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The Cemetery Ghost
As she explores a snowy cemetery, Elizabeth Shaw is shocked to come across a strange little boy. Although he remembers his name, Patrick has no idea where he comes from, and a moment later he vanishes into thin air.
Meanwhile, a mysterious man moves into the nearby rectory. Determined to recover a dangerous book, Jerome Shand starts by torturing the spirits of a family who died many years ago. When that approach fails, however, Shand realizes that he only has one option left. He needs to find the last remaining ghost of the Munce family, a young boy named Patrick who disappeared after he and his family were murdered seventy years earlier...
Soon, Elizabeth and Patrick discover that leaving the past behind isn't as easy as they'd hoped. Dark forces are waiting in the shadows of the rectory, and an evil force is desperate to break free. Can Patrick stop Shand, or will the ancient Lochdale Book finally spill its evil secrets into the world?
Meanwhile, a mysterious man moves into the nearby rectory. Determined to recover a dangerous book, Jerome Shand starts by torturing the spirits of a family who died many years ago. When that approach fails, however, Shand realizes that he only has one option left. He needs to find the last remaining ghost of the Munce family, a young boy named Patrick who disappeared after he and his family were murdered seventy years earlier...
Soon, Elizabeth and Patrick discover that leaving the past behind isn't as easy as they'd hoped. Dark forces are waiting in the shadows of the rectory, and an evil force is desperate to break free. Can Patrick stop Shand, or will the ancient Lochdale Book finally spill its evil secrets into the world?
143 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2020
272 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Amy Cross
662 books1,677 followersAmy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 16, 2025
Amy Cross has written an ungodly amount of books. Like hundreds. Insane. And there are times that she really has some solid content, while others feel a bit like they’re completed just to meet a quota. Just capitalizing on some standard fare, taking no risks or chances, and just getting something written. And that’s about where I felt this landed. It wasn’t written badly, by any means, but it is nothing special. Very typical haunting/ghost sort of premise. There is a twist at the end, but by the time I got there, I was already fairly fatigued. Elizabeth is a really dynamic lead character, but even she couldn’t make the plot more interesting. So things progressed very, very slowly, then concluded with the twist, and that was it. I think for fans of this subgenre of horror will enjoy it more than others, but also won’t necessarily gush about it, either.
January 30, 2023
I am a big fan of Amy Cross, who is to my mind the sheer definition of prolific. She writes about 18 short novels a year. That is amazing. She writes 1 or 2 novels a month! Usually, Amy Cross’ strength lies in conveying a linear story from beginning to middle to the end, without all the cute attempts to add frills and surprise twists that bog, clutter, dilute a strong story. That is what I genuinely love about Cross, that gut-punch she gives to punctuate the denouement. The Cemetery Ghost begins with a fascinating concept about the ability to see dead people, and then just follows the formulaic trope to its overdone, predictable, conclusion. There are some interesting wanderings, but when what you think is the answer becomes the conclusion, you are left wanting. There is enough here to enjoy, and some of it is even original, but there could have been so much more. Still, a short book that is not her best nor her worst. Right down the middle. I still love her writing although I kind of was hoping for steak and was served hamburger.
January 6, 2022
Sometimes, in the dead of winter, after Santa and his fine elves stop holding your interest, you just want to read a horror story that pulls you in and shakes you to your core. (Well, at least I do.) It certainly is winter now and so I picked up this book in hopes of feeding my ghostly imagination.
Except... this book did not come across to me as a horror story- in fact, it was quite the opposite. It revealed itself to be a deeply sentimental book centered around two children. Though I did not get my 'horror story' satisfaction in reading this book, I got a different, albeit pleasant, satisfaction altogether.
It was the heartfelt relationship between the two young children that intrigued my senses. They became close and the emotional attachment between the two was a tangible thing. They were supportive of each other and created a bond that I was pleased to witness and greatly admired. This sweet relationship between these two overshadowed anything that would be deemed "frightening" for me within the book. The characters in the book were developed in such a way that a connection between the reader and characters was instant and strengthened the validity of the writer as being a seasoned author who knows how to write engagingly.
There is an enlightening twist at the end of the book that tied in the storyline beautifully and left me marveling at the writer's ability to keep the reader engaged throughout the book right to the surprise ending. I had such a mix of emotions when the plot twist was revealed. It really choked me up. Little bits of my heart cracked and I held back tears.
