Thank you to Macmillan /Tor Forge for the arc of this book.
This book held me from the beginning, kept me guessing and intrigued, but as much as I enjoyed it, I felt like it fell a little flat towards the end.
But overall a good read.

Read: 08/07-08/08

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black

A mother hanged for murder.

A daughter left to pick up the pieces of their crumbling estate.

Can she clear her family’s name if it means facing her own dark past?

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother’s legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer.

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

What I Liked:

This book really surprised me. I am going to be honest. I kind of went into this book with low expectations. However, I found myself drawn into the story. Valentine (as much as I did not love her name) was a wonderful main character. It was easy to become invested in her and want her to get her happy ending. Especially seeing her kindness to Birdy. That is not something you see a lot in YA books so I was pleasantly surprised by the aspect of the book. I also loved both Rowan and Sam. I think her relationships with both of them were well done.

The plot of this book was fantastic. The chapters are short so you feel like you are flying through the book, which really helps with the pacing of the story. There were several twists in this story and I can honestly say I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. That doesn’t happen a lot these days. It was fun getting to dig through the dark secrets of Feavers Crossing and those who live in it. I also absolutely loved the ending. I think the author did right by both Rowan and Valentine (I promise that gives no spoilers).

What I Didn’t Like:

There were a few continuity errors that seemed to pop up. Times where a character would not know of something when it had been previously discussed and I don’t think those were times where a character was intentionally playing dumb. This could be due to the copy being an ARC. I also would have liked more of a wrap up with Sam’s storyline (again I promise it does not give anything away).

Publication Date: August 7, 2018

Rating: 8/10

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Valentine Deluca has learned to study hard, keep her head down and try to stay as invisible to the others at Drake’s Academy as possible. She’s only able to attend the school through the generosity of a mysterious benefactor. It’s her final year and she’s not sure what the future holds for her. Her past is certainly dark enough. Living with and looking after her father in the once grand home of her mother. A mother who was hanged for the murder of Rowan Blackshaw’s father when Valentine was a small child. Is that what he sees when he looks at her? A murder’s daughter? The day the vicar approaches her and quietly tells her he thinks her mother was innocent sets Valentine’s life on a road she never thought she would be traveling.

Black offers up a dark gothic tale of vengeance, betrayal and romance that will hook teens from the beginning. She delivers up a story of a strong young woman bent on setting the record straight regardless of the powerful people who try to stop her. She is a survivor and readers will celebrate her courage. This is a good ‘fall into, escape from reality’ reading while addressing issues of self-worth, courage, confidence and honesty. A definite purchase for libraries.
#GirlAtTheGrave #NetGalley

The cover for Girl at the Grave grabbed me and pulled me in. From there, I was intrigued by the synopsis about a small-town mystery. After beginning to read, the synopsis left out a huge point in the book: its actually a historical fiction book, which made the book even creepy-cooler! I would have loved to read this closer to autumn and Halloween as a Sleepy Hollow or Woman in Black type of book. Its not horror at all, but it is a murder mystery with a little love triangle subplot.

When Valentine was a young girl, her mother was hanged for murder, The town she lives in turned their backs on her for her reputation and she learned to retreat into her own private world. Though poor, her education is paid for by an anonymous benefactor and she takes full advantage of this. Her only friend is a boy named Sam who's reputation is just as bad if not worse, and for this, they accept each other no matter what.

Of course, the mystery of the book enters and allows us to second guess every character's intentions and motivations. Roadblocks surface and even the town is loaded with secrets and lies. There were twists and suspicions up until the very last pages of the book.

"But I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe there was some hope for the hopeless. Some worth behind the worthless. Some forgiveness for the unforgiveable."

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an advance copy of this book!

My knee-jerk reaction to this cover is that it is a horror story - it's not. I believe when I requested it, I was doing cover grabs and went ooh horror, but it's actually a YA suspense/thriller/mystery it's also YA historical with a gothic feel. As a sidenote- I'm really excited in this uptick of YA psych thrillers and mysteries.

The story follows Valentine, who lives in a small town is has long been a topic of gossip since her mother was hanged for the murder of one of the most prominent men in the town. We follow Valentine as she has been told by another townsperson that her mother was in fact innocent.

This story has a love triangle, but I actually enjoyed this one.

I enjoyed Teri Bailey Black's writing style a lot as well, the story was beautifully written. Slow burn gothic mystery with a little kick of romance.

