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Carry Me to My Grave
From New York Times best-selling author Christopher Golden comes a high concept horror novel about a man trying to protect his dead mother's body from the evil that is hunting them.
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.
But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.
But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Audible Audio
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Christopher Golden
774 books3,120 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN has been called “the king of the horror-thriller.” The New York Times bestselling, multi-award-winning storyteller has made his mark in many mediums, as a writer of novels, screenplays, animation, audio dramas, and comics, and as an editor of landmark horror anthologies. His work has been published in dozens of languages around the world. Winner of the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the Audie Award, he has been nominated for others, including the British Fantasy Award. His best-known novels include Road of Bones, The House of Last Resort, All Hallows, and his latest, Carry Me to My Grave. He lives in Massachusetts, where he watches too many movies and eats too much chocolate.
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July 21, 2026
“Carry Me to My Grave” by Christopher Golden is a horror novel that was so refreshingly unique, it completely blew my mind. This is the first time I’ve ever read Golden, and I’m genuinely impressed. His writing skills are exceptional, and this was one hell of a jam-packed read.
Before I dive into my horror book review, here are all the trigger warnings I found while reading:
- Parental abuse (physical)
- Self-harm
- Religion
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I loved how this book started off with a horror mystery right at the start. I had no idea what was going on, why it was going on, and what made one of the main characters, Mary Wise, so special. It added a nice element of suspense to the entire story, and my goodness, was it wild.
Don’t worry, no spoilers here, but this was one creepy as hell story. Golden sure knows how to write a killer story, as this was outstanding. I loved the cast of characters, villains, and everyone else in between. There was zero fluff here, and I couldn’t read this book fast enough since there was so much going on. Nothing was confusing or dragged on at all. It was just awesome, old-fashioned horror taken to the next level with familiar tropes, but written in a way that I guarantee you’ve never read anything like this.
For me, I love horror books that are one-of-a-kind. I don’t want the same tropes done for the billionth time, but something that stands out from the rest. This was a deeply unsettling book with an original twist, and horror events and situations that literally made me make weird faces while reading.
My goodness, Golden brought the horror big time in this one, in such a brutal, visceral, wild kind of way. I loved every moment of it, from all the gore, bloodshed, violence, and again, things I’ve never read before which made my horror-loving heart smile. Several of these scenes were action-packed and gave me a natural adrenaline rush from this epic journey across different places on a timer with the clock ticking.
Eventually, this journey would come to a bloody end in one of the most unpredictable and thrilling ways. I loved the climactic race to the end, especially when this massive horror mystery starts to finally unravel, and you get the true backstory that helped fill all the gaps. The clarity I got once things were revealed just left my jaw on the floor. The ending was incredible, satisfying, and Golden just earned himself a brand new reader in me. I plan to read more of his work in the future because this was a horror novel masterpiece.
I give “Carry Me to My Grave” by Christopher Golden a 5-Star rating out of 5. This has everything I look for in a horror novel, and then some. The storytelling, characters, plot twists, and horror are all top-notch. I regret not getting into Golden sooner, because this was a powerhouse of a read, and it checks all the boxes for a story horror readers will remember for many years to come.
Mary Wise will take your eyes.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Christopher Golden, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for review consideration. This horror book review reflects my honest, personal opinion.
Before I dive into my horror book review, here are all the trigger warnings I found while reading:
- Parental abuse (physical)
- Self-harm
- Religion
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, I loved how this book started off with a horror mystery right at the start. I had no idea what was going on, why it was going on, and what made one of the main characters, Mary Wise, so special. It added a nice element of suspense to the entire story, and my goodness, was it wild.
Don’t worry, no spoilers here, but this was one creepy as hell story. Golden sure knows how to write a killer story, as this was outstanding. I loved the cast of characters, villains, and everyone else in between. There was zero fluff here, and I couldn’t read this book fast enough since there was so much going on. Nothing was confusing or dragged on at all. It was just awesome, old-fashioned horror taken to the next level with familiar tropes, but written in a way that I guarantee you’ve never read anything like this.
For me, I love horror books that are one-of-a-kind. I don’t want the same tropes done for the billionth time, but something that stands out from the rest. This was a deeply unsettling book with an original twist, and horror events and situations that literally made me make weird faces while reading.
My goodness, Golden brought the horror big time in this one, in such a brutal, visceral, wild kind of way. I loved every moment of it, from all the gore, bloodshed, violence, and again, things I’ve never read before which made my horror-loving heart smile. Several of these scenes were action-packed and gave me a natural adrenaline rush from this epic journey across different places on a timer with the clock ticking.
Eventually, this journey would come to a bloody end in one of the most unpredictable and thrilling ways. I loved the climactic race to the end, especially when this massive horror mystery starts to finally unravel, and you get the true backstory that helped fill all the gaps. The clarity I got once things were revealed just left my jaw on the floor. The ending was incredible, satisfying, and Golden just earned himself a brand new reader in me. I plan to read more of his work in the future because this was a horror novel masterpiece.
I give “Carry Me to My Grave” by Christopher Golden a 5-Star rating out of 5. This has everything I look for in a horror novel, and then some. The storytelling, characters, plot twists, and horror are all top-notch. I regret not getting into Golden sooner, because this was a powerhouse of a read, and it checks all the boxes for a story horror readers will remember for many years to come.
Mary Wise will take your eyes.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Christopher Golden, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for review consideration. This horror book review reflects my honest, personal opinion.
July 21, 2026
Definitely a suspense filled page turner for sure.
As part of her last wishes, Maggie asks her son Malcolm to take her body to be buried in Maine. While at her bedside, Malcolm notices there is a strange person hanging outside his mother‘s bedroom. When he goes to confront said person, he is told to just leave her body and move on. Unwilling to do so and to honor his mother’s last wishes, he tells the stranger to get lost. Maggie passes soon thereafter, and Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet begin their trip to Maine to fulfill Maggie’s wishes. However, things take a sinister turn when Malcolm comes face-to-face, once more, with the creepy entity he met prior. It will do whatever it takes to derail Malcolm’s journey to Maine.
The suspense started out as a slow, dread-inducing creepiness that once it got going, did not relent. There was not one dull moment to be had. Along with the suspense, without trying to go into any spoilers, those who were trying to prevent Maggie’s burial were written perfectly. Scary, for sure! As for the characters themselves, I can’t say that they were super well developed, but I don’t know that they necessarily needed to for this type of novel. This was just a good old-fashioned good versus evil plotline. There was just enough backstory to make me feel satisfied, and the ending was resolved without any questions. The suspense had me flipping those pages continuously. No complaints here!
This is my first novel by this author and definitely won’t be my last. If you’re into highly addictive horror novels that keep you on the edge of your seat, give this book a try.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As part of her last wishes, Maggie asks her son Malcolm to take her body to be buried in Maine. While at her bedside, Malcolm notices there is a strange person hanging outside his mother‘s bedroom. When he goes to confront said person, he is told to just leave her body and move on. Unwilling to do so and to honor his mother’s last wishes, he tells the stranger to get lost. Maggie passes soon thereafter, and Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet begin their trip to Maine to fulfill Maggie’s wishes. However, things take a sinister turn when Malcolm comes face-to-face, once more, with the creepy entity he met prior. It will do whatever it takes to derail Malcolm’s journey to Maine.
The suspense started out as a slow, dread-inducing creepiness that once it got going, did not relent. There was not one dull moment to be had. Along with the suspense, without trying to go into any spoilers, those who were trying to prevent Maggie’s burial were written perfectly. Scary, for sure! As for the characters themselves, I can’t say that they were super well developed, but I don’t know that they necessarily needed to for this type of novel. This was just a good old-fashioned good versus evil plotline. There was just enough backstory to make me feel satisfied, and the ending was resolved without any questions. The suspense had me flipping those pages continuously. No complaints here!
This is my first novel by this author and definitely won’t be my last. If you’re into highly addictive horror novels that keep you on the edge of your seat, give this book a try.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2026
Fast-paced and dark, this story asks questions about family and loyalty that are engaging and fun. The premise of this story is great, and it lends itself to a number of wonderful action set pieces and a genuine sense of tension and dread. The pacing of the narrative itself, combined with switching POVs across chapters, gives the story a lot of momentum and a sense of being quite full and robust. The writing is descriptive and feels urgent, which I really enjoyed.
