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Graveyard Queen #5
The Sinner
I am a living ghost, a wanderer in search of my purpose and place…
I'm a cemetery restorer by trade, but my calling has evolved from that of ghost seer to death walker to detective of lost souls. I solve the riddles of the dead so the dead will leave me alone.
I've come to Seven Gates Cemetery nursing a broken heart, but peace is hard to come by…for the ghosts here and for me. When the body of a young woman is discovered in a caged grave, I know that I've been summoned for a reason. Only I can unmask her killer. I want to trust the detective assigned to the case for he is a ghost seer like me. But how can I put my faith in anyone when supernatural forces are manipulating my every thought? When reality is ever-changing? And when the one person I thought I could trust above all others has turned into a diabolical stranger?
I'm a cemetery restorer by trade, but my calling has evolved from that of ghost seer to death walker to detective of lost souls. I solve the riddles of the dead so the dead will leave me alone.
I've come to Seven Gates Cemetery nursing a broken heart, but peace is hard to come by…for the ghosts here and for me. When the body of a young woman is discovered in a caged grave, I know that I've been summoned for a reason. Only I can unmask her killer. I want to trust the detective assigned to the case for he is a ghost seer like me. But how can I put my faith in anyone when supernatural forces are manipulating my every thought? When reality is ever-changing? And when the one person I thought I could trust above all others has turned into a diabolical stranger?
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2016
231 people are currently reading
2827 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Stevens
261 books2,229 followersAmanda Stevens is the award-winning author of over fifty novels, including the modern gothic series, The Graveyard Queen. Her books have been described as eerie and atmospheric, “a new take on the classic ghost story.” Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas, where she enjoys binge-watching, bike riding and the occasional Horror Night with friends.
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
March 8, 2017
It's been almost a year since John Devlin walked away from Amelia Gray to see to his ailing grandfather and then cutoff all communication. Amelia is nursing a broken heart and has accepted a restoration assignment in Ascension, South Carolina to get her out of Charleston for a few months. One day while working in the Seven Gates Cemetery, she is "called" into the adjacent forest and discovers a circled of twelve mortsafes and sees a pair of hands gripping the grates. It's the body of a young woman and it's recent. Detective Lucien Kendrick is assigned to the case and he and Amelia have an immediate connection...one she's not sure is kindred, lust or something else.
I'd never heard of a mortsafe before and while Amelia describes it very well, I needed a visual image. It's not something you see very often so I'm including it for others who may be like me. It's as awful as I imagined, especially if you're buried alive in one.
Mortsafes
If that's not creepy enough, there are even more haunting and sinister things going on at the site and the house Amelia's renting. This may be the creepiest of all the stories to date, maybe because Amelia was on her own and unsure of who she could trust. There are a fair amount of characters to be suspicious of and secretive societies to be wary of. Stevens outdoes herself this time with her ethereal descriptions and wonderful prose. In the same sentence, she can craft beauty and horror in a way that makes you visualize and feel the scenes. It's just masterful.
I switched to the audio format for this series after the first book and could never, ever again just read these stories. Khristine Hvam is this series and is a perfect compliment to Stevens' extraordinary writing. Her narration is seductive and sinister, heightening the tension, suspense and fear. I just love her performance.
The ending both surprised me and didn't, if that makes any sense. There were things I expected to happen that did and things that made me gasp. I can hardly wait for the next and final story and have mixed feelings about it reaching an end. These stories have been wonderful and the series is one of my most favorite.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
I'd never heard of a mortsafe before and while Amelia describes it very well, I needed a visual image. It's not something you see very often so I'm including it for others who may be like me. It's as awful as I imagined, especially if you're buried alive in one.
Mortsafes
If that's not creepy enough, there are even more haunting and sinister things going on at the site and the house Amelia's renting. This may be the creepiest of all the stories to date, maybe because Amelia was on her own and unsure of who she could trust. There are a fair amount of characters to be suspicious of and secretive societies to be wary of. Stevens outdoes herself this time with her ethereal descriptions and wonderful prose. In the same sentence, she can craft beauty and horror in a way that makes you visualize and feel the scenes. It's just masterful.
I switched to the audio format for this series after the first book and could never, ever again just read these stories. Khristine Hvam is this series and is a perfect compliment to Stevens' extraordinary writing. Her narration is seductive and sinister, heightening the tension, suspense and fear. I just love her performance.
The ending both surprised me and didn't, if that makes any sense. There were things I expected to happen that did and things that made me gasp. I can hardly wait for the next and final story and have mixed feelings about it reaching an end. These stories have been wonderful and the series is one of my most favorite.
(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
November 18, 2016
I just love this series. If you love ghost stories and love Gothic books you will love this series. You can feel the Gothic atmosphere brewing.
Memento Mori, Remember to Die.
Graveyard restoration has never been so dark and creepy. Bring your flashlight, security blanket and a big dog. Trust no one, believe nothing and expect the worst, you are entering the Amelia Grey Zone.
Secret societies, both evil and dangerous surround her. Murderers and so much more, slowly circle around Amelia. They could be anywhere, be anyone, and they are always watching for someone like her, powerful. She has little control, even of her own mind. Reality is questionable. Her heart is broken and going to be crushed.
Working in a new graveyard she takes a walk into the woods when called by something where she finds a caged grave. Mortsafes, cages where Amelia sees an arm hanging out of the grave.
This starts her on a journey through the dark history of the area one that will change her life forever.
There are a few new players in the graveyard one is the handsome and mysterious Detective Lucian Kendrick, the local law, he’s intense, handsome, and gives Amelia tingles of desire. He is more, than just a regular man, he can see and feel things. Amelia feels a connection, hopes for something she has never had, but is still in love with her past and fears everyone.
The infamous Darius Goodwine, is back and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Yeah, I had to use that line. He seeps into her mind alters her reality, to the point she’s not sure what is really happening and what is his doing? So is Devlin really a jerk ? I can not wait fot Miss Steven's next book. I am ready for it. The book ending was fantastic, ending with a right hook POW BAM POW. I loved it, loved the book. It was just right for me.
Memento Mori, Remember to Die.
Graveyard restoration has never been so dark and creepy. Bring your flashlight, security blanket and a big dog. Trust no one, believe nothing and expect the worst, you are entering the Amelia Grey Zone.
Secret societies, both evil and dangerous surround her. Murderers and so much more, slowly circle around Amelia. They could be anywhere, be anyone, and they are always watching for someone like her, powerful. She has little control, even of her own mind. Reality is questionable. Her heart is broken and going to be crushed.
Working in a new graveyard she takes a walk into the woods when called by something where she finds a caged grave. Mortsafes, cages where Amelia sees an arm hanging out of the grave.
This starts her on a journey through the dark history of the area one that will change her life forever.
There are a few new players in the graveyard one is the handsome and mysterious Detective Lucian Kendrick, the local law, he’s intense, handsome, and gives Amelia tingles of desire. He is more, than just a regular man, he can see and feel things. Amelia feels a connection, hopes for something she has never had, but is still in love with her past and fears everyone.
The infamous Darius Goodwine, is back and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Yeah, I had to use that line. He seeps into her mind alters her reality, to the point she’s not sure what is really happening and what is his doing? So is Devlin really a jerk ? I can not wait fot Miss Steven's next book. I am ready for it. The book ending was fantastic, ending with a right hook POW BAM POW. I loved it, loved the book. It was just right for me.
September 4, 2016
Memento Mori, remember to die.
Graveyard restoration has never been so dark and creepy. Bring your flashlight, security blanket and a big dog. Trust no one, believe nothing and expect the worst, you are entering the Amelia Grey Zone.
Secret societies, both evil and dangerous surround her. Scarifies, murders and so much more, slowly circle around Amelia. They could be anywhere, be anyone, and they are always watching for someone like her, powerful. She has little control, even of her own mind. Reality is questionable, her emotions may not her own. Her heart is broken and going to be crushed
Working in a new graveyard she takes a walk into the wood when called by something where she finds an moron caged grave. Mortsafes, cages out keep out or to keep in ? It’s a horrific though other way, but one that Amelia must ponder.
This fid starts her on a journey through the dark history of the area one that will change her life forever.
