Graveminder

By Melissa Marr

The New York Times–bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series shares a "dark and dreamy . . . creatively creepy gothic tale for grown-ups" (USA Today).

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot her grandmother Maylene's dedication to the dead. Maylene never missed a funeral in the small town of Claysville, and she always performed the same unusual ritual: She took three sips from a silver flask and spoke the words "Sleep well, and stay where I put you."

Now Maylene is dead, and Bek must return to Claysville—where she finally discovers the truth behind her grandmother's odd traditions. Beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land where the dead reside. But they only stay put if they are properly cared for. Only the Graveminder and her Undertaker can set things right once the dead begin to walk.


Now Rebekkah has more than a funeral to attend to in Claysville. And what awaits her may be far worse: dark secrets, a centuries-old bargain, a romance that still haunts her, and a terrifying new calling.

"No one builds worlds like Melissa Marr." —Charlaine Harris
"A deliciously creepy tale that is as skillfully wrought as it is spellbindingly imagined." —Kelley Armstrong

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: May 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9780062083586

Melissa Marr

Melissa Marr was voted in high school the “most likely to end up in jail”. Instead, she went to graduate school, worked in a bar, became a teacher and did a lot of writing. Her novels Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity are published by HarperCollins.

Book preview

Prologue

MAYLENE PUT ONE HAND ATOP THE STONE FOR support; pulling herself up from the soil got harder every year. Her knees had been problem enough, but of late the arthritis had started settling in her hips. She brushed the soil from her hands and from her skirt and pulled a small bottle from her pocket. Carefully avoiding the green shoots of the tulip bulbs she’d planted, Maylene tilted the bottle over the earth.

Here you go, dear, she whispered. It’s not the shine we used to sip, but it’s what I have to share.

She stroked the top of the stone. No grass clippings had collected there; no spider silk stretched from the top. She was careful of the smallest detail.

Do you remember those days? Back porch, sunshine, and mason jars—she paused at the remembered sweetness—we were so foolish then ... thinking there was a big ol’ world out there to conquer.

Pete, for his part, wasn’t likely to reply: those who were properly buried and minded didn’t speak.

She made the rest of her rounds through Sweet Rest Cemetery, stopping to clean debris from stones, pour a bit of drink onto the ground, and say her words. Sweet Rest was the last of the cemeteries on the week’s schedule, but she didn’t shortchange the residents.

For a small town, Claysville had a high number of graveyards and cemeteries. By law, everyone ever born within town limits had to be buried here; consequently, the town had more deceased residents than living ones. Maylene wondered sometimes what would happen if the living knew of the bargain the town founders had made, but every time she’d broached the topic with Charles, she’d been rebuffed. Some battles weren’t ones she could win—no matter how much she wanted them.

Or how much damn sense they make.

She glanced at the darkening sky. It was past time to be back home. She did her duty well enough that there hadn’t been visitors in almost a full decade, but she still went home by sundown. A lifetime of habit didn’t wane even when it seemed like it should.

Or not.

Maylene had only just tucked her flask into her front dress pocket when she saw the girl. She was too thin, concave stomach showing under her ripped T-shirt. Her feet were bare, and her jeans had holes in the knees. A smudge of dirt outlined her left cheek like badly applied rouge. Eyeliner was smudged under her eyes like she’d fallen asleep with her makeup still on. The girl walked through the well-manicured cemetery, not staying on the paths, but crossing through the grass until she stood in front of one of the older family mausoleums beside Maylene.

I wasn’t expecting you, Maylene murmured.

The girl’s arms jutted out at awkward angles, not quite hands-on-hips-belligerent but not relaxed either, as if they weren’t all the way under the girl’s control. I came to find you.

I didn’t know. If I’d known ...

It doesn’t matter now. The girl’s attention was unwavering. "This is where you are."

It is, at that. Maylene busied herself gathering up her gardening shears and watering can. She’d finished with the scrub brushes and already piled up most of her supplies. The bottles clinked as she tossed the watering can into her wheelbarrow.

The girl looked sad. Her soil-dark eyes were clouded over by tears that she hadn’t been able to shed. I came to find you.

I couldn’t have known. Maylene reached out and plucked a leaf from the girl’s hair.

Doesn’t matter. She lifted a dirty hand, fingernails flashing chipped red polish, but she didn’t seem to know what to do with her outstretched fingers. Little-girl fears warred with teen bravado in her expression. Bravado won. I’m here now.

All right, then. Maylene walked down the path toward one of the gates. She pulled the old key from her handbag, twisted it in the lock, and pushed open the gate. It creaked just a bit. Might want to mention that to Liam, she reminded herself . He never can remember without a nagging.

Do you have pizza? The girl’s voice was soft in the air. And chocolate drink? I like those chocolate drinks.

I’m sure I have something I can fix. Maylene heard her own voice quiver. She was getting too old for surprises. Finding the girl here— in this state —was a few steps past a surprise. She shouldn’t be here. Her parents shouldn’t have let her roam; someone should have contacted Maylene before it got to this point. There were laws in Claysville.

Laws kept in place for just this reason.

They stepped through the gate onto the sidewalk. Outside the boundaries of Sweet Rest, the world wasn’t nearly so tidy. The sidewalk had cracked, and from within those gaps spindly weeds were sprouting.

Step on a crack, break your mama’s back, the girl whispered, and then stomped her bare foot on the broken cement. She smiled at Maylene and added, The bigger the crack, the worse it’ll hurt her.

That part doesn’t rhyme, Maylene pointed out.

It doesn’t, does it? She tilted her head for a moment and then said, "The bigger the break, the worse the ache. That works."

She swung her arms loosely as they walked, out of time with their steps, out of normal rhythm. Her steps were steady, but the pattern was erratic. Her feet came down on the sidewalk with such force that the broken cement tore at her bare feet.

Silently, Maylene pushed her wheelbarrow down the sidewalk until they came to the end of her driveway. She stopped, and with one hand, she pulled her flask out of her pocket and emptied it; with the other hand, she reached inside the postbox. In the back—folded up, stamped, and addressed—was an envelope. Her fingers trembled, but Maylene sealed the flask inside the envelope, slipped it inside the box, and raised the red flag to signal the carrier to take away the package. If she didn’t come back to retrieve it in the morning, it would go to Rebekkah. Maylene put her hand on the side of the battered box for a moment, wishing that she’d had the courage to tell Rebekkah the things she needed to know before now.

I’m hungry, Miss Maylene, the girl urged.

I’m sorry, Maylene whispered. Let me get you something warm to eat. Let me—

It’s okay. You’re going to save me, Miss Maylene. The girl gave her a genuine look of happiness. I know it. I knew that if I found you everything would be okay.

Chapter 1

BYRON MONTGOMERY HADN’T BEEN INSIDE THE BARROW HOUSE IN YEARS. Once he’d gone there every day to meet his high school girlfriend, Ella, and her stepsister, Rebekkah. They’d both been gone for nearly a decade, and for the first time, he was grateful. Ella and Rebekkah’s grandmother lay on the kitchen floor in a puddle of partially congealed blood. Her head was twisted at an odd angle, and her arm was torn. The blood on the floor seemed to have come mostly from that one wound. It looked like she had a handprint bruise on her upper arm, but it was hard to tell with the amount of blood around her.