***any quotes included in this review are from an advance readers copy and subject to change prior to publication***

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult gothic fiction eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

girl at the grave (Teri Bailey Black)

Title: girl at the grave

Author: Teri Bailey Black

Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge

Publication Date: TODAY! (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 978-0765399489

Source: NetGalley

The beginning of this novel was promising but it ended up being not to me taste.  The positive things that made me finish the book were two-fold:

1. I liked the main character, Valentine.  She was smart and resourceful.

2. I wanted to know how Valentine was going to prove her mother's innocence and find the true killer.

Unfortunately, there were several plot issues that made this an unlikable read for me.

1. The love triangle.  This was the primary plot of the story.  Who was Val going to pick?  The angst drove me bonkers even though I liked both love interests for once.  I just honestly didn't care who she chose.

2. The murders.  Val did not really use her brain for solving the crime.  She was too busy trying to decide who she loved.  The "clues" were lackluster and Val admits to herself in the book that she was focused on boy problems and willfully ignored everything else.

3. The killer.  The who-dunnit was so boring and not really fun.  In fact I just sighed in exasperation about how reveal happened.

4. The scariness.  Well there wasn't really any.  I didn't really feel there was any suspense or danger or excitement.

5. The ending.  It had a convenient plot "twist" to make Val's life magically get better in an instant.

Though the Gothic elements were technically there, the novel itself really had no Gothic feel in either writing style or plot.  Most of it felt like a typical teen romance novel with a historical fiction veneer.  I was disappointed in the plot in terms of the murder mystery element.  The true version of events just felt convoluted and unexciting.  Shame because I wanted to like this one.  Unfortunately it must walk the plank!  Arrrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer.

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Teri Bailey Black - Author

To buy the novel go to:

girl at the grave - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

I would like to thank Tor Teen for access to review this Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley! Girl at the Grave will be released on August 7th.

My Rating: 2 stars      

Overall: Dull, irritating characters, but still an ok read

A Synopsis: Valentine's mother murdered a man in front of their home years ago. Valentine was left behind to pick up the pieces and try to live a normal life. Until one day, someone in the small village suggests that maybe her mother wasn't the one who killed him after all. But Valentine had been there. She had seen her mother do it.... right? But now, things are starting to point to Valentine following in her mother's footsteps. Murders begin happening, and everyone is pointing their fingers at her. But only one person believes she is innocent... the son of the man her mother killed.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed reading about Valentine. She was a full character with doubt, fear, suspicion, and everything that makes a good thriller. Sadly, I didn't feel the same about the other major characters. She was obviously the figurehead of the story, but no one else really seemed to be as detailed as she was.

And the love triangle. I'm sorry, but I could NOT handle this one. I wish it had just been a struggle between her and her emotions over the love interest that really mattered. That would have felt more genuine, and I would have had an easier time flying through the pages wondering if they would be together or not.

Overall, the story was fine. The murder and mystery was well written, and I seriously was trying to figure it out myself a few times. But, sadly the rest of the book disappointed.

I was super excited to read this as I thought it would be a paranormal/Historical Fiction/YA book. While the book wasn’t what I thought. I still thought it was enjoyable. The book is a historical fiction set in the late 1800’s in a small town. When Valentine was six her mother was hung for killing a prominent member of the town. Valentine has spent the last 11 years rebuilding her life. She goes to school which is paid for by a mysterious benefactor and does really well. She has a best friend Sam who is in love with her and then all of the sudden Rowen starts taking an interest in her. Rowan just happens to be the son of the man that her mother murdered. There is also another murder in town and Valentine is immediately the murder suspect. While she tries to figure out the truth about both murders- she navigates between trying to figure out her heart.
I really liked Valentine’s character. The middle of the book is a little slow which is why I gave the book 3 stars – but I didn’t guess who the murderer was and was completely surprised. I liked the ending as well.

This review was posted on Goodreads and Twitter.

A historical drama with potential for mystery. But the mystery was mediocre at best. I think the setting was supposed to add to the suspense but it really didn't. There's alot of small town drama and nastiness. so if that's not your thing stay away. However if you want a Gilmore Girls like set of characters with a super mean version of Taylor well then here you go. There's a huge focus on the love triangle between Rowen, Valentine, and Sam. But it was pretty obvious from the beginning who she would pick. Plus Sam was just a jealous pig and I couldn't get behind him as a character. Overall I liked this book and would def read more by this author in the future. But i was pretty meh about this experience as a whole. I wanted more mystery thriller and less teenage drama. It was just a little too much for my taste. Though on the plus side, that cover is BEAUTIFUL!