There are a few new players in the graveyard one is the handsome and mysterious
Detective Lucian Kendrick, the local law, he’s intense, handsome, and gives Amelia tingles of desire. He is more, than just a regular man, he can see and feel things. Amalia feels a connection, hopes for something she has never had, but is still in love with her past and fears everyone. I admit I was team Kendrick. Devlin ,well you know what he did if you’ve read the series.
The infamous Darius Goodwine, is back and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Yeh, I had to use that line. He seeps into her mind alters her reality, to the point she’s not sure what is really happening an what is his doing
I had one serious question, where did the kitten end up ? Oh I have a lot more questions then that but it was a kitten ! So is Devlin really a jerk ? Will the promise to help fid the keep be kept ? Will these societies be outed ? I hope Ms. Stevens is at home writing the next book right now. I am ready for it. The book ending was fantastic, ending with a right hook POW BAM POW. I loved it, loved the book. It was just right for this reader. Add this to your halloween reading list !
Graveyard restoration has never been so dark and creepy. Bring your flashlight, security blanket and a big dog. Trust no one, believe nothing and expect the worst, you are entering the Amelia Grey Zone.
Secret societies, both evil and dangerous surround her. Scarifies, murders and so much more, slowly circle around Amelia. They could be anywhere, be anyone, and they are always watching for someone like her, powerful. She has little control, even of her own mind. Reality is questionable, her emotions may not her own. Her heart is broken and going to be crushed
Working in a new graveyard she takes a walk into the wood when called by something where she finds an moron caged grave. Mortsafes, cages out keep out or to keep in ? It’s a horrific though other way, but one that Amelia must ponder.
This fid starts her on a journey through the dark history of the area one that will change her life forever.
There are a few new players in the graveyard one is the handsome and mysterious
Detective Lucian Kendrick, the local law, he’s intense, handsome, and gives Amelia tingles of desire. He is more, than just a regular man, he can see and feel things. Amalia feels a connection, hopes for something she has never had, but is still in love with her past and fears everyone. I admit I was team Kendrick. Devlin ,well you know what he did if you’ve read the series.
The infamous Darius Goodwine, is back and he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Yeh, I had to use that line. He seeps into her mind alters her reality, to the point she’s not sure what is really happening an what is his doing
I had one serious question, where did the kitten end up ? Oh I have a lot more questions then that but it was a kitten ! So is Devlin really a jerk ? Will the promise to help fid the keep be kept ? Will these societies be outed ? I hope Ms. Stevens is at home writing the next book right now. I am ready for it. The book ending was fantastic, ending with a right hook POW BAM POW. I loved it, loved the book. It was just right for this reader. Add this to your halloween reading list !
February 24, 2025
I gave up on this series a while back when I had had enough of John Devlin's behaviour and decided to give him and Amelia a long rest. I returned to find that book five has very little Devlin in it all and what there was seemed more positive.
I am not sure what the author has planned for the next book but I really enjoyed this one. It was creepy and gruesome and Amelia had her work cut out just to survive. Angus was a hero and I was on the edge of my seat most of the time worrying that he might get hurt.
After that ending I know I must read the last book sooner rather than later. I am hoping for something amazing!
I am not sure what the author has planned for the next book but I really enjoyed this one. It was creepy and gruesome and Amelia had her work cut out just to survive. Angus was a hero and I was on the edge of my seat most of the time worrying that he might get hurt.
After that ending I know I must read the last book sooner rather than later. I am hoping for something amazing!
September 13, 2016
Stevens never ceases to amaze me with the intricate and down right creepy tales that she can weave. The Sinner is no exception to the rule, in fact, I think with her latest installment in the Graveyard Queen series, she has out done herself.
Reading this in the middle of the night was my first mistake. I should have known better than to start this when the house was quite and everyone else was asleep and snug in their beds. Reading by the low light of making me read by the light of my Paperwhite with darkness and shadows surrounding me might have been my second mistake. I can't remember a time I freaked myself out as much as I did while reading this. Because truly, why wouldn't it be a bad idea to read about a story full of horrors, a story filled with all things that go bump in the night like ghosts, and deadly creepy cults, and killers, and sacrifices, in the dark when every little sound of the house settling seems like a monster is lurking around the corner, really, where could I go wrong with a setting like that one right?
Needless to say, I had to stay up all night until it was finished. There was no way I was going to get any rest until I knew how it ended, how the darkness, the shadows, the evil, were defeated.
And while this did have an ending of sorts, we learn it is also a beginning. One that is sure to be challenging and painful and not without it's sacrifices.
We get so much more about Amelia, about her powers and abilities and of course those dark forces that are out there that she has to stop, that she has to put an end to. It is creepy as all get out but yet we can't help but turn the pages to learn more, to see all the badness as well as what goodness there is.
It's enthralling and hypnotizing and so very addicting. I couldn't get enough of it and was so sad when I got to the last page because I wasn't ready for it to be over yet. I needed more.
The ending was one heck of a doozy and it left me breathless and longing for the next book, it also reminded me all over again why this series is so fabulous, why it is a favorite and will continue to be one.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Reading this in the middle of the night was my first mistake. I should have known better than to start this when the house was quite and everyone else was asleep and snug in their beds. Reading by the low light of making me read by the light of my Paperwhite with darkness and shadows surrounding me might have been my second mistake. I can't remember a time I freaked myself out as much as I did while reading this. Because truly, why wouldn't it be a bad idea to read about a story full of horrors, a story filled with all things that go bump in the night like ghosts, and deadly creepy cults, and killers, and sacrifices, in the dark when every little sound of the house settling seems like a monster is lurking around the corner, really, where could I go wrong with a setting like that one right?
Needless to say, I had to stay up all night until it was finished. There was no way I was going to get any rest until I knew how it ended, how the darkness, the shadows, the evil, were defeated.
And while this did have an ending of sorts, we learn it is also a beginning. One that is sure to be challenging and painful and not without it's sacrifices.
We get so much more about Amelia, about her powers and abilities and of course those dark forces that are out there that she has to stop, that she has to put an end to. It is creepy as all get out but yet we can't help but turn the pages to learn more, to see all the badness as well as what goodness there is.
It's enthralling and hypnotizing and so very addicting. I couldn't get enough of it and was so sad when I got to the last page because I wasn't ready for it to be over yet. I needed more.
The ending was one heck of a doozy and it left me breathless and longing for the next book, it also reminded me all over again why this series is so fabulous, why it is a favorite and will continue to be one.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
November 5, 2016
Really good! THE SINNER was creeptastic from the very beginning. This one takes place about a year after the previous book. Amelia has taken a job restoring Seven Gates Cemetery in Ascension, South Carolina. While taking a stroll through the surrounding woods, Amelia makes a shocking, gruesome discovery. Gave me chills. The mystery surrounding her discovery puts her paranormal abilities to the test. Suspenseful, very spooky, and ends with an intriguing tease of what's to come. 4.5 stars!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2019
The Sinner
Graveyard Queen Series, Book 5
By: Amanda Stevens
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Wow, this book has been the creepiest book yet! It gets a bit dark, twisted, and nail-biting! Tons of suspense! Amelia is doing an assignment and finds where people were murdered and buried alive! This is the cheery part of the story! From there it is gets so crazy but good and intense! This is the most intense one yet. I don't want to say to much and give anything away! Just listen to it!
The narration is excellent! She makes it even more intense with her performance!
Graveyard Queen Series, Book 5
By: Amanda Stevens
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Wow, this book has been the creepiest book yet! It gets a bit dark, twisted, and nail-biting! Tons of suspense! Amelia is doing an assignment and finds where people were murdered and buried alive! This is the cheery part of the story! From there it is gets so crazy but good and intense! This is the most intense one yet. I don't want to say to much and give anything away! Just listen to it!
The narration is excellent! She makes it even more intense with her performance!
October 1, 2016
Originally posted at Smexybooks-http://smexybooks.com/2016/09/review-...
Favorite Quote: “Tread carefully…trust no one.”
Amanda Stevens’s Graveyard Queen series is a dark paranormal mystery suspense series that is drenched in southern style gothic horror. Even five stories in, Stevens’s powerful voice continues to wrap her readers in a chilling embrace as she gently guilds them through her world of spirits, superstition, and death with lush descriptions and delightful prose. Strong characterization, steady pacing, and intriguing narrative adds to the appeal of this addictive protagonist and the path she is reluctantly being drawn down.
My name is Amelia Gray. I’m the Graveyard Queen.
Fans will remember in the previous book that Amelia was being haunted by a spirit of young woman who leads her to uncover some shocking revelations about her family. She and her paranormal skeptic boyfriend, Detective Devlin, become embroiled in a supernatural battle, forcing her to bargain with a devil to bring Devlin back from the dead. These events led to Devlin leaving the police force and Amelia.
Amelia has now decided to take a restoration job out-of-town in order to get away from Charleston and all reminders of Devlin. While working in the Seven Gates Cemetery, she stumbles upon a circle of mortsafes-caged graves-one of which shows the hands of a young woman who looks to have been buried alive. Amelia contacts the local police and discovers one of the detectives is a ghost seeker like herself. As Amelia is dragged deeper into the mystery surrounding the graves and the town itself, an old enemy comes to Amelia demanding her services and offering a warning. There are forces at work who will do anything to make sure their secrets stay buried…even if it means burying Amelia with them.
The Sinner is the fifth installment and the second to the last book in this series though Stevens has informed readers she may be writing a spin-off. You can read more about it here. The Sinner takes place one year after the events in The Visitor. More potent, dark, and mysterious than previous installments, Stevens’s is starting to pull all the loose pieces together in order to show us exactly what Amelia is and where her destiny lies. Her gifts have been changing since she threw off the shackles of the rules her father impressed upon her as a child.
The days of pretending that ghosts didn’t exist were long behind me as were the rules that once protected me. I had entered a new phase of my life, accepting if not embracing who I was and what I was meant to be.
She has broken every one of those rules many times over and has evolved from a ghost seer to a death walker to a detective for the dead. But her evolution has not gone unnoticed. There are groups out there, long steeped in tradition and legend, that Amelia threatens with her existence. As Amelia digs deeper into the roots of these groups, looking for their connection the graves and horrific secrets that surround this small town, she is reminded that no one is what they seem and the only person she can trust is herself.
Amelia’s world is a frightening one and Stevens uses that to heighten readers senses of the unknown; using our own fears against us. Emotions run high as Amelia continues to be a somewhat unreliable narrator at times, something she is more than aware of. The past and present continuously bleed together, leaving Amelia unsure if what she sees and experiences are real or a form of spiritual manipulation. Being charged with defeating a centuries old evil entity leaves her fearing for her own sanity.
“You’ve been through an ordeal,” he said. “Sometimes I wonder how you manage to keep your sanity.”
I smiled. “You’re assuming that I have.”
The edgy often frustrating romance is nothing more than a painful memory at this moment though that memory commands a very strong presence in this installment. Everything Amelia has done, every risk she has taken, every heartbreak she has suffered has been due to John Devlin and her love for him. As information comes to light, Amelia finally reaches the point where she must make a choice rather than allow Devlin to keep making them for her. Their relationship remains an emotional roller coaster of secrets, deceptions, and omissions as they both struggle with the ties that bind them to their respective family legacies and place them on opposite sides of what’s coming.
“… you’re still trying to run away from who you are and what you are meant to be.”
Stevens keeps the secondary characters on a short leash. Any new faces introduced are firmly entrenched in the current mystery and do not show any signs of spilling over into the main arc. Their characterization is as intensely secretive as our protagonist; adding the suspense, tension, and horror of the story. Multiple subplots allow for more even deception as Stevens firmly wraps up mystery while keeping readers delicately balancing on the edge, unsure how this will all play out.
This series has only continues to improve and The Sinner more than exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait for The Awakening-set to release March 2017. I commend Stevens for continuously staying true to the protagonist and the elements in play. Fans of haunting southern gothic horror that speaks of those who exist in a world between the living and dead will enjoy Amanda Stevens’ series-The Graveyard Queen.
Grade: A
Favorite Quote: “Tread carefully…trust no one.”
Amanda Stevens’s Graveyard Queen series is a dark paranormal mystery suspense series that is drenched in southern style gothic horror. Even five stories in, Stevens’s powerful voice continues to wrap her readers in a chilling embrace as she gently guilds them through her world of spirits, superstition, and death with lush descriptions and delightful prose. Strong characterization, steady pacing, and intriguing narrative adds to the appeal of this addictive protagonist and the path she is reluctantly being drawn down.
My name is Amelia Gray. I’m the Graveyard Queen.
Fans will remember in the previous book that Amelia was being haunted by a spirit of young woman who leads her to uncover some shocking revelations about her family. She and her paranormal skeptic boyfriend, Detective Devlin, become embroiled in a supernatural battle, forcing her to bargain with a devil to bring Devlin back from the dead. These events led to Devlin leaving the police force and Amelia.
Amelia has now decided to take a restoration job out-of-town in order to get away from Charleston and all reminders of Devlin. While working in the Seven Gates Cemetery, she stumbles upon a circle of mortsafes-caged graves-one of which shows the hands of a young woman who looks to have been buried alive. Amelia contacts the local police and discovers one of the detectives is a ghost seeker like herself. As Amelia is dragged deeper into the mystery surrounding the graves and the town itself, an old enemy comes to Amelia demanding her services and offering a warning. There are forces at work who will do anything to make sure their secrets stay buried…even if it means burying Amelia with them.
The Sinner is the fifth installment and the second to the last book in this series though Stevens has informed readers she may be writing a spin-off. You can read more about it here. The Sinner takes place one year after the events in The Visitor. More potent, dark, and mysterious than previous installments, Stevens’s is starting to pull all the loose pieces together in order to show us exactly what Amelia is and where her destiny lies. Her gifts have been changing since she threw off the shackles of the rules her father impressed upon her as a child.
The days of pretending that ghosts didn’t exist were long behind me as were the rules that once protected me. I had entered a new phase of my life, accepting if not embracing who I was and what I was meant to be.
She has broken every one of those rules many times over and has evolved from a ghost seer to a death walker to a detective for the dead. But her evolution has not gone unnoticed. There are groups out there, long steeped in tradition and legend, that Amelia threatens with her existence. As Amelia digs deeper into the roots of these groups, looking for their connection the graves and horrific secrets that surround this small town, she is reminded that no one is what they seem and the only person she can trust is herself.
Amelia’s world is a frightening one and Stevens uses that to heighten readers senses of the unknown; using our own fears against us. Emotions run high as Amelia continues to be a somewhat unreliable narrator at times, something she is more than aware of. The past and present continuously bleed together, leaving Amelia unsure if what she sees and experiences are real or a form of spiritual manipulation. Being charged with defeating a centuries old evil entity leaves her fearing for her own sanity.
“You’ve been through an ordeal,” he said. “Sometimes I wonder how you manage to keep your sanity.”
I smiled. “You’re assuming that I have.”
The edgy often frustrating romance is nothing more than a painful memory at this moment though that memory commands a very strong presence in this installment. Everything Amelia has done, every risk she has taken, every heartbreak she has suffered has been due to John Devlin and her love for him. As information comes to light, Amelia finally reaches the point where she must make a choice rather than allow Devlin to keep making them for her. Their relationship remains an emotional roller coaster of secrets, deceptions, and omissions as they both struggle with the ties that bind them to their respective family legacies and place them on opposite sides of what’s coming.
“… you’re still trying to run away from who you are and what you are meant to be.”
Stevens keeps the secondary characters on a short leash. Any new faces introduced are firmly entrenched in the current mystery and do not show any signs of spilling over into the main arc. Their characterization is as intensely secretive as our protagonist; adding the suspense, tension, and horror of the story. Multiple subplots allow for more even deception as Stevens firmly wraps up mystery while keeping readers delicately balancing on the edge, unsure how this will all play out.
This series has only continues to improve and The Sinner more than exceeded my expectations. I can’t wait for The Awakening-set to release March 2017. I commend Stevens for continuously staying true to the protagonist and the elements in play. Fans of haunting southern gothic horror that speaks of those who exist in a world between the living and dead will enjoy Amanda Stevens’ series-The Graveyard Queen.
Grade: A
September 13, 2016
*Many thanks to Mira Publishing for an arc of this book for review via Netgally.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews.
The Graveyard Queen series is one of the eeriest, spookiest, most ominous series I've ever read. It's also one of the best in this genre. Since finishing The Visitor, I've been on pins & needles, waiting, watching for the next book to become available. Can it possibly live up to the previous books? The answer is an astounding YES! With heart-pounding intensity from cover to cover, The Sinner just may be the best one yet.