Are you okay? Chris stepped in front of him, temporarily blocking the sight of Maylene’s body. The sheriff wasn’t an unnaturally large man, but like all of the McInneys, he had the sort of presence that commanded attention under any circumstances. The attitude and musculature that had once made Chris a sight to see in a good bar fight now made him the sort of sheriff that invited trust.

What? Byron forced himself to stare only at Chris, to avoid looking at Maylene’s body.

Are you going to be sick or something ... because of the—Chris gestured at the floor—blood and all.

No. Byron shook his head. A person couldn’t be an undertaker and get squeamish at the sight— or scent —of death. He’d worked at funeral homes outside of Claysville for eight years before he’d given in to the insistent urge to come back home. Out there, he’d seen the results of violent deaths, of children’s deaths, of lingering deaths. He’d mourned some of them, even though they were strangers to him, but he’d never been sick from it. He wasn’t going to get sick now either, but it was harder to be distant when the dead was someone he’d known.

Evelyn went and got her clean clothes. Chris leaned against the kitchen counter, and Byron noted that the blood spray hadn’t touched that side of the room.

Did you already collect evidence or ... ? Byron halted before he’d finished the sentence. He didn’t know what all needed to be done. He’d picked up more bodies than he could count, but never from a still-fresh crime scene. He wasn’t a pathologist or in any way involved in forensic investigation. His job commenced afterward, not at the scene of homicide. At least, it had been like that elsewhere. Now that he was back home, things weren’t what he was used to. The small town of Claysville was a different sort of place from the cities he’d roamed. He hadn’t realized exactly how different it was until he’d gone away ... or maybe until he’d come back.

"Did I collect evidence of what?" Chris glowered at him with a menace that would make a lot of folks cringe, but Byron remembered when the sheriff had been one of the guys—likely to go into Shelly’s Stop ’n’ Shop to grab them a twelve-pack when Byron wasn’t quite old enough to buy it for himself.

The crime. Byron gestured at the kitchen. Blood spatter had arced across Maylene’s floor and cabinet fronts. A plate and two drinking glasses sat on the table, proof that there had been a second person at the table—or that Maylene had set out two glasses for herself. So she might have known her attacker. A chair was knocked backward on the floor. She’d struggled. A loaf of bread, with several slices cut and lying beside it, sat on the counter cutting board. She’d trusted her attacker. The bread knife had been washed and was the lone item in a narrow wooden drying rack beside the sink. Someone—the attacker?—had cleaned up. As Byron tried to assign meaning to what he saw around him, he wondered if Chris simply didn’t want to talk about the evidence. Maybe he sees something I’m missing?

The lab tech, whom Byron didn’t know, stepped into the kitchen. He didn’t step in the blood on the floor, but if he had, his shoes were already covered by booties. The absence of his kit seemed to indicate that the tech had already done what he needed in this room.

Or wasn’t going to be doing anything.

Here. The tech held out disposable coveralls and disposable latex gloves. Figured you’d need help getting her out of here.

Once Byron had the coveralls and gloves on, he looked from the tech to Chris. The attempt at patience vanished; he needed to know. "Chris? That’s Maylene, and ... just tell me you’ve got something to ... I don’t know, narrow in on whoever did this or something."

Drop it. Chris shook his head and pushed away from the counter. Unlike the tech, he was very careful where he stepped. He walked toward the doorway into Maylene’s living room, putting himself farther from the body, and caught Byron’s gaze. Just do your job.

Right. Byron squatted down, started to reach out, and then looked up. Is it safe to touch her? I don’t want to disturb anything if you still need to collect—

You can do whatever you need. Chris didn’t look at Maylene as he spoke. I can’t get anything else done until you take her out of here, and it’s not right her lying there like that. So ... just do it. Take her out of here.

Byron unzipped the body bag. Then, with a silent apology to the woman he’d once expected to be part of his family, he and the tech gently moved her body into the bag. Leaving it still unzipped, Byron straightened and peeled off his now-bloody gloves.

Chris’ gaze dropped to Maylene’s body inside the still-open bag. Silently, he grabbed the biohazard bag and shoved it at the tech. Then the sheriff squatted down and zipped the bag, hiding Maylene’s corpse from sight. Not right for her to be looking like that.

And it’s not right to contaminate the exterior of the pouch, Byron retorted as he dropped the gloves in the biohazard bag, removed the coveralls, and carefully put them in the bag, too.

Chris crouched down, closed his eyes, and whispered something. Then he stood. Come on. You need to get her up out of here.

The look he spared for Byron was accusatory, and for a split moment, Byron wanted to snarl at him. It wasn’t that Byron didn’t feel for the dead. He did. He took care of them, treated them with more care than a lot of people knew in their lives, but he didn’t stand and weep. He couldn’t. Distance was as essential as the rest of an undertaker’s tools; without it, the job was impossible.

Some deaths got to him more than others; Maylene’s was one of them. She’d had an office at his family funeral home and a long-standing relationship with his father. She’d raised the only two women he’d ever loved. She was all but family—but that didn’t mean he was going to grieve here.

Silently and carefully, Byron and Chris carried Maylene to the cot Byron had left outside the door, and then they put her in the waiting hearse.

Once the back of the hearse was closed, Chris took several breaths. Byron doubted that the sheriff had ever dealt with a murder investigation. Claysville, for all of its eccentricities, was the safest town Byron had ever known. Growing up, he hadn’t realized how rare that was.

Chris? I know some people I could call if you wanted to call in help.

The sheriff nodded, but he refused to look at Byron. Tell your father that— Chris’ voice broke. He cleared his throat and continued, Tell him that I’ll call Cissy and the girls.

I will, Byron assured him.

Chris took several steps away. He stopped outside the same side door where they’d exited, but he didn’t look back as he said, "I suspect someone will need to tell Rebekkah. Cissy isn’t likely to call her, and she’ll be needing to come home now."

Chapter 2

REBEKKAH HAD SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE DAY OUT WALKING around the Gas Light District with a sketchpad. She didn’t have any projects right now, but she wasn’t feeling the inspiration to create anything on her own either. Some people worked well with daily discipline, but she’d always been more of a need-a-deadline or consumed-by-vision artist. Unfortunately, that meant that she had nowhere to direct the restless energy she’d been feeling, so she went wandering with a sketchpad and an old SLR. When neither sketching nor photography had helped, she’d come back to the apartment only to find more than a dozen missed calls from an unknown number—and no messages.

Restless day and random calls. Hmm. What do you think, Cherub? Rebekkah stared out the window as she ran a hand over her cat’s back.

She’d only been in San Diego three months, but the itch was back. She had almost two months before Steven returned and reclaimed his apartment, but she was ready to take off now.

Today feels worse.

Nothing looked quite right, felt quite right. The bright blue California sky seemed pale; the cranberry bread she’d grabbed at the bakery across the street was flavorless. Her typical edginess didn’t usually result in blunted senses, but today everything seemed somehow dulled.