I think the shape of the characters and the world were great, but I wouldn’t have mind if they were a little more filled in. The story takes place in the 1950s but it only just barely feels like a historical piece. Yes, train options were different then, and the lack of cell phones is convenient, but other than that this could have taken place anytime, and the Korean War vet could have been an Iraq War vet and nothing would feel substantially different. Which is to say I would have liked the setting to play a more substantial role in the story telling, so I could really feel this needed to be set when it was. Similarly, the characters are interesting, on paper. The main characters and the handful of ancillary characters feel genuine and complicated, with lives outside of the page, so the vision of who these characters are is great. But in the context of the action of the story they don’t get much past the surface. There are a whole lot of emotional quagmires they navigate, the whole gamut from childhood trauma, familial obligation, and love to betrayal, rage, and disgust. Yet the story moves along so quickly we just get informed about them trying to deal with these emotions, they are never given real time to do so in any ways we can experience them along with the characters. That is all to say there is clever thought and intention between the world and the characters, but I feel like neither were built up nor utilized to the full potential.
The mythology is a little threadbare, but the story itself allows for that, it makes sense narratively. What we get is inventive and terrifying. I have always found Golden to have creative mythologies and world-building in that regard, and while we he gives us in this story works for this particular story I would love a deeper dive into the lore and supernatural realities of the world. If you really enjoy that depth of lore, etc., don’t expect it here, it is efficient and leaves us as in the dark as the characters, which is narratively appropriate and helps elevate the tension, sure, but did leave me wanting more. I still had a lot of fun with this story; it really does capture the attention and really not let up once it starts moving. It allows a few chances to catch your breath, everything can slow down a little when the sun is highest in the sky and it feels like darkness will never fall again, but those are just brief respites to allow for a really energetic pace. The ideas and action are both top-notch, and the characters, world, and mythos are interesting (if not quite as in-depth as I might have hoped). This is a book that is on the move and reminds you why you should be afraid of the dark and maybe not trust your elders. It has a viciousness that pairs with a heartfelt emotionality, it is dark and moody, and it is hard to put down once you start.
(Rounded from 3.5)
I think the shape of the characters and the world were great, but I wouldn’t have mind if they were a little more filled in. The story takes place in the 1950s but it only just barely feels like a historical piece. Yes, train options were different then, and the lack of cell phones is convenient, but other than that this could have taken place anytime, and the Korean War vet could have been an Iraq War vet and nothing would feel substantially different. Which is to say I would have liked the setting to play a more substantial role in the story telling, so I could really feel this needed to be set when it was. Similarly, the characters are interesting, on paper. The main characters and the handful of ancillary characters feel genuine and complicated, with lives outside of the page, so the vision of who these characters are is great. But in the context of the action of the story they don’t get much past the surface. There are a whole lot of emotional quagmires they navigate, the whole gamut from childhood trauma, familial obligation, and love to betrayal, rage, and disgust. Yet the story moves along so quickly we just get informed about them trying to deal with these emotions, they are never given real time to do so in any ways we can experience them along with the characters. That is all to say there is clever thought and intention between the world and the characters, but I feel like neither were built up nor utilized to the full potential.
The mythology is a little threadbare, but the story itself allows for that, it makes sense narratively. What we get is inventive and terrifying. I have always found Golden to have creative mythologies and world-building in that regard, and while we he gives us in this story works for this particular story I would love a deeper dive into the lore and supernatural realities of the world. If you really enjoy that depth of lore, etc., don’t expect it here, it is efficient and leaves us as in the dark as the characters, which is narratively appropriate and helps elevate the tension, sure, but did leave me wanting more. I still had a lot of fun with this story; it really does capture the attention and really not let up once it starts moving. It allows a few chances to catch your breath, everything can slow down a little when the sun is highest in the sky and it feels like darkness will never fall again, but those are just brief respites to allow for a really energetic pace. The ideas and action are both top-notch, and the characters, world, and mythos are interesting (if not quite as in-depth as I might have hoped). This is a book that is on the move and reminds you why you should be afraid of the dark and maybe not trust your elders. It has a viciousness that pairs with a heartfelt emotionality, it is dark and moody, and it is hard to put down once you start.
(Rounded from 3.5)
August 2, 2026
4.25 stars
Relentless, chaotic, brutal, and a good time
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTACHJhFY/
Relentless, chaotic, brutal, and a good time
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTACHJhFY/
June 1, 2026
I really don’t know why this is my first time dipping into Christopher Golden’s work. I’ve been meaning to, I just didn’t know where to start. With the publisher sending a gifted copy, it was just meant to be.
Maggie Wise has finally passed. Her last wishes are to bury her body to her birthplace and her family only has two days to do it. The problem? Evil forces will do anything to stop her burial.
Carry Me To My Grave was a real thrill ride! There’s top notch action (not normally my thing but I loved it) throughout it nonstop. Part vampires, part witches, and a bloodbath loaded with destruction. This is extremely gruesome and it never felt like it was just for shock value.
This would make a killer film, Christopher!! Just saying. I enjoyed the train ride to hell and definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading his backlist.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.
Pub date - 7/21/26
Maggie Wise has finally passed. Her last wishes are to bury her body to her birthplace and her family only has two days to do it. The problem? Evil forces will do anything to stop her burial.
Carry Me To My Grave was a real thrill ride! There’s top notch action (not normally my thing but I loved it) throughout it nonstop. Part vampires, part witches, and a bloodbath loaded with destruction. This is extremely gruesome and it never felt like it was just for shock value.
This would make a killer film, Christopher!! Just saying. I enjoyed the train ride to hell and definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading his backlist.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.
Pub date - 7/21/26
July 21, 2026
TW/CW: Child abuse, toxic family relationships, death of parent, cheating, language, sexism, misogyny, smoking, physical abuse
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 336
Rating: ⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Some parts were so good and creepy
What I Didn't Like:
1. Book feels redundant
2. The endless obsession with the love talk - I don't care
3. Everyone was so one dimensional
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Okay so Malcolm didn't kiss his brother's wife but I feel like touching foreheads and rubbing arms is kind of skirting the line between flirting. Oh and all in front of his dying mother.
Loving all the gore that's going on with the vampires.
I listened to the audiobook when I wasn't reading the physical book and it drove me up the wall that we had a female voice for Violet for her parts but from Malcolm's pov it was the narrator doing a woman voice. Same with Violet's pov having Malcolm not using a real man's voice. They already had the voice actors why not throw them in there too?
It's driving me up the wall that if it was so important that Maggie be buried in her town did she move so far away? I'm on page 200 and have yet to get a reason why she would move.
Checkmark we got our subtle hit of a gay character that will never be brought up again, but at least we know now.
It doesn't make any sense that Alfie would come into the police station and question Malcolm about if Violet has went ahead and took Maggie to her resting place when Benjy already was confronted by her. He didn't mention it when he was talking to Alfie? Since Alfie is under the control of Root he isn't able to send the message ahead that to him? Why did the Root not tell Benjy that Violet was hanging around and to tell Alfie?
Okay so in the next chapter we do find out that Root can talk to them telepathically but for some reason the chapter before Benjy had to go all the way down to talk to root. I don't get it. Root is talking to Alfie right now and telling him what to do.
I wish we understood how these vampires work because now somehow Root knows that they're on the run.
Final Thoughts:
I couldn't get it out of my head that this book is just Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but vampire edition.
The beginning of the book was slow and I was getting bored and annoyed at the constant moments between Malcolm and Violet with their flirting. I was scared this book was going to start out saying it was horror but focus too much on the romance of our main characters. It does have some gory scenes and they were good. Unfortunately I have never read a more boring vampire book than this one. Yes, things happen but there is way more talked about than actually happening.
I didn't understand the point of so many povs. Violet's felt pointless when nothing happens on her end and she's just talking over and over about the boy and Malcolm. Yawn.
I didn't know vampires could be so boring.
I gave it 2 stars because there was a time around page 100 to 200 where we learn about the vampires and the parts with Root were creepy.
I also couldn't shake the feeling that this was a white person rip-off of the movie Sinners. Even the names where so close to Black people. I actually think I would have liked this better if a Black author wrote this with Black characters.
IG | Blog
Thanks St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Maggie Wise will take your eyes.