The story clocked in at 143 pages so it wasn't an overly long story but it was well paced and it was the perfect amount of time for the plot to unravel without it dragging and leaving the reader in a sleepy-eyed stupor, trying to stay awake. I read this book over the recent holidays and although it is a hectic time of the season, I found myself consistently reaching for this book when I had some spare time. This is always a good sign that a book struck your fancy.
I went into this book searching for an emerald and encountered a diamond instead. I'm satisfied. I do look forward to reading Ms. Cross's other books and in fact, I have acquired a few more and added them to my TBR list.
Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.
4.5/5!
Except... this book did not come across to me as a horror story- in fact, it was quite the opposite. It revealed itself to be a deeply sentimental book centered around two children. Though I did not get my 'horror story' satisfaction in reading this book, I got a different, albeit pleasant, satisfaction altogether.
It was the heartfelt relationship between the two young children that intrigued my senses. They became close and the emotional attachment between the two was a tangible thing. They were supportive of each other and created a bond that I was pleased to witness and greatly admired. This sweet relationship between these two overshadowed anything that would be deemed "frightening" for me within the book. The characters in the book were developed in such a way that a connection between the reader and characters was instant and strengthened the validity of the writer as being a seasoned author who knows how to write engagingly.
There is an enlightening twist at the end of the book that tied in the storyline beautifully and left me marveling at the writer's ability to keep the reader engaged throughout the book right to the surprise ending. I had such a mix of emotions when the plot twist was revealed. It really choked me up. Little bits of my heart cracked and I held back tears.
The story clocked in at 143 pages so it wasn't an overly long story but it was well paced and it was the perfect amount of time for the plot to unravel without it dragging and leaving the reader in a sleepy-eyed stupor, trying to stay awake. I read this book over the recent holidays and although it is a hectic time of the season, I found myself consistently reaching for this book when I had some spare time. This is always a good sign that a book struck your fancy.
I went into this book searching for an emerald and encountered a diamond instead. I'm satisfied. I do look forward to reading Ms. Cross's other books and in fact, I have acquired a few more and added them to my TBR list.
Needless to say, I highly recommend this book.
4.5/5!
March 13, 2022
Loved it!
A good haunting story. Amy Cross has a way with telling a tale, once you start you have to read to the end.
A good haunting story. Amy Cross has a way with telling a tale, once you start you have to read to the end.
March 19, 2021
A wonderful horror story
Amy you bring out the things that can happen when people give up on ghosts and so on living with a wonderful aged lady a!! My childhood I miss her spirit and her prevesence and the love she showed me.thank you Amy and tell what you keep on writing them and ill keep on reading them sincerely Christine Dunne Harlingen tx
Amy you bring out the things that can happen when people give up on ghosts and so on living with a wonderful aged lady a!! My childhood I miss her spirit and her prevesence and the love she showed me.thank you Amy and tell what you keep on writing them and ill keep on reading them sincerely Christine Dunne Harlingen tx
July 12, 2023
so good!
OK, this book was fantastic to read. This is now my second book from this author and certainly won’t be my last. Aside from the annoying typos throughout both books so far, the endings definitely make reading these books worth it. I’m so excited to check out more!
OK, this book was fantastic to read. This is now my second book from this author and certainly won’t be my last. Aside from the annoying typos throughout both books so far, the endings definitely make reading these books worth it. I’m so excited to check out more!
May 21, 2022
suspenseful
A life time of looking for a book leads to unexpected consequences. The author keeps you guessing until the end.
A life time of looking for a book leads to unexpected consequences. The author keeps you guessing until the end.
January 22, 2022
The Cemetery Ghost is a novella about a little girl, Elizabeth, who lives near a cemetery and whose mother just died. The day of the funeral she spots a ghost boy, Patrick, in the cemetery. Much to both their surprise, she appears to be the only one who can see and communicate with the ghost. Meanwhile, there's a strange scarred man, Shand, who has broken into the nearby rectory in order to pursue some dubious pursuit regarding some ghosts and an ancient book.
At the beginning of the story Elizabeth's father alludes to something about her behavior and the way "she can be," which probably is why she can see the ghost, but it's not directly addressed what her issue actually is. Though it is odd for an 11-year old she is fairly unaffected by her mother's death and father's messed up emotional status, and rather exuberant and forceful with regards to speaking with Patrick.
