The Twisted Dead by Darcy Coates -- 5 Stars
Poisoned Pen Press
9781728239231

I had read the first two books in the Gravekeeper series and was anxiously awaiting the third, so I was happy to find it offered by NetGalley. It has unique ghost stories, quirky characters, a remote town with a spooky cemetery, a black cat that is more than a cute kitty and a main character with an interesting past. All this is in a fast paced novel. Each book in the series solves a mystery but leaves other tasks to complete.
I love this series. They are the first books I have read by Darcy Coates. The next thing I do will be to see what else she has written.

Reviewer: Nancy

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I really really enjoyed this novel. Perfect for Halloween Month 🎃!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Darcy Coates is in my top 3 favourite authors. I was in the middle of another book when my requested for The Twisted Dead was approved. That book was immediately forgotten about. The Twisted Dead is just and spooky and gripping as the first 2 installments. I read 90% of it in one sitting and only stopped when the battery on my phone died. Bring on book 4 NOW!

So fun! I have really enjoyed this series, and this book did not disappoint! I really love Darcy Coates storytelling style and I am slowly building up my collection of her books. Definitely recommend for fans of spooky stories.

thank you to NetGalley for the approval for an arc in exchange for my honest review!


Darcy Coates’ series, this is the third one and so far the best of them! I didn’t realize it was a series when I requested it, so I did a speed read on the first two to catch up, although you don’t necessarily need to. I’m excited for more though, Darcy is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

This wasn’t was I was expecting from Darcy Coates but I still enjoyed it. I didn’t know this was part of a series so now I need to go read the other books! This is definitely more character driven than her other books.

📚ARC REVIEW📚 - The Twisted Dead
Release: February 7, 2023
Rating: 👻👻👻👻

A little late night ARC review for you late night ghouls. 🤪

When I requested this book I had zero idea that this was #3 in a series! (Whispering Dead & Ravenous Dead) But don't worry, that didn't stop me from enjoying it! Actually, it kind of made me want to read the first two to get the full scope of what I was reading.

The author made it easy to jump in by doing quick little nods/recaps of the first two books, but I was still left wanting more of that backstory. (Which again, is a *me* thing, not anything against this book. I didn't do my research and see it was a series!)

This was a fun, easy read. (I did go back and check to see if I missed a memo or something about this being YA? But no, it's adult) I loved the cemetery scenery and the differences of ghosts/spectors/etc. And the sarcastic humor sprinkled in. I didn't get hooked right away, but once I was in, I was IN.

Thank you to @netgalley & @poisonedpenpress for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love this series, it's was my first introduction to Darcy Coates. I gave the other two books 5 stars and this one didn't disappoint. It was great, I love the characters especially Zoe and I am starting to like Dane too.

"Sometimes you end up with ugly bits in your life. Things you’d give anything to go back and erase. But the past is immovable, and your choices are set in stone, and you just have to try to figure out how to live with what’s been done."

The third book of Gravekeeper collection is the BEST!

Keira has a gift, if gift be even the right word for someone who can see the dead. She lives in a groundskeeper cottage near cemetery and also has a black magic cat, Daisy. :)

What more do we need? Ghosts, Daisy, well let me see, haunted house, vampire spirits, two cool and fellow friends (Zoe and Mason), one unusual friend-Harry, chase and run on a trip road and Twisted Deads!

This time unfinished stories and unanswer questions reveal. Keira figured out about her past and people who has been after her, we get to know more about Mason and why he left medical school, and Zoe, my favorite,
"Smart technology is a pretty bow put on top of a corporate spy machine. Do you want the government sending laser beams into your ear to burrow a hole straight through your squishy, malleable brain? Huh?"

Darcy Coates is one of my favorite and I really enjoyed Gravekeeper series, as there is more mission to complete, I eagerly waiting for next book.

Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for giving me a chance of reading The Twisted Dead (Gravekeeper #3) by Darcy Coates, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date 7 Feb 2023

The next stop on Darcy Coates’ Gravekeeper Series is a wild ride. Any issues I have with plot is made up for by the characters. Mason and Zoe are the best companions!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Twisted Dead is a great ghost story about a woman named Keira who has a mysterious past and the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. This book has it all, a creepy haunted house, ghosts galore, smart characters, and an exciting plot. I loved it. Keira is everything you want in a lead character, she is funny, intelligent, caring, and can handle her own. She really puts herself out there to help other people and ghosts. I enjoyed her interactions with the ghosts, especially Solomon. And what she goes through to help Dane is really something. I really look forward to reading more about Keira and the group hunting her.

“This probably isn’t good”
“That was her gift - if gift was even the right word - to see the dead”
This book was absolutely amazing !!! This is the perfect read to get you into spooky season and I had so much fun reading it!!
This is the third book in the Gravekeeper series and I have to say, I should have read the previous two to get a better insight of the story of our main characters and understand them better. But for the sake of what’s happening in this one in particular, I could easily get through the plot and understand what was happening without any sort of problems.
The characters were absolutely great and I’m glad I had to experience their dynamics, changing throughout the story.
Graves, ghosts and friends in a hunting … real Halloween vibes, perfect for October and addicting !!!
People should absolutely experience this book and read the whole series!!!
I’m so glad I had the chance to read an ARC of it!!!
“So … It’s pretty safe to say we’re going to get murdered if we go, right?”
“It’ll be a proper date with death … And I think I am actually looking forward to it”

I need more from darcy coates. Honestly this is th3 best ive read from her and im craving for more. She always writings and has you on edge wanting and needing. And this series i didnt see half of what was coming.