When Malcolm was growing up, the local kids made up that chant about his mother, claiming she was a witch. He and his siblings did their best to ignore it. Now, Maggie is dying, and those same siblings have left Malcolm and his sister-in-law Violet to hold a vigil at her bedside.But they’re not as alone as they think they are. A dark figure waits and watches from beneath the willow tree across the street. Hundreds of miles away, an ancient evil stirs in its burrow under a farmer’s cornfield. Across the country, other buried things begin to dream in anticipation of Maggie’s demise. On her deathbed, the old woman elicits a promise from Malcolm, her youngest child―when she dies, he and Violet must return her body to her birthplace in Shediak, Maine.
From the moment she takes her last breath, before her remains are even loaded aboard the baggage car of the Imperial Limited, there are forces trying to stop Malcolm from fulfilling that promise. Violence erupts on the train, evil preys on its passengers, and once the sun goes down, those long-buried things are coming to make Maggie Wise pay for her past. God help anyone who stands in their way.
Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 336
Rating: ⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Some parts were so good and creepy
What I Didn't Like:
1. Book feels redundant
2. The endless obsession with the love talk - I don't care
3. Everyone was so one dimensional
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Okay so Malcolm didn't kiss his brother's wife but I feel like touching foreheads and rubbing arms is kind of skirting the line between flirting. Oh and all in front of his dying mother.
Loving all the gore that's going on with the vampires.
I listened to the audiobook when I wasn't reading the physical book and it drove me up the wall that we had a female voice for Violet for her parts but from Malcolm's pov it was the narrator doing a woman voice. Same with Violet's pov having Malcolm not using a real man's voice. They already had the voice actors why not throw them in there too?
It's driving me up the wall that if it was so important that Maggie be buried in her town did she move so far away? I'm on page 200 and have yet to get a reason why she would move.
Checkmark we got our subtle hit of a gay character that will never be brought up again, but at least we know now.
It doesn't make any sense that Alfie would come into the police station and question Malcolm about if Violet has went ahead and took Maggie to her resting place when Benjy already was confronted by her. He didn't mention it when he was talking to Alfie? Since Alfie is under the control of Root he isn't able to send the message ahead that to him? Why did the Root not tell Benjy that Violet was hanging around and to tell Alfie?
Okay so in the next chapter we do find out that Root can talk to them telepathically but for some reason the chapter before Benjy had to go all the way down to talk to root. I don't get it. Root is talking to Alfie right now and telling him what to do.
I wish we understood how these vampires work because now somehow Root knows that they're on the run.
Final Thoughts:
I couldn't get it out of my head that this book is just Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but vampire edition.
The beginning of the book was slow and I was getting bored and annoyed at the constant moments between Malcolm and Violet with their flirting. I was scared this book was going to start out saying it was horror but focus too much on the romance of our main characters. It does have some gory scenes and they were good. Unfortunately I have never read a more boring vampire book than this one. Yes, things happen but there is way more talked about than actually happening.
I didn't understand the point of so many povs. Violet's felt pointless when nothing happens on her end and she's just talking over and over about the boy and Malcolm. Yawn.
I didn't know vampires could be so boring.
I gave it 2 stars because there was a time around page 100 to 200 where we learn about the vampires and the parts with Root were creepy.
I also couldn't shake the feeling that this was a white person rip-off of the movie Sinners. Even the names where so close to Black people. I actually think I would have liked this better if a Black author wrote this with Black characters.
IG | Blog
Thanks St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 24, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the pre-release copy of Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden. Below is my honest review.
I really hate describing a book as "meh." As an aspiring (and imposter syndrome suffering) writer myself, I know how much of your heart and soul and sweat and tears get poured into every page, so it pains me to write that word in regards to someone's hard-earned page count.
But this? Meh. The concept was great, but I really didn't enjoy it executed this way all that much. The characters felt trope-y, and lacked a lot of real depth. Their behavior in every scenario was exactly as you'd expect or predict. The majority of the book felt like "oh we got away!" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" "oh we got away" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" over and over and over.
I very much enjoyed Golden's All Hallows and The House of Last Resort, so was very disappointed to find that, in my opinion, this one didn't live up to the quality of those.
But I didn't hate it. Like I said, the concept was interesting. And the monsters *were* creepy. I just couldn't love it either, because part of it felt... I dunno, phoned in?
Two and a half stars, but I'll round up.
I really hate describing a book as "meh." As an aspiring (and imposter syndrome suffering) writer myself, I know how much of your heart and soul and sweat and tears get poured into every page, so it pains me to write that word in regards to someone's hard-earned page count.
But this? Meh. The concept was great, but I really didn't enjoy it executed this way all that much. The characters felt trope-y, and lacked a lot of real depth. Their behavior in every scenario was exactly as you'd expect or predict. The majority of the book felt like "oh we got away!" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" "oh we got away" "oh no we didn't!" "oh no people died around us!" over and over and over.
I very much enjoyed Golden's All Hallows and The House of Last Resort, so was very disappointed to find that, in my opinion, this one didn't live up to the quality of those.
But I didn't hate it. Like I said, the concept was interesting. And the monsters *were* creepy. I just couldn't love it either, because part of it felt... I dunno, phoned in?
Two and a half stars, but I'll round up.
Want to Read
January 23, 2026OMG this cover is SO GOOD!!
I've loved quite a few stories from this author! Excited for 2026 to read this one!! 😍😍
Pub Date: July 2026!!!
OMG ARC REC'D THANK YOU!!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I've loved quite a few stories from this author! Excited for 2026 to read this one!! 😍😍
Pub Date: July 2026!!!
OMG ARC REC'D THANK YOU!!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 2, 2026
*2.5
When I reflect on my experience with Carry Me to My Grave, the phrase “popcorn horror” comes to mind. It has a fantastic premise, wastes no time getting the story moving, and delivers a couple of creepy moments. Beyond that, though, nearly every other aspect of this novel was cliché and lackluster to me.
My favorite part of the book was the brief POV from the Swickard family on their farm. It was mysterious, unsettling, folkloric—exactly the kind of atmosphere I was hoping the entire novel would embrace—but it also ended just as quickly as it began. I also liked the early body horror scene involving Elias on the train. Those two sections contained the strongest horror and were the only moments that truly worked for me. The other horror elements in the novel were fine, but after a while they became pretty monotonous and didn’t do anything for me.
I do consider myself a plot-driven reader, but that doesn’t mean I disregard character development and prose; the ideal horror novel excels in all three. Carry Me to My Grave does succeed in establishing an intriguing plot, but the overall execution left a lot to be desired.
The characterization and writing is what ultimately killed this read for me. The characters were so trite and archetypal that it was really difficult to care about what happened to any of them. Malcolm’s romantic relationship with Violet (who, by the way, is his sister-in-law!) was equal parts dull and discomforting to read. Their relationship seemed to be a major part of their respective characterizations, but I didn’t care about it, so I didn’t care about them either.
The writing is functional and straightforward—perhaps a little too straightforward—which only reinforced that “popcorn horror” feeling I have. It made me wonder how the execution would’ve differed had another writer tackled this premise—one that taps into more poetic, gothic descriptions alongside the gruesome imagery to craft something more immersive and foreboding.
I was not the right reader for Carry Me to My Grave, but I can see fans of Grady Hendrix and David Sodergren having a better time with it. While it wasn’t the execution I was hoping for, I think there’s still an audience that will appreciate what it’s doing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
When I reflect on my experience with Carry Me to My Grave, the phrase “popcorn horror” comes to mind. It has a fantastic premise, wastes no time getting the story moving, and delivers a couple of creepy moments. Beyond that, though, nearly every other aspect of this novel was cliché and lackluster to me.
My favorite part of the book was the brief POV from the Swickard family on their farm. It was mysterious, unsettling, folkloric—exactly the kind of atmosphere I was hoping the entire novel would embrace—but it also ended just as quickly as it began. I also liked the early body horror scene involving Elias on the train. Those two sections contained the strongest horror and were the only moments that truly worked for me. The other horror elements in the novel were fine, but after a while they became pretty monotonous and didn’t do anything for me.
I do consider myself a plot-driven reader, but that doesn’t mean I disregard character development and prose; the ideal horror novel excels in all three. Carry Me to My Grave does succeed in establishing an intriguing plot, but the overall execution left a lot to be desired.
The characterization and writing is what ultimately killed this read for me. The characters were so trite and archetypal that it was really difficult to care about what happened to any of them. Malcolm’s romantic relationship with Violet (who, by the way, is his sister-in-law!) was equal parts dull and discomforting to read. Their relationship seemed to be a major part of their respective characterizations, but I didn’t care about it, so I didn’t care about them either.