Eventually the two stories - Elizabeth and Patrick, and Shand's snooping about, come together and all the mysteries laid out earlier begin to be explained. By the end there's some straight out horror and a real "gotcha" moment. I must admit that by the middle of the book I was no longer feeling it, but the way it concluded really turned things around and made for an entertaining read.
At the beginning of the story Elizabeth's father alludes to something about her behavior and the way "she can be," which probably is why she can see the ghost, but it's not directly addressed what her issue actually is. Though it is odd for an 11-year old she is fairly unaffected by her mother's death and father's messed up emotional status, and rather exuberant and forceful with regards to speaking with Patrick.
Eventually the two stories - Elizabeth and Patrick, and Shand's snooping about, come together and all the mysteries laid out earlier begin to be explained. By the end there's some straight out horror and a real "gotcha" moment. I must admit that by the middle of the book I was no longer feeling it, but the way it concluded really turned things around and made for an entertaining read.
January 27, 2021
Captivating
This novella is a quick read with an unusual ending. I normally don't enjoy stories about children ghosts. But this one is done in good taste and portrays love and friendship. Highly recommended.
This novella is a quick read with an unusual ending. I normally don't enjoy stories about children ghosts. But this one is done in good taste and portrays love and friendship. Highly recommended.
February 19, 2021
Brilliant! It’s gripping, well written and there can never be too many plots & twists!
Amy Cross is a goddess of writing and she shines through in this book.
If you want something that’s creepy, edgy & keeps you from putting the book down. It’s this book right here!
Amy Cross is a goddess of writing and she shines through in this book.
If you want something that’s creepy, edgy & keeps you from putting the book down. It’s this book right here!
April 4, 2021
A fantastic story from start to finish. Great characters that I felt familiar with and having carried on through each chapter, I was amazed that Amy had me, with a great twist at the end. Well recommended.
January 5, 2021
She did it again
I just love all her books and this was no different. My only problem was this book ended to quickly.
I just love all her books and this was no different. My only problem was this book ended to quickly.
January 10, 2021
Very interesting
A mystery involving a real ghost, a ghost with no memory of anything but his name. There are some very interesting twists involved.
A mystery involving a real ghost, a ghost with no memory of anything but his name. There are some very interesting twists involved.
January 7, 2021
Great read
Such a gripping story
That keeps you guessing all the way
Through. Characters grow on you and you
Cannot put the book down
Such a gripping story
That keeps you guessing all the way
Through. Characters grow on you and you
Cannot put the book down
February 15, 2021
Spooky
Awesome great read. So enjoyed reading about the little girl who came across a boy ghost and helped him out. The suprise ending was totally unexpected.
Awesome great read. So enjoyed reading about the little girl who came across a boy ghost and helped him out. The suprise ending was totally unexpected.
March 13, 2021
Cemetery Ghosy
Good book. Maybe more of a kids book. Lay teens maybe. Not one of Amy’s best tho. Looking forward to starting another book soon.
Good book. Maybe more of a kids book. Lay teens maybe. Not one of Amy’s best tho. Looking forward to starting another book soon.
March 16, 2021
Great book!
Great read! I couldn't wait to pick up where I left off the night before. In will be reading another one by Amy.
Great read! I couldn't wait to pick up where I left off the night before. In will be reading another one by Amy.
July 10, 2021
an awesome book. did not see the ending coming. give it a read
August 19, 2021
Absolutely loved this book!! I was definitely not expecting the ending to play out the way it did!!
October 4, 2021
A charming read
It was a good read. Interesting characters and the ending was surprising. An enjoyable book to read. A must read.
It was a good read. Interesting characters and the ending was surprising. An enjoyable book to read. A must read.
March 11, 2022
Great ghost story
Really enjoyed the book, I love ghost stories and this was a excellent one kept me glued to the book. Surprisingly ,how a ghost story should be.
Really enjoyed the book, I love ghost stories and this was a excellent one kept me glued to the book. Surprisingly ,how a ghost story should be.
March 15, 2023
Met het publiceren van ongeveer achttien boeken per jaar is Amy Cross een erg productieve auteur. Alleen al dit jaar heeft ze op dit moment zes boeken geschreven. ‘The Cemetery Ghost’ is het tweede boek dat ik van haar lees en het is een toegankelijk verhaal over vriendschap, leegte en kennis.