Plot 3
Characters 3.5
World Building 4
Writing Style 3
Personal Enjoyment 3

Overall 3.3

The general plot of this book really intrigued me, as I love a good murder mystery. Valentine, the main character, lives her life in the shadow of her mother's crime of murder over a decade ago. When new murders begin, she is of course the prime suspect. Oh, and let's not forget the love triangle, which is making her life even more difficult! The historical setting, in the late 1800s, really interested me, because it played a part in how the story progressed and its characters reacted. I was also thoroughly impressed by the fact that I had no idea who the killer was! Not to mention the feminist themes that were thrown in. I really did enjoy this book. The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars, is because of the readability. I felt like the book was going to wrap up, and then some other big event would happen. It seemed like some of the events could have been cut out, and the book would have been just as good. It was like there was just too much going on in the later part of the book, and I started to wonder if it would ever end. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and the happy ending was a pleasure.

No matter what Valentine does she cannot get away from her mother's grim legacy. When a new string of murders occurs in her small town, all signs seemingly point to the daughter of a murderer. Interestingly enough the son of her mother's victim is the only person on Valentine's side. Valentine plans on uncovering the real killer, but when she discovers the truth she will have to come to terms with her own secrets, even if it means losing those she cares about.

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black is a debut Gothic-tinged YA historical mystery thriller. It was one of my more anticipated books of the season and while it was decent, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. My favorite aspect of the novel is Valentine herself. She hasn't exactly had an easy life, but that's shaped her into the independent and decisive character that she is. The only thing that she isn't decisive about is boys. There is a love triangle, which if you know me I'm not usually a fan. I preferred Rowan from the start - beyond that the drama with Sam is just too wishy-washy in my personal opinion. I will say though that the author does a very good job of creating drama in terms of the murders and the core mystery, especially with all the twists and turns to keep us guessing. Learning about the town history was also interesting, but sometimes things got bogged down with the details and complexities. The story is a decent murder mystery, but honestly I was hoping there was going to be more of a horror or paranormal element as well.

Overall, this debut thriller by Teri Bailey Black is a more than serviceable YA historical mystery thriller. There were a few elements that didn't quite work for me, but I still enjoyed following Valentine's atmospheric story. Personally, I was expecting a little more murder mystery and a little less love story, but maybe that's just me.

Girl at the Grave is an atmospheric YA mystery set in the late 1800's. Reminiscent of Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter, it evokes gothic sensibilities, an underlying sense of unease, and the terrors of rural small-mindedness for women and those who were different. Valentine has spent her life being known as the daughter of a murderess and, despite her success in school, she can't seem to outrun her past or her poverty. New murders shine a spotlight on her as a suspect, but she is determined to find the truth. Meanwhile, Valentine is caught between her childhood friend and hopeful admirer - Sam, and the handsome, wealthy son of the man her mother killed- Rowan- who seems to be unexpectedly falling for her.

Love triangles are not always my favorite, but I actually thought this one was well-written and warranted given the circumstances. Valentine doesn't always make the best choices, but she wants to find the truth and do what is right. As the tension builds, things get creepier and I felt very scared for Valentine as things close in around her.

Valentine lives in a small, gossipy town full of dark secrets. We get some wonderful consideration of how people with differences are treated. Our heroine befriends a woman with mental differences and sees her value when everyone else assumes the worst of her. Women, especially poor women, are often not treated well and we discover that during this time, women could not attend universities and married women could not own property. These threads added depth and tackled important issues, without feeling separate from the main plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it if you want an atmospheric historical YA mystery. It's an impressive debut and I would definitely read more from this author. I agreed to review an early copy of this book received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Girl at the Grave doesn't have any ghosts or scenes I would describe as horror filled. It's a pure murder mystery-suspense with a strong love triangle subplot. I'm not a fan of that romance trope, in fact I avoid it at all costs if possible. I can't say that I loved that aspect here and how it lingered for much of the book, but my enjoyment of the twisty and unpredictable mystery took center stage, winning me over. Early on I guessed a major twist in the book which made me think this would be pretty predictable. I was pleasantly surprised how much more there was in store, and how many pieces of the plot would be neatly tied by the end.

When she was six years old, Valentine's mother was hanged for murder. The town of Feavers Crossing turned their backs on her, not wanting to be tarnished by her now black reputation. People she once considered to be friends didn't hesitate to snub or insult her, so it was easier to retreat into her own private world. Though she and her father are poor, a mysterious benefactor has paid for her education at the exclusive school in town.