The writing is functional and straightforward—perhaps a little too straightforward—which only reinforced that “popcorn horror” feeling I have. It made me wonder how the execution would’ve differed had another writer tackled this premise—one that taps into more poetic, gothic descriptions alongside the gruesome imagery to craft something more immersive and foreboding.
I was not the right reader for Carry Me to My Grave, but I can see fans of Grady Hendrix and David Sodergren having a better time with it. While it wasn’t the execution I was hoping for, I think there’s still an audience that will appreciate what it’s doing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June issue of Library Journal.
Three Words That Describe This Book: race against time, family secrets, ancient evil
More words: sinister, mommy issues, grief, historical (excellent 1956 setting), violent, multiple povs, keeps the pacing up without having to sacrifice enough detail and increases suspense, well developed characters, thriller feel, chase novel.
Draft Review: It’s 1956 and Malcolm, a Korean War vet, youngest child of narcissistic Maggie, is in a race against time, to get his mother’s recently deceased body from Elkhart, IN to an island in Maine, buried safely in the ground before the sun rises in two days. Why a race? Well it seems that the local lore about Maggie being a witch was not too far off base as there are very real monsters, awakened by her death, who will do whatever it takes to stop Malcolm and his family from reaching Maine in time. From trains to fire trucks to a VW Bus and more, readers are on this terrifying, desperate ride, holding on for dear life, following the point of view as it ping pongs back and forth between characters, good and evil, supernatural and human, allowing all of the characters to develop fully. The motivations of the ancient evil are intriguing, but when balanced with the family members and their own complicated histories, the story blossoms from your average chase novel into a moving portrait of undying love.
Verdict: Intense, violent, nuanced, heartbreaking, and fun to read, Golden gives readers everything they want and need in a thrilling horror story. For fans of Tananrive Due’s The Good House and Nat Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home.
The set up is deceptively easy-- It is the Fall of 1956. As Maggie is dying, a strange man in a raven mask waits outside the house. She tells her youngest son Malcolm (a Korean War vet) that she will die at sunrise. He must call the funeral parlor then get her body to Maine and bury her in 2 days or else. The funeral director has directions and plans have been made for years. Malcolm and his brother's wife Violet start the journey but even getting to the train station-- people are trying to stop them. And it gets worse from there.
Maggie was not the easiest mom to grow up with and this is discussed and probed throughout. The other siblings do join him at some point but not int he ways you expect.
An ancient evil is awakening with Maggie's death. But why? And what happens if Malcolm can't get Maggie in the ground in time.
As much as this is an action forward, race against time horror story, it is dependent on its characters and their complexity. That is very hard to balance well, but Golden does an excellent job here. The action is great, the monsters and the ancient evil behind it, well done-- even as readers wait to know the origin, it is all believable in the world he has setup. But the characters are also well drawn. A lesser author would have slapped them together, but each builds throughout the story both when they have the pod and not. There are details scattered throughout that all come together as well.
It does bounce around a lot, which could be seen as jarring to a reader, but I would argue that it is necessary to convey the essence of the plot. As the characters are trying to go on this quest, Malcolm to fulfill Maggie's dying wish, getting chased by these very evil monsters and all the chaos that clearly Maggie knew this was coming. From horrific scene after scene, from Elkhart IN to an island in Maine. As people help and hinder them along the way....all of it is intense, exciting, violent, heartbreaking, complicated, nuanced, and a lot of horror fun.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy meets The Good House by Tananrive Due
Three Words That Describe This Book: race against time, family secrets, ancient evil
More words: sinister, mommy issues, grief, historical (excellent 1956 setting), violent, multiple povs, keeps the pacing up without having to sacrifice enough detail and increases suspense, well developed characters, thriller feel, chase novel.
Draft Review: It’s 1956 and Malcolm, a Korean War vet, youngest child of narcissistic Maggie, is in a race against time, to get his mother’s recently deceased body from Elkhart, IN to an island in Maine, buried safely in the ground before the sun rises in two days. Why a race? Well it seems that the local lore about Maggie being a witch was not too far off base as there are very real monsters, awakened by her death, who will do whatever it takes to stop Malcolm and his family from reaching Maine in time. From trains to fire trucks to a VW Bus and more, readers are on this terrifying, desperate ride, holding on for dear life, following the point of view as it ping pongs back and forth between characters, good and evil, supernatural and human, allowing all of the characters to develop fully. The motivations of the ancient evil are intriguing, but when balanced with the family members and their own complicated histories, the story blossoms from your average chase novel into a moving portrait of undying love.
Verdict: Intense, violent, nuanced, heartbreaking, and fun to read, Golden gives readers everything they want and need in a thrilling horror story. For fans of Tananrive Due’s The Good House and Nat Cassidy’s When the Wolf Comes Home.
The set up is deceptively easy-- It is the Fall of 1956. As Maggie is dying, a strange man in a raven mask waits outside the house. She tells her youngest son Malcolm (a Korean War vet) that she will die at sunrise. He must call the funeral parlor then get her body to Maine and bury her in 2 days or else. The funeral director has directions and plans have been made for years. Malcolm and his brother's wife Violet start the journey but even getting to the train station-- people are trying to stop them. And it gets worse from there.
Maggie was not the easiest mom to grow up with and this is discussed and probed throughout. The other siblings do join him at some point but not int he ways you expect.
An ancient evil is awakening with Maggie's death. But why? And what happens if Malcolm can't get Maggie in the ground in time.
As much as this is an action forward, race against time horror story, it is dependent on its characters and their complexity. That is very hard to balance well, but Golden does an excellent job here. The action is great, the monsters and the ancient evil behind it, well done-- even as readers wait to know the origin, it is all believable in the world he has setup. But the characters are also well drawn. A lesser author would have slapped them together, but each builds throughout the story both when they have the pod and not. There are details scattered throughout that all come together as well.
It does bounce around a lot, which could be seen as jarring to a reader, but I would argue that it is necessary to convey the essence of the plot. As the characters are trying to go on this quest, Malcolm to fulfill Maggie's dying wish, getting chased by these very evil monsters and all the chaos that clearly Maggie knew this was coming. From horrific scene after scene, from Elkhart IN to an island in Maine. As people help and hinder them along the way....all of it is intense, exciting, violent, heartbreaking, complicated, nuanced, and a lot of horror fun.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy meets The Good House by Tananrive Due
Read
May 6, 2026*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC!*
Though I’ve not read near enough of Golden’s books (I think this is my 6th?), every book I have read has been a lot of fun. When the publisher sent me an email asking if I’d like a digital ARC, I jumped at the chance. I was very intrigued by the synopsis and considering ‘Road of Bones’ had a snow-skull cover and this one has a smoke-skull cover, I figured I’d be in for a fun ride.
What I liked: The story takes place during the mid-century, in the US. Malcolm is a Korean war vet, living back at home with his sister-in-law, Violet and his mother Maggie. Maggie has a reputation and there was a childhood rhyme about her – ‘Maggie Wise will take your eyes.’ Townsfolk believe she’s a witch. Malcolm always scoffed at those words and that thought, but right before she dies, she gives him specific instructions – bring her body back to Maine where she was born and bury her before sunrise within a few days or the world as we know it will cease to exist.
Golden takes us on a rampaging ride once Maggie dies. Strange figures appear and attempt to thwart Malcolm and Violet’s journey. They manage to get on a train with Maggie’s coffin, but still the bad guys arrive. And within all this, Golden introduces us to Root, a nightmarish creature hellbent on retrieving Maggie’s body before she can be buried.
I loved the action within this one. Each scene was vibrant and cinematic, and thankfully Golden doesn’t shy away from carnage and brutality. Nothing is watered down here and nobody is safe. As the book progresses, things get darker and darker and as the truth about Maggie is revealed and more of Malcolm’s family appear, things grow complicated. It’s within those complications that the emotional weight of the book exists and its those emotional weights that lift this book up a notch from similar books.
The ending works really well considering the journey the characters go on. Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of 300 pages to get to the climactic moment, only to have things wrap up in two paragraphs. Golden took his time finishing this one and this reader greatly appreciated it.
What I didn’t like: For me, I found one moment of slowdown that I wasn’t sure worked for me. It took place right after a train crash, where Malcolm and another character end up incarcerated for a brief time. As I was reading it, it kind of sucked some of the momentum out of the story for a short few chapters. That very well might’ve been Golden’s decision, to have a pause there considering the pedal-to-the-metal nature up to those scenes, but for me, it felt jarring.