De vriendschap tussen Elizabeth en Patrick is speciaal. Het verhaal laat zien ze elkaar ontmoeten op het kerkhof waarna er een band tussen beiden ontstaat. Dit is een rode draad door het verhaal en zorgt bij zowel Patrick als Elizabeth voor persoonlijke groei.
‘The cemetery ghost’ is een bijzonder verhaal waarin grappige momenten worden afgewisseld met spannende. In het begin van het boek komen enkele humoristische gebeurtenissen voor. Deze zorgen er echter voor dat de spanningsboog in verhouding te laag blijft voor iemand die het verhaal als horror leest. De horrorlezer krijgt zekere enkele momenten om te genieten, alleen duurt dat even.
Dan is er ook een ironische dynamiek binnen de relatie ouder – kind in het verhaal. Er is met dit motief in het achterhoofd een interessant spanningsveld tussen Elizabeth en Jerome. De macabere ironie waarmee Cross dit laat zien geeft voor mij diepgang aan het verhaal. Het geeft Jerome iets tragisch en Elizabeth iets duisters.
En dan de thematiek. Voor mijn gevoel gaat ‘The Cemetery Ghost’ over het verkrijgen van kennis. Aan de ene kant laat het boek zien hoe eng het proces van zelfkennis verkrijgen kan zijn via de verhaallijn van Patrick en aan de andere kant is er Jerome van wie ik de ontwikkeling associeerde met een existentiële leegte willen vervullen met kennis die macht geeft.
En zo is ‘The Cemetery Ghost’ niet het beste maar wel een vermakelijk en toegankelijk verhaal van Amy Cross over kennis, vriendschap en leegte. #thecemeteryghost #amycross
De vriendschap tussen Elizabeth en Patrick is speciaal. Het verhaal laat zien ze elkaar ontmoeten op het kerkhof waarna er een band tussen beiden ontstaat. Dit is een rode draad door het verhaal en zorgt bij zowel Patrick als Elizabeth voor persoonlijke groei.
‘The cemetery ghost’ is een bijzonder verhaal waarin grappige momenten worden afgewisseld met spannende. In het begin van het boek komen enkele humoristische gebeurtenissen voor. Deze zorgen er echter voor dat de spanningsboog in verhouding te laag blijft voor iemand die het verhaal als horror leest. De horrorlezer krijgt zekere enkele momenten om te genieten, alleen duurt dat even.
Dan is er ook een ironische dynamiek binnen de relatie ouder – kind in het verhaal. Er is met dit motief in het achterhoofd een interessant spanningsveld tussen Elizabeth en Jerome. De macabere ironie waarmee Cross dit laat zien geeft voor mij diepgang aan het verhaal. Het geeft Jerome iets tragisch en Elizabeth iets duisters.
En dan de thematiek. Voor mijn gevoel gaat ‘The Cemetery Ghost’ over het verkrijgen van kennis. Aan de ene kant laat het boek zien hoe eng het proces van zelfkennis verkrijgen kan zijn via de verhaallijn van Patrick en aan de andere kant is er Jerome van wie ik de ontwikkeling associeerde met een existentiële leegte willen vervullen met kennis die macht geeft.
En zo is ‘The Cemetery Ghost’ niet het beste maar wel een vermakelijk en toegankelijk verhaal van Amy Cross over kennis, vriendschap en leegte. #thecemeteryghost #amycross
January 20, 2022
Surprisingly, I did not care for this book very much because it was not fully developed in character, setting, or plot. I just told a person today, this book reads like a 6th graders book report. Yes, it is a ghost story, but just not one fully developed.
Ms. Cross seemed to write this book in pieces. It was as if she was beginning each chapter new without thinking about previous chapters/ideas within those chapters. And, with the idea that each chapter must build upon the last.
I found particularly irritating the fact that she kept calling one of the main character by his first name, when clearly she should have referred to him as 'dad or her father'. And, throughout the story, it was heavily snowing and yet the characters go about as if it is a spring day.
In the end, a little of the story made sense, but was not written very well or in a way that pulled the entire book together.
I have read other books by Amy Cross and was pleased. But this one, leaves a lot to be desired.
Ms. Cross seemed to write this book in pieces. It was as if she was beginning each chapter new without thinking about previous chapters/ideas within those chapters. And, with the idea that each chapter must build upon the last.