She's grateful for the opportunity to attend and doesn't squander it, but she has no friends except a boy who works there named Sam. Her best friend comes from a family with arguably an even worse reputation than hers, and maybe that's why they felt so comfortable around each other. There was no fear of judgement or hurt, and they accept one another unconditionally.

Valentine hasn't had the easiest of lives, but that has only molded her into the self-reliant and mature teen that she is. I really enjoyed her character's sense of morality, courage, and determination to find answers. There were times when anyone else would have cracked under the pressure she was under, but it seemed to only harden her resolve. The murder than altered her life is only the first of many, and if she doesn't dig up the truth that has long been buried, she could suffer the same fate as her mother. She comes to realize that the town is loaded with secrets and lies, hidden like a land mine waiting to detonate with one wrong step. The question is...who can she trust? Who will trust her when everyone is prejudiced and quick to point fingers?

A good murder mystery will make you guess and then second guess every character's intentions, looking for a possible sinister motivation. Girl at the Grave accomplished that, and managed to pull the rug out from under me when the big reveal came. I can honestly say that I never could have anticipated how the . There wasn't much angst in the romance department because you pretty much realize from the start who she will end up with, only how it will manage to work itself out. There are huge and seemingly insurmountable roadblocks thrown in their way, and at times I wondered how they would find their happy ending. There was a fear that one or both of them would have to choose between their dreams and being together, but I was very satisfied by how it played out in the final pages.

If you're looking for a good atmospheric historical mystery, look no further. This was a big departure from what I normally read, but in a good way. It was refreshing, well plotted, and really fast paced. I will definitely be seeing what this fresh new author has to offer in the future.

4/5 stars

I found myself to really enjoy this book, despite not being the biggest fan of historical fiction. Despite that, I was actually glued to the book and couldn't stop reading. There was just so much mysery involving all the characters, where you think you understand them, but there's just a shred of doubt in each one. There were some moments that I felt were completely unnecessary or just too long of a scene, like when there's just so much angst or naivety happening where I just audibly say "oh come on". Luckily, there isn't too much of that, so I quickly got over it. I felt the plot was constucted amazingly, and it definitely didn't give itself away too easily. All in all, I thought this was really enjoyable and fun to read. If you're not into historical fiction, I would still give it a try because I was surprised myself at how much I enjoyed it. I feel like this is the type of novel that a lot of people can enjoy without having to be in love with this specific genre. Definitely recommended.

This is my voluntary and honest review. I was provided this ARC by NetGalley for my honest opinion. In no way have I been biased or persuaded in this review.

The Girl at the Grave follows Valentine Deluca, a teenage girl who has grown up believing her mother is a murderer. After all, her mother was hanged for it, so clearly she was guilty.

But then some information comes to light that has Valentine questioning everything she believed about her mother and the people around her. As she tries to unravel the mystery, she also finds herself in a love triangle, and one of the boys is directly related to the mystery she's trying to solve.

I liked this book a lot! I enjoy historical fiction, so I always enjoy that aspect. I also think that good, non-paranormal mystery books for YA readers are far and few between (though I love the paranormal ones). I could have done without the love triangle, but I really enjoyed most of the characters on their own, especially Valentine, Rowan, and Mrs. Blackshaw (as a character, not a person, haha).

I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes YA historical mysteries or thinks they would.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Note: I received the ARC for Girl at the Grave from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a giant sucker for Victorian Gothic novels, and Girl at the Grave had all the elements of a perfectly creepy gothic thriller. While I did find some issues with the plot, I honestly enjoyed this book so much. I could not put it down and I stay up till 3am two nights in a row because I had to get to the bottom of this mystery.


Here’s were some highlights for me:
Northanger Abbey vibe- Valentines lives alone in a giant, gothic, deserted, dilapidated, and haunted house, and she must use the clues left by her long dead relatives in order to understand her past and solve the mystery. “I heard the floorboard creak in the drawing room and paused in the opening, my heart beating faster. I lifted my candle and tried to see past the flickering light, into the dark corners. The air smelled damp and stale, like a tomb. The fireplace was cold and full of cobwebs; the portraits removed; the family who’d once laughed and talked and served tea in this room, all dead.” This was such a cool element and it reminded me so much of Northanger Abbey and the way that the house itself must help the heroine solve the mystery. I absolutely loved this!


The Romance- Although there is a bit of a love triangle in the novel, Valentines feelings for each boy felt genuine, and true to what a 17 year girl in her shoes would feel. Rowan is completely swoon worthy, and I loved the moments between him and Valentine. “Maybe you really are a woodland fairy,” he mused with a lazy smile. “Do you talk to the animals, Valentine, and tell them all your secrets? I want to know your secrets.”