Maybe I’m sick. What do you think?

The tabby cat on the windowsill flicked her tail.

The downstairs buzzer sounded, and Rebekkah glanced down at the street. The delivery driver was already headed back in his truck.

"Occasionally, it would be nice if deliveries were actually delivered rather than left behind to be trampled or wet or taken," Rebekkah grumbled as she went down the two flights of stairs to the entryway.

Outside the front door on the step on the building was a brown envelope addressed in Maylene’s spidery handwriting. Rebekkah picked it up—and just about dropped it as she felt the contours of what was inside.

No. She tore the package open. The top of the envelope fluttered to the ground, landing by a bird-of-paradise plant beside the door. Her grandmother Maylene’s silver flask was nestled inside the thick envelope. A white handkerchief with delicate tatting was wrapped around it.

No, she repeated.

Rebekkah stumbled as she ran back up the stairs. She slammed open the door to the apartment, grabbed her mobile, and called her grandmother.

Where are you? Rebekkah whispered as the ringing on the other end continued. Answer the phone. Come on. Come on. Answer.

Over and over, she dialed both of Maylene’s numbers, but there was no answer at the house phone or the mobile phone that Rebekkah had insisted her grandmother carry.

Rebekkah clutched the flask in her hand. It hadn’t ever been out of Maylene’s possession for as long as Rebekkah had known her. When Maylene left the house, it was in her handbag. In the garden, it was in one of the deep pockets of her apron. At home, it sat on the kitchen counter or the nightstand. And at every funeral Rebekkah had attended with her grandmother, the flask was there.

Rebekkah stepped into the darkened room. She’d known Ella was laid out, but the wake didn’t officially start for another hour. She pulled the door shut as carefully as she could, trying to keep silent. She walked to the end of the room. Tears ran down her cheeks, dripped onto her dress.

It’s okay to cry, Beks.

Rebekkah looked around the darkened room; her gaze darted over chairs and flower arrangements until she found her grandmother sitting in a big chair along the side of the room. Maylene ... I didn’t ... I thought I was alone with—she looked at Ella—with ... I thought she was the only one here.

She’s not here at all. Maylene didn’t turn her attention to Rebekkah or come out of the chair. She stayed in the shadows staring at her blood-family, at Ella.

She shouldn’t have done it. Rebekkah hated Ella a bit just then. She couldn’t tell anyone, but she did. Her suicide made everyone cry; it made everything wrong. Rebekkah’s mother, Julia, had come unhinged—searching Rebekkah’s room for drugs, reading her journal, clutching her too tight. Jimmy, her stepdad, had started drinking the day they found Ella, and as far as Rebekkah could see, he hadn’t stopped yet.

Maylene’s voice was a whisper in the dark: Come here.

Rebekkah went over and let Maylene pull her into a rose-scented embrace. Maylene stroked her hair and whispered soft words in a language Rebekkah didn’t know, and Rebekkah wept all the tears she’d been holding on to.

When she stopped, Maylene opened up her giant handbag and pulled out a silver flask that was etched with roses and vines that twisted into initials, A.B.

Bitter medicine. Maylene tipped it back and swallowed. Then she held it out.

Rebekkah accepted the flask with a shaky snot-and-tear-wet hand. She took a small sip and coughed as a burn spread from her throat to her stomach.

You’re not blood, but you’re mine the same as she was. Maylene stood up and took the flask back. More so, now.

She held up the flask like she was making a toast and said, From my lips to your ears, you old bastard. She squeezed Rebekkah’s hand as she swallowed the whiskey. She’s been well loved and will be still.

Then she looked at Rebekkah and held the flask out.

Silently, Rebekkah took a second sip.

If anything happens to me, you mind her grave and mine the first three months. Just like when you go with me, you take care of the graves. Maylene looked fierce. Her grip on Rebekkah’s hand tightened. Promise me.

I promise. Rebekkah’s heartbeat sped. Are you sick?

No, but I’m an old lady. She let go of Rebekkah’s hand and reached down to touch Ella. I thought you and Ella Mae would ... Maylene shook her head. I need you, Rebekkah.

Rebekkah shivered. Okay.

Three sips for safety. No more. No less. Maylene held out the silver flask for the third time. Three on your lips at the burial. Three at the soil for three months. You hear?

Rebekkah nodded and took her third sip of the stuff.

Maylene leaned down to kiss Ella’s forehead. You sleep now. You hear me? she whispered. Sleep well, baby girl, and stay where I put you.

Rebekkah was still clutching the phone when it rang. She looked at the readout: it was Maylene’s area code, but not either of her numbers. Maylene?

A man said, Rebekkah Barrow?

Yes.

Rebekkah, I need you to sit down, he said. Are you sitting?

Sure, she lied. Her palms were sweating. Mr. Montgomery? Is this ... Her words faded.

It is. I’m so sorry, Rebekkah. Maylene is—

No, Rebekkah interrupted. No!

She slid down the wall as the world slipped out of focus, collapsed to the floor as her fears were confirmed, closed her eyes as her chest filled with a pain she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

I’m so sorry. William’s voice gentled even more. We’ve been trying to call all day, but the number we had for you was wrong.

We? Rebekkah stopped herself before she asked about Byron; she could handle a crisis without him at her side. He hadn’t been at her side for years, and she was just fine. Liar. Rebekkah felt the numbness, the need-to-cry-scream-choke grief that she couldn’t touch yet. She heard the whispered questions she’d wondered when Ella died. How could she not tell me? Why didn’t she call? Why didn’t she reach for me? Why wasn’t I there?

Rebekkah?

I’m here. Sorry ... I just ...

I know. William paused, and then reminded her, "Maylene must be interred within the next thirty-six hours. You need to come home tonight. Now."

I ... she ... There weren’t words, not truly. The Claysville tendency to adopt green burial procedures, those that relied on the lack of embalming, unsettled her. She didn’t want her grandmother to return to the soil: she wanted her to be alive.

Maylene is dead.

Just like Ella.

Just like Jimmy.

Rebekkah clutched the phone tightly enough that the edges creased her hand. No one called ... the hospital. No one called me. I would’ve been there if they called.

I’m calling now. You need to come home now, he said.

"I can’t get there that quickly. The wake ... I can’t be there today."

The funeral is tomorrow. Catch a red-eye.

She thought about it, the things she’d need to do. Get Cherub’s carrier. Trash. Empty the trash. Water the ivy. Do I have anything respectable to wear? There were a dozen things to do. Focus on those. Focus on the tasks. Call the airline.

Thank you. For taking care of her, I mean. I’m glad ... not glad—she stopped herself. Actually, I’d really rather you hadn’t called, but that wouldn’t make her alive, would it?

No, he said softly.

The enormity of Maylene’s being gone felt too huge then, like stones in Rebekkah’s lungs, making it hard to move, taking up the space where air should be. She closed her eyes again and asked, Did she ... was she sick long? I didn’t know. I was there at Christmas, but she never said anything. She seemed fine. If I’d known ... I ... I would’ve been there. I didn’t know until you called.