I found particularly irritating the fact that she kept calling one of the main character by his first name, when clearly she should have referred to him as 'dad or her father'. And, throughout the story, it was heavily snowing and yet the characters go about as if it is a spring day.
In the end, a little of the story made sense, but was not written very well or in a way that pulled the entire book together.
I have read other books by Amy Cross and was pleased. But this one, leaves a lot to be desired.
September 12, 2023
Elizabeth is surprised when she finds a young boy hanging out in the cemetery. She soon realizes that he is not a regular boy, but a ghost. As they slowly begin to form a friendship, she starts to wonder about who he is, and why he is stuck in the cemetery. He is able to come into her house, and they have fun playing some pranks on her dad.
But things take a turn, when a stranger shows up, asking if anything has been found in the cemetery. He is vague about what he is looking for, but he seems very interested in Elizabeth.
This was a good read, and contained a few twists that I did not see coming!
But things take a turn, when a stranger shows up, asking if anything has been found in the cemetery. He is vague about what he is looking for, but he seems very interested in Elizabeth.
This was a good read, and contained a few twists that I did not see coming!
February 16, 2022
Good read!
Finally, as he saw the shattered stone pieces starting to break even further apart, Shand threw the sledgehammer aside and dropped to his knees. He was shaking with pain, and his vision was a little blurred, but after a few minutes he was able to regather his composure. Reaching down, he began with trembling hands to pull the pieces of stone aside. Some were easier than others to move, but he was driven by the sense that at any moment he was going to find the prize.
Finally, as he saw the shattered stone pieces starting to break even further apart, Shand threw the sledgehammer aside and dropped to his knees. He was shaking with pain, and his vision was a little blurred, but after a few minutes he was able to regather his composure. Reaching down, he began with trembling hands to pull the pieces of stone aside. Some were easier than others to move, but he was driven by the sense that at any moment he was going to find the prize.
January 22, 2021
Disappointing!
This was very much a "run of the mill" ghost story and, if it had not been for the unexpected twist at the end of the tale, I would only have scored it two stars. I am not a fan of a story written through the eyes of a child as this, in my opinion, tends to weaken the plot. That said, the book was a good distraction during "lockdown" .
This was very much a "run of the mill" ghost story and, if it had not been for the unexpected twist at the end of the tale, I would only have scored it two stars. I am not a fan of a story written through the eyes of a child as this, in my opinion, tends to weaken the plot. That said, the book was a good distraction during "lockdown" .
July 16, 2021
Good short read
Keeps you interested, ending was good. The only thing that really bothers me is that there is a lot of misspelled words and that is one thing I hate to find in any story. Shows the writer or editor was in a rush or didn't think the story was good enough to put in the time to edit the story good.
Keeps you interested, ending was good. The only thing that really bothers me is that there is a lot of misspelled words and that is one thing I hate to find in any story. Shows the writer or editor was in a rush or didn't think the story was good enough to put in the time to edit the story good.
June 12, 2022
Amazing
Incredible book, it keeps you gripped all the way through, I well written amazing plot and characters, there is a few surprises that you wouldn't expect in the book, when I got to the end I was like wow I didn't expect. Incredible author and will be reading more of her books
Incredible book, it keeps you gripped all the way through, I well written amazing plot and characters, there is a few surprises that you wouldn't expect in the book, when I got to the end I was like wow I didn't expect. Incredible author and will be reading more of her books
January 20, 2023
An Amazing Read
This was amazing read, I’m loving Elizabeth because she’s helping Patrick find out why he’s haunting the cemetery, I wouldn’t have figured she was dead. This was a most beautiful and mysterious book. My second read this year. Thanks Amy Cross, your book are so CAPTIVATING ! I’m on to my next book.
This was amazing read, I’m loving Elizabeth because she’s helping Patrick find out why he’s haunting the cemetery, I wouldn’t have figured she was dead. This was a most beautiful and mysterious book. My second read this year. Thanks Amy Cross, your book are so CAPTIVATING ! I’m on to my next book.
October 18, 2022
Excellent story
This story is such a good read. I must say that there are parts of it that drag a bit but keep reading because all and all it's so worth it. The ending you will not see coming, and it's a real doozy. I stayed up all night, I bet you will too.
This story is such a good read. I must say that there are parts of it that drag a bit but keep reading because all and all it's so worth it. The ending you will not see coming, and it's a real doozy. I stayed up all night, I bet you will too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews