very long night shift on Halloween! It’s one “adventure” after another!

[Tina Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Read it in one day. I want more of Andy & Mark plz

[Debbie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrenaline Rush!

Good gosh! I LOVED this book and all the thousand things going on at one time!!!!!!!!! Whoowee!! Great book this!

[Charles K. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

The story seems short but covers a lot of ground! Thanks for another good story! I continue to enjoy your Mackenzie novels with great anticipation!

[Kim A. Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Great read and one HELL of a first night for Griffith. Really good story, lots if action and intrigue. And Almond is just ...Ugh. Hate guys like that.

[sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit

I always keep my eye out for each new book. This one didn't disappoint. Love the writing style it just flows. Keep them coming.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept. A little short but always like Lees style and content.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but exhausting to read. I rate it 4.5

[Black Butterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'VE READ ALL OF THIS SERIES AND LOVED EACH ONE LOVE THE CHARACTERS. ANOTHER WINNER CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK. HURRY UP! ;D

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection!

I read the entire book in one day. It was such a fun, fast-paced plot. So much fun. I wish all books were this enjoyable!