He paused a beat too long before replying. Call the airline, Rebekkah. Book a flight home. Questions can wait till you get here.

Chapter 3

WILLIAM SLID HIS PHONE ACROSS THE DESK, FARTHER OUT OF REACH. She’s on her way. You could’ve called her; you probably should have.

No. Byron sat beside his father’s desk and stared at the page of crossed-out numbers for Rebekkah. Some were in Maylene’s handwriting; others were in Rebekkah’s. She was even worse than he’d been. That doesn’t mean I need to go running to her side. He wasn’t going to be cruel to her— couldn’t —but he wasn’t going to chase after her hoping for another kick in the face.

Julia won’t come with her. Even for this, she won’t return to Claysville. William looked directly at Byron. Rebekkah will need you.

He met his father’s gaze. And despite everything, I’ll be here. You know that, and so does Rebekkah.

William nodded. You’re a good man.

At that, Byron’s gaze dropped. He didn’t feel like a good man; he felt tired of trying to live a life without Rebekkah—and utterly unable to live a life with her. Because she can’t let go of the past. Byron’s desire to be there for Rebekkah warred with the memories of the last time they’d spoken. They’d stood in the street outside a bar in Chicago, and Rebekkah had made it very clear that she didn’t want him in her life. Never, B. Don’t you get it? I’m never going to be that girl, not for you or anyone else, she’d half sobbed, half shouted, especially not for you. He’d known when he woke the next morning she’d be gone again; she’d vanished while he slept enough times that he was always a little surprised if she was actually there in the morning.

William pushed away from his desk. Briefly he clasped Byron’s shoulder, and then walked to the door.

Maybe it was only to avoid the topic Byron didn’t want to think about, but it was still a truth they needed to address. Byron started, "Rebekkah only lived here for a few years, and she hasn’t lived here for nine years. He paused and waited then until his father looked at him before finishing: She’ll have questions, too."

William didn’t cow easily, though. He merely nodded and said, "I know. Rebekkah will be told what she needs to know when she needs to know it. Maylene was very clear in how to handle matters. She had everything in order."

And Maylene’s planning ... is that all in her nonexistent file? I looked, you know. The woman had an office here, but there’s no paperwork on her. No plot. No prepaid anything. Nothing. Byron kept his voice even, but the frustration he’d felt for years over the unanswered questions seemed ready to bubble over. One of these days, you’re going to have to stop keeping secrets if I’m ever to be a real partner in the funeral home.

All you need to know today is that Maylene didn’t need a file. The Barrow woman pays no fees, Byron. There are traditions in Claysville. William turned and walked away, his departing footsteps muffled by the soft gray carpet that lined the hallways.

Right, Byron muttered. Traditions.

That excuse had worn thin long before Byron left Claysville the day after graduation from high school, and it hadn’t gotten any more palatable in the eight years since. If anything, the frustration of these answerless discussions grew more pressing. The traditions here were more than small-town peculiarities: there was something different about Claysville, and Byron was certain his father knew what it was.

Normal towns don’t lure you back.

Most people never moved away. They were born, lived, and died in the town limits. Byron hadn’t realized how securely he was rooted in Claysville until he’d gotten out—and instantly felt the need to come back. He’d thought it would lessen, but the need to return home grew worse rather than better over time. Five months ago—after eight years of resisting it and not being able to ever assuage the need—he’d given in.

During those years away, he’d tried to stay in small towns, telling himself that maybe he wasn’t cut out for city living. Then he’d tell himself it was the wrong town, wrong city. He’d tried towns so small that they were specks of dust, and larger ones, and then more cities. He’d tried living in Nashville, in Chicago, in Portland, in Phoenix, in Miami. He’d lied to himself, blaming each move on the weather, on the pollution, on the wrong culture or the wrong relationship or the wrong funeral home. On everything but the truth. In eight years, he’d lived in thirteen places—although, admittedly, a few of them were only for a couple of months—and he couldn’t stop thinking the next move should be home every single time. The moment he crossed over the town line, every bit of wanderlust he’d been unable to sate dissipated; the vise that had tightened across his chest little by little over the years had suddenly vanished.

Will Bek feel the same way?

She had only lived in Claysville for a few years; she’d moved there with her mother at the start of high school, and they were gone before graduation. Somehow those three years were the ones that set the events for the last nine years of his life. Ella died, Rebekkah left, and Byron spent the next nine years missing them both.

Byron heard his father’s voice in their office manager’s office. He listened to William ask about the preparations for the wake and burial. After William was sure all was in order, he would go down to the preparation room to visit Maylene . She had been bathed and dressed; her hair and makeup made her look more lifelike. However, as was traditional in Claysville, she had not been embalmed. Her body would be returned to the earth with no toxins other than the lingering traces of those she’d ingested over the years.

Tradition.

That was the only answer he’d ever been offered to this and myriad other questions. There were times he’d thought the very word

Reviews for Graveminder

[mutantpudding · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing premise, but I hated the characters and the plot didn't make sense. The protagonists are way too chill about their situation and it was infuriating to me. They spend twice as much time whining about their relationship problems than they do dealing with the fact their town has been under contract with an immortal being from another dimension for decades. Clearly it's a crap deal, as evidenced by the fact that there are freaking ghouls out munching on folks, but they never really deal with the root of the problem. Also the protagonists had almost no personality and the mechanics of the ghost world didn't make sense.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'd like to say that I've read everything by Melissa Marr. I'd like to say that. However the truth is that until Graveminder showed up at my door, and drew me in with it's Southern Gothic cover and blurb, I hadn't realized Melissa Marr's books were out there. Shame on me, I know. Let's just say that I've remedied that now, and if Graveminder is any indication of Marr's shining talent, then I'm 100% in. Call me a fangirl.

Graveminder is deep, gritty and filled with the type of tension that you only see in really good, old, horror movies. You know, the ones where the town seems peaceful and quiet at first glance, but deep down you know there's something brewing under the surface. The small town feel allows the reader to watch characters interact who know one another so intimately that it is captivating. I believe it's on the front cover that Charlaine Harris mentions Melissa Marr's stunning world building abilities. I second that, third it, and go back to read this book another time through. Claysville is not only a town populated by some of the most intriguing characters I've ever met. It's not just a town that buries secrets. No, Claysville literally breathes. It's alive.

If the town itself is alive, the characters are even more so. Their lives bleed off the page, intermingling into a group of people you might just meet some day. I fell in step with Rebekkah and Byron almost instantly, watching as their paths widened, met, and finally tangled into a messy heap. Each of them was believable, and I enjoyed that Marr didn't try make them perfect. Rebekkah and Byron each have their own demons that they are fighting, even as they are trying to keep one another from drowning. The tension between them, both in terms of anger and sexual interest, is palpable. I couldn't get over the fact that they were thrown together so unceremoniously. Following them as they tried to sort things out, and learned to rely on one another, was definitely a big part of what kept me reading on.