Why you should buy this: This novel takes a really fun premise – bury a body to save the world – and then escalates the stakes within a few short chapters. Golden’s writing is world class and the pacing throughout was fantastic, practically forcing me to read ‘just one more chapter’ every night. If you’ve never read a Golden book, this would be a really great spot to jump in. If you’re a long time fan of his, you’ll be very happy with the book he’s delivered.
Though I’ve not read near enough of Golden’s books (I think this is my 6th?), every book I have read has been a lot of fun. When the publisher sent me an email asking if I’d like a digital ARC, I jumped at the chance. I was very intrigued by the synopsis and considering ‘Road of Bones’ had a snow-skull cover and this one has a smoke-skull cover, I figured I’d be in for a fun ride.
What I liked: The story takes place during the mid-century, in the US. Malcolm is a Korean war vet, living back at home with his sister-in-law, Violet and his mother Maggie. Maggie has a reputation and there was a childhood rhyme about her – ‘Maggie Wise will take your eyes.’ Townsfolk believe she’s a witch. Malcolm always scoffed at those words and that thought, but right before she dies, she gives him specific instructions – bring her body back to Maine where she was born and bury her before sunrise within a few days or the world as we know it will cease to exist.
Golden takes us on a rampaging ride once Maggie dies. Strange figures appear and attempt to thwart Malcolm and Violet’s journey. They manage to get on a train with Maggie’s coffin, but still the bad guys arrive. And within all this, Golden introduces us to Root, a nightmarish creature hellbent on retrieving Maggie’s body before she can be buried.
I loved the action within this one. Each scene was vibrant and cinematic, and thankfully Golden doesn’t shy away from carnage and brutality. Nothing is watered down here and nobody is safe. As the book progresses, things get darker and darker and as the truth about Maggie is revealed and more of Malcolm’s family appear, things grow complicated. It’s within those complications that the emotional weight of the book exists and its those emotional weights that lift this book up a notch from similar books.
The ending works really well considering the journey the characters go on. Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of 300 pages to get to the climactic moment, only to have things wrap up in two paragraphs. Golden took his time finishing this one and this reader greatly appreciated it.
What I didn’t like: For me, I found one moment of slowdown that I wasn’t sure worked for me. It took place right after a train crash, where Malcolm and another character end up incarcerated for a brief time. As I was reading it, it kind of sucked some of the momentum out of the story for a short few chapters. That very well might’ve been Golden’s decision, to have a pause there considering the pedal-to-the-metal nature up to those scenes, but for me, it felt jarring.
Why you should buy this: This novel takes a really fun premise – bury a body to save the world – and then escalates the stakes within a few short chapters. Golden’s writing is world class and the pacing throughout was fantastic, practically forcing me to read ‘just one more chapter’ every night. If you’ve never read a Golden book, this would be a really great spot to jump in. If you’re a long time fan of his, you’ll be very happy with the book he’s delivered.
July 27, 2026
There's probably very little we wouldn't do for our family. For Malcolm, that means keeping watch beside his dying mother's bed during her final hours. Their relationship is...complicated, to say the least. Ask anyone in town, and they'll tell you she's a witch. Maybe that's why she's lived such an impossibly long life. Tonight, though, it's just Malcolm, his sister-in-law (his brother couldn't be bothered to show up), his dying mother, and the mysterious figure cloaked in darkness standing silently beneath a tree in the front yard.
As death draws near, Malcolm's mother makes one final request: take her body to her final resting place in Maine. There's a time limit, of course, and she warns that failing to get her there in time will have terrifying consequences. Malcolm isn't sure what to believe, but when strange things begin happening almost immediately after her death, he realizes he has little choice. Whatever his mother was, whatever she knew, her final wish may be the only thing standing between him and something far more sinister.
From its opening pages, Carry Me to My Grave immerses readers in a horror mystery shrouded in questions and unease. Who is this woman? Why is her death so consequential? Who is the shadowy figure waiting for her final breath? Christopher Golden poses these questions in a way that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. I found myself racing through the opening chapters, desperate to understand what was happening and why.
To Golden's credit, the answers are well worth the wait. As he's done throughout much of his career, he takes a familiar corner of the horror genre and finds a fresh angle into it. I won't spoil exactly what that angle is because discovering it alongside Malcolm is one of the novel's greatest pleasures. Better still, the horror is grounded by characters grappling with complicated family dynamics, giving the story an emotional weight that keeps it from becoming mere spectacle. While Carry Me to My Grave isn't my favorite of Golden's novels, it's another atmospheric, satisfying horror story from an author who clearly understands what makes the genre tick.
As death draws near, Malcolm's mother makes one final request: take her body to her final resting place in Maine. There's a time limit, of course, and she warns that failing to get her there in time will have terrifying consequences. Malcolm isn't sure what to believe, but when strange things begin happening almost immediately after her death, he realizes he has little choice. Whatever his mother was, whatever she knew, her final wish may be the only thing standing between him and something far more sinister.
From its opening pages, Carry Me to My Grave immerses readers in a horror mystery shrouded in questions and unease. Who is this woman? Why is her death so consequential? Who is the shadowy figure waiting for her final breath? Christopher Golden poses these questions in a way that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. I found myself racing through the opening chapters, desperate to understand what was happening and why.
To Golden's credit, the answers are well worth the wait. As he's done throughout much of his career, he takes a familiar corner of the horror genre and finds a fresh angle into it. I won't spoil exactly what that angle is because discovering it alongside Malcolm is one of the novel's greatest pleasures. Better still, the horror is grounded by characters grappling with complicated family dynamics, giving the story an emotional weight that keeps it from becoming mere spectacle. While Carry Me to My Grave isn't my favorite of Golden's novels, it's another atmospheric, satisfying horror story from an author who clearly understands what makes the genre tick.
July 28, 2026
They say 'Maggie Wise will take your eyes'.
It all starts when Maggie Wise kicks the bucket. She elicited a promise from her son, Malcom, to take her home to Shediak, Maine. They must bury her before the second sunrise, so the race is on. Those she had cursed, forced to burrow deep underground, are rising to make sure that doesn't happen.
The characters are well rounded and they will be tested.
A train wreck, a snowplow, a flying monster, creatures that refuse to die, and more are determined to rip the head off of Maggie and break the curse. It's like running through a swarm of zombies, they will rip and gnaw and tear you apart. The suspense is off the charts. The minute I think they can pause and catch their breath, another monster pops up, putting their lives on the line...again and again.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
It all starts when Maggie Wise kicks the bucket. She elicited a promise from her son, Malcom, to take her home to Shediak, Maine. They must bury her before the second sunrise, so the race is on. Those she had cursed, forced to burrow deep underground, are rising to make sure that doesn't happen.
The characters are well rounded and they will be tested.
A train wreck, a snowplow, a flying monster, creatures that refuse to die, and more are determined to rip the head off of Maggie and break the curse. It's like running through a swarm of zombies, they will rip and gnaw and tear you apart. The suspense is off the charts. The minute I think they can pause and catch their breath, another monster pops up, putting their lives on the line...again and again.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
July 24, 2026
Carry Me To My Grave by Christopher Golden, There’s a guy Malcolm who’s in love with his sister-in-law Violet who’s married to is no good brother and Malcolm and Violet take care of his deathly ill mother Who they promise once she’s dead will bring her body back to Shediac Maine and stop the horrors Malcolm and his siblings have grown up with from nursery rhymes like Maggie wise will eat your eyes but right before her death a dark entity is awoken a nearby farm family is eviscerated only to be alive again and all the hunt for Malcolm and Violet because they’re now on a train heading to Maine with Maggie‘s body in a casket. Before she dies, Megan hires brothers from town to escort her body and Malcolm to the train Violet also goes because she too loved Maggie as a mother before they even get on the train they’re attacked by the guy who stalked their home once on the train multiple things go wrong and it is a fight to the finish to get to Shediac will Malcolm and Violet make it or will the appearance of his brother Ellis spelled doom for both of them and if not Ellis, the monsters who are trying to stop Maggie‘s demise. when I say this was a fight to the finish it was definitely a fight to the absolute end. Christopher Golden is one of those authors that makes you wonder why isn’t he more popular or just as popular as many other authors who write horrible books that are nowhere near as good as the ones this author produces. in any event slow and steady winds a race and although he may not have dozens of books published, but the ones he does have for public consumption are totally worth the read. Every book I’ve read by him has been a five star read and one I didn’t want to end. This book was no different throughout the whole book you feel the creepy Erie factor regardless of what they’re talking about or doing it seems to sit in the background like a gremlin waiting to pounce and when it does you just can’t look away. Where other authors rely on scare tactics and jump shots Mr. Golden slowly weaves a tapestry that wants clearly visual that’s when the viewer starts screaming OMG is that what that is? I love his books I cannot test to higher praise in the fact he is awesome I love to reread his books and gets so excited when a new one comes out this is a truly talented author who definitely deserves any hype gets. #NetGalley, #TheReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
July 23, 2026
Okay, so 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 basically forced me to re-evaluate my entire family tree. Not in a sweet, heartwarming way, but in a "are any of my family members witches and secretly piss off a bunch of ancient creatures and now I'm going to have to fight for my life" kind of way. Yes, this book really digs into how far blood ties can stretch before they violently snap, and honestly some of the people who share your past definitely do not deserve a spot in your future.