The twisted dead by Darcey Coates is the third book in the grave keeper series. All of our favourite characters are back. Keira, Mason, Zoe, Harry and Adage. Honestly, Darcey writes fantastic characters.

When Dane Crispin invites Keira and her friends to dinner at his mansion, they go and Keira finds herself trying to find out more on the nature of ghosts. Keira still struggles with her memories but in this book, she makes some headway.

This book starts off easily, picking up where we left off. Pretty soon it really ramps up and I could not put it down. The suspense of having to know what happens next is real!

There was multiple things going on in this book and they all fell together really nicely. I found Mason and Zoe amusing at times. I love how we know Keira as she is but when danger approaches she becomes really confident, going off instinct. It's a really interesting way to write her, do we know her as well as we do?

I throughly enjoyed this one, especially as it ramped up.

Thank you to the publisher for my ebook copy in return for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Keira can't remember anything about her life before she arrived in her small town, where her ability to see ghosts has landed her the job of caretaker to the local cemetery. But when she is called to the mansion of the wealthy Crispin family, she can not refuse the invitation.
With a delightfully quirky cast of characters and an exciting pace, The Twisted Dead grabs your attention and doesn't let go. I was unaware when I began reading that it was the third in a series, but it reads very well as a standalone novel and now I can't wait to read the rest!

I’ve read several of Darcy Coates’ books so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read the third and final installment of the Gravekeeper series.

I enjoyed the first two books and loved finally finding out how Keira’s story ended. I found this series to be nontraditional for Darcy Coates in the sense that it focuses more on character development and character relationships instead of being “scary.”
I must admit, this book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea since I tend to enjoy horror books purely for the spookiness they provide. I enjoyed reading about Keira’s adventure and I liked all the side characters, but it felt more like a small-town mystery to me instead of a typical horror story.

I would absolutely recommend this book (and the trilogy as a whole) to anybody looking for a fun, character-driven story with paranormal aspects. It’s certainly a great autumn/Halloween read. I would not recommend it for somebody looking for a particularly scary book, but it is quite enjoyable otherwise.

This Gravekeeper book may be my favorite so far in the series! We follow Keira and her friends as they continue to find out the truth about Keira's past. Darcy is so great at tying horror elements into this book, as well as writing some downright funny bits. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series will go and as always, Darcy Coates is an auto read author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Press for this ARC!

Darcy Coates once again shows how adaptable she is as an author with her latest, The Twisted Dead. With charismatic characters and a fast paced plot, The Twisted Dead is sure to entertain. I couldn't put the book down, and I didn't want the story to stop.

The only disappointment with this book is that I have to wait for a sequel. If you are looking for a fun story involving mystery and ghosts, this is the book for you.

I’m going to be upfront and let you all know that I have not read the first two books of the Gravekeeper series. I didn’t feel lost as there was enough about the first two books that I felt I knew the basics of the other books.

After killers and a mysterious company bring angst to amnesiac Keira’s life, she faces something she has no idea how to fix. The town hermit, Dane Crispin, who lives in a crumbling mansion is being drained by the ghosts of his dead relatives. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them and at the rate they are going, Keira and friends, Zoe and Mason, don’t think he’ll last much longer.

While Keira practices with her powers to see if she can help Dane with his not so dearly departed family, Zoe and Mason are ready to help. They are best friend goals. Mason and Zoe go through their own transitions and are the best friends Keira could ever wish for. They all have their pasts to contend with as they encounter ghosts, shades, and men in black who want Keira dead.

This is also my first read of Darcy Coates. I usually like my ghost stories with a bit of romance. While I think there is a possibility for Mason and Keira, I loved their friendship throughout the novel. Zoe is a trip! She reminds me of a friend of mine and she has the best fashion sense. *cough* black ball gown *cough* While the story revolves around Keira, Mason, and Zoe, I loved the local goth/aspiring speed metal musician, Harry. He at one point just takes a nap on a grave and Keira sees the ghost the grave belongs to is not happy about it.

Final thoughts, I loved this book and Coates writing style. These books are written in third person, but you are really able to get all the perspectives. I got pulled into the imagery of the graveyard and the descriptions of the ghosts throughout the novel. I will definitely be reading the first two books in the series soon and gobbling up all her other series as soon as possible.

I received The Twisted Dead for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love Darcy Coates books, and while The Twisted Dead was not my favourite, I still enjoyed it and rate it 3.5*.

Darcy Coates is a fantastic horror writer, she nails gothic horror and her books are atmospheric in the best way. Unfortunately, I feel this is where The Twisted Dead lacked a bit. It started off perfectly, with the main character living in a cemetery, the village backdrop and Crispin manor. I wish the author had stayed with that storyline and explored the background of Blighty and the Crispin family further. I found the Crispin manor setting and storyline very promising.

Moving on to the second storyline the book lost me a little bit, a lot of chasing and running, no atmosphere and a weird reveal. To be fair the two storylines did tie up well and it seems as though a follow up book may be coming, which leaves room to explore the unanswered questions.

Overall, I’d still recommend it and The Twisted dead falls into the usual comfort read category.