There's not really too much I can share with you in terms of the story line, without spoiling things. I am enamored with how little the synopsis gives the reader in terms of back story. To be honest, the less you know going in the more you'll be open to falling in love with the concept. This isn't your typical zombie book my friends. I'm honestly not even sure it should be compared to that. What Marr has created in Graveminder is something new, fresh and beautifully original. Her characters, her setting, the gorgeously woven story, it all comes together to create one heck of a book. Grab a copy and dive into Claysville. You might find that you just can't leave.

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked "Graveminder" well enough, but the beginning and parts of the middle were much slower than they needed to be. Questions are not answered for a hundred pages or more, and by that point a literal portal to the afterlife feels like a bit of a stretch. I knew something mystical was going on, but "Graveminder" is set in our world, roughly at the present day, but because of the lack of hints or answers prior to the introduction of the portal to the afterlife I wasn't at all prepared for something that big to happen. Up until that point I had thought "Graveminder" was more magical realism than straight-up, other-worlds-attached-to-ours, fantasy.

Other than the slow pacing and sudden jolt when things picked up, I enjoyed "Graveminder" well enough. My favorite thing was how the point of view continually shifted--I loved seeing how different Rebeckah and Byron viewed the world of the afterlife, how other characters (particularly Daisha, Rebeckah's step-cousin Liz, and the mayor) viewed Rebeckah and Byron's relationship, and how Daisha reclaimed her humanity. The whole story is told through third-person limited point of view, but with who the POV is limited to always shifting, the world of Clayville became far more robust. The cast was varied but interesting, and very few minor characters were anything but fully 3D.

All in all, well worth a read, but I'm very glad I got my (virtual) copy on sale. Don't pay full price for "Graveminder."

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Graveminder
4 Stars

Upon returning home to Claysville following the death of her beloved grandmother, Rebekkah Barrow learns the town's troubling secret known only to a select few, and discovers that she has been chosen to carry on a family tradition. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased with the choice and Rebekkah finds herself the target of a malicious and dangerous foe ...

The original premise and solid writing style more than compensate for the lackluster romance.

Rebekkah is a strong and independent heroine, but also stubborn and emotionally distant. She has trouble accepting help from others even when she clearly needs it. Although she is obviously in love with Byron, she cannot admit it either to him or to herself, which adds unnecessary angst to their relationship. Byron, in contrast, has not such difficulty and there are times when his devotion to Rebekkah grates on the nerves. While Rebekkah and Byron do eventually come to terms with the fact that they must work together as a team both personally and professionally, their chemistry falls flat and their romance fizzles.

Notwithstanding the problems with Rebekkah and Byron, it is the plot of Graveminder that makes the book well worth reading. The town’s secret is intriguing and the build up to its revelation adds tension and suspense. There is also the added mystery of who precisely is out to get Rebekkah and why. The villain is a nasty piece of work, but ultimately receives the just reward in a very satisfying climax.

The world building is fascinating and the secondary characters, whether dead or alive, are very engaging. All in all, an entertaining story with just the right amount of gothic horror and grisly scenes to keep me satisfied despite its flaws.

[kmajort · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yet another book where it comes into the Circ Desk, a co-worker says, "HM, this looks interesting!" and its on Hold for me... ;)

Pretty good, if asked I'll stay with "worth reading"... and considering how picky I've been about reading of late....

[shaunesay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent! This is zombie fiction for those that aren't crazy about zombies! It was very interesting, and completely different from her Wicked Lovely series. Highly recommend!

[jjaylynny · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hmmm. A premise that was new to me, which is always wonderful. Some cool images, interesting ideas, and a plot that hummed along and clunked along at times. The ending was weak.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I have never thought of this topic where the dead can come back and someone has to be able to take them back to the land of the dead. Bek has been assigned the task of graveminder after her grandmother is killed by the dead. She must go around and make sure the dead stay where she puts them. But she is drawn to the land of the dead and wants to be in both worlds. The undertaker helps keep the graveminder safe. They are drawn together and help each other. They are supposed to keep the living in Claysville safe. I found this well written although halfway through the book there were tons of typos. But it is enjoyable and I recommend this book.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sleep well and stay where I put you. More than mere words uttered over the newly dead. The Graveminder and her undertaker are the heart of survival for the small town of Claysville - but it had been this way for over two hundred years. Now this survival is being threatened.

[altheaann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book, the first I'd read by this author.
She doesn't an excellent job of mixing the familiar and the original to create a fun and emotionally touching story.
It reminded me a bit, in tone, of Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Ghostlight" series, but I actually liked this better.
There's a small, insular town in the South where, instead of being desperate to get away, people who were born their always find themselves coming back. Tradition has it that anyone born their must also be buried there. Little do most of them know that their peaceful lives and their odd traditions are part of a magical contract drawn up hundreds of years ago.
But when the terms of that contract are not fulfilled, the dead walk...
Sympathetic characters, ghostie zombies, a dashing devil, a dash of romance... I hope there's a sequel!

[darceypaige-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The overall idea of grave minding drew me in. Imagine having to mind graves? "spooooooky" (ghost story type voice) I thought ghosts or maybe I don't know something but did I expect zombies? No I did not! *GRRRJHGHJ* The idea I like but that's where it ends. Grandmother dies (gets eaten by a girl yuk) and you have to return to the place and the man you left behind to make sure the graves are cared for or else (dun, dun, dun). So I thought to myself just give it a try, let it have a chance. ERGH big mistake no matter how much I liked the idea and the characters I could not read more than half of this novel. I mean i'm a huge fan of pretty much any idea. I've even watched a few zombie films but to read about someone let alone a girl eating flesh it turns out is just not for me. This is in fact the first book I have not read till the end. I just couldn't do it. The writing is beautiful the words are not. I tried, I really tried I just couldn't do it. If it had only been monsters or something, anything but flesh eating (creepy) maybe this is for you?.... I might at some point pick it back up and re-try but that day is not today and it certainly is not in the seeable future. I do how ever want to know what happens to these characters so maybe it could be sooner than I thought......

[slsmitty25 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Having loved her series Wicked Lovely, I was vastly looking forward to her first foray into Adult fiction. Sadly, I felt that I was still reading writing for YA's. It lacked depth of story, development of character and background. In a story that was aiming for a more mature audience she could and should have written a more substantial story.

[ahopkinsbibliomaniac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I first read the cover I was a little worried. This book was recommended from a friend. This book had me till the end. I won't add a spoiler. It's a favorite of mine and have lended my copy out several times. In fact I have just recently borrowed it out again. :) I was easily taken in by the story and the characters. Wish it hadn't ended.

[ellsie98 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. I really did. The world building from Ms Marr was, as always, impeccable and believable. I especially liked the world of the dead.

Having said this, there is one thing that pushed down the rating of this book from a 4 star to a 3 star; how unconcerned Rebekah and Byron were about the fact that Maylene's murderer was a dead girl and was still out there, killing people. Sure, I get that Rebekah is jet-lagged and her grandma just died and she's the Graveminder, and has to look after the graves of the newly deceased. Oh, and let's not forget visiting the world of the dead., but she and Byron should perhaps be a little more concerned about Daisha running about free? At least, concerned enough that they don't take 5 days over getting around to solving it.