Christopher Golden really said, "What if the real monsters aren't just the ancient, blood-sucking nightmares you had as a kid, but also your family's unhinged generational trauma?" And by God he absolutely ran with it. The whole situation surrounding the family matriarch is so insanely messy. The rhyme goes “𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴," but honestly, she takes your peace of mind, too. Just ask her kids, who spent their entire lives wanting nothing more than her love and appreciation and got hit with mommy issues instead. Watching her long-buried secrets slowly unravel while the past and present collided was pure, chaotic entertainment. Plus, the folklore aspect gave the horror this super creepy, ancient vibe, like these nightmares have just been waiting around forever (see what I did there? 😉) to ruin someone’s day.
I originally picked this up because I wanted a horror adjacent adventure, but what I got is that 𝘢𝘯𝘥 so much more. Golden’s writing doesn't just let you sit and read comfortably on your couch or bed. You literally feel like you’re dragging yourself through the blood and snow with these poor characters by going through the motions of running for your life, trying to bury an undead witch in the backseat of a Frazer (before time runs out and the world ends), while trauma-bonding with them on top of everything else. Like, who doesn’t want to read a book with that type of depth?! 10/10, would suffer through all that sh*t again.
Also, this book has a ton of gore/graphic violence, and other themes that might be a lot to digest if you're sensitive to heavy stuff. Tread carefully.
(𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣’𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾.)
Christopher Golden really said, "What if the real monsters aren't just the ancient, blood-sucking nightmares you had as a kid, but also your family's unhinged generational trauma?" And by God he absolutely ran with it. The whole situation surrounding the family matriarch is so insanely messy. The rhyme goes “𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴," but honestly, she takes your peace of mind, too. Just ask her kids, who spent their entire lives wanting nothing more than her love and appreciation and got hit with mommy issues instead. Watching her long-buried secrets slowly unravel while the past and present collided was pure, chaotic entertainment. Plus, the folklore aspect gave the horror this super creepy, ancient vibe, like these nightmares have just been waiting around forever (see what I did there? 😉) to ruin someone’s day.
I originally picked this up because I wanted a horror adjacent adventure, but what I got is that 𝘢𝘯𝘥 so much more. Golden’s writing doesn't just let you sit and read comfortably on your couch or bed. You literally feel like you’re dragging yourself through the blood and snow with these poor characters by going through the motions of running for your life, trying to bury an undead witch in the backseat of a Frazer (before time runs out and the world ends), while trauma-bonding with them on top of everything else. Like, who doesn’t want to read a book with that type of depth?! 10/10, would suffer through all that sh*t again.
Also, this book has a ton of gore/graphic violence, and other themes that might be a lot to digest if you're sensitive to heavy stuff. Tread carefully.
(𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣’𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾.)
March 10, 2026
Christopher Golden is like my Stephen King. He’s a comfort read and I know I’ll always enjoy whatever he writes.
When I need a slow burn with well fleshed out characters, Golden is who I turn to. And this one did not disappoint. The relationships between the characters are beautiful and complex. The setting moves throughout the story and I thought that added a fast paced element that kept the read interesting. This read is frightening, heart breaking, and suspenseful.
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for the eARC.
When I need a slow burn with well fleshed out characters, Golden is who I turn to. And this one did not disappoint. The relationships between the characters are beautiful and complex. The setting moves throughout the story and I thought that added a fast paced element that kept the read interesting. This read is frightening, heart breaking, and suspenseful.
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for the eARC.
July 27, 2026
Abandoned at 25%. It’s just not for me.
March 21, 2026
Thank you to St Martin’s Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Carry Me To My Grave by Christopher Golden is a horror novel about Malcolm, a Korean War veteran with a complex family. Following the death of his mother, Maggie, it becomes abundantly clear that the childhood rumors that she was a witch have more than weight behind them as an eldritch evil arises and attempts to stop her burial hundreds of miles away in Maine. In the course of 48 hours they must transport her body to its final resting place, despite powerful forces trying to stop them.
This book is the kind of action-oriented, high detail novel that really lends itself well to the imagination. It really hit me how well this book would lend itself to an action/horror screenplay. Rather than other horror novels that rely on atmospheric or very psychological elements to generate the scary feeling, this one has elements that are thrilling and exciting without being too “creepy.” Sure there are eldrich vampire beings, but there are also car chases, burly Irish enforcer twins, and train crashes. It very much straddles the genre line, which I appreciate.
I also really did love that the characters had a level of complexity. There was a very layered approach to Maggie who is enigmatic, powerful, kind to some, emotionally distant to others, and fully unique as a character. Her motivations are murky purposefully, and the way she treats her children and daughter in law inform their behavior throughout the story. I also appreciated the character of Jennie very much, I thought she was a great example of a literary character with serious mommy issues.
The pacing could be a little strange, especially with the flip-flopping of the perspectives. It takes a minute to get going, but it really does hit streaks of very intense action. However, sometimes in the transition times between the different stops along the journey it feels slow to move on, or like the villain is doing the same thing, with the same motivation, over and over.
In general I feel like this was a very exciting inclusion to the vampire cannon. I could easily recommend this book to someone who loves thrillers and action stories but wants something a little darker. 4/5, a very gripping story.
Carry Me To My Grave by Christopher Golden is a horror novel about Malcolm, a Korean War veteran with a complex family. Following the death of his mother, Maggie, it becomes abundantly clear that the childhood rumors that she was a witch have more than weight behind them as an eldritch evil arises and attempts to stop her burial hundreds of miles away in Maine. In the course of 48 hours they must transport her body to its final resting place, despite powerful forces trying to stop them.
This book is the kind of action-oriented, high detail novel that really lends itself well to the imagination. It really hit me how well this book would lend itself to an action/horror screenplay. Rather than other horror novels that rely on atmospheric or very psychological elements to generate the scary feeling, this one has elements that are thrilling and exciting without being too “creepy.” Sure there are eldrich vampire beings, but there are also car chases, burly Irish enforcer twins, and train crashes. It very much straddles the genre line, which I appreciate.
I also really did love that the characters had a level of complexity. There was a very layered approach to Maggie who is enigmatic, powerful, kind to some, emotionally distant to others, and fully unique as a character. Her motivations are murky purposefully, and the way she treats her children and daughter in law inform their behavior throughout the story. I also appreciated the character of Jennie very much, I thought she was a great example of a literary character with serious mommy issues.
The pacing could be a little strange, especially with the flip-flopping of the perspectives. It takes a minute to get going, but it really does hit streaks of very intense action. However, sometimes in the transition times between the different stops along the journey it feels slow to move on, or like the villain is doing the same thing, with the same motivation, over and over.
In general I feel like this was a very exciting inclusion to the vampire cannon. I could easily recommend this book to someone who loves thrillers and action stories but wants something a little darker. 4/5, a very gripping story.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to the ARC for review!
I saw this one on Philip Fracassi's Instagram after he read and enjoyed it - so I ran straight to NetGalley to request it for myself! I had never read anything by Christopher Golden, but he's been recommended to me many times over the years.
The mystery and intrigue at the beginning caught me up in its snare immediately. Was Maggie Wise a witch? Who was the Raven waiting outside under the tree? What was this weird parent/son relationship dynamic between Malcolm and Maggie? And of course, the romance lover in me was very interested in Violet and Malcom's relationship.