It's been a year since Amelia Gray left Charleston, needing time and space to sort out her life and heal her broken heart. In smoldering heat, she toils long hours restoring Seven Gates Cemetery in Ascension with her warrior dog always on guard nearby. She passes the nights in a rented house where she wanders aimlessly - always restless, always feeling another's presence, always trying to forget the man who left her broken. While working in the cemetery, she hears a faint, distant chanting and senses a sinister presence beckoning her to come. Amelia is compelled to follow the voices, helpless to resist the pull at her psyche, even as her mind screams at her to run. Lost deep in the woods, she makes a horrific discovery - one she will later wish she had never found. An evil presence lurks, slivering through shadows, taunting Amelia as she realizes she's been summoned to this place at this time for a reason - to unmask a monster.
The story that unfolds is one of impending doom, pages filled with malicious evil beings, dark secret societies, murder, mutilations, rituals, mystery. Amelia's search for a killer places her in imminent danger even as she struggles to maintain control of her own mind. At times, she doesn't know what's real and what's an hallucination. As a murder investigation begins, Amelia meets Detective Lucian Kendrick, a handsome man to whom she is attracted, but wary. Could this be the man to finally wipe John Devlin out of her mind and heart?
The Sinner is steeped in the rich, dark history of an old, small southern town and cemetery - one where secret, symbolic rituals, murder, and body possessions have occurred. To say it is ominous is a gross understatement. Only a gifted author could pull off such horror in such a beautifully lyrical manner. Through vivid descriptions and lyrical prose, Stevens delivers a shocking stunner - an emotional, heart-stopping book that will keep you hyperventilating as you read late into the night. Memento Mori, Remember to die! The Sinner is an absolutely, undeniable Page Burner! It will forever reside on my All Time Favorites shelf! A Must Read!
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews.
The Graveyard Queen series is one of the eeriest, spookiest, most ominous series I've ever read. It's also one of the best in this genre. Since finishing The Visitor, I've been on pins & needles, waiting, watching for the next book to become available. Can it possibly live up to the previous books? The answer is an astounding YES! With heart-pounding intensity from cover to cover, The Sinner just may be the best one yet.
It's been a year since Amelia Gray left Charleston, needing time and space to sort out her life and heal her broken heart. In smoldering heat, she toils long hours restoring Seven Gates Cemetery in Ascension with her warrior dog always on guard nearby. She passes the nights in a rented house where she wanders aimlessly - always restless, always feeling another's presence, always trying to forget the man who left her broken. While working in the cemetery, she hears a faint, distant chanting and senses a sinister presence beckoning her to come. Amelia is compelled to follow the voices, helpless to resist the pull at her psyche, even as her mind screams at her to run. Lost deep in the woods, she makes a horrific discovery - one she will later wish she had never found. An evil presence lurks, slivering through shadows, taunting Amelia as she realizes she's been summoned to this place at this time for a reason - to unmask a monster.
The story that unfolds is one of impending doom, pages filled with malicious evil beings, dark secret societies, murder, mutilations, rituals, mystery. Amelia's search for a killer places her in imminent danger even as she struggles to maintain control of her own mind. At times, she doesn't know what's real and what's an hallucination. As a murder investigation begins, Amelia meets Detective Lucian Kendrick, a handsome man to whom she is attracted, but wary. Could this be the man to finally wipe John Devlin out of her mind and heart?
The Sinner is steeped in the rich, dark history of an old, small southern town and cemetery - one where secret, symbolic rituals, murder, and body possessions have occurred. To say it is ominous is a gross understatement. Only a gifted author could pull off such horror in such a beautifully lyrical manner. Through vivid descriptions and lyrical prose, Stevens delivers a shocking stunner - an emotional, heart-stopping book that will keep you hyperventilating as you read late into the night. Memento Mori, Remember to die! The Sinner is an absolutely, undeniable Page Burner! It will forever reside on my All Time Favorites shelf! A Must Read!
June 19, 2018
4.5 Stars. She's baaack!
If you read my review of the previous book in this series, you know I was a little disappointed in it, especially after such a long hiatus between books. It was with trepidation that I went into this one, hoping for a return to the level of excellence set by the first three books. I am so happy to say that Amanda Stevens is back on top of her game! It's hard to review a mystery, let alone the fifth book in a series, without giving things away for those who have yet to discover the deliciousness that is the Graveyard Queen series, so my review will be brief and limited to my overall thoughts rather than a detailed plot recap.
While restoring another South Carolina cemetery, this one in a small, off-the-beaten path location, Amelia discovers a ring of caged graves outside hallowed ground, and there's a fresh body in one of them. When the ghost of the murdered young woman begins to haunt her, Amelia has no choice but to figure out who killed her and why if she ever wants any peace. And this brings a new man into Amelia's life, the sexy and mysterious investigator Lucien Kendrick, who seems to have a mystical connection to Amelia. Is he hiding the same secret she is, the ability to commune with spirits? Add to that the gruesome history of the house she's renting for the summer, mistrustful locals, and a horrifying darkness worse than any spirit Amelia has ever encountered before, not to mention that she's starting to have difficulty determining what's all in her head and what's real, who is manipulating her and who can she trust, and Amelia is in for one hell of a summer.
Plus Amelia is still missing John Devlin, whom she hasn't been with in over a year . . . or has she? She gets an emotional punch in the gut where he is concerned that I felt right along with Amelia. There are a lot of little clues dropped about Devlin here that I did not see coming, and if my suspicions are proved correct in the next book, I am going to be one happy camper, giving mad props to Amanda Stevens. But if they are not, I'm going to be one sad camper. Amelia deserves some happiness.
I could not put this down for the last quarter of the book. I don't know where Amanda Stevens finds all of this stuff, but it is fascinating. Caged graves, witch doctors, a cult devoted to resurrection, a secret society devoted to stamping out the supernatural, and all of it taking place amid the old world charm and haunting, Gothic beauty of the Low Country. I don't do horror, but Amanda Stevens manages to craft spine-tingling, macabre thrillers without the gore, and I just can't get enough of them. But alas, the next book is the final book in the series. And it is with a heavy yet hopeful heart that I am about to embark on the last chapter in Amelia Gray's story.
If you read my review of the previous book in this series, you know I was a little disappointed in it, especially after such a long hiatus between books. It was with trepidation that I went into this one, hoping for a return to the level of excellence set by the first three books. I am so happy to say that Amanda Stevens is back on top of her game! It's hard to review a mystery, let alone the fifth book in a series, without giving things away for those who have yet to discover the deliciousness that is the Graveyard Queen series, so my review will be brief and limited to my overall thoughts rather than a detailed plot recap.
While restoring another South Carolina cemetery, this one in a small, off-the-beaten path location, Amelia discovers a ring of caged graves outside hallowed ground, and there's a fresh body in one of them. When the ghost of the murdered young woman begins to haunt her, Amelia has no choice but to figure out who killed her and why if she ever wants any peace. And this brings a new man into Amelia's life, the sexy and mysterious investigator Lucien Kendrick, who seems to have a mystical connection to Amelia. Is he hiding the same secret she is, the ability to commune with spirits? Add to that the gruesome history of the house she's renting for the summer, mistrustful locals, and a horrifying darkness worse than any spirit Amelia has ever encountered before, not to mention that she's starting to have difficulty determining what's all in her head and what's real, who is manipulating her and who can she trust, and Amelia is in for one hell of a summer.
Plus Amelia is still missing John Devlin, whom she hasn't been with in over a year . . . or has she? She gets an emotional punch in the gut where he is concerned that I felt right along with Amelia. There are a lot of little clues dropped about Devlin here that I did not see coming, and if my suspicions are proved correct in the next book, I am going to be one happy camper, giving mad props to Amanda Stevens. But if they are not, I'm going to be one sad camper. Amelia deserves some happiness.
I could not put this down for the last quarter of the book. I don't know where Amanda Stevens finds all of this stuff, but it is fascinating. Caged graves, witch doctors, a cult devoted to resurrection, a secret society devoted to stamping out the supernatural, and all of it taking place amid the old world charm and haunting, Gothic beauty of the Low Country. I don't do horror, but Amanda Stevens manages to craft spine-tingling, macabre thrillers without the gore, and I just can't get enough of them. But alas, the next book is the final book in the series. And it is with a heavy yet hopeful heart that I am about to embark on the last chapter in Amelia Gray's story.