Not enough variety in the mood of this book to give it a higher rating. The description was good and that was about it.

[nazgullie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was decent. I love Melissa Marr's characters, and while my love for Byron and Rebekkah was tepid, I really enjoyed the concept of the book which was giving offerings to the dead. A lot of the book fell flat for me though, and I wasn't too sorry when the book was over. The concept wasn't original, and the book itself while it had great potential sort of fell flat in the end.

[fefferbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the plot well enough--interesting idea. I wanted a bit more character development, but it was entertaining. I suspect I'd enjoy her YA novels as well or better. 3.5 stars.

[bookwormteri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely fell in love with this book. A unique concept that was superbly carried out.

Rebekkah Barrow has to go home for her grandmother's funeral. Bek has always had a wanderlust and a dislike for staying in one place for long. Plus, there is her past with Byron that she doesn't want to deal with. However, upon returning, Bek finds out that she has inherited her grandmother's position of Graveminder for this small quaint town and exactly what that means.

The characters and the world that is built in this novel is so real and so entertaining. I couldn't wait to read the resolution, but also never wanted it to end.

[mlleehreen · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Graveminder is kind of like, if Melissa Marr sat down in front of me and said, "I have this great idea for a novel!" and then she launched into it, explaining about the city of Claysville and the Graveminder and the Undertaker and the Land of the Dead, started laying out these neat characters and all the relationships. And I'd be sitting there, thinking, "Wow, what a great idea for a novel, yeah, amazing, so cool, do it!" However, when presented with the same thing in book form, the sketch handed over as the complete novel, I'm not quite so thrilled.

This really stumps me. I love Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series. She is an amazing writer, and the other books of hers that I've read have just sucked me in from page one and totally drenched me in a strange and scary alternate reality. I found her writing so vivid, and her fairy tales so real.

Graveminder, on the other hand, was hard to get into. I really trudged through the early chapters, always annoyed by one thing or another. Especially the flashbacks, which always seemed to come out of nowhere.

I felt like I knew who Rebekkah was supposed to be, but I always felt like I was getting a description of who she was -- her itinerant lifestyle and relationship dodging, her artistic streak -- rather than really seeing it in action. All the scenes where she talks to Byron, for example, about the state of their relationship - they just constantly rehash this history, using the same words from conversation to conversation, more or less at a standstill. There are a few scenes between the two of them that really pop, that come alive and have the kind of intensity I expect from a Melissa Marr book, and a lot that fall flat.

I could say the same about a lot of the characters, especially Mr. D. The one character that consistently pulled me in was Daisha. All the scenes with Daisha were wonderful.

I kind of feel like Graveminder is still in its fetal state, like I read a draft instead of a finished novel. I really hate writing a bad review when I'm a fan of the author's work, and I think the concept is pretty fantastic, but the execution left me pretty tepid. I'd say this is a 3.5 star book but I'm rounding up for old times sake.

[janetarmentani · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good original story, i hope there' a sequel

[jcmontgomery · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was a fan of Melissa Marr because of her Wicked Lovely series in the young adult/urban fantasy genre. Graveminder however is adult fiction - and I feel as good or better than her other work.

It was one of the books I was able to read in two days. (The only upside to being sick; I have all the time in the world to whine and read.)

I've seen mixed reviews of this book, but I'm not sure why unless you decide to treat this as high literature and critique every single thing. Not much fun and really not fair.

This is good mystery with some romance that doesn't get mushy or distracting. For those familiar with her YA stuff, be aware that this is not YA - it is definitely adult.

I guessed the mystery toward the end, but I found that this didn't detract from the revelations and how the story is finished off.

This was a very pleasant read and I highly recommend it to fans of mystery/horror/paranormal stories. Graveminder is hard to pin down genre-wise, but very easy to enjoy, especially when one is spending days in a sick bed. Okay, maybe a couple of days, still...regardless of your health, you have to check out this book.

Enjoy!

[abshepherd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3 1/2 stars.

Melissa Marr has one heck of an imagination! This book was a little darker than I usually prefer and it is far from fast paced. There is little romance here. Although the main two characters are "destined", I never felt a real connection between them.

What I liked best about this story is that it was quite different from anything I've read before.

[beckymmoe_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very scary and creepy...and the heroine's name is Rebekkah! (Okay, so only the crazy aunt who hated her called her Becky, but still, the family names continue.) I was really looking forward to reading Marr's first "adult" book, as I have enjoyed what I've read so far of the Wicked Lovely series. (Though the characters in this one are adults, there really isn't much "adult" stuff going on--kind of reminded me of Ann Brashares' first adult book in that way--just older characters.) This one was very different, being about a small, rather isolated town that has some very..interesting quirks. Hardly anyone who is born there moves away. None of the locals who die there are embalmed before burial. Illness is unheard of under the age of eighty. Couples have to wait their turn to have children. And a local woman has an office at the undertaker's funeral home, a woman who spends hours each day visiting the town's graveyards with a mysterious flask, some food, and whispered words. Very engrossing read.

[myurbanfantasies · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Originally published on my blog, My Urban Fantasies

This was supposed to be Melissa Marr's first adult novel and she missed the mark. It reads like a bizarre mix of a YA novel and a New Adult novel. Rebekkah Barrow starts the book with the emotional maturity of a teenager. Byron Montgomery, eventually Rebekkah joins him, is still transitioning between who he was when he left home and who he is expected to become. I noticed that some people consider this a horror novel. If you are very easily scared then this might be true otherwise no. I didn't even get the goosebumps.

The prologue was full of suspense and was cryptic enough that I devoured page after page to see what would happen next. Maylene Barrow was by far my favorite character, unfortunately she does not live to see chapter one. The chapters between the prologue and when Byron officially becomes the Undertaker and Rebekkah finds out she is the Graveminder, which is about halfway through, are slow. It was well written but the suspense is gone and the plot became a little predictable. Things were remarkably better in the last half of the book. The predictability is almost gone and the suspense is back though it does not reach the same intensity it had in the prologue.

I found Rebekkah highly annoying, unsympathetic and slightly distracting. She has a history with Byron, and gives a whole new meaning to love them and leave them. Rebekkah is constantly avoiding her feelings about Byron. She hooks up with him when it's convenient for her and then leaves, sometimes in the middle of the night. Whenever Byron approaches the subject of their relationship, or lack of one, Rebekkah uses sex as a distraction. Eventually she tells Byron to stay out of her life forever and he did until Maylene was murdered. I know I'm complaining a lot about Rebekkah. Byron does bear a little of the blame, he has this whipped, kicked puppy feel to him. But, I'm so tired of heroines who can deal with anything supernatural without blinking an eye, but dealing with their emotions is too scary and must be avoided at all costs.

This book barely made it to 3 Moons. Conceptually it was a brilliant story and I really enjoyed the last half of the book.

[forsix · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I admit I am fairly addicted to certain ghost shows on TV. When I received Graveminder last year, I was intrigued. A novel about a woman whose job is to keep the dead dead seemed all right to me. I really wanted to like this. It was spooky enough, scary enough but I draw the line at zombies. And the walking dead eat people. That’s just creepy.