I ended up DNF-ing this one about halfway through. There was a really weird jump in the chapter's around Benjy and his family (which could absolutely be ironed out before publishing) - the intrigue was just drawn out too long. I got bored and disinterested. Malcolm's siblings' arrivals felt forced, the actual premise started off interesting but the execution fell short.
I'm still going to try some other novels by this author - definitely not a one and done for me!
I saw this one on Philip Fracassi's Instagram after he read and enjoyed it - so I ran straight to NetGalley to request it for myself! I had never read anything by Christopher Golden, but he's been recommended to me many times over the years.
The mystery and intrigue at the beginning caught me up in its snare immediately. Was Maggie Wise a witch? Who was the Raven waiting outside under the tree? What was this weird parent/son relationship dynamic between Malcolm and Maggie? And of course, the romance lover in me was very interested in Violet and Malcom's relationship.
I ended up DNF-ing this one about halfway through. There was a really weird jump in the chapter's around Benjy and his family (which could absolutely be ironed out before publishing) - the intrigue was just drawn out too long. I got bored and disinterested. Malcolm's siblings' arrivals felt forced, the actual premise started off interesting but the execution fell short.
I'm still going to try some other novels by this author - definitely not a one and done for me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC. I find many horror books silly and definitely not scary. This book had me on the edge of my seat. I screamed for them to run. I shut my kindle so many times as I couldn't bear what was gonna happen next. This was a humdinger of a witchcraft and vampire combo. Malcolm and Violet are set to bury Malcolm's mom in Shediak, Maine before sunrise two days after her death. Evil comes out of the woodwork to stop them from completing their task. This is a story of good and evil, but also a story of family and listening to your inner self and what it truly tells you. I look forward to reading more terror and gore from this author.
August 14, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I feel that Golden's work just cannot live up to All Hallows. Every book just seems to be going downhill for me and this was no exception. While I usually like witchy books and more supernatural creatures thrown in, this was so slow paced I just could not keep myself engaged. The characters were not interesting, the dialouge between them drawn out. The setting was definitely eerie, but not enough to keep me fully engaged.
I feel that Golden's work just cannot live up to All Hallows. Every book just seems to be going downhill for me and this was no exception. While I usually like witchy books and more supernatural creatures thrown in, this was so slow paced I just could not keep myself engaged. The characters were not interesting, the dialouge between them drawn out. The setting was definitely eerie, but not enough to keep me fully engaged.
July 22, 2026
4 ⭐️ 3.75 🔪
Christopher Golden delivers another wildly entertaining horror novel. I loved Road of Bones, and I may have loved this one even more! The nonstop action, creepy folklore, and relentless supernatural threats made this impossible to put down. It’s brutal and bloody, but the violence always serves the story instead of feeling like shock for the sake of shock.
If you enjoy road-trip horror, witches, ancient evil, and creature horror with cinematic action, add it to your TBR!
Christopher Golden delivers another wildly entertaining horror novel. I loved Road of Bones, and I may have loved this one even more! The nonstop action, creepy folklore, and relentless supernatural threats made this impossible to put down. It’s brutal and bloody, but the violence always serves the story instead of feeling like shock for the sake of shock.
If you enjoy road-trip horror, witches, ancient evil, and creature horror with cinematic action, add it to your TBR!
July 30, 2026
I don’t usually read supernatural horror, but this is one I’m really glad I picked up! Golden’s creatures are downright terrifying, and his writing is so vivid that I could picture every scene like I was watching a movie. The action kicks off almost immediately and never lets up until the very last page.
The characters are well developed and genuinely easy to root for. Even when their mission seemed impossible, I found myself desperately hoping they’d get Maggie’s body into the grave in time.
I did have a few lingering questions about Maggie and the curse that I wish had been explored a little more. And I’m pretty sure I’ve officially met my yearly quota for reading the word sluiced. 😂 Those are really my only complaints, though.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, creepy, and thoroughly entertaining read that had me glued to the pages.
4.5/5 stars
The characters are well developed and genuinely easy to root for. Even when their mission seemed impossible, I found myself desperately hoping they’d get Maggie’s body into the grave in time.
I did have a few lingering questions about Maggie and the curse that I wish had been explored a little more. And I’m pretty sure I’ve officially met my yearly quota for reading the word sluiced. 😂 Those are really my only complaints, though.
Overall, this was a fast-paced, creepy, and thoroughly entertaining read that had me glued to the pages.
4.5/5 stars
August 8, 2026
This was some damn fine horror! Agonizing suspense, brutal violence, disgusting body horror, nightmare fuel, combined with a fresh plot filled with a witch(es?), vampire-like creatures, a ghost, and a road trip of sorts to bury a corpse. Add some family drama, a touch of romance, and some tender moments revealing a glimmer in a character’s personality or life, and this was just one heck of a story that had me absorbed from beginning to the very (tense) end.
February 16, 2026
Beautifully written, action and terror on each others heels in this race for humanity. A terrifying look into the long reach of family bonds and the cost of keeping our word, Malcolm and sister-in-law Violet go on the run after mom Maggie passes, leaving the most bizarre instructions for her burial. With help from some terrifying hired guns, they begin a journey unlike anything in their lifetime, and holding on is all the help they'll have. Golden returns to the age of Road of Bones with the gore and terror within these pages, and I for one am glad to see his return. 10/10, no notes.
January 28, 2026
Once you make it past the first 10-15% this book grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go. The characters are written in such a way that you don’t know who to hate and who to root for. While this wasn’t my favorite Christopher Golden novel, it was enjoyable overall and a good horror read!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2026
This book got my pulse racing early on and maintained that high level of tension and danger throughout the entire story. It kept me up late into the night because there was no way in hell I was putting it down. I loved how the author melded an escape thriller storyline with creature horror, including vivid and disturbing descriptions of the action. Fans of creepy thrillers definitely need to read this one.
June 29, 2026
This was a sneaky, amazing book! It starts out with a slow simmer - not a slow burn - but a simmer. Something mysterious is going on with Maggie, and after she dies and her son and daughter-in-law begin their journey to accompany her body to be buried at her requested location, that simmering pot begins to boil, and next thing you know it's overflowing into a full fledged mess of carnage, vampires, and evil.
I thought the pace of this book was brilliant; the build up was intense, unveiling what was going on chapter by chapter, and once we had the full picture it was a high-octane horror that I could feel the emotions and intensity on every page. The story was so unique, and to the last moment I didn't know how it was going to end, who was going to live, and who was going to die. I can't recommend this book more to horror + vampire lovers.
This is my first Christopher Golden book, but it won't be my last.
I thought the pace of this book was brilliant; the build up was intense, unveiling what was going on chapter by chapter, and once we had the full picture it was a high-octane horror that I could feel the emotions and intensity on every page. The story was so unique, and to the last moment I didn't know how it was going to end, who was going to live, and who was going to die. I can't recommend this book more to horror + vampire lovers.
This is my first Christopher Golden book, but it won't be my last.
August 7, 2026
4.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: Relentless pacing, thrilling action and heartbreak combine in Christopher Golden's latest, a violent but satisfying horror tale.
This is my first experience reading Christopher Golden, and I’m not sure why I waited so long. Carry Me To My Grave was surprisingly well written, tense and unexpectedly horrific. Golden gives readers a unique, very dark take on the vampire trope but also infuses his story with relatable characters and heart wrenching emotion. In short, it has everything I love in a good story.
Malcolm Wise’s mother Maggie is dying, and he and his sister-in-law Violet wait at her bedside for the inevitable. A strange man in a raven mask is also waiting outside in the shadow of the trees, but who is he? Right before she passes, Maggie tells Malcolm it’s imperative that he take her body to Shediak Maine to be buried—a thousand miles away—and it must happen within two days of her death, or else. Malcolm doesn’t understand these instructions, but he’s determined to grant a dying woman her last wish, and so he agrees to her demands.
What Malcolm doesn’t know (but will soon find out) is that someone else is trying to steal Maggie’s body before it can be buried, and the consequences of that happening would be catastrophic. With the help of two hired body guards, Malcolm and Violet race to get Maggie’s body to Shediak. But dark forces are on their tail, and it isn’t long before their journey turns deadly.
This is basically a road trip story, but it’s anything but “basic.” Golden has a come up with a fairly simple premise that takes some surprising twists and turns, and most of the tension comes from the notion of whether or not Malcolm is going to complete his task before everything goes sideways. There are plenty of people trying to stop him, including an estranged family member, but he also has a lot of help. One of my favorite scenes takes place on a train, and I could not turn the pages fast enough. Expect plenty of violence and bloodshed—and the train scene is only the tip of the iceberg!