The Twisted Town- The town of Feavers Crossings is just twisted and dark enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. It is very Twin Peaks meets Middlemarch. Every character has a sordid past, is involved in blackmail or intrigue in some way, and it was really fun peeling back all of the dark layers of this town.


Valentine- As the heroine of the novel I thought she was perfect. She gradually becomes more self aware over the course of the novel and I loved that she consistently stayed true to her own hopes and dreams. It was great to see a strong female character in this time period.


Some issues:


The issue that I had was mainly with the plot. There were portions of the plot that just felt like unnecessary moments of angst or drama that didn’t really move the plot along at all. Because this is a mystery, I wanted to stay with the mystery. However, there were several chapters that didn’t mention the murders at all and instead focused on trivial things. Valentine’s own father was missing for 4 months and she never tried to investigate or go to the police. This was kind of baffling. I would have liked more Nancy Drew moments with Valentine and Rowan trying to figure out what happened with the murders and between their parents, instead of so much unnecessary angst.


Certain moments in the writing would abruptly shift scenes. So sometimes I was left wondering if something was actually happening or if it was a memory or a moment of imagination. Or I would think something actually happened, only to discover later that it was just Valentine’s imagination. This was distracting.


Despite some of these plot issues, I still really enjoyed this novel. It was a thrilling mystery and a great chance to indulge in some creepy Gothic fun. Girl at the Grave comes out on August 7th and I would recommend this to anyone who likes Gothic mysteries! Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC/E-galley.

I'm not normally a fan of historical fiction, but I knew I had to read this one.  Anything with a murder mystery grabs my attention quickly.



This story isn't fast paced, but I still had a hard time putting it down at times.  I really liked Valentine and wanted good things to happen for her.



Valentine's mom died by hanging for killing Rowan's dad.  She remembers a little from that night, but not much.  Valentine goes to a nice school, paid for by a secret benefactor.  Her only real friend is Sam, who dropped out of school at 12 years old.  Most of the other kids shun her because of her mother.



Rowan doesn't remember much about his dad and lives with his grandmother.  She doesn't like Valentine's family for her own personal reasons.  So she is not happy when Rowan starts spending time with Valentine.  Mrs Blackshaw is great at manipulating everyone to get what she wants.  I wanted to like her because she pushes for women's rights, but she's not a good person.



There is a love triangle.  Just a warning if that's not your thing.  I thought it was well done though.  Sam is the best friend, but I honestly didn't like him.  He did love Valentine, but he had such a temper and bad attitude.  I adored Rowan though.  



Valentine is told that a witness came forward and said her mother didn't kill Nigel Blackshaw.  But then other people are murdered and Valentine is the obvious suspect.  She spends a lot of the book trying to figure out who had motive and she wants to clear her mother's name.  A lot of secrets come out and there are quite a few people who look guilty.



Girl at the Grave is a mystery with a heavy focus on the love story/triangle.  Valentine is a strong female character that I think a lot of people will like.  She's smart and determined, but very torn between Sam and Rowan.



I'm still a bit torn between 4 and 4  1/2 stars on this one.  For now, I'm rating it 4.  I really liked it a lot, but the story did drag a bit at times.  The last part of the book went quickly though.



Thank you to Tor Teen and Netgalley for the chance to read this one early.

i dnf this book at 33%

A mother hanged for murder.
A daughter left to pick up the pieces of their crumbling estate.
Can she clear her family’s name if it means facing her own dark past?

That right there is what sold me on this book, but what i didn't realize at first was that this is a historical fiction.

Me and historical fiction don't mix well except for a select few.

If you like historical fiction with a little bit of mystery then i total recommend this book, It just sadly wasn't for me

In the style of Flowers in the Attic, this book is sure to be a hit. I love a good thriller, and as someone who has studied gothic fiction, I can definitely appreciate the brilliancy of this!!!! Also, a creepy cover is a great cover, hehe.

The book started a bit slow for me, but it really picked up steam as I progressed. I loved the main character Valentine. She was strong, independent, kind, but also had her flaws. The characters of Rowan & Sam were both well developed and added so much to the story. I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, and at times was frustrated with this one, but I like how everything was explained in the end. The mysteries of what happened in Feavers Crossing (both past and present) really kept me hooked. While I was able to figure who committed one of the bigger mysteries, I would never have guessed why. I loved the twists and turns this story took as well as the setting. If a second book was ever written, I'd definitely purchase it.