There were some things I couldn’t ignore. Overall, the novel lacked something. I think the writing was a bit elementary. The premise was interesting, but the execution could have used some work. In defense to Ms. Marr, I received an ARC of Graveminder. I’m sure the finished novel was better. I know the dead and zombie’s are no laughing matter but this novel definitely needed a dose of laughter. Something, anything, to lighten it up.

I liked how Bek embraced her role as Graveminder. She knew it was her destiny. I thought she was a strong character. She knew what needed to be done and didn’t shy away from her responsibility. My issues lay with Byron. I didn’t like that Byron’s rose-colored love for Bek made him blind to everything else. Maybe I’m just a cynic, but seriously, the guy needed to settle down. Yes, I know as her Undertaker they are forever linked and he’s supposed to protect her, but still. It was nauseating to watch someone that clingy. It was creepy.

My favorite character was William, Byron’s father and Maylene’s Undertaker. Of all the characters, he was the most real to me. Ms. Marr portrayed his grief beautifully. Although his role was limited, there was such grace about him. I wish Graveminder was about him and Maylene instead of Byron and Rebekka.

I have several questions, especially about Mr. D (Charles).I like Rebekka, but can’t really stomach Byron. My opinion of the novel changed frequently during the reading. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't. Although in the end, I felt a glimmer of like but it might have been joy that it was finally over. I do believe if you are a fan of this genre, you will enjoy this novel. Me, not so much.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A darkly imaginative world and excellent storytelling but too many points of view make the story a little confusing at times.

Opening Sentence: Maylene put one hand atop the stone for support; pulling herself up from the soil got harder every year.

The Review:

The town of Claysville holds a dangerous secret over their dead. For many generations Graveminders and Undertakers have taken care of the dead, either by minding their graves or returning them back to the land of the dead if they don’t rest properly. The town is under a strange spell/pact with Charles or Mr. D. as he likes to be called. The town is happily ignorant over the contract but the townsfolk have some nice protections. If you were born there you never want to leave or you always feel the pull to bring you back. If you do manage to leave town, you must consent to have your body brought back to be buried if you die. You are also protected from diseases until eighty years of age.

Rebekkah’s grandmother Maylene is murdered before she tells her of the heritage that has been thrust upon her. Rebekkah spent a few years following Maylene and her strange habits not realizing that she was being taught to be a Graveminder. Bek must return to town quickly to attend her grandmother’s funeral but as soon as the funeral is over she wants to leave town, her grandmother was the only reason she would come back to Claysville. Bek would never come back for Byron, her teenage crush and sometimes lover.

Byron is an Undertaker, in name and in trade. His father was Maylene’s Undertaker and just like Rebekkah, Byron doesn’t know about his heritage until after Maylene dies. They have a tragic history that Bek just can’t get over. She blames herself and Byron for her step-sisters suicide so she will not allow herself any happiness with him.

The world Melissa Marr creates is darkly imaginative. The dead don’t always stay dead in the town of Claysville. In order for the dead to stay in the ground a Graveminder must follow a ritual with drink, food and words. If someone rises from the dead, the Undertaker helps the Graveminder lure them into the land of the dead for only he can lead the way. The land of the dead is another unique place that has its own rules. Byron sees it as a drab, colorless world while for Rebekkah it is vibrant and beautiful, the food she eats there is better than in the live world.

Marr’s writing is easy to follow and the short chapters make Graveminder flow effortlessly. There were a few concerns that I had. Graveminders and Undertakers are naturally attracted to each other. Bek and Byron don’t know this, Bek is always trying to fight off her attraction to Byron even when it seems like she gives in to it. When Byron finds out that their attraction isn’t exactly fate, he is pissed at first but then he quickly gets over it and it is never an issue again. Graveminder has many points of view, many townspeople just had one chapter, some added to the story, others didn’t, it was a little hard to follow all the characters introduced and what part they played in the story. I felt like the bulk of the book followed Byron which was fine because I thought he was the most level headed of the people in the book. I liked Byron way better than Bek, I felt she was a little too whiney at times, especially as she kept trying to push Byron away but would then send him mixed signals.

Overall, Graveminder is an intriguing new look at death, the dead and those who take care of them. If there is ever a sequel planned, I would like to see more of Mr. D., the land where the dead live and more about the history of exactly what happened to make a Gravefinder necessary.

Notable Scene:

Charlie held out the pen, and the musicians stopped all at once as if they’d been cut off. They, much like everything else since Byron had arrived in the land of the dead, seemed to be under the control of the man currently watching him expectantly. Byron wasn’t eager to be under anyone’s control. “What’s my part? You talked about the Graveminder, but what is it that I’m supposed to be promising to do?”

Charlie smiled magnanimously. “The very thing you want, Byron, the thing you’ve wanted since Ella died: you protect our Rebekkah. You love her. You keep her from wanted death.”

Bryon fixed his gaze on Charlie. “Can you come to our side?”

“If the Undertaker and the Graveminder do their job, none of the dead will come to your town. Your children will stay in the town, be safe from . . . well, quite a few things. Your town will stay strong, safe, flourish, all that rot.” Charlie tapped the scroll. “It’s all there in the fine print, spelled out in black and white.”

“It’s simply the order of things, Byron.” William’s voice was weary. “Go ahead.”

“Why? You expect me just to . . .” Byron backed from the table. “No. You’re not thinking clearly, but I am. Let’s go.”

He turned and made it as far as the door before he heard his father’s voice: “You drank with the dead, son. You sign, or you stay.”

Byron put his hand on the door, but he didn’t open it. His father had knowingly brought him here and put him in this predicament.

“I’m sorry,” William added softly. “There are traditions. This is one of them.”

“You’re old man is right.” Charlie’s voice echoed in the quiet room. “Make your choice.”

FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Graveminder. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[mt256 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Sleep well, and stay where I put you." Are you intrigued yet? This sentence is what sold me on this book. Melissa Marr has a fantastic way of sucking you into her stories. She is a phenomenal wordsmith. If you've been reading my reviews for awhile you'd know that I'm not a huge fan of anything to do with zombies. I loved Marr's Wicked Lovely series so I thought I'd take a chance on Graveminder. Once again Melissa Marr weaves a tale that you can't look away from.
Rebekkah Barrow or Bek left the town of Claysville hoping to make a life for herself anywhere else. She left her grandmother, torn relationships, and family drama behind her. However she never can seem to settle down. After the death of her beloved grandmother she returns to Claysville to take over her grandmother's unusual job as the town's graveminder. Bek is an interesting character. She has several internal struggles that hold her back in life.
What is a graveminder you ask? Basically it's Bek's job to keep the dead from rising. (It's a little more complicated than that but I don't want to spoil anything.) Which leads me to the zombies. The zombies in this book are a little different from the brainless zombies that are so popular. These zombies have the ability to think although they are still driven by their zombie instincts. Marr also plays up the mystery in the novel. There is a lot of mystery concerning not only the towns history but also the residents of Claysville. This element of the story is what kept me captivated. As far as the gruesome factor is concerned, there is some. However Marr doesn't go to far down that road.
Overall this book is a titillating story that grabs your attention from the start. I think this is a great book for people who don't like the gore of traditional zombie books. Melissa Marr has once again put out an entertaining read. Graveminder is written as an adult novel but I think it would be appeal to older teens as well.