The story is told from multiple points of view, and I loved getting inside the various characters’ heads. The relationships are fantastic—complex, messy and very emotional. Maggie may be dead, but her presence in the story is palpable. Malcolm, Jennie and Elias grew up with a mother who was both attentive and neglectful. All three have emotional scars they are still dealing with, although they also have many fond memories from their childhoods. It’s complicated! The siblings’ relationships with each other are full of jealousy, resentment and disappointment, so it was interesting to watch them interact. Elias is a horrible husband to Violet—he cheats on her and leaves her alone for long stretches at a time. Because of this, Violet and Malcolm have grown very close, and their relationship comes to a head during the story. Jennie has distanced herself from Elias and Malcolm for various reasons, but she makes a surprise appearance just when Malcolm needs her the most.
I also want to mention that the story takes place in the 1950s, an era where illicit affairs and divorce aren’t readily accepted by society. Although Violet is extremely unhappy in her marriage to Elias, she and Malcolm are bound by social restraints and are reluctant to do anything about their feelings for one another. Also, Malcolm is a Korean War vet with PTSD, and his recent experiences in the war color everything he’s going through. The author didn’t need to add these details to his story, but I’m glad he did because it made an already good story even better.
The horror is top notch, and the supernatural creatures who terrorize Malcolm, Violet and Jennie (and everyone they come into contact with) are terrifying and deadly. I loved the idea of an ancient entity who can take control of someone’s mind and turn them into a killing machine, and Golden plays with this idea in some heartwrenching ways. You will become attached to the characters, and your heart will be broken more than once, fair warning. One particular scene at the end was a crushing blow, and I haven’t yet recovered.
There are so many other side characters and story elements I haven’t even talked about, but I’ll leave you to experience them for yourselves. Carry Me To My Grave would make an incredible movie, so readers who love cinematic-level reading experiences should not miss it. I can’t wait to dive into more of Christopher Golden’s work!
Big thanks to Kaye Publicity and the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: Relentless pacing, thrilling action and heartbreak combine in Christopher Golden's latest, a violent but satisfying horror tale.
This is my first experience reading Christopher Golden, and I’m not sure why I waited so long. Carry Me To My Grave was surprisingly well written, tense and unexpectedly horrific. Golden gives readers a unique, very dark take on the vampire trope but also infuses his story with relatable characters and heart wrenching emotion. In short, it has everything I love in a good story.
Malcolm Wise’s mother Maggie is dying, and he and his sister-in-law Violet wait at her bedside for the inevitable. A strange man in a raven mask is also waiting outside in the shadow of the trees, but who is he? Right before she passes, Maggie tells Malcolm it’s imperative that he take her body to Shediak Maine to be buried—a thousand miles away—and it must happen within two days of her death, or else. Malcolm doesn’t understand these instructions, but he’s determined to grant a dying woman her last wish, and so he agrees to her demands.
What Malcolm doesn’t know (but will soon find out) is that someone else is trying to steal Maggie’s body before it can be buried, and the consequences of that happening would be catastrophic. With the help of two hired body guards, Malcolm and Violet race to get Maggie’s body to Shediak. But dark forces are on their tail, and it isn’t long before their journey turns deadly.
This is basically a road trip story, but it’s anything but “basic.” Golden has a come up with a fairly simple premise that takes some surprising twists and turns, and most of the tension comes from the notion of whether or not Malcolm is going to complete his task before everything goes sideways. There are plenty of people trying to stop him, including an estranged family member, but he also has a lot of help. One of my favorite scenes takes place on a train, and I could not turn the pages fast enough. Expect plenty of violence and bloodshed—and the train scene is only the tip of the iceberg!
The story is told from multiple points of view, and I loved getting inside the various characters’ heads. The relationships are fantastic—complex, messy and very emotional. Maggie may be dead, but her presence in the story is palpable. Malcolm, Jennie and Elias grew up with a mother who was both attentive and neglectful. All three have emotional scars they are still dealing with, although they also have many fond memories from their childhoods. It’s complicated! The siblings’ relationships with each other are full of jealousy, resentment and disappointment, so it was interesting to watch them interact. Elias is a horrible husband to Violet—he cheats on her and leaves her alone for long stretches at a time. Because of this, Violet and Malcolm have grown very close, and their relationship comes to a head during the story. Jennie has distanced herself from Elias and Malcolm for various reasons, but she makes a surprise appearance just when Malcolm needs her the most.
I also want to mention that the story takes place in the 1950s, an era where illicit affairs and divorce aren’t readily accepted by society. Although Violet is extremely unhappy in her marriage to Elias, she and Malcolm are bound by social restraints and are reluctant to do anything about their feelings for one another. Also, Malcolm is a Korean War vet with PTSD, and his recent experiences in the war color everything he’s going through. The author didn’t need to add these details to his story, but I’m glad he did because it made an already good story even better.
The horror is top notch, and the supernatural creatures who terrorize Malcolm, Violet and Jennie (and everyone they come into contact with) are terrifying and deadly. I loved the idea of an ancient entity who can take control of someone’s mind and turn them into a killing machine, and Golden plays with this idea in some heartwrenching ways. You will become attached to the characters, and your heart will be broken more than once, fair warning. One particular scene at the end was a crushing blow, and I haven’t yet recovered.
There are so many other side characters and story elements I haven’t even talked about, but I’ll leave you to experience them for yourselves. Carry Me To My Grave would make an incredible movie, so readers who love cinematic-level reading experiences should not miss it. I can’t wait to dive into more of Christopher Golden’s work!
Big thanks to Kaye Publicity and the publisher for providing a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC
I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to give Christopher Golden's "Carry Me to My Grave" an early read in return for an honest review.
Christopher Golden, time and time again, has proven himself to be a solid author. I've read a handful of his novels and can confidently say, out of his last four releases, he has yet to have a bad novel. This thankfully carries on into "Carry Me to My Grave", which is a high-stakes, horrifying read that I had an absolute blast getting to read.
The cast of characters that we get to spend the novel with are charming, each flawed, but feel like they're people you would meet in any town. They're people that you want to root for, which makes the stakes of the novel feel much higher than if they weren't as likable. Golden does a great job at balancing perspectives throughout, allowing us to get to experience the events through multiple POVs, but it doesn't feel chaotic, which it easily could have fallen into.
The pace for the novel is breakneck - once you make it out of the initial few chapters, it picks up and never loses steam. It's an exciting read, with plenty of horrific imagery and unique, cool villains. I was not anticipating to be so engrossed in the story, since I thought this was going to be an entirely different novel from the initial description. I was so glad to be proven wrong, since it made this a much more fun read.
Golden has become an auto-buy author for me, since I've genuinely had such a good time with every novel I've read so far, and this is really one of the better ones that I've read from him. I was hoping this would be a sequel to "The Night Birds", but I'm glad that we got another original story that was as fun and entertainin as this was.
Be sure to give "Carry Me to My Grave" a read when it is published on July 21, 2026!
I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to give Christopher Golden's "Carry Me to My Grave" an early read in return for an honest review.
Christopher Golden, time and time again, has proven himself to be a solid author. I've read a handful of his novels and can confidently say, out of his last four releases, he has yet to have a bad novel. This thankfully carries on into "Carry Me to My Grave", which is a high-stakes, horrifying read that I had an absolute blast getting to read.
The cast of characters that we get to spend the novel with are charming, each flawed, but feel like they're people you would meet in any town. They're people that you want to root for, which makes the stakes of the novel feel much higher than if they weren't as likable. Golden does a great job at balancing perspectives throughout, allowing us to get to experience the events through multiple POVs, but it doesn't feel chaotic, which it easily could have fallen into.
The pace for the novel is breakneck - once you make it out of the initial few chapters, it picks up and never loses steam. It's an exciting read, with plenty of horrific imagery and unique, cool villains. I was not anticipating to be so engrossed in the story, since I thought this was going to be an entirely different novel from the initial description. I was so glad to be proven wrong, since it made this a much more fun read.
Golden has become an auto-buy author for me, since I've genuinely had such a good time with every novel I've read so far, and this is really one of the better ones that I've read from him. I was hoping this would be a sequel to "The Night Birds", but I'm glad that we got another original story that was as fun and entertainin as this was.
Be sure to give "Carry Me to My Grave" a read when it is published on July 21, 2026!
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