October 28, 2016
I’m not a particular fan of the horror genre. I learned my lesson at a young age when I mistakenly picked up and read The Amityville Horror. Needless to say, I refused to walk down dark corridors by myself for week. However, I will read anything in the Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens. Firstly, I love the southern setting. You can feel the South Carolina heat and humidity coming right off the pages. It also gives the atmosphere of the book a heavy feeling – just a perfect environment for ghosts, zombies, warlocks and voodoo queens.
Amelia Gray is a cemetery restorer. It is a combination of historian, detective, art historian, gardener and garbage collector. She is hired to restore a small city cemetery when she stumbles upon a mortsafe, a Scottish invention, it is cage that is put over a grave to discourage grave robbers. Unfortunately, the one she finds has two hands rising up from a fresh grave grasping at the bars. Yikes!
This discovery leads to a mystery dealing with immortality, transference, zombies, a powerful witch doctor and a secret society of supernatural hunters. This book is so well written. It is a horror story in slow burn mode. Every chapter builds ever more tension with the murder mystery storyline, but it is her description of the marshlands that sets it apart. The descriptive language lulls me in: “As the horizon deepened, the moths came out, flitting among the bee balm and catmint….Closer in, the cicadas and bullfrogs serenaded from the marsh as the bats flew out of their houses.” This book has an exquisite balance of sinister and beauty. Perfection.
Amelia Gray is a cemetery restorer. It is a combination of historian, detective, art historian, gardener and garbage collector. She is hired to restore a small city cemetery when she stumbles upon a mortsafe, a Scottish invention, it is cage that is put over a grave to discourage grave robbers. Unfortunately, the one she finds has two hands rising up from a fresh grave grasping at the bars. Yikes!
This discovery leads to a mystery dealing with immortality, transference, zombies, a powerful witch doctor and a secret society of supernatural hunters. This book is so well written. It is a horror story in slow burn mode. Every chapter builds ever more tension with the murder mystery storyline, but it is her description of the marshlands that sets it apart. The descriptive language lulls me in: “As the horizon deepened, the moths came out, flitting among the bee balm and catmint….Closer in, the cicadas and bullfrogs serenaded from the marsh as the bats flew out of their houses.” This book has an exquisite balance of sinister and beauty. Perfection.
October 21, 2016
So first things first- this book rocked. I am SO happy with the direction this series is going. I'm SO glad I stumbled up on this series at my local library years ago.
The book kinda started off very same old/same old for me.
Creepy cemetery- check.
Amelia yet again stumbles upon a murder scene- check.
Lots of creepy/ghostly/bad vibes about- check.
Hints at connections between her families past and the present danger- check
Really the only thing missing was Devlin which is where the story takes a crazy turn. Devlin and Amelia are on a "break". I found it heartbreaking. You can tell how much Amelia misses him and longs for him. I spent a good portion of the book ragingly pissed at him for abandoning her.
But maybe around midway through the story- things started getting a whole lotta creepy and it began to become clear that not everything was as it seemed. Amanda's been subtly weaving some plots behind our back!
Amanda Steven's excels at writing scary stories. All of her books have given me the creeps. But THIS book in particular scared the bejesus out of me even when I was reading it during the day!
I loved the way Amanda tied in all the storylines from Amelia's past: Devlin, Darius Goodwine and family, Rupert Shaw, her grandmother... all of them played major roles in the progression of the series. And the addition of some new characters completely opened up the crazy potential of where this series is going. I devoured the last few chapters of this book and the final few pages were AWESOME. I am chomping at the bit for the next book. I'm so glad it's only 5 months away!!
So if you like creepy/dark ghost stories but also appreciate a smattering of a love story give this series a try. It's one of my faves.
The book kinda started off very same old/same old for me.
Creepy cemetery- check.
Amelia yet again stumbles upon a murder scene- check.
Lots of creepy/ghostly/bad vibes about- check.
Hints at connections between her families past and the present danger- check
Really the only thing missing was Devlin which is where the story takes a crazy turn. Devlin and Amelia are on a "break". I found it heartbreaking. You can tell how much Amelia misses him and longs for him. I spent a good portion of the book ragingly pissed at him for abandoning her.
But maybe around midway through the story- things started getting a whole lotta creepy and it began to become clear that not everything was as it seemed. Amanda's been subtly weaving some plots behind our back!
Amanda Steven's excels at writing scary stories. All of her books have given me the creeps. But THIS book in particular scared the bejesus out of me even when I was reading it during the day!
I loved the way Amanda tied in all the storylines from Amelia's past: Devlin, Darius Goodwine and family, Rupert Shaw, her grandmother... all of them played major roles in the progression of the series. And the addition of some new characters completely opened up the crazy potential of where this series is going. I devoured the last few chapters of this book and the final few pages were AWESOME. I am chomping at the bit for the next book. I'm so glad it's only 5 months away!!
So if you like creepy/dark ghost stories but also appreciate a smattering of a love story give this series a try. It's one of my faves.
April 3, 2019
3.5 stars
So this is officially my least favorite book in the series. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t bad, but the last book was amazing. This paled in comparison. It wasn’t creepy enough, and I hate it when Amelia leaves Charleston. It’s not the same when she is away from the people there. I wouldn’t mind it as much if there wasn’t a potential romance with a new guy every time she leaves town. Can’t she nurse her broken heart without having feelings for another guy? Just like in The Kingdom the lust was there but not much else. Everything between Amelia and Kendrick felt too manufactured.
Now that Amelia’s powers are strengthening and she is in contact frequently with powerful beings, it’s hard to gauge what is genuine and what is manipulative magic. Amelia constantly questioned if things she saw, heard, or felt were real. It’s not bad if magic is used to confuse her every once and awhile, but I don’t like it when it happens often.
The mystery started out interesting enough with the discovery of some unusual graves and the appearance of Darius Goodwine. Everything was too straightforward in regards to the bad guy. I had them pegged early on in the book. There were two unexpected things that happened along the way to revealing the bad guy. Not much directly had to do with the overarching storyline. It hinted at what Devlin is really up to. This book is a victim of my high expectations. I had assumed the penultimate book would have gotten me more amped up about the final one.
So this is officially my least favorite book in the series. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t bad, but the last book was amazing. This paled in comparison. It wasn’t creepy enough, and I hate it when Amelia leaves Charleston. It’s not the same when she is away from the people there. I wouldn’t mind it as much if there wasn’t a potential romance with a new guy every time she leaves town. Can’t she nurse her broken heart without having feelings for another guy? Just like in The Kingdom the lust was there but not much else. Everything between Amelia and Kendrick felt too manufactured.
Now that Amelia’s powers are strengthening and she is in contact frequently with powerful beings, it’s hard to gauge what is genuine and what is manipulative magic. Amelia constantly questioned if things she saw, heard, or felt were real. It’s not bad if magic is used to confuse her every once and awhile, but I don’t like it when it happens often.
The mystery started out interesting enough with the discovery of some unusual graves and the appearance of Darius Goodwine. Everything was too straightforward in regards to the bad guy. I had them pegged early on in the book. There were two unexpected things that happened along the way to revealing the bad guy. Not much directly had to do with the overarching storyline. It hinted at what Devlin is really up to. This book is a victim of my high expectations. I had assumed the penultimate book would have gotten me more amped up about the final one.
November 3, 2016
I always enjoy how Amelia Gray is able to face situations she doesn't want to confront. Even if this means putting her life in danger. When there is a mystery to solve, she is resolute in her determination to find answers. The culprit this time around was a little bit obvious from around the 50% mark. Even though other suspects were thrown in our path. One seemed more apparent then others.
This wasn't my favourite book in the series, that honour goes to Book #4 The Visitor. The book was still spooky enough for me and didn't mind that Devlin didn't have a large role to play here. It feels like that will be saved for the final book The Awakening next year. I did like the reveals that hinted at what Devlin's been up too. It is starting to make sense why he's distanced himself from Amelia.
My only two gripes with the book was I didn't like how some people seemed to be able to get into Amelia's mind and obscure for her whether she was in reality or not. The other issue was drink driving by Amelia as well.
Recommended for anyone who likes a good paranormal mystery.
This wasn't my favourite book in the series, that honour goes to Book #4 The Visitor. The book was still spooky enough for me and didn't mind that Devlin didn't have a large role to play here. It feels like that will be saved for the final book The Awakening next year. I did like the reveals that hinted at what Devlin's been up too. It is starting to make sense why he's distanced himself from Amelia.
My only two gripes with the book was I didn't like how some people seemed to be able to get into Amelia's mind and obscure for her whether she was in reality or not. The other issue was drink driving by Amelia as well.
Recommended for anyone who likes a good paranormal mystery.
July 24, 2016
It's been almost a year since her breakup with John Devlin, and Amelia is still struggling to move on with her life. She's taken a job restoring a cemetery that takes her out of Charleston for an extended period, and away from memories. This was a very good read; one of murder, mysterious mortsafe caged graves, and possible resurrection of the dead. I thoroughly enjoyed it; it was interesting, fascinating, and stylishly written. Ghosts, apparitions, and grisly murders. What a lovely combination.
This wasn’t a perfect read. There were several things left not fully explained; and the story was a bit slow in places, especially through the middle. It really needed a faster tempo on the pacing once the tone of the book was established. Towards the end, though, I couldn't put it down. I was completely mesmerized. The enigmatic Detective Kendrick was a nice addition to the story. Not only was he in charge of the investigation, he appeared to be a peer of Amanda's, another ghost seer.
Creepy, creepy, creepy read. The series is changing; and Amanda's powers are growing and evolving. She still wants rid of her special abilities, but doesn't run from using them. She's still rash and impetuous; but if she wasn't, she wouldn't be Amelia.
I really, really like this series…I just hope she can get the books out once a year now. That 4 year wait between 3 and 4 was a killer.
And that last sentence in the book...that last line was a killer... O_o
Full review closer to release date…
This wasn’t a perfect read. There were several things left not fully explained; and the story was a bit slow in places, especially through the middle. It really needed a faster tempo on the pacing once the tone of the book was established. Towards the end, though, I couldn't put it down. I was completely mesmerized. The enigmatic Detective Kendrick was a nice addition to the story. Not only was he in charge of the investigation, he appeared to be a peer of Amanda's, another ghost seer.
Creepy, creepy, creepy read. The series is changing; and Amanda's powers are growing and evolving. She still wants rid of her special abilities, but doesn't run from using them. She's still rash and impetuous; but if she wasn't, she wouldn't be Amelia.
I really, really like this series…I just hope she can get the books out once a year now. That 4 year wait between 3 and 4 was a killer.
And that last sentence in the book...that last line was a killer... O_o
Full review closer to release date…
April 6, 2017
I gotta admit, I'm a wee bit disappointed in this one. The mystery was great. But Amelia was so... not in control this time. I felt like it was all a big game of keep away. I was bummed to find out who the betrayer was. With everything in Amelia's personal life going to shit, I thought that the stuff about Devlin was extra shitty frosting on a shit cake. This poor woman just can't catch a break.
Just bad stuff happening to her on top of more bad stuff. At least when she was with Devlin there was a bright spot in her life, but now she doesn't even have that.
I admit there was a moment at the end that gives the reader a teensy spark of hope, but I'm not buying it. I'm certain the author will wreck that, too.
Obviously I will snatch up the next book like it's the last life vest on a sinking ship. But dear god, please let something good happen to Amelia! Her life is depressing as hell. I mean, not even her dog likes her. She deserves a bit of joy.
Just bad stuff happening to her on top of more bad stuff. At least when she was with Devlin there was a bright spot in her life, but now she doesn't even have that.
I admit there was a moment at the end that gives the reader a teensy spark of hope, but I'm not buying it. I'm certain the author will wreck that, too.
Obviously I will snatch up the next book like it's the last life vest on a sinking ship. But dear god, please let something good happen to Amelia! Her life is depressing as hell. I mean, not even her dog likes her. She deserves a bit of joy.
November 21, 2020
“I solve riddles of the dead so the dead will leave me alone.” Amanda Stevens’ The Sinner (Graveyard Queen,#5) is set in and around Charleston, SC. Amelia Gray who restores old and neglected graveyards has been hired to restore Seven Gates Cemetery. She starts this job with a “broken heart” as she and her love, Devlin, have split, but Amelia just cannot forget him. Thus, she tries to keep as busy as she can so she will not ‘think’. While at work Amelia comes along a caged grave. The only other place Amelia knows these caged graves or mortsafes are is in Edinburgh, Scotland. (I have seen them. They have bars and a lock and are 8-10 inches in height. These cages are set on top of the newly buried so the “resurrectionists “ could not dig the body up and sell it to the medical school for dissection.”
Amelia then fins more of these caged graves placed in a circle. What has happened here? The police are notified, but Amelia does not know if she can trust the detective assigned to this case. He is a ghost-seer, but is he even more? Is he evil? The author’s writing and storyline keep the reader mesmerized. I certainly was! Highly recommended if this topic is for you. 5 stars.
Amelia then fins more of these caged graves placed in a circle. What has happened here? The police are notified, but Amelia does not know if she can trust the detective assigned to this case. He is a ghost-seer, but is he even more? Is he evil? The author’s writing and storyline keep the reader mesmerized. I certainly was! Highly recommended if this topic is for you. 5 stars.
September 26, 2016
Our story picks up almost a year after the events in Visitor. Needed an escape from Charleston, Amelia accepts a graveyard restoration in Ascension. South Carolina. She is renting a local farmhouse where she sleeps nights on the screened porch allowing the coastal breezes to lure her to sleep. Despite missing John Devlin, she is at peace, but all that comes to end when she discovers mortsafes in a clearing not far from the cemetery and feels something watching her.(que ominous music)
A mortsafe is a caged gravesite meant to keep folks out but as Amelia gets closer, she sees these were meant to keep people in. As the buzzing or chanting increases in her ears, she makes a grisly discovery. There are hands coming out of the freshly mounded grave and they are grasping the sides of the cage. They are tiny, chalky and covered in dried blood with broken nails, as if the person struggled to climb out of the grave and was buried alive. The tale that unfolds is dark and sinister as Amelia discovers there is an unholy evil lurking that only she can stop.
Holy chills and thrills the Sinner shared a murder mystery that delved into immortality and soul possession giving me the heebie-jeebies. The people of Ascension were strange, and warnings given to Amelia made us unsure of whom to trust. Detective Kendrick an enigmatic police officer who seems to know more than he lets on intrigues Amelia. Previous characters both worldly and not made appearances and helped guide Amelia. I loved and squirmed at the details. Stevens delivered plenty of hair-raising moments.
I keep waiting for Amelia to accept who she is, and the more she comes into power the more we see her settle. She almost has two personas. In the light of day, she wants to ignore and lock out the forces around her, but she always comes through when danger strikes. We learn about another secret society, one that threatens Amelia and finally get some clarity of John Devlin.
Copy provided by publisher, This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
A mortsafe is a caged gravesite meant to keep folks out but as Amelia gets closer, she sees these were meant to keep people in. As the buzzing or chanting increases in her ears, she makes a grisly discovery. There are hands coming out of the freshly mounded grave and they are grasping the sides of the cage. They are tiny, chalky and covered in dried blood with broken nails, as if the person struggled to climb out of the grave and was buried alive. The tale that unfolds is dark and sinister as Amelia discovers there is an unholy evil lurking that only she can stop.
Holy chills and thrills the Sinner shared a murder mystery that delved into immortality and soul possession giving me the heebie-jeebies. The people of Ascension were strange, and warnings given to Amelia made us unsure of whom to trust. Detective Kendrick an enigmatic police officer who seems to know more than he lets on intrigues Amelia. Previous characters both worldly and not made appearances and helped guide Amelia. I loved and squirmed at the details. Stevens delivered plenty of hair-raising moments.
I keep waiting for Amelia to accept who she is, and the more she comes into power the more we see her settle. She almost has two personas. In the light of day, she wants to ignore and lock out the forces around her, but she always comes through when danger strikes. We learn about another secret society, one that threatens Amelia and finally get some clarity of John Devlin.
Copy provided by publisher, This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
April 25, 2017
If you’re in the mood for a dark and lush gothic series, you need to try the Graveyard Queen book. Each one of these stories pulls you in deeper than the last, and I think this installment is the creepiest one yet.
It’s been an entire year since the events of the last book, which is a kick in the teeth to anyone hoping for some John and Amelia loving. He walked away from her at the end of The Visitor and apparently, he’s never looked back. Now, Amelia is working on a restoration out of town, trying to keep him out of her mind. She’s failing miserably.
Anyway, as the story begins, Amelia makes a gruesome discovery… the body of a woman buried alive. Of course, her death isn’t anything so simple as a run-of-the-mill murder. There’s a dark history in the home Amelia is renting. Ritual sacrifices. Possession. Secret societies. And there is an eerie presence everywhere. Amelia has no idea who to trust. The woman whose family was killed when she was a child? The seductive and enigmatic detective in charge of the case? His aw’shucks deputy?
There is so much tension. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda. Even Amelia’s old colleagues are suspect. The author does such a fantastic job of keeping me on the edge of my seat, especially with the dark tone –with death around every corner. I really wasn’t sure what would happen from one chapter to the next.
And then there’s the romantic thread. Which made me kind of crazy. I’ve been Team-John since day 1. But the fact that he’s left Amelia high and dry for a year seriously dampens my enthusiasm. And Amelia’s devotion –especially in light of the events of this book– was kind of frustrating. In fact, I was actually kind of rooting for her to take a romantic detour. (No spoilers, though.)
It’s a good book. And it left me itching to see how this is all going to end.
Rating: B+
*ARC provided by publisher
It’s been an entire year since the events of the last book, which is a kick in the teeth to anyone hoping for some John and Amelia loving. He walked away from her at the end of The Visitor and apparently, he’s never looked back. Now, Amelia is working on a restoration out of town, trying to keep him out of her mind. She’s failing miserably.
Anyway, as the story begins, Amelia makes a gruesome discovery… the body of a woman buried alive. Of course, her death isn’t anything so simple as a run-of-the-mill murder. There’s a dark history in the home Amelia is renting. Ritual sacrifices. Possession. Secret societies. And there is an eerie presence everywhere. Amelia has no idea who to trust. The woman whose family was killed when she was a child? The seductive and enigmatic detective in charge of the case? His aw’shucks deputy?
There is so much tension. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda. Even Amelia’s old colleagues are suspect. The author does such a fantastic job of keeping me on the edge of my seat, especially with the dark tone –with death around every corner. I really wasn’t sure what would happen from one chapter to the next.
And then there’s the romantic thread. Which made me kind of crazy. I’ve been Team-John since day 1. But the fact that he’s left Amelia high and dry for a year seriously dampens my enthusiasm. And Amelia’s devotion –especially in light of the events of this book– was kind of frustrating. In fact, I was actually kind of rooting for her to take a romantic detour. (No spoilers, though.)
It’s a good book. And it left me itching to see how this is all going to end.
Rating: B+
*ARC provided by publisher
December 19, 2016
4.5 Stars
Now I have to wait until March??? This series leaves me wanting more!
Now I have to wait until March??? This series leaves me wanting more!
January 18, 2021
Cemetery Restorer Amelia Gray has been working at the Seven Gates Cemetery in a small South Carolina town. Taking a break from the heat of the day, Amelia takes a walk under the shade trees and stumbles across a dozen caged graves. The cage is called a mortsafe and is something that is not regularly found in this country. These graves were not on the graveyard blueprints, and Amelia is shocked to see one of the graves has a pair of hands coming out of the soil and gripping the cage. When the police arrive, they discover the corpse of a woman who was recently buried alive. Amelia knows that she was meant to find these graves and use what the ghosts tell her to solve the murder of this young woman.
This is the 5th book in the Graveyard Queen series. As always, the writing makes you feel like you are actually there. It has a spooky quality that puts me on edge while listening to the audiobook. I thought the narration by Khristine Hvam was excellent. Her slow cadence just added to my enjoyment of the book. My only problem with this story was Amelia constantly moaning about her breakup with Devlin. I'm sure we'll see more of him in the last book. I just don't know what he is up to. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
This is the 5th book in the Graveyard Queen series. As always, the writing makes you feel like you are actually there. It has a spooky quality that puts me on edge while listening to the audiobook. I thought the narration by Khristine Hvam was excellent. Her slow cadence just added to my enjoyment of the book. My only problem with this story was Amelia constantly moaning about her breakup with Devlin. I'm sure we'll see more of him in the last book. I just don't know what he is up to. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
October 24, 2016
I has a sad over the fact that Devlin isn't in the picture anymore....or is he??? Spooky read this time round and I love Amelia, just don't love her as much without sexy, intense Devlin around. But I don't think that thread is finished. What is up with him??? I wish Amelia would have went up and confronted Devlin, but I think their storyline isn't finished, so hence the set up as it were for now. For that reason, romance was taking out of the shelf for me, because in this book, there wasn't any, just Amelia trying to come to grips with a failed relationship and she doesn't understand why. Neither do us readers....ugh!!! Ms. Stevens is an awesome story teller and I can't wait to see where she takes us next. MORTSAFES = CREEPY.
October 6, 2016
DEVLIN, WHAT THE FUCK, MAN?!
Amelia #StayStrong y dejen de asustarme por favor :( Leer estos libros de noche es terrible u.u
Amelia #StayStrong y dejen de asustarme por favor :( Leer estos libros de noche es terrible u.u
June 7, 2019
The books of the Graveyard Queen series just keep getting better and better, and The Sinner is my favorite so far!
If you enjoy eerie Southern Gothic spirits and creepiness, you'll love this extremely well-written, intensely engaging series that revolves around a charmingly intelligent grave restorer and her interactions with a variety of ominous characters, both dead and alive, including a sexy yet mysterious cop.
I zoomed through the first three books years ago, and recently dove back in to start on the final three that were added later. A bonus is that they're all included in the Audible romance package and have one of the best voices out there, Khristine Hvam, doing a fabulous job with the narration.
If you enjoy eerie Southern Gothic spirits and creepiness, you'll love this extremely well-written, intensely engaging series that revolves around a charmingly intelligent grave restorer and her interactions with a variety of ominous characters, both dead and alive, including a sexy yet mysterious cop.
I zoomed through the first three books years ago, and recently dove back in to start on the final three that were added later. A bonus is that they're all included in the Audible romance package and have one of the best voices out there, Khristine Hvam, doing a fabulous job with the narration.
September 21, 2016
I'm a cemetery restorer by trade, but my calling has evolved from that of ghost seer to death walker to detective of lost souls. I solve the riddles of the dead so the dead will leave me alone.
I've come to Seven Gates Cemetery nursing a broken heart, but peace is hard to come by…for the ghosts here and for me. When the body of a young woman is discovered in a caged grave, I know that I've been summoned for a reason.
Only I can unmask her killer. I want to trust the detective assigned to the case for he is a ghost seer like me. But how can I put my faith in anyone when supernatural forces are manipulating my every thought?
When reality is ever-changing? And when the one person I thought I could trust above all others has turned into a diabolical stranger?
Amelia is finally having to lay her own path instead of following in the shadow of her fathers and make her own rules as she goes. Amelia has become more singled out and even more secluded which kind of forces her to really think through things she's struggling with.
Also have to mention Lucian because, well, me like. He's fantastic. He challenges and tempts Amelia, he intrigues the reader and he's something more than just a sexy dick. He's a guy you really root for.
I really enjoy Amanda Stevens writing she creates wonderfully colorful characters, she knows how to weave a thrilling story and bring them all together in such a perfect way.
The Sinner was fun, it was emotional, it was dark, I loved it.
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Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Penguin/ Berkley Publishing
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! I love hearing from followers! Thank you!
I've come to Seven Gates Cemetery nursing a broken heart, but peace is hard to come by…for the ghosts here and for me. When the body of a young woman is discovered in a caged grave, I know that I've been summoned for a reason.
Only I can unmask her killer. I want to trust the detective assigned to the case for he is a ghost seer like me. But how can I put my faith in anyone when supernatural forces are manipulating my every thought?
When reality is ever-changing? And when the one person I thought I could trust above all others has turned into a diabolical stranger?
Amelia is finally having to lay her own path instead of following in the shadow of her fathers and make her own rules as she goes. Amelia has become more singled out and even more secluded which kind of forces her to really think through things she's struggling with.
Also have to mention Lucian because, well, me like. He's fantastic. He challenges and tempts Amelia, he intrigues the reader and he's something more than just a sexy dick. He's a guy you really root for.