[bookwormygirl · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

In 1712, Abigail Barrows unknowingly opens a gateway into the land of the dead. With no other choice, she unwittingly signs a contract with Death in order to bring the deceased back to where they belong. Abigail was the first Graveminder who ensured the dead were taken care of, and if they should rise, it was her responsibility to escort them back to the land of the dead.

The Undertaker helps the Graveminder to bring the dead back while protecting her at all times. Through the years, the position of Graveminder and/or Undertaker has been passed down to someone in either the Barrows or Montgomerry families.

Due to their important positions as Graveminder and Undertaker, the townspeople of Claysville have also agreed to the contract with Death. Because of this, they have been granted longevity and near perfect health. Since the contract was agreed so many years ago, no one is quite sure what it says, but they do know that anyone who is born in Claysville can leave, but they will always return. And should they die outside the town they will rise from the dead.

Rebekkah Barrow has just become the newest Graveminder after the passing of her beloved grandmother Maylene. She has recently returned to Claysville after being away for some time and has just reunited with her long lost love, Byron Montgomerry - whom surprisingly has just acquired the position of Undertaker. When one of the dead begins to wreak havoc in the town, it will be up to them to save not only themselves, but the townspeople.

This is Ms. Marr's attempt at adult fiction - or urban fantasy as I like to call it. I found it a little disconcerting that it is a third person narrative - and, to make it worse, there were varying points of view chapters too. Once I got over the confusion though, I did not have a hard time grasping who was who and what was what.

For some reason, I had trouble liking most of the characters in this novel. I especially did not see eye to eye with Rebekkah - she fit in more in one of Ms. Marr's young adult novels than she did in this one. Byron was okay - yet forgettable. Although he was more likeable then Rebekkah, he was still nothing to write home about.

I found the story very predictable. While I enjoyed the parts that took place in the land of the dead - these areas were much more vivid and the characters were superbly interesting, yet these good moments were not enough to overlook the others that weren't so good. The "rising dead" had a zombie feel to them - they rose from their graves and bit people - yet they specifically note that they are not zombies. Since I was always a step ahead of the characters and the mystery the story felt long and uninteresting.

The best part of all, it (so far) seems to be a stand-alone. We don't get many of these lately - so that gives it extra kudos in my book. All in all, I found this one to be more on the weird side than anything else. It was okay - but not something I'd recommend (at least, not in the foreseeable future).

[kristy1hamby · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can see why some people would gobble this up and fall into this world. I can also see why some people would rip it to shreds and hate it. It is creepy, but not overly so. So, those of you wanting to be "pee-your-pants scared" you will be dissapointed. However, if you are a cowardly lion like me, you will be okay.

I feel like this is a -not-for-me story, yet I know it still had it's shining moments. I also hate how long it took to really get to the main story. There was so much world building and character backgrounds and love interests and this and that in the beginning, I was starting to get a little bored. I was about to the point of screaming at Melissa Marr. Get on with it already.

In the end, I found this to be:
interesting, creepy, different yet predictable at times and well-written although not my taste.

Spoilers:

Rebekkah really got on my nerves at times. Especially regarding her relationship with Byron. She was so hot and cold it was hard to tell what she was thinking.

The whole other world Charlie/Mr. D. deal was just odd. It was interesting, but I was afraid Rebekkah was going to get tricked into staying there.

Daisha, Maylene, Amity, Byron, Cissy.... what is up with these names?!?!?

The whole town contract deal was a pretty fun concept. I really wish we could have gotten more details.

3 stars
(I have to give some credit to Marr, and I acknowledge that many of you will probably rate this higher.... and I can see why, but yet.... I just can't.)

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Good Stuff

Truly unique idea for a story
Rebekkah is an intriguing and realistic heroine
Dark with a wonderful almost Gothic like feel to it
Descriptions are vivid and make you feel like you are part of the landscape
Fabulous in terms of character development
Lots of twists and turns which keeps you guessing (but not in a frustrating way)
Could not put the book down, I warn you once you start you will not be able to put down -- well unless its really late at night
Marr has created a fantastical world unlike anything I have ever read before - and it actually feels like a real place
Very suspenseful at times -- you will be holding your breath
Enjoyed the secondary characters - especially Amity
Fabulous ending - could lead to a sequel, but if not still leaves you satisfied
Some nice humour added to keep it from being too dark

The Not So Good Stuff

The cover sucks in comparison to the hardcover edition
The angst between Bek and Byron felt more YA than adult

Favorite Quotes/Passages

"At the end of the tunnel, she gasped. The colors she could see were so vibrant that it almost hurt to look around her. The sky was streaked in violet and gold. The buildings around her were breathtaking. Even the drabbest of them was cloaked in shades of colors that surely couldn't exist."

"He was tempting in the way that she imagined the devil himself-if there was such a man-would be: polished charm, wicked smiles, and easy arrogance. However, she wasn't sure what game he was playing, and the idea of looking at at dead man with any sort of lustful thoughts seemed inherently twisted."

"Sheer foolishness, if you ask me,but" - Elaine gave Rebekkah a look that would make most people flinch -"no one's asking me, are they?"

"No," Rebekkah said. "I don't think anyone's asking."

Elaine sighed. "Well, sooner or later, one of you will be bright enough to ask my opinion."

Who Should/Shouldn't Read

YA friendly - nothing too violent or sexual
If you like creepy stories, this is for you
Adult readers may be disappointed by all the angst

4.75 Dewey's

[abookgeek_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this book. I have only read one other book by Melissa Marr, and while I liked the book, it wasn't my favorite. Graveminder, however, was so intriguing, that I could barely make myself stop reading to attend to life matters.

I loved the setting, the quiet little town, the fact that Rebekkah and Byron feel a pull back home every time they leave. Rebekkah knows her grandmother plays a special role for the town, but she isn't aware of just how special and that it is an inherited role - until it becomes her role. The premise of this book is just very interesting - I was fascinated as the story unfolded. The concept behind why Maylene had to mind the dead to keep them where she put them is very original - not at all what I would consider a regular zombie story.

The world building was well done and the characters are either appealing or you love to hate them. The story is tense and dark and so wonderfully gothic.

I hate to get too specific about storyline for those who haven't read the book yet. This is one book that you will want experience for yourself without extra information. I loved the way the story unfolded, slowly revealing the role the graveminder and undertaker play in the town. This is one of my favorite southern gothic novels now.

From what I've read, I think this is a stand alone book, but I would love to read more about this world and the stories of previous Graveminders and Undertakers. There is just enough of their story explained or hinted at to make me really want to read more. I was quite satisfied by the plot, characters and ending of the book, but I wouldn't say no to another book. (hint)