I really enjoy Amanda Stevens writing she creates wonderfully colorful characters, she knows how to weave a thrilling story and bring them all together in such a perfect way.
The Sinner was fun, it was emotional, it was dark, I loved it.
Booklikes
Goodreads
Google Plus
Blogger
Amazon
Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Penguin/ Berkley Publishing
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! I love hearing from followers! Thank you!
September 28, 2016
Dark, atmospheric, eerie - love this series.
Can you imagine being a graveyard restorer as a profession? Who knew that people actually rehabilitate cemeteries? It’s probably not a good career choice for the faint at heart, or anyone easily spooked.
The Sinner is the fifth book in the Graveyard Queen series. It’s one of my favorite series and one of the reasons why I love it so much is that the author’s writing style can only be described as atmospheric – her writing has an immersive quality: she makes the reader feel the heat and humidity of the south, the sounds around the cemetery, and even the smells.
I also have to say that I’ve learned some new things as I read this book. I spent a little time googling mortsafes – who knew that people once caged their loved ones remains to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies? Gruesome, yet intriguing.
Amelia has been through so much and she has developed into a fascinating character. She’s easy to relate to and it’s so easy to feel sympathetic to her situations.
I loved the mystery of this book. The author really knows how to throw the reader for a loop. It’s a good ghost story, eerie and atmospheric but not horrifically scary – just scary enough. The Sinner is a fantastic read. There is another book planned in this series and I just can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!
Can you imagine being a graveyard restorer as a profession? Who knew that people actually rehabilitate cemeteries? It’s probably not a good career choice for the faint at heart, or anyone easily spooked.
The Sinner is the fifth book in the Graveyard Queen series. It’s one of my favorite series and one of the reasons why I love it so much is that the author’s writing style can only be described as atmospheric – her writing has an immersive quality: she makes the reader feel the heat and humidity of the south, the sounds around the cemetery, and even the smells.
I also have to say that I’ve learned some new things as I read this book. I spent a little time googling mortsafes – who knew that people once caged their loved ones remains to prevent grave robbers from stealing the bodies? Gruesome, yet intriguing.
Amelia has been through so much and she has developed into a fascinating character. She’s easy to relate to and it’s so easy to feel sympathetic to her situations.
I loved the mystery of this book. The author really knows how to throw the reader for a loop. It’s a good ghost story, eerie and atmospheric but not horrifically scary – just scary enough. The Sinner is a fantastic read. There is another book planned in this series and I just can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!
November 10, 2016
*Source* Publisher via NetGalley
*Genre* Horror, Mystery
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The Sinner is the Fifth installment in Author Amanda Stevens the Graveyard Queen series. The series is set in South Carolina, and features Amelia Gray as the main protagonist. It has been a rather eventful year since Amelia's ex-John Devlin walked away, and left her behind due to his family commitment to the Order of the Coffin and the Claw. While she misses Devlin and may never be fully over him, she knows that she must put two feet forward. Her job as a Cemetery Restorer takes Amelia to Seven Gates Cemetery in Ascension, South Carolina.
*FULL REVIEW @ GIZMOS REVIEWS 11/10/2016
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published September 27th 2016 by Mira
*Genre* Horror, Mystery
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The Sinner is the Fifth installment in Author Amanda Stevens the Graveyard Queen series. The series is set in South Carolina, and features Amelia Gray as the main protagonist. It has been a rather eventful year since Amelia's ex-John Devlin walked away, and left her behind due to his family commitment to the Order of the Coffin and the Claw. While she misses Devlin and may never be fully over him, she knows that she must put two feet forward. Her job as a Cemetery Restorer takes Amelia to Seven Gates Cemetery in Ascension, South Carolina.
*FULL REVIEW @ GIZMOS REVIEWS 11/10/2016
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published September 27th 2016 by Mira
Want to read
July 13, 2016I've been a bit hesitant to move forward with this series, but the summary blurb is giving me a WTF moment (in a good way), and now I'm extra curious and MUST get to this book! Which means The Visitor has moved up on my reading list.
March 30, 2020
Me sigue encantando este libro y todos los libros de esta saga en general, como la primera vez que los leí.
January 31, 2023
Detrás de las puertas del cementerio...
yace un mundo que sólo ella puede ver.
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
Argumento:
Soy un fantasma viviente, un vagabundo en busca de mi propósito y lugar.
Soy restaurador de cementerios de oficio, pero mi vocación ha evolucionado de vidente de fantasmas a caminante de la muerte y detective de almas perdidas. Resuelvo los acertijos de los muertos para que los muertos me dejen en paz.
He venido al cementerio Seven Gates con el corazón roto, pero la paz es difícil de encontrar, para los fantasmas aquí y para mí. Cuando se descubre el cuerpo de una mujer joven en una tumba enjaulada, sé que he sido convocado por una razón. Solo yo puedo desenmascarar a su asesino. Quiero confiar en el detective asignado al caso, porque es un vidente de fantasmas como yo. Pero, ¿cómo puedo poner mi fe en alguien cuando fuerzas sobrenaturales están manipulando todos mis pensamientos? ¿Cuándo la realidad cambia constantemente?
¿Y cuando la única persona en la que pensé que podía confiar por encima de todos los demás se convirtió en un extraño diabólico?
The sinner de Amanda Stevens libro 5 serie La reina del cementerio
Mi humilde opinión:
Amelia Grey ha pasado los últimos meses trabajando en un pequeño
cementerio ubicado
cerca de las ruinas de una antigua
iglesia en Ascension, Carolina del
Sur.
Después de que Devlin se fuera de su vida, dejando su trabajo de policía para trabajar con su abuelo, ella se sumergió en una nueva restauración para intentar mitigar el dolor en su corazón.
Seven Gates era un cementerio como cualquier otro hasta que se topó con las jaulas, mortsafes y con manos que salían de una de ellas.
Nuevamente estaba frente a un misterioso asesinato, nuevos personajes como el detective Lucien
Kendrick que la inquieta y viejos personajes como Darius Goodwine, quien regresa con otra propuesta peligrosa; resolver el crimen en Seven Gates. Amelia no confía en Darius pero le dice que si resuelve esa muerte, él le ayudará a encontrar la llave de su bisabuela Rose que cerraría el mundo de los muertos.
Amelia se encuentra nuevamente frente a cosas que no entiende; el asesinato misterioso de una mujer en una mortsafe, jaula con un extraño tatuaje, otra asesinada por su esposo que luego acabó con si vida dejando a una niña: Annalee Nash. La mujer que la contrató para restaurar el cementerio Seven Gates.
Conoce dos nuevos grupos; uno que se hace llamar la Hermandad
Eterna de los Resurrecionistas y el Congé.
Amalia deberá enfrentarse a un poderoso brujo llamado Pope cuya alma ha pasado escondida a otra persona y no puede confiar en nadie está vez.
Amanda Stevens narra una novela tan atrapante como espeluznante, que va subiendo en tensión hasta que te da una sorpresa cuánto menos la esperas.
Lo que más me gustó de este libro fue la fortaleza de Amelia, parecen que el mal y los misterios la persiguen para ser develados.
Ya ha descubierto casi todo, hasta el grupo secreto de los Garra como los llama, y Devlin es nuevo miembro! Solo falta la llave que busca para liberarse de los fantasmas pero ahora con Darius muerto no sé cómo la encontrará porque supuestamente la iba ayudar a hacerlo!
Y volviendo a Devlin, me puedo creer que se involucró con el grupo pero que se esté por casar? Que haga todo eso para proteger a Amelia?
La verdad ya es exagerado y cruel hacerle pasar por todo eso! Sigue sin gustarme ni un poco cómo trata a Amelia durante todos los libros de la serie.
La verdad me desconcertó que Amelia escuchara sus advertencias de peligro en su cabeza mientras estaba con otra mujer justo ahí.
Sobre el enemigo en la historia, nunca esperé que Kendrick fuera Pope! Casi me muero en esa persecución con Amelia.
"A veces me pregunto
cómo te las arreglas para mantener
la cordura".
Yo le hubiera comentado lo mismo Dr. Shaw!
Bueno, a ver si todo esto se termina de resolver en el siguiente libro! seguir los pasos a Amelia, una heroína inusual para mí pero admirable, está acabando con ni corazón!
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